Magnolia Glen Sun & Moon

Here ya go! -grumbles at not being able to tag-

Padding at a gentle lope along the twisting, clear-water creek, filled with fish as spring came around, bringing with it new life. The three pups had been let out of the den for the first time the day before, and he couldn’t help but feel the urge to protect them with all his being, even though they were not his own. But a wolf strived to look after others, and protected them to the best of their abilities, especially when concerning the lifeblood of the pack. They had looked so fragile, waddling around and gazing at everything with wide blue eyes. The rest of the members had come to see them, and he was sure that they felt the same as he did. Pups were just impossible to not love.

Pausing near the edge of the border of Magnolia Glen, Ace shifted closer to the creek bank, dipping his muzzle into the clear, cool liquid and drank deeply, feeling it soothe the dryness of his tongue, mouth and throat. When he had drank his fill, he lifted his creamy muzzle up, and with a quick shake, dried his mouth as best he could, before backing away from the edge. After a few moments of thought, he directed his large bulk to, and past the packs’ borders of their territory. Maybe he would meet someone that he hadn’t met before, strike up a conversation, and possibly make a new friend.

Inhaling deeply the scents around him, the Silver Male closed his eyes, relishing the feel of the soft, grassy ground beneath his paws and the warm sun upon his back. Life was good, there was new pups to look after, no storms or wolves missing, everyone was getting along well – mostly – and it was springtime, a time to be happy and make new friends. That’s all he really wanted in life; a family and friends to look after, be looked after by the, and have a pack to protect. He did not need anything else to live life to its fullest, and was content right where he was.

347 Words

When I listen to my heart,

Ace Caravello

It whispers your name...

@Ace

Minus the appearance of the ominous cloud that haunted the Glen wolves, the day before had been lovely to experience. As a woman fond of pups, she could hardly contain her excitement at seeing the newborns of the pack take their first steps into the light. And what better day than yesterday; full of radiant light and the curious faces of the wolves that would come to protect the young. Yet for the mountain wolf, as she had looked upon the small faces of the new pups, she saw not only the potential of their growth, but all they could learn. All the places she could show them and the wealth of knowledge she could provide, if their parents were willing, of course. In them, she saw another opportunity to see to their growth as she had with her pack’s young and even now in the Glen. She was too happy for words though her expression made it clear, however subtle… however concealed. A notable spring had been embedded in her step, and it was certainly not due to the wound on her leg. Such pains had long since abandoned her. And for that, she was glad.

Feeling a new sort of spirit, she took to her daily chore with a bit of a change than to walk by the winding creek. Instead, she felt the desire for redder meat. Small and fast, just enough to top off an already full belly, and perhaps test out just how well her leg could take her movements.

Given that the land was claimed and smelled heavily of wolves, there were few fodder trails to speak of, and those she could find led out away from the territory. But distance was not a hindrance, only an opportunity in the bi-colored eyes of the she-wolf. Her nostrils flared and tail extended as her posture became that of a hunter mid-game. She drank the richness of the earth in every breath, but too she scented the musk of another lupine prowling nearby. The faintest hint of the Magnolia trees clung to it as well. Drawing to a brief halt, she raised her head to attention, keeping her ears on a swivel for a directional tell of where this other wolf might be. Perhaps another of the pack was hunting as well…

The thoughts about pups, the pack, and among other things heavily clouded his mind, and he wandered around almost not seeing or hearing anything. It was not often he let his thoughts wander, but there was no one else around, and he could afford to laze around for a bit without anyone knowing, right? Apparently not it seemed, as the sudden influx of a wolf scent invaded his mind, snapping him to attention, but he did not jump to an aggressive posture, as the wolf carried the scent of the Magnolia Glen wolves, and instead he calmly shifted his large bulk around to pad closer to the stranger, hoping to have a light conversation, maybe make a new friend.

He quickly came upon a wolf just as large as he, with a wide variety and mix of shades and colour adorning her pelt. Resting upon her shoulders and along the length of her form was a rich, earthen hued golden, like the fading radiance of autumn flowing gently into winter. Her mane and ridge were darker and deeper earthen hues, while her underbelly and legs were a creamier hue with flecks of brown throughout. Her build was not as feminine as most females, but in complimented her, in a way.

Pausing, keeping a few wolf-lengths between them out of courtesy, as she may not be comfortable to be so close to a stranger that she did not know in any way. His creamy tail tapping his hocks as it swayed back and forth, a friendly smile on his face that reached up to his silver eyes, Ace made sure that he gave off a completely friendly and welcoming aura, as some were intimidated by his size and bulk, but he was hopeful that the tri-coloured dame before him would not be.

“I am Ace Caravello, a subordinate in the fourth rank. May I ask for your name?”

317 Words

When I listen to my heart,

Ace Caravello

It whispers your name...

@Ace

Perhaps the woods were not grounds for another hunter, but the female certainly found she was not alone. There had been not quite an eagerness to her stride, but the speed of purpose once her thoughts had concluded another was near. The desire to investigate momentarily overshadowing her need to eat. Stout ears came forward as she tread further from the course of the cutting creek and more towards the shuffle of fertile flora. Such a sound led her to believe that the cause of the movement was something large if not more so than herself, but with a lacking caution as if it did not belong. Still her head remained low and eyes drawn wide and alert, til a sliver of pale grey parted the earthly hues of the neighboring woodlands, and inevitably the form of a wolf took shape.

She paused near instantly and let her head return to its full and comfortable height. Rather than assume his place, she regarded the male with neutrality, nostrils quivering inquisitively to make certain that he was indeed of the Glen. Quietly, she took a bolder step forward but again drew to a pause as the male began to speak.

In doing so, though his voice was not readily recognizable, she was able to recall the silver and grey fur from just the day before. A quiet male at the time that had looked upon the mother's pups just as fondly as she, if not more openly enthused for the new life under the pack's care. She had not asked for his name then, nor had she given his own in turn. The day was not wholly for the pack to interact, but to witness progress in the form of tiny paws and wide, opened eyes.

"K'arnae," the woman replied simply whilst tipping her muzzle slightly in greeting. Her shoulders drew back as she made herself more open in gesture. Though his size was formidable even compared to her own, it did little to startle, let alone trigger unease. "Have I interrupted your hunt?"

As the tri-coloured dame regarded his presence with neutrality, he did the same, letting his head raise an inch, but his tail still hanging comfortably, as he did not know her own rank or place in the pack. They were all friends and family though, and since the female and male hierarchy was separate in ranks, but not quite dominance, they did not have to act submissive to the higher ranked wolf, which was nice for a change. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy the laws and order, in fact he loved it, but at times he just felt like relaxing around another pack mate without having to go through the whole regime. Maybe the dame before him felt the same? He hoped so…

He had seen her the previous day when the pups had exited the birthing den for the first time. They hadn’t really noticed each other, just greeting the other in the usual fashion, and no names given or received. He was not a wolf that acted as he had that day, but there were many wolves, and his attention had been mainly focused on the three pups. They had been absolutely adorable, and the feeling of protecting them came naturally, as who would not do so?

Ace smiled as she spoke her name. It was an unusual one, yes, but it was enchanting in its own way, and he put it to memory, in case if they ever met again. He chuckled softly and shook his head to the side at her question. No, he hadn’t been hunting, though he supposed it would be a good idea with three new pups for the leader to constantly feed. “No, you haven’t, I was just wandering the territory.” His creamy ears perked up, and he looked curiously at the dame. “What is your reason for being out here, K’arnae?” Maybe she had been hunting, and he was the one who had interrupted her.

325 Words

When I listen to my heart,

Ace Caravello

It whispers your name...

There is a moose carcass that has been scavenged by coyotes nearby. +15 Health

@Ace

For all intents and purposes, the reason for the woman prowling in the woods were clearly her own, and could have been expressed as such. And in truth, she did favor expressing such a thought, but thought better of it given her present company. Her thoughts for the most part stemmed from a mentality still deeply engrained into the life of a wanderer. Simple, callus, and rough around its edges, regardless if such a disposition was truly that of the woman’s. But rather than surrender to what she had taken as her norm, she offered a more… accommodating outlook, allowing her posture to find ease rather than tense in defense.

Smoothly, the female exhaled then willfully rounded her shoulders. “Food,” she confided though lacked the short tone to end a conversation. “There was… a trail,” she continued. “…thought it would be best to follow and perhaps bring back what was found.” Or at the very least feed to add to her replenishing energy.

She made to continue further, opening her maw in the hopes of conjuring some coherent thoughts to life, til a shuffle not far silenced her in an instant. A stout ear swiveled to the side as a rustle came from the way of the creek. The sound was not near them, but continued none the less, its origin almost retreating rather than heading closer to the marked borders. Silently, she turned to Ace to assess whether he had heard the sound as well. Regardless if he had or not, she had a mind to investigate and took a step towards it…

The tri-coloured dame seemed to ease her posture and relax as time went on, which pleased Ace greatly. It meant that she was comfortable in his presence, maybe enjoying it, even. Some wolves that he had met were intimidated by his large size, thinking that he would rip them to pieces if they made a single wrong move, but really, he was the kindest wolf there could be, unless if there was a reason for him not to be. So far, there was only one wolf in the pack that he did not get along with well, or even at all. Their views were completely different for the others’, and he realized very quickly that he was not compatible with the pale agouti. From then on he had attempted to not get anywhere close to the male, and it was working so far.

Creamy ears twitched at the dame’s reply, a smile appearing on his face. Yes, food was often the reason for a wolf to wander around, it certainly was with him. As she continued to speak, a curious expression molded onto his face. He agreed with her words of bringing back anything that had been found. When the sound of paws drumming on the ground - more than one set – Ace glanced in its direction. There was something, or someone, there, in the direction that the trail was going, and he intended to find out.

It seemed that the tri-coloured dame was thinking the same as he, and he met her gaze with a small nod, following suite as she took a step towards it. Slowly and carefully the Silver Male made his way along the trail, silver eyes glancing around and creamy ears twitching in a one hundred and eighty degree direction, on the lookout for the creatures that had been scuffling seconds before, and by the sound if it, still were.

315 Words

When I listen to my heart,

Ace Caravello

It whispers your name...

@Ace

She wasted little time in following the trail as the turned swiftly on the tops of heavy paws to pursue. Her injury was almost non-existent as she stepped lively, but she was mindful of the flesh scar as she strode rather close to the trunks of the wilds beyond their home.

Joined by Ace, their steps were relatively silent; no more than a light press on the mossy earth was they followed the retreating steps. When there was a pause, the large dame would halt in stride expecting from her companion to do the same before they could startle their quarry too far out of reach. Then when the steps proceeded again, she too began the hunt once more, but kept a mind to lighten her steps more so than how they progressed. Their pursuit was not long, but intense none the less as the felt the surge of adrenaline from stalking their prey. Her nostrils drew open to greedily drink the musk they pursued, then wrinkled at finding the scent was of the scavengers that often plagued pack borders. Coyotes, more than likely, no doubt having found something left behind by a predator. And sure enough, the scent of stale blood reach her nose, as did the cumulative stench of a wild band.

No longer needing to remain silent, the woman abruptly charged through the thick brush into the chattering thick of the band. Her muzzle swung and jaws snapped at anything that dared move while she threw her bulk forward as a ram to drive off the scavengers from the brush. Her eyes hadn't yet fallen on the prey they had coveted, but she could smell it between the heavy pants, and all but taste it on the moistened flesh of her tongue.