The Wildwood song of the damned -- AW!

Come one, come all! Naia's calling out for any other terrified, forsaken mortals around to gather and try to make some sense of this apocalypse thingie. I'm thinking about having this develop into a crazed cult-ish sort of thing... we'll see!

Fear.

 

It crept through her veins slowly this morning, so slowly that it didn’t quite wake the dozing scout. The River woman flailed in her sleep as a shadow passed over her and her dreams turned nightmarish, honey eyes flying open just as her King disappeared through the opening of their communal den. Well.. he had looked a bit like her King.. but his smell was all wrong. Naia scrambled to the opening of the den for one last look, blood chilling in her veins as the wraithlike River King disappeared into the eerie mist. Yes, he certainly appeared to be her beloved leader, but the smell—the air behind him tasted of fear, bloodlust, and agony…

 

Agony.

 

Naia breathed in, and the misty air burned through her nasal passages and into her lungs. She choked, diving back into the River den to escape the overpowering stench that hung in the air. She rushed to wake her family, but the boodle slumbered on as if enchanted. Realizing she was in a nightmare, the agouti woman only had one option left—to run. To run and run, and hope to leave the horrors in the dust. As she ran, she fought to extract oxygen from the mist that burned her throat. She tried not to notice the carcasses of dead prey that littered the ground all over. As she rock-hopped across the River for which her homeland was named, she did her best to ignore the frothy, noxious green liquid lapping over her paws. Running was not helping her.. it was only inviting more terrors.

 

Terror.

As she exited River territory and found the same horrors, Naia began to panic. Was she the only one left? Suddenly desiring the company of someone, anyone who was alive, a terrified summons burst from Naia’s throat.  She called for the company of anyone else who felt alone and terrified, packwolf or no. She howled for truth, from anyone who knew anything at all about was happening. And finally, she demanded answers from the Spirits, who seemed to have abandoned the territories and the lupine children they once loved so much.

 

(This post was last modified: Apr 02, 2015, 05:59 PM by Naia.)

In this Dying Light
Let Hope be my Guide

Jynx Dirol was in a panic. The change had happened so fast...it was if the whole world was transformed overnight. What was once a familiar, vibrant world blossoming with new life, was now plagued with an unearthly stench and a thick, eerie mist. These were but the first of many signs that told her, something was terribly wrong. Even her home turf, the CedarWood Forest, had been gripped by this terrible new haunting. What was worse still, that whatever the cause, seemed to have spread to a select number of her packmates. Most concerning was the drastic transformation that the River King, and her close friend, Karpos had undergone. Shells of their old selves, they seemed unrecognizable in her eyes. Just looking at them made the hairs on her back stand on end, and instinctively, she knew she must get away. It was too dangerous to stay, even around them, even as wolves who she thought she had known.

With haste, she fled, heading east, away from the CedarWood Forest, in hopes of finding sanctuary. But no matter how far, how fast she ran, the putrid mist seemed to cling to her heels, the stench of death ever stinging her nostrils. Wide eyed in both fear and shock, she noticed the strewn, bloated bodies of both prey and predator alike littering the ground for miles around. Her heart pumped faster, harder, a whine building in her throat. What was going on here?! Had some fatal disease struck itself upon the inhabitants of the Lore? Whatever it was, she couldn't face it alone for long. She missed the support of her pack, of her friends, of familiar faces. Solemnly, into the late afternoon hours, she had reached a place of silence. The WildWood. While the once great forest trees were skeleton like and naked from the fire that raged here long ago, at least it was unclaimed land. Jynx couldn't decide if she was happy about this or not. Apprehensively, she sniffed for a trail, for signs of life. And through the thick musk of the foul air, she caught a scent...a familiar one. Then came the cry of a voice, of one she had never been so happy to hear. Naia! Thank the gods, she was nearby! Raising her head to the clouded sky, the russet woman released her own call in reply. "I'm here, I'm on my way!"

(This post was last modified: Apr 02, 2015, 06:08 PM by Jynx.)

There is a moose carcass that has been scavenged by coyotes nearby. The coyotes are on the ground not far from it.

Something had happened to Relic Lore. The world that he once knew was gone – abolished by an eerie mist that blanketed the lands he had grown familiar with. The once, spring-ready green foliage was gone, and in its place were their skeletal remains. Fear consumed the lanky healer; what happened?! His pale orbs searched desperately through the mist as it stung his nostrils, dulling his sense of smell as he pushed forward through the skeleton trees. His coat felt oily as the mist clung to it, leaving XIX feeling uncomfortable and unnaturally cold. It seemed as though the lands were muted – the forest that had been formerly filled with the sounds of birds and other signs of life was now silent, only adding to the fear that bubbled inside of him. Lachesis needed to find someone – something -- to prove that he was not alone. The fear soon turned frantic, causing the willowy male to move erratically over the land as his search became desperate. Surely he was not the only one left… there had to be others… there had to be survivors.

Suddenly his prayers were answered – a call sounded, coming from one of his one. Naia! Without warning, he sprung into a sprint, his long legs dragging him in the direction of Cut Rock’s female second. Relief flooded his body, but it did not eliminate the fear that had made itself home. His nostrils were wrinkled at the foul odour that possessed the land as his pear-coloured searched for the familiar russet-coloured female. Another call sounded, causing his movements to slow as his ears swivelled to find the origin of the new call. Jynx! More relief came, along with a renewed wave of fear. What of Anastasia? Bastet, Maksim, Karpos… had his other pack mates survived the shift? Swinging his head back, Nineteen added his own call into the misty air, alerting the two females of his own location. “I’m here!” He continued moving toward Naia in hopes that Jynx was pursing the same path. They needed to find each other; they needed to be together and perhaps find the others. 

stick with those who stick with you

I want you to know When I look in your eyes With every blow Comes another lie The world around Vasu had changed so quickly. Instead of feeling comfortable in the forest he shared the Stormwright now found himself walking with hackles raised at all times. No peace in mind. An eerie fog fled into the woods wrapping around his stocky form. Even the wildlife around him seemed rather off if they weren’t already gone. It left the male to wonder if everywhere was becoming like this. If he really had walked straight into his own grave. Setting off he traveled east away from the cedarwood forest. He was bound to return to the woods though, like always. The grey-faced male knew he couldn’t just leave @”Rook” behind. They had a deal and Vasu was sticking through to help out the younger male. Eerie forest or not. Yet he also figured if he could find out more about these happenings it would help not only himself but any other company in the glazed woods. Perhaps there was someone not too far from his shelter that could help him out. Trotting into the distance he found out that this looming fog only went on and on. His grey-blue eyes watched as it seemingly stirred beneath him before clawing up his legs. Had he not already been through hell in his previous home (Lostwind Islands) then he might have been pissing himself like a child already. Although the ringing call that came out, a panicked tone from a female, had his ears pricked and tail fully raised. Had someone been in trouble? Going from a trot to a more of a run another call came out. This call was also from a female and spoke of being “here” and on her way. Who were these wolves? Did they know each other? Racing forward he followed the scents that mingled with the fog. His paws thudding against the ground with each step forward he took. Letting out his own deep rough howl he sounded out to the other wolves that he was around, but meant no harm to either of them. When his head lowered down he focused on the direction to take. Surely the trip would take no longer than two minutes at the most. Yet another curve ball was thrown when he heard the voice of another wolf. This time it was male. It seemed there was a gathering happening here. Perhaps he had shown up at the right time.

the ghost in the corner of the room
knows how you’re feeling
‘cause you’re dead to him, too

Apocalypse inspiration - http://8tracks.com/anon-1636809176/endverse-team-free-will 
Hickory dickory dock
wolfkind is on the clock
I greatly fear the end is near
hickory dickory dock

Morning had come to stir the piebald woman from her peaceful slumber under the solid soldiers of the sacred grove, awakening the female to something that could only be described as a nightmare. The world around her had been colorful and vibrating with the hum of life that night as her ebony lids came to a close, heavy with the sleepy aid of the sandman. Chirping of various birds lulling her into a dreaming state. Opening them now dark amber optics were bombarded by sickly looking plants void of their spring health, an eerie mist lofting above the earth and all around her resting embodiment in hues of blues and greens. Black audits deafened by the sound of nothing. During the night hours the world had taken a complete one eighty leaving the lore empty. Drained of all forms of life. Except for her? Puzzlement washed over her still sleep riddled face as front limbs nestled under the weight of Enoki's body to bring her lurching forward on slumbering stilts. A quick shake of her pelt helping to rid the sleep that wanted to so badly pull her back into its cocoon and protect her from the new unfamiliar yet recognizable world she had come to find herself in.

Salmon tinted tongue came to break past lupine lips in the form of a yawn only to be quickly forced back into the confines of the patchy woman's mouth at the foul taste that greeted the mass of muscle. Not only was there a foul taste on the air, but the air itself was putrid enough to cause her empty gullet to clench and threaten to bring the bile of her stomach up to her throat. Shaking her head quickly from side to side a snort attempted to rid the horrendous odor from clogged nostrils to little avail. A paw coming up to rub at the burning sensory organ. 'God, what is going on?' the thought rang in her skull once she accepted defeat in warding away the scent of rotting everything. Obviously this was something she was going to have to regrettably get use to.  Was there anyone else suffering from this unknown whatever it was, or was she stuck in a nightmare utterly alone. Helpless. There was only one way to find out and ebony paws began to thrum over the foggy earth in the first direction she thought of. Due north where the burned remains of the wildwood lay. Land already destroyed once would be an unlikely place for this plague to travel to. Right?

Enoki sure hoped so as lithe frame skirted over the vile earth. The oddly colored mist whirling around her fleeing pelt like a mother attempting to hold a child back from leaving, gripping onto her limbs with a frigid chill that caused her skin to crawl and her hairs stand on end. The Ashrelle woman wanted out. Now. Picking up momentum fear began to trickle down her spine at the sight that was constantly flashing before her eyes. Every step she took forced her to leap over the fallen and bloated bodies of deer, coyotes, elk and any other prey or predator in the vicinity. Ears pinned flatly against her skull a whine forced its way out of her burning throat. This couldn't be good and instincts were beginning to rage a war with her conscious. Part of her wanted to keep running, to get as far away from this diseased place as possible. The other wanted to seek out those she loved and had come to care for. Elettra, deacon, and the rest of the wolves back at Willow Ridge that she had left behind. Heigen, the holder of her heart who was probably back on the mountain in his pack. All of them could be dead for all she knew.

Suddenly a cacophony of howls broke out on the airwaves. Two females and two males, all of which speaking in fearful tones that they were 'here' or 'on their way' to somewhere. From the directional sound it seemed like Enoki was heading straight for them. Confused as all hell by what was going on she continued for the impending gathering of lost souls. Better to be in a group than alone when the world was coming to an end right?

(This post was last modified: Apr 02, 2015, 09:14 PM by Enoki.)

Greetings/ short introductions for the next round? Stragglers are still welcome to join! For the sake of it being the April Fools RE I’m going to try to keep this thread going quickly and post short-ish replies once or twice a day. There’s no posting order, just chime in when you can.

Naia’s ears shot to attention as an answering howl sounded, breaking through the muggy air to comfort the fearful woman. In truth, any answer would have been heartening, but knowing it was a packmate on her way assuaged Naia’s fears further. Nineteen’s reply was next, and at hearing the healer’s voice the River woman’s tail actually gave a few wags.  Though they had never been particularly close, Nineteen had been a constant in Naia’s life since her arrival in Relic. They had lived side by side in Pitch Pine Trail and in Cut Rock River, watching each other grow into fine packwolves with quiet approval. Right now there was no one Naia would rather have at her side than the other River second, who was also quite skilled in the healing arts— an art they would surely need.

Another masculine voice called out after Nineteen, this time a stranger. Naia raised her voice to the heavens again, to act as a beacon to the gathering wolves but also to assure @Vasu and any other strangers that this was indeed a peaceful gathering. River, Caverns, Loner—it made no matter, they would meet under the flag of truce and work together to fight off whatever threatened wolfkind. As Naia waited for the others to arrive, she breathed deeply and found that the mist burned a little less than before. Now that she was not alone, the mist did not seem as thick nor the smell as overpowering. Her panic subsided, and she found that with thoughts no longer racing, she was finally able to think clearly.

(This post was last modified: Apr 03, 2015, 05:12 PM by Naia.)

Another call soon rang out on the air and brought the piebald woman to a halt once more, ears pricked forward to decipher its message. This tone was distinctively female and with a quick recollection identified it as the first wolf to break the morning air in fear of this new world they all found themselves in. Frame was set back into motion as the ebony paws beneath her propelled her forward, closer to the beacon like howl until a shape began to manifest behind the sickly mist and its undulating waves of stench. It was hard to truly make out proper colors with the way the tinted mist cast everything in shades of green and blue, but Enoki could have almost sworn on it that the female with her head raised to the dying heavens had an earthy toned pelt.  

A heavy sigh of relief to have found someone alive during this mind-boggling event escaped the thin lining of her lips only to cause a coughing fit to ensue from the pungent odor surrounding her forcing itself down her gullet. Shaking her head back and forth for what felt like the umpteenth time that morning alone a snort freed her airways of the disgusting scent. 'God I don't know how much of this I can handle.' she thought as the distance between her and the unknown stranger closed, tail held in a relaxed position behind her rear as it gave a subtle wave in good greeting. "Hello there. Are you the one who I heard calling out? I'm Enoki Ashrelle." Her voice came out light and airy despite the fear that lurked beneath its surface. Even a wolf as brave as Enoki had her limits.

(This post was last modified: Apr 10, 2015, 04:27 PM by Enoki.)