Cedarwood Forest Can you measure up

Amaryllis stayed to the side as the others talked, eyes flicking over to Veho when he mentioned her, giving an acknowledgement of her words and she bowed her head back. She was glad that he was happy for her words though Oula still seemed very wary of Icicle, of which she could understand. Icicle was, in every sense of the word, odd. He smelt odd, he looked odd and first impressions of him could give one the sense of wariness and unease. Hell, even she had been wary of him for the first few seconds of their meeting. Yet it appeared it was everything had grown up with, had travelled with for quite some time.

However, as he explained what he could do for the pack, as he could give was himself. But he kept going on, saying he would prove himself regardless as useful to the pack. He wanted to be useful to the pack, in any way he could. And was that not what all wolves could offer, in the end? Just themselves?

She had been lucky, in some regard, in knowing some healing techniques and herb knowledge, which may have contributed to her ability to join a pack. She knew of others, like Icicle, who knew nothing or very little, who weren’t allowed into her birth pack because of their lack of knowledge. That’s why she had left, to find new knowledge.

“He could easily help Merlin and myself, in filling up the herb caches. An extra set of paws in the pack couldn’t hurt anyway.” Amaryllis offered up a suggestion, keeping her tone and face neutral as she spoke. “And that way, not only could he help repay his debt but he would be helping the pack, alongside learning a new skill.”

Veho remained silently as the others spoke, though his partner’s unhappiness was not lost on him.  Whether this was simply due to hormones and a heightened sense of security after the run in with the rest of Pip’s family, he was not certain, but he would not treat it lightly regardless.  After Icicle had his piece, he shifted his gaze over to Amaryllis, humming softly as his subordinate offered up a potential solution for a wolf who could not hunt or guard the territory.  His mouth twisted, and he turned.

“You will allow me a word Lyonesse to discuss this.  You realize you are asking much,” he rumbled softly, turning to bump into the woman’s shoulder.  Once he’d successfully herded the other alpha a few lengths away that they might speak privately, he allowed himself a troubled sigh.  Hopefully he and @Oula could agree on this.

“I care little to leave anyone out in the cold,” Veho admitted, grimace slowly forming across his lips. “He seems earnest – though a bit of a burden.  At the moment, I believe our pack could shoulder it.  I suppose a third healer would not go awry, though we might benefit more from another scout, or perhaps a teacher…” There were pups coming, after all.  “What do you think?”

Kydnt can decide -- or we could do another mini round quickly if Oula wouldn't!

(This post was last modified: Apr 05, 2016, 05:32 PM by Veho.)

@Veho Up to Veho?

Oula had expected the pale boy to continue with some explanation of his skills, abilities, something that would make it a worthwhile gamble for her to keep someone she did not trust in her ranks. Instead, his words exposed quite the opposite. It was easy to see he was sickly, but what she couldn't have known without him telling her was just how utterly useless he was. Seemingly made of glass bones and paper skin, he could not run, or hunt, or fight. Even sight was seemingly beyond him. He would be just a hungry mouth to feed with nothing in return, and she felt her hackles raising at the boldness of his request. Though he spoke of earning his place, she could not see how, and he'd provided no solutions of his own.  

Amaryllis spoke up, and though it was subtle Oula could tell she was trying to champion for the male, mentioning that he could help tending to the infirmary. It was a possibility, but in this case Oula wasn't sure this particular set of extra set of paws would help more than hurt.

Oula pulled away with Veho, sighing as she glanced to the uncannily white wolf out of the corner of her vision before turning back to the fellow leader.

"He is an extra set of paws. Idle paws." Oula said bitterly under her breath. "A scout must be quick on his feet, or at least have the vigor to make up for it. I've never known a scout pained by the simple act of running. And he's so young, there can't possibly be anything he could teach without being taught himself." Had the useless, pink-eyed wolf shown himself at the gates of Thunderfang Canyon, Oula had no doubts they would have made short work of him. But here, things were different. The kind, soft wolves of the Hollow would not turn him into an example of what happened to those who ventured too close and asked for too much.

"If you feel he would make an acceptable apprentice, then take him. I cannot think of a single thing to do with him." She said with a taught pull of her lips. The male seemed like he would be a dead weight that she didn't particularly care for, but if someone else wanted to take him on as a project, they could be her guest.

 

Well, the dice were cast as the saying went. Icicle’s ears pricked as Amaryllis spoke up, suggesting that he could help with gathering herbs with her and someone named ‘Merlin.”She wasn’t sure who that was but if it would allow him away to finally be useful, he’d take it. The colorless wolf absolutely loathed the feeling though, being only useful enough to help gather plants, but at the same time, it was a relief, he would finally be able to contribute to something, no matter how small that may seem at the time, he was willing to take it and to do his best to excel at the task.

As Veho and Oula turned away, Icicle’s thoughts remained on the male alpha’s words. He was asking for much. WOuld they give him the chance? Was he going to be turned away. The worry gnawed at Icicle’s stomach because for him, this was new grounds. He could easily shrug off something that was beyond his control. His looks, his weakness, something else declared what those would be. But this, this was all within his control, his words would either bring him closer to finding a home or further into the rejection of others.

He titled his muzzle toward Lily while the Alphas’ spoke outside of his field of hearing. The two were interesting to think about. Veho, Icicle realized was the more lenient of the two, Oula meanwhile, showed herself to be exactly what Icicle ran into frequently in the past. Quick to judge and wanting nothing to do with him. Though, he found comfort in the fact that both of them fell into the categories he knew well. Lily however..Icicle still could not figure her out, or where to place her. Veho and Oula’s motivations were clear to understand, they took the best interest of the pack at heart. Lily how ever, she was something Icicle had yet to figure out. Back in the Thickets, she had so quickly melted and eroded the shields he had kept in place for so long,. A soft sigh escaped the wolf as he knew, without her presence, he wouldn’t have even gotten this far.

”Thank you…Whatever happens is out of my paws now...but thank you.”

ThoughtIcicle’s Dialogue

Eyes trailing after her leaders, Amaryllis had a feeling what their decaion would be in the end. Amaryllis' eyes flashed back toward Icicle began to speak, listening silently as he thanked her. "I wish you luck in whatever happens," she replied, thinking that now it was perhaps best that she leave. She can see now that perhaps her presence hindered Icicle's chances of entering Grizzly Hollow and for that she felt somewhat bad. The boy needed a pack, regardless of who actually accepted him. It was surprising he lasted this long at all on his own and she had no idea how much longer he could last.

"Unless I am still needed, I am going to continue my partrol." She turned her head slightly towards her leaders who were still gathered a few feet away and deciding whether Icicle was worth accepting into the pack and unless one of them asked her to stay, she would take a few steps into the cedar forest and disappear. Part of her didn't want to be there for the rejection, because that what she was certain what her leaders were going to do. Reject Icicle and turn him away. But she understood the decision, if that's that one they choose.

Of course, she would Find out what would become of him regardless if she stayed or not. If he was accepted she would see him around Grizzly Hollow. If not, than they most likely would not cross paths again.

[Exit?]

Skipping @Oula -- once Icicle posts, thread can be archived.

Oula, he was slowly coming to realize, was correct.  An idle set of paws.  With Amaryllis as his new apprentice, the medic did not think they needed a third wolf trying to collect herbs, much less one that struggled with basic motion.  Three in the medical cache would be far too crowed.  And while he felt a bit poorly for the strange, white wolf – Grizzly Hollow was not a charity.  Understanding, yes, willing, yes, but even now, the pack could not afford to carry dead weight.  His mouth twisted into a grimace as the woman left the choice to him, turning about as they returned to where the other pair of wolves stood.

His subordinate made her departure, and she was given a nod of acknowledgement in her passing.  No matter Icicle’s fate, it looked well upon the woman that she sought to improve Grizzly Hollow if she could.

Once she was gone, he turned pale eyes back to the white wolf.  “Unfortunately, three medics is more than any pack needs.  I am sympathetic towards your misfortune, but we are not in the position to offer charity to strangers.  Given your condition and your – previous run in with my partner and subordinate, I decline your request.  You may see yourself away from the border.”

With that, Veho stood, waiting to make sure the loner did not make an attempt to cross into the territory regardless.

Fade.

The pale wolf’s ears pricked as Lily spoke, his head dipped slightly as she wished him luck. Still, he couldn’t understand her, something about the kindness that she had shown him and managed to get deep under the wolf’s skin and the worst part about it...he actually didn’t mind. So long, he had kept himself with in a frozen shell, layer building after layer all of his life just so he could survive was slowly starting to melt away, first he had met @Drastig, then a wolf named @Enoki and now @Amaryllis. As she turned away to continue her patrol, he started to gain a faint spark of hope, hope that maybe the wolves around here would be able to look beyond what he was, into who he was.

Icicle took a deep breath as Veho turned toward him, that faint spark of hope was extinguished quicker then a flame in a river as the Grizzly Hollow Alpha explained his reasons for having to deny Icicle the chance to join. Icicle’s ears drooped momentarily as he listened. His tail swayed slightly behind him as he nodded slowly. Those old familiar words came calling his first name yet again condition A word that Icicle loathed and then charity He didn’t want charity, he wanted to be able to prove himself, though now he saw, that history was repeating himself. A soft sigh escaped the wolf, the only outward sign of his crushing disappointment. No matter what he did, it always seemed destined to bite him on the backside. If that’s what it took to survive, then He’d do it, Icicle would take himself and bury it deep within, never letting the world hurt him again, he was a survivor, it’s all he had.

ThoughtIcicle’s Dialogue