Drooping Willows end of the world

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     The warm afternoon light flitted down through the leafy boughs of the trees, making a dappled pattern of light across the wolf's cocoa hued back. It had been an uneventful walk from the lagoon, and since seeing Shade there, Skana hadn't run into a single wolf along the way. There was no destination in mind, and for the past few months she had moved aimlessly, taking things day by day.

     The constant movement kept her tired and worn down, and often she would go hungry. She was sure if she spent much more time living like this, her body would just give up and die. She shuddered. As bad as things got, she couldn't just die. She was a tenacious old beast, and she would fight until her last breath. However, she would prefer to postpone that last breath as long as she could. The loner's life certainly was not meant for her. While she would never be able to hold power within a pack like she had, she was willing to pull her weight as a subordinate.

     The scent of unknown wolves, a well marked border, made the crone stop. She could go around it, but then where would that get her? At this rate she would walk to the edge of the world, and wander right off of it into the afterlife. She knew what she had to do. A spark of nervousness ran up along her limbs, a feeling which often did not occur to the confident woman. Slowly, she tipped her head back, a howl trailing from her dark lips. With any luck, someone would answer her call.

(This post was last modified: Jul 19, 2012, 02:37 AM by Skana.)

So excited Skana came here, just fyi. :3 I see her as an 'advisor' of sorts of Elettra (and perhaps Remy?) cause I feel as though they have the same 'air' about them, just Skana being older.

She was a newly made leader of her pack and though it was small, there was not an ounce of doubt in her gut of it's power. The members were hand picked- all selected by herself and herself only. All savor one had asked to join, pledging themselves and had gained her acceptance and the one wolf out (Kyrie) had otherwise so swayed Elettra by her obvious lack of judgement towards her, that Elettra had asked of her to stand at her side. Elettra had no means to allow wolves to come into her pack for sheer numbers, but craved quality over quantity. She'd not allow for lazy wolves, bottom feeders and blood suckers. ...Which is why she'd not sought out any other.
It seemed, after so long of roaming as a rogue and before hand growing with tension in the pack of Grizzly Hollow, the woman had finally found settlement and with settlement, came relaxation. Worry did not plague her, tension did not not her muscles and fear of having to watch your back constantly left her to sleep fully. She was rejuvenated- healthy, prosperous and strong.
When she awoke it was already well into the day and the woman roused to the smell of new food in the cavern. Surely, it was the work of her youngest wolf- her unofficial huntress draped in mixes of silvers. She was doing a wonderful job, pushing herself to feed for the pack though in truth, she had already proven her worthiness by far. Lifting and exiting her home, she took in a deep breath of what she now called home. Remy and Reed were gone, her seconds, surely taking point around the boarders to leave Elettra with the task of relatively- nothing. Already, Narime was going the hunting, Reed sure to help. If anyone so much as looked too closely at the boarders, surely Remy would be on their heels. Koda was a friendly man, greeting everyone whom came across his path. And Kyrie? Surely to figure out her major, keeping within the pack lands close to home to guard if anything at all. After all, the woman's knowledge in herbal remedies was unknown to Elettra who otherwise deemed herself as a great healer.
So Elettra was off to do the only thing she could thing to do- search. The herbalist could not gain a stash 'too large' and so swiftly made way towards the edging reaches of her home. When she neared, it was to the sound of another wolf- a howl, specifically towards the wolves which dwelt within. Elettra did not offer in return, but approached swiftly now that she was near. When she arrived, it was directly before the older woman of chocolate, which Elettra took in with interest. Much older, rough, battle-scarred. It reminded her of the wolves of her former home- warriors. She'd no doubt Remy would feel the same. "May I help you?" She inquires delicately, awaiting the woman's response before dishing out perhaps unneeded information about herself and her pack.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/bluepups/KodaTable.png);background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; padding-top: 200px;padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; text-align:justify;">Koda was getting into the rhythm of pack life. Marking borders, hunting for the good of the pack, rather than just himself. It was all starting to feel more normal. His only issue was that he missed Nina terribly and longed for their long slow trek back to her home when the world consisted of nothing but the two of them. Alas, it wasn't meant to be as both of them had oaths to fulfill and neither would shirk their duties. His had become even more important with his unexpected elevation to alpha male. It was a big responsibility, but he was up to the task and proud that Elettra entrusted the position to him.

In the midst of his musings, a howl split the air. It was not a howl of panic or danger, it was a request for an audience. Another possible joiner, so soon? Perhaps. Quickening his pace, he headed in the direction from which it had originated. It didn't take long before he saw two forms in the distance, both dark. One brown and unfamiliar and one black with a familiar proud silhouette. Elettra. The leadess had beaten him in answering the call, but he would certainly lend his presence to hers.

With sure proud steps he approached the pair of women. His golden eyes perused the other female, noting her age and obvious experience with fighting, attested by her many scars. She seemed strong and physically healthy. With Elettra here, he took a subtle step back in authority, but not physically. He was ranked with her, but he acknowledged that this pack was as her own child. The difference was not seen by other eyes, it was merely meant for his Lady's sake. With that he stood tall and proud, another show of the strength and vitality of their pack. He had arrived just in time to hear Elettra's inquiry and waited silently by her side to hear the stranger's response.

(This post was last modified: Jul 20, 2012, 01:19 AM by Koda.)

Arla and Emma are the ish and made my pretties!
Koda will most likely always be accompanied by Chiron unless otherwise stated, or requested.

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     Skana patiently stood, awaiting whatever sort of greeting she might receive. There was even the possibility in which no one would even show. In that case she would regretfully move on, but she hoped that she wouldn't have to. She had not waited long before she heard the gentle rustle of foliage, signaling someone's approach. Her ears cupped towards the sound, and her first instinct was to draw herself up to full height, head and tail high. She stopped herself mid-motion, recalling how this worked. She was on the other side of things, now. She wasn't going to grovel at whomever's feet, but she couldn't just waltz in like she owned the place, either.

     Skana dipped her head low and let her tail rest down at her ankles. She watched the surrounding trees waiting for someone's emergence. She had no idea who to expect, from pack alpha to sniveling underling, but she was pleased to see that it wasn't the latter. A dark female stood before her, and was soon accompanied by a silvered male. They both stood with some sort of authority, and Skana could only assume that they were higher ranking among the pack, perhaps even the alpha pair. She looked between the two, careful not to directly look into their eyes for long, as much as she wanted to. The she-wolf was scrutinizing Skana right back, and after a brief moment she asked a question.

     "Well, perhaps you could," Skana lifted her head a fraction. She took a deep breath, then continued,"I'm Skana Coho, by certain circumstances, I've been without a pack for too long. I noticed the border here, and I called to inquire if the pack within was in need of any members. Are you able to help with that?"

Still, as the woman views her, she views the woman. Elettra's attention does not divert despite Koda's arrival, though there is a shifting of her weight into Koda's favor, a single that she took attention to his arrival and was happy for it. The woman before her was marred with both age and heavy scars, even a showing that she might have, or may be soon, loosing the vision in one of her eyes. She was a rogue, old and battered by wounds old and newer alike and yet still, Elettra took into much consideration of the woman. She'd survived all this and excelled as well. Her body stood with evenness even in her lowered stance and she looked healthy, strong in size more so by time. Elettra was not a fool to notice these qualities which lie before her, beyond the exterior rust. After all, Elettra was no woman of protection in herself, but harboring no fairly noticeable facial marks nor large enough scars that could not be covered by the lush of her gray-scale coating.
Finally then, the woman replies with the slightest lifting of her skull, and only then did Elettra divert her otherwise relaxed tail behind her to lift in dominant display, interest flashing through the silver of her gaze before falling stoic once more- back to business at paw. ”No." Her words bark with a sureness, a pause then, before continuing. "We need nothing. Our foundation is strong- I've made sure of that.” She speaks this, lacking not a single ounce of pride as she does so. If there was a question if she was leader before, then there should not be any longer. Elettra was uncertain of the standings within the other packs, though had no doubts that just starting out (and the other packs sure to have new children in the dens) would make them harbor perhaps less members then the others. But this meant little to Elettra Archer. The founding members of her pack had done much as of yet to prove they were everything and more Willow Ridge needed to survive and prosper. They harbored hunters in both land and water. Healers and a handful of guardians, even more so one devoted to the art of battle all on it's own.
After which she had made it clear that her pack was strong with who it held currently (to crush down any questions of curiosity of it's weakness) she clears her throat then, a single of continuance. She takes but a step forth towards the woman, her silky black ears flickering back momentarily before pursing upward once more as she stops. "However, my partner and I..." She gives a quick motion into the second leader's direction. "Are not closed-minded to new blood if it proves beneficial to not only said new wolf, but the pack as a whole." Another pause and then, "Welcome. The boarders you stand on are of Willow Ridge. My name is Elettra Archer." And with this, she offers a dip of her greyed muzzle.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/bluepups/KodaTable.png);background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; padding-top: 200px;padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; text-align:justify;">The stranger seemed respectful enough as she introduced herself as Skana Coho. He was curious about the cirumstances that had brought her to their borders, but did not press. Everyone had a past and most would rather not banter the details about. Had she acted strangely or shady, details might have been needed lest she be sent packing, but the proud battle scarred woman before him seemed of the same ilk as his partner herself. Elettra's pride in the solid foundation which she had assured Willow Ridge of was something to behold. How could one not respect such a strong and self-assured woman?

Once his Lady had welcomed Skana and introduce herself, he dipped his head in greeting and let his own voice follow hers. "I am Koda Reinier. Welcome to our borders." Effectively, she had been given permission to stay put, but not to proceed any farther just yet. He knew that they needed a productive member, rather than just another mouth to feed. He knew himself to be soft-hearted and Elettra to be the more practical of the them, so he leaned towards her way of thinking. In a not unkind voice he asked, "What have you to offer Willow Ridge?" It was all about the pack at this point and not one wolf's penchant for sentimentalities.

Arla and Emma are the ish and made my pretties!
Koda will most likely always be accompanied by Chiron unless otherwise stated, or requested.

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At her words, the ebon lady pulled her tail up and stood just a bit taller. Skana had to fight the urge to lift her own body into the dominant, stiff legged posture she had become so used to in response. The time and place for that had long passed for her, and if she wanted any chance of being taken in by this pack, or any, she would have to present herself much differently than she was used to. She kept herself low and Elettra continued. Skana's request had received a simple yet strong no. Skana kept silent, waiting for her to explain. It wasn't that they wouldn't receive another wolf, but that they had no need to. The pride Elettra spoke with of the strength of her pack reminded Skana of how proud she had been of her own, when Salmon River had been at it's zenith. There was no doubt in her mind now that this woman was the matriarch of the pack, with the male at her side her equal.

Elettra moved a step closer, and Skana held motionless, ultra-conscious of her own movements. The lady of the pack spoke again, on behalf of herself and the male. There was the possibility of taking a wolf in if they would be of some use to the pack. Skana was pleased to hear that the lady was discerning in her selection of pack members. It wouldn't be a rag-tag group of lazy fools. Skana herself hadn't been overly strict in her choices of followers, but was sure to exclude freeloadeing or indolent wolves. She wondered if she could have been more discerning herself. She had to remind herself that no amount of stringency would have prevented her from accepting Lila, however. With Lila's skill in hunting and polite demeanor, it would have been crazy not to let her in. There was no way that Skana could have predicted that she would betray her.

WIth that, the woman introduced herself and her territory. Koda, the male, added his own greeting. Skana gave a slight nod to the pair, a simple response to the introductions. While the lady's voice was not cold, in comparison the male's was much warmer than Skana had expected. He was a little larger than Elettra, and even a little taller than Skana herself. It was a little surprising that the big wolf said little himself until now, with his lady doing all the talking. Or perhaps Skana had just become used to her mate's amiable chattering. Kawak had done plenty of talking for the both of them. She didn't have long to reminisce however, as Koda's question brought her back to the matter at hand.

What did she have to offer? Well, not much, but it certainly wasn't nothing. She would be straightforward about her experience, but not overly descriptive. She wasn't going to blabber her life's tale to two strangers. As leaders, which if things went well Skana could call her own, they should hear her capabilities. The pack apparently needed nothing, but she hoped they would find her skills of interest to them. Again, she looked between the two regal wolves, not entirely sure who she should address in speaking. Elettra seemed to take charge in the interactions of the pair, so Skana faced her, occasionally glancing to Koda as she spoke to show she acknowledged them both.

She cleared her throat and licked her lips, more to remove the cobwebs of not speaking frequently than anything else. "I know I don't look like much now, but I will be frank with you. I used to be an alpha of a pack back west, for five years. I've raised three years of pups, and on top of that just the business of commanding a pack. There isn't really anything I can't or won't do for the sake of the pack. Hunting is a little more difficult now than it used to be, but I can still manage it." She deliberately left out the circumstances of just how she ended up here. If they wanted to know anything else, they could ask, but she felt the short story would be enough for them to decide what they needed to know from her, if anything.

as i mentioned in another post, if its crappy or with errors, bare with me. just getting over sickness.

There is a twitching of her lifted tail, a banner at her backside as she watches the woman for reactions- stiffened a bit, though making sure to keep herself low, where she belonged. Koda questioned her (just the right question indeed) and soon the woman was left to answer. Taking note she was a leader for five years certainly explained the former tension. For whatever reason, her reign was over and now, not only was she not at the bottom of the barrel- she was nothing. A rogue. A mutt left to come crawling at someone's doorstep and asking for a chance. It was hard, Elettra knew. For the woman herself had been there before. Born into royalty, having to move from the ground up and showing the proper respect had been tough, but Elettra's lawful ways had given her the right direction and she ended up being Second of the Hollow. Now, within the thicket of the drooping willows, she'd a home of her own.
Elettra takes into consideration the woman's words and does not poke or prod what had happened to make her fall. Elettra could only assume that with a new age, came a new leader. Not a soul knew the long history of her own past (only one had even a glimpse of it and he was gone) so Elettra had no intention of digging into Skana's own. "Though she is young and has surely still much to learn before her perfection, we've an excellent huntress; Narime. Not to mention, our male second, Reed, has shown me quite the capability of fishing. Other then perhaps gaining small meals in-between pack hunts for yourself, food should not be a problem." It would be obvious, that with time of her age would be time of her body. She was older then both Reed and Slayer whom were around six years. Though she was not a crippled elder, the expected of being slower and being more sore was obvious to Elettra. With Narime seemingly always filled with energy (and thus leaving small gifts of rabbits, squirrel and groundhog alike) this should not be a problem for Skana or the rest of the pack.
After addressing the fact of Skana's faults (which Elettra's appreciated the woman being honest about and upfront) Elettra then went on to what she did know, obvious with her past: leading, and rearing children. "Though we have guardians amongst us," Remy being lead in this group along with her Second position, as well as Koda and Reed's natural abilities. Hell, even her own for that matter... "And I, myself, a medic. We do not have a teacher. However, we've no pups within our ranks ether." She mentions this, her silvery attention shifting towards Koda then for a brief moment. How many knew that he was not her lover? Did all the pack think them to be mates, when it truth, she had trusted him to this position when the one she sought had disappeared? Even then, she would have considered none mates, where as her trust for such things had been shattered long ago. "With your past comes a keen ability to problem solving and with your age, comes wisdom. Perhaps you would like to be tested for the role of advisory work?" She stops then, listening, her ears perked fully with alertness to the older woman. The position of Advisor was important- a wolf whom was a jack of all trades: taking care of children, tricks of the hunt, war and politics. Though Elettra was born of royal blood, she was a first class medic and second class warrior granted only by the fact that everyone in her pack whom was to be considered anything was a hound of war. Still, despite her obvious pride and sureness of herself, she was a first time leader along the side of an equally first time leader (or so she assumed). Surely enough, Skana's history would be of everyone in the pack's interest.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/bluepups/KodaTable.png);background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; padding-top: 200px;padding-bottom: 20px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; text-align:justify;">Koda listened to the woman's answer and was satisfied that while she had limitations, she did have experience and a certain confidence that came with that experience and the wisdom of years. In his old pack, the elders had been well respected and looked up to for their advice and calm heads. Elettra seemed to feel the same way and voiced her thoughts out loud. while he simply nodded his creamy head in acknowledgement.

When Elettra inquired as to Skana'a thoughts on a teaching or more and advisory position, he turned his golden eyes upon the battle scarred woman. Elettra and he were more than capable of running the strong pack that his Lady had gathered, yet another good mind would not be turned away unnecessarily. He waited for her answer calmly, proudly standing next to his partner.

Arla and Emma are the ish and made my pretties!
Koda will most likely always be accompanied by Chiron unless otherwise stated, or requested.

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Skana was relieved to hear that the pack was full of skilled hunters, and that there would be no trouble in keeping herself, or the pack, fed. It was mostly the smaller things she had trouble with, hares and squirrels were too agile for her stiff limbs and too small of a target to pin-point when one of her eyes was going. Seeing as these were the basis of a lone wolf's diet, her months of lonely travel had left her looking gaunter than what was suitable for her large frame.

She found it curious that there were no pups around, though she said nothing of it. She had expected that there would be children this time of year, especially in such a well established pack as this one seemed to be. It wasn't a disappointment as cubs really were a handful. Though some years there just weren't pups, so she didn't dwell on the thought too long. Skana caught the brief glance from Elettra to her partner, but whatever it meant she could not tell. Every pack had it's quirks and secrets, and she was sure this one was no exception.

It was then the lady made a proposition to her. Skana listened intently, carefully to the offer that was made. An advisor was not a position she expected to have been presented with. It was a very pleasant surprise, with the number of deplorable jobs she thought might be offered to a decrepit old hag, if she were even fortunate enough accepted into Willow Ridge.

Oh, how she wished that she had known the things she did now. When she was young and her pack had been newly fledged, she could have greatly used someone with more experience at her back. As a young woman she had been cast headfirst into her adult life. Newly in love with a man and with a band of friends at her back, the pack had made a number of blunders and learned from countless mistakes before it would become a well-oiled machine. Willow Ridge didn't seem like it would be a band of merry fools, who might dig a den so close to a river that it would turn into a well (Skana had been there, done that). She was sure the younger woman had enough innate wisdom of her own, especially as she recognized the knowledge a more experienced wolf could offer. Despite Skana's progressively failing body, her mind was still sharp and she felt she would be up to the task.

It was just a glint of light over a distant horizon, but it seemed things were finally starting to look up for the old woman. The slightest of smiles turned her lips and she gave her grizzled head a nod. "Advisory work sounds great, Madam Elettra. I'm sure there's something rattling around in this old skull that might be of use to you and your pack." Her smile broadened momentarily before relaxing back to a straight line. "Whenever you might like to test me, I'll be ready."