Blackberry Fields and watch me burn

Ranger had enjoyed Sacred Grove so much that she was now exploring the other parts of this vast territory. She knew that this place was too close to her father to be comfortable, but she wasn't going to worry about that just now. If she settled down and developed relationships here, they'd protect her if he ever came after her, right? She shook her head and continued on; no one would want to befriend a murderer, a warrior, a ruthless killer. She had scars marring her dark coat that were still visible. The faded pink lines criss-crossed her legs, chest, throat, and maw. There was nothing she could do to hide them, and while part of her knew that they were reminders of her will to live, they were also painful reminders of her past life.

There was nearly nothing she wanted to think of less than her former life, so instead of dwelling on that, she let her mind and eyes wander over the vast blackberry field she had stumbled into. With a small smile tilting her dark lips, Ranger moved forward into the thicket. She picked a berry with her teeth and tasted it. It wasn't like meat, not at all, but it was sweet and would do on a hot day to cool the tongue. She took another from the same bush and nibbled on it. As she chewed, she walked through the blackberry bushes, enjoying this simple pleasure. She had never tasted fruit before and never before had she been able to enjoy her time peacefully. It had always been constant strife, warfare, and bloodshed. Closing her eyes and standing still, she pushed those thoughts away, her brow furrowed. <i>Stop thinking about it!</i> she commanded.

(This post was last modified: Aug 18, 2010, 05:44 PM by Ranger.)

Blackberry Fields was perhaps one of his least favourite lands that was in Relic Lore. After a berry-tasting dare between he and Indru that went wrong, Ruiko had spent the rest of that day with a horrendous stomach ache and nausea. Ever since then, just the smell of the little black fiends caused his nose to wrinkle in distaste. Even so, with the responsibility of feeding more mouths now, the tawny wolf came here more often on the prowl for quick and easy prey. Rabbits and birds thrived upon the field, and many days he had left with a decent prize in his mouth to take home to the pups.

Today was slightly different though. The scent of another wolf was nearby, and the brown Tainn knew instantly it was a lone wolf. Withholding a sigh at the prospect of another pointless conversation, Ruiko was about to turn his hefty paws around and steal out of the land without the other being privy to his presence when he caught sight of dark fur. Pausing mid-escape, his sharp amber eyes studied the creature before him, his curiosity suddenly piqued. She was large for a female – upon first glance he would have sworn she was a male – while scars viciously painted themselves across her body. She was neither delicate nor frail like the countless females he had met in the past, and as she slipped a blackberry past her lips, Ruiko withheld a light grimace. “You’ll get yourself a stomach ache,” he warned lightly, his deep tones rumbling past the silence.

She stood there, pushing away the thoughts of the world she had left behind, her brows furrowed. A voice, however, disturbed her. Opening her eyes, Ranger turned toward the tawny stranger and bristled, braced for a fight. Only a moment later, though, she nodded, letting him know she meant no harm and was neutral toward him. After living her entire life killing others, she had to remind herself that not everybody was there to harm her. Sighing, she swallowed her second blackberry and looked into the matching pair of gold eyes staring back at her. <b>"I hope not. I've only had two,"</b> she commented, looking around at the little berries before once more looking into his eyes.

He was handsome and large, much like her, though heavier and stockier than she was. This stranger was calm and older, and probably much wiser, than she was. She knew he held leadership by the way he walked, but she wasn't sure how high or in which pack he held sway. <b>"Have you had a bad experience with them?"</b> It might have been a silly or stupid question, but it was the only way she knew how to break the ice. She was new here, newer than anybody else, and she was lone wolf. Usually they didn't stand a chance against a pack wolf, but today Ranger felt hopeful. Maybe she could get some information on the packs around here, and join one if she felt that she could contribute. <b>"I'm Ranger."</b>

The initial bristle of the she-wolf’s pelt stirred Ruiko’s own hackles; already distrusting of lone wolves, any sign of violence from another was enough to set off his own defences for a ruction. Her light nod revealed that he had caught her off guard, and the large tawny male relaxed slightly, his brown tail flicking idly in the summer breeze. It was a reaction he should have surmised, considering the angry scars that criss-crossed her muscled body. Her words were light even against the silence, but the stare of her golden eyes in to his was a challenge, and the Tainn wolf drew his muzzle up higher, his own expression unreadable, yet slowly lifting to a frown.

Her query was innocent enough, and in turn, the tawny River wolf gave a light nod of his muzzle. “Yes. You only need one bad experience to leave a bitter taste in your mouth” he replied in turn, not caring to elaborate on the tale. After all, Ruiko divulged little information to strangers, no matter how piqued his curiosity was toward them. “Ruiko,” he returned after only a small moment. Unsettled by the way she looked to his eyes, the male held still, waiting for the polite conversation to take a sudden turn for the worst – it wouldn’t have been the first time it had happened.

A <span class='word'>ruction</span> seemed imminent, as the male before her also raised his hackles. As soon as she calmed down, however, he did as well. They were both prepared for a fight, having been caught off guard by the other's actions, and it seemed such a simple misunderstanding would have led to a fight if Ranger hadn't let him know she really meant no harm. She nodded again, taking half a step back and lowering her head slightly. She would remain this way for the rest of their conversation. While her body was lower and showed submission, the ex-Delta wasn't used to <i>not</i> looking others in the eye. She had been above the rest in her pack, but now had to remember that she wasn't a leader in these strange lands.

Her posture indicated that whatever her eyes did, she submitted fully to this pack wolf. He could call up his buddies and disembowel her (or at least try) within moments, and she did not want her guts on the ground. Ranger understood that one bad experience was enough to ruin anything, and apparently eating blackberries was no different. <b>"Thank you for the warning,"</b> she said, her head nodding again. She was thankful for this man's generosity, as not many would even stop to piss on a loner, let alone talk to her and give her advice. <b>"I'm new to these lands. They are beautiful."</b> her compliment was genuine and wasn't meant to flatter the male, as he had no say in how these lands grew. But he could take pride in the fact that others noticed. <b>"Could you tell me what packs make their homes here?"</b>

Each fleeting second passed and the she-wolf became less suspicious; her figure lowered with respect that far surpassed what he had expected from a lone wolf that answered to no one, and in turn, the tawny male inclined his muzzle down slightly to a friendlier level. There was a small smile that tugged to his lips at her words, though it broke the stoical mask upon his features only momentarily. “You’re welcome. I wouldn’t wish that pain on anyone,” he rumbled darkly, sarcasm lightly lacing his tones.

To her words about the beauty of the land, the feral beast took a second glance about the terrain, his shoulders giving a half-hearted shrug in agreement. He could see the beauty in the lands he called home, but with the recent happenings to his family, it was hard to appreciate anything that was around him.. spare the siblings he still had alive. “Swift River is a pack lead by Indru Tainn. We’ve claimed land in the Sacred Grove.” There was a small pause – the she-wolf had managed to obtain more information than he had offered anyone before. “Then, a wolf called Honijo Ithil has recently started a pack on the mountain. They’ve claimed Midnight Plateau.”

Ruiko seemed to have a sarcastic tone to his voice as he said he wouldn't wish stomach pains on anyone, but Ranger was sure that he was not being sarcastic toward her. She didn't have much time to dwell on it, however, because her mental tour guide gave her some information on the two packs in the area. The first was Swift River, led by a male named Indru. The other was Midnight Plateau led by Honijo, and she sensed some enmity coming from Ruiko. She digested this news quietly.

Once she was finished mulling it over, she glanced back up toward the male's face. <b>"I sense that you do not approve of Honijo."</b> It was a quietly spoken observation, as she wasn't sure she should have said that aloud anyway. But she had, and she'd have to deal with whatever retaliation he dealt. She paused for a moment and then said, just as quietly, <b>"Forgive my assumption. I got the sense that he had done some wrong to you."</b> Ranger's posture and tone were entirely neutral while she spoke, though there was a slight hint of apology within.

She took his information and processed it only momentarily, and then offered her two cents on the subject. Surprise flashed in the golden eyes of the male as he cast her a blank blink. Her observation was horribly wrong, yet it was a vellicate touch upon his soul that chilled his nerves uneasily. Honijo and he had not spoken since the dominance challenge, and while he had stripped his uncle of his rank, he had wondered whether he had stripped him of his love as well. The thought burned him.

“You’re senses are off then,” he mused gruffly, giving a light shake of his muzzle. It was curious to him how the dark she-wolf could come to these assumptions – especially her explanation that she believed Honjio had done wrong by him. “Our pack is recovering from a tragedy. Honijo was a loved member of the pack, and while he is no longer pack that doesn’t change our affections.” Blinking, Ruiko pulled his muzzle back slightly. This she-wolf was gaining far too much personal information from him.. he was beginning to sound like Indru.

<b>"I apologize,"</b> she said sincerely, her head bowed against him. There were moments when she was really thick, but usually she had the sense to keep her mouth shut. After all, she had been trained to fight, not think or speak too deeply. But apparently in these last few months she had begun to use her brain more often, and now she was making herself look like a righteous idiot. She remained in this bowed position for a few minutes but eventually lifted her head a little to look back up at Ruiko.

Ranger had never been much of a talker, but apparently his presence was making her mouth flap endlessly. She snapped it shut, however, and let her apology hang in the air between them. Her life had not been easy up until this point and it seemed that it still would not be a walk in the park. She cleared her throat softly and said, <b>"So your packs are on good terms?"</b>

He had thought little of her words in terms of insult – though it displeased him to think that someone he had simply traded names with proposed to know the depths of his feelings, but from the way the dark girl bowed her proud muzzle in humble apology, Ruiko felt his irritation slide away once more. Offeirng only a solemn nod of gratitude, he simply let the subject drop completely.

There was a moment of silence between the two that stirred Ruiko to blink up to the sky shortly. As was custom for his curiosity, the brown and golden wolf found his eyes straying across the angry scars upon her body, and he doubted she would care much for his stares. As he felt her gaze upon him once more, the stoical wolf glanced back to her once more for a second, his ears flickering forward to her query. “We are,” he clarified, though not making a further comment on the topic. There just wasn’t much else to say on the two packs. “And what about you? Why the life of a lone wolf?” If she felt inclined to ask more personal questions, he did not see why he could not do the same.