Riddle Heights Some Nights

http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j347/holdbacktherain/sets/shadetable.png) bottom center no-repeat; background-color: #c7b49b;"> Some nights Shade would wander far from the pack, the adventurer inside him had not extinguished. No, he was still an adventurer at heart, it would stay that way. What was one to expect after 5 years of being a lone wolf. He joined Willow Ridge, but things had gotten a bit confusing, then odd, now he was scared of Elettra. The events in the timeline were odd for a wolf whom had shielded his heart his entire life. He'd recruited a wolf, Rosealia, because he liked her a lot. Not as a friend, he had a bit of a crush on the fae. Then, Elettra had let her in, he took her out for training in the mountain. She'd asked for it. After teaching her a special move, 'The Slayer Kick of Justice' which was a kick towards the face or whichever body part you feel like kicking in defeat. It wasn't very noble. But who said all lone wolves were noble? But Rose had indeed led him to a meadow or a rise or something along those lines, she confessed that she liked him, it was a fast growing relationship. He now had believed that he loved a girl at first site. When they told Elettra, even though it was in the rules to have a mate if there were to be no pups. Elettra seemed to be flared, which led to Shade believing that Koda and Elettra were not true mates. Shade caught a whiff of another wolf, at least he thought he did. His senses so confused since facing Elettra. The chick had knocked fear into his heart for the first time since his father. <b style="color:#8e989d">"Is someone out there?" He called wearily. this scent, it brought back memories of the days Shade wished he could forget.Shade was born to an unknown line of Lone Wolves. The Slayer wolves. His father ruthless, crueld and mean. When he started training Shade and his sister Shadowstorm how to survive the cold world. He used his first lesson: Packs are weak, bottom-feeding losers that couldn't take care of themselves, so they hung together and shared food. He told Shade never to join a pack. Shade was an idealistic child. He had reason and said that wolves would be stronger in numbers. His father attacked him, leaving no permenant scars, but the emotional trama to get it stuck into his head. This went on for a year or so, his mother kept begging his father to stop, claiming they were children, they didn't know better. It got worse as it happened. His father started to beat her too. It was gruesome to watch. He was out on a final hunting assignment. Returned early with two hares for the family. He came to the sight of his parents fighting a group of two or three lone wolves. Out of fright, he ran for his life. Hoping his sister made it out alive too, he began to search for her. He searched everywhere far and wide for a long 4 years. He finally came and arrived here, in Relic Lore.

table by bryony

I'll put this before The Lost Song because that is getting... intense... and I don't know how its going to end.

<blockquote> The tawny wolf curled tightly around the only thing in the world that mattered to her at this moment. Her son. Her stomach growled and his smaller one responded with the same sound and she licked his small dark head soothingly. Game was sparse on the heights, so they had been hiking up to the lake to fish, but after she was spotted last night she had become spooked. She would travel down to the rise in the morning to try and capture a rabbit for him. He would just have to wait for now.

The small boy didn’t complain. He never did, and while it worried her she had long ago acknowledged that this was the life they were going to live. It wouldn’t be easy, but they would do what they had to to survive.

Her lids had just drifted shut when the voice broke through the silence. Her ears flicked forwards in question as she unfurled herself and stepped over her small child protectively, her head dipped low and her feet splayed. For the first time in what felt like an eternity her tail twitched upward. She would tolerate no rubbish from a rogue. But this wolf wasn’t a rogue. He smelled of pack, but not one she was aware of.

Words did not come as easy to her as they once had, and so she responded with a short sharp bark. As her eyes began to pick out the dark form in the night her ears flicked forwards. Her nose had already told her this wolf was a stranger, little more did she know than that.</blockquote>

Alright! This containes many flashbacks from his and Shadowstorms and Rose's life. They are all kinda connected while they aren't. My muse is in the hole for Shade, sorry for the lamely flashback post.

http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j347/holdbacktherain/sets/shadetable.png) bottom center no-repeat; background-color: #c7b49b;"> The scent of a loner filled his nose as a short bark replied his response. This loner did not appear to be alone. She had the brief smell of a pup on her. Was this that she was a mother maybe. His nose was always deceiving his mind with cunning sharp words that cut into him. <b style="color:#8e989d">"Hello? I just want to help." He said coming into view of the tawny wolf. Seeing the slenderer frame. It caused a memory hare trigger. Rosealia's terrifiying history. A shame his mate EVER had to go through that. Born an only little girl, Gabby would've been set up for a perfect life if her mother hadn't gone mad. But she did and eventually ran away when her father, Claude, couldn't keep her mother sane or quiet. Her father took care of her until he taught her to hunt, and when she asked where mommy was, he would tell her "far away." She also had an aunt named Venus who substituted for her mother by teaching her how to dig dens and track rabbits the way she was built. Her aunt taught her to lie and hide in the darkness, but her father made sure his sister, Venus didn't teach her any more of that. Venus also had four little pups, named Maddie, Boa, Blake, and Serpentine. They were her cousins, two years younger than her and quite obnoxious little cubs. They caused constant trouble in her life, pranking and such. After that, and when Venus' pups grew up and the old aunt died, Gabby took care of her elderly father. Until she left him one cold morning and she found him mauled by a bear. Then he remembered Shadowstorm telling him of a nightmare she'd had, Kyrie a woke her and all waws good. But it haunted him. Shadowstorm was in her own personal hell. She was alone, trapped in a cave that had no exit. She was stuck with her dad. She was leader of a pack and stuck with her dad which made it worse. Her dad was her worst nightmare. He talked, was the only one capable of moving his jaws. The only one who could move. She stiffened with fright for a moment of two. Before she knew it, her entire body frozen. She had a sort of body lock. Her father lunged after a long speech on how much of disgrace she'd brought to the Slayer line. He'd given her the last name Coaten for further disgrace. Turns out her father was once known as Coaten. Born into a pack, found the name a disgrace and connected it with packs. He attacked her while her body was still locked in place. Attacking, and maiming her. Until she was barely alive. He spat on her and walked away proud now of his work. Going to find Shade. She still couldn't speak. Her head screaming thoughts to keep him away from Shade.

table by bryony

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c58/becuffin/trigger.jpg) bottom no-repeat; background-color: #301e4e;"> Words held little meaning to the feral beast within her. Long ago had she blocked out the kind and caring creature she had been. The leader, the healer, they were buried down deep beneath the pain, and the guilt, and the hunger... She was running on reserves. The only thing that mattered anymore was food, shelter, water and her son... and this stranger was drawing far too close. A feral snarl began to bubble in her chest, the only warning she could give the stranger to stop where he stood. Females, she afforded some leniency, but strange males could not, no, would not be trusted. It was doubtful she would let the boys own father near him anymore. It had been just the two of them for so long. The dark bundle beneath her stomach was her world. Her mind was screaming at her. Feral, intelligible snarls and yips. She knew how to speak, somewhere, deep down, she had words... She had used them before. Panic was painted clearly on her face as she scrambled for the words she was looking for, to decipher what the stranger was trying to tell her. Help... Help. She had called for help for days... weeks... until the realisation struck that she was trapped. The word made her stomach tight with anxiety. Nobody had helped her when she had asked for it. It was far too late to offer now... and yet... The pangs of pain struck worst in the night. The two - mother and son - were clearly in need of something more substantial. Perhaps with the help of another they could eat properly, at least once... But how to communicate it...? As it so happened, she wouldn't have to. The small child between her legs decided to voice their dilemma for her. Standing up to lick at the corners of her mouth the small pup whined to her. "Soon..." she whispered to the only wolf able to draw words from her. If all went to plan, the two would eat well tonight.

code by bryony

(This post was last modified: Sep 11, 2012, 01:02 PM by Naira.)

http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j347/holdbacktherain/sets/shadetable.png) bottom center no-repeat; background-color: #c7b49b;"> 'Do you believe it god, written on the bullet, say yes to pull the trigger and my sister Cassie pulled it.' Shade stepped back as a feral growl, he then saw the cub, she was a protective mother, he gave they're space and sat down, waiting for an answer, this mother did not like to talk. In some ways, it reminded him of Rose. His mate, she did not talk at first either, as if she was afraid to, but that was different circumstances. No, here she looked a bit hungry. Normally Shade would bring a hungry wolf a rabbit. But he couldn't even get close to this wolf so he'd learn her name. <b style="color:#8e989d">"I am Shade, Subordinate of Willow Ridge." He said realizing he'd forgotten to say his own name, perhaps this was why she was so hesitant. He sat there, a friendly smile on his face and he had the slightest tail wag. He was a friend, whether or not she felt like he was, was still the question, it kinda drove him crazy, his OCD kinda kicking in. His tail, back, forth in an almost strait line. He looked at the little cub, scrawny like his mother. It looked like it had been weeks, maybe even months since they'd gotten a good meal. Surely it was just because they were not used to being on they're own, but no smell of pack clung to they're fur. Strange. What was the tale to this pair, the mother and child. Whatever it was, he was going to find out. He wasn't a softie really, but wasn't stone cold. Something about them made the unheard of emotions kick in: Kindness and empathy.

table by bryony

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c58/becuffin/hold.jpg) bottom no-repeat; background-color: #301e4e;"> Willow Ridge? What the hell was a Willow Ridge? Her stomach protested noisily as she stepped forward, her tail rigidly in line with her spine and her chin tucked, head dipped low. She swayed from side to side as she stalked forward, observing the stranger before her almost hungrily as she sashayed about him, inching closer to better take in his scent. He seemed to be in good shape. Far better than her own. Still, she relaxed. He had given her space when she needed it. He was ok. Yes he would do just fine. ”Hunt?” It was only worded as a question for his benefit, she had already turned to make her way further up the path to a goat track she had been watching for a while now. Adonis vanished amongst the rocky terrain just as she had taught him. He was such a good boy. It was only a short walk away, and still the tawny wolf stopped and looked over her shoulder questioningly. It was entirely up to him if he came or not, but two wolves would always be more successful than one, and she was yet to meet a wolf, loner or pack, that was willing to pass up a chance at a meal, shared or otherwise.

code by bryony

http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j347/holdbacktherain/sets/shadetable.png) bottom center no-repeat; background-color: #c7b49b;"> Hunt? A hunt would do fine, he needed the excersize, he also didn't want to eat, he ate when he hunted for the pack, but this lone wolf was hungry, perhaps while she was eating, he could... slip... slip away, disappear into the deep dark mountains high in the sky. Yes, that's what he would do. It was time for his plan to work for once. <b style="color:#8e989d">"I suppose a hunt wouldn't hurt before I have to return to my pack." He said calmly. A flashback insured, it was a flashback of his past. Shade was born to an unknown line of Lone Wolves. The Slayer wolves. His father ruthless, crueld and mean. When he started training Shade and his sister Shadowstorm how to survive the cold world. He used his first lesson: Packs are weak, bottomfeeding losers that couldn't take care of themselves, so they hung together and shared food. He told Shade never to join a pack. Shade was an idealistic child. He had reason and said that wolves would be stronger in numbers. His father attacked him, leaving no permenant scars, but the emotional trama to get it stuck into his head. This went on for a year or so, his mother kept begging his father to stop, claiming they were children, they didn't know better. It got worse as it happened. His father started to beat her too. It was gruesome to watch. He was out on a final hunting assignment. Returned early with two hares for the family. He came to the sight of his parents fighting a group of two or three lone wolves. Out of fright, he ran for his life. Hoping his sister made it out alive too, he began to search for her. He searched everywhere far and wide for a long 4 years. He finally came and arrived here, in Relic Lore.

table by bryony

I don't like dragging walking out over posts and posts. Sorry if it's a bit of a PP, feel free to have your guys account of the walk in the next one though, we don't have to jump straight into the hunt.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c58/becuffin/trigger.jpg) bottom no-repeat; background-color: #301e4e;"> The switch had been flicked and words disappeared as the tawny wolf became the hunter. She had learned these lands like she knew her mates face before and the lay of the land had not changed much since then. A few landslides had washed out where paths had once been, but they were easily maneuvered around. She set a round eating pace, onwards and upwards. This was where she was meant to be. Her head occasionally dipped to check the freshness of the trail she was following and her ears remained pricked and swiveling to catch even the smallest pebble slip that may indicate their prey was nearby. She snorted in disgust as they passed a wolverine trail. Filthy beasts. She had gotten herself into a slight jam one day when she was pregnant and annoyed at their scent all over her lands. She had tracked down their den and tore their young limb from limb before the parents returned to find her covered in the blood of their children. One she could handle. The second posed problems. If it hadn’t been for Vafri, there may not be a Naira today. She still carried a scar from that encounter, although it was well concealed beneath her fur. For a moment her thoughts wandered and she wondered what had ever happened to her white knight. Her bard. Her friend. Finally, up ahead, she could hear the restless shifting of goats and the pitiful bleats of the young. A quick look over her shoulder to the smaller male and her teeth flashed in a dangerous smile. She was not one to quail at the danger hunting on the heights posed. She relished in it, and so, she lowered her frame and began to stalk around the herd, using the large boulders as cover. They just had to get close enough.

code by bryony

(This post was last modified: Sep 16, 2012, 12:27 AM by Naira.)

*Is confused*

http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j347/holdbacktherain/sets/shadetable.png) bottom center no-repeat; background-color: #c7b49b;"> Shade simply nodded, he followed the mother around, she was leading the hunt, or at least appeared to be. He watched carefully in case something happened. A memory, of Rose's history, her real name was Gabby, but she was his rose. At least thats what she wanted to be called. Born an only little girl, Gabby would've been set up for a perfect life if her mother hadn't gone mad. But she did and eventually ran away when her father, Claude, couldn't keep her mother sane or quiet. Her father took care of her until he taught her to hunt, and when she asked where mommy was, he would tell her "far away." She also had an aunt named Venus who substituted for her mother by teaching her how to dig dens and track rabbits the way she was built. Her aunt taught her to lie and hide in the darkness, but her father made sure his sister, Venus didn't teach her any more of that. Venus also had four little pups, named Maddie, Boa, Blake, and Serpentine. They were her cousins, two years younger than her and quite obnoxious little cubs. They caused constant trouble in her life, pranking and such. After that, and when Venus' pups grew up and the old aunt died, Gabby took care of her elderly father. Until she left him one cold morning and she found him mauled by a bear. It was a shame she'd ever had to go through that, the poor girl had to watch her father, DIE, before her eyes by a bear.

table by bryony

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c58/becuffin/trigger.jpg) bottom no-repeat; background-color: #301e4e;"> As much as she would have preferred to target an adult, the simple fact was, in her diminished state, she would struggle to carry anything heavier than one of the well fed kids back to her son, and so, she began to work her way around the herd. A simple look should have been enough to tell the male to stay put. The panic the tawny lady would cause would send them racing in all directions and she didn’t care to miss a meal because her hunting partner wasn’t where he was supposed to be. Well practiced paws did not slip, or dislodge loose pebbles as she made her way around. She used cracks in the strewn boulders to spy out her target, their white coats almost glowing under the light of the moon. The hematic scent of the injured wafted through the air and a familiar, dangerous grin passed her face. It would seem Ava had done half the work for her. The injured adult was small, and the others kept their distance, lest the scent of her distress drew predators. Naira’s plan changed then and there. The injured goat would do just nicely and she would handle dragging it back to her son when the time came. He was old enough now to meet her half way. Sneaking as closely as she dared, it was time. The large wolf confidently moved forwards, her eyes locked on her target. They would not go hungry tonight.

code by bryony