Secluded Spring The Tides of Change

The spring bubbled up sending mist into the morning air. Fog was
settled around the secluded area as the morning slowly warmed up.
A black shadow parts the fog as it moves swiftly along through the misty trees.
Hotei had been in a good mood ever since he'd met Rissa his new niece and
his old friend Jessie. Now he was wandering around towards Copper Rock Creek.
Torla was nowhere to be seen. He wasn't sure if she was catching up with Indru
or the female alpha, but at least he had Jessie for company. She had wanted to go with
him for some reason. Hotei was happy that she'd come. The only thing was that he
didn't exactly know if she wanted to come just to go someplace with him or if she had
business with Copper Rock Creek.


The black shadow paused in a sunlit space and relished the warmth soaking
into his ebony coat. The recent rains annoyed him since he got colder than most wolves
did if they were caught out in the rain. This was due to his open areas of skin which would
make him feel frozen when cold rain fell upon him.


Looking over his shoulder Hotei waited for Jessie to catch up. Then the black wolf
set off again. They had not talked as of yet during their journey. Hotei was just too
nervous to talk to her. He knew he should say something but nothing came out
as he padded usually to her right side or slightly ahead.


The scents of the border came over Hotei's nose and he froze. Ruiko. Ruiko's scent
was fresh. Perhaps he'd gone through with a patrol around the territory just before
they'd gotten there. The dark wolfs tail starting wagging again. It just seemed to do that so
often lately. Especially when Hotei finds out about family still being alive.
"I wonder if he's still close by?" Hotei was very curious. He didn't want to cross the border.
If he'd been a loner then maybe, but now he was apart of Swift River pack. So crossing
the border was a definate no no.
Turning his head to Jessie Hotei smiled and said, "Do you think we should
call for someone when we get to the border?" He tried speaking to her and wound up
talking very quietly. Avoiding her beautiful emerald eyes he scolded himself for being stupid.


Theme Song

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/bluepups/JessieTable.png); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; padding-top: 15px; padding-bottom: 290px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px;">When Jessie had found out Hotei was taking a small trip back to the Secluded Springs area, she had been more than happy to ask him if she could tag along. Last time she had gone by the area, she had scented Sloane. . .and it had been quite strong, and the gray lady had been more than eager to go back and take a look around. Her paw steps were light as she padded next to Hotei, him coming to check back on her every now and then. For some odd reason, her eyes kept drifting back towards his scarred form curiosity within her. But every time that he would turn to look at her she would quickly glance away in fear that he had seen her staring at him. She didn’t understand what was going on with her. She didn’t understand the emotions that she was feeling right now, it was as if she were being compelled to look at him.

She didn’t mind it though, he was handsome. . .but with the thought she blushed and glanced down just as he turned towards her to make sure she was still behind him, which she was. Her tail wagged behind her and she smiled nervously at him as she waited. Finally the familiar scent of borders overwhelmed her nostrils, and she instantly reared back, as if there was a shield keeping her away. Her friend’s voice echoed in her head once again, her gaze sweeping before his stunning yellow ones. With a small smile and nod of encouragement she whispered to him, “Go for it. I’ll be right here.”

With Jessie by his side Hotei felt an odd sensation crackle through his
fur. It was almost like excitment, but it also left him warm and confortable.
He saw her own tail wag behind him which made him even more glad to
be with her. She always seemed to be in a good mood.
Smiling he turned his fine patchy furred head to the scents of the border and
scented it a few more times. Recalling Ruiko's scent Hotei was quite happy
to know that both of his brothers Indru and Ruiko were doing so well.


Almost losing himself in the memories Hotei had to drag his mind away
from them in order to think through what might happen after calling for Ruiko.
Maybe he'd be angry at Hotei for coming back so late, then again maybe not. The
blackish wolf didn't know exactly how his brother would react. He hoped that his
rusty coated brother wouldn't be as shocked as Indru had been at first.


Ears folded back Hotei lifted his head and howled a drumming low
note calling for his lost family. The note, low as it was, sang through the trees
reaching far across the territory. With the call ending Hotei stepped back and then sat
down and scratched his scruff with a back leg. His skin had been bothering him lately
maybe because he'd gotten so wet from the recent rains. Only momentarily distracted
by the itch Hotei turned and looked at Jessie again.
"I can't believe I'm gonna see my brother again. I'm so excited!" He confessed while
his tail wagged a bit thumping the ground.


Theme Song

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/bluepups/JessieTable.png); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; padding-top: 15px; padding-bottom: 290px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px;">When the black male decided to settle down for a moment she did the same, planting her own rump down exactly where she had stopped walking, only slightly behind Hotei. She did not like the thought of walking any further near the Copper Rock Creek borders, something about them scared her slightly. Perhaps it was the power that rooted her. It was almost stronger than Swift River’s own border markings. . .but then perhaps she was just getting used to the scent. When Hotei’s ears flattened and his howl pierced the hair, Jessie listened to the long, low howl. It felt as though his voice rooted her down to her very core and sang to her. If it had been any other wolf, the gray girl probably would have flattened her ears as well and turned away, not interesting in listen to another call. . .but why did it seem her emotions were different around Hotei. . .or Burn?

Her tail thumped happily on the ground as he spoke to her, her very own smile growing when he spoke of his family. His yellow eyes just seemed to radiate the excitement he was feeling. “I’m sure you are. I’m glad you came looking for your sibling.” It just seemed to be one of the things she understood about the large male in front of her. His handsome features seemed to be accented, her eyes easy on picking them up. Her head bent forward slightly and she attempted to nuzzle him on the shoulder in encouragement. She didn’t want him to be nervous when he encountered his family members. He just wanted them to be excited.

A howl beckoned him; the morning seemed just to be stretching it’s warmth over the land and Ruiko cast a tired and blinking look to the three progeny that rest between him and his beautiful mate. A yawn escaped his jaws, and before lumbering to his paws and exiting the den, the tawny male gave each his family a loving lick to the crown of their heads, lingering longer upon Aeylen’s snout.

After a quick stretch just outside the den, the regal male trailed quickly to where he believed the sound to come from. Lifting his own muzzle, the golden wolf echoed a call back, notifying whoever was requesting him that he was on his way.

Protective of his family and home, Ruiko had insisted the den be farther from the borders, and thus it took him some time before his arrival. Lifting himself dominantly, the Tainn male strode to the clearing of the borders, noting with mild interest the presence of two wolves, both holding the scent of Swift River. Curious if Indru or Corinna had sent them, the Creek wolf trailed closer, offering a ‘wuff’ of greeting.

His gaze studied the darker male with intrigue, noting the patches of fur missing and the misshapen pucker of what could only be scars upon the male’s skin. Something tugged at him then, but he could not place why, and while he attempted not to blatantly stare, Ruiko canted his muzzle at the familiarity of the other male’s eyes.

Hotei stood quietly as the rust and gray colored wolf padded through
the forest and undergrowth. Once he came closer Hotei's body relaxed
as he almost instantly recognized his brothers face. That face and body that was
so close to Indru's own physique. The dark males tail began to wag and his face
went from a calm one to a gentle smile. However as the younger Tainn watched he
realized that Ruiko must have not recognized him. At least he wasn't showing any
signs of recognizing him. Not like Indru had. Well at first Indru didn't recognize me either..


Hotei lowered his head and huffed out a few playful growls while still wagging his tail.
"Ruiko.. I know you are Ruiko. You still look like Indru, and your scent is still the same.." He
lifted his head again and danced around in palce a little bit showing his throat all the while
giving the " I'm no threat" pose. However he smiled the whole time doing it.
"Come on Ruiko you don't recognize me?" Hotei stopped all his movementsand
stood watching his elder brother with excited yellow eyes.


"I guess my body did grow into my big ears and long legs." He gave
the alpha a big grin that reached from eartip to eartip. He wondered how long
it would take for Ruiko to realize who he was.


Theme Song

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v201/bluepups/JessieTable.png); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; padding-top: 15px; padding-bottom: 290px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px;">Her body stood rigidly in the back ground, her emerald green eyes watching the exchange carefully. The male in front of her was large, bigger than Hotei! It was slightly intimidating, along with the extra build of dominance. Her head lowered and ears flattened on her head as the male approached. Whoever he was, he held a high rank, and she didn’t want her head to get ripped off due to her being rude or not being submissive. Her heart pounded fast in her chest as she watched the two. Perhaps Hotei had been mistaken. . .this wasn’t his brother? No sign of familiarity seemed to be on the other male’s face and Jessie was slightly terrified with the male. He could easily crush her with his own paw.

Her paws brought her slightly behind her friend. She knew the other wolf had noticed her and that her presence was already known, but she wanted to feel as if she were slightly protected and so her shoulder was in line with her friend’s flake. The fact that he was close to her slightly comforted her but made her happy none the less. The black scarred male made her highly happy. . .whether he was Burn or Hotei. . . It didn’t matter, she still held a high curiosity of him. She exhaled shakily as she stared at the large man in front of her. What was to go on now?

The ebony male spoke his name and the stoical wolf barely withheld a frown. His eyes roved over the younger wolf again, trying to connect the past with the wolf that stood before him now, and while recognition did not come to him just yet, a small nagging emotion pressed him to try to recall something.

His eyes briefly drifted to the silver she-wolf, though he did not feel the same pull to her as he felt for the large male before him. Burns coursed the wolf’s body, and only then did the familiar voice finally click together. Blinking, the regal’s eyes widened as he stiffened, realization dawning upon him like a freight train. Hotei. He had grown – he had been but a Yearling when the fire had happened, and had been believed to be dead when they could find no trace of him.

“Brother,” he whispered, his tail finally giving away to a furious wag as he leapt forward, making to tackle Hotei to a wolfish hug/pin. A whine elicited from Ruiko’s jaws as he took in Hotei’s scent, reassuring himself that the boy had not gained more than scars from wildfire that had taken everything from them.

Instantly, Ruiko was taken back to his own youth, helping to raise the cubs of the pack. Hotei had always been a gentle soul – the special one. With a playful nip cast to the ebony wolf’s shoulder, the tawny regal made to lead a game of chase, expecting his brother to partake. For the moment, the pain of Kinis’ disappearance dulled, and the hours would pass while he would catch up with his younger brother before the two would depart back to Swift River.