Cedarwood Forest When trouble comes a knockin'

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c58/becuffin/Val-1.jpg) bottom no-repeat; background-color: #2d6385;"> It had taken him long enough to get here, although he had always been a fan of the scenic route, and even now, reluctance dragged at his pelt... but he didn’t know where else to turn. The winter was coming and the mountain was too cold... besides, this was so much closer to that pretty little thing in the Willows. She would be worth the extra work he was sure. He just had to keep tending to those little seeds of doubt. As he walked amongst the cedar trees, familiar scents teased his nose and he almost felt at home. It was the closest he had come to one since all those years ago when his parents had asked him to leave. He smirked at the memory. Yes he had been a trouble maker, and he was glad to be rid of them, yet here he was again... back on the borders of his second ever pack, looking past the borders and into the place he had called his home for a time. Would he call it so again? He sat for a moment, waiting for that tell-tale sign, a flash of white, or maybe even the glossy black of Kade’s coat dancing between the trees. But he was not a patient wolf. He tipped his head back and called out, a song of return and a request, for one of the leaders of the Hollow to meet with him. A touch of nervousness entered his system as he lowered his head and waited in silence, ears scanning for the slightest hint of movement amongst the trees.

code by bryony

(This post was last modified: Oct 08, 2012, 04:13 AM by Valiant.)

<blockquote>Borden Lyall had an agenda to do. Most of his hours these days were lent to keeping an eye on the children when Jaysyek needed to get away and relax, patrolling and keeping an eye on the pack's caches. Usually Kade, Follko and Sibyl did an exceptional job at keeping the pups well-fed but when a food store that he normally shared went empty, he would fill it again with whatever he could find. While he was sticking to the paths he normally took when he was reconditioning the territory borders, he made a point to investigate nearby rabbit warrens and the trails left by migrating deer. He had spotted a wary doe eyeing him when a song reached his ears.

He gave the doe a hard glare and she darted off without a second thought. She had been too healthy for him to catch up to her anyways. With his limp and the subtle haze in his right eye, the chase would not have been worth it. He tilted his head and turned toward the sound. Without words, someone was calling for him, for Jaysyek or anyone of authority. Borden opted to have his beloved deal with this visitor but thought better of it. If she wasn't trying to keep their brood out of trouble, she was busy with her own itinerary. Taking up a steady pace, he strode towards the borders, his pale eyes scanning the trees before him eagerly until the figure of someone familiar came into view.

The silvery coat and golden eyes could have only belonged to the male that he had faced a few months ago in his crusade for Jaysyek's heart. <i>Valiant.</i> The Hollow leader stopped short of the nervous man by a few meters, allowing him space as he eyed him over. <b>"You,"</b> he addressed, his tone casual and not even close to accusatory. <b>"I <i>remember</i> you."</b> The smile that had crept up on his masked features softened and a more solemn expression hardened his expression. <b>"Why have you come?"</b></blockquote>

Well, what do you want from me?

<blockquote>There was something about autumn's shades of rust and gold that never failed to sooth him. Something about the chill of a cold wind, the way the morning frost clung to the withering grasses, how the leaves would fall as though an angel had blown them from the tree tops in a single, soft breath...

Gentle, silver eyes would blink as the Guardian's gaze roved over the borders of Grizzly Hollow's territory. It felt as though he had become a part of this landscape, tied to it by time, a silver-swept shadow who roamed with the moonlight through the trunks of the cedar giants. <i>How time had passed.</i> He remembered the way he stood in this very place long ago, a northern wind at his back as he peered into the mystery of a forest he knew only to belong to <i>her</i>; now, it was his home behind him, and the outside world which he took in with curiosity.

Funny how things turn out.

A familiar, and yet forgotten, sound rang clear through the air, jolting the wolf from his thoughts. Triangle ears flexed backward before he stood to face the echo in the woods. <i>What in the</i>...

The trek was short - by now he knew grounds like the back of his paw - and eventually led the male along the border to a sight for sore eyes, arguably. The scent of an old friend mingled with that of Borden's, and in an instant a sideways smirk crossed his face as he came upon the pair. In the distance stood a huge, fuzzy, womanizing Valiant, the devil-in-disguise who proved to be quite the companion.

The Attaya's strides were not without haste as he approached, unsure of what the surprise would mean to Borden and for the wolves of the Hollow.</blockquote>

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c58/becuffin/Val-1.jpg) bottom no-repeat; background-color: #2d6385;"> It had not been the men of the Hollow he had expected to answer his call but he was grateful for a response none the less. His tail hung low, although it waved in greeting as he heard the movement, and at Borden’s approach his ears pinned back and his dipped. They had danced once before, and the silver wolf preferred his looks not suffer overly for his pride... although it hadn’t quite worked that way with Jedd... At least he didn’t need to feel guilt returning here. He had told Jayse of his departure, and he had roamed far and wide... and now he was back. He answered the smile with one of his own... almost unsure of himself now that he was standing here. Did he really want to shoulder the responsibilities of a pack again? A pack with from the smell of it, four young pups? Before he had a chance to respond though, another answered his call. His smile only broadened at the approach of Kade. He was glad to see the dark protector remained. Other scents, he had crossed were not so familiar to the pale wolf but at least some familiar faces remained. Turning his attention back to the patriarch of the Hollow, his demeanor turned somewhat more serious. It wasn’t quite a reunion yet. “I was uh... wondering...” his charm attacks never worked on males, not that he had ever really tried... but even he wasn’t stupid enough to start trying now... “If, uh- you might have some use for me now I’m back in the area?” He showed the markers of having been on a long journey, thought not quite as badly as some may expect. His stance remained lowered, and he hadn’t made a move to cross the invisible line that marked the borders of Grizzly Hollow. He wasn’t counting his pheasants before they hatched.

code by bryony

(This post was last modified: Oct 14, 2012, 01:22 AM by Valiant.)

<blockquote>As if he had been needed to be assured that Valiant Morino had meant no harm or came with seemingly good intentions, Kade strode up beside him. The leader's eyes went to the coal-pelted man, gauging his own reaction to Valiant's reappearance. When Borden's gaze returned to the silvery visitor, he noted how a smile appeared on his face and how quickly it disappeared on a more earnest note when he was acknowledged. So far, so good; and, even though, Valiant Morino fumbled with his words, the leader listened eagerly with both of his rounded ears. Without saying a word to demand that he get to the point, he waited until a full answer was given.

Valiant's charm might not have truly worked on the Lyall but the sincerity was what genuinely got Borden to seriously consider a well-thought out answer. That, and the respect that was promptly given where it was due. When he and Kade had ruled this part of the Cedarwood, Valiant had been merely a pawn in Borden's scheme, a spy ordered to check up on both Kade and Jaysyek. Now, here he was, requesting from both of them the safety of their pack and everything else pack life had to offer should they have use for him.

The masked patriarch glanced back to Kade and cast him a questioning gaze. Perhaps he had had a better experience with Valiant than he had. <b>"Perhaps,"</b> he replied slowly, considering that his youngest children could use an extra set of eyes to look out for them and the pack might need another body to help keep the caches stocked during the winter. <b>"And if we should allow you to come back to Grizzly Hollow, what will you give us in return?"</b></blockquote>

Well, what do you want from me?

<blockquote>For a moment he wondered if it were the fact that Valiant's return would mean a healthy, masculine addition to the pack, or the addition of a friend that most pleased him about the circumstance. Friends had always been hard for him to come by, and although he and Valiant had gotten off to a rocky start, their casual relationship had been just that - friendship. Winter had yet to fail to be a challenge for the pack that had long been his family, and it appeared this season was to be no different. Still, he questioned whether or not the Lyall would extend membership to Valiant.

The underlying inquiry in Borden's gaze was not lost upon him, and he offered a respectful nod to the man in return. He was unaware of the agreement once made between the two wolves before him, but it would not have changed his opinion of either of them.

The silver-dusted guard watched the interaction with quiet obedience, curious as to what turn the conversation would take.</blockquote>

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c58/becuffin/Val-1.jpg) bottom no-repeat; background-color: #2d6385;"> What would you give us in return? It wasn’t particularly something he had thought about in any depth. His brows drew together as he wracked his mostly fluff filled brain for a response. Thinking too hard hurt when it wasn’t to a selfish end and the silvery wolf was quickly growing frustrated with himself for not having thought of this sooner. He was big, that was obvious, he wasn’t a stranger to fighting where it was required... But Borden could manage that himself and with Kade at his side, they would hardly have need for someone as slow to think things through as he. He thought, and thought hard, the difficulty of doing so painted plainly on his face. Last time, he had wanted Valiant to watch Jayse, and mess with Kade’s confidence, although the dark man had never been arrogant, so there had been very little to mess with. Who was the other? The other... Of course! How could he have forgotten. Elettra! The name burst forth in his mind with such fervor that he flinched. He took a moment to place all the pieces together. “I met a girl from the Willow pack... She was a talker. I didn’t think much of it at the time...” his sly smile betrayed his true intentions with the small fae. “She was upset, kept talking about how her mate was in the pack and she wanted to run away...blaablaablah.” His eyes rolled with the typical feminine drama with which she had carried on. “I could try and get some info out of her... Numbers, that sort of thing?” he suggested, mildly confused by his own train of thought but rolling with it none the less. But the borders had smelled relatively bare as well, and that was when the next anvil fell, for Valiant was far too simple to have a lightbulb moment. Why didn’t he think of it sooner? “And I met a lot of loners. Maybe I could track a few down and bring-em back? With winter on the way, you’ll need more hunters, and I mean, the grizzlies are bunking down but what about the rest?” he questioned almost hopefully. His tone was simple, childlike even. He was thrown well off balance with no women around to impress, but perhaps, impressions here mattered even more. Far from posing a threat to the men before him, his now obvious simplicity could almost be mistaken for innocence. Without Rhysis around to wield him for darker purposes, the silvery wolf was simply lost.

code by bryony

<blockquote>For a brief moment silence drew a bridge between question and answer. Patiently, Borden waited, watching attentively as the tentative male thought. He knew from experience the brute would prove useful as a sort of fierce guard, what with all four of the youngest Lyalls starting to push the farthest limits of his and Jaysyek's markers, but he truthful wanted to hear for himself what assets Valiant would boast. In due time Valiant informed the pair that he had met a talkative girl from Willow Ridge then offered to retrieve information on the pack.

Borden's brows lowered at first then lifted on a better note. He definitely didn't want anything to do with Elettra and all the unnecessary formality she radiated, but for one reason or another, an inkling of curiosity tugged at him. It didn't even occur to him at first that she could have possibly kept tabs on Grizzly Hollow. If that was the case, he supposed allowing Valiant the consent needed to investigate would be fine. In addition, he proposed in a perceptively amiable tone that he could help in recruiting others. With the winter frost due to arrive any day now, Grizzly Hollow would definitely benefit from extra bodies.

<i>"...I mean, the grizzlies are bunking down but what about the rest?"</i> The leader's head tilted thoughtfully and after giving the silver-coated man an approving nod, he turned to Kade. <b>"Seems like a very impressive, promising, answer to me,"</b> he smiled. <b>"What do you say, Kade?"</b></blockquote>

Well, what do you want from me?

<blockquote>Critical thinking had perhaps never been Valiant's forte, but it was certainly not for lack of trying. Unilaterally he raised a brow as he watched the wheels in the fluff ball's head spin, a soft and genuine grin tugging innocently at the corners of his lips. When the answer did come he'd made several points, the first of which involving a girl, naturally.

He himself knew little of Elettra's life or business these days, knowing only that she'd founded a pack of her own and settled somewhere in the vicinity of the Drooping Willows, judging from her scent strategically marked along its borders; his preferred route to the mountains coursed directly between her lands and Fireweed Rise. He also knew that she and Borden weren't exactly the best of friends, and rendered that it might interest him to keep tabs on her activity. There was really no place for espionage in his own life, least of all regarding their former second - one of few who supported his rise, and had always taken care of Jaysyek and the children. However, he did see the bottom line quite clearly. Perhaps bartered information would prove quite useful, should the Willow wolves have their own agenda against Borden or Grizzly Hollow.

The second point was valid at face value. Valiant was large, capable, and loyal, and in his eyes would be an appropriate and valuable addition. After all, Kade really would hate to see him turned away now.

He watched as Borden quietly expressed his interests and made his considerations. <i> "Seems like a very impressive, promising, answer to me. What do you say, Kade?"</i> And in solid agreement he nodded his approval and concurrence with a smile of his own.

<b>"Welcome back."</b></blockquote>

(This post was last modified: Nov 10, 2012, 05:04 PM by Kade.)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c58/becuffin/Val-1.jpg) bottom no-repeat; background-color: #2d6385;"> Perhaps he should have pressed his fighting abilities more? Perhaps he should have left Rose out of it? Maybe he shouldn’t have come here at all, but it was the forest that called him over the mountain. As much as he liked Athena, she seemed to impress certain requirements on her pack that he knew Jayse would never impose. He would be free to come and go, provided he did his part, and he could still visit the mountain. He could still wander, but for once, with a purpose. He almost held his breath as Borden posed his question to Kade. What an unlikely alliance had formed between the two after all that had passed last winter. When Kade’s answer came, with a smile relief ran through his veins. There wasn’t really another word for the weight he felt lifted from his shoulders. His tail began to wag in slow, low waves, and he suddenly realised, he had missed the cedar trees. He had missed having friends that didn’t just want him there to take the big hits for them. Hell, he had even hunted with this lot and not snuck back to hide the carcass on them (as amusing as it may have once seemed, it had somehow lost its appeal here). They didn’t expect him to be anymore than he was. Had he finally found a real home?

code by bryony

(This post was last modified: Nov 25, 2012, 10:37 PM by Valiant.)