Hush Meadow If She Wants To Go She Goes

2 degrees, partly cloudy, just before midnight

Minka awoke suddenly and lifted her head to the sky, the moon was almost at the top of the sky and she had been sleeping since sundown, since she slept the temperature has dropped and her breath rose and white puffs before her. If Rolland were there Minka was sure that he would have some kind of prediction based on the full moon about the weather or future events, but all of that had always been nonsense to Minka, she lived for today and what was before her. All that the full moon meant to her was that as of today she had been travelling for two moons, and it was obvious now that her past was not chasing her, or at least it wasn't yet. She was hidden behind a small hill in the earth, creating a make shift den that had protected her from wandering eyes and the biting winds that tore across this meadow, but now her stomach rumbled and she longed for company.

Traces of other wolves could be seen in this side of Eden and she knew that it would not take long to find where the nearest pack was located. Minka stood from behind her mound and lifted her nose to the sky, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply until suddenly her eyes dropped open and she realized what had woken her from her slumber. There just beyond the mound that still shielded her from view was a small doe, obviously injured and her hind quarters were bleeding badly, as if she had just escaped from a human trap. If she wasn't the strongest or the fastest of her siblings there was one thing she prided herself on, she was an excellent huntress. Her hackles rose and saliva gathered in the corners of her mouth, she lowered herself level to the ground and waited until the doe was near enough and she pounced. It was a clean kill, her jaw locked around the jugular and it was over in a matter of seconds, the doe crumpled to the ground in a heap. Minka couldn't help herself, this was the best meal she had received since she had abandoned her family, she lifted her muzzle and a triumphant howl rose into the night, shattering the silence.

(This post was last modified: Apr 03, 2013, 03:12 AM by Minka.)

click!

It was late – the full moon played upon the alabaster wolf’s fur as if illuminating him, and while the ground still remained covered with sparse bits of snow, he knew in time he would stand out like a sore thumb once more. It mattered little – five years was an age to be proud of, and at his prime in life, he felt a swell of pride of what the future may hold. Borlla would soon swell with the life they created together, and in time, he would find others to join them and claim a territory for their cubs to grow both healthy and safe within.

His paws melded to the ground, cloaked in small spatters of mud and snow as he stalked forward. His thoughts were adrift to seeking out his pale companion and settling at her side for the night, wrapped in her embrace, but a sharp howl rose above the midnight skies, causing the ivory wolf to jolt in a swift pause.

He waited a moment, his muzzle lifting to the air to determine the cause of such triumph. Blood was met, and curiously the Argyris wolf continued forward, this time following the trail of death. He was quick to find it – his eyes fell upon a small and sickly doe, cradled by a more delicate looking creature. Her pelt was dusted with cinnamons and greys, though a more sienna hue took hold along her spine. Blinking his fiery eyes, the male gave a dip of his muzzle toward the slain meal, stoical in her presence. “That’s quite the catch for a single wolf,” he murmured, his tail giving an idle flick, his posture relaxing to show he meant no harm.

Herpderp.. Gonna join cause I haven't posted in a while..

It was a calm April night. Warm enough for a creature with thick fur like wolves. Narimé was still her usual adventurous self never being able to sit still for too long. There were new things for her to do a part from hunting. Like running around the territory, or in her case walking cause she didn't feel so well that morning. Even though she was getting a little tired from the days activities Nari went out to do one last check on her new border. A border that had far less scents along it than her old home in Willow Ridge had. Cause there's only four of us really.. She reasoned as the silver wolf padded along the border marking it every once in a while.

It was the howl that brought her attention to the world outside of her new home. A triumphant howl echoing across the meadow and through their territory. It was also rather close by which caught Narimé's interest. She wondered who was so close to their newly marked territory, and yet far enough away not to scent them.

Should I go out? I have to stay safe, but maybe its a loner, and we have room for another hunter. Since I won't be able to go out hunting for a while.. She shook excitedly just with the understanding that she had little lives growing inside her. If things get nasty then I'll just run back to the border and call for back up, but hopefully things won't work like that..

Finally making up her mind the silver she wolf began trotting in the direction of the howl. Nari started off padding out of their sheltered forest and into the patchwork of grasses poking through the half frozen meadow. The night was beautiful, one that normally the gray hunter would have used for hunting. As she traveled nearer Narimé noted three scents and chuckled to herself. Someone else had the same hunting instinct that she had. There was a kill nearby.

The other two scents surprised her. One was a recognizable male scent. A scent that faintly held her old pack smell upon it. Phineas, the Willow Ridge wolf was near, perhaps already checking out the wolf who'd howled so proudly before. Narimé's keen nose knew that the other wolf scent, an adult females, was a loners scent. She padded forward wondering how Phineas would react to her appearance.

Letting out a loud bark Narimé announced her arrival so as not to scare the loner off. When she did finally see the two wolves she let her tail slip comfortably lower while wagging in a slow friendly manner. She reminded herself to keep her head up though. Enough to show her standing but still neutral as they were not on pack lands. She got there just as Phineas finished a sentence, though Nari wasn't sure if they had been speaking for longer.

"Yes it is a nice catch, but don't worry I'm not here to steal it from you." She added although her stomach suddenly growled filling with hunger. I wasn't hungry too long ago. Felt sick even.. Why am I hungry now? She ignored her stomach for now and gave the loner a small smile. Phineas she gave a wide grin and a flick of her silver tail in "hello".

Suddenly the wind changed and the scent of a large male, probably an alpha reached Mink'a nose just before the sound of his voice did. Startled Minka's hackles rose and her teeth stood barred, a snarl made her way up her throat before she noticed his friendly stance and she lowered her fur and her stance began to copy his instinctively. Her tail dropped between her legs and began to wag, but her head rose proudly and she nodded at his compliment. Another female entered the meadow and Minka's eyes flashed in excitement, this was the first contact she had made with others of her kind in months, and both seemed friendly enough. Upon hearing the she wolfs comment Minka looked upon the doe and then back to the others, making a snap decision trying to ingratiate Minka grabbed a hunk of the deer and then took a couple steps back, she placed the venison upon the ground in front of her paws. Gesturing toward the rest of the carcass she smiled at the two wolves in the meadow, "There is enough to go around" Minka settled down in a position comfortable enough to eat in, but also be able to watch the other wolves and began to gnaw at the meat before her.

click!

The she-wolf was surprised at his appearance, and the reaction to his presence was not overly welcoming upon first moment’s introduction. The brown female stiffened upon his arrival, her hackles bristling dangerously and the ivory male felt his own stir in retaliation. Yet the she-wolf took in his posture, and within a moment relaxed upon his intrusion of her meal. Dipping his muzzle in quiet greeting, the alabaster male opened his jaws to speak, though the soft yet slightly familiar bark of another caused his teeth to click shut.

Blinking, the fiery eyes of the Argyris male shifted to the other who entered, taking in Narime’s form with a soft smile. Relaxing his large figure, the male strode forward a a few paces, closing the distance between them and to greet his old pack mate with a bump to her cheek. “Narime, it’s good to see you,” he murmured, his eyes drifting over her, noting the change in her scent – not just of pack, but the lingering of something else..

One ear flickered in the direction of the other female’s voice, his gaze soon following. The offer was impressive, though a surge of guilt swept through him – he had not come to steal her meal. His eyes drifting briefly back to Narime, a low sigh escaped him, uncertain of what she would think of his news.

Not wishing to rudely decline the female’s offer, Phineas dipped his muzzle down, moving toward the kill. “Thank you,” he murmured, his jaws taking hold of the deer’s flank and working his teeth to take a small portion of the meat. Finally, after a few moments, the wolf severed a portion of the top back leg, not wishing to take any more of a lone wolf’s meal. Dropping the meat down, he settled to his haunches, his tongue sweeping over his jowls to clean the blood. “My mate could use this to keep her strength – she’s pregnant.”

Narimé smiled warmly after receiving Phineas own warm greeting. She licked his cheek in turn noting how stale the Willow Ridge scent was upon him. Slight confusion flashed in her gaze before the she wolf began speaking. Her offer of a meal was grateful to Nari who was suddenly starving, but the silver she wolf restrained herself from looking desperately hungry. Her blue eyes turned to Phineas who accepted a small portion of the deer. His words shortly after gnawing off the leg caught her attention.

A mate? At first she thought of Elettra. Had the noble black leadess chosen the Argyris male to sire this years pups? But the scents not right. He smells of someone else more strongly than of the pack. Confusion rolled across her face easily recognizable now especially with her head cocking to the side as if she were a curious pup again.

Not wanting to bother the pale male with questions Narimé turned her gaze to the loner. It really was gracious of her to offer up the meal to share, but Nari couldn't bring herself to take more of the meal that was likely life sustaining to the loner. She had her pack to rely on to help her out when she was hungry.

"Thank you so much for the offer, but I can't take that from you. Especially when you don't have a pack to help you out with hunting for food." She hinted at the womans lack of pack scent. But is there a chance she's looking for a pack I wonder? Looking back to Phineas then to the woman Nari realized that she hadn't introduced herself to the loner yet.

"Excuse my forgetfulness. My name is Narimé Lagina Thorben leader of Whisper Caverns pack. What is your name if I may ask?"

Minka noticed the warm greeting between the strangers but she could not decipher what it meant, though the male scented slightly of a pack he smelled more strongly of a rogue, the female had an obvious scent of a pack. They were obviously not pack mates, but the loner couldn't make any concrete assumptions past this point, the male accepted her offer and took a small chunk of the doe, but the female declined. The females scent smelled strongly of new life growing within her, and Minka knew that she needed the food more than she. Nodding her head towards the doe she softly murmured, "really it is alright, I would rather it did not go to waste."

She continued to chew on her portion thoughtfully, she had always been able to supply for more than she needed food wise, it was where she excelled. The doe tasted delicious, the blood still warm filled her mouth and slid down her gullet smoothly, like a fine wine. "My name is Minka Leigh, my alliance is currently to the lone wolves, though I am in search of a pack to join," she responded to the other female's question honestly, maybe if she was lucky she would have a pack by the end of the night. Being able to take down the deer by herself was definitely a point in her favor, packs always needed new hunters, especially packs that were expecting cubs.

Along with being a huntress Minka was also considered a den mother, though she believed that it had a different name here, a teacher. She could remember all the stories she had been told as a pup, as well as all of the myths and legends she had heard from her travels. Pups had always been drawn to loner and she did not know why, other than that her mother had always described her as nurturing, 'born a mother' to be specific, whatever that meant Minka never really understood.

click!

Sloane had gone out hunting even though darkness had been quickly falling. He wanted to have fresh meat nearby if she was up to eating. Her stomach seemed to be having a war within her. One moment she was ravenous and the next she seemed to blanch at the mere thought of food. Well, he wanted to be prepared. He wanted to make this pregnancy as easy on her as he could. Thinking back on his sparse memories of his mother and her pregnancy after his litter she had not had any troubles. But it had not been her first litter and she was more mature. He prayed that he hadn't somehow endangered Narime' by taking her as a mate so young. He knew that others had mated as young, but she just seemed to be having a rough time of it.

He'd found a couple of rabbits for her that had foolishly wandered too far from the safely of their burrows. However, when he got back to the cave she was nowhere to be seen. With his mouth clasped firmly on the long ears of his prey he set out to find her. It seemed that she'd been wandering aimlessly all over their territory, but he trailed her scent faithfully. He had little trouble tracking her new aroma that spoke of the young that she carried. Although he worried for her, he could not help the pride that welled up in him at the tiny Thorbens growing within her belly.

A howl broke the still night air and the over-sized russet male froze for a moment, the rabbits swinging beneath his muzzle. The call came from a stranger in the distance, but not terribly far. It was a call of victory. Victory for what he wasn't sure, but the need to find Narime' became overpowering and he quickened his pace. The only thing that kept him from breaking into a run was the darkness. Hours had passed since he'd last seen his beautiful bride and with a stranger in the area, he surely didn't want her by herself, unprotected, in her delicate condition.

His senses unfailingly led him to her, but she was not alone. All of his protective instincts came to life in a heartbeat. Dropping the rabbits that he'd forgotten he still had he approached the trio of wolves. He barely refrained from raising his hackles, but his head and tail did lift high and proud. These might not be his pack lands, but the silver fae before them was his mate and he would defend her and his young within her with his dying breath. He moved to stand by her, his russet fur mingling with her shades of silver. He left little doubt about his relationship with the Narime' as he hovered over her protectively, his golden amber eyes keeping a careful eye on the other two wolves.

After his instincts calmed being next to her he was able to evaluate the situation. The female was a loner, he could tell by her scent. The blood on her muzzle told that she had at least had a part in taking down the sickly deer. The large white male also had some blood on his muzzle. Each had a chunk of meat, so it was unclear to him who had actually taken the creature down, but that really was of no matter to him. The male seemed familiar somehow. He was sure that he'd never met him, but he had the faint scent of the Willows about him, so he must be one of Narime's old pack mates. He hadn't heard anything that had been said before his arrival, so he decided to keep it to a simple introduction. "Hello. Sloane Thorben, Narime's mate and Whisper Caverns leader."

Knight of Honor

It was a strange situation – the ivory male could barely keep his eyes from Narime’s sides, knowing that soon they would swell with life. Her scent had changed greatly, and yet as she declined the other’s offer, despite the tawny woman’s insistence, the Argyris wolf just barely withheld a grin. He withheld any questions he had for the silver she-wolf he had once called pack mate, instead allowing conversation to drift between the two. His own ear swiveled at the thought of a recruit. But for now he remained quiet over such things – he was never one to pressure another. “Phineas Argyris,” he offered, after Narime introduced herself.

About to thank the stranger once more, his fiery eyes soon darted to another upon the scene – this one holding the very scent of Narime, though his entrance lacked much to be desired. The way the male held himself before the others was a blatant challenge, and the large white male felt himself bristle, lifting his own muzzle up in turn. He did not submit to strangers and despite this wolf’s relations to his friend, he was certainly not going to begin.

The introduction did little to impress Phineas – first impressions always held such importance. Yet he gave a light nod of greeting to the cinnamon wolf who’s red fur now intermingled with Narime’s silver. “So you’re the one who stole Narime from us..” The words were meant in jest and the ivory wolf offered a wink to show such – the ivory male was hardly one to judge such actions, after all, and despite the sudden tension he felt, he was pleased to meet the mate of the silver she-wolf. “Phineas Argyris, a previous pack mate to your lady.” Introducing himself once more, he allowed his gaze to swing back to the she-wolf who had taken down the deer, deciding it best to tag his intentions forward now before allowing his eyes to settle once more upon the couple. “My mate and I will soon travel across the mountain to claim land,” he explained softly.

What a sensual scent...

The deer was smelling more and more tasty to the gray she wolf. The temptation bringing her a little closer to the deer nosing at it with interest. Minka had given her permission to take some after all. What was wrong with taking a little to quell the hunger that gnawed on her insides?

"Maybe I'll just take a little. For the pups..." She spoke slightly embarrassed at the hunger driving her towards the food. Like Phineas had done, Nari gnawed off a good sized hunk for herself. A chunk of meat large enough to feed two smaller wolves hung from her jaws as she backed away from Minka's deer and sat beside Sloane. As soon as the silver she wolf sat down she began gnawing on the meat hungrily.

Though she was eating Narimé did listen to the others conversation. Her assumption that Phineas had a mate was true, however even Nari knew that Elettra would never leave her willows behind. The silvery woman put the pieces together quickly in her head that Phineas had found a mate and was leaving Willow Ridge to claim land over those dreadful mountains. It would make sense as the white male had little scent of Elettra on him, but stronger scent of another. One that Nari did not yet know. She just hoped that Elettra was doing well with Phineas and herself gone from the noble woman's ranks.

Does that mean he's interested in Minka too then?How am I supposed to do this now? I guess.. It's ultimately up to her which family she would want to join. Her thoughts lingered on Minka's previous words about wanting to join a pack. There were plenty to choose from.

"There are many pack in Lore that I know of. Those who are just starting out; like Phineas his fine mate and ourselves. However there are a few other more established packs you can choose from as well like Grizzly Hollow, Poison Path, Swift River, Secret Woodlands, and Willow Ridge. Though of course I believe I can speak for both Phineas and myself in saying that either of our fledgling packs would happily accept a great hunter like you. " She paused once more to voice her opinion before settling down to eat again. Her voice carried the compliment with a warm smile just before chomping happily into the dwindling chunk of deer between her paws.