Mountain of Dire I Think I've Finally Had Enough

Minka slinked around a corner of the rocky edge of the pass, her eyes wary of her surroundings, she couldn't see how any life was possibly sustained here, and anything that was the she wolf was sure she wanted no part of it. A cloud passed before the sun and a chill ran down her spine, she didn't like the look of this place at all and couldn't possibly get out of here fast enough. The mountain dominated her on one side, crushing in its pure immense size, but thankfully blocked the wind that was cold enough to cut to the bone, and on her other a sheer cliff, if she stepped too far to one side she was sure to fall to her death. Carefully Minka picked her way forward, each step calculated, any sounds of rocks creaking or shifting sending her two or three steps backwards, this was not her ideal terrain.

Every meter or two she moved forward Minka would stop and take a scent, so she would not be caught off guard by any visitors she might have on the bluff, she was taking no chances. So far there was only the faint scent of a pack nearby, but she was not able to determine if any or all were close enough to make contact with her. A sigh slipped through her jaws, Why did I ever think I could do this? It has been almost two months since I left home with no contact with another wolf, and now I'm sure to fall to my death, then she shook her muzzle forcibly "I am strong, I am better off alone than with them". Her head rose proudly and the sun came out again, catching her red streak and making it look like liquid fire trailing down her spine.

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That’s what ruling is.Lying on a bed of weeds,

• NAIRA AQUILA •

ripping them out before they strangle you in your sleep.

Her shoulders rolled as she moved surely up the path, the borders, usually well marked with the scents of Tenzin - now gone, and @Rhysis were growing faint, and despite her ever expanding girth, she would not allow their lines to go unmarked. Rhysis may not like her patrolling the borders in her state, but she would do so none the less. Clearly something had distracted him enough on this day, and a faint scent on the breeze left her hackles on edge, but she would take @Mapplethorpe’s advise and not jump to any conclusions... Until she was sure.

Wrapped in her own thoughts as she was, she did not notice the strange female until she was upon her, much closer to the Pass than any she had encountered since the dim-witted back-chatter who she had promptly put in her place. On her guard, given few positive encounters with strangers at this altitude, her tail flew high over her back like a banner while she moved forward with confidence. Her warm golden eyes were locked on the wolf ahead, who seemed to be speaking to herself and she slowed, stopping several wolf lengths away.

Usually she loathed breaking the silence, but with one so close to her home, she was less inclined towards patience. “Long way to wander for more than a pretty view...” Her tone carried more of a question to it, Why are you here? she asked with her eyes, and her stance. Was the younger female looking to join? And if so, how on earth had she stumbled across them?

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The scent of the alpha female reached MInka's snout long before the female actually came into view, so when she did the lone wolf was prepared, her muzzle dipped low and her tail lowered so the stranger could see that Minka was honoring her dominance. When the shape of the large female came around the corner Minka quickly averted her eyes so that they faced the other wolf's paws, not wanting to cause any kind of conflict or assume any kind of challenge. She was well aware that she was the trespasser here as Minka was coming extremely close to the pack's territory and she wanted nothing other than to pass safely, she was headed to Southern Eden.

"I do not mean any harm to you or your pack, I just wish to pass through, I am travelling to Southern Eden, I do not want any trouble'

The height made the loner nervous and subconsciously she stepped closer towards the mountain, as she had said she wanted no trouble from the alpha, but she would protect herself if she had to. A cloud passed across the sun again and the whole scene dimmed, and the temperature seemed to drop several degrees without the warm of the suns rays. Minka dipped her head down further, her eyes still focused on the paws of the other wolf as she quietly spoke,

"My name is Minka, I have been travelling for two moons, I have merely stumbled upon your pack in my travels, please just let me pass,'

(This post was last modified: Apr 08, 2013, 03:03 AM by Minka.)

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All men are fools, if truth be told

• NAIRA AQUILA •

but the ones in motley are more amusing than ones with crowns

The tawny wolf’s brows drew down, leaving her with a somewhat stern expression as the younger wolf spoke. Perhaps word was traveling about the pack of savages that called the mountain home? Maybe the girl just had some common sense. A rarity these days to be sure. Softening her stance a little, as the girl was yet to truly cross any lines that would deem her a threat, she carefully exhaled, a cloud of steam flying from her muzzle as she stepped forward, closer to the edge to look over the lands that lay below.

“You’re a long way from the eden.” she stated bluntly, eyes roving north and south, taking note of the paths and what may be easiest for the younger wolf to follow. Given the shakiness of her stance, it was clear that the mountain did not provide her comfort as it did to Naira, but with a flick of her tail and a nod of her head, she gestured the girl closer to see the landmarks she would point out.

“The fastest way to get off the mountain is to return north...” Yes it was opposite direction to which she wished to travel, but it would save her days of battling against the cliffs and crevices that gave Naira such a rush. “If you follow the mountain down, you will come to a spring, then the dense woods. It is very easy to get turned about, but once the ground levels as long as you go south, and east you will reach the eden.” She paused for a moment, her head traveling back south. “Or if the challenge of the mountain is what you seek, you can continue, up past the peak and back down. You will cross a stream that feeds the falls. It’s a steep path down but but will bring you out near the grove. Be careful of the pack that lives there, they don’t take trespassers kindly either...” she added with a small smile. “Or if you are after a real challenge... you can follow the spine of the serpent, past the lake and into the heights... but by far the quickest route is the first...”

She bought her rear to the ground, her expression thoughtful as she turned back to the strange girl. “If you don’t mind me asking... What is it you seek down there?” She had found the place fair but far too muddy for her liking. Muddy and wooded. She needed to see the sky.

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The alpha relaxed in front of her, she did not seem to find Minka a threat, and at this the rogue let out a small sigh of relief, it seemed she might not get thrown off the mountain after all. The comment was that she was a far ways from the Eden, which frankly was true, "I know I am far from my destination, I entered from Northern Eden, but I wished to get a higher view of the land. So that I may have a better understanding of the topography of Relic, and of course avoid getting bogged down in the mud." This was the truth, Minka was not known for lying and honestly she was not very good at it, so she avoided lying at all costs.

When the large female gestured her forwards she did, cautiously, not trusting her own footing she glanced over the edge and the view took her breath away. The land truly was beautiful, even if the spring had been a cold and harsh one, leaving the trees still not in bloom and the land covered in a muddy slush. She followed the paths that the alpha dictated, trying to figure out which would be the correct one to take, even if it was not necessarily the fastest. After quietly mulling the choices over she voiced her opinion, "time is not a matter to me, I like to travel, but I think I would like to see the grove, so I think I shall continue over the peak, with your blessing of course," she did not want to intrude upon the woman's pack.

The alpha sat down and Minka mirrored her pose, sitting down and gazing across the land, now that she was seated it was much easier to feel comfortable. When the alpha asked her the question the fae turned to her, her expression like an open book, "truthfully, I mean to join one of the packs that reside there. I have left my own birth pack far behind, and I am searching for a place to belong." The tone was slightly vulnerable, yes Minka had heard about this pack's reputation, but she had always been trusting, and this female had given her no reason not to trust her.

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urgh fail post is fail I apologise!

That’s what ruling is.Lying on a bed of weeds,

• NAIRA AQUILA •

ripping them out before they strangle you in your sleep.

So she had taken to the mountain with its slush and snow and ice traps to avoid the mud of the lower lands... and yet she planned on making her home in perhaps the lowest lying area - a place she had seen flooded more often than not when it wasn’t coated in snow. The logic made her mind boggle a little - although she supposed the Cedarwoods were elevated slightly more, and had seemed reasonable on her visit... She wasn’t aware of any other packs further to the south except perhaps Swift River, and they were in the Grove.

At least the girl had the sense to ask leave to travel so close to her home. Manners - a rarity. She appreciated that. “Perhaps keep to the western face. It’s less... hostile.” She suggested gently. It was true the mountain was going through a great change recently, but at least the paths on that side, worn by generations of goats and wolves alike. She had to wonder if there was more the girl wanted to know, and so she would stay, surveying the lands below as they went through the gradual change of the seasons, while her own home at such a higher elevation remained blanketed in snow and ice.

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she doesn't care how she gets there, as long as she gets somewhere she knows... Confusion, that was the only word that could be described as what Minka saw upon the alpha's face when she tried to explain her reasoning, and at this the rogue couldn't help but to chuckle slightly. Not wanting to offend the large female she quickly explained, "I do not have much experience with mountains, I was born in the Great Sheilds which is all rock, though the area I was born was mostly just flat rock. Foolishly I thought that I could avoid the slush and snow by taking the pass, and obviously I was wrong," with the latter statement Minka gestured to the slush and snow that lined the outer edges of the path. Again she looked back upon the ground so many feet below them, everything looking so miniscule, like the small insects that you find when you flip a rock. The trees swayed in the wind that she could not feel because of the rock sheet behind them, though it was obviously extremely strong in places that had no protection. The fae looked towards the pass that she would be taking, and doubt clouded her features when the alpha told her to take the western side, I'm so unfamiliar with this mountain, what if I wander into some other wolf who doesn't stop to ask questions?. Slightly embarrassed she cleared her throat, "If you wouldn't mind, could you possibly show me the way? At least part of it? I would hate to accidently intrude on your pack, or cause any kind of alarm." Her head hung slightly, the whole reason she had left her family pack was to gain independence, show that she was capable on her own. Yet here she was, asking a stranger for help because she could not even find her way over a mountain, she was born in the shields for Christ's sake! She looked back to the female, hopefully conveying that she did not mean to intrude upon her good grace's, and that if she did not want to escort her, even part of the way that would be perfectly fine.

table by mimi

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That’s what ruling is.Lying on a bed of weeds,

• NAIRA AQUILA •

ripping them out before they strangle you in your sleep.

Her pregnant sides heaved for a moment as she considered the hike all the way to the falls. By direct route it was well over a day to Poison Path and the Lost Lake, the closest landmark to the falls that would lead the girl to the grove, and while usually she would not batt an eye at the journey, the squirming lives within her tied her close to her packs borders - borders she could easily steer the girl away from - that she should have been able to scent for herself. She refrained from snorting in derision or shoving the wolf over the edge for asking such a stupid question. In fact her face remained the perfect mask of calm. Perhaps living amongst the likes of Rhysis and Crowe was beginning to rub off on her?

“The borders are well marked.” she commented dryly - making it abundantly clear that the girl was wearing out her welcome. Hate to accidently intrude on your pack... She made sure of it by seeing to it herself every day - it was how she knew who was coming and going, how she knew that Crowe still remained with them and Mapplethorpe cared enough to keep their home safe where others may not. The notion that someone may be able to accidentally trespass had insulted her to the core. They were not a lazy pack of layabouts allowing just any old wolf to wander by - to take from their caches as other packs might - No.

But a stroll would not kill her and she moved back from the cliff and began the steady climb up. “I suppose I could wander a ways.” she mentioned with a little more warmth than her last comment. After all, she had a parting message for the girl and wanted to make sure she was well on her way when she imparted it.

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she doesn't care how she gets there, as long as she gets somewhere she knows... The atmosphere has changed and Minka shifted uncomfortably, suddenly wondering if maybe she should turn around and go the other way. Her ears dropped even lower and she hunched her shoulders down further, showing that she was further submitting to the alpha, how this was possible she wasn't really sure but she would do the best she could. Words began to tumble from her jaws, one sentence following the other so quickly it was hard to tell where one ended and the next began, "You're right, well I mean of course you are right, that's why you're an alpha, you know best. It was a stupid question, I'm over staying, I should just go. I have a nose I should use it, I'm a wolf after all right? I can smell a pack border, I'm already intruding by asking this, I mean I never meant to intrude, of course I didn't, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to offend you or your pack or your honour, I umh, I." The fae nervously dropped her eyes to her paws, though she couldn't help but notice the drop over the edge and fear grew again in her belly. She waited for a response, perhaps the alpha would revoke her blessing to cross the peak, perhaps she would toss her over the side, perhaps she would call on her pack to ambush her. The possibilities were endless and yet she was sure that she was going to die here today on this mountain, travelling here was a mistake, I should have stayed home where nobody wanted to have me slaughtered on a mountain top. So when the warmth was returned to the alphas tone Minka blinked in surprise, stunned at the sudden turn around, foolishly she did not question it however. She got to her feet, though making it clear by her stance that she was still in submission she mumbled, "I thank you from the bottom of my heart, genuinely for your advice about my travels, and for walking with me for some way of the journey, thank you." The words were honest, true, she was trusting this wolf who she had just feared moments before, maybe this was foolish and naive of her, but it was just who she was. She turned away from the alpha and fled up the path, not turning around to look back until she was well out of eye site, and then fear pushed her farther once more.

table by mimi

(This post was last modified: May 15, 2013, 11:05 PM by Minka.)

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That’s what ruling is.Lying on a bed of weeds,

• NAIRA AQUILA •

ripping them out before they strangle you in your sleep.

The girl liked to talk. She would fit in well with the other wolves of the Lore, all sunshine and rainbow glitter farts. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she seemed to stumble over her words, trying to apologise while dismissing her prior request. Naira continued to walk regardless, the girl would catch her up sooner or later. Her sense of humour was hard for some to grasp but this girl seemed content to take it all in her stride. The girl had given her name, Minka, but Naira had not given hers in response and the girl hadn’t yet pushed the issue. Perhaps she was just too flustered to have noticed yet.

Finally, the ground grew steeper and her steps began to shorten, until she finally came to a halt. “Watch out for the pack by the Lake, if they catch my scent on you they may not stop to ask questions.” she suggested with a smirk. “Oh, and Minka... If you happen to mention to anyone where we are, I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth just to roll in your guts.” A broad smile crossed her face, her tone somewhere between a tease and a promise. After all, their secret kept them safe, and all who happened to stumble upon them would receive the same warning. At least she was fair enough to give the girl a chance.

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{Naira Out}

(This post was last modified: May 15, 2013, 04:10 AM by Naira.)