Spectral Woods shadows of the night

The cage that held her fluttered heart expanded with great intakes of rapid breaths as the canine creep across the fogged forest at a steady yet swift trot doing her best not to draw attention to herself. Only a light thumb of her paws barely hitting the earth below and the occasional crunch of the dead underbrush could be heard as the female swiftly moved gracefully through the forest, her vivid green eyes wide as her mind played tricks on her. A slight crisp in the still night air as the she wolf glazed up at the sky to see breathless stars that stayed in place above her. The chill of the night air tickled down her spine as empty howls filled her ears only, the thick fur on the nape of her neck stiffed in mock aggression. The lupus eyes widen with fear, fear of being caught.

The canine panicked as she came to a brief stop to catch her breath, the moonlight sparkled in her green eyes while the empty howls filled the canine’s ears once more seeming closer than before. Was this the work of her paranoia or something more? Pure anxiety pulsed through her veins as she glanced behind her, ears twitched as she listened for the howls once more. It was deadly silent while she waited to see if they had followed her scent so far away from home. She knew Vallen was smart enough to know how to track her, but hoped that his followers were not and figured she might have gotten herself killed or something. The female needed to escape, escape before they handed her over to Vallen or Vallen found her himself.

After a while of deadly silence, the lupus scanned the area and whimpered quietly as the she wolf dashed off in a steady trot in hopes to hide and possibly rest after running all day. Silence still filled the air still while the wolf trotted, her heart pounded against her ribs as she took long elegant strides through the thick forest and kept in the shadows the best she would. Swaying and jumping over anything that stood in her way while she tried to keep on the move in hopes to find a resting place for the night or maybe some food. The poor female could barely stand anymore let alone continue to run. But it was not very long before she heard another empty howl which sent another rush of adrenaline through her limps. ‘No…’ Akira thought while she whimpered quietly with a glance behind her to see several dark shadows before her very own eyes, ‘…He… he's found me…’

It was at that very moment when the she wolf tripped over something that sent her tumbling forward into a pile of brush and slammed into a well enough solid tree. The wolf smacked hard against the tree, a sharp pain rippled down her spine and a quick cry seeped from her throat while she laid there hopeless. Akira laid there for a moment while silent howls filled the air around her and shadows danced before her panicked eyes. Her green eyes wide, the canine tried to get up but nothing happened. Her mind commanded her limps to move, but nothing happened as the shadows got closer and closer. ‘Get up!’ she cried in her thoughts as she focused all her last bit of energy on her legs but still… nothing happened. Her very edges of her vision started to fade to black, slowly consuming her whole vision until the female has no choice but to close her eyes in hopes that maybe never wake up to feel the pain of Vallen’s fiery. ‘Please…’ she thought as her mind started to go blank, ‘please… please don’t hurt me anymore… I… I just… I just don’t--‘ Her mind went blank as her body became lifeless, passing out from pure exhaustion.

SETTING ♔ Spring - Night Time - Clear
TAGS ♔ ---
NOTES ♔ All are welcome to play! xD

(This post was last modified: Apr 26, 2013, 01:02 AM by Akira.)

click to go to plot page

OOC|| If anyone's curious, this thread is backdated before "one good reason why" ||

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The sun was quickly sinking beneath the horizon, casting long shadows across Naia’s path. Soon, twilight would bathe the entire forest in shapeless gray hues that made spotting prey nearly impossible. The young wolf sighed, thinking it was nearly time to give up on finding dinner and instead turn back for her cozy den in the Mountain of Dire. ”I’ll only stay another day or so, she kept telling herself, just a little more time.. The problem was that she was growing increasing fond of the beautiful lands surrounding the Pass... Perhaps fond enough to settle down and give up her fool’s errand of finding the Hidden Tree Pack. The entire point of the search was to find a home, right?

Naia detected movement at the edge of her vision, and she whirled around to find the source. Motionless, she scanned the forest before her, but all was still. In the absence of sunlight, the forest was taking on a sort of spooky, ominous atmosphere. There it was again! Movement at the corner of Naia’s vision—she turned sharply and took a few hesitant steps forward, but again saw nothing there. A cold feeling crept down Naia’s spine, from her shoulder blades the tip of her tail, and she shivered involuntarily. Ghost..?

Just as she thought the word, there was another movement, and Naia’s heart leapt into her throat. It was a little odd though... that time the movement looked more like a hop... a silly grin formed across Naia’s face as she finally spotted the rabbit about five wolfslengths away, sitting up on its haunches looking wary.You’re going to pay for frightening me, Naia thought to herself in amusement, creeping forward. As if it could hear her thoughts, the rabbit dashed into some overgrown, flowery bushes and Naia darted in after it.

A little while later, Naia was relaxed inside the shelter of the flowery bush happily enjoying her dinner. The meal was interrupted though, when she heard a crunching noises approaching through the woods and what sounded like a whimper very close by. Naia poked her heard out of her bushy shelter in time to see a hysterical-looking wolf crash headlong into a pile of brush. She waited a moment to see if the wolf would get up, or if whatever was chasing her would show itself, but everything was deathly quiet. Abandoning the half-eaten rabbit carcass, Naia wriggled out of her hiding spot inside the bush and trotted over to investigate.

Out cold, she noted, sniffing the unconscious wolf curiously. The poor thing looked terrible, unkempt and worn down as if she had been fleeing for a very long time. And of course, she had to have been exhausted to barrel practically headlong into this giant tree. What what she was so scared of..? Naia glanced over her shoulder anxiously. The spooky woods had been enough to frighten her—even though only briefly-- and she wondered if this strange wolf might be fleeing from ghosts as well.

”Miss?” she asked, licking the unconscious wolf gently across the side of her face. She gave her collapsed form a little nudge with her shoulder. ”Please, wake up. I can bring you to safety—it’s not far.” There was urgency in her voice. If there was any chance that this female had been running from something dangerous, Naia did not want to be around when it caught up. Small in size and docile by nature, she had never been much of a fighter.

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(This post was last modified: May 06, 2013, 05:51 PM by Datura.)

The canine’s mind was blank and her body was motionless for what seemed like forever, but really only a few minutes. A black blanket covered her vision as she slowly regained her consciousness with her head spinning. It was hard to think, hard to even breath as she slowly awake from her sudden slumber. The female’s terror filled green eyes fluttered open while the feline took in quick and sudden rapid intakes of the cool night air. At first, her vision was fogged at a haze as her mind pounded and tried to understand what was going on before her. The thin but dense fogged dead forest placed tricks on her as shadows looked to be moving. Akira’s rib cage that held her fluttered heart expanded as a low moan slipped out of the female’s throat while she tried to gather her scrambled thoughts before a low growl rumbled form her. It was very difficult to think with her head spinning, spinning so fast that any kind of movement made her nauseous and her stomach turn on end. She ached all over, the worst along her back as she tried to command her body to move yet… but nothing happened. She laid there for a while, her vivid green eyes trying to focus on her surroundings.

As the she wolf tried to gather her thoughts and understand what has happened, her fogged vision only had a shades of rough grey blurs that Akira could not make out. She blinked several times in hopes it would correct her vision while she laid there on the dried underbrush. What happened? How did she get here? With her head heavy and her body not yet responding to her commands, the young female tried to understand what was going on as her vision slowly corrected its self. Slowly but surely, Aki’s sight restored with only a thin layer of fog that still lingered while she took in the scenery. She was in a forest, a forest that has been destroyed by something as tree’s seemed to be dead along with everything else. It was late at night, a cool gust of wind roared in her ears while her dark green eyes looked about frantically to understand what has happened. Is she dead?

It was not until Akira heard a muffled voice and felt a nudge when she could swear she felt her heart skip a beat. Startled, the lithe built female’s ears twitched at the voice before they fell back. Has Vallen finally found her? Although sweet feminine scent did not crossed her nose, she could smell the thick scent of woodlands. The female wolf felt a sudden rush of adrenaline pulsed throughout her body as she frantically looked for Vallen. Only on instances, the rush of adrenaline kicked in as the three year old female head popped up. Although her body still laid in place, her blacken lips peeled back to show her readied pearly whites while her vision and head blurred out from the fast movement. With such a quick movement, her stomach turned as she tried to focus her sight to find were Vallen was hiding. “Stay back,” she warned as a deep growled rumbled in her chest with her ears fell back, “I will never be his mate even if I have to run my whole life.” The canine blinked, trying to clear her vision as she grumbled at the blurred shadows before her. Was one of Vallen’s followers haunting her or was this her paranoia again?

SETTING ♔ Spring - Night Time - Clear
TAGS ♔ @Naia
NOTES ♔ Hello! xD

click to go to plot page

OOC|| Hey there. xD ||

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Naia backed up a few paces when she saw the strange female stir, and she lowered her shoulders and tail in an attempt to look as nonthreatening as possible. It wouldn't help either of them if she attempted to run off again; Naia would never know what or who she was fleeing from, and the terrified female would probably dash straight off a cliff, too exhausted to even notice it was there. Naia cocked her head as the strange wolf's eyelids fluttered, revealing striking green irises glazed over with pain. The eyes began to dart around at random, searching for something that they could not find. Naia stepped forward cautiously, but the stranger stared right through her seemingly oblivious to the fact that there was another wolf present. Naia flattered her ears in confusion when the injured female barred her teeth, but she otherwise made no movement forward or backward. The female was still staring into space, and it was clear that whoever she was threatening had nothing to do with Naia and was instead part of some waking nightmare.

“Stay back!” she yelled, but Naia continued to hold her ground. Even if the stranger had been talking to her-- and Naia was fairly certain she wasn't-- after such a crash she was hardly going to be able to leap up and attack. I will never be his mate even if I have to run my whole life! Now.. wasn't that interesting! Naia leaning in closer to see if she would say anything more, but the stranger had fallen silent. It took some effort for Naia not to smile at the irony of the situation. Where she had come from, she had dealt with the exact opposite problem. Perhaps I'll stay here, she thought sarcastically, and wait for him to mate with ME instead! It was just a facetious thought, of course, and her heart went out to the poor young female, forced to mate against her will.

“No, no, of course not..” she murmured softly, attempting to capture the frightened wolf's attention. If only she would look at me! Slightly agitated, Naia decided to switch tactics then, striding forward in a manor that demanded recognition. “I don't know who you're running from, but it you don't move soon, he'll be upon us,” she reasoned. Perhaps if she appealed to the stranger with the object of her terror, she would notice Naia. Naia pressed again, her voice urgent, “I have a place to hide, it's not far.” She searched for any sign of recognition in the female's face. ”There's food too-- a rabbit.” That much of the story was evident by the dried blood around Naia's jaws and chin.

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(This post was last modified: May 06, 2013, 05:53 PM by Datura.)

The female canine vision slowly cleared as she tried make sure that the female got her warning snarl, but with her being at a weak state… it probably sounded more like a grumble more than anything like a snarl or even a growl. But even as her heart raced against her chest and her rush of adrenaline that pulsed throw her veins, she could feel her voice also give out while the fog that lingered in front of her sight cleared. And when her sight did clear and fixed on the voice that spoke, her solid dark green eyes rested on the female canine that stood before her. Her.bows raised at the female. If this was a Vallen follower, she must be new. No Vallen follower would just wait, they would always circle her or corner her. If she did not give in, they would attack her. Beat Akira up until she would no longer fight back or when Vallen said that was enough.

The helpless female only glared at the stranger slightly annoyed, her own cold solid perdiot green colored eyes held the glowing light of another pair of eyes while she laid there. Her facial features slowly fell into a look of not being amused. Although this canine did not look familiar, she could not be sure she was one of Vallen’s followers. She could be one of those newest ones that would only drag her back to Vallen’s filthy paws. “Well… thanks for your concern but I am fine,” she growl with a harsh tone that faded at the end in an almost squeak while the female tried to get up. Aki pushed herself up onto her forearms and elbow, resting on them for a bit as she kept an eye on the female in cause she tried something. Although she was a sitting duck, the young female would do everything in her power to fight back if from some reason this female had a changed her mind.

But when the she wolf tried to push herself off the earth below that clinked to her pelt, she only managed to get her chest/front half of the ground when her front legs collapsed and buckled underneath her and she fell back down on the ground hard with a thump. A shock wave of pain shot through her spine as a small cry slipped out of her muzzle before she growled loudly to cover her whimper of pain. Her eyes dared to the other lupus, only to shoot her a sharp hard glare. “I am fine,” she snapped with a sharp tongue at her only to cover her embarrassment of being weak and really defenseless as she once again tried to get herself off earth below, "I don’t need help.” Of course, her words probably meant nothing to the female with her struggling to even stand.

Akira tried to get up again with this time, more success. The female canine managed to get her front body up even with her legs ready to buckle before she able to pulled her hindquarters up with a slightly stumble forward before she gathered her bearings. Once again, she flashed her pearly whites at the mysterious female if she dared to laugh at her. With a quick twist of her head and neck back and forth, she shook her whole body to get dirt and dead leaves and grass off of her fur stumbling once again with her legs almost giving in once more. But Akira got herself together once more, she stood tall and proud… well as much as she could. Her head was high and her chest out, holding her body with dignity ( if she had any left after that ) but she dared not to move to avoid any more embarrassment in front of the other female that watched her. Although she found the female seemed to be non-threatening, she was not going to fall for her tricks or even Vallen’s tricks to try to trick her or fall her anything.

But as she stood there, Akira should feel her own strength diminish as she waited for the female to leave but she just waited for her. With a huff, the canine tried to loosen up only slightly to make the female satisfied. “Fine,” she spoke harshly once more, "You lead the way.” Akira plan was to hold her ground, not move until the other she wolf looked away so she could attempt her first step and/or probably collapse once more with her strength diminishing every passing minute. The female has not eaten in a few days, her last food was a rat she managed to catch out of pure luck with her weak state so a good rabbit would be helpful. With no sleep on top of that in the past few days, Akira just wanted to pass out but only once felt safe so she had some shred dignity and honor left. But if the female had a place to hide for a bit, Akira could not pass up a chance to get a good sleep in before she continued to run.

SETTING ♔ Spring - Night Time - Clear
TAGS ♔ @Naia
NOTES ♔ *dances*

click to go to plot page

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Naia wagged her tail in delight as the stranger’s vacant gaze finally settled on her. There was recognition in the she-wolf’s bright green eyes –not of Naia herself—just of the fact that there was a live wolf standing here, talking to her. The young wolf’s joy was not even dampened by the stranger’s arresting glare. In fact, Naia gave no sign that she even noticed the other wolf was annoyed, matching the older female’s scowl with an equally prominent grin. Naia remained silent as her reluctant companion insisted that she was fine. She was clearly not fine, judging by that pitiful attempt to stand, and the injured wolf had to realize that. Even if she didn’t realize it and was in complete denial, Naia knew there was nothing she could say that would make this proud wolf admit to her own infirmity.

The stranger attempted to haul herself off the earth a second time, collapsing back into the pile of brush with an audible cry. Naia’s ears flattened in a show of concern for the female, but again she did not move to help her. As a staunch pacifist, she had a lot of practice at avoiding fights and had become quite adept at identifying situations that could lead to violence. She knew than an injured, cornered, (possibly delusional?) and agitated wolf was not someone to approach, especially when she was demanding that Naia stay back. She gave an understanding nod as the struggling wolf again insisted she did not need help. The delivery was harsh, more so than the situation called for considering Naia had not moved at all to help her. The young wolf wondered if perhaps the stranger’s pride was wounded just as much as her body.

A third attempt to stand led to much more success, and Naia backed up a few steps to give the wobbling female some room. She was standing as mighty as her feeble body would allow, though truthfully the pretense was unnecessary. Naia felt no desire to play Queen-of-the-Hill with this wolf, and she adopted a relaxed, friendly stance that contrasted with the strange wolf’s stiff display of pride. They both stood there for a moment like that before the guarded female opened her mouth to speak. Naia thought surely she was about to be told to go to hell, but surprisingly the stranger agreed to her offer of food and shelter, requesting that she lead the way. Needing no additional prompting, the young wolf turned away from her companion and took a step in the direction of the flowering bush. Glancing back over her shoulder she finally spoke, “The spot is underneath that bush with the large, white blossoms. The pungency of those flowers will cover our scent. Double back over the trail you have already left, and we should be hidden for the time being.” Hidden from what exactly, Naia had no idea, but hopefully after her belly was full the stranger might be more open to discussion.

With that bit of information imparted, Naia trotted off for the bush without checking to see if she was being followed. The overly-proud female certainly wasn’t going to accept any help walking, and she probably wouldn’t move until she was alone anyway. When she reached to the flowery bush, the young wolf looked dubiously at the small entrance nestled within the roots. If I were a paranoid, frightened wolf, I would probably NOT want to corner myself in a place like this… Coming up with an idea, Naia wriggled into the bush and took the mangled rabbit carcass into her jaws. She poked her head out of the bush and placed the half-eaten rabbit at the foot of the entrance. This way, even if the stranger was too suspicious to spang enter the hiding place, at least she would have something to eat. Inside the bush, Naia settled down to wait and see what the green-eyed wolf would decide.

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A note from Sarah: Alace, you weren't properly closing one of your center and font tags so it was messing with the board. I fixed it for you, but next time make sure you close everything and that you're closing the tags in the opposite order that you opened them (<font> <center> </center> </font>) cause myBB is really sensitive to code.

Thanks Sarah, BB Code is new to me and I appreciate the help. I'll use this ^ code from now on!. --Alace

(This post was last modified: May 12, 2013, 09:27 PM by Naia.)