Sex: MaleEven small menial daily tasks were things that Hollow tried to do well. Each time he saw the nod of an alpha in his direction he would soak it in as if they had praised him front of the entire pack. The borders remained guarded as well and often times young Hollow was the very first to answer to border calls. Today however was no small menial task nor a major pivotal mission. Today the young wolf sat on the edge of his pack's territory staring out into the lands of Relic Lore. It was something he did often, something that brought him peace. The silence would stretch out before him and his thoughts would roam, often to Azariah and he would simply imagine her face, and think about things she had said, or the way she walked. Hollow was at peace, and he felt a sudden desire to call to the woodlands wolves, so that they may all feel what he felt at that moment. The young male's jaws opened and a howl was thrown forth, powerful, it sounded strong enough to dry a river and uproot the trees. Secret Woodlands, we are here, they cannot move us now. These are our lands and we are bound to them as we are bound to each other! I am proud to be pack mate to all of you!."Speech."
She had been patrolling on the inside, looking for any signs of newly formed plant life. It was still cold this year, and winter seemed not to be taking its leave…not allowing the warmer weather to come and greet them. Unfortunately, this also meant that herbs would still be later to grow and harder to find. She was now plump with her children and every now and then, she would feel the reassuring kick from one of her children, a happy reminder that there were lives growing inside of her. Something to keep her off of her feet every once and awhile, knowing it would do her no good to overwork herself. With a small sigh, she decided to sit down, her head rising towards the sky. Sometimes she wondered how long she had been in the lands of the Lore. She knew it had been awhile, for she had lived a pleasant life within the area, and she knew now that she would not forget anything about her life in this place. They were her holy lands for the time being.
Her peace was interrupted by an alarming call from Hollow. Lifting her ears, she listened to his message, a small smile gracing her lips at what he was telling the whole pack. Removing herself from her relaxed position, she got up to go and see him, taking her time to go through the thickets. The yearling had been one of the most loyal among the wolves within her pack. Pleasing her and Koda, for she was sure the man hardly took a break from guarding and remarking the borders. Flicking her tail, she let her golden brown body emerge from the shadows of the thickets, a pleasant smile on her lips as she faced the dark man, her head bobbing up and down in greeting to him. They had never had much time to bond between one another ever since they had first met. Even Nina knew that Hollow had formed a close bond with Sloane, and Nina was happy with the loyalty that the yearling had showed her. Clearing her throat, she spoke softly to him, her tail now raised high above her back, "Hollow! It is always good to see you."
At Nina's words Hollow straightened up though his head remained lower than hers and his tail brushed across the ground. "It is good to see you too Nina, I see the pack will be thriving soon! I cannot wait until there are pups to trip over, I hope to know them well." Though it would be nice to have the happy little things running around the dens Hollow felt a small twinge of fear. I hope I do not need to protect them from anything, I hope their lives will be more peaceful than mine. It would certainly add extra responsibility to the male, not through orders but because he felt it was his responsibility. "So what brings you out today? Surely the den is not feeling small already?" Hollow spoke with a smile and good humor though truly wondering what would have brought Nina out to him
Satisfied with the submission she received from the male, she relaxed once he loosened from his submissive position and addressed her head on, a small smile tugging onto her lips once he addressed her. Flicking her ears slightly, she listened to what he had to say to her, head tilted to the side with his words. She hoped dearly that he was joking about the tripping part. She surely did not want her children’s heads to be stepped on. It would be quite upsetting for her to turn up one day and find that one of her offspring’s head was smashed into the ground. Just wincing at the thought, she listened as Hollow spoke to her, trying hard to keep her jaw from dropping out of position. He was joking with her, she quickly realized, a small smile tugging over her lips. The alpha knew that she should be more laid back, for it was not good for her to be so uptight all of the time. Letting her tail sway above her, she tried to relax around Hollow, knowing that it was just her hormones acting up.
With a small sigh, she answered the male, "Well, when you’re holed up in one area for awhile, it tends to get quite claustrophobic." Going over the words she had just mentioned in her head, she tried a different approach at explaining her words to the yearling, "Quite stuffy. That’s what I meant." She laughed gently at herself and shook her head in amusement. Her Healer talk would confuse any other wolf if they were not trained in the profession. For all she knew, all Hollow knew what to do was guard. Flicking her tail behind her, she smiled at the male, letting her rump plop heavily on the ground, but being careful not to sit on any thorns.
A smile began to play on the yearlings face, "Yes I would certainly imagine that being confined for good stretch would make ones breath come short after a time" Hollow let the youthful grin continue to dance upon his features and his black tail began to brush across the ground. He was very sure Nina would notice the way he had put his words together almost as if he were trying to see if She would understand Him. He was in a way playing with her in his own way, of course in doing this he was reminded his father had often spoken in the very same way, it was a combination, of articulate intelligent thought and some sayings from his homeland. As peculiar in it's own way as Nina's way of speaking. Though sometimes a little more confusing seeing as there were some very old sayings he could vaguely remember from his parents.
She felt at ease with her Hollow, by far one of the most loyal members the Woodlands family had gained so far, also including Iopah and Ashanti, three of her founding members that had remained loyal to her no matter what. Even after the fate that the yearling had suffered, she had still come back, thanks to much convincing from Hollow. The man would be a wonderful Guardian when he came of age, perhaps even an Advisor when he had more years on him. A small smile played on her pale lips with his words. They were true, at least in her mind. For all her years of living she was not one who enjoyed being in a secluded area, but since the disbandment of Copper Rock Creek, she had found herself leaning more towards the hidden area and the most dense parts of the territory, feeling completely safe when she was surrounded by her thickets.
Clearing her throat softly, she spoke to her subordinate once again, "How are you doing lately, Hollow?" Her brows creased, indicating to his sides in which had taken much longer to heal than she would have liked. This was due to the lack of herbs that had in the winter months, for it had stayed much colder than Nina would have preferred when it was suppose to be time for their herbs to start growing this year. It would be of no surprise to her if there was an extreme shortage of herbs this year and Nina could only hope that Azariah would be on top of her game. Speaking of the yearling, she had always meant to speak with her and bond a little bit more, but there had been scarceness in her appearance of the late, and she was slightly curious as to where the yearling was all the time. She did not find the girl to just disappear with no word, at least in Nina’s opinion, unless something had happened. Her opinions were not voiced out loud, for she did not wish to scare the young man in front of her with her doubts.
Her eyes gestured to his sides, the cuts from when he had tried to chase down Ashanti's attacker, in a futile attempt to kill the disgusting wretch. Truth be told Hollow had almost forgotten entirely about that particular part of that ordeal. At least until Nina showed concern for it, it was yet another quality he admired so. Nina cared about everyone, no matter how insignificant a scratch, nor how seldom a cough she always asked. "I'm fine Nina, no problems here, though I worry about Ashanti for whats happened.... I worry about Azariah too, I haven't seen her recently and it's beginning to concern me. More for all our sakes... not just mine." He added the last part for it was true, Azariah was the only healer with no young to care for. Ashanti's mental state concerned him as well, but at least she was here. "Sometimes I think I may worry too much Nina." He added with a small smile.
Her single eye never wavered from Hollow’s form, something that she was having an easy time doing, for once. Usually her eye would easily wander, exploring the lands around her and trying to pick out something highly unique from the area. However, now she was keeping her attention solely on her subordinate in front of her. His words made its own strike of concern in her heart. For such a young man, he was quite observant, though, it was what he was training to become. A guardian for her and the rest of the Secret Woodlands pack. Nodding her head, she responded to his first thread of words, her single eye gleaming with sadness. "Yes…I fear for both of them, though I believe Ashanti will make it out alright…and that Azariah will be returning soon. We can only hope, Hollow."
She nodded with her words, golden brown ears flickering forward when he speaks again. To this, she smiles at him, before quickly adding, "There is no such thing as too much worry. If there is too much of anything in this world, it would surely be hate." Her voice was calm, which made what she was saying all the more scary if she would have been scolding someone or angry at them. She found that yelling was never an efficient way of trying to get something done. Everything was done much more swiftly if someone got the point over calmly and deliberately. Flicking her tail, she looked over Hollow’s body, her voice slightly amused, "I believe I obviously did not get to tell you that you were back on duty, Hollow. Though, it’s good to know that you are ready to get back to work." Happiness glimmered in Nina’s eye as she looked over her subordinate’s body, seeing that his wounds were healed. This pleased her highly.
A misty look had clouded the yearlings vision, and for a few long moments he merely stared at Nina with an inquisitive look, as if he were questioning whether or not he should say something. After the strange look vacated his face he shook his head. Hollow's tail flicked from on side to the other and his paws shuffled on the ground for a few moments. "Nina, have you ever wondered why it is that one so young as me places so much value in the pack? Why it is that I was ready to keep away the sickness at our borders at all costs?" His eyes sharpened and fixated themselves on the features of his leader passing very briefly over her eye the other shut lid almost as if she had two eyes all the same.
"Hate is what killed my family, my blood, Hate is the reason Simaea bears those scares along her neck. Yes, M'lady there is certainly too much hate in this world." He took a breath to calm himself once more, it had been something he wanted Nina to know, the true value he placed on life, especially the ones that were concealed within the Thicket of Secrets. "I combat it the only way know, with the love from those behind me, those below me, and those above me.." At his last words he nodded at Nina, hoping she would understand he was not out for revenge, but to take what had happened and make it serve him in a positive way.
Upon her statement about his injuries, she had to let a small smile grace her features with his words. She could understand where he was at. She had even had much of the same problem last year when she had been within the lore, having troubles with her sibling and what not. She could tell though, that when a misty expression crossed in Hollow’s eyes that he had something important to say. Nodding her head to him, as if encouraging him to speak, she let her ears prick forward, ready to accept what had to be said. When his words came, she let her lips part, words following easily over her own lips, "I was curious but I did not wish to pry into business that you might not have wanted me involved in." She then waited, listening for a response and when the reply came, she listened on, not deciding to speak, recalling how when Simaea had come to her borders, the way the scars had fallen over her throat. Turning her gaze strictly on Hollow, she spoke once again, "I had my assumptions, but once again, I did not wish to pry into business that was not my own."
Letting her mind wander, she took in the next bits of information that he was giving to her. The reason why he had dedicated his life to protected those around him. It also helped her make more sense about his actions at the border when the diseased had showed up and back at the big war with all of the packs. Letting a silent huff escape from her nostrils, she let her sweet, honey-filled voice fill Hollow’s ears. "It is good to protect the ones that you love, Hollow, but….you also need to keep your well being in mind." She then let her mind wander for a moment, knowing that the yearling had shared part of his history with her and she supposed it would only be right for her to let him know something about her. Clearing her throat, she spoke one more time, "My brother is the wolf that gave me this scar on my eye… My father had sent him to assassinate me, and he failed…but now we are okay. Everything has worked out fine." She nodded to him, trying to get him to see that things would hopefully be okay.