Willow Ridge New beginnings

(Basically a free for all for whoever wants to introduce themselves to Senka....and some more rping practice for me. XD)

Moving purposefully along the borders and only pausing to inspect any border marks so she knew where they lay and memorising them for future reference, Senka didn't think or even care of what other would think if they saw her. She would explain when the time came who she was and why she was stalking the edges of Drooping Willows. The scent of Elettra was still strong on her, mixed in with the smells of both Cedarwood and Drooping Willows but she hoped that if asked, none would challenge her of her new place within the pack. Yet her patrol needed to be done. She thought to herself. Fresh in the pack she may be, in order to know where she could and couldn't hunt, there was a need to familiarize herself the pack boundaries. There was no desire to be seen the fool if she accidentally hunted in the territory of another pack nor the desire to disappoint the one wolf she had so far meet that accepted her into her small pack. It was easy to tell it was small as well, from the scents she had smelt previously. One had been Elettra's and criss crossing each others had been another half a dozen, at least.

Pausing in her strides, her eyes were drawn to something moving within the bushes. Instantly, her body stilled as she quietly but quickly turned her head towards it, breathing in deeply. A hare. This would be a good time to show her skills as a hunter to Elettra and a smirk crossed her lips as one particular skill that only Elettra so far knew about crossed the russet female's mind. But she held back in using it. A hare was a meal in its own right. Only later, when she was settled and knew her way around, along with becoming familiar with her pack would she even attempt that certain skill. As of now, her greater concern was appearing normal for those who could stumble upon her if she tried her skill on this hare. The fear of rejection was still there and the old hurt still stung whenever it was thought of.

Finally clearing her thoughts, Senka was grateful the hare's scent was coming her way as she slowly and softly treaded towards the bush. The hare in the bush, who was gently chewing away at new growth, froze when the wind changed and the scent of the wolf that was coming closer. Ears erect, it burst out of the bush, running between the wolfs' legs in order to confuse her. But this still proved to be a challenge as Senka quickly lifted her front legs off the ground and spun on her hind legs, slamming her paws mere inches from its face and making it change it's course. Veering off to the right, the hare panicked when Senka cursed after it in words it could understand. Never before had a wolf's words been heard so clearly! It frightened the small mammal and kept it running. Senka was still chasing after it, her long strides helping her to keep up with it but the trees that made up part of the land made it somewhat difficult and made them both have to dodge around them. Deciding to make a leap of faith when she saw a clear chance, she took it. Her front paws landed right on the hare's back, her mouth instinctively going to its neck and snapping it. The hare lay limp underneath her paws.

Sighing heavily, Senka bent down to eat it. She would find another to take back to the cache but her stomach rumbled a little after it being empty of a semi proper meal in a few days. Besides, this hare was smaller than she originally thought and would barely give her something to eat. With ears perked, she made sure to stay watchful as she ate quickly. After taking the hare down, she had realised it had taken her slightly out of previously established borders of her pack. Only a few steps but enough that she was worried that another wolf would come by that wasn't of her pack and accuse her of stealing from their land when she wasn't.

It was took Skana longer than ever to complete her patrols of the territory, achy joints and all, but she still managed to do them. Slowly, steadily, one paw before the other she skirted along the inside of the border, the herbs from Elettra's infirmary easing her steps in the slightest. A noise, quick and rustling, and an unfamiliar scent drew her to the edges of the border. Recalling the last time she ventured out too far and got herself lost, she hesitated. Careful to keep a familiar willow tree within view, she tread further out.

Her limping gait slowed and her thick maned neck reached out as she scented the air. The odor of hare's blood and an unfamiliar wolf pulled a weary rumble from Skana's throat, her legs stiffening straight and tall while her tail bristled out up at her back. Although it hurt to do so she made an attempt at masking her favor of her swollen right paw, though the uneven bob of her shoulders as she sought out the other wolf was still apparent.

As the blurred form of the smaller russet wolf came into view Skana straightened, standing a short distance away with stiff posture, scarred head and chin lifted nobly. The elder's ears aimed forward at the girl, locking misty amber eyes onto the younger female's golden orange ones. Pointedly Skana ignored the remains of the rabbit meal, more interested in the wolf standing over them at the moment. She was close enough to now notice Elettra's faint scent on the girl.

Curt and to the point, the crone immediately introduced herself, "Skana Coho, advisor and second to Elettra Archer." She assumed the girl was now part of the Ridge ranks, but she was still cautious. "I assume you're supposed to be here, yes? Who are you?"

Licking her lips, Senka raised her head with ears perked as another wolf approached. The hare lay half eaten at her paws. The elder wolf's uneven gait was seen but when Skana Coho as she introduced herself with eyes on her and standing tall, Senka lowered hers in a sign of polite submission and crouched her body closer to the ground with her tail curled around her legs.
"I am Senka Flint, Ellettra kindly accepted me into the pack just yesterday."She replied with an even voice and keeping her body low. She didn't want a fight or show any disrespect to the elder female, not only was she higher in rank but especially since it appeared she was injured. "I am a hunter and wished to know the boundries better." Turning her head slightly to the remains of the rabbit, not rising from her crouch, Senka continued. "Though I suppose I wasn't paying close enough attention when I spotted this. I haven't eaten properly in the last few days." It was true. Due to her habits of not eating small creatures, it had been difficult for her to find things to hunt. Mice and other similar creatures were obviously off her list and everything else had either escaped her or if anything had been caught had been few and far between.

(This post was last modified: Sep 15, 2013, 08:18 AM by Senka.)

Skana nodded as the girl explained herself, finding the story sufficient. The pack would do with fresh blood, and if they hoped in seeing the three Archer cubs through winter the pack would need all the help they could get in that regard. Skana couldn't help but smile, a small subtle curl at the corner of her lips, as Senka further elaborated on just how she obtained that hare. So ready was the girl to apologize for what Skana hadn't even seen as a slight. It was almost flattering for Skana to know she still had enough presence left to extract such apologies without prompting for them. "Please, you've done nothing wrong yet. You're one of us now and the hare is ours, and so, is yours."

Skana let the rigid flag of her tail fall, letting herself relax seeing that the newest pack member was on good behavior. Though her stance at second was shaky, and one she knew could be easily toppled by an enterprising young wolf as it had before in spectacular fashion, there was no reason to pick fights that didn't need to be had. "I can tell you the closest pack is to the west, and is also allied with us. I know and trust their leader, so I wouldn't worry yourself too much."

"I would love to offer you a hunt for something better than rabbit, but..." Skana seemed as if she were about to shrug her silvered shoulders, but apparently thought better of it after a wince. Skana then pointed her nose at the mangled rabbit bits, "However, if you'd like to finish that up I could offer you someone to patrol with. I'm slower, but I at least know this place like the back of my paw."

(This post was last modified: Sep 17, 2013, 06:56 AM by Skana.)

As Skana finished telling her there was nothing to apologize for and where the nearest pack was to them, she supposed that since it had been so long without another to speak with, even after talking with Elettra, her tongue sought to speak with whoever would listen and her heart wanted to trust whoever looked passed her skill. Of course, so far, only Elettra knew of that and only she would know until she prepared to seek out another to tell.

Feeling as if it hadn't be completely necessary to mention how long she had gone without food and chiding herself inwardly, Senka slowly rose from her crouching once the elder wolf before her had gained a more relaxed position. Even with the obvious ailments presented before her and knowing how easy it would have been to rush Skana, thus sending her tumbling to the ground in a challenge which it was easy to see who would win, Senka was by no means an ambitious wolf. Yes, she would be called upon to be the leader hunter in some situations but it was never seen that she could be suitable for the position of the Alpha Female. Senka was content with being a hunter the rest of her life.

“It is fine, the rabbit should be suffice for now.” Senka assured her, taking note of the wince as if Skana had gone to shrug, however thought against it. It made her wonder how she had come to gain such injuries and a stab of loyalty and anger shot through her heart. Despite only meeting her fellow packmate, they were now of the same pack and it was unacceptable to know she had been attacked. It was shaken from her mind though, as it was clear the wounds would have happened well before her arrival and her age held some contributing factors to her jerky and hurt movements. “I will accept your offer of patrolling with you. You are the first of the pack I have met, outside of Elettra of course. It would honour me to get to know those within the pack.” Even if they had been of similar rank, she would have still shown respect for the battle scarred second. It had been taught at her from a young age to respect the elders and battle weary of the pack and this lady’s age and wounds showed that, even if the wounds were still new and dealt her great pain. Bending down to quickly finish the rabbit, Senka made sure there was no blood left on her fur, despite the fact her fur still stuck out somewhat in its usual fashion.

(This post was last modified: Sep 17, 2013, 09:18 AM by Senka.)

A smile, warm despite the underlying tiredness to her grizzled features, was given to the younger wolf. Skana knew she'd slow Senka down, and was sure Senka was aware of it yet still the girl had respectfully accepted the offer of companionship in their duties. Skana doled out respect as she received it, and kept a mental tally of those who from her had both earned it or lost it. After waiting for Senka to scarf down the rest of her food, Skana loped forward. As she passed Senka, she let her gilded brown flank brush against the shorter, ruddy red side of Senka, a physical gesture signaling that she more or less accepted the girl. There was a soft core to the elder's prickly, rough exterior, which really wasn't as hard to crack as Skana liked to think.

Skana ambled forth through the sweeping drapery of the willow branches, wholly expecting Senka to follow either in her wake or at her side. Slow, but steady Skana set the pace for their patrol, habit pulling her towards a well-traveled route, where the straggling plants and vines had been trampled down into a beaten path more accessible to her unsteady gait. She was accustomed enough to the normal sounds and scents of the forest here, knew it well enough to easily tell if something was out of place. Unfortunately the scent of fox around here had become a regular occurrence, but it didn't stop Skana from lifting her lip in a toothy grimace. The fox had become somewhat of a nemesis to the old wolf, the little devil seemingly knowing Skana would never catch him. "I don't suppose you like foxes, do you?" She asked Senka, almost rhetorical. Who the hell would like a fox?

(Permission to PP Skana slightly to finish thread. )

Senka Flint allow me this moment of bliss so I may begin to miss the torment Allowing Skana to take the lead, Senka allowed a small smile to cross her muzzle when Skana brushed passed her. She knew the signal well enough to know what it meant and as she followed, she fell in step to the elder’s side, though slightly behind. As they traversed the well kept tarren, Senka kept an eye out for any game trails left by prey, whether they were small or big. A trail was a trail and if it lead to the den of filled with food, she wasn’t going to let the opportunity go by. Lifting her head slightly to sniff the air, Senka scented the fox not long after Skana did, ears flicking forward as the elder wolf turned to her asking a question that already held the answer. ”What wolf would?” She replied back with a tone that was heavily sarcastic. Even with her ability, she chased them away with a vengeance, nipping at their tails when they were that little bit faster than her and doing far worse when they were found in the food caches. To her, a fox was the hunter’s greatest enemy because they did steal away hard earned food that had been hidden away for the pack. It would be her that would be frowned upon when she boasted of a plentiful cache only to find a fox had raided it. Of course, she wouldn’t be the only one providing for the cache but it was to be seen the hunter did their best to keep the cache filled. Yes, the fox needed food like everyone else but to trick and thieve like they did, they were considered little more than a pest in the russet wolf’s eyes and she hated them. ”Let’s hope the little idiot knows better than to come any closer. He won’t be going anywhere if he does.” Oh, she hoped he did so she could chase him down and give him a good enough scare that would keep him away from the pack borders for good. Though, if it escalated... They serached for the fox for nigh on an hour but to no avail. It irritated Senka but there was not much either she wolf could really do. All they could do was keep an eye out for the little preadetor and make sure it didn't find its way into any caches. Turning back to the elder wolf, Senka suggested they go back to the den for a rest. Skana agreed to it and the two she wolves talked as they made their way back to the den. -Exit for both Skana and Senka- <b style="font-family:georgia; color:#fefefe;">

table by mimi

(This post was last modified: Mar 18, 2014, 12:56 AM by Senka.)