Oak Tree Bend coming around the bend

A continuation of this thread.

Our same lost past

Triell didn't usually bring strange women home. Why should he be worried what everyone would think about Nayeli? He trusted her enough to have offered her a home, and he believed that should be good enough. They didn't have to be her best friend, or exactly like the idea of another new face. He counted on them to get to know her, and see what he had. Not everyone in this world was all for themselves, and if she did leave he imagined it would be because she was reunited with her family. The Oak Tree Bend wolves couldn't deny how important, how much family mattered, and what a hold they could have.

Following the red hills, Triell had done his best to carry the load between them and silence any worries before they could speak. It seemed if they kept to the trees they could work easier against the snow. The weight of their journey made it slower than if they had been traveling alone. The remains of the pronghorn were needed, and when he found his strength waning he bit down, forcing a few more strides. Some times he would see if she needed rest, and others he would simply take one for his own benefit. This lady with the white diamond on her face was surely not weak, nor desperate actress. He couldn't help but hold his old habits of playing the gentleman, and making sure she was doing okay.

As the blue misted forest came into his sights, it had never looked so welcoming "Almost there." His wide mouth split in a toothy smile, and he again grabbed the carcass, finding a bit more energy to continue. He wouldn't deny a bit of the excitement that pumped through his veins, surely he had not come back empty handed. Before they reached the borders marked by Cori, himself, and he was sure at least Fenru he halted. His frame was raised, his banner waving back and forth. It was clear how proud he was of his home, and happy to be back in the way he held himself. After a few long drawn pants, he was evidently looking to her, waiting for her reaction. "Here we are." The same emotions carried in his tone as he viewed the entrance with a satisfactory smile. They were here, as promised he wanted to answer any questions. "So, before we meet everyone what would you like to know?"

(This post was last modified: Mar 07, 2014, 12:31 AM by Datura.)

are you with me through it all?

It was slow going for the two wolves working together to tow the antelope across such a distance. Rather than moving one by one, plowing through snow the way they were designed to do it, they were stuck walking clumsily abreast, sharing the weight of their burden. What a blessed burden it was, though. There was little chance for conversation as the two wolves hauled the weighty carcass, though they did stop occasionally for rest, trading a few more words as they journeyed.

Nayeli's jaw ached by the time Triell announced they were drawing near to Oak Tree Bends' borders. Her legs were complaining as well, after helping to carry the dead weight across endless snowy hills and forested hinterland. And these were mere trifles compared to the knot in her belly. She had tried to keep a neutral face throughout the journey, not letting her weariness or hopeful nervousness shine through too clearly. She had always felt like she needed to hide away such superfluous emotions, at least from everyone besides her brothers Aduli and Vasu, her closest compatriots as a young wolf. The fact that Triell was still a stranger to her - and one she still couldn't quite figure out - only increased her motivation to keep such emotions hidden away. At the news they were close, she put forth another extra burst of effort, and together they at last arrived at the borders of Triell's home. Her new home as well, she reminded herself, at least for the foreseeable future, if everything went as expected. It was a new frame of mind she would have to get used to. Her silvery gaze swept over the mist-shrouded trees, trying to see them as somehow different than all the other snow-shrouded thickets she'd treaded through.

However hard she might try to remain composed, she could not keep her tail from wagging - in a mix of apprehension and happiness - or her paws from dancing restlessly in the snow. The thought of a home made her heart glad, even if was not the Isle she'd held so dear, with the wolves of her clan. Perhaps she could make something for herself here, with the wolves of Oak Tree Bend, even if she never found her family. She met Triell's gaze, registering the pride in his voice at the same moment her brain made sense the scents at the border. She could smell one or two others, but Triell's own scent was mixed prominently into the bouquet of aromas. Considering his question for a moment, she quirked her head to the side, replying "Hm... is there anything in particular that I should know?" with a small smile upon her jaws. Of course, she still had plenty of questions of her own. Nayeli had never been short on curiosity, on questions - as a young wolf she had often assailed her elders with endless questions, hardly giving them the chance to breathe in between her demands, much less answer them. Age had taught her to temper this curiosity, at least outwardly, but it had not been diminished by much. She chose to ask the dark male what she should know first because, well, he was a part of this pack - he should know better than her the less-obvious aspects that were worth asking about. It was a chance for him to tell her something it might not occur to the loner girl to ask, although she had questions aplenty. It was also his chance to save himself from the deluge she might unleash, if given a proper chance.

-I put the [dohtml] back in your post and then you code worked? -Switch

(This post was last modified: Jan 17, 2014, 10:50 PM by Triell.)

Our same lost past

There may have been a sense of hesitation, but the wave of her tail, and the in ability to stand still assured him she wasn't about to change her mind. Dark face was not exactly readable, and never having to join a pack of strangers he couldn't imagine what it felt like being on the outside soon walking in with little idea what to expect. Thinking it over he wanted Nayeli to feel prepared, at least to a point. He had no idea how yet another new face would be received.

How easily that simple smile of hers made one draw to his lips, once he realized she had asked him in turn, he wiped it from his face. At least trying at first to be serious."Okay, for starters I lead with my older sister Corinna. She's practically our rock, and has been leader of this pack since I was a pup. We merely moved to this side not too long ago. Now the pack as a whole doesn't exactly take to strangers very well. We have had many come, take what they needed, and leave. If they seem a little cold it's a layer of protection. I apparently don't know how the hell to work my own." There was a wry smile there, because the Tainn could always poke fun at himself. She probably still didn't understand how she had gotten here, but maybe that would help her to figuring it out. Long as he tried to place walls he rarely succeeded. He still couldn't decide if he forgave easily, or he simply didn't dwell on the mistakes of others. Maybe, it simply depended on the crime, and the wolf.

"Second, I have three nephews. Fenru the eldest is an official guard. The other two Sceral and Serach will be yearlings this spring. I'll warn you now if your in their vicinity expect the unexpected." There was a faint chuckle, recalling their first official hunt. How Triell often wondered if this was something they had inherited from their father or their age. Time would only tell. Dark face began to sober, and his eyes rapidly blinked without his knowledge right before he spoke. "Third, their father is a wolf named Ice, and his return is a hopeful expectation." By mentioning his name the male paused, wondering if she possibly met the pale beast. It wasn't impossible, even if unlikely. For the fifth time today he placed the pale guardian to the back of his mind, and gently cleared his throat. He was staring at the snow, suddenly quiet. Realizing he wanted to know more a bout her, it was with a jerk of his head he nodded in her direction. "So what about you? Where is it you came from?" Why are you here, and not there. He knew much better than to say this aloud despite the great want to know. Carefully, orange-yellow eyes dared drift to her silver pair, a curious tilt to his ears.

(This post was last modified: Jan 20, 2014, 03:55 AM by Triell.)

There is an elk carcass nearby. It looks like it froze to death. +12 Health

I guess we can find the elk whenever it seems like a good moment xD
EDIT: yay so much food!

His first statement took her somewhat by surprise - she might have guessed he was a prominent member of this pack, but he didn't seem to act like many alphas she'd met. At the same moment, it put her a bit more at ease about the situation at hand. Nayeli was hesitant to pledge her loyalty to just anyone. Triell... well, she didn't want to make too many quick calls today, but he seemed like the sort of wolf she might be able to put her trust in, if what she'd seen today was a true glimpse of his character. She was equally curious about the elder sister he mentioned - Corinna. Leaders defined the ethos their packs lived by, and the Stormwright lady had learned shortly after leaving home that not all leaders deserved their titles. She hoped that was not the case here, or her stay might end up being shorter than planned. Offering the coal lord a silent dip of her head, she wondered how formal this meeting would be.

Nayeli listened as Triell spoke on, of his family and their lives, and mentally she filed each of the names away, to later be attached to faces. She was intrigued to meet the rest of the wolves who made up this group. Her smile grew calmer, more thoughtful. Most strangers who's made the journey all the way to her home pack's territory didn't leave again lightly, but she could understand how it might make this family wary of wanderers and vagabonds. She wondered if the group consisted entirely of the family members Triell mentioned, or if there were others besides herself who had once been outsiders. The word Ice only made her think of the cold and relentless winter.

"I hope I'll get to meet them soon," she said, pausing pensively for a moment before responding to his question. The way he spoke of them all, especially his nephews, had made her a bit nostalgic for home, and bittersweet memories of her brothers rose to her mind. These wounds were old now, though, and she'd told the tale a time or two... or a dozen before, during her search. Her smile was wistful as she answered, trying to speak somewhat lightly of a heavy subject for her. "I was born on an island called Lostwind, and I grew up there with my pack. Ours was the only one to call it our home, but some wolves did arrive there from the mainland. Few of us ever left... until we had to. A storm forced us from our home during an inopportune season, and we were separated during the swim to safety." She paused for breath - her voice was less light now, her sentences oddly succinct, as she wished not to dwell upon the details of that night, the night of fire and blackness. "I managed to reach the shore, so I hoped some others might have, too. I've been searching - I even found a few signs that maybe... but nothing ever came of it all." She thought of pawprints in the sand that seemed like nothing more than a dream now. The waves had erased them as surely as dreams faded from the mind upon waking, and memories faded with time. "It's not easy to give up the search."

She dipped her head before speaking again, this time breaking her gaze for a second to sweep it around their surroundings, ears flicking. She couldn't really think of a tactful way to change the subject, but she did it anyway, hoping to strike upon something more conversational. "So, what lead your pack to this place?" She asked, remembering he'd said they'd just come from the other side. Her thoughts swept up to the peaks that seemed loom in the distance wherever you could see the horizon in these lands. It was hard to imagine climbing those vicious fangs of ice, but she assumed that's what he must have meant.

(This post was last modified: Jan 20, 2014, 11:01 PM by Nayeli.)

There is a moose carcass that has been scavenged by coyotes nearby. +15 Health

Sorry for not being really quick. :X

Our same lost past

When she met others there might be a change to the eased atmosphere, but he would remain the same. There was time to be serious, emanate what his rank meant. To constantly be re-enforcing it without cause? Triell was more than a Leader, and since his position could be temporary there was part of him worried what would happen if he grew too attached to the whole thing. Who was he kidding? The only way he would keep it was if someone else was leading beside him who was not his sister.

"I'm sure we can arrange that." There was bit of mischief in his warm colored eyes, he was not about to beckon anyone. Face grew still in a manner of interest as she began to share her brief story of home. More specifically an island that he guessed must have been quite large for a pack of wolves. This storm must have been quite fierce to drive them from it, apart from each other. Sympathy cast the tips of his ears back, catching again the lack of depth she used to tell of the sad tale. He honestly didn't know how she kept words steady. Triell knew the loss of family,but he had always had brothers and sisters in those dark days. He couldn't imagine. Brows furrowed in a form of misery, a frown misshaping his lips, he said the only thing that felt right. "Don't give up then." Muzzle began to reach out, offer a touch of comfort, but he paused just before he would have reached her ink toned coat. Snapping his head back, eyes roved over the pronghorn, and again to the blue misted woods. They should probably take care of its remains, a paw meant to lift, but it remained to the ground. There was nothing wrong about her own question, it brought on the reasons. The dark wolf's eyes took a blank look, that far off kind of different times. There were a lot of things that came flooding to his mind. Indru and Torrel's disappearance. Rissa and Aiyanna fighting in play, and him begging them to stop. The lack of happiness in Fenru and Kisla..... He probably stood like a statue longer than he would have liked. It was with a sheepish smile, a pull of ears, he glimpsed the dark Stormwright. He was very carefully in the way he spoke, if he was saying nothing different, especially gloomy. "We came here in hopes to escape the bad memories of our old home. Start anew where the next litter would have a place untainted." That was all he was going to offer at this time, but he felt she would understand.

Dark banner began beating behind him. "Think you can drag this a little more? We can bury it for later." About to grab onto the carcass, there was a something ahead, dark an circling that caught his attention. An eagle not yet white headed, but dark brown, that seemed to have its eye on something. A quizzical look he tried to decide what was catching the bird of prey's attention. Everything looked white and plain before the trees began to shoot up and together. Wait. There looked to be a huge large shape that didn't seem like it belonged. Last Triell knew there wasn't large rocks here, and so it must be something dead. They were probably simply keeping the eagle from eating. "More food?" He waited for her opinion, then began to break through the snow toward the disfigured blob of snow. Sure enough, the closer he became he noticed the prongs from the bull's antlers. "Man, fate decides to shine on us today," he murmured, a little in disbelief. Removing bits of the snow with his paws, far as he could see the elk was rather untouched. There was quite a bit of ice beneath the snow that didn't want to move. "Hmmm." There was no way he was leaving this here, but would everyone else hear him if he called them for a surprise meal?

He was cold, he was hungry, he was tired... But above all, Drestig Avalon was bored! While joining a pack had saved him from winter's death, it had yet to bring any new challenges to the black boy; let alone any fun! To his great dismay, the dark lad found himself having a routine, waking up at the same hour and following the same schedule every day; patrolling the territory in search of food, and sometimes exchanging but a few words with the other pack members - no one had the time for anything more - and resting in the afternoons, before returning to his patrolling from sunset to around the middle of the night when he returned to the den to sleep. So today he was, as per usual, patrolling the forest, when fate decided to shine on him; there was a new smell on the wind. With a small squeal of excitement, that he would later deny should anyone ask, the ebony man sprang forwards, his discouraged, heavy trot changing into a buoyant sprint, large paws moving swiftly over the snow; FOOD! It didn't take long for him to traverse the forest, body easily wiggling in and out between the trees, despite his size, and he soon came upon a small clearing where the tattered remains of a moose lay abandoned in the snow; Blessed be coyotes and all their flee-bitten troublemaking! Clearly this was the work of the wolves' screwed cousins, their mark was clearly left on the carcass. They left in a hurry though... Probably because they knew they'd intruded on our territory! With a crooked smile, Drestig approached the moose, eager to feast on the day-old flesh - should he call for the rest of the pack? Surely there's food enough for everyone to have a little... Before he could think any further distant sounds made his ears twitch and he froze in place, listening closely to the movements; Wolves..? Turning his head fully in direction of the noise, Drestig raised his snout and sniffed at the wind - there were two distinct smells, only one of them familiar; Triell! Glancing at the carcass, the black lad weighed his options, it wasn't too far and it would be smart to move the meet further into the territory; he couldn't move it on his own. With a rapid shake of his fur, Drestig set back into motion, leaving the moose behind to go and enlist Triell - he could have howled, but he didn't want to attract the attention of other scavengers, and besides, the alpha was with someone, a stranger... It took little more than a few leaps before the dark male came close enough to see his comrade. He was about to call out, but stopped himself quelling his excitement and slowing down to take in the scene; Triell was poking at a strange pile of snow on the ground - no, not a pile, something covered by snow; A rock..? No it wasn't a rock, it was... Holy heavens! Slowly stepping closer, Drestig voiced his presence, the big grin on his face resonating in his melodic voice; "Triell!" Giving a quick not to recognize his superior, the smaller male began scraping at the other side of the shape, eyes and smile growing larger as he soon confirmed his supposition about the object. "I can't believe it..." He mumbled as he raised his flaming eyes back up to meet the other man's. Releasing a short bark of laughter he then proclaimed: "You won't believe what I just found, close by!" He jerked his head back in the direction he'd come from; Can this day POSSIBLY get any better?! That's when he finally noticed her, only a few steps behind Triell, and he remembered the foreign smell that he had noticed along with his alpha's. Running his glowing orange eyes over the black girl, he tilted his head slightly, smile turning crooked; "A new addition..?" He asked his leader, not taking his eyes away from the ebony lady, but rather seeking to meet hers, confidence and elation radiating off his frame. An then, farceur as he was, he couldn't resist greeting the lass with fake awe; "Or are you the goddess of luck herself, who has come to smile on us today?" He raised one eyebrow, smiling shamelessly as he waited for her answer. Word count: 729 My mind is my own ”I'll say whatever I want to!”

"Don't give up then." Nayeli gazed back at him for a moment, then nodded in silent agreement. Triell's words were something more substantial than the usual polite, empty encouragements wolves offered to her. He was offering her a place here in his pack, but also the freedom to keep looking for her family, her brothers.... It meant a great deal to her, but she was not sure she could put this sentiment into words for this wolf who was still very much a stranger. Her tail swayed in quiet thanks, and she hoped he understood.

She listened as he spoke - in very few words - about how the pack had come to be here. She recognized that faraway look; she didn't know what memories were left unspoken in that moment, but one didn't need to. Those who had known loss could generally recognize it in others. Breaking away her glance, Nayeli nodded wordlessly, following Triell's gaze to the trees.

The moment passed and she answered back with a happy sway in her tail. "Sure, just lead the way and-," she broke off. Something seemed to have caught Triell's attention, out there in the trees. At first her thoughts leaped to another pack member, but the forest seemed motionless to her gaze. "More food?" It seemed almost too good to be true, but sure enough the dark man unearthed another fallen soul from the snow. Nayeli stepped closer, surprise lifting any traces of somber mood from her shoulders. It really was almost unbelievably lucky. She was about to voice her surprise when something else caught her attention - a third wolf was springing toward them through the shadowed wood.

The she-wolf forced herself not to slip into a more defensive stance as the other wolf approached suddenly. It was simply habit when you were a loner, but in all likelihood he was an associate of Triell's, so she would take her cues from him. Sure enough, he greeted him by name. Nayeli let herself relax again, eager to meet another wolf of the Bend. "You won't believe what I just found, close by!" The man continued, and by his tone it was something worthwhile. Another wolf with eyes of fire, she noted as his gaze turned to her. "A new addition..? Or are you the goddess of luck herself, who has come to smile on us today?"

She gave a quick laugh, shaking her head to deny the allegation. "No, just another mortal... Nayeli Stromwright," she offered, dipping her head in a quick greeting. "I'm not sure about fate, but lady luck does seem to be in a giving mood today." Hopefully she wouldn't be coming back to collect her dues later.

Our same lost past

The quiet pull that drew upon them wasn't an awkward silence, but a fit for circumstances and understanding. There he let it be. Soon his mind work on the rest of things he should try to accomplish today before the sun set. Only, now it was a different list than he had started with.

Aware Nayeli was not far behind, the dark wolf was trying to fathom it all, while also choosing the best way to get meat to hungry mouths. When she did not say anything, bright eyes drew upward, catching the lengthy figure of Drestig just as he called his name. Swiftly his black lips stretched in a large smile. Good another helper. As the other dark fellow revealed more of their find in the same disbelief Triell didn't think anything of his laughter. They had after all found a kill that time he had joined the pack. The hint of something else had the leader's brows scrunched together. "I probably won't till I see it," he joked in turn. His head was still overwhelmed by the amount of this carcass and what it meant.

Upon mention of Nayeli, he sidestepped, offering her space while she answered for herself. In turn Triell let Drestig give his own introduction. The swarthy wolf laughed, in good spirits and amused by Drestig's question, and the diamond marked lady's reply. This had certainly turned out to be a good day, better than he could have thought. He couldn't help think she had a bit to do with that. "I don't know Nayeli. This is what our second find today, and what sounds to be like a third. Maybe, you're a bit lucky." The brute gave a wink, and then back to the carcass began to remove more ice from the elk. When his paws began to protest, he paused, catching his breath. Lifting his muzzle, Triell let out a long, deep howl for the members of Oak Tree Bend to join them for a frozen feast. With a beating tail he then rest his eyes upon his subordinates. "Nayeli if you're still hungry might as well get your fill. Hopefully everyone will hear me, but who knows where they might be....Drestig, better lead the way to this other find."

(This post was last modified: Mar 03, 2014, 10:15 PM by Triell.)