The Ghost of the Loners' Past

She was glad that he did not take long to arrive. To no fault of the loner before her, her patience was wearing thin. So many bodies, so little food. Thankfully for him, the thought of hunting and consuming those that proved worthless to their familial pack never crossed her mind. She released a long moment's worth of breath as the caress of her mate suddenly came against her fur. Thank heavens, he'd arrived. Her tail had ceased its incessant lashing, for the stranger's fate was not left to her now. For if it was up to her, this man would not pass these borders, if only because she feared too much for the survival of those she truly cared for. But on the other side of that coin was the knowledge that this man was another set of useful paws who might happen upon a rabbit and share it with her children or Lucero or Zia...Anyone.

The man answered Phineas's question in a much neater fashion than he'd answered her earlier. Good. Less time wasted for her already exhausted mate. <b style="color:#32527a">"He claims he won't eat until we find him worthy." She spoke towards the pale ear of her mate, her voice only slightly chiding. She didn't doubt the words of this stranger, he seemed honest enough. But it was almost laughable that he would damn himself in this fashion. Perhaps she'd never find him worthy. No, no she wasn't so cruel as to do that, but she still thought the words funny enough. <b style="color:#32527a">

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Borlla’s whispered words in his ear stirred a bitter smile to the man – his eyes flashed upon the rogue as a sardonic snort escaped his nostrils, his own eyes glancing down at his mate momentarily. “That could be awhile then,” he returned, the amusement on his features not truly reaching his tone – an indication that the malicious words he spoke were heartfelt and could be true. This was no time to seek a pack. “Especially since there is no food.” His tone was harsher now, his figure lifting more as he regarded the male openly. “Did you know we are in a famine?” If he didn’t, Phineas would be even more unimpressed. The sudden flock of lone wolves to his borders was agitating him – they only sought a temporary place for survival alone. When the snows melted away and spring warmed the lands once more, they would be gone without a second glance over their shoulder.

“Why would I let a stranger in to eat the little bit of food we have? Tell me what you could offer this pack that might help rather than hinder.” There was always the worry that a newcomer would take more food than welcome – yet the law of the wolf indicated that food would go along the line of the hierarchy.. if somehow, a wolf within Magnolia Glen took more than their share.. or worse, from the mouths of his cubs.. They would be next on the pack’s menu. Phineas would make sure of that.

[ @Phineas and @Borlla ]

James nodded his head softly. "Yes sir. No one has to walk very far to tell the food is gone." Even the most brain dead wolf wold know it was smart to seek shelter. For the lack of food would slaughter some within days. If the packs were lacking food to it was easily seen that this was possibly one of the harshest winters some had seen. Some who were new to the land, like himself, had surely been shocked by the winter weather. Such hard conditions where not a frequent thing back in his old home.

"“Why would I let a stranger in to eat the little bit of food we have? Tell me what you could offer this pack that might help rather than hinder.” There was lots of things he thought he could do, but would only saw one or two. "I could guard the borders from vicious loners or predators." It was the first thing that came to mind. But the Alpha probably heard that a lot from strangers and loners like him. All saying to protect the borders. Though James had meant it. A rather loyal man he was. Perhaps if they could look past his words and into his heart they would be able to see that.

Although he had no power over what the said or did he could only hope for the best. All he was capable of doing was answering the questions and holding himself low. What else could loner do? That was if they wanted to keep the fur on their back.

The woman nodded stiffly as her mate answered. She was glad that he seemed to find it as amusing as she had, even if just temporarily. At the very least, he did not look angry, but his voice betrayed his expression. This man needed to know that whatever he said would likely not impress the pair of pale wolves that stood over him. Nothing he could offer would make up for the food lost to his jaws. But not all was lost, of course. Perhaps what he didn't say would mean more than anything he would say.

Her golden eyes scanned his form as he spoke, answering Phineas, knowing that food was non-existent in this land now. His offering to Magnolia Glen was a bit better than she'd expected, likely some offering to somehow find them food. Instead, he offered to be a guardian. Someone to screen those that came calling. Ears tipped forward, she resisted a glance at Phineas. The decision fell to him, unfortunately. If it made life easier for him, she would have gladly said the word to determine the dark wolf's fate. Her tail twitched behind her, not betraying her thoughts, though she did not take her eyes off of James. Whatever decision her mate made, she would stand by his side.

(This post was last modified: Jan 21, 2014, 02:46 AM by Borlla.)

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There is a deer that was killed by a lynx nearby. +10 Health

Last post for me. <3 I can change the minor PP -- I wanted to wrap this thread up.

With non-committal emotion, the Leader moved forward, his own form stopping to brush past the other as the male was silently accepted to the pack. He seemed a more honorable fellow than some he had accepted within the past few weeks, and with a weary glance to his mate, he would then weave back to her side.

Phineas gave a flick of his tail in thought – the scent of a kill seemed to breeze past him in that moment and he felt himself stiffen. Fiery eyes swept the lands before the small group, finally coming upon what could have appeared to be a larger lump of snow. Prowling forward to investigate, the ivory male felt a small surge of relief flood him at the sight of the food.. food for his kids. He bristled slightly now, at the presence of the other, and yet nodding to the fallen deer, he knew this was an opportunity for the other to prove himself.

“We will take this carcass to the pups and the pack,” he ordered, allowing no argument within his tone. “Swallow a piece before my children feed, and I will feast on your hide,” he rumbled darkly, his eyes flashing before he bent down, his own jaws working to gnaw a large chunk of the deer to pass to his mate for her to begin the trek to the den. Next, he would work another piece, dividing the kill to three. They would not leave an ounce behind if they could help it, and with one more warning glare to the newcomer, Phineas bent down, his own jaws, now bloodied, gripping a hind limb and pulling it and part of the torso across the snow.

It was not enough to feed a hungry pack, but it would at least take away some of their hunger pangs. It was with this thought of determination that he began the harder journey back to the den site, where his cubs would be.

(This post was last modified: Jan 23, 2014, 06:55 PM by Phineas.)

( @Borlla feel free to post one last time with Borlla leaving if you like!)
The silent brush gave him a feeling of relief. It was also a sign they were putting any trust they could into him. For that James was grateful. How many could say they received a home and family in the dead of winter? Well, he was one of the wolves that could.

The gathering only got better as the scent of a kill swirled into his nose. Like an order he followed the large male to help carry food. “Swallow a piece before my children feed, and I will feast on your hide,” James had made a promise not to eat their food until they saw him worthy. So why would he break it so soon? "I dare not Sir." Hopefully in time the Alphas would trust him more. They would have time to. The young Slayer did not look at this place as a winter vacation home. No. This was a place where he would prove his worth and work until something or someone pulled him away from them. Although it sounded like big commitment to make James would try his hardest to fill it.

Taking a decent size of meat in his mouth the male started to carry it back to where they stored their food. Even though the smell and slightest taste of it was killing him slowly he didn't dare to take a bite of it. Not even a nibble. The thought of his hide becoming food was a scary thought. It only got scary at the thought of the large Alpha ripping into his hide. Maybe those would be the thoughts that kept him from eating their food.

<div align="center"><div style="width: 430px; background-color: transparent;"> <div style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 9px; color: black; text-align: justify; padding: 15px; text-indent: 15px; line-height: 13px;">It was with an even patience that she watched as Phineas, without a single word, accepted the man into their home. Her ears moved forward with a new curiosity. A new face to get to know, to keep an eye on, to be weary of. Perhaps less of the latter, as this man, James, had given the pair no true reason, other than his previous loner status, to be cautious of him. So while Phineas accepted the man with indifference, Borlla was now quite interested in seeing what worth he would be to them. Would he eventually become an appendage of herself, like her packmates were? That was what family ought to be afterall. Mere expansions of ones own body, never to fail you.
<p>When he came back to her side, she could feel the larger, pale man stiffen. Mere seconds after, she mimicked this. There was food about. Her eyes followed Phineas for a moment, before she trailed behind him, eyes occasionally flicking towards the stranger. Her muscles tightened in quiet anticipation, as though the man might suddenly turn on them. But even as the Leader spoke and began to break down their frozen savior, the dark man remained quiet, seemingly following the standard he'd set for himself. Her lips drew back in a single silent threat to back up the words of her mate, before she grabbed the section intended for her, and began to carry it off. So far, so good. <span style="color:#32527a;font-weight:bold;"></span>
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{borlla exit}

Lurking until the end of July - Please PM/tag me to get my attention