Spectral Woods bell ringer

For any OTB wolf :)

Bound by ice that formed when the shadow of night overtook the land the snow clung to everything it could, its cold touch reminiscent of the fingers of death. It lined the ridges of bark on the trees and layered the branches that hung over head, even grasping tightly her ruddy hairs. No winter was necessarily enjoyable, but this one seemed entirely invasive… and it had only begun. Against the winds the wolf continued a journey she had started months before. Back then it had been no end in sight, but now there was one and it was not so pleasant to consider. The air was stiff and thin, nearly hostile with the cold and yet the flakes never ceased to fall. Slowly, bit by bit, they consumed the land whole and Valora did not intend to fall prey to bastard winter.

She inhaled as deeply as she could, ignoring the sting in her nostrils as she tried to fill the capacity of her lungs. Regularly a power house, packed of muscle behind deceptive feminine charm, she was losing to lone wolf fatigue. Feeling the stress of travel not as a familiar burn but as an agony in her joints caused her blood to boil. This grand adventure she had been having was quickly going south and taking her with it. Valora needed a home – temporary or not – and something told her she would not find it here. It was deathly silent, broken only on occasion by a winter wind, and so quiet it seemed unfriendly to an obvious traveler like herself. With a coat as red as her own, she could not fit in to the esoteric surroundings. She was reluctant to head further into the depths, maintaining a steady pace about the perimeter where the trees were sparser and did not loom ominously overhead.

Her heart dropped at the first hint of a scent among the snow, thinking that her mind was playing tricks on her. Upon further inspection the red-caped female came to accept two things slowly. One, that scent was real. It would seem there was a pack here on the outskirts of the creepy forest, but that was their prerogative. Two, perhaps her death was not so imminent after all. That was, if she could convince someone in charge that she was worth her keep. A crooked smile tugged on the corners of her lips, accepting the challenge. Her steps began to slow, large paws eventually planting in the snow-coated forest floor. She would approach no further, having a deep respect for boundaries that were not her own to push. Tilting her muzzle to the grey sky, she parted her jaws and beckoned someone with authority to come: she had a question to ask.

With the night as his cloak and the snow his means of sneaking about pack territory, Fenru Tainn had been busy. Aside from constantly making rounds about Oak Tree Bend borders, he was also looking for his lost sister and keeping a mental log on what his younger brothers were up to. These days it seemed the endless string of blizzards had kept them well within their Uncle Triell's markers, but nevertheless, Fenru kept up his beat. He was slowly picking his way along the path both Triell and Ruiko had made when something that sounded like a muffled howl snatched at his ears. His amber eyes narrowed as he peered through the veil of falling snow. Had the sound come from behind him? He peered over his shoulder and turned around as he canted his head to one side. He supposed it couldn't hurt to double-check... Better safe than sorry...

He glanced through the trees on either side of him before advancing forward over the trail he had marked just moments ago, careful to force his paws deep into the frost and leave behind his own unique scent. It seemed he had succeeded, for the sight he discovered was one that he had highly anticipated. There, just off to the side of where he had traveled through the snow to forge a new trench-like highway through the forest, stood a woman with dark, mask-like markings.

His heart, had it not been so carefully held within his rib cage, felt as though it could have slipped down into the pit of his stomach. His nose twitched and while he angled his muzzle into the air, he cautiously approached her. It wasn't his sister. Though the young Tainn was aware of his uncle's plans in recruiting, Fenru couldn't help himself in striding forward in such an intimidating manner with his hackles raised and his tail waving about high above his back. Once he had come within earshot, he stared at her, sized her up and lifted his lips just briefly enough to flash his set of clenched teeth, "What do you want?"

Her eyes narrowed against the wind as she let her head rest, ignoring the sting as best as she could as she waited on a reply. It could be some time… if one came. Valora had no issues with pride, being a wolf who abhorred arrogance, but she did knowingly possess a fantastic patience. Sometime following her call – she occupied her mind as the time passed - a dark-caped figure emerged through the white-washed surroundings, giving her little time to assess the situation. The haze parted to reveal his aggression, his tail high like a flag of glory. He rose, she shrank, a hierarchical dance embedded in their bones. The pointed question that slid through his equally pointed teeth hit her slicked-back ears like daggers. Hostility was easy to recognize.

But Valora would not be deterred, not yet. In his place she would be no kinder, though she was not in his place. She was in her place, a place she didn't want to be, but she had to act accordingly. Her yellow-green gaze skirted the area about his paws, taking in his spike-furred form in her periphery as her heel-hanging tail tip curled with uncertainty. He must have been the tallest wolf she'd ever seen, and he was still some lengths away. He smelled of youth, younger than her perhaps, but his display did not support any naivety. A lone wolf in the winter the red wolf could not be picky, but in her core she craved the strength of a pack worth serving, which begged the question. Could she respect this wolf? Yes, yes she could.

The winter storm howled through the trees, shaking the branches and raining ice and snow upon the pair. Needing no further prompt she asked, "Whose borders have I found, sir?" almost shouting over the blustering winds that attempted to overtake her voice. Given the aggression of her interceptor Valora decided she would ramble on later. For now, concise questions and concise answers seemed to be the best route. He was a firecracker, she could see that in his flaming eyes, and the ruddy wolf wanted to stay far from that fuse if he was going to let her stick around.

Serach can give @Fenru some help. Sorry for the delay in a response to you, @Valora! I think for timeline's sake, this should be set after Cori's death, if that's alright with you, Grey?

Serach had no other winters to compare this one too, but that hardly mattered. This one would remain in his memory as colder than all the rest, for the remainder of his life. For this winter, the cold had taken his mother from him. He was old enough to recognize death, but never in one that he loved. His naivety had led him to believe that only the things they hunted could die, hence why they were food and they, his pack, were not. But winter had shown him in raw brutality that was not true, and ever since that fateful day, he too had been unable to ward away the chill.

Despite the warmth that the others provided, the young wolf had sunken into miserable solitude. Aimlessly pacing, he trekked back and forth across the pack's territory, only realizing after a few days that he was following the lingering scent of his mother. He had seen the body, licked her cold face, and begged her to rise again, but it had been no use. His relentless trekking would end the same way, bearing no fruit or comfort, but only the realization that the scent he hunted was fading.

The borders had the strongest remains of Corinna's scent, and so it was no surprise that Serach found himself following along in his older brother's footsteps, though the wolf in question was not within his sights. Effectively an orphan now, Serach had no remaining blood family besides Sceral and Fenru; @Ice had long since vanished and his son had given up hoping for his return, and even @Kisla had been stolen away from them by the winter. Even so, Serach could not bring himself to smile as he recognized the tawny backside of his older brother. For in his brother, he also saw his mother, and his heart cried out at the injustice of never having her comfort ever again.

It was the stranger's misfortune, then, to be met with two bristling pack wolves. Serach was beginning to grow out of his lanky stage, but his bulk had not developed due to the shortage of food. Even so, his father's genes ran in his veins, and his head was even with Fenru's neck. Rounding his brother's left side, the pale wolf stalked out of the trees, a low chuff announcing his presence to his brother and the lone wolf. His tail was lifted and his glare pointed, but he was quick to answer her question. "This is Oak Tree Bend. I'm Serach, that's Fenru. Who are you?" A brisk tone for a juvenile, but he had no pity for this stranger - all his empathy was too self-absorbed for the moment.

Fine by me! <3

As it was expected of her, she lowered her body into a more respectful stance and the more he stared her down, the more obedient she seemed. Instead of answering his question, she asked him to give him the name of the pack whose borders she had discovered. Not one to particularly give out such private or personal information, he held his tongue, scowling at her through the dark mask upon his face. He could hear someone approaching and the Tainn merely stood his ground, whoever had chosen to join him could very well decide what to divulge to the outsider.

Much to his surprise, the scent of his younger brother hit his nose and soon after recognizing it, he felt Serach at his shoulder, his own brand of duress adding to the scene that was already unfolding. "This is Oak Tree Bend," the young Aesir announced, "I'm Serach, that's Fenru. Who are you?" Had Serach been a few months younger than he was now, Fenru might have stepped out in front of him, a simple but powerful gesture to convey his purpose to the rogue woman, but as it was it was already apparent that, shoulder-to-shoulder and regardless of the age gap between them, Corinna's sons were a force to be reckoned with.

"He asked you a question," Fenru spat, not even waiting for the rust-coated stranger to open her mouth to speak. "It'd be in your best interest to answer it or I'm gonna give you to the count of three to get gone... I'll ask you one last time, what do you want?" Whether Uncle @Triell liked it or not, he and Serach, Fenru decided, were going to be the ones to pass judgement over her should she ask to seek refuge among their ranks. Indru, Kenai, Kinis, Angier, Naira, Aiyana, Rihael, Torrel, Rissa, Cali, Ice, Kisla, Corinna... Fenru had their names placed to memory; the heartache of their loss, betrayal, and memories forever etched in his mind. There was no more room for error and, at any point in this exchange of information, Fenru was ready to question her capabilities in loyalty and allegiance should she utter even the slightest inkling that suggested her wishes for kinship. Surely, in the middle of winter, the care of a pack (and the opportunity to consume all of its resources) was all a lone wolf could have ever wanted before making their leave at the first sign of Spring...

No worries <3

She was given an answer, but not by the bristling guardian before her. A pale wolf rounded the earlier interceptor's side, almost as tall but less bulky. Serach, as he introduced himself, had the makings of a yearling, or at least almost, and the scent shared between them seemed a little stronger than pack. It didn't take long for her to assume their familial relation, given the sudden roar from the dark-masked wolf. He asked you a question, Fenru snarled, continuing a with a threat she had little reason to believe was empty.

Valora felt their anger like a blast of icy wind against her skin, disheartened that she had managed to offend them, and so early on. She was wise enough to realize their collective fury was not brought of her own actions (she hadn't even done anything yet) and wiser still to know that it didn't matter what the driving force behind their rage was. "My name," she bounced right back after his teeth clicked closed, giving the older male hardly a breath of silence between their words to start counting, "is Valora Orlaithe." She tilted her muzzle toward the pair, letting her eyes search the pale landscape to avoid any eye contact. She knew exactly who she was: Rhiannon's daughter, Ajax's gilded warrior. A force not unlike their own. But they didn't know that. She would have to prove it to them - and no doubt they would make her.

Sure as she was coated in red Valora did not balk in the face of a challenge. "I seek a home to serve long after the winter has passed." Further she buckled and lowered her head, hoping to prove she was a smarter wolf than they might've thought. Pushing her ears further against her head she continued, "I am loath to bring disgrace upon myself or your pack to be disloyal." She braced herself to hear dissent, as her words could only mean so much. It was up to this pair, Serach and Fenru, to decide if they believed her or not.

Fenru did not seem to resent his presence there, nor did he seem to mind that Serach had answered the question that had been originally posed to the Tainn. It was impulse that had done it, a sudden need to protect the sanctity of his mother's borders and their home. His limited life experience made him ill-adept at determining the character of others, but whether the loner was good or bad didn't matter to him; his only goal was to make sure that their home remained the sacred place that he held it in his youthful mind to be. Fenru's rather fierce display of guardianship made clear that the two brothers were on the same mind in that regard.

If the loner felt she was receiving underserved treatment, she did not give it away. Serach watched her, not entirely unable to hide his curiosity behind a stoic expression. This was his first time meeting a lone wolf at the borders, and he was curious to see how it would go. Valora seemed to understand how it would go - she answered Fenru's question without hesitation. She wanted to join them, and for the long term. But she'd be stupid to say otherwise, the young wolf knew that much even if he was hopefully out of his depth in this situation. So the cub said nothing, but merely turned his head to look at Fenru. His pale ears and eyebrows rose, his expression clearly quizzical. What now?

All is lost again, but I'm not giving in

The dark wolf was silent again. Death had a way of stealing his tongue, first by the loss of his own parents and now by its insistence upon taking another great lady. The silence went far beyond Triell to the very trees; the sanctuary she and Ice had chosen for their family. It was if they were all in quiet mourning, trying to wrap their head around the harsh reality that was theirs. He did not let himself become scarce, nor disappear into the depths of his own sorrow. Despite lack of words, he was aware he was needed now more than ever. But, he did not want to suffocate Serach and Sceral, so from afar he kept a watchful eye upon them. Hoping his continued presence would mean something, in time they would feel they could come to him.

It was following Serach today, along the borders he heard the call of the lone female. Instead of instantly seeing what she wanted, he hung back. It appeared Fenru, and soon the Aesir boy himself were on it. He felt it best to see how the boys handled it. Fenru really wasn't a boy he had to remind himself, and Serach was not exactly either. With a sad smile he stalked through the trees, letting their voices reach him. It was when the lady began to answer he swept through the trees, treading softly over the snow, coming to stand beside Serach. Fiery eyes held emotionless upon the female as she finished, and then sight drifted to Fenru for his verdict. Triell had a tall stance, tail tipped partially upward he was letting his nephew decide unless he should leave it to him.

(This post was last modified: Feb 25, 2014, 05:02 PM by Triell.)

Apologies for the delay(s). :s

The woman obliged, but it barely took Fenru by surprise. She could have been practicing such a spiel since autumn, but something about how she had offered up her name and chosen her words, made him falter and think twice. He was already shaking his head when Triell had arrived. Don't. Think. Don't think, don't debate, he reminded himself, straightening himself as he kept his shoulder to Serach's. Their dark-coated uncle held his tongue and Fenru could feel Triell's own fiery eyes trailing up and down the side of his head and face. He was at the head of this situation and he was going to handle it... to prove to Triell that he was every inch the Guardian he was assigned to be.

He left Serach's side to advance on Valora and bring his nose within inches of hers. The full plume of his tail was held upright and his hackles rose higher, further encouraging the fur on his neck to stand up even taller. "It isn't your words that we want," Fenru nearly spat in her face. "Where are you from? Who were your parents? If you wouldn't dare to shame yourself then why have you left them?"

His questions should have been a little less intimidating - as it was, his anger and grief, in the fallout of his mother's death, were the current foundations upon which he was acting upon - but Fenru had little patience for anything else. Of all the things he could have asked, he needed to know these particular things about her, and he would not stop unless Triell specifically ordered him to stand down. He glared into the side of Valora's face, his muzzle wrinkled in an ugly frown. His voice hardened and he let loose a resounding growl, "We do not have room for deserters. We do not have room for heartache... for pity. You want to be one of us, you will prove it... starting with telling us every reason why you think you would loyally serve the wolves of Oak Tree Bend."

As she spoke a dark figure emerged from the trees, joining her already formidable welcome party. Her chartreuse eyes flickered toward the shadowy wolf, whose appearance was stark against the white blanket that covered the world. The wind howled loud, but no words came from his jaws that could have been drowned out. He found a place beside Search, who too had fallen quiet. Never allowing eye contact she returned her gaze toward their paws. It seemed they had handed the interaction over to the furious wolf.

Fenru's aggression never waned, especially not as he brought himself within a breath of her own face. When he snapped at her she felt the condensation of his words on her eyelids. Her brow furrowed at his questions. How unusual of him to ask who were her parents, and even more so to insinuate she had been disloyal to them by calling at their borders. The sheer accusation by this wolf sought to infuriate her, but Valora kept the fur along her spine from bristling. The matter now wasn't why should he need to know, but why should she tell him. And she knew the answer to that question.

Her pale gaze hardened as she stared at the ground while he continued, though she remained as shrunk as she could be without planting face-first into the snow. He seemed to truly believe she was incapable of loyalty, or that was what he implied as he hissed deserters and continued to deny her any selfishness. Not that the red-coated she-wolf wanted in it. And finally he demanded she would tell them why she was worthy.

Uncomfortable to speak so much she still obliged him, her words beginning soft in amplitude but hard on the ears. "I am from a place that once was the Ancient Wood, because this is what they would have wanted. Though my parents are not here to answer for me, you will have to believe my truth. I brought no heartache and ask of you no pity." He could not deny it. She hadn't come to them waving these facts like a flag. It was Fenru that demanded them.

She continued, her voice retaining the strength it had lost when she was asked to speak of her past. She did not seek to flatter them here, but a genuine answer was a genuine answer. "I think I might serve Oak Tree Bend well because you are wolves worthy of serving, demanding of excellence. I can feel it. And I am a wolf who knows her place. I will protect what is yours." The hammer was swift on selfishness here, but Valora did not fear it because she was a protector. A servant, to be frank, a soldier, to be kind. She hadn't the want for a mate and cubs, for an adventure or whatever else other wolves might want. She felt alive with a job and a good performance record, and that was all the red wolf needed to survive.

"It is not my words that you want," she echoed him carefully. "Words do not do duty justice." Perhaps they might not agree with her on the conundrum. But what use was it to tell him her nose was keen on border patrol, her eyes watchful of the cache, her heart full for those who she would share a home? Any wolf could lie. Actions were harder to falsify.

(This post was last modified: Feb 27, 2014, 05:18 PM by Valora.)