Umbra Copse Long, pale days

Clear — Current Temperature: 1° F/-17° C, early afternoon.
Just after Deneb and Albireo's reunion, before Deneb's join thread.
@Zia!

Once more, Deneb found himself trudging through frozen snow and naked trees. The Cygni was leaving the borders of Magnolia Glen behind him for the time being, fading away into the hinterlands. He planned to return, now that he knew where his brother was laying low, but not just yet. Deneb wanted to give Albireo a little time, a little space to breath and get comfortable and complacent once more. I found him. I have him! The thoughts rang in his head like a victory chant. After searching for so long, he'd finally found his brother. Perhaps I can find some food and celebrate, he thought with a tinge of sarcasm. Finding food was hardly a light matter, or an easy task these days. It was far more likely he would end he day hungrier than he had started, but Deneb was not the sort to give up. He had tracked Albireo this far, against all odds, had he not? He planned to survive long enough to make good on certain promises. And so, he hunter. His eyes and ears scanned the landscape as he traveled for any sign of life, his sharp black nose tested the breeze. For the moment, he seemed utterly alone in the world, with only the silent, brooding forms of the trees for company. "Speech,"

(This post was last modified: Mar 06, 2014, 01:24 AM by Deneb.)

Put simply, Zia was fed up. This damned winter had gone on long enough, and she was ready for it to end. But it wasn't just this curse of a season that had her in such a foul mood. The great pack known as Magnolia Glen had grown smaller. Wolves who had been looking for home and promised to prove themselves useful, had come and gone. It infuriated her that they had put on such a convincing act before her Leaders, only to vanish without a trace some time later. On the plus side though, less mouths to feed put less weight on the shoulders of the existing pack members. The unavoidable losses such as those of Inkheart and Kyros no longer made her feel guilty, but angry instead. Had only there been more of them...more eyes in the pack, then maybe, just maybe such tradegies would not have happened. Annoyed, restless and hungry, Zia disappeared from her home for a while. She wanted to be alone, to focus on trying to find some much needed food instead of being in the midst of complete strangers. Breeding season was in full swing, and each and every female in the Lore was affected. She was no exception, her hormones raging, her scent far more appealing than usual. There was no desire for her to mate with another. The silver woman was attached to no one...it was Borlla's right, not her own, to produce offspring. She distanced herself from others, especially the males of the Glen, who she knew might be tempted to do something that they would regret. Having left the borders of her home behind, Zia returned to a somewhat familiar place. The forest in which she and the pack had hunted, some months ago. Here too, the snow was as thick as ever, the branches of trees bare and lonely. The quiet, was for once, welcomed. As she padded alongside the frozen pathway of a creek, her eyes were downcast, lost in thought. As if on auto pilot, she stopped and started digging in a random patch of snow, desperate to get a bite of eat, even if the reward was just a mouthful.

Table by Pann, Image by Jolee

Water is beginning to freeze and some fish are trapped. Hunt Opportunity

You can have her notice the fish, if you want :3

His thoughts had been wandering again, even as he wandered through the naked forest. Deneb felt almost giddy, could not stop replaying his reunion with Albireo in his mind. It had been wonderful to see the confusion on his brother's features, would be even more wonderful still when... then something new distracted him from his thoughts, his idle hunting. A scent that demanded his attention. Even as Deneb had closed in his brother in the last few months, the seasons had turned, the world changing around him. Breeding season had come, but it was the farthest thing from his mind, until the moment a certain scent struck his nostrils. Aromatic and feminine, it drifted on the cold breeze like the first tangible sign of far-away spring. A gruff snort emanated from the beast, his ears flicking back against his skull in an instant of internal conflict. He had no need of such distractions. All it did was bring back bitter memories - the beautiful features of his Taro, empty, the light gone from her eyes. The dead, broken forms of his children. He had no desire to feel such feral stirrings as he did now, no wish to embark upon a road that would only open him up to more pain. Love and lust were nothing but a communicable disease. And yet, something made him pause, then turn and start toward the source of the scent, not away from it. The smell was not only female - he could recognize it now as belonging to a wolf of the Glen. Curiosity, and the ever-present hunger for information, overrode his bitterness and his present anti-social mood. Perhaps it would be more trouble that it was worth, but Deneb wished to find this woman, and talk to her. His nose lead him upwind until he found a trail of prints, and then a few minutes later, he glimpsed a form through the trees. A glint of silver, like moonlight - the smoky male stepped closer, clearing his throat before stopping to stand, still a good distance off from where the she-wolf was digging in the snow. "Excuse me, miss...." he intoned, trying in vain to ignore the scent that hung thick in the air.

She had been minding her own business, out here alone away from the bustle of the pack. Not that there was much going on anyways. They were getting low in members which limited Zia's options as to who she could socialize with. Phineas and Borlla were out of the question. They were still coping emotionally with the loss of their son, and she was happy to give them their space. Everyone else, was pretty much a stranger to her. So what point was there in hanging around? Here in the silence, she took pleasure in the simple act of hunting for food. It was the most basic of instincts. No need to think, to analyze or get caught up in turbulent thoughts. Pack life involved politics, drama and tough decisions. There had been plenty of that lately, and Zia needed a break. If the mountain had been passable, she would've gladly taken a trip up there for a short little vacation of her own. But that was out of the question. She had been shuffling through the snow with her nose, clearing it away with her paws, all while inhaling deeply. Hoping she would catch the elusive scent of some rodent buried deep beneath the layers of heavy powder. The scent of prey, was the only thing she was focused on. Not of that of other wolves, be it male or female. Having assumed she would've been alone out here in this dark forest, where no one could pester her, was a mistake. With her scent amplified by the breeding season, Zia was bound to attract attention whether she wanted it or not. Jerking her head away from the crevice she had made in the snow, she shook her fur free of the substance, her tongue sweeping out to warm her numb lips. Just as she turned to scan the trees for any signs of life, an unfamiliar voice addressed her. Going on the defensive, the platinum woman spun in the direction of the stranger, sapphire eyes narrowed. Her dark lips lifted slightly, ears planted down against her head. "And what do you want?" She spat icily, tail lashing at the empty air behind her. The male had done nothing wrong...he simply had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. In her foul mood, Zia was likely to lash out at just about anyone. Taking a moment to look him over, she noted his pale coat and sharp golden eyes. She didn't recognize him, so he had to be a loner. After a moment, having realized what she had done, her hardened mask softened slightly. "Sorry...you just surprised me, that's all." She muttered distantly. While averting her eyes away from his direction, they landed on the partially frozen creek. There in the shallow depths of the icy water, glistening scaled bodies flailed helplessly. Fish. They were trapped by the freezing water, sentencing them to a slow death. Easy targets for a hungry predator like herself. Leaping onto a fallen log to avoid getting her paws wet, she reached down and plucked the nearest fish up in her jaws. "Help yourself to a fish. You look like you could use a bite anyways." She remarked, his less than perfect condition obvious.

Table by Pann, Image by Jolee

"And what do you want?" the grey lady threw her words at him, teeth glinting in the light. Deneb noticed how her hears pressed flat, and took a step back. Blinking, he let a placating expression overtake his features as the ice of her words hit him. He hadn't meant to startle or disturb her so. Of course he could have announced himself from further away, but he hadn't wanted to risk that she might disappear rather than answer. His own ears tipped forward as he prepared to answer, but before he could speak, she did. Deneb was glad to see that some of the vitriol was gone, even if the lady retained her cool aura. "Sorry...you just surprised me, that's all." "Fair enough," he returned a brusque apology. As her gaze broke away he took the opportunity to study her, as surreptitiously as possible. The she-wolf looked a fair sight better than he did, although she wasn't exactly in top form herself. He doubted anyone around here was, after such a winter... but still, it seemed obvious that she had benefited from pack life, much like his brother had. Something else seemed to have caught her attention, and his own thoughts broke away to follow her. She was moving toward the icy little stream, jumping atop a fallen tree - the silver glint of the fish caught his eye at last. Padding forward on heavy paws, he gave a small snort at the way she both gave him permission to hunt for himself, and offhandedly mentioned his obviously inferior state. Deep down, that did chafe him a bit, but Den was hardly going to let her words get him off balance - her attitude didn't really matter to him, as long as she was in the mood to talk. Standing at the stream's edge, he focused on a likely looking fish and lifted a paw - waited a breath as he aimed his strike - and swept his forepaw down, batting the fish onto the bank. Pressing both feet down on the struggling creature, he bit at its head until it was motionless. "I apologize for startling you. I just wanted to talk to you for a moment," he said toward her, before taking a moment to fill his mouth with fresh fish. Allowing himself to savor it, his tail swept back and forth behind him, but he forced it to remain low and unassuming. "I'm Deneb... and you're from Magnolia Glen, if I might venture to guess?,"

Settling herself down upon the cold, wooden surface of the log, Zia kept her catch held firmly between her jaws. She'd be back for one, maybe two more. And if she felt like it, she might even put forth the extra effort to catch some for her comrades back home. Deftly holding the fish between the crook of her forepaws, she began to tear into it hungrily. It wasn't quite the same as deer or elk, but the satisfying taste of flesh between her teeth was welcomed nonetheless. Only when she paused to look up, alerted by the found of footsteps, did she notice Deneb crouching by the stream. So long as he didn't get too close or within her personal space, she would be fine. The silver woman was hardly in a social mood, and being in season didn't help matters. She could at least tolerate this brutes presence for a little while longer. Watching him with keen eyes as he swatted a fish out of the water, she wondered why he had decided to follow her. He could've just gone off and found his own little fishing spot. But no, he was here for a reason. He confirmed it while he said so. Lifting her muzzle away from her snack, she pinned him with her azure eyes, observing him silently. Possibly deciding whether or not to entertain his request. "Go ahead..." She offered with a tilt of her head, to show that he had her attention. Before he even got to whatever it was he wished to speak about, he had introduced himself as Deneb. She noted that he didn't offer a surname...not that it mattered. Had he done so, then maybe she would've been a little more interested. His inquiry however, certainly was enough to grab her attention. Crystalline blue eyes narrowed, gleaming with a suspicious spark. "I am." She replied stiffly, before continuing. "How is it that you've heard of us? Surely your information on the packs in the area would be limited, unless you had met with one of their wolves prior." Now was her chance to see if she had backed him into a corner or to coax out whatever information he could offer. Zia was a sharp girl, and her intuition told her something wasn't quite right here. Like a single piece missing to a puzzle. And she was determined to find it.

Table by Pann, Image by Jolee

Deneb shook the myriad of cold droplets from his pelt as best he could before stretching languidly and settling himself down to savor the rest of his meal. One of these rather small fish would not be enough to satisfy his hunger, but every bite counted for something at a time like this. Besides, there were more of the creatures here, trapped and writhing but left with no where to go. The silvered woman seemed to be giving him a speculative look, although what her speculations entailed he could not say. As polite and casual as he tried to act, there was no hiding the insatiable curiosity glinting in his eyes. Stubbornness flickered there too, and at the moment there was perhaps an iota or two of amusement as well as Deneb gazed at the she-wolf eating upon her perch. At least his words seemed to have caught her attention. There was a skeptical glint in her sapphirine gaze as she replied, answering his query with two terse words. She swiftly followed with questions of her own. A lady after my own heart, he thought dryly. Finishing off the last couple choicest bites of fish, he licked his jaws clean and gave her an acquiescing smile. "Ah. Yes, in fact," the smoke and ivory man replied. "A while back I met a young wolf called Caniri, who said he resided in the Glen. The two of us sought shelter together during a freak storm." The explanation was smooth enough, but then it ought to be. It was the simple truth. "He spoke highly of your leader, and your pack in general, but I did have a question he couldn't answer." Deneb trailed off there, tipping his dark nose down to sniff at the fish again, nibbling a few smaller bites. Occasionally he glanced up again at the grey she-wolf, waiting to see what she would say to that.

Once finished with the first fish, she spat the remains aside. All that was left was the tail fin and the head. Long legs reached out before her, her spine arching as her back end lifted slightly. The stretch was refreshing, but she was still hungry. Leaping down from her wooden perch, Zia landed only inches away from the chilly water, where she could both scan for another fish and keep an eye on the male in front of her. His smile was not returned. Only a cold look of neutrality remained present on her face. Why offer even the slightest show of warmth to a wolf she knew nothing about? She had been miserable as of late...it was all because of this damned winter. Distance between herself and others was something she was slowly, but regrettably, becoming used to. Finally he spoke, and she listened to his voice in silence. "Yes, Caniri. I know him, but only by name." She replied, recalling their brief exchange of words in the red hills, where a meal had stood between the Glen and the Bend wolves. She allowed a faint smirk to tug at her dark lips. It was true...Phineas and Borlla were strong leaders. Magnolia Glen may have been reduced in it's numbers, but as far as she was concerned, that made them no less fierce. "Ours is indeed a strong pack and it will remain so despite what this winter has thrown at us." She stated, the hint of pride in her voice a clue to her dedication. "And what is it that Caniri could not answer? Perhaps I can. I have been with the pack ever since it's birth, after all."

Table by Pann, Image by Jolee

Golden eyes glinted cold and metallic as Deneb watched the she-wolf rise and move toward the water again. He noted the cat-like curve of her spine as she stretched and moved. He could appreciate a thing of beauty, even if he had no desires to act upon the instinctive drives of the season, or any particular liking for this woman at all so far. Her manner seemed both cold and distant, as if she were watching him from some far off mountaintop. Of course this conversation was still going better than when he'd met that raving lunatic a few weeks ago in the forest. At least he could learn a thing or two from her as long as she was willing to talk, but it was still a bit tiresome all the same. He was pleased to see the little smirk as it crossed her features, and he did not fail to note the hint of pride ringing in her voice. So, there was something in the world that this lady cared about. That was always a useful thing to know. Deneb wanted another fish, but he was fishing in another way at the moment. Keeping his distance from the water's edge for now, he remained reclined where he had been, licking at his jaws. The remains of his meal lay before him, forgotten, as he listened to her last words. "Indeed?" he asked, sounding impressed by her longstanding membership. "Well then, perhaps you can," he continued, triangular ears leaning forward intently. "You see, I'm searching for someone who I believe passed through here recently. He may have even visited or joined your pack - a male of the same age as myself, with a similar look about him. Oh, his coat's a bit dingier looking, his eyes have got a sort of dull, dark, dead look in them, and and he's not nearly as good a conversationalist as me, but the family resemblance is there." His voice was conversational, jovial even, but beneath it there was obvious interest in her answer - this was the wolf he had been seeking all though this god-forsaken winter, into this barren, unknown territory. For months, Deneb had cared for nothing but finding the other Cygni. He was, in fact, quite certain now that his brother had sought shelter in Magnolia Glen, but Deneb had no idea what the rest of the pack was like, or what Al had told them of their history. And so the waters must be tested with care before he dove into the next phase of his plans.

(This post was last modified: Apr 29, 2014, 04:34 AM by Deneb.)