Magnolia Glen The cages we build ourselves

@K'arnae, 5/9/2014, sunny, early afternoon — current temperature: 59° F/15° C

With spring's arrival, the sun had finally returned to gaze warmly down upon everything below, and the woods seemed to be alive with birds and insects and life in general. Deneb savored the feel of the light as it poured down on his back, but he found himself weaving in and out of the shadows out of instinct, trying to minimize the way the glare glinted off of his ivory coat, thoughts of catching something savory upon his mind.

And yet, despite the beautiful day and his generally improving situation, there was a brooding quality in his golden gaze, and he moved with head down and his tail out behind his back, his spine in a long straight line as he stalked the borders. Thoughts of his brother kept intruding, making it difficult to concentrate on anything for long, and occasionally he would shake his head or grumble and curse to himself. Due to the alphas being in a family way, he had been avoiding the heart of the Glen's territory and the den recently. Deneb knew how much a mother could crave solitude and security at such a time - no good could come from intruding there. And so he kept to the borders, keeping his promise and making careful note of anyone and anything he smelled coming or going.

When he'd first been accepted into the pack, he'd been certain to add his share of tribute to the pack's caches, knowing that Phineas would be watching him closely to see if he was as much of a leech as his brother Albireo. Now that there was ample enough prey to be found again, Deneb had been able to take a little more for himself freely, and slowly but surely the spectral look that had haunted him over the winter months was lifting from the man. Still, he must make sure to add something to the caches today, if he could. There were more mouths than ever to be fed.

(This post was last modified: May 09, 2014, 07:13 AM by Deneb.)

@Deneb

Solitude was a gift not to be squandered in the idle. It was better used for contemplation and personal betterment. Or in the instance of a wolf among the collective, such time away from the heart of the pack was best used to see to its wellbeing for when its resources were needed.

Slowly but surely, the female took to her isolation from the heart, keeping to the outskirts of the communal den where the magnolia trees grew large and plentiful. She was careful not to avoid the pack wholeheartedly, and at times would assert her presence with a gift. A small vole or several fish for the mother and her brood. Then just as quickly and quietly, retreat back into her refuge to continue her chores. Fishing had become a pleasant task of sorts, allowing the female to stretch her legs as well as feeding the pack. Thus far, she had begun a routine in fishing for herself and the young pair that denned near the tranquil creek. And at times she would ensnare the odd vermin by its shores, then toss its likeness into a well preserved cache. In doing so, she found that the lands were quite generous, save for the moments when the sun glared down too warmly for her liking. But those instances, in the midst of her tasks, were felt far and in between.

But this day, regardless of how frequently she kept to the trees, the draw of the sun’s warmth was felt permeating the thick mountain pelt. True winter had gone inviting a shed of the thicker coat for something sleeker, but still clinging to her life before settling with the pack, she held fast to her fur in the instance something less fortunate would befall her. A random cold snap, or worse… a late snow. Her mind did not yet acclimate to the realization that she was now in a place where such precautions could be rid of. If a snap would to occur, there was a whole collective to seek comfort from. Yet there was an inkling of doubt that they would accommodate her likeness at all if it were to occur…

Regardless, she kept to her usual matted attire and decidedly kept herself deeper hidden within the cool darkness of the trees. With luck, the clouds would return to their places overhead, perhaps just long enough to cool the air somewhat and allow the woman to continue her chores.

He wasn't sure what it was that had brought his attention snapping back to the present - the crack of a branch, a scent on the air, a flicker of movement between the shadowed trees glimpsed from the corner of his eye? Somewhere deep down in the instinctive recesses of his mind, something shifted gears, and the smoky white male shifted into a more authoritative and defensive stance, every sense suddenly on high alert. A short huff escaped Deneb and he plodded slowly in a circle, eyeing the trees and sniffing at the air. How foolish to become lost in his thoughts, to be caught wandering oblivious of the world around him. It was unlike him, but he had admittedly been in a rather scattered mental state lately. He had to stop that, or it might well be his undoing.

Al, is that you skulking about? he eventually called out, his tail inching upwards behind him. Shaded triangular ears flicked back and forth as he listened intently. The breeze seemed to have fallen still around him, and the birdsong had gone quiet. Or was it someone else, or something else that crept through the woods of the Glen now? It would hardly do to let anything, be it an opportunity or a threat, slip by uninvestigated.

Like a feline he prowled forth, letting instinct guide him toward what he guessed might be the right direction. Deneb was a wolf who trusted his instincts, but he reminded himself that he was no longer a loner, nor what he had been before that. He was still very much a newcomer here, and didn't even know everyone within this pack - without being able to read the breeze with his nose, he reminded himself once again to keep his cool until he knew whether it was friend or foe he'd stumbled upon.

@Deneb

And she was not the only one seeking shelter from the trees. As a voice rang out not far from where she walked, it was simple enough to conclude that she did not walk alone. Perhaps not alongside but in the presence that inhabited the woods, she was joined by another lupine perhaps hoping for a cooler climate to walk with ease on this uncomfortably warm day. Yet even that thought was cause for pause; since when did she have such an optimistic mentality? More often than not, her mindset was to worry about what she could not see and assume the worst would occur if she was prepared. To assume that any and everything was just another method to cause harm to the ignorant and ill prepared in this dangerous world.

But she was no longer in the wild, but a place of sanctuary. A haven that fostered the growth and wellbeing of others of her kind… a place where she could indeed relax and be more open to the possibility of meeting others, at least within reason. Had the days spent within the Glen changed her so much? Or perhaps a deep-seeded optimism had been allowed to take root and grow? It was not difficult to assume given how eagerly she wove through the trees to meet the source of the call. Her ears forward and tail outstretched as a hunter poised in search of its prey.

Approaching from the direction of the creek, she kept her steps as quiet and light as she could muster given her bulk, save for the odd limp now and again when too much pressure was applied to her healing leg. The wind was not to her favor but sound was always suited when in pursuit of another. Though surely her own movements could be caught within range, as there was little finesse from this sizeable creature to speak of. Especially when trying to maneuver through clusters of low hanging branches and moss.

Ahh frack, I totally forgot about this thread D:

He couldn't be sure, but he thought he was going in the right direction - he had a knack for this sort of thing. Then his suspicions were confirmed by the sound of slight rustling in the underbrush ahead. Deneb prowled forward like a cat now, taking care to step lightly with often-heavy paws. He was not such a large beast that he couldn't employ stealth when needed. Testing the air for information, he was greeted with the scent of another - not his brother, but a female who was unknown to him, though the scent did seem somehow familiar.

And then he spotted the movement - a flash of amber amid the mottled shadows and sunlight. "You there!" he called out toward her, now loping forward with little care for silence. His tail swept upwards, but as he drew within a few paces of the she-wolf, he could detect the more subtle notes in her scent. She seemed to be a wolf of the glen, too - he remembered now where he recognized the scent from. He'd smelled it a few days ago near the borders, but he hadn't known then whether she was packmate or just a loitering vagabond. "Ah, my apologies. I thought you might have been someone else," he said with a cordial enough nod, letting his tail sink some.

"I am Deneb Cygni... are you another new addition to the Glen?" he inquired, studying the she-wolf from behind his ever-present mask. It seemed the most likely explanation, although it was possible she was an errant member, returning after the obstacle of winter had passed. He wasn't aware of any members of the pack being away, but he was hardly privy to every bit of information, as much as he might wish he was. And Phineas had mentioned the mountain being impassable during the snows....

Don't forget there's a price you can pay,

deneb cygni

because I am the game and I want to play...

@Deneb

It was embarrassing for a hunter to be caught by their prey, and for a moment, the woman thanked the stars that such an event was not under the sight of her superiors. There was not but shame too be found, and the woman had only herself to blame; having allowed herself to dull, become unpolished, that before her bi-colored gaze beheld her quarry, it was with a sharp word that she was identified among the trees. Drawing to a swift halt, she pulled her head to an attentive height with eyes wide, then let it rest again comfortably within her shoulders.

Quietly, she regarded the male as he came nearer, forgoing finesse for purpose as he marched soundly towards her. To his apology, she simply rounded her shoulders and raised her tail to mirror his own. "I heard," she stated plainly, sparing the inflection of either bitterness or disease from her voice. As she spoke, she tipped her own muzzle slightly in greeting. While it was perhaps more welcoming to take a more inquisitive interest in the presence of an packmate, the healing wolf was more inclined to keep her distance for a time and instead investigated the male by what her eyes could see. An ivory white, like snow made soft gold under the setting eve, but in his fur were more subtle dark hues as well, granting definition to an otherwise prestige pallet. And there was a sternness to his expression the eye could not ignore. "Yes," she answered after a moment's pause. "K'arnae."