Thicket of Secrets I am the living ghost

@Koda how 'bout a stubborn/uncooperative Iopah to kick off the new board?
There is a heavy snowstorm on its way.

It was pitch black outside. Her usual quarry slept, tucked away in deep burrows or sheltered by distant evergreens. Hunger had to be suffered through. Everything was frozen solid and still, even the midday sun wasn't enough to thaw the thickets out. The air was heavy with the cold and the impending snow. It was the storm's pressure that woke her from a restless sleep.

Asleep, she took in a breath that caught within her chest and blinked her eyes open. She was instantly awake, restless even, but her gaze slid slowly through the darkness of their den. It was difficult to distinguish his actual presence from constant, permeating scent. The pale woman eased out into the cold, dark night, taking care in the placement of paws and holding her breath till beyond the den's entrance. There was nothing wrong in what she was doing, yet she still felt like a thief stealing away without word. Iopah feared the words that would come as a reply to her explanation.

The direction of today's search had been decided the night before. In the darkness pale feet followed a well memorized route towards the border that edged the cedars. There was no one to avoid, and her pace increased as the distance to the border decreased. For three weeks she'd been searching for the lost Woodland wolves, bringing back only what lucked into her path. Based on the emptiness that ripped her insides, everyone else had to be hungry. No one had said anything, but she knew time was running out. If she stopped to explain her actions and how her fruitless days were, they would have an opportunity to suggest stopping the search.

The border was in sight now and Iopah slowed to what she hoped was a casual pace. She had to resist the urge to sneak over her own borders, light gray ears flicking wildly as the marks passed under her. The search started immediately. A black nose fell to the snow just as a soft noise echoed in the cold air. Iopah froze, nose held just over the snow, and watched the dark forest around her.

(This post was last modified: Jan 21, 2015, 05:21 AM by Iopah.)

@Iopah! I love their threads! <3<3!

He inhaled sharply, feeling the cold penetrate his left side and lifted his head slowly, his gaze blurry as he searched the den. It was not like the agouti woman to leave this early, not when the weather was becoming more unpredictable and the temperatures were beginning to reach dangerous lows and yet as he shifted to his right side, he could tell that her spot had been empty for some time now. Sighing heavy, he attempted to turn onto his other side in hopes of getting a few moments more of sleep but failed miserably; thoughts of whether she was okay continued to plague his mind. Slowly he rose to all fours, yawning wide, and exited the den to the freezing temperatures that greeted him with a few quick gusts of wind, there was a storm brewing, he knew it, he had to find the Barberi woman and convince her to return to the safety of the den until the storm that threatened to befall them came without notice.

His movements were slow at first, his usual way of tracking began as he lowered and lifted his nose to decipher her scent from those of his other trusty members, when finally he recognized that of Iopah's his speed quickened when he realized that she had gone near the pack's border. He was well aware of her self proclaimed duty of find those they had lost, Aideen and Pacem had gone missing for weeks now, and yet he felt a sense of anger boil within him at the thought of losing her in her attempt to find them, he couldn't risk losing another member, especially the woman he loved. His thick paws pushed past layers of snow with ease, the green flecks of his yellow gaze seemed brighter than normal as he searched for her figure against the backdrop of white, and when he spotted her he approached her without hesitation. "I can't risk losing you as well Iopah..." he jumped to conclusions, knowing that her curiosity had often gotten the best of her though the woman had a smart head on her shoulders and knew the lay of the land as well as any scout, "I'm just as worried about them as you are, and we've been searching high and low for Pacem and Aideen, no one has caught scent of them, I can't risk you going off alone in search of them..." he started off, a cold wind whipped past his pelt but he stood steady and strong. He would not dare allow her to see him weak, not when she obviously needed a strong minded wolf at her side. He stood at his spot, watching her without another word and wondered, momentarily, how dedicated she was to finding the lost members that she would risk her own life to find them.

Arla and Emma are the ish and made my pretties!
Koda will most likely always be accompanied by Chiron unless otherwise stated, or requested.

@Koda!

Motionless, as a wind blew sideways into her and made the branches rattle in the darkness. Her eyes peered over the snow, watching the sway of barren shrubs and trees. Had that been what she heard? A pale gray ear flicked back, while a warm exhale stirred the snowflakes resting just below her poised nose. She continued gazing through the self-created eddy of sparkling flakes, gaze steady and nose ready to continue the interrupted search.

A form materialized in the shifting forest and her ears angled forward hopefully as it took on the shape of a wolf. They pushed back sharply at Koda's approach, folding cleanly against her skull. Love and duty warred inside as she rocked forward on cream paws, but ultimately leaned back. His words flowed over her and her still lowered muzzle dropped further to the snow, weighed down with enduring persistence. She wanted to blow him off... the storm was coming and she didn't have time for this. He didn't understand and all of her possible justifications were blunt and accusing. Koda had vanished, his daughter had vanished, and Hollow had never been found; how could he stand there now and ask her to stop searching? Her muzzle tightened in anger as she remembered searching for them, the despair of loosing yet another she cared for.

She looked up then, eyes hard and ready to argue her point. Koda seemed to expect the defiance and they stared openly. Iopah glanced away first. No, he did understand. He understood too well, they were too close for such indifference now. The realization made her shoulders slump and her muzzle finally rose from the snow. She was torn. All three had become family: the two lost ones and the man standing before her. The wind had not died down, Iopah turned her face into the breeze and closed her eyes against it, imaging Pacem and Aideen felt the same. "There are so few of us, what will happen if we never find them?" She asked softly, twisting around to face Koda. Winter always took so much from them, it was getting harder to think of the hope that spring offered. "Search with me? Till the storm comes, then I'll stop." It was promise to stay safe and alive, but it felt like a death sentence on her tongue. She hoped Aideen and Pacem could forgive her.

(This post was last modified: Feb 02, 2015, 08:31 AM by Iopah. Edit Reason: fixing tag )

Occ: No time for a table,  I'm trying to post from my phone, hopefully it goes through, excuse the typos lol

Ic:
Their eyes lingered upon each other a moment  longer than usual and he couldn't help getting lost in her gaze.  She had grown on him in a way that so few others had, her stubbornness and persistence intrigued him and he knew that despite his wishes, she would do what felt right in her heart. She would venture past the borders against his wishes to go search for those lost and he knew so; his gaze grew warmer the longer be stood looking into her eyes. A soft smile formed along his mouth as he leaned in to nuzzle her throat in a moment of affection before his words fell from his mouth.  "We will find them." he assured her, the only moment came next as a single flick of his thick tail, although he could make no promises, he knew that eventually they had to turn up. They just had to. 

Gazing off into the distance he figured it could take days, maybe weeks before they could find a clue as to where Aideen and Pacem had gone. He couldn't imagine both of them being gone much longer than after the set of the sun, anything beyond that would seem useless. It would do them little good if they couldn't see the tracks they were following,  "I will search with you until the storm comes, but no further...." his voice held seriousness as he studied her narrow face, his gaze hardly lingering. He stepped to the side giving her room to lead the way, having found peace with their agreement. Once she had started, his paws moved without missing a beat and he thought briefly whether they could, just the two of them, find their missing members. It would not only bring happiness to the land but help to ease the feelings of frustration he felt in knowing he was helpless without a trace, "do you feel as if I do not care about finding Aideen and Pacem?" he asked, knowing that his reservations about searching for them had made him seem selfish and cold; in reality, he feared of losing another of those he cared for. 

Arla and Emma are the ish and made my pretties!
Koda will most likely always be accompanied by Chiron unless otherwise stated, or requested.

@Koda! *facepalm* Io and her inability to lie

She hung onto his assurance like it was all that anchored her in the wind of the coming storm. It was strong and cold and overwhelming without the tightly clasped hope. Her eyes met his smoothly while she struggled to hide the despair in them. She had to be strong, hold onto his statement like it was the only possibility, but it was hard. The moment of affection rocked her and blunt nails dug into snow to hold her composure more than the ground. The dark of early morning covered the gesture, but not her tremulous sigh.

A light flick of his tail and then he was looking into the woods, either calculating or deciding something. She took advantage of his momentary distraction. As his gaze was swallowed up by the dark forest, her gaze lingered over his shape. The familiarity and solidity of his presence was a soothing balm, and the pale woman relaxed under with fact that he was here and safe. He turned back unexpectedly and the returned gaze startled her more the statement. She shifted in embarrassment, but her eyes softened with something mellow and comfortable. How many times had she caught him watching her?

They had only a few hours to search in: the storm and an early evening loomed. She started out and her feet immediately moved in the direction of the few unsearched areas remaining. Her nose worked constantly, sometimes drawing her along a trail that lead to nothing. She wasn't expecting him to speak and stopped to stare at the question. It clearly hurt him to ask and she felt it sting as well. Her muzzle nudged gently against him and returned to the search without a sound. Once turned away she spoke, "No, you do care." It was an inadequate response, severely lacking in explanation. Even Iopah, her oblivious way with words, could could tell. She stole a glance at him. Silence stretched as she pondered how to word the truth in a way that wouldn't sting. "I think you worry more about loosing me than finding them." She murmured quietly to the trackless snow as it passed under them.

He could feel her eyes on him but he did not mind, in fact he had been well aware of her eyes watching him everyone once in a while as if trying to read him and he admired that about her. She was interested in getting to know him as a whole as he had been working for her and only time would tell if the two could maintain the happiness that they had sought so hard to create. When they began walking he found that his attention had wandered once more, it was a bad habit of his since his thoughts since becoming the leader of Secret Woodlands but it was what had kept him sain--allowing him to align his thoughts. Without Iopah at his side he wondered how he could have remained a partner at Nina's side knowing that she only tolerated him because she could not deal with Miccah, it was a strange relationship that he could not wrap his head around but he was beginning to understand the blonde woman more, he only hoped that Iopah was still comfortable with their relationship.

He had become so consumed in his own thoughts that he had forgotten the question he'd asked he agouti woman but her response was sufficient enough to bring him back to reality, and before long be felt his ears fall to his head in guilt. He had not meant to seem insensitive to finding their lost member but weeks had passed since any trace of them and he was aware that their stale scent could lead them miles out without the faintest of a trail; he couldn't afford to waste more time. "I just don't want to lose you. Do you know how crazy I would feel if you went off without notice?" he asked her, knowing fully well that Iopah had traveled miles beyond the borders without anyone noticing before. It was a habit of her's to leave Secret Wood, she was a curious woman with the urge to find out what was intriguing to her while Koda was content to wonder of the outside world while safely in his home. It was less likely that that she would remain behind the pack borders after this trek but at least if he let her know how much he cared perhaps she'd think before simply leaving the pack again, "there is so much going on that I can't discuss with you Iopah, although I'm sure you're already well aware, you're a smart woman and can put two and two together." he paused to study her reaction to his words, "do you know why Nina hates Miccah so much?" he wondered, deciding to change the subject while they searched in the midst of a brewing storm.

Arla and Emma are the ish and made my pretties!
Koda will most likely always be accompanied by Chiron unless otherwise stated, or requested.

She listened quietly, ivory feet slowing as conversation pulled more of her attention than the fruitless search. It was still there: countless miles that needled her conscience and weighed her down, but this played close to their hearts. Without notice she came to a gradual pause and curved her body round to him. Feet planted in swirling snow, her black nose twitched. She blinked against the icy sting of falling flakes.

Now it was her turn for guilt. She knew exactly how he would feel. Pale ears lined with tawny shades fell back and her gaze dropped low. Simply imaging the panic and despair he would go through was enough to hurt. It was unsettling for another to have this much control over her emotions, and consequently, actions. The sway he held over her was strange. She studied her paws and wondered at the connection that had made him so much more important than the others. By all definition it should have made her vulnerable, but this didn't feel exactly like a weakness.

Her head lifted slow at the continuing words. She didn't like the idea of secrets between them. Gold eyes narrowed even as her muzzle stretched in his direction. There was just a little too much uncertainty and irritation to go to him now. Iopah was plenty perceptive to pick up on subtleties, if not word-savvy enough to put it to words. When he paused to study her, brows rose high over narrowed eyes. She didn't like word games.

There was marked delay in her answer. The tip of her tail flicked, erratic and brisk, as she made him wait. "It didn't used to be like this." She said, forcing her voice smooth. A passing thought made her muzzle wrinkle and she turned to squint Thicket-ways through the snow. Just them, as it should be. "I think something happened when he came into power. Perhaps he asked for something she wouldn't give." She suggested helpfully, finally going over to him. She had no idea of the implication her words held for the coming months.

(This post was last modified: Apr 21, 2015, 05:04 AM by Iopah.)

Pushing his weight through the snow, he turned his attention on Iopah every so often to check that she were still there , making sure that the snow had not taken her with it as it had with Pacem and Aideen. He was not sure how to feel after their absence, the loss was surreal in the fact that two figures no longer carried the scent of the pack upon their pelt, but artificial in a way that he began to wonder that if they searched hard enough they would find whom they were looking for. It was a trivial idea, the idea of lost objects and or being appearing simply because one willed them to reappear, but he was desperate in his search to find them and would hold on to anything that kept his hopes alive.

The light bump of his shoulder caught his attention and he searched her features for a moment, wondering what had made her grow silent, but thought against breaking the tension that had suddenly began to build. He could sense the change in her attitude, the very way she walked had shifted as the storm around them raged on, and yet he held his tongue in respect for her privacy. He knew that there were some things better left unsaid, and the woman had a right to her own thoughts, which were probably plenty, therefore the air around them remained silent as they searched for what traces remained of Aideen and Pacem. He hated not knowing what came next, and what was worse, he hated not having a plan to bring them safely back home. "I'm sure things weren't that perfect while Hollow was leader either," he could still remember the blue eyes of the dark male, a set that he had grown to despise while under his rank. He could not remember if Iopah was happy, they had not spoke much with Hollow as leader but the dark male's disappearance had brought many of them closer together, it had been the only good that could have happened after his departure.  "And I'm sure Nina was firm on not giving him what he desired. She's always been the type to follow the rules without faltering." it had been a beauty and a curse of her's but he knew better then anyone how stubborn the blonde woman could get.  "how did you feel toward Miccah?" he asked, purely curious now. He hadn't much of a chance to judge the dark male but something about him had always been a little off...

Arla and Emma are the ish and made my pretties!
Koda will most likely always be accompanied by Chiron unless otherwise stated, or requested.

one more post and then can claim mate points!

It felt like the storm didn't want them to find Aideen and Pacem. It was worsening now. Iopah looked up to see near-perfect darkness and the thick glint of moonlight on millions of snow flakes. The time for searching was coming to a close. Despite how badly it made her feel, Iopah had to protect was she could see and shield. Secret Woodlands was waiting for them, Iopah could not let @Nina and her two sons go hungry while she spent hours searching for the third child and her friend. Her gaze dropped from the sky without immediately searching out Koda. He would now what the worsening storm meant, she didn't have to say it. Silently she listened, watching the storm that had cut the search short. It was true. Everything of what Koda had said was true. Nothing was ever perfect.

"Did you know that I met Hollow before Nina?" She asked quietly. It seemed such a long time ago. She couldn't remember saying anything to Koda back then, but Iopah recalled hunting deer and sharing her fears over the rabies infection with the black male. More than once Iopah wondered what would have happened to her if they'd never meet. "I was so alone and depressed. He tried to help me and I... I snapped at him." Iopah had been too embarrassed to say anything to him after joining the Woodlands, but she always felt bad. And then the storm took him away and there was no chance to apologize. "I'm sorry," She said to Koda, suddenly recognizing a chance, "for being mean when you first came back."

Her tail, dotted with snow, flicked at his question. The movement send the accumulated snow tumbling into the wind. What did she think of @Miccah? Iopah tended to keep to herself. The only times she had opened up to another was usually when she grew irritated, Hollow had upset her and Koda had ticked her off. "I trust him," She trusted him but didn't really know him beyond what she saw everyday. Miccah had never left, despite all the bad things to happened to him. "Nina was cruel to him and he never left us." A part of her was in awe of his dedication, the other part unwilling to let him in. She glanced over at Koda briefly, he would remember that she had abandoned her family. The decision to leave her family had spared her from their fate of gunfire and flames, but still the fact remained she had left her parents. She was too ashamed to have to explain that to Miccah, so she held him at arms distance. What would he think of a starving girl who turned from her entire family and ended up being the only one to survive? "You know why that would make me respect him."

He recognized the change in the weather, the way it whipped and weaved around his pale coat and he knew it was time to retire back to the pack where warmth and safety awaited them--he worried for Aideen and Pacem, knowing that they did not have the same luxury. He was sure that tomorrow would bring more promising news, perhaps in the form of a scent or pawprints that could help lead them to where the missing wolves were but today would not be that day. They needed to turn back before blinding snowflakes kept them from finding their way back home.

It was only at the mention of Hollow that his attention once more returned to Iopah, she had met him before Nina and had cast him as an enemy before officially meeting him--he had done much of the same, but then again, in his eyes he had a true reason.   "When I came back I knew that things between Nina and Hollow had changed. He was able to replace me not only in hierarchy but in her heart as well." he swallowed hard, not knowing how she would take the news assuming that she did not know how special the golden woman had been to him. She was his first true love but he had finally been able to move on when he realized how hard the dark male and his queen had grown to like each other. "You had every right to be angry. I shouldn't have left, but I'm here now and I'm going to make the most of my return." he knew that like Iopah so many had not trusted him when he returned and he had but his loyalty and drive to succeed to see him through. He only hoped that eventually the others would come back around as quickly as the tawny woman had.

The topic changed then to Miccah and he felt his insides bubble with a strange feeling of uncertainty and uneasiness, he had no clear understanding of what to think of he dark second. Iopah was correct, the blue eyed male had never left them despite how cruel and unusual Nina had been to him but he couldn't help feeling that the second was content with being just where he was, never wanting the responsibility of truly leading the pack. "I feel differently for him. Although his loyalty cannot be questioned..." he trailed off a moment, biting his lip and feeling himself bump against the shoulder of the smaller woman at his side. He didn't wish to bore her with his opinions of anyone in the pack, especially since he was sure that she had a better idea of how they were than he did. "we should be heading back now. We'll continue again in the morning." and he turned on his toes, knowing that Iopah would be at his side as they traveled back toward home.

--Fade out--

Arla and Emma are the ish and made my pretties!
Koda will most likely always be accompanied by Chiron unless otherwise stated, or requested.