Round Stone Crest bombs away

@Raela Noon — Sunny, 76 ° F, 25 ° C 
unfortunately this post is crap

check the cupboard for your daddy’s gun

The Lord’s gonna come for your first born son

Awkwardly, cautiously the golden yearling approached the den. Minka had explained to him at length the whole mentorship program she had devised for the young wolves of Round Stone Crest, and while it should have just been something as simple as making a decision and sticking to it, Gus found that he was very stuck. What if he didn't like what he picked? What if he his mentor hated him? Gus didn't know the other wolves so well. He didn't know himself very well. What was in his heart? He knew he didn't have any talents, so this was about going where he would do the best work. It was about what he wanted to do with his life, what he could stand to work at every day for possibly the rest of his life. Maybe it wasn't as final as the poor golden boy saw it, but it sure felt that way.

"R-r-raela?" he quipped softly as if it the request was directed at no one in particular. "Do you uhm.... do you have a moment?" He winced at the the obvious insecurities that went all the way to the foundation of his being. "I need... I need some advise."

There was no good reason he had picked Raela, to be honest. He could have asked anyone else. But there were so many other males in the pack and they all ranked higher than he did. This was eaiser, perhaps. The females were less threatening since he didn't have to worry so much about competing with them. 

(This post was last modified: Jun 23, 2015, 01:22 AM by Octavius.)

Posting availability
9pm - 10:30pm EST weekdays
Weekends sporadically. 

OOC: Sorry for the wait!

The young man's voice fell on idle ears. The agouti woman had been resting; something she was found doing now more often than before. In the days following her fight with the loner, it was simply good policy for Raela to rest and get her wounds mending as quick as possible. It wasn't an arrangement she was completely happy with, but for fear of running into another stranger all alone it wasn't something she was going to argue against. Still, the possibility that the white wraith was lurking around the mountain somewhere; curling up in the valleys and waiting for her pack mates to wander out unprotected haunted the Crest subordinate. So, she still conducted patrols, but with much more caution. She took a buddy with her wherever she could, and when one wasn't available the woman simply elected to  keep the array of surveillance equipment on her head set to high sensitivity.  She had risen from the comforting confines of their den atop the timbers and had hardly taken a few steps forward when the boy she knew as Datura appeared, asking for her assistance. Her head turned swiftly; brilliant sunshine eyes softening as his nervous words stumbled out. She was about to answer the yearling; to relay just how glad she was to have something other than hunting and patrolling out on her own to do, when he revealed the reason for his approach. A smile slipped across the woman's face then, and her damaged ear pricked forward along with its unharmed counterpart. The nervousness of others did wonders to put the usually shy girl at ease. On top of things, she had a soft spot a mile wide for young ones. Quickly Raela moved to remedy the boy's stuttering. “Of course,” she answered warmly. “I was just about to do a little scouting around the territory. If you'd like to come with me I'll see what I can do to help you out.” Her sweet tone rose, delivering the words as a questioning invitation more than a declaration. It was quite the opportunity to bring someone along for security, especially someone bigger than her. Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra

            

hnnnn e_e. feel free to pp them walking or something after this lol

check the cupboard for your daddy’s gun

The Lord’s gonna come for your first born son

He didn't see the way her eyes glowed with warmth and patience, for he was too nervous to dare gaze upon anything above her slender ankles. If he had looked up he would have noticed how inviting her expression was, how concerning her wounds were. He could have relayed his own intelligence to her, since he had in fact had a run in with the same white viper that had wounded his pack mate. Perhaps he could have protected himself from incoming danger, too. But he was cowardly. Instead he contemplated the dusty tufts of hair along the graceful architecture of her pasterns. 

He unwrapped his tail from about her knees. She sounded as if she wouldn't mind talking to him. Good, good. He wasn't bothering her. "Uh." He gave a head bob of ascent, "Ah. Yes I think that's a good idea." He didn't have such a great grasp of the territory anyway.

He stood in silence for a bit, still contemplating her paws.

 "I guess uhm. You can lead the way."

As if he were meant for anything more than following.

- - -

They set off in some direction Octavius had, for whatever reason, never taken the opportunity to explore. Carefully he made his way down the steep and winding trails between the pine trees that clung to the hill's sides. He tried his best to avoid bumping into the small wolf in front of him as she lead the way, but he was so anxious that he was nearly riding up on her tail. The act of keeping his momentum under check stole away much of his attention, and he found he forgot all together the reasons for accompanying this wolf down the mountainous hill. He made no move to speak even though he had been the one to request the audience. What would he say, anyway? He had hardly known where to begin anyway. He hadn't planned this far ahead. 

Posting availability
9pm - 10:30pm EST weekdays
Weekends sporadically. 

There is a moose carcass that has been scavenged by coyotes nearby. +15 Health

Though she could hardly blame the lad, it did sadden Raela that he seemed to nervous to even glimpse her face. The boy hesitated only briefly before accepting the offer, and a wider smile tugged at the woman's lips in return. Another awkward moment passed between them, with the youngster still avoiding her sunshine gaze. It was a pity he was so shy, but the agouti girl understood it well. She was a stranger, despite being a pack mate, and she was older as well. It was nothing to hold against Datura, but she only hoped he would open up some with time. His quiet voice slithered into the air once more, prompting the female to remove her gaze and focus on the path ahead. Yes, it was fitting that she lead. With no further ceremony the woman started off at a trot down the steep hillside.  Her paws were nimble on the stone and between the gnarled roots of the timbers; but the effort of navigation drew most of her attention to the matted forest floor. Picking her way down the mountain had come considerably easier to Raela than the dodging of thorns had back in the Downs. For a moment thoughts of Aeus met her mind, along with his troubles. He never was very good with the blackberry bushes. I wonder if the mountain terrain is easier for him... she mused; her feet still skittering across the dead leaves and dirt. An ear cocked backward to catch the larger boy's haphazard footfalls. At times he seemed to stumble forward too fast, but she supposed anyone not used to the terrain would. His eagerness didn't come to light until she paused to scent the air. The golden wolf was so close he'd almost run into her. A sheepish smile crossed her face once before she returned to her intended task. The Crest wolf's nose tipped upward; inhaling the pack's scent; now strong and solidified. They had established themselves quite well in a short time. Happily, it seemed that the scent she was truly looking for was absent. It was small comfort to know that the white witch was at least not upwind. Her worries would stay tucked away for now though; she had no interest in frightening the yearling and making him any more uncomfortable. The scent of deer however, managed to alert her just as she was about to keep walking. It was a target worth checking up on – the group's movements would be important for the pack to know, and it was a larger family unit she had already been keeping tabs on. Bright eyes sought out their companion again. “You smell the deer? We should head over and see where they're going.” It would be a blessing if this herd continued to linger in their land. Their fisc of meat could always do with fattening.  A few more quiet steps passed in their new direction, and all the while Raela's nicked ear was poised to receive Datura's problem. He still had not mentioned what was bothering him, so eventually she made up her mind to kick-start the conversation. If she could help him, she wanted to do it as soon as possible. “So what's up?” Her voice was pleasant, casual, and hopefully not at all intimidating. Raela's eyes fixated ahead, as if removing her stare would make it easier for the squirming boy to relay his problems. She hoped it would, at least.  Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra

            

She wanted to see what the deer were up to. He gulped uncertainly before. He didn't dare mention to her that he knew very little about hunting or tracking or what kind of things were meaningful about the movements of herds. It probably wouldn't have hurt him to learn, but right now he found that he really didn't want to. He was too afraid of failure that he just wanted to curl up in the den and forget about everyone else, forget about getting life advice, and forget about being a wolf. But she out ranked him both in age and hierarchy, and his mother had always told him to be polite and gentle with women, so he had no choice but to gurgle a response that was something like agreement.

All the air left his lungs at once when she asked him what was up. Such a simple question took his breath away. What was up? He had come to Relic Lore with all these intentions and dreams, but he had very clearly lost direction up here in the highlands. Here he was trying to pick a duty, trying to survive socially in a pack that was not his own, not the one he really wanted. He had been drawn here by a lovely woman that he had wanted for his mother. But he had barely glimpsed her more than once since arrive. He sighed. He didn't know where to start.

Before he knew it, he decided that he had to tell Raela everything. Or well, not everything... but he needed someone to know who he was, what he wanted. As he fought for the words that would give his recently formless personality shape, he decided to at least bring up the whole "role" thing. The more complicated stuff could come later. He was trying his best not to bump into her as she lead the way towards the deer. "I don't know what role I want to train for. They ... all seem like good ideas. And then they all seem like really bad ones."

"I just don't want to disappoint anyone."

Posting availability
9pm - 10:30pm EST weekdays
Weekends sporadically. 

There was, predictably, some more hesitation on his part. She wanted to look back, as if it would goad him further toward response, but she knew better. If anything it would only make him more nervous and more likely to retreat into himself. Instead she continued on the trail, pretending to be more absorbed in tracking the deer than she really was. Thankfully, his answer finally came. Her notched ear found him quickly, absorbing each syllable while her mind gathered a coherent train of thought. She was somewhat grateful that his problem was a minor one (well, at least compared to what it could have been). It seemed perfectly natural for a yearling to worry over their role. At least they got to choose their roles here – her family certainly didn't allow such a thing.  The woman's face softened with concern at his last utterance. Now there was a familiar position. Raela craned her neck back to face him as they walked, stealing glances in his direction when she wasn't watching her footing on the mountain. The words came surprisingly easy to her tongue. “Oh I wouldn't worry about that.” Her voice downplayed any possible negativity as best it could. “All the roles are important. The pack might have need for a certain role at a certain time, and they might ask you to fill it in until someone else can – That's why Astraeus is the guardian right now. He didn't really want to be, but he was the best for the job and we needed one.” She let the summer air fill in the gap in her speech while the yearling took in her words. Hopefully. “Other than that it doesn't really matter what you pick so long as you enjoy it.” Her next question came naturally. “Is there one that sounds better than the others?” Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra

            

@Raela

"— Well I am worrying about it." he cut in abruptly, harshly. He was a brooding teenager, with maybe more of his father in him than anyone realzied. But Gus was still ashamed of himself, and clamped his jaws shut quite abruptly. He shook his head, looking at Raela as if he had no idea what had gotten into him. But he was frustrated. He wanted to be the best, but he was a wimp. He wanted to serve the pack, but he wished that all these silly traditions could go away. Why couldn't he just stay here and not worry about anything? The time spent with his depressed mother had had quite an impact on him. Maybe he didn't mind the the thought of just spending days sitting next to a lake, staring at the water and hoping the world would change. Gus was not a doer, that was clear.

Sure, all the roles were important, but Gus wanted the one that was most important. No one had ever suggested to him that there might be such a role besides that of the lead role, but he was quite convinced it existed. But he figured he might just have to wait until he was tapped on the shoulder like Astraeus. What did it meant to be important? That you were needed more than anyone? Gus wondered if the most important role changed like the season, and, if this were the case, would be be able to switch? "Will anyone be mad if I can't decide? Will anyone be mad if I change my mind?" Gus changed his mind a lot. "My mom always told me I was as fickle as the spring weather." It made him sad to talk about his mom this way, but he found himself smiling as if he could sense her distant caress against his cheek.

Posting availability
9pm - 10:30pm EST weekdays
Weekends sporadically. 

The way the boy cut in to her speech had the woman glancing at him with some degree of surprise. It was a behavior she'd hardly expected from the awkward yellow pup. Interestingly, his expression seemed to state that he wasn't expecting it either. She made no remark, choosing instead to continue with her intended words. She could appreciate what level of worry the young one was facing; having to make one of the bigger decisions of his life up until this point; or at least she hoped it was. The outburst could easily be forgiven, so long as he didn't grow impatient with her.  Datura hesitated again at her inquiry; which wasn't at all strange. Did he even have a preference yet? Perhaps not. Her question was answered with more questions. The yearling really did seem lost. Her expression softened with concern as he went on, finally mentioning his long lost mother. His soft smile had one of her own tugging at the female's lips. Poor boy. A part of the Crest woman longed to hear of his sorrows, but it would have to be satisfied with giving the advice Datura wanted today. The rest could come later; she couldn't bear to pry at such a tender, vulnerable moment. Instead Raela's tongue pressed against the roof of her mouth as the sentences formed. The first part was easy.  Twinkling sunshine eyes drifted away as she spoke. “No, they won't be mad. I'm sure they'd let you change your mind.” The next thought brought her face back around to him. “You know, you can train for more than one role. If you finish training in one, no one's going to stop you from picking up another. The more you know the better off your pack will be.” It was true. “Gent doubled as a healer and a guardian at times.” But this wasn't getting at the heart of the matter. She needed to know what Datura was actually interested in. “What roles do you know of?” Maybe this one hadn't been informed of them all.  Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra

(This post was last modified: Aug 10, 2015, 02:48 AM by Raela.)

            

@Raela
The idea that he could train for two or more roles at once was a tempting one. And if no one was going to be mad at him, maybe he could let his sickened stomach settle a little. @Gent had taken on two roles at once, and now Gent was a leader. The thought boded well for the deluded little boy. Maybe the others would like him more if he did a lot of work, the same way they all seemed to like — or at least defer to—  Gent. He chewed on his lip and refused to meet Raela's eyes. His mind ran away with her words, warping them without her consent. She had not really truly recommended the path of multiple roles to him, but is resonated with him. Maybe he could do three, or four. Why should he have to pick at all? Minka wouldn't be cross, right? Raela had said so. Feeling a little better, Octavius gave a little nod.


"Uhm," he stared at his paws as they walked, "There's Guardians and Healers, of course.. And. Storytellers and Keepers and Scouts and ..." A hot blush took a hold of his cheeks. "And advisors," he breathed shyly. Was this what Raela wanted to be? He had, after all, chosen her over anyone else, and she had been awfully patient with him. "My mom was a Keeper... I think. And her dad was a Keeper too. And a leader. But a keeper first, and still kinda always. Idunno. That's what she always used to say. I never met 'im."


"My dad was a guardian... I think.." his heart thumping dangerously against his ribs as he thought of the identity he had stolen. Did that mean he should be a guardian, too, if he was trying to play the role of Datura? If he wanted to learn more about his father? "I think his family was mostly Guardians. Also some leaders there." But Octavius was nervous to reveal more. He did not really want to give away just how strongly he was tied to this land.

Posting availability
9pm - 10:30pm EST weekdays
Weekends sporadically.