Larkcall Lowlands Lead me to Paradise

(Askan first please, then @Jessie :) )'

Askan had made his leave when the rain had died off, leaving Denali to wonder if he'd hold his word true. Did he really have leaders like he said, or was he but a cowardly liar? They hadn't spent much time together, but he seemed honest enough, and so she had happily tended to her tasks. Throughout the day of his absence she managed to relocate her cache and bring her items to her newfound, and hopefully temporary, haven. There she carefully began skinning the animals to an attempt at profection, making mistakes along the way. And not only were there three prairie dog pelts lining her den, but a pair of rabbit skins as well. Denali had even placed her cache within the burrow's walls and beneath her pile of animal furs. The Covox gal had eaten only what was necessary to part body from pelt, spurring herself on to catch more with lustful hunger. Some may have found it cruel or greedy, but she saw it as wise to stock up for days, then feast, and at last rest.

Despite the lack of use to a loner, the tan pawed timber had followed the hoofprints of a single deer, and by the smell a youthful stag. Perhaps two or three years old, healthy, and of a good weight. Now, she didn't gather all of this by smell of course, but by how deeply he had stepped into the ground, and by the tall Larkcall grasses that provided him with plenty to eat. Deni had been practicing her tracking since the first ray of sunlight, and by now the sun sat happily in the sky. Thankfully a few clouds here and there blocked its harsh rays every so often, sparing her from intense heat upon her dark back. She was growing thirsty though, and assumed so was the stag, if not leading her towards a drink. He was a good distance away from her, a brown spec on the horizon, and she but a dot to him aswell. However, he hadn't looked to the light stepping female once, his back turned to her, and the wind still for the time. No breeze to sway the surrounding greens nor the strands amongst her coat.

(Edit: If cool with everyone else, I thought I'd invite @Drestig )

(This post was last modified: Jul 13, 2016, 01:10 AM by Denali. Edit Reason: Fixing tag )

Askan was a man of his word. So when he had agreed to arrange a meeting, he meant it. That being said, it wasn't as though he rushed to do it. He didn't want to appear too eager, and besides he knew that the others had things of their own to deal with. They had a pup they had to keep an eye on, especially considering she enjoyed getting into trouble. Not that he blamed her, when he was that age he had no doubt he was also a little troublemaker, that's just how pups were. It was a fact that couldn't be changed.

At least now- a few days later- it wasn't raining. The ground was still sodden and riddled with puddles, but at least the sky looked calm and serene.  Hopefully everything would go well today. Then again, if it didn't it wasn't any skin off of his nose. Or at least that's what he told himself, repeatedly. When he had headed back to the den, Drestig was nowhere to be found. Jessie on the other hand had been nearby, and from what he could tell she had been surprised that he had actually sought her out. They got along well enough, after all Askan was pretty civil towards the soon-to-be alpahs. But it wasn't as if they were best of friends (not that the wolf knew what that entailed, he had never actually had a friend before, let alone a best friend), the simply got along well. And that was that.

Other than the cryptic 'I have someone for you to meet', Askan hadn't told Jessie anything yet. The way he saw it, the less he said the better. Then she could come to her own conclusion without his words spoiling it. Besides, he didn't have that many good things to say about Denali, so it was probably for the best.  He didn't mean that maliciously of course, he simply couldn't compliment someone to save his life. 

Finally, once Askan deemed them close enough, turned to look at Jessie as they walked together. They had been travelling together in a comfortable silence. It was nice, felt natural.

"We're nearly there." He said, nodding to the woodlands that marked the edge of the lowlands .  They weren't far now, and he was certain that Denali would hear them approach, if she was listening out. "I figured you might like to meet her." He added with a shrug. Gods this was awkward. 

A lynx has left behind the remains of a deer. +5 Health

The small family was more than happy. They were finally assembling members for their legacy and Jessie could almost taste their goals coming together. Drestig was, no doubt, excited at this prospect but Jessie still felt a slight ache in her heart. It was only last year that she had lost Hotei and even though she was happy the memory of his loss still hurt. It was why, when Drestig and Phoenix suggested a walk, she remained behind, shooting them a parting smile so that she could sort through her thoughts. The gray woman had a daughter and mate that cared for her deeply and she knew that she loved them more than she could ever love herself. It was better this way and she knew that this new life for everyone would help their future grow into something that would help both her and Drestig grow. They were already happy and this was only the beginning. She felt a twig of annoyance when Askan interrupted her thought processing but she kept her face blank, pepper-and-salt colored ears flicking forward to hear that he had to say. Her eyebrow raised in curiosity but she said nothing, making her way towards him. He, in turn, led the way in silence. Jessie was not particularly fond of the man, nor did she plan on becoming particularly close with him anytime soon but she did need to get along with him, for Drestig's sake. Perhaps, in time, if he turned out to be a loyal companion to them he could turn out to be a worthy friend. But only time could tell. In the meantime, the gray woman was pleased that he had at least been looking out for newcomers like she asked. It meant he was not a complete invalid. Her ears flicked once again when he broke their silence, signaling that they were near. Jessie could have drawn that conclusion on her own based on the strong scent that was coming from the area. It seemed that whoever she was meeting was a regular in the area. The hint of prairie dog flooded around the air and the mother had to swallow the keep her mouth dry. Finally, she spoke, responded to Askan's awkward words, ”Well, you figured correct. Where is she?” Emerald green eyes surveyed the area. Jess would not simply barge in on the other woman's abode, it was rude and she did not feel like throwing any chances of making any alliances out on her already brash attitude. Jessie Tainn

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(What an amazing vacation! So glad the car ride home is finally over....brain fart post)

Thick legs moved in rhythm as she stalked the whitetail, moving through the blades of grass like a tricky fox. The prey animal had become stiff, like a statue, his stance almost regal. His chest was puffed, head high, nostrils flared as he snorted. Denali watched and studied as she attempted to figure out why he had changed into a menacing looking stag. Her little nose twitched, eyes shutting to focus harder, she could hear a far off mumbling of words...but they made little sense to her. What the? Deni could feel a thudding beneath her paws, and something or someone was fast approaching. Coiling her body like a spring the Covox prepared to run out of the way. The stag lowered his head, pawing the ground with a loud grunt, shaking his neck a little to cause ripples of muscle. By the time she had started to catch on another buck appeared and rammed his antlers into her stag's rack.

Like maniac beasts they locked together and rose from the ground, just for one to shove into the other as they came thudding down. The clacking caused her to flinch a little. The young wolf was transfixed though, watching them battle it out from a safe, yet close, distance as if it were a mere show. It was quiet fascinating to see how brutes acted towards one another, especially prey.

(OOC, hope you had a great holiday wild!)

"She should be around here somewhere." Askan told Jessie, glancing around as though he expected her to emerge from the long grass. She didn't, much to his dismay and slight annoyance. "She found a den around here, figured she'd stick near it." 

This was not going to plan, and Askan was stumped.  He wanted to make a good-  or at least a decent- impression and this little hiccup was more than enough to throw a spanner in the works. He doubted that Jessie would want to spend all day looking around for Denali and Askan felt the same way. He had promised to make introductions, that was true, but she was not upholding her end of the bargain. It hadn't been said aloud, but it went unspoken that she had to be around, she couldn't just wander off and expect them to wait around until she came back. Typical, why had he even bothered?

Askan huffed a sigh,and was just about to speak when he heard a right ruckus. He was under no illusion that it was Denali, after all he recognised the sound of clashing horns when he heard it, but nonetheless his ears swivelled and he listened.  Knowing that Denali was a right nosey sod, he came to the conclusion that if she was around, she'd be checking out the squabbling deer.  If she wasn't there like he assumed, well it wasn't his problem. He'd tried and so he was blameless.  Then again, Jessie might not see it that way. Naturally- in her eyes- the blame would fall on him and he couldn't have that. The prospect of failure was more than enough to rekindle his deep, hidden, feelings of disappointment and self loathing. Gods, this was not how he wanted things to go. 

"Sorry about this." Askan said, as his ears flattened against his head. It felt strange apologising, but she was to be his alpha so he knew he had to get used to it. "If she's not checking out the deer, then I've got no idea where she is.  I don't mean to waste your time." Without him even meaning to his tail slid between his legs. For someone who was so brash and prickly, he sure was good at showing reverence. "Let's just try and look, and if she's not there then... I don't know." He shrugged.

(This post was last modified: Jul 23, 2016, 09:06 PM by Askan.)

The small woman remained silent, emerald eyes scanning the area expectantly. She was never one for patience and if Askan had brought her here to introduce her to someone then she damn well expected that someone to be waiting for them. Jessie hardly had time to cast her accusing eyes towards the larger man beside her as he spoke, her attention drawn towards the ruckus a little ways away from them. No longer concerned with Askan, Jessie's attention settled on the clashing coming from the collision between the two animals. Though she couldn't see them, she could only imagine the scene, the gray woman's heart beating in anticipation.  She forced herself to remain in place though, not jerking away when the dark man's voice sounded beside her. Yes, let us look. She said nothing, just let out a soft hum as she moved forward in the direction of the uproar. Based on the scents emitting from the girl's den, Jessie had no doubt in her mind that she was also tracking the deer. A huntress...or a scout. A pleasant thrill went through her at the thought. She knew that with Phoenix in her life she would no longer be able to travel as much as she liked. It was a disappointment but she knew that it was worth it to see the glow in her daughter's eyes. Her tail lashed behind her as she stalked forward, pawsteps light as to not disturb the deer. There was no need for injury today. As they neared, Jessie inhaled, the unmistakable scent of wolf in the air, quite similar to that near the den. Jessie's voice was soft when she spoke, ”I believe we found your friend.” She did not stop moving, clearing trotting in the direction that the scent was coming from. Jessie Tainn

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(Quick post, busy busy, haha. And thank you, my vacation was fantastic!)

Denali had been busy watching and learning, studying the romping beasts when a faint sound drifted to her. Over the clutter she couldn't quiet make out what it was at all, her ears facing behind her, but nothing more came. Her paws couldn't sense anything else with the brutish bucks battling it out in front of her. And so she gave up on vibrations and sounds, turning around to slink in the direction she believed it came from. Her form was low, as not to be spotted by the deer, and her senses on high alert. curiosity killed the cat, and she wasn't planning on being a risk taker.

After a bit of distance covering the girl ran face to face with another wolf, eyes going wide as she quickly halted, backing away. Once comfortable space was met she apologized, "I'm sorry," but she quickly became aware of @Askan 's scent, "I'm Denali." She introduced with a bow, either this was a group mate of his or alpha. He had given his word on a leader, so she opted on showing respect. Once finished with her bow she stayed at a reasonable posture, submission shown towards the shorter woman.

Askan watched the exchange with bated breath. This had to go well, he wasn't sure what he would do otherwise. Thankfully, Denali seemed to be in a reasonable mood. There was none of that sass she had been so free in dishing out last time. Instead, she was respectful and granted Jessie the proper greeting that she deserved. All was going well then, or at least at surface value it seemed as though it was. 

Askan could think of worse things than having Denali in the pack. Sure, she was annoying (amongst other things) but all in all she seemed decent. She hadn't tried to attack him, and she had even let him rest with her a while whilst they waited for the downpour to stop. Hell, she had even fed him. Who would do that if they weren't at least an okay person? It could be a trick, Askan was aware of that, but it didn't make sense as the risk just didn't seem worth it. The best way to make allies was to be honest wasn't it? Or at least that's what his Father had said. Others wouldn't want to know you if they believed you were false, that you weren't what you seemed. Face value was important and making a good first impression was key. His meeting with Drestig... Hadn't gone too well, but the old man was reasonable and had given him a chance. 

"Hey." Askan greeted, stepping forward so he was within her line of sight. "This is Jessie. Aside from the old man, she's the one in charge." By now, the nickname old man was sort of becoming a term of endearment. Askan quite liked the oldie, and the same went for his mate. They'd more than earned his loyalty. "And all that. I'm guessing you know how packs work right?" He asked, before glancing at Jessie to see if she wanted to continue.

It was her pack, she was going to be in charge so she had every right to have the next say. There were rules that were going to be laid down, not that many mind you, Drestig and Jessie were reasonable, but for every newcomer they had to be said. Either way, Askan was sure that as long as Denali played nice then she would get along well enough with the alphas. As for himself, he wasn't sure. She was okay, he guessed. If she wasn't he wouldn't haven't even bothered coming all the way out here.

In fact, it did not take long for them to find Askan's friend at all. At the touch of another, Jessie growled and snapped harshly in the air, making it clear that she wanted her space. The girl had run right into her and the pepper-and-salt colored woman was all for personal space. The only ones that were allowed to touch her were Drestig and Phoenix. Heart racing in her chest, Jessie kept her breathing calm, reminding herself that she wanted this meeting to go successfully for them. Emerald eyes looked down at the submissive posture and nodding appreciatively at the female. Denali. She spoke softly, ”It's fine.” She tried to not make her tone clipped, her eyes trained on the woman in front of her. Askan's voice rang out beside her and she shot a sharp glance towards him. Truthfully, she was glad that he was taking some of the attention off of herself. After their initial exchange, Jessie was sure this couldn't have gotten any worse. She nodded her head at his question. That was important. Clearing her throat, she added in, her tone more business-like, ”And do you have any skills that you want to specialize in? I noticed that you're quite the huntress.” She was referring to the woman's den. Of course, they had not gone inside, but Jessie's expert nose had caught enough scents within the den to notice a few things. Shifting uncomfortably at Denali's position, Jessie spoke again, ”You can get up. We're just talking right now.” Denali reminded Jessie much of herself when she was unfamiliar with her female alphas. Back in a time when she was not who she wanted to be and it made her uncomfortable. Jessie Tainn

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