Larkcall Lowlands All I have

(( @Lorcan and @craw ))

The small wolf trotted out across the the open plains, her silvery gaze taking in the wide and vast expanse of land, she had spent a few weeks out and about, now learning more and more about this new region and how vastly different it had been then the far and fringed north, her old home. The girl paused in her steps as she sought out the distinctive land mark @Lorcan has pointed out to her all those weeks ago. She had been reluctant to try and join one, after her brief and only attempt had turned sour, Saradathia had decided it’d be best to wait, maybe now would be different, especially if Lorcan had been there.

That wolf, lorcan, She wasn’t sure what to make of the man. He had been kind to her, saved her and even shared a meal with her while expecting nothing in return, and that one night she had spent curled up next to him had been amazing, for once, and only once she had felt safe enough to sleep with out jumping at every little sound, maybe she;d be able to spend more nights like that, fi he could prove herself to be an asset to his pack. Her nose twitched slightly, there, before her was scents marking a clear boundary.

“This has to be it.” she murmured quietly, raising her scarred muzzle toward the sky and letting out a loud howl of greeting.

Lorcan had not strayed from the Monadnock since returned from his herb-collecting trip. The subordinate had spent most of the morning keeping himself busy by sorting carefully through the medicinal cache, stashing the new plants he had collected whilst away with Emrys and also checking over the condition of the herbs that had already be there. Delicately his black nose sniffed at each plant individually, checking to see how potent each scent was. Anything that smelt of decay he teased out from the burrow with his teeth and tossed aside, to discard it.

He had only just been carefully placing the Goldenrod stems into the dark hollow when his russet ears perked up at a familiar voice which howled up from the lowlands. Head tilted to one side as he hesitantly shifted up onto all fours and wondered slowly across the Monadnock to peer over the edge. Golden eyes scanned across the lowlands, searching for a familiar figure. He had no clue who he was searching for, as he could not yet match up the voice to face just yet. However, when his eyes finally settled upon a small white figure he quickly inhaled a sharp breath in surprise. Saradathia?

Immediately, he looked around to check that no one was watching him before he carefully crept down the old goat track to the lowlands. He hadn’t planned on exiting the marked borders that day, having decided to stay low for a while so to not get into any more trouble with Craw, but, he had promised the young girl that he would be there to greet her if she changed her mind about joining – so he gritted his teeth and traipsed past the borders anyway and wondered slowly up to Saradathia, greeting her with a raised brow and a curious smile.

“Saradathia..” He nodded, whilst raising his tail dominantly above his spine to show dominance over her considering they were so close to pack borders. “I wasn’t sure you’d come.” He murmured.

Turning around, he motioned with his muzzle for the alabaster girl to follow him before slowly leading her back towards the Monadnock, making sure stop right at the marked borders. “Wait here, okay?” Swiftly, he trotted back up the goat track and upon reaching the top, sniffed around for Craw. He figured helping in the recruitment of a potential new member would be one way to get back into the Alpha’s good books. “Craw? There’s a girl waiting at the borders…She wishes to join.” He called out as he closed in on his superiors scent.

(This post was last modified: Oct 15, 2016, 10:43 PM by Lorcan.)

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

It was not his inclination to ignore the summons of strangers at their doorstep, but it just so happened that Craw had been at the rim of the monadnock furthest from the only path down when this particular one came. Having been enjoying the grand view with @Isuni and @Celandine, and of course their vibrant and energetic company, it was with a sigh that he hefted himself up and excused himself from their presence. He had no idea that Lorcan - who was slowly but steadily pulling himself out of Craw's bad books after his unexcused absence - was far ahead of him. It would not have been a surprise had @Morganna or @Wraith gotten there first, but then the medic's voice rang out just as he was leisurely approaching the goat track and the message he bore made the entire situation more interesting.

Not that Lorcan normally answered border calls or was even supposed to be thinking about setting foot outside the territory right now, but Craw would delay his judgement for now. Most of it, anyway.  Eyes narrowing as the distance between himself and Lorcan closed, he gave a displeased rumble and reached out to take his subordinate's muzzle in his jaws for a firm moment, which was even more common a thing these past few days. "So my ears told me just fine," he growled after releasing the man, and could not help his curiosity. "And how do you know so confidently what this vagrant wants?"

Not that it slowed him down in answering the howl; he strode past Lorcan all the same, heading for that trail down to the lowlands, whether his packmate chose to meekly follow along or not.

Russet ears fell back, thick tail curled tightly between his legs and his body stooped down low as Craw advanced towards him with narrowed eyes. He could tell Craw wasn’t best impressed. Lorcan took the firm hold around his muzzle without resistance and whined softly in submission as Craw’s rumble vibrated against his skull.

Upon his release, Lorcan leant across and attempted to lick at the chin of his superior, but quickly recoiled when Craw growled a response. Lorcan lowered himself even more so that he almost crawled across the ground beside the larger monochrome male, hoping the submissive display would calm the alpha down a bit. But then Craw hit him with a question and Lorcan knew that he had been found out. Shit.

He wasn’t even going to bother responding with a lie. It was obvious that he had left the marked borders to go and meet her, Craw wasn’t stupid. Lorcan just kept silent, charcoal lips pressed tightly into a thin line as he bit his tongue. As Craw moved away to make his way down the goat track and towards the girl, Lorcan traipsed silently behind him, tail still firmly tucked between his legs.

When Saradathia came into sight once again, he greeted her with a small sheepish smile, and settled himself down into his rear behind Craw, taking care to settle just within the territorial borders.

 

(This post was last modified: Oct 16, 2016, 09:30 AM by Lorcan.)

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

@Saradathia again next? :D

Lorcan's submissive whine was swiftly replaced by guilty silence on being questioned, which was more than enough of an answer for Craw. Whether or not he knew the girl or had just thought to confront the stranger himself (which wasn't reproachable behaviour under normal circumstances) didn't matter; where Lorcan's opinion of a loner might have held some sway in the past, right now Craw could not claim to place much faith in it.

Forgiveness would come in time.

Feeling sour, Craw stalked down the goat track with the cowed subordinate at his heels, and that alone implied that Lorcan had some stake in this. Some vagrant he had met during his extended and unauthorised absence, perhaps? With winter approaching, dealing with loners sniffing at their borders took on a strange duality, where healthy numbers were important to survive the harshest months and yet too many mouths to feed were a decided hindrance. And it wasn't like Whitestone was lacking in productive members, so they were not desperate for more to swell the ranks. And there was always the concern that choosing this time of year to approach a pack implied a singularly selfish mindset - an intention to use the stability and food supplies provided only to leave once the softer spring season was upon them again.

Craw knew that every one of his current packmates were not of that ilk, but he could not look at any who came humbly to their borders in the snow and help but be suspicious.

He'd lived in harder places to live than this, and he'd seen it over and over again.

Her small, white shape still stood out clearly against the tundra, but only because the light covering of snow had melted in the night; she could just as easily have been obscured against the bleak whiteness. Tail curling above his rump, he strode towards her, Lorcan in tow, body language hardly screaming pleased. She could thank her friend for that, or whatever he was to her. "A clairvoyant told me you're here seeking a place in my pack," he rasped, the sneered tones laced with a soft growl which further betrayed his dark mood.

The snowy colored wolf continued to stand as she finished her greeting, though quicker then she had expected, a wolf crested the trek and made his way down toward her, quickly she realized it was Lorcan. He did keep his promise… She realized, nodding in greeting as he spoke.

“Alright.” She said quietly as he turned, it wasn’t like she had anywhere else to go at the moment, so she counted to stand and await his return. Sitting would have implied she was comfortable and possibly send a message of self entitlement, something Saradathia had no feelings toward. Unaware of the brief confrontation between the two pack wolves, the first thing she had seen was a rather large pale grey figure come trotting down the path, Lorcan in tow behind him.

When the difference between survival and death could be as fragile as far north as where where had come from, and the aggressive nature of her old pack, Saradathia quickly picked up on the obvious displeasure, amplified by the subtle growl as he spoke.

The arctic wolf nodded, dipping her own scarred muzzle toward the ground before speaking “Yes sir, once, weeks ago, I encountered Lorcan and we spoke a bit, he mentioned being apart of a pack out upon this tundra and should I find the life of a loner not to my taste, that I might find it beneficial to seek them out, and to possibly attribute my own skills to the already formidable pack.” She tried to word it carefully, clearly this Alpha wasn't in a mood to bandy fancy words or beat around the bush, something She herself never found to be beneficial, just get it out there, quickly and cleanly, straight to the point.

Lorcan grimaced awkwardly at Saradathia as Craw addressed her with a growl, feeling rather ashamed that he’d managed to get the large male in such a sour mood at such an important and delicate time.

Thankfully the young pale girl remained polite and undeterred by Craw’s hostile behaviour, dipping her head in respect. Lorcan wagged his tail slowly behind his rump and ushered his muzzle forwards in an encouraging nod. Russet ears perked up as Saradathia spoke, intrigued to hear how she handled the situation whilst wondering if Craw would see any potential in her.

Attribute your skills..Yes! White brows raised, expecting for the girl to continue and narrowed into an anxious frown when she finished her sentence. Was her pitch strong enough? Lorcan wasn’t sure.

Shuffling uneasily on his paws, the subordinate looked across to Craw with a sheepish look on his face. “S-she said she was good at fighting.” He murmured nervously, unsure if Craw would appreciate his input. “I figured we could use a guardian with all the cougars around here...” He didn't dare mention the bear. His voice trailed off into awkward silence, unsure whether he should continue.

Ultimately it was not his decision to make.

Shaking his pelt to relieve himself of the awkward tingle that crawled across his skin, Lorcan’s gaze fluttered down to the ground and stayed there, pro-claiming himself now as a silent bystander to the whole event.

(This post was last modified: Oct 17, 2016, 04:29 PM by Lorcan.)

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

Shallow water has trapped several fish in a small pond. Hunt Opportunity

Weeks ago? That coincided with his disappearance... The spider's jaw clenched and unclenched as he listened to the small arctic woman, who kept her gaze dropped and tone polite. Even though he wasn't looking at Lorcan, he was firing hot daggers in the fool's direction regardless. She had the right words and manner, which at least contributed to not making the situation worse. Craw hadn't come into this encounter with the most amenable state of mind - her task was not going to be easy.

Attribute her skills to their formidable pack... either Lorcan had sung Whitestone's praises or she was just a flatterer. But it was better to be a flatterer in these circumstances. Though still plenty irritated with his current packmate, this vagrant was doing... okay. She'd clearly taken some time to think about this decision. Had she chosen them after scouting out her choices, or just finally been desperate enough with winter on the horizon to stop dallying about?

Sensing movement from Lorcan, Craw's ear nearest to the man swivelled about to focus on him, though he only moved his head enough to cast a withering sidelong glance at the wannabe-medic. His snout wrinkled as his lip curled, and he growled, low and rough, to let Lorcan know that his input had not been asked for. You will speak when spoken to.

What had he said - that she might help protect against cougars? "Foxes, maybe," he muttered, casting his impatient yellow eyes back over this as-yet nameless woman, judging her youth and her size, and then consciously took note of her pure ivory coat. @Morganna would just love another white woman, he knew how they were just her favourite. But the lengthy scar over her muzzle, at least, hinted at the fact that she was not just another cushy yearling. On the cusp of adulthood, she should be less of drain on their resources, but he did not want to risk a drain at all.

Snorting, as if to clear his mind, his ears both perked forward, and he maintained a few lengthy seconds of silence before casting his judgement. "Every one of my wolves pulls their weight and has earned their place in this pack." Yes, every one - even any temporarily in the shitter. "I don't know you. Whitestone is not a sanctuary for the needy, no matter how sweet your promises - so you will not join us today. But I will give you a chance to earn your place."

He licked his lips as he looked down on her, feeling a little calmer now. "Five days, five gifts, starting tomorrow. I want you to demonstrate these skills. Whatever you bring, leave it at this spot," he said, thumping a forepaw on the ground for emphasis, leaving it up to her how she would store it - under a rock, in the snow, or just in plain sight, "before sunrise, for us to collect. On the fifth day, wait here with it, and we'll speak again."

The last wolf he'd given the task to had never been seen again, nor any of the gifts he had so eagerly promised. Tomorrow he would find out if she would be similarly disappointing.

Craw’s growl in response to his input was quickly noted by the subordinate male, who immediately averted his golden eyes to the ground and pressed his charcoal lips together tightly as faint whimper instinctively vibrated in his throat. Taking a couple of steps back to give Craw some space so to avoid any teeth should the aggravated male try to lash out, Lorcan stood uneasily to the side, lingering on the invisible borders of the gathering, with his tail flickering anxiously behind him.

Russet ears pinned back at Craw mocking remark towards Saradathia, internally growing even more uncomfortable with the situation as it seemed his superior was less than impressed with the potential member that had been offered up. However, that apparently didn’t stop Craw from offering up a chance for the young female to prove her worth. Lorcan’s golden gaze flickered back up to the alabaster girl, eyes wide with surprise as a tentative smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

Lorcan listened intently to the task that Saradathia was given, curious to know what exactly the young girl would bring back to the pack every day. The task would not be easy, especially with winter fast approaching and the young girl’s less than healthy condition – would she be able to rise up to the challenge? His eyes fell to the floor again once more as he grew worried for her. If he could help her in anyway, he would – but he was certain that such actions were forbidden. Lorcan offered a small smile of encouragement to the girl just as Craw finished talking, before he turned around to face back towards the monadnock and hovered, waiting for Craw to lead the way.

Walking back home, Lorcan kept low to the ground in a submissive stance and remained silent, but he couldn’t help but sneakily glance back behind him towards Saradathia, wondering if he would ever see her again.

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together