Oak Tree Bend everyone must stand alone

For @Spieden this will be Aponi's rank challenge, don't worry if you take more than three days to respond as I'm on absence, but just wanted to get this up here
Also @Serach as she would want him to be there, let me know if the pp of them being together after a border patrol isn't okay
December 19th
Overcast, 22F/-5C

 

It had been a couple of months since she had discussed her thoughts on challenging for Spieden's rank with Serach. They hadn't talked about it since but the thought had been sitting in the back of her mind ever since. Now that she knew she had his approval there was little reason for Aponi to delay but she did so anyways, at least until she was sure that she could lead in the winter. As it was, with a couple of months of experience in the pack the little doubt that she had had was all but vanished.

So instead of going their separate ways after completing their border patrol Aponi had hesitated before telling her friend what she planned on doing. The Aquila hoped it would not come to outright physical blows she still wished that Serach would stay for some kind of comfort no matter what the outcome. The thought of Aesire fresh on her mind Aponi felt uneasy in a way that she had never experienced before a rank challenge. Normally she was challenging for herself and her own pride without little thought or care about others, but this felt heavier. For the first time the silver woman thought of her pack as friends, wolves whom she cared about, some of them anyway.

When they reached where their border patrol had begun Aponi slowed her gait until she came to a full stop. Hesitating only to smile at Serach, brushing her shoulder against his for a last moment of reassurance she raised her silver muzzle to the sky and called for Spieden.

 

It was a calm morning, the snows having paused yet the grey cast to the sky remaining. A good day to take her children out hunting for snowshoe hares, a little bite to tide them over and hone their skills between their outings for larger game. She had rounded the two sea cubs up, much like herding cats, and managed to get the little family on the road towards a meadow pockmarked with warrens in the copse to the south.

At least she had been until a distant sound broke in. Spieden looked up to the overcast sky, her ears cupped towards the howl that called for her. She stood still for a few moments, deliberating on its meaning. Aponi didn't sound alarmed, yet at the same time there was something commanding in the tone.

Spieden snorted, almost having half a mind to blow off the summons and continue on with their rabbit hunt. But Murphy's law would dictate the one time she ignored something would be the one time something truly horrible happened. Maybe Aponi had broken her ankle, or found something awry on her patrol.

Not knowing how long this would take or what she might find there, she regretfully sent @Marina and Mako back with promises they would try again tomorrow if the snow still held off. Spieden started off after lending her low voice to the sky in return that she was coming. She built momentum into a brisk trot towards the other side of the territory's bounds where Aponi waited for her.

Spieden scanned the scene, finding no danger or anything otherwise remarkable. However the first sign that something was up was Serach standing at Aponi's side. Spieden slowed, stopped and hesitated, looking between the two but setting her fiery amber gaze on Aponi.

“Is something the matter?” Spieden asked, slowly realizing that the purpose of drawing her out here was the purpose of speaking privately. Yet, not too privately, for here three of them stood. She supposed she should feel relieved that nobody was injured or worse. But still an uneasy feeling lingered, not knowing what to expect instead.

(This post was last modified: Dec 20, 2016, 07:55 PM by Spieden.)

There is a deer that was killed by a lynx nearby. +10 Health

Skipping @Serach to keep this moving as quickly as possible, but feel free to pop in at anytime Shadow!

 

Lowering her muzzle and watching as the mist of her breath faded into the sky around them the pair stood in silence, waiting for what would come next. The silver woman pressed her shoulder against Serach's once more as the sound of Spieden's call answered hers, something about his physical presence making all doubt fade away. She wanted this and more than that Aponi thought that she could lead the Bend. What had happened with the Plateau would not be repeated, not the death that had marked the beginning of her reign or the time period that followed and the way she had retreated. Nothing about the Bend was anything like the mountain, nothing but the burn in her veins that pulsed every time she had to submit to Spieden, no matter how much she respected her.

Raising her muzzle proudly at the sound of approaching footsteps the silver tail crept up until it was held high above her back. Aponi's eyes watched as the alpha approached, relief and then confusion written across her maw at being summoned so late in the afternoon. For a moment she hoped that her stance would be enough to make the reason behind the meaning clear but the slow words indicated that this would be more of a discussion than a clear show of power. Without hesitation or breaking the eye contact she had made the woman responded, "I want your rank Spieden, I believe that I can be a good leader of the Bend and I am no longer happy to remain as a second." It was out there now, for better or worse Oak Tree Bend was facing the possibility of change.

 

(This post was last modified: Dec 21, 2016, 05:18 AM by Aponi.)

No worries. Unless Serach is directly addressed or needed, feel free to skip him.

The day had started like any other, but was going to end like no other had before it. Aponi had been silent on the matter of challenging Spieden for a while now, so a part of him had assumed she had simply decided to wait until spring like her original plan and hold tight through the winter. He had been surprised when she had told him that she not only did not plan to wait, but she was going to attempt her challenge today. True to his promise, he had accompanied her and was ready to support her however he could, even if he was not allowed to take part. It seemed to be enough though to simply stand by her side and nuzzle her ear to reassure her of his support. "It's going to be fine," he told her as they waited for Spieden to join them.

His co-leader did not keep them waiting long, and a part of Serach felt anguish in knowing what was about to happen. He had a great respect for the woman who had stepped up to help lead her new family a few years ago, and he had since learned just how thankless of a job it was. But he had not forgotten Lena's exclamation, "She said she leads Oak Tree Bend. She said there weren't any Donata wolves in her pack. I was gonna give up." and he knew in his gut that their partnership would not recover from that. He had been far too distracted by the arrival of Lena and Ice - and too much of a coward - to say anything, but he hoped that Spieden would understand at least some of the reason he stood at Aponi's side now.

But this was not his fight, and as Aponi offered her challenge, the male lead stepped off to the side. He was not impartial to the outcome, but he was not a participant. Short of the two females injuring themselves, he would not step in to interfere.

watchers welcome, but you will be skipped to keep it going :)

Once Spieden heard what it was Aponi had called her out here for, she almost wished it was another bear instead. That was a straightforward physical threat, one which she knew what to do against and could act immediately. This was something else entirely, she nearly couldn't believe it, wondering if she was dreaming. But the cold snow beneath her paws was all too real. Obviously Spieden had grown too comfortable with the status quo.

Spieden looked at Serach, almost accusingly. Had he put Aponi up to this? Something akin to anger flared up inside her. That Aponi might come up to her with this of her own volition was one thing, but to see him standing at her side, in silent but honest support, only confirmed her suspicions. There was no point in asking, for what answer would she receive? Not one she could trust. Serach doubtlessly had more support, his father and niece behind him, and the foundations of the pack's history at his paws. Now Aponi, and who knew who else at this point. And surely in spring, his own heirs.

To think she had trusted the woman. Spieden could clearly see now her mother's folly, and still she made the same mistake. Aponi’s words were even and measured, inviting discussion, but Spieden had nothing to discuss. There was no way she could just hand the position over, not for her sake, but her children's. The pack would go to the Donatas. Aponi, still young in years would be unlikely to step aside for Sahalie, and Marina and Mako’s future would be uncertain. She was silent for a while, stuck between the wise choice and the pull of her swiftly beating heart. Even if she remained leader, she couldn't be sure the pack stood behind her anymore. She knew how well that ended, the grissly image of her father's torn throat flashing through her mind. She felt sick. Maybe there wasn't a future here for her at all, but she would be damned if she would roll over and take it.

Her head sunk, baleful fiery eyes cast onto Aponi’s icy blue. Russet fur rippled up along her spine as her tail bristled straight upwards. She wasn't good with words, but there was no need for them anyways. Her grey lips lifted, a growl rumbling out through clenched yellow fangs.

Aponi has not made the first move, rather has fallen into a defensive position should Spieden strike, feel free to start a dice fight request Kydnt :)

The nuzzle against her ear caused her heart beat to speed, something that Aponi dismissed as nothing other than anticipation for what was to come. This was not the time to begin exploring her relationship with Serach, which as it rested was just as good friends though she wondered sometimes at what could it be. Once again the silver woman shoved the thought from her mind as she had waited until the current alpha had appeared.


So this wasn’t going to go as well as she had hoped that it would. Instead of being a discussion as Serach had pondered that it might the grey woman had looked offended and had offered no words. Instead the expression twisted into rage and a snarl broke the silence that had fallen over the trio. Instinct took over as Aponi dipped her muzzle down to protect her neck, but the tail remained high above her back so the gesture could not be mistaken as that of submission. This time there would be no submittal.


Lip curled in warning that should this become physical Aponi would not give up, she was younger and faster and possibly had more experience at this. Instead of striking however she held her position, ”Spieden this is no threat to anything other than your rank, Serach told me you did not challenge for or even want leadership. I however, do.” Despite the situation her voice was held even, she did not disrespect the current alpha, she just could not hold herself lower any longer.

Sahalie had recently crossed the interwoven scents of Serach and Aponi as she wandered the borders and thought little of it. She was glad that Serach seemed to have a friend and was taking well to his new role and all the duties it had entailed. The man had always struck her as very lonely: not speaking much at meetings, sitting by himself, and without many connections. Now he had his father, a niece, and a friend in Kyna's mother. How strange that so many wonderful things could happen seemingly all at once for Serach, the girl thought, not realizing that her paws were now following along the path they had taken, yet she could not feel anything else besides relief that the world worked in mysterious, hopeful ways. Even more mysterious, though, was Aponi's call for Spieden that rose from less than a mile ahead of her. Her dark ears twitched.

She pressed onward.

The dark girl arrived at the scene at nearly the same time as her former caretaker. Sahalie had tried desperately to rid herself of her childish, eavesdropping habits but found herself frozen behind a broad tree and a tangle of underbrush. The call had not forbidden anyone else from coming, but she had certainly not been invited. One paw dangled in the air; the girl considered turning away and leaving, but a single phrase from Kyna's mothers lips paralyzed her like a bolt of lightning. What? Sahalie was afraid to peek her head out any further around the tree so she could barely make out Spieden's face. There was a long silence before she heard the growl.

Nothing made any sense. She had to remind herself to breath and to start at the beginning to make sense of things. Months ago she had told Kyna that everyone had a right to be happy. But why was Aponi unhappy with second? There was nothing wrong with not leading. Sahalie had never known Aponi to be the ambitious or dominant, though Sahalie realized now that she had neglected Aponi's rise over Naira for the sign that it had been. Sahalie had promised to herself a long time ago that she herself would be a leader one day, and in no world could she imagine herself settling. This was how Aponi felt, she told herself.

But why didn't that make her feel better?

Spieden didn't say anything, which left the floor open for Aponi. There were no hard feelings—that was okay, the girl thought uncertainly. Her lower lip was beginning to hurt as she kneaded it between her teeth. There had never been much of a cause to think about how Spieden rose to power. Sahalie had never considered the fact that it had coincided with Nayeli. She had never asked, she had never cared. Spieden was her rock. The males could squabble and vanish and injure themselves, but the burly dark lady had always been there and that had been the biggest comfort. Surely Spieden wanted it now. Didn't that account for something? How could Serach just watch by Aponi's side?

There was a bad taste in her mouth.

While Aponi attempted to assure her that this was all fine, nothing was at risk, Spieden couldn't believe her. Whatever words Serach had fed her, she didn't care to hear. "Is that what he told you?!" She spat, her teeth audibly clacking. When had Serach asked her opinion of leading? True, leadership wasn't something she had wanted, nor something she'd sought. Indeed, her greatest aspirations as a child were becoming a hunteress, just like her role model. But here, and now, it was a means to an end for her family's sake. If leading kept them safe and healthy, that was what she would do. Never had it been about her wants. And after all this, whatever was said and done, she couldn't bow beneath Aponi. 

She couldn't listen to any more of these lies, and talking would get them nowhere. Their goals were incompatible. Another growl ground from her throat in her final warning. Spieden lunged forward, holding nothing back as her paws flew over the snow, kicking up loose powder. She barreled towards Aponi, the full mass of her one hundred and fifty pounds crashing into the slightly smaller female. Their limbs tangled as her bared teeth sought the soft skin along the side of the ashen female's face, sinking into her cheek and pulling with more force than necessary. Blood flooded over her tongue, distantly realizing this was the point of no return.

(This post was last modified: Dec 22, 2016, 01:52 AM by Spieden.)

Having kept to himself since joining the pack, Dread felt his curiosity dounle when he heard some commotion happening nearby during his patrol. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he creeped toward the noise, only to find the woman who accepted him into the pack in the midst of a fight with a younger woman. It appeared to be nothing more then a rank challenge, or so he hoped from the reaction of the only other visible wolf that was in the area. The howl he heard earlier backed this up and while it had piqued his curiosity, he felt no need to act quickly on it since it wasn't calling for him. He was content to stand on the sidelines, like the other male, and simply watch the two women duke it out. If it was an actual fight, he'd imagine there would be three wolves in the fray and a lot more blood and fur flying.

So Dread followed the other male's example and lurked at the edges of the fight, standing in the shadows, not anouncing himself and just watching and observing carefully. It was easy to think this was a long time coming anyway, if the careful howl from before had been any sort of indication.

And who was he to stop a fight? This sort of thing was entertainment to him and he hadn't even had to do anything!