the world at large

Random Event: The snow is falling in thick, fluffy flakes! It carpets the area around you, making the world feel quiet and cozy. On a day like today it might be nice to curl up with someone special...
All welcome! <3
backdated to 12/20/21!

Shadows had started stretching across the snowscape as the sun began its descent, rays filtering through long-dead branches. The snow itself turns shades of yellow and pink, mimicking the sky above—a scenic moment, enough to stop Moore for the time being and watch the world go by. Laying in a small dugout spot in the snow, intense eyes relax for once, focusing on the willow branches as they sway in the breeze. Light catching and defusing the crystalline ice makes the world sparkle and gleam. It's quiet and peaceful, but the sun doesn't last nearly long enough before clouds start to roll in once more.

His gaze switches from the willows when movement from above catches his attention. Ears twitch as Moore raises his massive skull to look up, only to follow a snowflake's trail as it falls gently to the ground nearby. More follow suit, and the air is thick with fluffy flakes before long. It accumulates quickly on the ground, leaving the wolf surrounded by a layer of light snow on all sides.

As much as he'd enjoy sitting and watching, the feeling of restlessness and hunger crept on him. He'd have to find a carcass later, but for now, the scuffle of tiny paws under the snow is enough to make him rise to his paws. Mousing wasn't hard, and while it wouldn't fill him, a quick bite to eat never hurt anybody. As soon as the idea had entered his mind, he was pouncing back and forth, attempting to grab the rodents that had hidden themselves nearby. Lifting his head after shoving almost the entirety of it under the snow, he feels a memory bubble at the back of his mind, of a late snowstorm when he had stayed longer with his family when his parents had more pups. He remembers the way they watched the snow with wonder, playing and rolling around, causing a stir, and he remembers curling up with them after they had begun to get cold.

It makes his heart ache a little. The feel of being surrounded by family and loved ones, watching and playing in the snow. How he wished they were here, he thinks to himself as he watches the snow continue to pile up. After a beat of silence, he begins bounding through the snow, kicking it up as he bounces around with similar glee to a yearling seeing snow for the first time. Playing. Running in circles, tail wagging, truly letting himself get lost in the fun of it.

(This post was last modified: Jan 10, 2022, 01:02 AM by Moore. Edit Reason: backdating )

Scully was feeling much better, whatever bug had ailed him long gone. No longer den-bound, he was out and about once more, perusing the lands that had once been undeniably his. Now they were desolate, save for him and his sister. It was jarring, wrong. Childhood memories collided with a stark present every step he took.

They needed to bring life back to this place, desperately.

The still of the frozen willows began to ebb, something tugging at his ears in the distance. He followed his senses, the sounds growing more distinct with each stride. Another wolf? Scully picked up his pace. It wasn't Avella, and for once that was a good thing - he could sense his siblings frustration with not having found a single wolf to form a pack with, and he wanted to ease the struggle for her.

When he caught sight of the guy, however, all pretenses of business were abandoned. The stranger was large-framed and thickly built, with striking amber eyes. Infatuation was nearly an instant response, and Scully did not hesitate to bolt forward, joining the unknown man in his frolicking.

His tail wagged high above his back and he yipped amicably, bounding from drift to drift with excitement.

Almost lost entirely in the fun and flurry of snow being kicked up by his pouncing, Moore nearly didn’t notice the stranger running over. Freezing for a moment, standing stock-still and on the ready for a potential threat, he quickly resumes when the other begins bounding between the snowdrifts. Prancing excitedly after the stranger, careful not to run into or trip over him accidentally during the play, he yips back.

Bouncing away, he drops down to his front legs in a bow, his own tail wagging excitedly—an invitation to play. The feelings of loneliness melted away; he’d rather have the company of a friendly stranger than the silence that had started feeling a little too overbearing earlier.

Moore was content to run through the snow, up until he started to feel tiredness creeping up his paws, causing him to slow to a stop. Tail still wagging, albeit lazily now, and a grin on his muzzle, he turns to look at the newcomer, making himself appear as amiable as he can.

"Hang on, give me a sec, my paws're killing me." He huffs, the exhale turning visible in the cold air.

Scully was thrilled to be promptly welcomed, the mirth ever evident by the toothy, lopsided grin that monopolized his features. Amicable growls and snips were dared, his own method of play particularly physical. Still, when the other wolf slowed, he mirrored, not wanting to over step with this one. It didn't happen often, but in this moment the Archer actually cared whether or not he scared off his company.

His own breaths came out audible as well as visible, chest rising and falling exaggeratedly in an attempt to catch up. Ears lifted to catch the man's words, and a soft chuckle followed.

"Okay, old man," he teased gently, settling onto his hindquarters before throwing a wink and continuing, "got a den nearby if you need a nap too."

Or massage, he managed to add only in his head.

“Okay, old man,”

He couldn’t help but bark out a laugh, deep from his chest—a genuine one. Even if it had been a jest, it wasn’t the first time he had been called old. It likely wouldn’t be the last.

“Watch it,” Moore lifted a massive paw and playfully shoved the man’s shoulder lightly, careful not to put too much ‘oomph’ behind it. He’d been scolded enough times in his life about knowing his own strength and not overstepping others’ boundaries. “I’m not that old.” There was no bite or aggression behind the words; his tail continued to thump softly against the frozen ground, the motion sending dustings of snow into the air that quickly dissipated.

Upon hearing that the stranger had a den nearby, rounded ears immediately perked up and forward with interest. If the stranger were from around here, he’d be the first local Moore would have encountered. Curious, though. There was no pack smell on him, no markers or borders in the area, at least not any that he’d noticed.

“You live here?” he mimicked the motion of the other, sitting back on his haunches. There’d be no apology if he had stumbled upon someones’ home; he felt it’d be unneeded given the way the man ran up and joined him in his frolicking. If a line had been overstepped, he’d be sure by now. "You must be very thankful for that, this place is great!"

Scully's metallic eyes sparkled as his grin grew beneath, encouraged by the stranger's cheer. He certainly couldn't help the bout of butterflies that erupted inside at the convivial punch, his sooty tail thumping the ground happily behind him. The guy even went on to praise his home amongst the willows, the greatest pride of Lorian Archers for generations. What more could he ask for?

"Born and raised," he answered with an upward tilt of his chin.

"When I was a kid, the pack got run off by 'yotes. I'm here to take it back, though. Name's Scully Archer. What about you?"

He left the question open, giving the other man freedom to give as little or as much information as he wanted.

As the stranger- as Scully, spoke, Moore couldn't help but lean forward on coal-colored paws in great interest. A quick look at the giant wolf, and one would be able to tell he was entirely rapt with the conversation at hand. Maybe he was nosey, but the more the smaller wolf said, the more questions bubbled forward in his mind. Born and raised? Take the area back? There was a quick shuffle on his paws, orange gaze focused on the man.

"Y'can call me Moore. Moore Bailey. It's good to meet you, Scully," A wide and lopsided grin cracked across his features, the smile even reaching his eyes, causing them to squint. "Coyotes, huh? Must have been pretty bad to run 'em all off."

His natal pack had problems with coyotes and their caches, but their numbers never quite threatened his family or his family's territory. The first thought that flicked through his mind was the sheer number; it must have been terrifying to be run from one's home.

"Takin' in back? By yourself?" The question wasn't incredulous; if anything, there was an impressed glint to his eyes at Scullys' guts. He could appreciate when someone was willing to take the initiative, especially when it was their original home that had been compromised and lost.

Must have been pretty bad, Moore said, and the memories battered Scully internally. How they just kept coming, to the point the pack at large could not even find peace enough to sleep. Family members coming home bitten and bloodied. His own father, so close to choosing land over his own mate and children. He beat the vivid flashes back, locked them away again - Scully was a wolf who'd rather pretend everything had always been fine rather than acknowledge how impacted he really could be.

So he just shrugged his shoulders in response, and focused on the other questions. That he had captured the handsome vagabond's interest was more than enough of a distractor.

"Just me and my sister," he replied, swinging his muzzle toward where the Ridge, and thus likely @Avella, resided.

"We're workin' on the main densite and building up caches - wanna have something to offer, you know?"

The truth was they just hadn't found anyone else, but he wasn't about to admit that.

The cocoa-furred wolf swung his own head to the side, in the direction Scully pointed with his muzzle. Moores’ gaze remained fixed in that direction for a moment, before returning his attention to the other man. Just him and his sister? The impressed gleam in deep eyes remained as he regarded Scully. Still quite the feat.

“You n’ your sister must have your paws full, then. Can’t imagine it’s been easy…” He mused, moreso to himself than anything, gaze wandering once more. How long had the two of them been alone? Surely there had been other packs that could take them in if they asked, but… He understood the importance of homeland, and especially the importance of making one’s family proud.

“Something to offer? You lookin’ for pack recruits...?” Amber eyes squinted faintly; a brief ponder at which direction to take the conversation. He’d known @Hagar had been looking for groups; while this wasn’t quite a pack on their own, it’d be something to bring up later when he saw his companion, perhaps.

Charcoal ears perked up as an idea popped into his mind. Moore dipped his head slightly to match eye level to Scully. “Say! How would y’feel about maybe showin’ me around? You must know the area real well, the place belongin' to your family and all!” A little flattery never hurt anybody, either. And knowing the area a little better wouldn't hurt, either.

In this instance, 'easy' was a subjective word to Scully. Yeah, it wasn't as effortless as living with a whole mess of others, that was for sure, but this was a more natural way to live for the masked man. Even while visiting family, it had been just him and sister against the world for so long that by now they had living alone-but-together down to an art. He'd have been perfectly happy continuing it, not finding the lifestyle difficult one bit, but @Avella's heart was tethered to here and his could not stay warm without her's to show it how.

Moore could think that, though, if it made him look any better.

His ears perked at the faded question, misreading its purpose. Scully would be over the moon if he could bring the wolf before him home, but something told him not to jump the gun with this one. He let the other keep talking without interruption, and his tail began to wag once again as he asked for a tour.

"You got it good-lookin'," he answered with an impish grin, motioning with his head for Moore to follow him.

"What would you like to see first? There's the main site, the river bank, the treeden, the pit where we feed monthly sacrifices to a cursed Old God..."