Sex: MaleEach step made the wound on the back of Indru's shoulders throb with pain, the damage that Ruiko had unintentionally caused with his teeth a now constant reminder of the recent events, as if he needed one. Adrenaline caused the Tainn's fur to bristle and stand on end and try as he might he could not soothe himself enough to calm down, his movements sharp and aggressive as he prowled through the Grove back towards the pack's centre. His pack again. The fresh scent of Corinna was heightened in his agitated state and Indru followed it with ease, powerful limbs carrying him forward without effort as he raced to find her, eager to check that she was settling in her new home and just eager to see the female he had befriended. She had witnessed the start of the challenge (which was, Indru knew, most likely catalysed by her presence) and he knew the instability would be nerve wracking for her, he could reassure her maybe, and seek some reassurance of his own while doing it.
When Indru reached the heart of the pack's territory, the main den that was nearby the swiftly flowing river that gave the pack its namesake, he scented the air carefully again trying to find the grey female.
Corinna?Already, without any difficult transition, Indru had accepted his new role and it was clearly shown his posture once again, the mark of a leader confident on their own land. She was nearby, he knew, and if she was exploring he did not wish to disturb her as it was important she felt at home here. So he stood waiting for her to appear, wincing slightly as the wounds on his scruff throbbed with a vengeance, the pulling from his previous movements of his torn skin now leaving him with a stinging as well. It was an awkward wound, one he could not reach, and he wished again that his sister Niija had not disappeared as quickly as she had arrived. But hopefully Corinna's presence would distract him soon enough and briefly he shut his orange eyes to try and let the adrenaline leave him and let the tension that coated his body like a new skin fall off him.
Gone Tomorrow
The snow was cold her paws, but the gray female kept moving. Around her the trees darted by, and she honestly took little notice of them. Her mind was racing, already second guessing her decision to break her life as a nomad and join up with the Swift River wolves. Packs were supposed to be stable, and she had stumbled onto a sibling rivalry so fierce that it would no doubt shake the pack's foundation. Where did that leave her then? She was the newcomer in this situation - hell, she had been a member of this pack for not even a day. But somehow, her arrival had set off an irreversible chain of events. Not that she knew the outcome yet, though she imagined that would come soon enough. One of the brothers would emerge victorious, one of them had to. There was only one leader in a pack.
Coming to a halt, Cori finally looked around her, taking in her surroundings. The trees all looked the same to her - covered with snow and rather insignificant looking. But other than that, it was white. Everywhere she looked, snow dominated the scenery. Though there was one exception. The tawny colored wolf ahead of her, silhouetted against the trees. Instinctively, Corinna knew who it was, and she moved forward, like a moth towards a flame. Even as she did so, she recognized the sound of his voice. He was calling for her. So at the very least, she had not been forgotten.
Lithe legs carried her forward swiftly, green eyes both welcoming and questioning. What had happened? Who had emerged victorious? Though, as she approached him, Cori took notice of his posture. This was not a defeated Indru. His tail and head were held high, and she noted with some pleasure the ease at which the posture came to him. This was a leader, born and bred. Closing the distance between them, the gray she wolf came up in front of him. Head extended, she burried her muzzle in the fur of his chest, seeking physical comfort. At the very least, he was a stable thing, his large body firmly beneath her touch. Drawing back, she looked up at him. "Indru..." she began, her tone giving away her curiosity. "Where did Ruiko go?" There was no need to ask who won; her leader was clearly defined.
Gray fur came into his view quickly and Indru's tail waved behind him in response, already he felt himself calming in her presence and his fur lowering back down to his skin. It felt natural to stand n the way that marked him a leader, as easy as breathing, and he only now that he could do so freely that he realised why he had felt so out of sorts and agitated before. Returning home, after leading the family beyond Relic Lore, and demoting himself into second had felt unnatural and it was only now that Indru felt like he was in the rightful place and was really home. Green eyes, so rare and different, approached him and she brushed herself up against him unconsciously giving him comfort as she sought it for herself, his new calm almost causing him to miss her question.
He's gone,he answered, his voice almost a whisper as he ducked his muzzle down to rest it on top of her head affectionately, brushing it left and right along it.Corinna had seemed to get on well with Ruiko, the memory of it causing a whirl of uncommon jealousy for his brother in his stomach, and suddenly unsure he pulled away from her slightly, dropping his head to watch her carefully.
Those of the pack that wish to leave with him are free to do so,he explained, the brother's had not left on bad terms and Indru did not wish harm to those loyal to him. Uncertainty was in his normally strong, fiery eyes and he looked quickly away, stretching forward to lick the side of her muzzle, unsure of the impulse and whether it would be wanted but wishing to try and reassure and comfort her anyway.I'll keep you safe,he promised, aware that the immediate change in leadership at her arrival must be unnerving for her and not wanting her to leave.Even if you still want to leave,he whispered suddenly, eyes meeting hers again to show the truth in the statement.
Gone Tomorrow
The subordinate liked the way it felt, to be embraced by another warm being. Not that they were really embracing, but she was very much aware of the weight of his head as it rested on her own. They had both been through a lot today, and she reflected on what all had occurred in a matter of hours. Indru had found her laying in the snow, he had convinced her to come to Swift River, she had been accepted by Ruiko, and now here she was, seeking comfort from Indru who had taken advantage of her acceptance to challenge Ruiko's authority. That last thought was what was unnerving to Cori, and she took a step back, averting her eyes to look off into the snow, mind churning. She wasn't so conceited to believe that it was literally her who had set off the challenge, but rather the fact that Indru had brought her before Ruiko. Really, it could have happened with any new comer that Indru had decided to bring home...it just so happened that the fates had decided it would be her.
His voice registered, breaking through her thoughts, and she looked up, risking for a moment to break the displays of dominance and submission. She met his eyes. Traditionally, for a lower ranked wolf to look into the eyes of their superior would signify a challenge, but the rest of her posture, completely still and relaxed, hardly spoke of a challenge. She simply wanted to look and see if the tone present in his voice was reflected in those fiery orange eyes. And they were. Indru's uncertainty was mirrored in his eyes, and she could see within them the caring that he had for her as a member of his pack. Cori genuinely believed him, that he would protect her even if she decided to leave.
"Don't be silly, Indru," she finally replied, the hint of a smile playing about her black lips. "I met Ruiko before. It took me meeting you...properly...for me to decide to settle down in one place after traveling for months." Cori closed the distance between them again, this time mimicking the action she had done not too long ago to Ruiko. Pink tongue slipped out of her mouth, and she respectfully licked the chin of her new alpha as she had been taught to do when she was growing up. "You're my leader, Indru." And you always will be. Left unsaid, it didn't need to be spoken, he would see it when he looked into her green eyes that she was a loyal companion. Despite the current state of instability, she had faith that things would sort themselves out. They always did.
A handsome grin split his muzzle at her reassurance and reminder of why she had decided to join a pack after such a long time alone and he breathed out softly, relieved. He did not want her to think badly of him and even less for her to side with his brother and he felt a strange, unfamiliar curling of emotions through him. She approached him again and Indru focussed back on the pretty face in front of him again, soon seeing her salmon tongue before feeling her lick his chin in submission and acceptance of his new rank. The words she spoke had a hidden meaning but even the overt one was enough to cause Indru's tail to wave behind him happily and he dipped his muzzle to gently close his strong jaws over her own for a moment before pulling away and, on impulse, licking her muzzle affectionately.
Thank you,he replied earnestly, pleased that if she was at least not angry or disappointed in him that others wouldn't be either.Indru pulled away and walked slowly to her side so that he was facing in the same direction, pushing himself against her side gently so that their fur merged, eager to keep in contact.
You are home now,a smile on his face as he closed his eyes to inhale the land deeply, the familiar and homely scents of his family comforting to him. He could not imagine leaving this place, his home, and especially not his family, ever. From the corner of his eye Indru watched Corinna, matching his breathing to hers by feeling her ribcage move, allowing her to take it all in without the worry she must of had before now that the hierarchy was restored to solidarity again.I am glad you are here,he blurted out suddenly, nudging his shoulder against her own and dropping his head to press his nose quickly to her neck to inhale her fur and the scents on her, she would smell of the Swift River pack, and therefore him, soon.Can you smell my family?They were important to Indru and he wanted her to feel comfortable here so that she would stay and to show that the pack was strong,you can meet them soon.Thought not all of the Tainn's had returned, and now not all of them were of this pack, a fair few were back home yet, unlike before, the pack was not exclusively family and Corinna wouldn't be the first member that was not of the family. Indru wanted to say more, to reassure her to make sure that she didn't wish to leave but did not know how to and instead contented himself to watch her happily as he waited.
Gone Tomorrow
The warmth of his breath sent tingles up her spine as she waited for the light pressure he applied to her muzzle to let up. It was a weird feeling, being able to be physically close to somebody again. Which in the past couple of days, Cori had been exceptionally close to Indru. Every few minutes it seemed, they were touching, seeking reassurance from each others company. She had sought his reassurance at the borders, and now that he had ascended to his throne, she was there to reassure him that he had done what needed to be done. Which was true - after witnessing the tension in the air when Ruiko and Indru were both present, there was no doubt in her mind that eventually they would have had it out. "Home indeed," she agreed, nudging his shoulder with her muzzle. It had been her good fortune to have been invited to join by Indru rather than Ruiko, otherwise she would be bidding this place goodbye.
Her leader's sudden movements brought her out of her reverie, and Cori focused back on him rather than the scenery around them. His muzzle touched her neck; one of the most vulnerable places on her body. But Indru was not there to hurt her. He was merely scenting her. No doubt she smelled like the Blackberry Fields, where he had found her, as well as of pristine alpine trees, the kind that covered Relic Lore. Eventually those scents would fade, but they would be replaced by the scents of Indru and his family. The scents of her new home would replace those that had collected on her throughout her travels. "I'm glad to be here too," she murmured, tail wagging behind her. Craning her neck, she rested her own head on top of his for a moment. Breathing in, she started counting the scents that had been attacking her nose since the moment of her arrival. There were too many though, and she was honestly sure which ones were siblings and which were not. "I can. How many of your family members are here?" Cori asked him, wondering just how many brothers and sisters would make up her new pack mates. No doubt she would feel like an outsider for a while, until they became adjusted to her presence. That was the problem with wolf packs, they were all family based, and accepting newcomers into the fold always resulted in some awkwardness.
Drawing back, the she-wolf grinned mischevously and parted her lips. Sharp teeth tugged playfully on Indru's ear, and the growl that started in her throat echoed her playful nature. Letting go, she took a few steps away from him, skipping backwards. Rear-end rising into the air, she spanked her front paws on the snow. Lips parted wide in a grin, she flipped her ears back so they were flat against her skull. Behind her, gray tail wagged swiftly. Her gesture was clear. Let's play.
The word 'home' fell comfortably from her lips and Indru beamed, his tail waving behind him happily and he turned his face down to watch her when he felt her nudge his shoulder. At the moment she still smelt like a lone wolf; no scents of others clung to her strongly and in particular she did not match the borders yet, her fur still smelt of her own and was not fully mixed with his but he was content in knowing that it was something that would change as she was here, and wanted to be. Her felt the weight of her head on the top of his, lowered as it was to smell her fur, and grumbled under his breath appreciatively, taking comfort from the contact after the events that had unfolded with his brother. They always fought, with varying degrees of intentness and aggression, but always before when they got out of hand they had their mother to soothe their ego's and their father to correct their mistakes. It was a relief to Indru that they had not left on too bad a term at least; discussing their options opposed to snarling about them, it had been a mutual agreement in a way.
Her question roused him from his thoughts and he had to think, pulling away from her head gently in his worry and uncertainty at her question.
There were five of my siblings here,he answered her slowly, no longer regal as he watched his paws, his voice now unsure instead of confident,but I don't know how many will follow Ruiko, they may be angry with me.Family was the most important thing to Indru, more than rank or power, and though it had felt right to lead the pack — as the head of the family — he wasn't sure of his sibling's reactions, especially when they led to Ruiko's departure. It was a thing that was bound to happen, that was normal in wolf packs, for those who wanted to lead but could not to disperse and find their own but not all his siblings may understand. Not when their family had been so recently torn apart.Again she pulled him from his melancholy, a sharp tug on his ear with her teeth and a playful growl that caused his tail to rise proudly again, waving behind him in response to the invitation. She skipped backwards light and quick on her feet and he watched appreciatively, a slow grin curving his mouth handsomely as he dropped down to mirror her. His movements were measured and precise, even in play, a habit he could not break due to the many hours spent making them so, but it was his puppy-like grin and mischievous look that showed his good intentions, even with his often intimidating size. Indru's head flicked forward quickly, a playful bark ringing out, and he leapt towards her with a burst of speed hoping to embrace her with his limbs in a playful tackle.
Gone Tomorrow
It had to be hard, she realized, watching Indru drop his regal head at her question. Cori had not meant to irritate his wound, it had been a purely innocent question. She hadn't gotten so far as to wonder if Ruiko would take some of the family with him, wherever he decided to go. She had just naturally assumed that they would stay here, with Indru. He was the leader after all, and it had been Ruiko's decision to leave. But she stopped herself; she honestly didn't know what the situation was with the Tainns, though the loner she lived among them the more she would learn. "I'm sorry Indru. I think you'll find that the majority of them stay, though. And, if not, then you're still family, no matter what." The gray female had left her family behind as well, and she still considered them family. Distance made things difficult, but one's blood was not theirs to choose.
Grin widened across her pretty features as Indru reacted to her playful gesture. There had been no physical hesitation in her action, but after the fact, she had begun to wonder if he would retaliate in a way that she wanted. The hidden scar on her left shoulder was a testament to how ferocious her alpha could be when he was not in the mood for games. But it seemed that today he was in a playful mood, despite everything else, and while his posture did not lose its self control, he also dropped down. "So the leader knows how to play, does he?" she goaded, her tone playfully sarcastic, gray tail wagging rapidly behind her. It was all in good jest, and his own playful bark as he leaped towards her indicated that he knew her meaning was far from malicious.
Indru's large body sprang towards her, and the female reared up herself. Forelimbs batting the air as if she was a boxer, she felt their bodies collide in the air, their limbs interlocking. They stood there for a moment, and the subordinate wrinkled her brow at Indru in a mock growl. But she couldn't stand up on her hind legs for long (she was a four legged creature for a reason, after all), and Indru's superior weight pushed her to the ground with ease. The tackle knocked her onto her side, Indru's forelimbs pushing down on her shoulder now. Tail wagging, she reached upwards, teeth seeking out the soft skin of the leader's ear. Though this time he was out of reach, and Cori resorted to trying to wiggle out from underneath him, paws kicking the snow earnestly as she futilely attempted to escape. "I think you win. This time." She told him, head falling back in the snow in resignation, the smile on her lips counteracting the seriousness of her tone. This was the company Corinna had been missing, and she was happy to have found it here in Swift River.
Whether they were meant to or not her words comforted him when she tried to reassure him that some of his family would stay, and if not, that they were still family after all. It was true, and he knew it, but Indru still worried over what they thought of him because they were so important to him, especially the pups, Triell, Borlla and the missing Kinis. He nodded at her words, smiling lightly and turned his head to face her, orange eyes trying to catch her rare, pretty green ones. He leaned forward to push his nose against the side of her muzzle in thanks, holding it there before pulling away and smiling at her again, calmed, at least if only temporarily.
She taunted him playfully and he laughed, a wicked grin on his face,
oh yes, of course.His tail waved behind him, his end held in the air by his extended back legs, muscles tense and ready for play.How else do you suppose I helped to raise my younger siblings?Indru laughed again, remembering the many times it had been his job (particularly as a yearling) to watch the newest of their family, helping them grow and learn. His leap was met with her own, the two of them grasping the other with their forelegs, Indru leaning forward to nip at her neck fur affectionately as she growled and the two of them managed to stay upright before his larger size overpowered her and they went toppling down to the floor in a bundle. He was careful to position his weight as they fell, not wanting to crush her, and as she landed on her side and he followed, his forelegs on her shoulder, he tried to steady himself and catch the majority of his weight on his hind legs. He was always cautious and ready, especially after so much practice with puppies.Corinna reached for his ear again but he was sitting tall making them beyond her reach and he looked down at her and grinned when she conceded him the winner, laughing lightly, before he suddenly felt her scrabble to try and escape him, covering him in snow in the process. With a playful growl he leaned down to try and gently grip her muzzle in a mock victorious move to claim himself as the winner, the most dominant, before he licked her muzzle gently, smiling at her.
I'll have mercy on you,he replied softly, lifting his weight off her then and collapsing down beside her, turning to face her with a grin, fiery eyes meeting hers uncharacteristically for a moment before he smirked and flicked his paw hoping to coat her in a thin layer of snow.
Gone Tomorrow
It was the second time in such a short period that she had felt the warm breath of her leader on her muzzle. Indru gripped her muzzle, showing her that once again he had come out on top. Cori didn't mind it so much, there was no shame in being a lower ranked wolf. Not all wolves were born to be leaders; if they were, then the pack system would simply not work. So no, she was more than content to cede defeat. Maybe one day she would actually win a play challenge, but she doubted it. Indru would always be larger than the mottled brown and gray female. Still, the fun came in trying, and she was willing to try so long as she was a part of this pack. "We shall see, Indru, we shall see," she whispered back, gray tail beating happily against the snow.
Light bark escaped from the she-wolf's vocals as he flicked a layer of snow upon her. She immediately rose to her feet and shook her body violently, clearing her winter coat of the white powder. Cori wasn't particularly affected by the snow, but she wasn't a fan of being covered with the stuff. Finished shaking, the she-wolf lowered herself into a play position once more, but this time she leaned backwards, feeling the satisfying stretch in her back as she shifted upwards again. Coming to rest on her slim creme haunches, the subordinate met her leader's gaze. His orange eyes were brilliant, and while orange was a common color among their kind, there was a certain fire behind his that was seemingly lacking in other orange-eyed wolves she had met in her travels. But the she-wolf broke the eye contact after a few moments, knowing full well that to look directly into the eyes of a superior was to challenge their authority. Not that she posed too much of a threat to Indru, but she had ruffled his feathers once and Cori had come out on the losing end of that as well. "Now what, Indru? Is there any basic information I should know about Swift River? A New Joiner Orientation?" She chuckled, though behind the laughter was an intentional question. It had been so long since had been a part of a pack and every pack was different, she didn't want to disappoint her new family.