Stonewatch Timbers Still Some Hope Left

OOC: @Raela. Let's do this! c:

After much traveling, Moraxia found herself at the start of what seemed to be peak after peak cluttered with dense forest. When the sun was not hiding behind the clouds its rays of warmth would glisten through the thick branches above her, the wolf’s bristling coat shining as she walked. Her clumsy feet often times tripped her up on her ascent of the first peak, her unfamiliarity of the area causing her to lose her balance and stumble occasionally over small rocks and patches of dirt. She cursed herself over and over again for being the rather large wolf that she was; unable to quietly navigate her way through a forest or up a mountain, in case of unseen threats. Coupled with the already physical trials of not falling down, the wolf’s abundant pelt trapped her warmth to the point of discomfort and sent her into a slight fit of panting and heaving that led to frequent stops to recuperate and relax. During these pauses, she would glance upwards to check her progress and hope deep inside to catch a glimpse of something, or someone moving, but was unsuccessful each time.   Loneliness continued to eat away at her mind, and Moraxia slowly began to convince herself she would be out here alone forever. It was like sawing a rope with a blade each time she delved deeper, strand by strand of sanity falling away, forgotten and useless. Knives of regret and sorrow dug into her chest in a relentless attempt to stab at her heart. Tears that would well in her eyes and slowly slide down her cheeks only to fall with a ‘tick’ into the dirt reminded her of her journey ahead, and she would gradually pull herself back out of her black hole of thought. Then, she would get up unpleasantly from her resting position and advance up the slope. Onward she pressed, her large and intimidating frame lumbering up the hillside. After a few more moments of awkwardly navigating upwards, Moraxia found herself on a small ledge that looked out across the land. In the center of the multiple hills was a small mountain, nestled tightly in-between. Her beautiful chocolate eyes scanned all that she could see, searching for a sign of life in the dense forest. Her eyes settling on what seemed to be a perfectly circular boulder, a loud sigh erupted from her mouth. As she took in a deep breath to replace the lack of oxygen, the thought of all she had done and the distance she had traveled began to weigh heavy on her shoulders. She had smelled the faint scent of an unknown origin in the wind. The amber-backed wolf collapsed into the dirt and dust beneath her, sheltering her muzzle between her uncommonly large paws, and let the tears silently roll down her face, deciding this to be the last time she paused on her journey. Image © Ami B./Dawnthieves Manipulation © Miss Freeman

(This post was last modified: Aug 05, 2015, 08:46 PM by Moraxia.)

What on earth was she doing? Stepping out of pack lands was something Raela had made a point not to do since her encounter with Gent's wonderful family member. Even when she did, it was scarcely by herself.Well this time, this time it was for good reason. The lithe little female had been tailing a small family group of deer; the very same that had been hanging about the pack's territory for some weeks now. The foolish creatures hadn't thought to wander this far from the Crest until just recently; when the wolves had finally decided to take one of them. Raela had assumed it as her duty to track the group, and the others seemed just fine with this. Thus, when the animals meandered off toward the other hills, it was necessary to follow them.  She was only here to track their movements for a short time before it would become both safer and smarter to return to the territory. If nothing else it was nice to be near the creatures; any approaching wolf or other predator would surely set them off and give her enough time to flee. With an eye trained on the slow moving ungulates, Raela navigated to higher ground. It was then that her hair stood on end. The distant thump gave her pause; freezing the Crest wolf in her tracks. Swiftly her ears rotated to pin down the source. She'd only a rough idea of the direction, but chose to move forward anyway. The agouti girl tracked along the hillside with carefully placed steps. Being heard was the last thing she needed.  Irritatingly, it seemed the wind didn't want to cooperate with this mission of hers. It blew the pack wolf's scent right toward her target. Knowing that it was unlikely for her to go unnoticed much longer, the woman came to a halt; scanning the foliage for her target. At first all she could make out were the layers of leaves and the trunks of trees that covered the timbers and her home. A quiet moment passed before her eyes found some shape to linger on. Raela thought nothing of it until she studied it further. Some distance below her and off to the side, a patch of wolf fur was barely visible between two trees. The confirmation of her fears sent a chill up the wolf's spine, and she seriously considered bolting. Hesitation held the female in place while her eyes fixated on the distant stranger.  That thump she'd heard... were they injured? Ill? Either way it was better to keep her distance. A minute ticked on before The lighter wolf thought to do anything about this situation. It seemed that they were alone... so... There was no harm in letting the other know where she was. The distance between them would give her plenty of time to book it if need be. Squinting warily at the shape, Raela forced her jaws apart. A soft bark leapt into the air between them in greeting. The nervous pack wolf remained rooted to the spot, ears pricked forward with attention for the first sign of danger. Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra

            

There is a family of deer nearby. Hunt Opportunity

Moraxia felt like an eternity had gone by from the moment she had collapsed down onto the ledge. Birds chirped overhead as she regained her composure, offering a small bit of comfort to the distraught wolf. She took one last sigh of relief as the wind lightly whispered by her. A gasp escaped her lips. ‘A… a wolf? Wait… multiple wolves? A pack?!?! No, it can’t be!’ Her mind began to race at the possibilities of what could be around her, or even worse, what could be watching her. Had someone followed her up the hill, perhaps? Had she unknowingly wandered too close to an unfriendly pack’s territory? It wouldn’t be hard to track her, she thought, because of how clumsily she had stumbled up the hillside. She’d never fought against a stranger before, the thought had never even crossed her mind until this very moment. She scanned the trees below her quickly and frantically, tensing her body in case of an unexpected attacker. Her tail bristled out behind her, and her ears perked frantically to catch all noise. During her panic, she had not heard the female creep up behind her, overlooking of the ledge Moraxia was resting on. A soft bark broke the natural silence on the hillside, making the bronze colored wolf dig her claws into the earth as the rest of her body flew upwards to stand at attention. She had paid close attention to the direction of the noise, and now excitedly looked above her. There, a good length away from her, she spotted a light brown blob, hidden between two trees. Unsure of what she was looking at, she made a move to lean closer and readjusted her focus. Still unable to determine if this was who had barked at her, she let out a small ‘woof’ in return. She kept her tail straight out behind her and her head bowed, slowly wagging in an attempt to show friendliness if someone was really watching her. “H-hello? Is someone there?” Image © Ami B./Dawnthieves Manipulation © Miss Freeman

OOC: Just gotta say, @Spirit of Wildwood , that was the best timing ever. -applause- 

The broken silence now felt even more dangerous than the tension before it. At once the patch of fur rose; revealing the beginning of a leg. The shape was quickly replaced as the wolf turned. Instinct begged the woman to hide, to retreat, to shrink away to nothing so as not to be harmed. She hadn't been spotted yet. Maybe... A masked face appeared between the foliage. Raela was too far away to easily make out the eyes but she was all too sure they were upon her now.  Her stomach turned with the thickening air as each party struggled to be sure of the other. Even now it was plain that the darker one outmatched her in size. Just how much was yet to be seen. Any moment now the stranger could bolt for her. It could have dragged on forever this way, but the loner was bold enough to return her greeting. The sound was equally soft if not moreso, and offered the pack wolf at least some respite. Still, there was plenty of room for polysemy in such a standard salutation; enough to keep her alert. Still standing at attention, the woman's ruddy ears drank in every syllable before she even knew what was happening. Why, she sounded nervous too! It was a good sign, at least. The agouti girl's fur settled along her spine; relief pooling in her chest. Perhaps this encounter would not go as poorly as her frightened mind first thought. Another moment had passed before Raela knew how to respond. “Hi.” The word was a bit forced so it could reach the strange wolf among the trees. Her caution was still obvious in the tone. “Sorry, I just wanted to see if you were alright.” Raela actually continued to wonder about this. She had no desire to draw any nearer to the dark female just in case she wasn't. There was no good in bringing a disease back to the pack. Instead, the Crest woman swallowed her fear and stepped slowly into a gap in the timbers. There was no need for hiding now, it would seem. She only hoped this wanderer was feeling equally friendly.  Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra

(This post was last modified: Aug 07, 2015, 04:47 PM by Raela.)

            

Moraxia was almost positive the unmoving figure-shaped blob was not a natural part of the foliage.  ’What a lovely coat…’ she thought, scanning the wolf’s face for any trace of malignant intent. Her brown eyes blinked with curiosity. “Hi.” The sound of the wolf’s soft voice almost made her jump, as she had begun to grow accustomed to the silence between them. Her ears swiveled to catch the sound, head tipping slightly to the side. “Sorry, I just wanted to see if you were alright.” The dark wolf fixated her eyes at the female, her tail slowing it’s persistent motion as the other wolf took a step to reveal herself further. Knowing the wolf could very well see her expression, Moraxia attempted to wash away any trace of atrabilious emotions. Amazement rushed over the amber wolf, her gaze unmoving. She hadn’t seen another wolf in forever, much less a friendly one. She stood there for a while, observing, analyzing the situation. Realizing how much time had passed, she quickly hurried to respond, tripping over her words. “He-hey! ”  She barked happily. “Y-yeah, I’m good. ”  She hung her head a little, smiling to herself, her eyes darting to the ground. Darn her carelessness, she thought. Taking a deep breath in, she decided to take a step backward in her bold approach to friendship. “Sorry, you caught me off guard. You’re the first I’ve met in this land, although I’m still unfamiliar with it.” Her normal personality began showing itself again, her shoulders relaxing along with the rest of her body in an attempt to look comfortable. She regained her confidence, and standing up tall asked “Are you from around here? Are there… others?” She kept her composure, though the thought of a pack made her heart skip a beat. Graciously hanging on the wolf’s reply, Moraxia matched the females gaze. Image © Ami B./Dawnthieves Manipulation © Miss Freeman

Time seemed to drag on further and further as the stranger attempted to study her form. Still, Raela felt no cause for concern; yet. She found herself sizing up the other female as well. She's huge! Gent was surely a monster wolf, but this woman was very nearly his size! At least if she did run, this bulky female would have some real trouble keeping up. As the wolf's voice made its way up the slope, however, Raela began to think less and less about fleeing. This one seemed as unsure as she, and even a bit friendly at that! Interestingly enough, she hadn't scented the borders yet. While relieved that the amiable loner was alright, she still felt nervous about drawing nearer. Perhaps it was the sting of Vitani's attack ringing in her torn ear as she stared down at this rouge.  Either way, she steeled her nerves enough to begin walking forward. It was a slow, cautious pace, and her eyes never left the chocolate-browns of the other. “I am actually,” came her pleasant response. “And I didn't mean to startle you. I was following a group of deer when I sensed your presence.” Her head turned off in the direction she'd come, as if to indicate where the ungulates could be found. It was no trouble to have parted from the group for now. They weren't exactly running. Raela came to a stop, still a safe distance away but close enough to converse comfortably. The mention of her home flowed naturally after. “I'm from Round Stone Crest; its a pack up on the larger hill over there.” Again the subordinate's eyes led the way for the loner's curiosity. Now remembering her encounter with Urien, the paler girl's golden eyes settled squarely on her new company. It was worth asking.  “Are you looking for a pack?” Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra

            

Moraxia began to feel nervous subject to the other female's judgmental eyes, still worrying of possible treachery. When the wolves locked eyes with each other, and the female began to move forward, she felt a sudden urge to attempt to look as strong and large as possible. This wolf would perhaps be an easy fight based on her size, but the young brown canine still had no indication of her skills, though the savage mark on the wolf's right ear was enough of a sign to let Moraxia know to keep her distance. “I am actually,” The words sent a sharp chill down her spine. “And I didn't mean to startle you. I was following a group of deer when I sensed your presence.” The thought was calming to her, reassuring her first instinct to put trust into this woman that now stood before her. “I'm from Round Stone Crest; it’s a pack up on the larger hill over there.” The female's words faded in her mind as she fixated her thoughts on that word: pack. 'There are more of them.' she thought, her eyes drifting for a moment to the clouds. 'More wolves, a family even...' She was soon reunited with reality as she met the wolf's now slightly intimidating stare. Her ears perked forward curiously, making sure to take in every word spoken to her. “Are you looking for a pack?” Moraxia's mind raced and her emotions danced hand-in-hand with her facial expressions. She must have gone through every thought- from fear, to excitement, to nervousness and back again. "Yes! Yes!" She began to burble out, her eyes glowing with a new found hope. The amber wolf's tail glided back and forth excitedly, and she let a goofily happy expression come over her before her stare returned to one of thoughtfulness. What if the pack was not so fond of her? Where would she go then? The wolf didn't know if she could face rejection at this point in time, and rethought her seemingly desperate first approach. "I mean- I would be honored to meet your pack mates." Her eyes narrowed to the floor and she took a more submissive stance before relocking her eyes with the female. "But I must ask first: what are they like? You seem kind enough yourself, but is there anything I should worry about?" Moraxia was brimming with confidence and ambition, letting a small smile slip through her endless gaze to reassure the woman she was still excited by the opportunity. Image © Ami B./Dawnthieves Manipulation © Miss Freeman

She could feel the other woman's anxiety as she came closer; but it was only natural. Not all loners were going to jump at her feet like Urien. This was probably the most normal one she'd encountered yet. However, the nervous facade crumbled at the end of Raela's last inquiry. The woman's excited babble reminded her quite a bit of the children, and a smile began creeping onto her face. Her own tail began wagging to match, slowing only when the rogue's exuberance dimmed. Her smile endured, however; charmed by the young wolf's sudden display of happiness. She listened patiently to the elaboration, choosing instead to focus her eyes on the girl's maw. There was little reason to keep staring her down now.  Raela offered a few slow wags as the larger wolf's stance lowered. Yes, there was no more need to worry now. A chuckle slipped past closed teeth at the compliment, and she turned her head in thought. It was a fair question, after all. “They're nice wolves. They've taken in quite a few loners that were starving over the past year, including myself.” Her grin widened with the admission. It was almost humorous now; the position she was in. “If you pledge your loyalty there's not much reason for them to reject you,” she trailed off, remembering Minka's rejection of the loner Chemical and added to her statement, “but they don't want temporary members.” Better clear it up now before it becomes an issue.  She turned to look toward the large hill with a new proposition on her tongue. “If you want to join, bringing a gift would really help your chances; if you can afford to, that is.” The pack wolf's voice remained pleasant. Having a wolf of that size in the pack wouldn't hurt at all – especially if she can guard. Already she was mulling over how to shift this newcomer into the group, if she was accepted.  Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra

            

Moraxia tilted her head back and forth, listening to the wolf talk. She found herself appreciating the females attempt to avert her eyes to a less threatening position, easing the amber wolf’s nerves. She returned to a more relaxed stance, her large body returning to its intimidating yet comfortable frame. ”They're nice wolves. They've taken in quite a few loners that were starving over the past year, including myself.” Moraxia studied the woman’s face, finding herself contemplating this canine’s past. She didn’t look unhealthy or diseased, and was seemingly well-fed and void of any scars aside from the cut into her ear. They must be taking good care of everyone in the pack,’ She thought, accepting the female’s just tone. ‘I hope they are willing to welcome new members.’ “If you pledge your loyalty there's not much reason for them to reject you, but they don't want temporary members.” Moraxia noticed the small moment of hesitation during the woman’s sentence, but held her tongue. She had been honest and friendly toward the wolf so far, and had no intention of prying so soon. Moraxia had always thought of herself as an approachable friend once you got to know her, even though her quiet and uninterested attitude towards most things made strangers think twice. She would wait for the information to come to her, as it almost always did, one way or another. The wolf’s eyes shifted to a large almost mountain-like hill in the center of the grouping of the smaller hills. Moraxia followed her gaze; feeling relaxed enough to remove her eyes from the woman. “If you want to join, bringing a gift would really help your chances; if you can afford to, that is.” ‘A gift?’ She thought for a moment before returning her eyes to the strangers. In an excited attempt to festinate a possible friendship, she spiritedly asked “What can I call you?” Her tail began to wag as a smile escaped her lips. “I’m Moraxia.” Hearing her own name out-loud had become a distant memory for her. “I’d be willing to do anything I can if you or your pack needs assistance, although I can’t say that I currently have anything worthwhile to give. My hunting skills are sloppy at best.” She smiled sheepishly, rolling her eyes. “What would you suggest?” Image © Ami B./Dawnthieves Manipulation © Miss Freeman