Sacred Grove So close yet so far

It was a quiet afternoon and even as the sun lurked dangerously close to the horizon whenever Weldering got a chance to see it between the tress it was still a pleasant evening and did not deter him from his usual aimless wanderings. Back and forth he paced across Relic Lore from the Dire Mountain to Cedarwood Forest looking for the best location to set up his own abode. He was still swaying towards the Cedarwood Forest beside the creek yet there was a part of Relic Lore that until now he had well and truly avoid completely and deserved at least a quick look around to keep his restless mind at ease. The brute's large black mitts carrying him over the creek as he waded the shallow waters and away from the Wildwood and into this unfamiliar island of sorts in the centre of the lands.

The main reason why he had not stepped close until now was f course down to Indru and his pack, Swift River. But now his confidence was growing and something he said the other day sparkled the interest for coming here to explore, as he had told Junai they owned Swift River a section of Sacred Grove and not the entire territory. His guard was kept high expecting unfortunately to run into Indru again and get scowled at but this was neutral grounds and he had just as much right to be here as any other loner, just try and prove him wrong!

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Earlier in the day, the immense wolf had prowled the borders of the territory with his brother, marking what was theirs. Satisfied at last, the two had parted ways with a brief farewell, knowing they would meet up with one another later in the day. It was how it usually was. Before leaving Swift River, the large male had visited with Niija and the pups to see how they fared, and when he knew all was well in the land, the dark tawny male had finally trailed outside of marked territory.

There were very few scents that lingered in the Grove; more than likely because lone wolves were uncomfortable drifting so close to the pack’s territory. Ruiko enjoyed it that way. Considering the prospect of paying Honijo an early evening visit, the creamy paws of the large male steadily drove him further from the den while his eyes strayed among the various foliage. Borlla, he had to admit, could be right at times. It was an incredibly dull day.

His demeanour shifted, however, when the scent of a strange filtered through his nose. Pausing mid-step, a light frown drew his brow down, though it quickly disappeared as the dark wolf came in to view only moments later. The rogue was seemingly intent on exploration, and thus far had yet to notice Ruiko’s presence. Bristling lightly just for the reason he was in the vicinity an unknown wolf, the regal male regarded this potential threat through a stoical mask.

A few more seconds past after being discovered by Ruiko before he finally looked up and straight ahead of him spotting the timber pelted male. By now the breeze brought with him the familiar scent of Swift River but even so it was not hard to deduct that he was probably from that pack. Not just because he was not far from the borders but also because you would be hard pressed to find any lone wolves mingling around so close to marked territory with such a dominant stance and regal posture. That did not bother Weldering too much as he took on a more casual and relaxed movement easing closer towards the unknown male.

There was a good side to all of this, at least it was not Indru. At least he was not due for another lecture about Junai. His blackened maw dipping slightly as he approached while his eyes inspected the other spotting similarities to Indru and judging that they were about the same age, littermates perhaps? <b style="color:#0d5b8c; font-family:geogia; font-size:13px">"Hey there." He greeted calmly, the faintest of smiles tracing over his face. <b style="color:#0d5b8c; font-family:geogia; font-size:13px">"I see you are from Swift River, you don't need to worry about your borders. I was just planning on looking around outside." He added just to clear what might seemed like an obvious question out of the way.

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Ruiko was only soothed by the silver and black male’s sudden relaxation in stance, but that did not deter his own regal position. Had he known the male was relieved that the sudden presence was of him and not Indru, he might have tipped his muzzle back in a roaring laugh. Kin and blood brothers, Indru and Ruiko wore almost the same soul.. Indru was more of the logician, however, while Ruiko simply took matters in to his own paws and solved them... Usually by force.

Ruiko tipped his muzzle only slightly at the greeting from the other, though there was no smile that trace don his lips; indifference remained clear within his bright eyes, and the large male gave a light flick of his tail. His eyes rounded over the other briefly as the male spoke, noting that the male was large.. but still a year younger than he. At the mention of ‘worry,’ Ruiko finally allowed a crack of a smile to press upon his tainted lips, his eyes turning critical. “No offense, boy, but a single lone wolf like yourself doesn’t leave one much to be worried about.”

The two might have been peas in the same pod but already Weldering was preferring this male in front of him that he knew nothing about over his brother and pack leader Indru. While at first Weldering was not too fond of the clear putdown for if he wanted to Weldering could prove troublesome especially since he knew their younger sister Borlla was a found wanderer. Who was he trying to kid that even having a single lone wolf stalking around near their borders it was something to watch with young pups around. Yet on the other paw he and thinking more deeply into the words Ruiko retorted with it was what he was hoping for. He did not actually want to be perceived as a threat or a problem but instead able to come and go around Sacred Grove as he pleased. It was amusing how Indru's kin was not worried about him yet Indru was, immensely. All for the sake of Junai mind you.

<b style="color:#0d5b8c; font-family:geogia; font-size:13px">"So what's your name?" He asked, purely to feed his own curiosity and maybe gain another small insight of what their family pack was like. While he had no intentions of joining it that did not mean he would not be nosy and find out what he could on every opportunity. But it was always easier to get a name if you gave your own, Weldering had nothing to hide. <b style="color:#0d5b8c; font-family:geogia; font-size:13px">"My name's Weldering Darksidy, a loner, though you've already worked that out." He smirked waiting to see if this stranger was willing to chat.

(This post was last modified: Aug 06, 2010, 05:35 PM by Weldering.)

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Had he known the male’s thoughts about Borlla, Ruiko would have tested his initial theory that the male would prove to be a lightweight in the end; after all, what suicidal wolf would mess with a puppy? Especially a puppy that belonged to a very protective pack of siblings? His eyes slid over the stranger once more at the quest for his name, his shoulders lifting in an uncaring shrug. He despised these simple ‘meet and greets.’ “Ruiko,” he offered, his tone amicable, though dry.

“There a reason a loner is so intent on exploring lands so close to another pack?” After all, as far as Ruiko was concerned, it was poor practice to set up a den.. or a pack so close to another’s territory. The only benefit of the doubt here was that the dark male was curious as to what the Grove held – which, in the end, was much like any other land one found in Relic Lore. Years ago Ruiko had lost his passion for the beauty of his surroundings.. there were much more important things to focus on. “There’s certainly a lot of lone wolves migrating here lately. Why Relic Lore?”

There was no need for Ruiko to mention his surname for that much was clear to Weldering who knew his family. Though as the topic of conversation was set upon lone wolves in general and the ones frequently visiting Relic Lore it did intrigue Weldering with a number of thoughts and possibilities. Though not before his own presence was first questioned, was it not obvious that he had simply been exploring. It was not as if he had any chores to be doing or time needing to be spent elsewhere - the joys of being a loner. <b style="color:#0d5b8c; font-family:geogia; font-size:13px">"No, no reason. Just looking around." He replied with his usual simple and carefree attitude.

As for the rest of the lone wolves he knew that most of the ones he had come across were new and some even looking for a pack to join like himself. Yet Weldering had never once taken the time to ask why Relic Lore? Why stop and live here rather then anywhere else? It was a question he had not even asked himself yet but now that he had started to wonder a few ideas and speculations came to mind. <b style="color:#0d5b8c; font-family:geogia; font-size:13px">"I've spoken to a few but never found out why they came here, I just wandered here by chance but maybe they came because of the nice scenery. Or perhaps because it is a large forest with few wolves living here thus offering lone wolves a lot of resources... or maybe because there is only one pack here there is still room to set up their own homes." Listing a few ideas briefly. <b style="color:#0d5b8c; font-family:geogia; font-size:13px">"Could be other reasons too but maybe like me they just happened to find this place and after meeting a few others decided to stay."

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The wolf before him clarified he was just looking around, words that only seemed to inspire suspicion.. especially when it came from a stranger. Had Ruiko known Indru’s distrust in the dark male before him he would have already turned the male away – the wolf might not have been on their porch steps, but he was definitely playing quite near them.

With a sweep of his tail, both ears tuned forward to the blue-eyed male as he spoke. There was very little that interested the tawny male in Weldering’s reply, spare that it seemed the male might have been interested in a pack of his own, or he had been discussing it with another. ‘Amazing scenery, lots of resources, beautiful women..’ They all reminded him of assumptions, and it could only be concluded that neither of the two wolves would know unless they asked every single lone wolves in the land why they were here. “Two packs,” he corrected tonelessly, keeping the disgust from his voice. Clearly the wolf’s nose was broken, or he hadn’t been near the mountain yet. “Honijo Ithil has a pack on the mountain. Midnight Plateau.”

It was a good job that Ruiko did not know about the rocky relationship between Indru and himself, it would have caused enough problems and the fact that this brute was a little blunt and uncaring was only making Weldering feel that every single Tainn was a bit sore towards every lone wolf. Indru said he had no problem with lone wolves but it was becoming apparent that they all had a problem and the only one that did not was sweet little Borlla who reminded him of his own daughter.

But as far as assumptions went he'd made an err in his judgment as he had completely missed the formation of a new pack. he had been up the mountain once with Junai but if this new pack had formed over the past few days then that was after he had trekked up the steep slopes of the Dire Mountain. Straight away his mind searched for references of this Honijo Ithil but finding none. <b style="color:#0d5b8c; font-family:geogia; font-size:13px">"Who is Honijo Ithil?" Asking curiously for after all this might well be his chance to find a home. Though already he was thinking about the location.... he hated mountains. He'd been so clumsy as a yearling and even fallen off a ledge on the mountain trail before. Ever since then even now that he was sturdy and fully proportioned with adulthood he was not fond of mountains so he was not entirely sure he could live on one.

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This conversation was leading in a general path that Ruiko cared little for – it wasn’t necessarily a question Ruiko would have assumed to have been asked, and yet he felt very little need to explain to this stranger the dire circumstances that had happened to the Tainn and Ithil family. Everything had changed in the blink of an eye, and it with the new power struggle, Honijo had been overthrown as the pack Beta.. by Ruiko. What could have been pride at this accomplishment had only been washed away with the knowledge that the Ithil male had not had his heart in it – he hadn’t fought his best, and because of the death of his sister had easily given up. The tawny male hadn’t understood why at first, but when Honijo had left to claim his own land.. it had all become quite apparent what his intentions had been all along. Even so, his uncle was sorely missed.

“The new leader of the new pack,” he drawled sardonically, his eyes sharp upon the silver male. Ruiko was not about to divulge the information on how he knew the male, but in light of playing nicely with others, the male gave a gentle shrug of his hefty shoulders. “He’s a wolf who has lived in this land for years.”