Thicket of Secrets What's Mine, Is Yours

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@Hollow, @Nina and @Neith.

I do it because I can, I can because I want to,

Anouke Kasekhemre

I want to because you made me.

Staring down at the Thicket just ahead with bright amber eyes, the Young Hellion stood, perched upon a small rock that protruded slightly from the dirt and grass that surrounded him. His dark fur almost glistened under the sun and patchwork of white and blue that lay spread upon the canvas up above. A soft, whispering breeze tugged and pulled at his long, pristine pelt, as if it was tempting him to dance to a sweet melody.

As he stood, staring at the dense forest his head was held up high; proud and regal, as if he owned the world and all had to bow down to him. He was a leader and a king, through and through. Nothing could stop him from achieving his ultimate goal, and nothing would, or they would be the first to be kicked aside and left in the dust of his trail. If anyone so much as dared to look at him without his permission, he would deal out the suitable punishment. They would learn to live under him, serve him, and in return, he would provide them with the safety of a home.

But right now, he needed to play nice and act as if he was truly wanting to join for a home and to have a family; he would need to submit to the alphas, which was one thing that he hated doing. It made him feel weak, and his dominant side always attempted to take action and rise up above the other wolf and challenge him or her. Lifting up his dark muzzle, Anouke howled a warning to the wolves in the pack that a stranger was near their border, but had no ill intent.

But what they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them.

293 Words

(This post was last modified: Oct 15, 2013, 12:52 AM by Anouke.)

The loss of the alpha’s son seemed to make the woman much colder than she had ever been in her life. She had found herself seeking the seclusion of the thickets and had stayed away from the borders for the most part, choosing to stay away from the activities and letting Hollow handle the newcomers. As a Healer, she knew she could not mourn forever and that her pack needed her to be strong, to show that even though they had encountered death, they were still strong. It was why when the echo of a loner’s call sounded throughout her territory, the one-eyed beauty got off of her bum and started towards the call, her single emerald eye lit with a fire. She would show that these were her lands and that whoever this male was would bow down before her. The man’s call had much strength in it, but how much strength she was unsure. She was, after all, one of the fit wolves within the pack. Her status showed as much.

She easily weaved through the thickets, stepping over and around thorns whenever needed. She remembered stepping on many when she had first arrived in the Thicket of Secrets but her pads were now use to the rough ground and she appreciated the advantage that the thorns below her gave her. Tail lifted high and chin raised, she strode confidently towards the loner, her stance and aura radiating power. It was something she had easily possessed and had no desire to give up on anytime soon. When she spoke, her voice was like ice, short and cold, "What do you want?" Taking in the appearance of the loner now, she could tell that he was underfed, every loner was and with winter soon approaching, Nina had no desire to accept someone who couldn’t be trusted and worthy of her family within her pack. Mirren had been a different story; she had known him since he was born. But this man…he was unknown to her.

It seems when you're around, my life is complete.

Hollow wasted no time in heeding the call quickly and swiftly. Though he was on the other side of the Thicket, Hollow moved with blazing speed seeming to move much faster than he was actually capable of moving due to his knowledge of the woodlands. Soon he came upon the scene and matched his tail and head to that of Nina. His own aura of power surrounded him. It created an electricity in the air, both alphas on full display were magnificent in their strength. Even though not bonded at heart as a true mated pair would be, they were in sync and Hollow could almost feel Nina's ice and distrust. Though Hollow did not immediately share it, he respected that she felt it.

He would carefully examine this male as if his very life depended upon it. This one Hollow felt would have to work to impress Nina. The dark leader of the Woodlands wolves kept his maw shut and his breaths heavy, head high and awaited the answer from the other dark wolf. Silence rang and Hollow wondered how this would go, after all Nina had not spent much time dealing with outside wolves since the accident when Tacoma had broken his neck. As tragic as it was Hollow knew that in the end she would have to move on some way or another. He only hoped that it had not made her cold and ruthless, In her silence he felt less and less sure. But he hoped that Nina wouldn't change.

@Hollow and @Nina

The Young Hellion waited patiently for a wolf to appear; head tilted up to stare at the sky, ears pricked for any sound, jaws parted slightly as he breathed. To some wolves, he would appear to just be gazing at the wonder above, but in his mind, he was going over how to act around a pack wolf if he wanted to join; be submissive, show his worth and skill, act friendly. His lip curled up slightly, showed just the very points of his pearly white teeth. Only one of those would he do willingly. But his way of proving that he could 'work' in a pack would most likely be very different to theirs.

A slight rustle announced the arrival of a wolf, and he lowered his chin to stare at whoever it was. Clearly a female, she sported a tawny coat; light brown fur with the hue of gold running through it. But what attracted his full attention was her face. Her left eye was an emerald green, showing a hard, icy emotion as well as distrust which lightened his dark mood ever so slightly; it meant she didn't take just any wolf into her pack. Anouke's bright amber gaze rested on the right side of her face for just a moment, before looking away. Her right eye was sealed shut with a scar, presumably from a fight. The tawny female had already taken his interest and respect; he wouldn't dislike the thought of being submissive to her as much as he would with another.

The way she strode over to him spoke volumes of confidence, power, and was heightened by her raised chin and tail. She was clearly the alpha female of the pack. When she spoke, her voice was like ice, cold and hard shards that would have no problem in delving into his flesh if he made a wrong move. Slowly, he eased himself from the rock to the ground, lowering his head and tail as he did so. His eyes looked down at her paws, and he bent his front legs to lower himself to the ground in a bow, his muzzle just inches above the hard dirt.

But before he could speak, another rustle alerted him to the presence of a second wolf, and his bright amber eyes lifted up from the ground to rest upon a black male. Faint shades of dark grey and brown could be seen through his coat, but like the female, it was his face that caught his attention. Blue eyes adorned his face, but the right had a ring of green around it. It seemed the wolves in the pack had something with their eyes. The thought almost brought a smirk onto his face, but a quick and silent reminder to himself why he was there kept his mouth still.

The black male (who was clearly the alpha leading next to the tawny female) matched his stance to the female, and his own aura of power radiated through the air. It seemed to create an area of great power and where they stood, and he could almost feel it. With both alphas on full display, it would have been breathtaking, if not for the fact that he despised the thought of wolves ranked above him. But he would play along until it was time for him to break the rules and leave, as he believed he was destined to.

The Young Hellion waited a few moments for the black male to speak, but once he realized they were both waiting for him to answer the tawny female's query, he quickly lowered his eyes back to the ground of which both alphas stood upon, and spoke in his deep, rich voice. "What I want and what I need is the same; a pack to live in during the winter, and the seasons to follow." He paused briefly to let his words sink in, keeping his face calm and void of any emotion. "A home and family to care for and who will look after me is what I seek, and I hope that I will be granted permission to join your pack." Anouke clamped his jaws shut firmly as he finished speaking, and waited for them to speak, his body still in its bowed position. But some of it was true, he did want a pack to live in as it became colder, even if it was just for his own sole purposes.

The pack would be his hibernaculum during the winter.

755 Words

I do it because I can,
I can because I want to,
I want to because you made me.

She was not usually one to be so icy and cruel to someone who she had first met. Nina was all about first impressions and she was sure that she was not coming off kind in front of this loner. None the less, for someone who supposedly had not been part of a pack for awhile now…was healthy enough, but Nina had enough sense to know that this would not last for long if he stayed a loner for this winter. It seemed as though the upcoming season was going to be quite cruel to them all, no matter what. And Nina was sure that if someone remained a lone wolf, they would definitely be lucky to survive. She waited to hear if Hollow would have anything to add on, but he remained silent, leaving the interrogation to her; she did not mind this because that meant she could put the loner through whatever she pleased to find out about this male. His answer almost brought a smirk upon her lips, but she kept herself composed, looking upon this male in a new light. She found that she liked his way with words, but she would never tell that to anyone. None the less, she kept a scowl on her face and continued to look over him before deciding to speak again, her tone just as icy, if not colder, than before. Opening her jaws, she spoke confidently, <b style="color:#008080">”I see, I’m Nina Reinier and this is my partner, Hollow Nite; what do you call yourself? And what do you have to offer my pack?” She fired off her questions efficiently and awaited the other male’s answer. He was submissive enough and obviously not looking at them, something that Nina could appreciate. Stealing a look over at Hollow, she tilted her head ever so slightly to ask of his opinion.

It seems when you're around, my life is complete.

Anouke spoke and Hollow listened to the way his words fell into the air, graceful and smooth. Almost deceptively so. The leader could already see use for a wolf that knew how to use his words so well. But now he would judge, and listen intently to Nina's words, he couldn't tell right off what it was that she was thinking but that was never anything new. Nina's mind worked in a similar way to his and so he naturally assumed that even though she could feel misgivings at the moment she would judge him upon their first true encounter. Instead of just relying on her emotions when they were still so tender. Even though Hollow trusted Nina to the end he knew that emotions could tear a wolf's better judgement apart, at which point one had to rely on intelligence.

Hollow saw the look that Nina stole at him. He would make his opinion known in due time, so far he could not decipher how he felt with Nina still being somewhat distant since the accident, it made it hard to get a feel for this wolf. But the Woodlands leader knew just how to get a better handle on it, "Also know that we are based on loyalty and trust, you must always show these traits in everything you endeavor to do. You are loyal to the pack just as the pack is loyal to you." The dark wolf's reaction to these words should give Hollow a better grasp of what Anouke was all about. The leader fell silent once more and waited for the answers to come.

Look Out!

There is a deer that was killed by a lynx nearby. +7 Health

@Nina and @Hollow

Anouke did not see the black look on the tawny leader's face for his muzzle was still barely inches upon the dirt, and his bright amber gaze locked onto the grassy ground upon which she and her leading partner stood upon. But he did hear the sharper, colder tone of her voice, and allowed the slightest of smiles upon his face. The tawny female....Nina Reinier, gave up her name and her leading partner's name far too easily for his liking. It was always wiser to know the wolf before giving out a name, it was something he had swiftly learned throughout his travels. And one couldn't be too comfortable around others, they just might not react the way said wolf wanted them to. But, then again, it was better to get the usual hello's and name-swapping over and done with before rather than later, so the interrogation could be the main event.

It was barely a moment that passed, but thoughts spun around in the Young Hellion's mind faster than the speed of light. Should he lie about his name? Tell them the truth? Say he was good at many things? Or just be vague? Quickly coming to a decision, Anouke kept his eyes firmly on the ground, and tucked his tail ever so slightly beneath him. He would only go lower if it was necessary and he was forced too, even his current position was barely held as he fought against the urge to stand up tall. "My name is Anouke Kasekhemre," he spoke slowly and softly, making sure to keep any unwanted emotions out of his voice. "All I can offer to your pack is my life, to protect and keep everyone safe from dangers that lurk beyond the borders. I can also be of use as a guardian, if you wish."

He waited patiently for Nina to speak again, or for Hollow to start questioning him, head bowed, tail tucked, it sickened him. He hated to have to wait for others to make a decision about him, no matter what it was. But if he wanted entrance into the pack, he had to deal with it like any other loner. Soon enough, a lower toned voice reached his ears, which twitched as he listened intently, attempting to find any hidden meaning which could be hiding in the words. "I can promise with all my being that I will not go against your trust or better judgment, and will always prove loyal to those in the pack." Most definitely not. There was no way that they could trust him, and no matter how much the tawny female intrigued him, she did not have his full loyalty, nor did the dark male. He was loyal only to himself, and those like him. Others, while he would act like it, did not, and would never. That was a rule he lived by, and nothing would change it.

487 Words

I do it because I can,
I can because I want to,
I want to because you made me.

Nina looked upon the loner, her single eye continuing to size him up, judging him solely on how he was acting in this encounter.

Even though she found herself liking this male, she couldn’t help but feel slightly disgusted. This man could turn out to be just like all of the other nasty traitors she had encountered throughout her life and she definitely didn’t need any more of those within her family. She breathed deeply, looking towards Hollow briefly to understand his decision. With his own agreement to her silent words, she nodded her head towards him, and flicked her ears towards Anouke who spoke once more. Blinking her single eye, she narrowed it, bitterness inside her voice when she spoke, ”I do hope you keep to your word. I don’t mind getting rid of traitors if I come across them again.” Even though the Healer was suppose to save lives, other wolves had always put it past her to go through such harsh measures, but alas, she had before, even turned on her own patients who had pushed their welcome a little bit too much. It was one of the benefits of knowing how their bodies worked, because then she had the advantage and knew what they could and could not handle.

That was another perk that this boy did not know, which was also an advantage to her. Not many new subordinates knew that she was a Healer before she had risen to the challenge of being an alpha. Only those who had once been in Copper Rock Creek, or her pupils, would have known her abilities, and though Nina was disabled when it came to her sight, she used her other senses to her advantage. Moving forward with purpose and letting her power aura flow through the area, she pushed forward, her emerald eye gleaming brightly. Leaning down, she firmly grasped his muzzle with her own and gave a sharp, but non-painful tug on his fur before removing her teeth and smoothing the now sticking up fur back down. Returning back to her full height she spoke calmly and meaningfully, ”Welcome to your new home…Hollow would show you around. Watch your step.” she snapped out the last words before nodding towards Hollow and standing near his shoulder, her voice low and smooth, ”Evaluate him and find out what he’s worth, my dear.” Nudging him on the shoulder affectionately, she disappeared into the shadows and went to her children, knowing that their meeting was long overdue.

Nina's Exit!

Hollow was silent, and observing as Nina accepted the male. Normally the dark leader could read prospective members by there words and actions, but Anouke was instead simply polite, and respectful, submissive, and calm. Hollow could not pinpoint any wrong he had done at the moment. So far he seemed a worthy addition, and though Hollow could feel Nina's misgivings on the air, he followed her lead when she accepted him, dipping his own muzzle to grasp the males own firmly, With a slight amount of pressure just to inform Anouke that he would be watched. He would, Hollow fully intended to make sure Nina's misgivings were misplaced. If they weren't. Hollow himself would deal with it directly, there was no room in life for it anymore. Now should be a time of healing, a time to go and attempt to once more seek out Azariah, even though she always seemed gone.

Silence still rang once the male was accepted as Hollow watched Nina disappear into the Thicket, two things happened, his ear cocked itself towards Anouke ow at Nina's command, and second for a split moment he could have sworn he saw... something in the way she moved. But the dark male did not yet know what it could possibly be. Hollow turned back towards Anouke,"Come, I'll show you the borders, and the dens, hunting trails and everything else, afterwards you will need to rest I need healthy rested wolves." Hollow smirked in a kind way at the newcomer, hopefully they had not made a bad decision. With that the pair disappeared along the border into the Thicket of Secrets.

{END}