Thicket of Secrets Fading hope and stupid mistakes

(Closest pack to her, so I figured she'd stumble upon it.)
Push forward to: 12-20-13
Drowsy the young women plopped into the cold snow to, yet again, cleanse her wound. She had fled from Ghastly Woods, then managed to make it through the Orchid, a small portion of the Black Berry fields, and then here. She'd taken many stops and breaks to rest herself as she traveled very slowly to the thickets. Heaving from exhaustion she was tempted to close her eyes but curiosity snagged her into staying conscious. The place surrounding her was quite interesting with branches reaching out and twisting around each other. *Focus,* She reminded herself nibbling at the ugly wound's scab.

After awhile she had finished taking care of her main priority. Even tough she staid on her belly in order to give her legs a chance to energize themselves. It had been a long, quite, and boring hour that she had laid put fighting sleep before rising carefully.

Creamy paws began to carry her closer and closer to the back borders before she smelt them. Stiffening she slowed even more, which made her go basically turtle speed, but pressed on. She was hungry and foolishly thinking of stealing from them. *Your hurt, keep calm. Don't do anything stupid.* She told herself in attempt to calm down but anxiety increased.

As she halted Frost stood sniffing a scent marker, picking up the clear warning and growled to herself. Looking up she scanned the landscape before tucking her head in to view her leg. A short pause was held before she turned to leave shaking her head, "It'd be the death of me." She thought limping away at a hasty speed, but not yet a run. *So could not joining a pack...* As this crossed her a quite whimper forced itself out. Embarrassed she felt grateful no one seemed to be around herself.

Stopping far from the borders she glanced back, *A pack wouldn't want a injured wolf hogging their food. You have nothing good to bring to them.* Inwardly she sneered at herself for being so worthless. A self intended growl of frustration left her leather lips. *Yet, you gotta do something to survive Frost.* Troubled she bent her front legs before the hind buckled in pursuit. *Why try?* She questioned resting her maw on shivering paws.

(This post was last modified: Dec 27, 2013, 07:56 PM by Frost.)

Thanks TABs for the table and it's photo I've used for her featured photo.
Thanks PuppyThief for the winter skin and avatars!

Things had been getting better for Secret Woodlands. Everyone seemed to be staying on their feet and doing what they could for their family. It was a good thing that everyone seemed to be in the right end of things. Nina had been in much better spirits recently, trying to find things to busy her with and she found that it definitely helped with the grieving process. The only problem that seemed to be plaguing her lately was the sadness that hung around Hollow. She knew why he was as such, seeing as how Azariah was once again nowhere to be found, and it seemed as though she had once again abandoned them, something that the alpha knew she could not forgive. She wasn’t sure what Hollow’s views were on this, but knew that he would come to her in time. Eventually something would come out of it and she was sure that anytime now they would have that exact conversation. Nina had returned to her duties as pack leader after getting back on her feet after her son’s death and as she looked at the borders, she inhaled, stiffening slightly when she realized that there was a stranger close to her borders. Ears perked forward, Nina started in the direction that she was sure that the scent was coming from. Blinking her single eye, she narrowed it slightly, noticing the form of another wolf, who looked quite ill, far enough away to her borders, but still, she was here and Nina felt it was her business to find out who she was…and find out if she needed any help. It was the Healer in her that was coming out and it was why she called out to the girl, <b style="color:#008080">”Hey there!! Do you need some help?”

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

A stranger from the borders came into view, a possible threat to her very existence. A warning to not come closer to her, unless she wanted to risk possibly being bit, came out in an unstable growl. Just the thought of purposely harming another got under her skin. The simple fact showed through with her menacing sound.

”Hey there!! Do you need some help?”

"Wha, what?" She thought out loud as her growl ceased to nothing, immediately. A blank look came to her features though bright eyes held confusion. Her puffy tail began to flop on the ground as ease washed over her. The calming sensation was short lived though, as she soon struggled to get up.

Tensely she watched Nina with cautious orbs, "How can I trust you? I'd be of no help, just a burden. Well...till I healed. I could run messages considering my speed." The last part was mumbled to herself. *This women could be cannibal.* The sickening thought made Frost grimace in disgust for a moment. *No, that's just completely vile.*

"If you promise not to hurt me, then yes I could use some help. If I make it past this hurtle- she frowned at the thought of passing- I vow to repay you however you wish. Just as long as it doesn't mean being bounded to a pack forever. I'm quite nomadic." She laid out her information, curious if the deal would be accepted. *I wonder if I seem pushy, rude, or bossy? I sure hope not.* Quickly she added a, "I'm sorry if I offended you with my word choice, Mad'am." She lowered her head to the ground before grinding her face into the white flakes. Soon her scrawny ill body fallowed. She had skillfully submitted without hurting her bleeding injury furthermore. "I'm Frost." She said belly in the air, tail tucked, and head so that she could not seen the alpha. Instead she peered up at the sky before blinking.

(This post was last modified: Dec 21, 2013, 06:59 PM by Frost.)

Thanks TABs for the table and it's photo I've used for her featured photo.
Thanks PuppyThief for the winter skin and avatars!

It was clear that the other woman immediately thought that she was a threat. Waiting for the other woman to realize that she definitely wasn’t, she took the chance of approaching the ill female, wincing slightly at the disheveled appearance in front of her. Immediately upon getting closer, Nina listed herself up taller, marking her as an important wolf in the area. When she heard the woman’s voice, Nina listened attentively, reminding herself that she didn’t have many herbs left in stock due to her saving the life of another all too recently. She had used up much when she had been tending to other minor injuries here and there and only had a few herbs that were rarely used and they grew year round anyway. The fact that winter was hardly over and that she was nearly completed depleted of her healing resources hit a sour mark and she inhaled sharply as she listened to the harsh demands given out by the loner, near her lands. If she wanted help, then she better hold her tongue. She looked over the woman and noticed that all she really looked was starved. If she had some food then she could be whipped into shape in no time. But the woman also had a problem with giving food to someone who was not within her pack. It meant that she would be giving something to someone who hadn’t worked for it. If this Frost had been her patient, then things might have been different, but this lone wolf was definitely not injured, just starving and probably exhausted from stress, nothing a little security couldn’t fix. She then opened her jaws to make her offer, <b style="color:#008080">”Well, all I can offer you is a place to stay during the winter, but you’d have to work for your keep…extra hard this year considering the winter conditions, do you understand?” This lady could take it or leave it, the choice was hers.

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

Frost felt even more stunned at this and gabbed a little, "Y-yes ma'am." Was all she could manage. She had a home for the Winter now, a prison, but at least some where warm. A small smile crossed her lips as she thought about the up coming Spring. If not sooner she'd be gone with in the first month of the rainy season. Not really sure of what to do or say she simply asked, "Miss, what do I do now? Also do you prefer Ma'am or miss? Some wolves can be....touchy." She chose her words carefully, picking through them till she found one she hoped wouldn't cause trouble.

Even though the boredom of pack life hadn't started yet she knew that eventually she would be desperate to go somewhere new and exciting. Adventuring was one of the things she lived for. Still remaining in her position beneath her new alpha, she waited. Her mind was tearing through thoughts and questions eagerly. As long as she took this as an exploration in pack life she might be able to survive happily in Secret Woodlands.

(HAPPY HOLIDAYS, :D)

(This post was last modified: Jan 03, 2014, 11:32 PM by Frost.)

Thanks TABs for the table and it's photo I've used for her featured photo.
Thanks PuppyThief for the winter skin and avatars!

Look Out!

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

It was no surprise to Nina that she got a completely shocked response and for a moment, she almost let a sardonic smirk cross her face; that never happened, of course, but a woman could imagine. It was amazing how shocked and confused the loner seemed to be, as if a home had never been something offered to her. Of course, during the winter Nina would be able to get the other woman’s work cut out for her, considering she was a scout. Communication between Whisper Caverns and Secret Woodlands had been wearing thin lately and Nina needed someone to go ahead and establish base with them better. Clearing her throat, Nina spoke softly, <b style="color:#008080">”Yes…welcome to Secret Woodlands.” To make sure that the loner did not get attacked by her other members, Nina let her muzzle run along the side of Frost’s making sure that her own scent was on the female. Lifting herself tall once again, she let her ears flick forward when Frost asked her another question. A small twitched on the alpha’s lips, but it disappeared as soon as it made itself known. Opening her mouth, she spoke again, <b style="color:#008080">”I will show you my territory, you will rest and bulk up, and then you will do a job for me.” The alpha spoke quickly and effectively, letting her tail flick behind her in telling Frost to follow her into the thickets. Parting her jaws, she stated clearly, <b style="color:#008080">”Be careful, there are thorns everywhere.” Nina had only stepped on the thorns a few times in the year that she had come to the thickets, but her pads were now use to the familiar sting should she ever happen to step on one too, but new members were not so fortunate once they arrived and would need to get some use to the new area; much like Frost.

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

(It's not Wintry but I felt like using a table. :)

The young Mink girl listened to her elder's words, noting when she didn't answer her question. Her belly twisted a little in guilt. *She must be one of those wolves...* Words didn't come forth and she kept any opinions inside her mind. Nina trailed her muzzle down her and she held completely still. Her body was stiff, not being used to being touched by others. She belonged somewhere, she was some one's pack mate. While half of her was disgusted by this, a small part of her was joyed to have a home. The warming emotion was foreign to the cream wolf.

She decided to ignore this and got to her paws carefully. Her injury stung as she did so and she tried not to show it. Her head was low and body overly submissive, even after being accepted. *Job?* She thought feeling a bit of excitement. *Wonder what it is?* When the thought of running an errand or searching for something in a new land left, she imagined more boring tasks. This included things such as marking boarders and watching injured wolves. Of course though she most likely wouldn't be allowed near them being brand new. Plus she wasn't a healer...and was hurt.

When the warning met her ears she looked down and around. She hadn't noticed them before, and was lucky none had stabbed her pads. However as she looked over herself she saw some in her beige coat. Focusing back on her new leader Frost fallowed swiftly behind her.

Not far into the thickets and the smell of the kill drifted into her nostrils. A crazed look of hunger came to her. In attempt to be dignified she ignored the lust to eat the deer. To rip into it's skin and scarf down juicy meat. As she thought of it more and more in her mind, her bottom right lid started to twitch. She wanted, no needed, that meal. *Calm, calm, calm. You don't want to just dart off after she welcomed you into her home.* The thought didn't help much. Stiffly, tense, and still twitching she walked onward.

Word count: 353 "She speaks..."

(This post was last modified: Jan 06, 2014, 01:16 PM by Frost.)

Thanks TABs for the table and it's photo I've used for her featured photo.
Thanks PuppyThief for the winter skin and avatars!

I can't add her to the role until this thread is archived, keep that in mind. <3 Nina will get +3 and Frost will get +4 for this one.

The mother moved easily through her lands, her single eye looking around easily, looking back every once and awhile to make sure that Frost was behind her. She trotted on, her emerald eye sharpening once they entered the embrace of the darkness that Nina had come to accustomed to. She moved in a different direction when she took in the scent of blood and deer, something that would be a benefactor for both of the females. Mentioning for the newly accepted member to follow her, she picked up her pace slightly, seeing the hunger in the other lady’s eyes. Clearing her throat and embarrassingly remembering that she had forgotten to answer a question, her lips parted and she spoke, ”I prefer you just call me Nina by the way…it makes me feel less…old.” She snorted at the word and shook her head, allowing Frost to say anything she might wish to add.

The woman weaved her way through the thickets easily as she finally came upon the carcass, allowing the girl behind her entrance, she mentioned towards the dead deer, her emerald eye keeping a look out for the lynx that she could so easily scent while her new subordinate at to her stomach’s content. When she had finished, Nina took her place, letting the warm meat slide down her throat. It had been such a long time since she had enjoyed a meal with someone from her pack, and it was somewhat comforting to have the other girl’s presence now that there was possible danger nearby. When there was no longer any meat for the two wolves to share, Nina moved away, her gaze focusing back onto Frost. Clearing her throat, she spoke softly, ”Now let’s talk about that job, shall we?”

(This post was last modified: Jan 18, 2014, 05:20 AM by Nina.)

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

(Alright, thanks. :) )

Frost was happy to hear her answer to the questions and shot back a quick,"Got it Nina." She found it odd to be calling her superior her name, but she shrugged it off. Without thinking she spoke again, "Ya know, you don't seem that old. My mother" She cut herself off, when was the last time she had spoke of either of her real parents? Her limbs felt suddenly heavy and she blinked a few time. Pulling herself from the jumble of emotions she finished, "Was around ten years old when she birthed my litter."

She allowed the rest of the walk to be silent, listening to their surroundings. She was thinking of her past wrong doings that negatively affected others. *I left them...Amelia and Secret* Her gut twisted with guilt as she recalled leaving her sister and adoptive mother behind. Sighing she stopped just at the same time as Nina, subconsciously like. The smell of food met her nose and she approached warily. The simple fact that she was eating food first brought her guard up. Would the alpha suddenly do something horrible? Was she doing everything right? She wasn't sure but moved on in.

Frost was quick to eat the divine meat. She munched hastily on the deer, chunks filling her belly. Once done she stepped away ever so silently. While the other women ate she kept on watch for it. The lynx, or any other up and about danger. She had a possessive look in her eyes that seemed to say: This food is ours' now, stay back.

"Oh, a, yes." She mumbled pulling herself from the surrounding dense flora. Her hackles smoothed back as her ears slid down submissively. She lowered her head just slightly out of respect. "I would love to know this mystery job." She grinned some.