I think some company is overdue...

Early morning, near the borders of Magnolia Glen.
Clear — Current Temperature: 7° F/-14° C
@Phineas, @Borlla

Hunger was Deneb's ever-present companion this winter. Whenever the lone male managed to eat, he found only frozen bites to scavenge, or prey so small and inconsequential they were hardly worth catching. One thing was certain - in order to survive, he could not remain as he had been this winter: alone.

He had put careful consideration into which pack he might join. As a matter of fact, he had been all but ready to take the plunge when fate had deigned to let him find the wolf he had been seeking for so long: his brother, Albireo. This had firmly cemented Deneb's choice of which pack to aim for, although he had left that day without saying so to Al. Deneb had made a few other acquaintances within Magnolia Glen, and he now hoped that he could be accepted into the pack.

Today the sun had risen into a clear sky over the forest. The sun glinted from the snow, and the small vale appeared to be a haven. Deneb could almost view it as a hopeful scene, but he knew the ugly reality hidden beneath the beauty: the winter had been cruel to this region. The smoky-hued male stole through the trees until he found what it was he sought today - the border. Stopping at what seemed like a respectable distance, he let loose a clear, ringing call and then resigned himself to wait. It was the universal call of a nomad at the borders, seeking audience. As he waited, he thought of the few wolves he'd already met who called this pack home. Caniri's words returned to his mind, "Don't think there wont be wolves out there watching for ya". The Cygni beast wondered who would appear to investigate the call. Perhaps one of the leaders, whom he had not yet met? One of the other wolves he'd met? He doubted Al would come to face him today, but the last time the brothers had spoken, his kin had surprised him. Who know what lay in store today....

(This post was last modified: Mar 06, 2014, 01:41 AM by Deneb.)

The routine had always been monotonous, and yet somehow it seemed almost pointless with the loss of his son and the unrelenting bitterness of the winter and famine. He managed to avoid most by marking the borders, and while the scent of his pack members reiterated they too worked through the mundane tasks of the day, they were still dwindling in numbers. Caleb had left them now – perhaps stirred by the possibilities of the breeding season that lingered upon them, despite how appealing it seemed this year with the hardships and starvation.

The howl resounded throughout the territory, causing the regal muzzle of the wolf to lift from the tree he had moments before been inspecting in hopes something edible rest in the open base of it’s trunk. He met with nothing, which only meant the creature had died from the winter itself, or another beast had beat him to it.

Trailing now, curious to whom was beckoning him, the Argyris male came across the pale wolf within twenty minutes of the call. The wolf remained a respectful distance from his borders, and while the situation demanded Phineas naturally rise, he did so without the usual pride that spurned him. His fiery eyes regarded the other quietly, not recognizing the scent upon him to indicate he was from the Oak Tree Bend pack. “What brings you to Magnolia Glen borders?” The question was posed with a quiet demand, and suddenly, as if recalling his true duty to this pack, the Argyris willed himself higher in height, his tail now curling higher in the air than his saddled backside.

Deneb remained standing while he waited, although for many minutes there was no response. He had always been a patient wolf. Very rarely did he lose his reign over himself, but he had come very close the last time he had seen his brother. His nerves had become frayed during the long winter, worn by his hunt. And so he stood, allowing himself to find the focus he had once taken for granted when he'd been in better condition.

Soon enough, he was aware of another presence - a scent on the air, a first hint of motion, and his gaze found the white male even as the other man spoke. Turning his golden gaze to the man, Deneb studied him as quickly and surreptitiously as possible. The male was obviously older than himself, and his banner swung high over his back. Is this the lord Al would grovel behind? he wondered. Deneb disliked having to bow to anyone, much less a stranger, but he did it anyway, letting his tail swing once or twice, low behind his ankles. Den understood that sometimes the smart thing to do was swallow your pride. "My journey has been a long one, sir," he stated, returning his stance to a pose he found more natural, but hoped would still be perceived as respectful. He tried to recall to his mind the name Caniri had given him - Ah yes, it was Phineas. Perhaps this was him, then? "I believe one of my kin has found refuge within your numbers. I would seek the same, if possible - to serve this pack."

His manner was gentlemanly, his gaze open and hopeful. He did not mean to conceal his blood ties from the leaders of the Glen - rather he wished them to know enough of the truth that his motives would seem clear. The bad blood between he and Albireo would stay between them, for now.

The ivory male stiffened slightly as the moments passed – such a brief time, and yet the other male regarded him quietly, drooping his tail and taking a neutral posture, which did nothing to signify respect.. nor did it suggest aggression.

But it also did not encourage Phineas' patient side, especially given the conditions they currently lived under.

His ears would cup forward to the words, offering only a single grunt in response. His fiery eyes swept over the wolf before him, looking to find any resemblance to the stranger and to that who wandered his home now – the pallid coat did not eliminate suspicions.. if anything, it only added to them. His thoughts swiftly assumed either Caniri, Jaden or Albireo. Yet appearances were deceiving – he himself looked nothing like the majority of his own kin. He was a far cry from Aeolus, Thanos and even Erebos.

"And your kin is?" The words came out as a rumbling prompt, his expression unchanging as he shifted his weight. Magnolia Glen was a far cry from the paradise it had once been when he and Borlla had initally laid their claim. Their closest friends had been slaughtered by the icy grasp of winter or disappeared within its depths, and now they remained but a starving pack with little to no connections, spare they thrived upon one another for survival. "And what is it you can bring this pack? We are not going to shelter a useless rogue simply seeking to seek the pack cache before taking their leave come spring," he offered again, albeit tiredly.

His answers were first met with only a grunt, the wordless sound carrying connotations that Deneb's ears perked forward to try and decipher. The pale stranger was studying him with that burning gaze, keenly sweeping his eyes over the Cygni just as he had done moments before. Then the pallid wolf spoke once more.

"Albireo Cygni, if that's still what he calls himself these days," Deneb didn't know what his brother had told this pack of his past, or if he had tried to conceal his identity from them in case someone came looking for him. The name was spoken with a flattening of ears in deference, and an apologetic whine. Deneb did know that his brother had earned names like fool and coward before, as a part of a different pack, and he wished not to be judged now for any foolish actions the other Cygni might have committed in these new lands. Den sought to present himself as polite, well-spoken... he was the opposite of his brother in some ways, at least.

"My name is Deneb Cygni. I came to this region hoping to find my brother alive, but fearing I would not. If your pack has helped keep him survive this winter, then I owe you more than simple thanks." He offered the other wolf a guileless smile. He wondered if he ought to mention the young white wolf he had met, Caniri, and the way they had assisted one another during the storm, and spoken of Magnolia Glen. Looking at the wolf before him now, Deneb decided against it, at least for the moment. He didn't know the way things were run around here, if the lad would be reprimanded for helping or talking with a loner, and one thing Deneb hated doing was not rewarding those who had helped him out. "I may look like a wretched wanderer, but only because I have been searching for him all through this winter. My mind, my senses, my teeth - they are all still sharp. I didn't come here for a free meal, I came because I want to join the same pack as the last of my kin." Not a word of what he said could be called a lie. The once-radiant Cygni lowered his head another notch, trying once again to convey respect as he stood at the gates.

It could have been sealing his fate to the eye of the Magnolia Glen Leader. The simple relation to such a wolf – Albireo, earned a scornful grunt from the regal, though the gentle whine emitted from the stranger and the embarrassment that seemed to shroud him was not missed – yes, Phineas too would have been in the same situation.

"Ah, Albireo," he finally drawled, his eyes narrowing slightly as the pallid wolf finished his statement in regards to his kin. "A wolf of little means to the pack – he has proved nothing, nor has he truly aided in much, spare for something that is in his better interest." There was a small pause as the Argyris considered his harsh words – they were not untrue. The male had done very little for the pack since his arrival, and at times, had reminded the ivory wolf very much of a weasel. "Is it a family belief to simply thrive off the dedicated work of a pack for a full belly?"

The question was an empty phrase however – the pale wolf called Deneb had already concluded he believed no such thing. There was a soft hum given by the regal, and with a whip of his tail, his lip curled in a partial snarl of warning. "You will be accepted to these lands if it is a reunion you seek – but it will be your sole responsibility to see that your brother begins to take part in his duties as a pack wolf. If you both do not, you will no longer have a home here." These were the terms, and Phineas fixated the male with flashing fiery eyes.

From the contemptuous sound the other wolf made, Deneb guessed that Albireo had not been earning himself a shining reputation. Instead, it seemed very likely he had been doing little more than tarnishing the family name - what was left of it, anyway. Deneb hadn't really expected to hear anything different. The alpha's drawling words confirmed the suspicion, and Deneb's ears flattened even more against his skull in a picture of silent apology as the other spoke.

The short rant seemed to conclude when the ivory wolf flicked his tail, his words dripping with warning as they fell from his curled lips. Deneb bowed his head in understanding and acceptance, but he did not try to hide that fact that he had just been handed an undesirable - and perhaps impossible - mission. Getting Al to trust him again would be hard enough, but convincing him to pull his weight around here would take even more ingenuity. Of course, in the past Deneb had managed to manipulate Albireo into doing all sorts of dirty work for him - but things had changed between them since then. He would have to decide if it would be worth the effort in the long run, but for the moment, he had what he wished for - acceptance into the pack, a legitimate reason to invade Al's little "hideout".

"So I am to be my brother's keeper as well as my own... very well," the champagne wolf drawled back in turn, but his scraggly tail swayed slowly in a display of gratitude. "I'll do what I can. Are there any specific duties I should mention while I chew his hide, my lord?"

The male’s response could have been taken very differently had his stance not remained so relaxed, yet still Phineas eyed him wearily. He trusted Albireo as far as he could throw him, and it would have been a lie to say the thought of killing the useless male and feeding him to his pack for their survival and strength through the winter had not crossed his mind.

Lucky for the Cygni, he had not made such a desperate decision.

But Phineas’ patience was at an end – the winter had been harsh on them all, and with the death of his son went the more docile and understanding nature he had once built Magnolia Glen upon. The very best of their members had disappeared, and the ones that now remained were mostly strangers, seeking their ranks only in hopes of escaping the harshness of winter and the life of a lone wolf. Come the melting of the snows, he would see how deep their loyalty ran.. or else they would flee from his lands with his teeth marks upon their hind.

“You will both be expected to work at filling the caches and marking the borders.” There was a small pause then from the ivory regal, and as his eyes skeptically slid over the Cygni brother, a small smirk seemed to almost preen at the corner of his lips. “And perhaps, come the warmer weather, you and I will be taking a quick journey across the mountains.” He would leave it at that – first, it had yet to be seen whether or not the male and his brother would even be staying within his home.

The other wolf seemed to be deep in thought, and Deneb willed himself to wait patiently. His new lord still seemed wary of him, but that was only to be expected. Luckily, it also seemed that he wasn't going to change his mind and chase Deneb away... at least for now. After a moment had passed he spoke again, glancing at Deneb with a dubious glint in his eye.

Border patrol and food procurement - as routine a task as could be given. Grunt work. Again, it was only to be expected, but inwardly the Cygni vowed not to hang around on the bottom rung for long. First he would rehabilitate himself, wait and see... If he couldn't climb up the ladder in this pack, then perhaps his tenure here would be temporary, lasting only until he had what he wanted from Albireo. Finding food could be tricky, but Deneb wasn't without tricks of his own. At least he'd have plenty of time to himself to think.

The mention of going over the mountains piqued Deneb's interest, and the male's triangular ears tipped forward with curiosity. Den was tempted to contemplate the reasons, the implications.... but it was a bridge to cross later. Right now, his new alpha had made his new responsibilities obvious. Deneb didn't want to linger and press his luck, he had what he wanted for today.

"I understand," he stated with flat simplicity. The smoky white wolf shuffled his paws, ready to conclude their meeting since it seemed that this king wasn't one to mince words. Abruptly another thought occurred to him. "May I ask... what should I call you, my lord?" the Cygni inquired, hoping the question would not cause offense. Although he'd heard it said that the alpha male of the Glen was called Phineas, he hadn't heard it from this wolf himself, and it wasn't the kind of thing Deneb wished to be mistaken about.

SO sorry for the wait. <3 And his abrupt departure.. but thought we could end the thread. <3

His pale companion seemed to accept the words he’d spoken – giving no hint to what he felt at the potential journey Phineas had mentioned or what it could mean. It had been a task he had meant to do with Inkheart before winter – the two had even set off upon the journey, only to return speedily due to a cougar traipsing far too closely to their borders. At the time, the ivory regal had meant to introduce the Glen to their neighbors – yet he had heard nothing of any of them in months now, spare for the altercation with Borlla’s family of Oak Tree Bend. Whether the other packs of the area were simply homebodies or nonexistent, Phineas couldn’t bring himself to care.. so long as they kept to their own business.

Phineas Argyris, he introduced with a low drawl, content that the male had at least bothered to ask – how many loners had showed up upon his doorstep with the pretense of desiring to run among them, only to never question his identity? My mate is Borlla Tainn-Argyris, he offered as well, knowing it likely the ivory wolf would come across her scent as well, if not herself.. depending how long he lasted within their ranks.

With a nod, the Leader took a pace back, giving his pelt a light shake before he gave a tip of his muzzle in the direction of home. Your brother is likely somewhere in there.. doing nothing, as usual. I’ll leave you alone to have your reunion, he murmured dryly. He held no love for Albireo and it would seem he had now made that much obvious. With another nod, the large wolf turned, his own figure continuing to lumber along the borders and away from the newly accepted Glen wolf.