Riddle Heights By the Stars

(Hope you don't mind Missy but I pp'ed Seraphina just a tad. Let me know if you want to change it:3)


It hadn't taken long for them to get back to the borders of @Seraphina's borders, only a few minutes as they hadn't gone far to talk. Seraphina had placed the antlers she had been carrying and called for her leader, @Phineas to come to the borders if he could. Myrrhis waited patiently, holding her present of meat that she would give the leader upon his arrival, to show her good will towards him and his pack. She hoped he would accept her, for she knew her old age could possibly throw him off and not help her in joining the pack.

The elder woman went through her greeting and sorted out answers to any possible questions he might ask her, such as what her skills were and what she could offer the pack, like Seraphina had asked. I am both a teacher and a healer, having years of experience in both. She went over in her head to herself, glancing over to Seraphina. The girl was being very helpful to her, allowing her to follow her pack to the borders of her pack and giving the elder a chance to be a part of her pack. Myrrhis pondered if she should thank the girl now or later but pushed those thoughts aside. She would be joining this pack and thus could thank her later. She had to.

If she didn't find a pack to be a part of soon, then she would have to survive the winter alone and Myrrhis wasn't sure that she would survive to see the end of it, even if she wasn't the oldest wolf around.

Nope, don't mind at all :)

Seraphina waited patiently for Phineas to arrive, the antlers sitting on the ground to her right. She decided she would introduce Myrrhis first and let her make her request to join. After Phineas replied, she would then offer him her gift. Pack business had to come first, after all. The dark coated Faye wondered, yet again, if Phineas would accept Myrrhis. The woman was old but she was a teacher and a healer and Seraphina didn't think that the pack had either of those at the moment. If he did not accept her Seraphina worried that she would not make it through the winter on her own. Would Phina be able to watch the woman walk away, knowing her fate? It didn't seem right and Phina hoped she wouldn't have to make that decision. She had believed that the Moon had brought this woman here in answer of her prayers, but perhaps Phina was meant to help her as well. How could Phina turn her back on someone that the Moon delivered to her? Seraphina took a deep breathe and begged her thoughts and heart to steady. Her outward appearance remained rather stoic, but she hinted at the anxiety within with little nervous gestures. The way she licked her already pristine fur and the way she kept readjusting her weight, were all small signs that she was nervous, signs that would go unnoticed by most. Even so, her nerves were beginning to frustrate her. She should have nothing to worry about. Whatever the world (or whatever Phineas) threw at her, she could handle. She needed to start acting like the old Seraphina again and not the one who was whining about not being welcomed with open arms into this new pack. She had to prove herself, she knew that. There was nothing to be gained by fretting about the future. She was a Faye , dammit, and one of the many things every Faye is taught is that life is meant to be lived in the moment. With that, Phina steadied herself and awaited her leader. "Speech"

Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief

The ivory regal prowled the borders, a task he partook every day that passed by. The steady thrum of his paws upon the frozen grounds soothed him in a way, and as his eyes glinted toward the distance, noting the foothills offered the start of a stunning view of the valleys below, he could almost feel at ease.

Or, he would have, if Desdemona was not within his ranks. There was not a moment that passed to which he did not scold his foolishness for giving in to her once more.. to allowing her within his home. It was only a matter of time when her vengeance would strike, and while he once had felt too tired to care what had become of him.. he knew that whatever it was would affect his children. If she sought to end his life, it would hurt them.. if she meant to hurt him physically, it would still affect them..

Something would have to be done.

But the thought slid from his mind uneasily as the scent of a stranger tantalized his nostrils. His large frame lifted higher in his display of dominance, and soon the Argyris man would come upon them.. though he could not be certain how long they had waited. His tangerine eyes first met Seraphina – the newest member of the pack, though not necessarily the most distrusted. She had done nothing yet to raise his suspicions, and so his ex-mate still remained the heart of his stress. Perhaps that was her ultimate goal – to give him an ulcer.

He chuffed a low woof through the winter air, his gaze finally sweeping to the other female. Had he known they were worried for her age and his thoughts toward it, a small smile might have crept upon his muzzle – for she was not much older than himself. “Seraphina, I see you’ve brought a visitor to the Plateu,” he rumbled, his features stoical as he once more regarded the new subordinate. He spoke nothing else – waiting to see what either expected of him. If it was to grow the ranks, he would not necessarily turn her away – the ranks remained unstable without a lead female, and while he had at first expected the she-wolves to sort themselves out through dominance, nothing thus far had arisen.

It was not long before the leader presented himself,his posture showing his rank and dominance above the two before him. Myrrhis lowered herself closer to the ground, showing her respect to him as she placed the meat she still carried in her mouth down before her. For a moment, she thought to let Seraphina explain what she was doing here but thought it best if Myrrhis did it herself.

"Good evening sir, I am Myrrhis." Myrrhis greeted him politely, her eyes settling on his paws as she spoke as the tip of her grey tail brushed her ankles with her ears lowered. Other then the slight amount of blood on her light coated fur, Myrrhis stood before him relatively neat and clean. "Earlier tonight, Seraphina and I meet and after speaking with her for a time, I would formally like to ask for a spot within your ranks. I am a skilled herbalist and a patient teacher for those who are willing to learn. I am especially good with pups, with plenty of stories to tell them." Remembering the meat she had taken from the moose, Myrrhis nudged it forward gently with her nose. "This is a gift, from me to you and your pack, on good tidings from myself. The carcass itself is not far away, only a few minutes walk if you wish for the rest of the meat to fill your caches." Myrrhis hoped Seraphina did not mind her mentioning the carcass the younger wolf had found.

As Phineas approached the border, Seraphina lowered her head and tail respectfully. She waited patiently as he walked up and let his emerald eyes glance over both women. In a stoical voice, he simply stated that she had brought a visitor to the Plateau and to her surprise, Seraphina felt her stomach erupt in butterflies. Why she was so nervous, she could not quite explain, though she was sure it had something to do with her leader's reserved, stoical demeanor. She was used to her overbearing father and emotional mother, so this ivory male's calm, regality was new to her and left her confused as to how to act. Luckily, Myrrhis spoke up and explained why she was here. Not for the first time tonight, Seraphina was grateful for the old woman's presence, and impressed by how well spoken Myrrhis was. Comforted by Myrrhis' presence, Seraphina was able to reign in her nerves and assert herself in her typical regal, confident manner."After speaking with her, I believe she would make an excellent Teacher and her skills as a Healer are certainly not inessential." Seraphina was relieved to find that her voice was steady and smooth, as it should be. Coming to a new land had rocked her normally stable personality and brought to light some of her insecurities. Myrrhis, however, seemed to be the solution to this problem. Something about the older she wolf made Seraphina feel comfortable. Perhaps, it was their shared belief in the Moon. Meeting someone who believed in the Moon as she did certainly made Phina feel like less of an alien in this new land. Whatever the reason was, Seraphina hoped that Phineas would accept Myrrhis into the pack, for both their sakes. "Speech"

Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief

By all means, her list of talents were not only useful, but very much required in the pack. Magnolia Glen before had never held a wolf in the rank of healer for long -- though a few had desired to learn the co-rank had disappeared; Lucero being the one who stood out in his mind the most. His concern for her disappearance had eventually disspipitated -- another abandoner like the many before and after her. "These are all very good qualities," he agreed, his eyes shifting down to the gift she had presented for the pack. A small smile formed at his lips and he gave a light dip of his muzzle to indicate his gratitude -- his pups could use the meat. The promise of a carcass not far off was also of good benefit to the pack. It could tide them over before the next hunt hoped to hold soon.

"But that leaves the question begging to be asked.. Why are you currently a lone wolf?" Not to say he felt it a bad thing -- but the lingering curiosity was there. Had she left her previous pack? Wolves of his and her age tended to be more settled in life, versus the wayward yearling that would creep along his borders from time to time. Perhaps the pack itself had disbanded.

Waiting, the male subtly shifted his weight, his eyes bright as they drifted between the two she-wolves. Slowly but surely, the Plateau was becoming home, and soon he could only hope that the death of his son and the disappearance of his mate would be of a past he could reflect on, but would no longer stir his heart in to an ache so powerful he felt he could lose his breath.

(This post was last modified: Nov 30, 2014, 09:29 PM by Phineas.)

And there was the question Myrrhis was expecting. The specter that still haunted her, no matter what she did to be rid of it. But she was ready to answer it and so she did.

"The leaders of my old pack and I...There was a misunderstanding between us and I had to leave." The grey she wolf explained carefully, not wanting to spill the entire story out lest it ruin her chances of joining the pack. She fought the urge to tell him that it was none of his business, a strange feeling for the normally patient woman. "It was a personal yet painful matter that I do not wish to relive, if you do not mind my saying. Perhaps I will feel up to telling it one day in the future, for I am planning on staying for quite some time if you accept me into your pack. But the memory is too fresh and painful still, for me to speak of it just yet." She hoped that her answer was sufficient enough for him and that he wouldn't press any further. The old dame really did not want to delve any further into that particular memory, its wounds still a little too fresh and a little too clear in her mind. "I assure you it is something that will not affect me currently and that I will still be able to do any and all duties to your pack." Myrrhis would be fine, as long as she had something to do to keep her busy. She only hoped that she would be accepted otherwise, she was certain this coming winter would not be kind to her.

Seraphina watched patiently as Phineas took notice of the gift and a small smile settled itself on his regal features. She had not seen him smile since they met. Of course, they had not spent much time together, but this smile seemed so subtle and gentle that Phina wondered if he was not the type who seldom found reason to smile. Being stoic, reasonable, controlled--these were all virtues that most King's wanted for and Seraphina respected her King all the more for having them. Still, the young Faye wondered if he had always been this way, or was it tragedy that had fortified these graces in him? Well, she could wonder all night long, but his past was none of her business and she was content to serve a man who allowed her the opportunity to prove herself. With that, the dappled woman focused on what her friend Myrrhis had to say in response to Phineas' question. Phina kept her eyes on Myrrhis' silvery features as the older woman explained that she did not wish to go into detail, but that what had separated her from her old pack would not follow her into her new one. Seraphina smiled as she thought of how her father might respond to this, though the old King would never let a non-Faye into his pack in the first place. Still, Myrrhis' hesitancy to reveal her secrets reminded her of King Oberon. Phina could hear his deep voice clearly in her thoughts, 'You may keep your secrets, Myrrhis, for I have my own. The key to peace is secrecy and order, so as my subordinate I will allow you to have your privacy if as your King you allow me to have mine.' A giggle might have escaped Phina's lips if she had not parted with her father on such poor terms. Instead, she let herself remember her second birthday when she made the mandatory vow to keep the existence and location of Revelry Rapids a secret, in order to protect the privacy of her family. With this memory playing out in the background of her thoughts, Phina waited to hear how Phineas would respond to Myrrhis' past and to her request for privacy in regards to it. "Speech"

Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief

A lynx has left behind the remains of a deer. +5 Health

She did not wish to reveal her reasons for being a lone wolf – something that left the ivory male unsettled. Everyone was entitled to their secrets – he certainly had his own.. but when the chance of another’s secrets coming back to haunt his family and pack.. the thought gripped him. A noncommittal rumble escaped him then, his thoughts his own as he debated on what to do now. He could easily have turned her away then – allowed her to take her gift to sustain her until she found her way to another pack.. Oak Tree Bend, even. But had he not allowed Desdemona in to his ranks, above all others? If he was willing to place any form of trust in another, it was certainly not his ex-mate – and so he gave a slow nod, though his muscles tensed. Trusting another did not come so easily to him any longer.

“As long as this past and secret does not come back to harm my children or pack mates in any form,” he offered slowly, his figure straightening as his eyes studied her more closely. “Then you may consider yourself a member of this pack.” Normally, he would have continued then – welcomed her briefly to the pack, and thanked her for sharing her resources with them. He was usually quick to check on his children – providing them with meat was simply a bonus. Instead though, he waited, wanting to hear the reiteration of what he had just said from her – that her past would not come to haunt his children in any form.