A cool and gentle wind blew, carrying the scent of rain throughout the forest. Bleddyn knew he had to hurry, to get to the border as fast as he could. The wounds to his face were still fresh; the scars over his eyes kept him from opening them fully, and the rain would only inhibit his vision further. But the wolf had no idea why he was going to a Pack border. He had been born to live a life of solitude; why should he desire a change now? Pack life meant depending on others, placing your life in their paws. Being a lone wolf meant he had none but himself to take care of, to depend on, and that was the way he liked it. Bleddyn could hardly see himself trusting anyone that much. So what was he doing? Thunder rolled in the distance, and the once gentle wind began to pick up speed. Bleddyn stopped a few yards from the treeline that divided a Pack from a lone wolf. Did he really want to go through with this? After all, he had no reason to join them... no reason he could think of, anyway. But something beckoned him, called to him in dreams. Another rumble of thunder sounded, this one closer than the first. The first drops of rain fell from the dark clouds above. One landed between Bleddyn's ears, bringing him out of his thoughts. He looked up at the sky and whined slightly before continuing on. Now he was at the very edge of a Pack's territory, a few more steps saw him crossing into their world. Already his nose was filled with many scents. Bleddyn looked over his shoulder; he wasn't that far into the territory, he could still go back... But it would be cowardly. Why dare enter another's home uninvited only to tuck tail and run before anything happens? Whatever happened, Bleddyn would face it head-on like always. Closing his eyes, Bleddyn lifted his muzzle to the sky and let the winds carry his howl into the forest. He sat then, his ears flicking to the contrasting sounds of thunder and rain, and waited.
Elder Azul Site Owner
Posts : 838 Join date : 2012-12-15 Age : 36 Location : Camden, SC
It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live
Ten years. Ten long years. Azul had seen so much in his time here, he had been in this pack from the very start of it when he, Steele and Kenai moved here together. The ivory elder was the oldest in his pack, and one of the most well put together. Time was a healer for many things. He had lost loved ones, missed precious moments, and still he was here - outliving his whole family. His body was old too, aches and pains in almost all of his joints. If he stood up too fast, he would get dizzy. Loud noises affected him in a negative way. He kept his eyes closed as often as he could. There was no new life here. The pack had brought no offspring this year. It was slightly sad. Only a few pups stayed, but they were all old enough to venture out on their own, and choose mentors. They were growing and thriving. They had become welcomed wolves into their society. But with everything he had ever seen, it was always about respect.
He was the first to hear the call - perhaps. Or the others had been to busy to answer such a request. Whatever it was, Azul was going to move towards the direction of the howl. It was strange weather for the season. Since Spring had passed, Summer was hot and extra dry. Rain was a good change of pace. It was cooling and the loud crashes of thunder were not too terrible. It did hurt his ears the closer they got to him, but he was on a mission. His ears pressed to his head as he moved through the woods. As he drew nearer, he could smell the strong scent of an outsider in their territory. Like fire to a dead tree, Azul changed. His tail raised above his back as it had for many years. The fur along his spine stood all up, higher than it could possibly stand. He was on edge. Was this an attack from the vile pack out east? Was this a messenger? He snarled and growled, giving the impression of a very unfriendly natured old wolf.
When Azul finally found the new wolf, he lunged forward, stopping the wolf from proceeding further. "Who the hell are you and what makes you think you can come into my lands? Are you seeking our young? Do you wish to fight with the Alpha?" Azul had all but forgotten his place in the pack, but right now it was time to strike, to save the others from a doom he could not even imagine. He was not going to allow this wolf to go anywhere else and even better to run it out of Helidos completely. This was his home and he was going to defend it with his life. He breathed heavily, his chest rising and falling as the thunder boomed behind him and crashes of lightning lit up the sky.
"Speech" // 'Thoughts' // Actions
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Table by Sieglinde; Image credit to Dawnthieves
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Subject: Re: A New Life June 15th 2016, 13:14
Bleddyn still sat, wondering if he was making the right decision. The rain still poured, weighing down his coat and numbing his skin. He was a little cold, but it felt tremedously good on his face. As he waited and debted sending another howl into the forest, Bleddyin again went over the pros and cons of being in a Pack. No matter how many times he did it, however, he came no closer to deciding on anything. A few times, he did consider leaving and just forgetting about this whole thing, But it was important to follow your instincts; at least, that's what his mother had always told him. He just wished he knew why they were leading him here.
Soon, the winds died down and the rain followed for awhile.. twice. The young wolf glared up at the dark clouds for being so indecisive. And then he picked up a fresh scent, though he almost missed it because of the rain. FInally, it seemed his call was being answered, but what was this he heard? A growl, snarling, was being carried to his ears and grew ever closer. An old wolf leapt in front of Bleddyn, startling him. He jumped up, his ears pinned back a little as he watched the much older wolf. 'Iknew this was a bad idea,' he thought as he contemplated turning aound and running. He hadn't come here for a fight and certainly not with an elderly wolf.
The old timer seemed convinced Bleddyn was here to cause trouble, judging by his hostility and questions. Bleddyn took a defensive stance as he watched the Helidos wolf; he didn't want to fight, but he would if he had to. "I don't want to fight anyone!" he yelled over a crash of thunder. "I don"t want any trouble, I just came here to... Actually, I don't know why I am here." The young wolf closed his already half-shut eyes as he shook the water from his coat. Immediately, he adopted a defensive stance again and waited for the old wolf's response.
Elder Azul Site Owner
Posts : 838 Join date : 2012-12-15 Age : 36 Location : Camden, SC
It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live
He snarled and growled, even as the wolf spoke to him. No sign of submission anywhere. Instead, this wolf showed signs that they did not care about making peace with the pack wolf. Helidos ran through his veins, it was his scent majorly that built this foundation. He continued to show signs of aggression and aggravation. "You do not just come into a pack's lands and demand to be a member of their society. That's not how this works! You stand outside our boundary, you howl. When a member of the pack, such as myself greets you, you show submission. Do you know how to properly submit to another? If your mother or father had any decency they would teach you such manners. Then you ask, still submitting, and show a damn bit of respect, hell - all of the respect you can muster." The wolf before him shook his fur out, forcing water to go everywhere. Yes they were already wet, but it was worse to get it this way. "Show some damn respect and tell me your name, your skills, and your experience in said skills." Azul was not going to be calm or accepting. He was angered and trying to defend the last thing that meant anything to him. His pack.
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Table by Sieglinde; Image credit to Dawnthieves
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Subject: Re: A New Life June 19th 2016, 13:39
Bleddyn growled a little. Submission wasn't a concept with which he was not familiar. Why should he submit to some wolf just because it answered his call? Because it was a Helidos Wolf? Well what made him so special compared to a lone wolf like Bleddyn? The young Arctic Wolf listened to the older's aggressive words and foul language, wondering how he could show respect to one who spoke as this one did. Another rumble of thunder sounded, but it was more distant than its predecessors. Bleddyn shook out his coat again before sitting down. "I cannot show respect to one like you. Your language is distasteful; I used no such words with you. I only asked a moment of your time, you answer with aggression. You speak ill of my mother but never knew her... If your Pack has no need of a hunter or one who could hold his own in a fight, fine. If you don't need a protector or tracker or someone who knows enough about herbs to mend a minor wound, I can leave. I don't need a Pack... but I do need something. I don't know what it is, but I thought I could find it here among your kind. Maybe I'm wrong but..." Bleddyn trailed off as drops of rain landed on his muzzle, causing him to feel pain there for the first time since the cold set in. He winced slightly as he rasped his tongue over his muzzle, licking the three scratches there. "I don't want any trouble. And I only give my name to those I trust. I don't trust you..."
Elder Azul Site Owner
Posts : 838 Join date : 2012-12-15 Age : 36 Location : Camden, SC
It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live
Never had Azul been so disrespected in his life. Even Steele was respectful, even when he was getting to the end of his time in Helidos. Azul was King and was always treated as such, even when he stepped down from his throne. Azul looked over the young Arctic wolf, he who was much smaller than he and far younger. He guessed this wolf was about two to three years possibly even four years of age. Nothing older. "You couldn't begin to understand.." he said with a calm voice. His growls and snarls stopped. He held his tail high above his spine and his fur was on end. "I started this pack from nothing. Myself and two other wolves, but they were my Elite and my Beta. Both were close to me, yet the Elite was my closest friend. We started this pack long before you were even a thought in your mother's mind or in your father's. I have lived here for these last five long years. I have seen wolves come and go, friends die, family killed. In the last few months, we have had a surplus of incoming threats. Our pack was forced into a war against the pack of the East - Erenyx. They are monsters and have been seeking ways to come for us. You crossed our lands, so of course I am going to defend my home. You show no respect, so I do not ease up. I know I do not have much time left in these woods, but I will never allow anymore harm to come to those that I love. This pack is nurturing to those who deserve it, to those who seek a home. But I will not allow you entrance until you submit. I will not allow you a second chance. Should you show me different, I will reconsider - but as it stands now, I would rather send you to Erenyx or at least completely out of these lands." He stood tall, not showing his naturally friendly disposition. He was calm, though he would be ready to strike if need be. He was not one to allow any kind of nuisance into the pack. They did not need more trouble, they needed understanding wolves.
"Speech" // 'Thoughts' // Actions
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Table by Sieglinde; Image credit to Dawnthieves
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Posts : 18 Join date : 2015-11-02
Subject: Re: A New Life June 19th 2016, 16:50
– F O R E C A S T –
The rain has ceased, but the thunder still rolls on. Flashes of lightning can be seen in the distance. But soon, these too shall pass as the storm seems to dissipate.
If he were a pup or simply had a different sort of personality, Bleddyn might have wagged his tail, smiled. But he wasn't so he did not show any sign of being pleased with the older wolf's change. He half listened to the story the other wolf told, trying to look at least somewhat respectful; after all the old one had calmed down. He took more interest when the Helidos Wolf spoke of the rival pack and how he would defend his own. Despite the slight admiration he now had, he still didn't understand why he should submit to this wolf. Bleddyn looked past the wolf and into the forest. Something called, but what and why? He had to find out, even if it meant doing what this old wolf seemed to think he should just automatically do. "I showed more respect than you claim, old wolf. I didn't attack you for greeting me as you did.. I still don't understand why I should submit to you. But I suppose it's a pack thing, and I have to learn your ways if I want to find whatever it is I'm looking for." Almost against his will, Bleddyn's body sank to the ground and he rolled over onto his back, exposing his underbelly and throat to the old wolf.
Elder Azul Site Owner
Posts : 838 Join date : 2012-12-15 Age : 36 Location : Camden, SC
It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live
If it had been anyone else, this stranger would have been attacked. Sometimes Azul wished that things had never changed - that he was still the Alpha and Steele was around to handle such issues. Azul looked to the other, pausing as he listened to the other wolf. He spoke, still not telling the elder all he wished to know. He never explained why he came into Heldios. He never gave his name. The great white wolf cleared his throat and stared down to the wolf before him. He was thinking over everything in his mind. The wolf before him dropped to the ground and exposed his stomach to the Elder. He would have shook his head, but he wanted to be a little more respectful towards the other. "Even with your lack of following instructions, it would be cruel of me to turn you away with how dangerous these lands are. What is your name son? I am Azul." He would allow the other to enter, but he needed more information from the other. He was not the one to allow complete strangers into his pack.
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Table by Sieglinde; Image credit to Dawnthieves
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Subject: Re: A New Life June 21st 2016, 11:20
With how the old wolf had been acting, Bleddyn expected him to pounce and kill him. So he was surprised when the old one remained calm and asked for his name. However, Bleddyn did not trust this Helidos Wolf, nor would he anytime soon. But... he needed to gain entrance to this pack. By now, Bleddyn had rolled back over onto his stomach and he moved away from a tree that flung water onto his muzzle. "I follow instructions... my instructions. And I know the dangers of the land, they are as clear as these claw marks. I have lived with these dangers my whole life, going back to them is no trouble for me. My name is.... Bleddyn. But this doesn't mean I trust you.."
Elder Azul Site Owner
Posts : 838 Join date : 2012-12-15 Age : 36 Location : Camden, SC
It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live
Azul could not believe the words that came from Bleddyn's mouth. He submitted - yes, but that was not enough. This wolf was not trustworthy himself, so how could he allow this being to live in his home? He wouldn't. Azul stood tall and allowed his tail to drop behind him. No longer was he angered by the wolf before him. He had made up his mind and determined that Bleddyn was never to be a wolf of Helidos, not while he was still living and breathing. "That doesn't make sense. If you were so used to the dangers and all that where you came from, why did you not stay there? You are not Helidos material and I will not be allowing you to enter my lands any further than you already have. I tried to reason with you, but you are thick-headed and untrustworthy. Leave these lands now, before I make you leave myself. Should you think you can best me, I will be sure to alert the other wolves of my pack, and together we will run you out. Now leave," he snarled as he bared his old blood-stained fangs. He was not going to play games or allow some young wolf to think he was better than anyone else here. He could put no confidence in this stranger and he would not allow any of his pack mates to do that as well.
"Speech" // 'Thoughts' // Actions
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Table by Sieglinde; Image credit to Dawnthieves
Bleddyn is allowed to go to any of the pack's borders and try entrance there, but will not be allowed in Helidos.