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Topsoil
May 19, 2014 20:50:30 GMT -5
Post by Cascade on May 19, 2014 20:50:30 GMT -5
The days were longer in the summer, and the forest reveled in the extra hours of sunlight. The harsh rays of sun that drove wolves into the shade fueled the very leaves that shaded them, and because Perjury knew that the autumn would be here before she knew it, she allowed herself a rest by the riverbank. Of course, her body being inactive was all the more reason to have an active mind, and in her repose she allowed herself to think of the mud. She had wondered more than once about hypothetically finding herself in a fight with a wolf who had power over water in a pit of mud and, all else being equal, which one of them in that scenario would have the upper hand. When soil and water mixed together, did it even matter which power you had? It certainly mattered to her. She didn't know why it was, but she could not think of herself as "water" wolf. For one, water would always be associated with the Honovi in her mind, for it was they who brought the nourishing pools to their lands while her grandfather turned and tilled the soil. For another, she had been a wolf of soil since the day she came into this world. Unlike those who sought power from the White Wolves long after they had left the warmth of their mothers' bellies, Perjury had never not had power. She had the power of an alphess and the power of magic from the moment she was born, such that she could not comprehend a life without either one. That was dangerous, and she knew it.
Still, there was no need to get worked up when the only thing menacing her was a muddy riverbank. It was always worth it to have a plan just-in-case, for all manner of just-in-cases, but it was also worth it to let herself relax a little during peacetime. Settling down onto her paws, she cast the latent dust from her fur with a quick exhale and briefly entertained the thought of going for a swim. Come spring the current would sweep her away, and autumn and winter were far too cold for that sort of activity. Summer might be her last chance for a long time. She considered it for a good while, but in the end decided that a swim, though refreshing, couldn't be the comfort of lying in the soil.
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Topsoil
May 19, 2014 22:07:24 GMT -5
Post by Gyllbane on May 19, 2014 22:07:24 GMT -5
Vanitas believed himself to be many things. Strong and capable were at the top of the list - his well-muscled frame was evidence enough of that, and he had never doubted his physical capabilities. Mental acuity was there, too - he wasn't exactly one to boast, but he'd begun to understand over his few years of life that he was a cut above most of the others he'd met.
He'd never had much use for authority figures. His parents had been simple creatures, no affinity for light or dark, walking the edges with their selective morals and standoffish attitude towards the other two alignments. Vanitas had never had such reservations; he'd left them and their petty choosiness behind without remorse from either party. He'd first sought out Frigid Plague out of necessity - winter was harsh and bitter, and eased by the presence of other like-minded individuals, as few as they were. Still, he didn't take well to orders. He wasn't revolutionary or a particularly independent soul - he just didn't see the point in serving some wolf who might eventually lead him - and the rest of their pack - to ruin. He had heard stories, heard tales from travelers of past Evil packs that had driven themselves into the dirt, left only tales for wanderers to spin into epics.
That was all before he'd met Perjury. From their first encounter he'd sensed something different about her, and it wasn't just her famed power - she was a natural born leader, the rightful alphess of her pack and she wielded that knowledge with the strength of one much older and wiser than she. She was not the rabble he'd kept company with for short stints, only to grow bored of them and leave them to their own devices. His respect for her allowed him to willingly serve under her, and be somewhat content that he would not be led to some undignified, pitiful end.
He'd taken to the packlands after his acceptance, learning their layout, the way the river wound its way through the woods. The Frigid Plague, though small, had gained quite the territory - another testament to the strength of a true leader. The warmth of the day had driven him back to the water's edge, where the forest they occupied was coolest, and had been surprised for a moment when he sighted his alpha. Then again, he reasoned, she was just as much a wolf as the rest of the pack, and any wolf needed a break from the heat once in awhile.
He approached slowly, stopping a respectful distance from her; although he had been officially accepted, he wasn't sure how she would take to an intrusion on her respite. "Alpha Perjury." He gave a respectful bow of his head. "I have little to report; I have ventured the packlands, walked our borders, and it seems... calm. Quiet." Some part of him wanted to ask if there had been any new recruits - he had not seen a single soul since joining, but he was hesitant, unsure if it was a sore spot for the alpha.
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Topsoil
May 19, 2014 23:28:14 GMT -5
Post by Cascade on May 19, 2014 23:28:14 GMT -5
The interruption of her quiet time was neither surprising nor unwelcome. She had been practicing feeling out the tremors in the earth, and while at this experimental stage it was by no means an exact science, she could gather enough information to tell that there was a large wolf approaching her at a walking pace. The rest she figured out through process of elimination...and, unfortunately, there were only two possibilities: A loner with a deathwish who thought he could casually stroll where he pleased, or Vanitas. The sight of him coming through the trees confirmed what she already knew, and she nodded in acknowledgment of his greeting and beckoned him with her muzzle to have a seat if he pleased.
There were quite a few things that Perjury liked about Vanitas. His loyalty most of all, and most obviously. His reliability, and the clever wickedness of his tongue. Important things aside, though, she could help but secretly enjoy his coat. It looked to her like blood-stained soil, which was appealing to her in a way that she couldn't fully describe but, gun to her head, she'd have to say that it was because he looked like a wolf who had fought for his homeland and won. Her territory famously had not been won with blood, but it was kept with blood. The blood of intruders, the blood of usurpers, the blood of traitors. Not all on her paws, but enough that she liked to be reminded of the things she had done to protect her home, and he served as that reminder. She'd never tell.
Good feelings aside, his news was troubling. "Good afternoon," she started, trying not to rush into matters of businesses too quickly nor get too rapt up in her own head, "It's a beautiful day, in the most beautiful place in the valley. It is indeed a shame that there aren't more of us to enjoy it." The reality of their current situation was a tough pill to swallow, but if it wasn't her duty to face these kinds of challenges, whose was it? "It is not just our lands that are empty. The whole valley is quiet. I ventured outside the territory not long ago and met only one other in the entire forest." It was true. That brief encounter with the wolf Dmitri was the living wolf she'd crossed paths with. The smaller territories of the forest and even the glade on the edge of the meadow were abandoned, the scents that marked their borders either gone or so faded that they couldn't repel anyone.
On the surface it was a very hopeless situation, but this wasn't the first time in Perjury's short life that all seemed lost. "Stay strong," she said, doubtless that he would, "Nothing on this earth is only bad. We are not, and neither is anything that may cross our path. It is bad that we have so few in our ranks, but there is goodness our strong bond with the Honovi, stronger now that together we may have triple the numbers of the sparse competitors that remain. And there is promise in the valley. The wolf I met in the forest was a newcomer who had never laid eyes on these lands. Our valley is more prosperous than any other, and now that the outlanders know that they are leaving their famine behind to come here. There is nothing to do but wait for those with evil hearts to seek us out."
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Topsoil
May 20, 2014 2:11:47 GMT -5
Post by Gyllbane on May 20, 2014 2:11:47 GMT -5
He was grateful to see he hadn't disturbed her, and moved to take a seat near her, the soil beneath them comfortably cool despite the heat. It was a comfortable day to lounge, he surmised - too hot to hunt except in the twilight hours, too hot to leave the redwoods. They were truly fortunate to have claimed such a choice land for their own - though her words worried him.
All too well he understood the implications of what she said. The valley being empty had its boons, yes - easier hunting and less threat of attack were always good. But the silence would inevitably allow them to grow soft - and indeed, the whole valley could be in jeopardy from its lack of the key predator. The balance of the valley that had been upset years before was slowly realigning itself - though not fast enough for Vanitas', and apparently Perjury's, liking. The valley, and more urgently, the pack needed more wolves to survive.
He listened carefully to his alpha's words, soaking them in. Patience was not one of his virtues - the only reason he had not lashed out at the problem was because he had no idea where to start. How did one solve a problem of scarcity, after all, if the suffering you experienced was merely the side effect of a much larger problem? But learn he must, if he would contribute to the pack, so he paid Perjury the attention she was due.
"And come to us they shall." He nodded in agreement. Frigid Plague was a well-known pack despite its current lack of numbers; it had left its pawprint on the history of the valley just as much as any of the other old blood packs. He trusted his alpha's word - they would come. His interest had been piqued at the mention of the outsider, however. "I wasn't aware that there was new blood in the shadow of the mountain, though." The prospect intrigued him; he'd met his fair share of Valley wolves, sparse as they were, but had never spoken to a true outsider. "Interesting indeed. Though I presume he wasn't of our alignment." What would wolves of an evil temperament be like that had wandered in from the Shades, or some other locale? He wasn't overly fond of company, but new things always begged attention. An opportunity for new information, pertinent or not, was always of some degree of importance.
Curious, though, he looked over at her. "Have you seen the places beyond the Valley, at all? Or at the very least, heard stories?" Lesser seen than outsiders were valley wolves who had seen the lands beyond - one had to have quite the wandering heart to leave such a fortuitous place as the mountain. He somehow doubted that Perjury had left - she was more connected to this place than even he - but she might have some stories nonetheless.
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May 20, 2014 11:41:30 GMT -5
Post by Cascade on May 20, 2014 11:41:30 GMT -5
"Evil hearts live everywhere, even beyond the valley. Whether they are in possession of all their mental faculties is another question, but I see no reason to believe that there are no outlanders like us." Perjury drew lines in the dirt with her claws, a habit she had when she was thinking. "I have never been outside the land protected by the mountain," she admitted, "But I have heard conflicting reports of what lies beyond. Some say there is no magic there, others say that there is greater magic than we of the valley can imagine. I don't know which to believe, but they're both far-fetched. I suppose the only way to discover the truth would be to see it with my own eyes, but the Frigid Plague be run out of this forest the moment some opportunistic wolf learned of my absence."
She looked back at him, meeting his gaze, "There are wolves here who call themselves 'good' who wouldn't think twice about driving a pack out of their homeland, just as long as they could call it 'justice.' Don't forget this, Vanitas. We live in peace as reviled beings, while those who would make war on us are hailed as righteous. How many of their own do you think they would sacrifice in battle to do nothing but unseat an evil pack from a position of power?" She paused to let him consider her question. Perjury had no qualms about violence. If there was something the Frigid Plague or the Honovi needed, she would take it by force if necessarily because her pack and her allies came first, and she would not hide behind a facade of moral justification for her actions. Her actions were not "good," they were good for her pack. Others' ability to protect themselves from the Frigid Plague was not her responsibility, her only responsibility was to the wolves whom she had promised to protect, and protecting them certainly didn't entail throwing their lives away for the sake of a moral crusade.
"Don't spend too much time worrying about lands that none of us have ever seen or the wolves that come from those lands. You will find that they are not as much trouble as those who are already here."
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May 20, 2014 14:13:21 GMT -5
Post by Gyllbane on May 20, 2014 14:13:21 GMT -5
He listened intently to her description of the outside - it was hard to believe that there might be a place more permeated by magic than the valley. The power that the mountain held was evident; even in times of famine the valley had prospered. His interest in the outside was not overshadowed by his desire for safety and prosperity; as long as the valley continued to provide, it would take a fool of a pack to leave this place.
When she mentioned the Good packs, though, his mood soured a bit. To be thrown to the side, to be treated as disposable for the sake of one's precious morals - he reviled the thought. There were few things he hated more than the idea of being someone's sacrifice, especially someone who supposedly had some "greater good" in mind - they could only be deluded, as far as he was concerned. The greatest good he had was himself - and now, his pack. There was no supposed higher calling he answered to; the strength of his allies, however few they numbered at the moment, were far more important than any righteous folly. It was the reason he'd never be Good, never be able to call himself Neutral without lying. Morals were for wolves who wanted to hide their true intentions. For him to do so would be shameful.
"I understand. The lands beyond the valley may be interesting to think about, but the prosperity of the valley is more of a guarantee than any of the stories outsiders could spin. And besides," He gave a small grin despite himself. "We can't just allow the Eternal Snowfall overrun this place. There is a balance to maintain, after all."
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May 20, 2014 19:06:10 GMT -5
Post by Cascade on May 20, 2014 19:06:10 GMT -5
Vanitas' grin was infectious, even to the alphess. She couldn't help but smile at his tenacity, optimistic as it was. "It's true. We can't allow them to think that they'd have a chance against us in a war...the magnitude of their losses would be uncomfortable even for I to bear." Perjury pressed her paw into the ground and watched it sink in like water as she parted the soil around it with her power, "We would bury them alive."
Imaginary killings were better than real killings, but better yet was forgetting about one's hypothetical problems and focusing on the real, and Perjury hadn't seen much of Vanitas over the last few days. "I've been meaning to ask, how are you? All this talk of grand strategy could make one forget about the individuals. This is the first time I've seen you in a while; I hope you have managed to find time for yourself outside of border duty."
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Topsoil
May 21, 2014 0:40:32 GMT -5
Post by Gyllbane on May 21, 2014 0:40:32 GMT -5
He watched her paw bury itself in the earth with vague interest, the dark soil parting around it seemingly miraculously. He'd grown up knowing about the powers, known a few wolves with them, but few displayed the strength and mastery of their gifts that Perjury did. He had never had much desire for a piece of the mountain's power; he trusted in his own strength well enough that he did not feel the need to augment it, and the idea of risking life and limb to the whims of Geist was not appealing. Still, advantages were advantages no matter where they came from, and he couldn't help but admire the alpha's abilities.
At her question, however, he had to think a bit for an answer. He'd done border patrol, mentally mapped the territory - he'd spent most of the previous days simply in Frigid Plague territory. "Not much to report on that front, I'm afraid," He shrugged, his tone casual. "The summer is bountiful, as always. In truth, I have spent most of my days within the packlands - not entirely on border patrol, of course." He chuckled briefly. "But the shade of the redwoods is comfortable, especially in the heat. I enjoy these lands, but it has been rather uneventful."
He stopped and thought for a moment, then looked her way. "I would like to request, though - the next time you venture to the Honovi lands, may I accompany you? I have not seen them for myself, and though the Heathlands are all somewhat similar in nature, I have not yet met any current members of the Honovi. It would be wise to at least meet them, if we are to be allies."
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May 21, 2014 17:17:03 GMT -5
Post by Cascade on May 21, 2014 17:17:03 GMT -5
When Perjury had recruited Vanitas, he had been strongly resistant to the prospect of joining a pack and following under another's orders, but Perjury had seen the promise in him and refused to take no for an answer. It was good to hear that he was enjoying the lands and the prosperous life that her pack provided, although having others to share that prosperity with would be preferable to living with just her. Even if, in her humble opinion, she could always be relied upon to be pleasurable company.
His request regarding visiting the Honovi pleased and surprised her. She was aware that neutrals joining the Honovi often had some trepidation about the "allies with evils" part of the package, and Perjury didn't have it any easier on her end. Evils were the most insular alliance in the valley, and some of them didn't even trust other evils, let alone neutrals. Not that she could blame them, of course. Without naming names, there were more than a couple evils whom Perjury would not trust even with their own sanity. It was good to have someone who was receptive to the alliance, especially when it was not infrequent that one pack was called to the other's aid. "You certainly may come with me, in fact it would be a waste of a good wolf to leave you behind. I like your commitment to the cause, Vanitas; one would think that you had ambitions of being beta with that attitude." There was some slyness in her inflection, as she had already considered him for beta on multiple occasions, but had been met with indifference when she tried to discuss it with him. Whether it was too big of an adjustment too soon or something else, Perjury didn't know, but she thought he would be well-suited to the position regardless of his apparent disagreement.
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May 23, 2014 2:04:12 GMT -5
Post by Gyllbane on May 23, 2014 2:04:12 GMT -5
He knew a comment about his rank had been forthcoming; although she'd brought it up a few times since he'd joined, each time he'd declined her offer. Although he did not doubt his own strength of body and mind, it was another thing entirely to hold such a responsibility - responsibility which, apparently, came easier to Perjury than it did to him. Pack life was not something he had volumes of experience with, and he wanted to be sure he knew what he was getting into before committing to such a demanding role as Beta.
He took her comment in stride, however. "I am grateful for the compliment, Alphess. But I merely ask that you give me more time to consider your... rather generous offer." There, that had been more receptive than her previous attempts; he was not as wholeheartedly opposed to the idea as he had been in their previous conversations. He trusted that Perjury knew exactly the sort of responsibilities that would fall on his shoulders - he trusted her more with her decisions each passing day, but the thought of such a commitment still unsettled him, albeit less than it had before. He would wait and see - perhaps their outing to the Honovi lands would give him some much-needed insight into the matter.
"How well do you know the Honovi? I would imagine fairly well, but how often do you visit to maintain contact?"
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May 23, 2014 12:09:54 GMT -5
Post by Cascade on May 23, 2014 12:09:54 GMT -5
A more promising reaction than the ones that preceded it, for sure, but Perjury wondered for a moment if the best way to appoint someone as beta was to browbeat them into it. Almost certainly not. Still, she knew she'd have a hard time keeping herself from trying to sway him. Maybe a visit to the Honovi would do them some good...after all, there wasn't much to be done around here today.
"My visits vary, but I try to keep up to date with the goings-on there. I do know them well, better than you might think. Their alphess, Treason, was born to this pack. Her father was brother to my...her father was my uncle, so she is my cousin." The day was turning into quite the history lesson, not that Perjury minded, "She never was evil, though. I could tell from when we very young that she wasn't. It took some convincing to get her to accept that she was neutral and take her place as alphess of the Honovi, but it was best for everyone in the end."
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May 24, 2014 2:34:03 GMT -5
Post by Gyllbane on May 24, 2014 2:34:03 GMT -5
That was some of the first he'd heard of the inner workings of the Honovi - he knew very little about the decades-old pack other than of their bond with Frigid Plague. He had had no idea of Perjury's relation to the Neutral alphess - Treason, he reminded himself. He'd have to remember the name if he was to be properly introduced to her. It did not surprise him, however, learning of Treason's predicament - he'd known it personally - although he imagined his experience had taken less of a toll on him, having been born not to a pack but to a couple of loners. He had plenty of experience with neutrals in that regard; most of the ones he'd known had been rather standoffish and reclusive, but if the Honovi leader was anything like her cousin he was sure he'd like her at least a bit better than the ones he'd met previously.
"I see. So it is not just an alliance of convenience, but of blood." He pondered this for a moment; he knew their alliance stretched back into history, but just how far did it go? He figured he'd asked her to recount enough history as it was, though, so he let the question lie; it was a story for another day, and no doubt he'd hear it in time if he stayed with Frigid Plague long enough. "It makes one wonder if the lines are so clear cut between us after all."
He stretched, and stifled a yawn. The midday heat was still enough to make one drowsy here, but he didn't want his alphess thinking he was falling asleep in the middle of their conversation.
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May 24, 2014 14:57:41 GMT -5
Post by Cascade on May 24, 2014 14:57:41 GMT -5
"It's true. Evil is born to neutral, neutral is born to evil. Funny that the goods will only consider one side worthy of any positive regard, but spending too much thought on the inner workings of their minds is nothing but an exercise in frustration."
Perhaps Vanitas' urge to yawn was rude, but Perjury could only think of it as an excuse to not sit so stiffly herself. She relaxed a bit and sunk deeper into the dirt, hardening it a bit so that her fur would not be covered in loose soil. "It's quite a summer day today, isn't it?" she wondered out loud, enjoying the spotted bits of warmth where the sun's rays shone through the trees. It was a good enough day to go out for a hunt, and Perjury was beginning to feel a bit peckish.
"Would you care to accompany me to the plains to catch something to eat? We can hunt north of here and then pay a visit to the Honovi lands afterwords. A gift of food would endear you to them all that much more, I'm certain."
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Topsoil
May 24, 2014 22:44:27 GMT -5
Post by Gyllbane on May 24, 2014 22:44:27 GMT -5
The idea of hunting appealed to Vanitas; he had spent enough of his day lounging in the shade, and a joint hunting trip before visiting the Honovi lands would be just the thing to liven up an otherwise quiet day. "It would be good to make a decent first impression, yes. And I could do with a bit of exercise today - there's certainly not much to be found in border patrol." He gave her a grin. "Hunting sounds like an exceptional way to spend a summer afternoon."
He pulled himself up from his lying position, giving his coat a quick shake to rid it of any lingering dirt. "Shall we?"
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