Guided By Moonlight

[Juice]

Well it was night time but they had finally made it to the border. The Heathlands were quite a trek from the mountains but both wolves knew it would be worth the journey. Calamity relied heavily on his eyesight more so than his nose which was why he was grateful for the full moon that bathed everything in moonlight. The black wolf scented the air and could pick up the smell of a pack and something oddly familiar.

"I think we're here" he called behind him to his companion. Calamity couldn't believe his luck. He had bumped into an old friend from his puphood in these very mountains. He had met Coria when they were practically newborns, their grandparents having fled from the Honovi packlands during the attack of Kerberos. Calamity had struck out on his own over a year ago now and still hadn't sought the promised land of the Honovi, the home ot his ancestors. Being young when he had left his puphood home, Calamity had been struck by a strong wanderlust and had since explored the mountain. He had met a few different wolves on his journeys and made new friends. There had been Kirsa and Apollo but he had eventually left them to find his way.

His gold and green eyes had spotted pawprints outside the den he was staying in up near the Mystic Caves one day and he had been curious. Following them, he came upon a mysteriously familiar wolf. After approaching carefully, he realized it was Coria. He had been so excited to see a familiar face he nearly knocked the wind out of her when he pounced on her with happiness. The two decided to seek out Honovi together because they had deep roots there and wanted to explore where they had come from. They had finally made it.

---

The dark brown wolf raised her white eyebrows as she followed Calamity to the border. She was shocked he had found his way there since he always seemed hopelessly directionless. Although she had to admit he hadn't steered them wrong yet and somehow always managed to find his way. The tangy scent of urine reached her nostrils and she knew they were on the outskirts of the packlands. So this was it. This was the ancestral home of her blood relatives.

Coria had left the valley she had grown up in shortly after Calamity. She too had been struck with the need to find a home for herself and she had quickly outgrown the valley. She said goodbye to her parents and siblings and struck out on her own. Managing to make it into the mountains, she had been lost for a time. Imagine how lucky she had felt when Calamity had discovered her. She was thankful it wasn't an enemy that had finally caught up to her but instead a friend from the past. Their pact had been kept and they had come to their new home. Coria was so excited she couldn't seem to contain it. She threw her head to the starlit heavens and howled for the alpha, excited to finally be home.

[Gyllbane]

Well, it certainly was a busy week. Just a few nights previous she had accepted a loner into the pack, grateful to finally have some much-needed new blood - and now a call had come out from the borders once again. She had not been far from the place on the border where the howl had originated from, and she loped easily towards the sound, the moonlight bright upon the shrubs and short grasses of the heathlands. She caught their scent before she saw them - not one, but two wolves? She sped up her pace a bit - more wolves meant more potential members, but more wolves could also mean more danger - slight apprehension bubbled in the pit of her stomach, but she smothered it. It would not do to be overly worried.

She came upon the two, and was happy to see that they had respected the borders - she relaxed a bit, knowing that potential threats did not often respect the pack's border. There was something... familiar, almost, about them, though she could not place it. She nodded to each of them, disregarding the notion.

"Greetings. I am Treason, the Honovi alphess. May I ask your names, and why you have summoned me here?"

[Juice]

Calamity licked his white speckled muzzle and perked his ears up when he suddenly heard the sound of pawsteps. So the alpha was quick to come, for this Calamity was thrilled. He was a bit nervous that perhaps the packlands had been deserted after the many generations that had passed since the Kerberos debacle. A red female loped towards them and Calamity smiled bashfully at the signt of her. She was very pretty but Calamity thought it best to keep this thought to himself.

Before speaking, the black wolf looked at Coria for direction. He seemed to be tongue tied as he had never had to speak directly with the alpha of a pack before.

---

Coria picked up the scent of the alphess before she heard the pawsteps and she felt a stir in her belly. She was finally going to meet the alpha of this great pack and she was very excited. She blinked her green eyes as a red wolf appeared from the moonlight, so she was the alphess. Coria bowed and glanced up at Calamity who seemed to be having issues. He looked like he had just smelled a skunk and had been incapacitated by the horror of it. She kicked him with her back leg before hissing "Bow!" Once she rose from her bow she began to speak "Hello Alphess Treason. My name is Coria and this is my friend Calamity. We have both come to seek membership among your ranks. You see, we both come from original Honovi bloodlines. My great grandfather Garn was a general for the pack and led his troops into battle against Kerberos. Or at least that is the story that has been passed down in my family. Calamity and I grew up in the same valley together which was inhabited by pack members that fled and sought safety after the attacks. My friend is also from Honovi blood." Coria felt very proud to be able to tell the Alphess of her heritage and hoped she would accept her into the Honovi ranks. She glanced for a moment at Calamity. She had set him up to tell Treason about his own family heritage but he still seemed to be dumbfounded. What was his problem?

[Gyllbane]

Treason had to keep her awe in check as the female recounted her lineage. Could it be, after all these years, the Honovi wolves were finally returning to their birthright home? She wondered what could have caused the sudden change from the stagnated membership the pack had suffered for so long - she wasn't quite one to question good fortune, though, so she settled on merely being happy that her pack was finally coming together once more.

The male's actions amused her a bit - he had an odd expression, looking like he'd been caught halfway between surprise and shock, and she had to wonder if he'd had much experience with the cohesive leadership that defined a true pack. Not all wolves reacted so... interestingly to an alpha's presence. He clearly wasn't upset or a danger, though, so she gave him a good-natured smile before turning back to address to the female, hoping that a gesture of goodwill might break his stupor.

"I see. It is an honor to meet you, Coria and Calamity. The Honovi blood runs within me as well, though it is of a different sort - my grandmother was Kiowa, one of the wolves who founded the Honovi. As you may know, Kiowa left the Honovi in order to answer her true calling - as an alpha of the evil pack, Frigid Plague. We maintain ties with them to this day." She paused for a moment to let it sink in; she didn't know how much the two knew about the alliance between the two packs itself, so she figured it was best to tell them early on. "I have done the same - my exodus from Frigid Plague spurred by my cousin, who now resides as their alpha. Acka and Condor's lineage has all but faded from the Valley - I took up the mantle of alpha from the wolf that is now my trusted beta - no doubt you will meet him soon."

She dipped her head more formally to each of them - how could she not accept their membership? They had as much right to be in the pack as she did. "I would be happy to welcome you into the Honovi's ranks - though I may have a few questions for you, simply to find out where you may fit best within the pack's ranks. And I would like to hear your friend's story, if he is willing to give it." She looked back at Calamity, hoping that his daze might be broken with her acceptance of the two.

[Juice]

Calamity felt Coria's sharp kick and finally realized he had forgotten to bow. He quickly righted his mistake and hoped he wasn't making a horrible first impression. He stood up and listened quietly as Coria began to speak. He was still a little dumbfounded about joining the pack. He was so excited to finally be in the lands of his ancestors. After Coria finished speaking he somehow managed to pick up on her not so subtle hint to start talking. He still couldn't seem to find his voice and stared, agape, as Treason spoke to them. She had Honovi blood as well, of course she did, she had to in order to hold the Alpha position right? He finally found his voice and began speaking.

"I am so sorry Alpha Treason." Calamity began before bowing once more. "I am just struck by..." he probably shouldn't say beauty. "Finally being able to behold the lands of my ancestors. As Coria said, we have been friends since puphood. My grandmother was Dignity, a subordinate of Honovi. My uncle and cousins were also members of this great pack. I have been wandering for so long I thought it was time to find my home. I am proud to call you Alphess."

---

Coria sighed with relief as Calamity finally began speaking. He was somewhat of an idiot around pretty wolves and he had been since they were pups. She listened to Treason and was surprised that she had once belonged to Frigid Plague. Coria's mother had told her of the legendary alliance between the two packs but she never thought a member of Frigid Plague would now be leading the Honovi. Well no matter, from what Calamity had said of his travels around the mountains he had not come across any direct descendants of Acka or Condor. "My grandmother spoke very highly of Kiowa as the leader of Honovi's army. What questions do you have for us?"

[Gyllbane]

She was glad when the male finally began to speak. His initially shellshocked expression at her appearance may have been endearing at first, but a wolf who could not respect authority out of fear was a cause for concern. At his speech, though, she knew he would fit in well; she needed wolves from all walks of life if the Honovi was to be restored to its former greatness.

"I forgive you, Calamity." She said, her expression and voice mirthful. "I felt the same way when I first arrived in these lands - it satisfies some ache within me, being here." She paused for a moment, wistfully remembering the evening that she had arrived here, and the agreement she had come to with Cameo. Not wanting to get too wrapped up in history, however, she focused back on the present, and addressing Coria's question.

"In order to place you most effectively into your ranks, I need to know what you consider your greatest strengths. Your ancestors may have held certain roles that you yourselves find appealing, but you need not take up the mantle of your predecessors if you believe their role would not suit you. And second - if you would, in due time, tell me all you know of the Honovi's history. I know what I have learned from stories passed down from my grandparents, and from Cameo, the beta of this pack, but there is still knowledge yet to learn. Of course," She gestured up at the moon, grinning. "I don't suppose we'll be having those talks today, since it is already late and no doubt you are tired from your journey."

[Juice]

Calamity sighed with relief when he had righted his mistake. He was thankful that Treason took his insubordination in stride and didn't punish him for it. He made a mental note to try not to be caught off guard again so he wouldn't seem disrespectful. The black wolf thought a bit about what he felt would be a good fit for him position wise. He didn't have much endurance but he could run fast in quick bursts and he was definitely hardy so maybe he would make a good hunter. He didn't have time to muse over it long when Treason mentioned how late it was getting. He was getting tired now that she mentioned it, and he did want to check out the dens. "I'll think about what would be a good fit for me." he said to Treason "And you are correct. I am very tired and would like to rest." Calamity looked longingly to the dens.

---

Coria nodded as she listened to her new alphess's words. It was difficult for Coria to think of what her strengths were, she wasn't really that fast or strong. She would think about it and sleep on it then maybe she would have an idea later. "We would be happy to pass down what we know of the pack after a good night's sleep." Coria gave a small bow and said "Just call for us when you need us Alphess Treason." before loping off towards the densite for a much needed rest. She looked back once to see that Calamity was following her.

-Exit Calamity & Coria-