Siren [Aspen & Cas]

[forte]

Dead, fallen leaves rustled beneath Lorelei's paws as she ambled through the Forest of Love, making no effort to keep her paw steps quiet. She knew there was a territory full of wolves not too far off, but she was not afraid of them. Why would they stray this far out of their bounds? And if they decided to, what harm would they do to her, a poor defenseless loner? No. She chose to walk unhindered by groundless fear. She chose to walk with a sway in her step and her chin held high.

While her survival skills were very limited, she did know that without a source of water even the strongest and best-prepared wolves would die of dehydration. Until the autumn rains started in earnest, she would need to stick to water. So the black-furred she-wolf had been following a tiny, gurgling stream through the forest, searching for a decent spot to settle in for the evening and perhaps a good place to try, again, to hunt.

Although she would never admit it, Lorelei was a terrible hunter. It wasn't that she had tried and just found that she was innately bad at it, no, it was that she had never practiced. Never needed to, really. Her family had always provided enough meat for her and the rest of the pack, so Lorelei had devoted her attention to her other...interests.

And that was why she was in the Forest of Love in the first place. This would be her first winter on her own, and while she may be awful at living on her own, at least she was smart enough to know that she needed help,getting through the toughest part of the year. She had considered joining a pack, but deemed that too much of a commitment. She would much prefer a smaller group...perhaps even just one other wolf? Perhaps...a mate?

Not that the she-wolf had any interest in finding "the one", at least not yet. She was much too young and good-looking to devote her life to someone else, especially with the world so big and full of opportunities. She couldn't be weighed down by a commitment of that magnitude. No, she just needed someone to...help her help herself, so to speak, for a time. To share food with, warmth with, and then go on her merry way once the good times rolled back around in six months.

It had taken her hours to travel through the woods to get to the famed pink trees at the forest's heart, and quite a while longer after than to find a place suitably romantic to make someone fall in love with her. Unexpectedly she broke through a patch of thick undergrowth and emerged into a sprawling, sloped meadow dotted with red autumn wildflowers. She could see that the sun was getting lower in the sky—not quite yet setting, but soon. And it looked like it would be beautiful.

Lorelei made her way to the upper end of the clearing, satisfied to see that it had a decent view of the forest to the west, and would of the sunset as well. A large, flat boulder made a picturesque, if uncomfortable lookout point. How perfect. She sat down at the tip of the rock, gathered a lungful of air and howled as long as she could, trying to put into it all the longing of a lonely female with a hole in her heart that only a mate could fill. After a moment, she howled again, then lowered herself into a sphinx position to watch, and wonder as to who would answer her call.

@aspen Cascade

[Deleted]

ooc: Hey Forte just wanted to let you know I saw this post! I'm gonna wait for Cas though because Anneliese should be arriving first

[Cascade]

Annelise had only one physical advantage in her life, and that was her speed. Cress could and probably would tear her to shreds without a fighting chance if she was ever forced to defend herself against him, but she was quick enough on her feet—and just lucky enough to be so quick—that by the time she reached the strange, pink forest, she could no longer hear Cress behind her. Whether he had to stop and rest or was just that much slower she wasn't sure, but she guessed that she had a good few minutes at least before his ugly mug would come tearing through the trees. She'd come up with plans in less time than that, and it took her only a few seconds to spot the black and white female and decide to use her as part of her plot.

Putting a worried expression on her face—not hard, considering the circumstances she found herself in—Anneliese trotted over to the flat boulder where the female was laying. "Excuse me," she called out in her sweetest voice, "Have you seen a black male with a red tail around here? He's my brother and I'm afraid he's run off. He's heir to the throne in the Dark Donoma, you see. He was supposed to attend an important ceremony to take his place as alpha—" Anneliese put some subtle emphasis on the word alpha. If there was one thing she knew, there was nothing more attractive than status. Lord knew her father had enticed enough adoring groupies by flaunting his position

"—he was supposed to attend, but he told me he would not take his kingship without a queen and ran off. I figured this would be the most likely place to find him, might you have seen him?"

[Deleted]

ooc: *watches while eating popcorn* I'll bring Cress in after Anna and Lorelei talk a lil more.

[forte]

It was mere minutes before the sound of rustling leaves reached the black wolf on the rock at the top of the clearing. Immediately she sat up to sniff the air and try to catch a glimpse of the wolf who would be her personal hunter, but she could see nothing just yet. She followed the sounds, unflinching and unblinking. What sort of wolf would he be? Handsome, hopefully, and at least a decent hunter.

When a wolf finally emerged from the trees and it turned out to be a female, Lorelei felt her heart sink. Oh, sister, she thought, I don't swing that way.

Still, she put on a happy face as the red-and-black wolf approached. No real point in being rude to her face.

At any rate, the she-wolf's words turned out to be of great interest to Lorelei. "Alpha, you say? Of the Dark Donoma?" If her memory served her right, that was an evil pack. She took a second look at the other female, who must be evil. Perhaps she should be careful dealing with organized evils. There were some who took pleasure in killing and pain? but if the alpha female position in one of the evil packs was up for grabs, she figured it was worth a shot. "I can't say I've seen him, but it sure makes sense that he might be around here. Do you want some help looking for him?"

[Cascade]

Anneliese was grinning ear to ear inside her mind, but she didn't let any of her hidden intentions slip through and show on her face. Manipulation was her most special talent, one which she was well practiced in. Any crack in the facade could be devastating.

"Oh yes, thank you," she said to the female with a relieved sigh, "it will be so much easier to find him. Two heads are always better than one." It was true; the only thing at this point that could be better than Rhett's head on a platter was Cress' right alongside him. Anneliese was kicking herself for not running away sooner. Of course it would be a deathwish to run out into the meadow, but with so many acres of dense trees, finding her in the forest would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. But of course, there would be so much unfinished business if she had waited. Why settle for freedom when you could have freedom and revenge?

The plan continued to unfold as Anneliese led the female through the forest, striking up small talk while she was pretending to look for her brother. "I'm sorry, I just realized that I haven't introduced myself. I am Anneliese, also of the Dark Donoma. You might call me the beta heiress—" she chuckled, embarrassed, "Ah, it sounds so immodest to say. I suppose I'll have to get used to it though. I hope Cress isn't too mad at me for chasing after him. In all honesty I know exactly how he's feeling. It can be hard to find love when you're...well, you know." She frowned, looking down at the ground as though she were longing for something deeply, "Our kind has been marginalized in the valley for generations. But we just want to live our lives, like any other wolf would. We've got to stick together."

Now, for the buttering up. A little bit of flattery never hurt anyone. She looked over at Lorelei, acting like she was truly seeing her for the first time, "Sorry if this is too intrusive, but I have to ask. What is a wolf like you doing in the Forest of Love? I refuse to believe that someone who looks like you could have fewer than ten suitors at any given time."

[forte]

((Sorry I've been so slow, guys. I've been working a lot recently and it's been hard to find some quiet time.))

Lorelei followed the other wolf placidly through the forest, trying to keep her eyes and ears peeled for anyone else wandering the woods, but in truth finding it difficult to concentrate, what with all her thoughts swirling around in her head. The prospect of finally having some sort of power to make her life what she wanted thrilled her so much, it was all she could do to contain her excitement and maintain her cool, collected air in front of the other female, whose name she learned was Anneliese. "Wow, beta heiress." she breathed, hoping to flatter the she-wolf, as well as keep her thinking that Lorelei was some kind of clueless yearling. "You're like...a princess! It's an honor to meet you. My name is Lori." Her lie was invisible. She had done it so many times now, and names weren't all that important. They meant almost nothing, really.

Anneliese's question rather surprised Lorelei. It was kind of personal—not that she minded it. Maybe Anneliese was one of those types who liked to bond that way, like a sort of sister mentality. "Oh, Anna," she sighed wistfully, hoping the nickname would lead her trust Lorelei more, "I have. I've sure had my fair share of admirers, but I never found the one, you know? They loved me, but I never loved any of them. And they were all perfectly nice. Sometimes I wonder if my standards are too high." She allowed her tail to droop sadly.

[Deleted]

ooc: I'm still here! Just wanted you guys to know I haven't forgotten about this thread :3

[Cascade]

"Standards can never be too high," Anna replied matter-of-factly, "If you're going to be with your mate for the rest of your life, you shouldn't settle for less than you deserve." Anna believed this to be true, but it didn't have much relevance to her own life. Now that she had finally earned her freedom, she had no interest in tying herself down to another wolf. "If you ask me, a wolf like you should be reaching for the cream of the crop. There are plenty of lesser females than you are I to squabble over the bottom 90%, so there's no reason for us to dirty our paws like that. The elite belong with other elite, don't you agree?"

[forte]

The black wolf's tail began to wag at Anneliese's compliment. She had always considered herself a catch, and here was a high-ranked member of a pack backing up that belief. "My thoughts exactly," Lorelei replied happily. She was liking Anneliese more and more with each passing moment. Still, it was her brother about whom Lori was truly curious. It was impossible to know what Anna's brother was like without meeting him, but everything she was saying seemed to point to Anna being of the opinion that Lori might be worthy of a wolf of his station. Lorelei had to agree. She would certainly make an excellent alpha female if she ever had the chance. Her pack would thrive, just like her parents' did.

[Cascade]

(@aspen, now is a good time for Cress )

[Deleted]

Cress

I trotted through the snow for what seemed like hours before finally picking up Anneliese's scent again. I began loping through the white powdery snow until I followed the scent into a forest. I weaved through some trees until I could see Anna and another she wolf. It struck me as odd that she was conversing with this stranger but it was probably part of some master plan. Shrugging off any questions about Anneliese's plans, I slowly trotted down to where the two were standing. "Hello!" I called out to the both of them. I looked hard at Anneliese, trying to make eye contact with her to figure out what exactly was going on.

Red Ringed

[Cascade]

Anna's ears perked up as she heard what could only be her brother crashing through the trees. What good timing. She was ready for him now, and just as long as he could play along, they could possibly make a plan where both of them would come out happy. He could have the revenge he so desperately needed, and she could claim her freedom without fear of being hunted down.

She forced a smile as he called out in a pleasant voice so unlike his own. The fact that he didn't blow her whole operation right from the start was a major relief—perhaps she should give him more credit. Or at least stop underestimating him. "Oh, well look who it is!" She replied sweetly, walking up to him and meeting his gaze just as intensely, her back turned to Lorelei so she wouldn't see, an unspoken 'Play along.'

"Mother and I have been so worried, but I knew I would find you here. Brother, you must take the crown, queen or not. You will have plenty of time to find a mate, there is no need to rush it—"

[forte]

The two she-wolves' conversation was suddenly interrupted by violent rustling in some nearby brush, and just like that there was another wolf in their midst. Lorelei's tail began to wag as Anneliese greeted him. This must be her lost brother, heir to the Dark Donoma, and a handsome heir at that, his fur black as a winter sky, with a russet tail like that of a fox. The only thing about him that took Lori aback was his scarred face and missing eye, which Anna had not mentioned, but the black she-wolf quickly got over her surprise. If anything, the wound made the brute all the more interesting.

After taking a moment to look over Anna's brother, Lori switched her focus to the other female's words, but found them not at all to her liking. "Now, now, hang on there, dear Anna," she interrupted, speaking quickly as she stepped up alongside her friend. "Your brother should have the right to rule how he pleases, with or without a queen, and I for one think it would be a shame for him to begin his reign on the wrong paw. After all, what is a king without a loyal, lovely queen?" She turned her icy blue eyes sideways to Cress's grey one, giving him a small, conspiratory smile.

[Deleted]

Cress

Anneliese met my gaze with her pale green eyes and I felt the connection that only siblings shared. From what I could tell, she needed me to play along for the time being with whoever this stranger was. I slowly made my way closer to the pair of females and listened carefully to what Anneliese was saying. So I was a prince then? Destined to take the crown of my pack? I could definitely play along with that. I flashed a debonair smile at the other she wolf who was black and splashed with markings of white. She was really very attractive and I had to hand it to Anneliese for not finding some ugly mug to take on as a partner in our crime.

I was about to begin speaking when I noticed the female sidle up next to Annelise and began talking of how it wouldn't be right for a king to rule without a queen. This was getting even more delicious by the second. I caught the she wolf's look and smiled back, not bothering to hide my obvious appreciation for her looks. "I appreciate your concern sister." I began. "I merely needed to have some time to myself to consider things. This beautiful creature is right, what kind of kingdom would I be running if I didn't have a queen by my side?" at this point I had come all the way up to the females. I came to a stop in front of the stranger and gave a chivalrous bow to her. "Who is this enchanting wolfess you seem to have befriended Anna?" I asked without taking my eyes away from the she wolf's lovely form.

Red Ringed