Seeking Entrance

[sydney]

Ash slowly made his way to the border of the Frigid Plague pack. He heard this was the only evil pack around and he was here seeking entrance. Yes, he was young, and not just young, but still a pup. But watching your whole pack get slaughtered and having to run for your life, you had to grow up earlier that you should.

Feeling the grass crumple under his pads he shook his fur out. Feeling the hot sun shine down on his grey fur, he felt like he was going to over heat. Stepping into the shade of some trees, he sat down, tipped his head back, and let out the best howl he could muster up and out of him. 

[Cascade]

For a little while, it appeared that there was no one arriving to answer his call. The forest was quiet, except for an odd, low buzz that seemed to emanate from deep within the earth. Strangely enough, the sound seemed to grow gradually louder as the minutes passed. It turned to a growl, then a rumble, until finally the ground beneath Ash's paws was shuddering and shaking like a minor earthquake had taken hold.

All went quiet for a moment and the rumbling ceased, until the ground suddenly opened up in the clearing and a white figure emerged from below. A wolf, who shook the dirt from her pelt before turning to look at the pup who stood on her lands. She was petite in stature, but the entrance and the piercing yellow of her eyes aided in the grandeur of her appearance. "You have come to the land of the Frigid Plague," she said as the crack in the earth, as if alive, closed itself up, "I am the alphess, Perjury."

[sydney]

Ash gave a small bow and keep his eyes from meeting hers. He didn't need to died when he just got done cheating death already. "My names Ash, Ahphess Perjury."

[Cascade]

"So young, and yey one of few words," the alphess observed, using her power to let fall the last clinging flecks of dust and dirt from her pelt. She had been quite a ways away from him when she heard the howl, nearly on the opposite edge of the territory, and she had long since discovered that underground travel was quicker and more convenient than snaking one's way around the many trees that made up her forest.

"What brings you to my border today?"

[sydney]

"I seek entrance into your pack. You see, my whole pack was killed in cold blood, I was the only one to survive." Ash told her. He didn't like talking about that night but he didn't really have a choice at the moment.

[Cascade]

"I see." More and more Perjury had been hearing of brutal conflicts between packs, smaller fringe packs within the valley and even larger, well-established packs just over the mountains. Often two packs would fight and fight until there were no survivors...brash hypocrisy for those who called themselves good, but not uncommon for wolves of Perjury's own alliance. She herself had kept the Frigid Plague out of conflict for quite a while now, and she intended for that to continue. This pup was lucky to escape...if he were an adult, the enemies of his old pack might try to hunt him down and finish the job, but as it stood Perjury doubted that anyone noticed or cared.

"I will accept you into our ranks, with the understanding that you will devote your utmost loyalty to me and to the Frigid Plague. We are not a shelter or a charity—you will be expected to contribute to the welfare of the pack as soon as you are old enough to hunt. If you accept the Frigid Plague as your true family and these woods as your true home, you will be welcome here."

[sydney]

"I accept, and thank you." He said as he gave her another small bow. He was thankful that she let him in. He didn't have no where to go as it was but now he did.

[Cascade]

The arrangement was made, but Perjury did not want to simply leave the pup alone in such a large territory. Not until she knew his competencies, at least. "The Plague welcomes you. You can do very well here." She discreetly felt out the vibrations in the soil using her power to determine who—if anyone—was nearby, but all was quiet for at least a mile. Having been born with her power rather than having it bestowed upon her, she bore no marking which would tip off a viewer to her power's use...although most of the time, it was quite apparent either way.

"We of the Frigid Plague do not kill in cold blood. Violence is for retaliation, but there is no justification to do violence for its own sake. It is by this code that we have survived for three generations without ever losing our land to an outsider."

[sydney]

He listened to her words and stashed them away carefully in his head. "Yes ma'am. I understand." He shook out his fur and looked back up at her.

[Cascade]

"Not much of a talker, are you?" She asked, "That's fine. You don't need many words to be loyal. If you are fine on your own, then you are free to explore the territory or the outside world to your heart's content. Just remember that even as a pup, you are a representative of our pack and its values. Act according to those values no matter what."

[sydney]

Ash bowed his head once again. "If that is all I would like to explore around the area and land."

[Cascade]

"Permission granted. You may come and go from the packlands as you please, as long as you are in attendance of any official meetings." Perjury nodded, and then looked to the south, "I must continue my border patrol, but I'm sure we will see each other again soon."

[sydney]

Ash nodded, bowed, then he slowly turned around and started to walk off.