Ruckus[closed]

[Meds]

"What is this," Kanga spat to his twin, looking up at the sky. "Again?" It had been clear only moments ago, but now, through the breaks in the trees, he could see dark blue clouds forming. Old snow crunched under the paws of the brothers, but it looked like there would be fresh snow falling soon enough.
"It's Spring," Manaaki replied gently, shaking out his grey fur and showing the white and silver underneath. Kanga's dark ears flattened against his head.
"That's alright for you—you blend in easily enough. But me? I'll stick out like a sore paw."
Manaaki just laughed quietly at his brother and continued on, but Kanga was quick to follow. That was how the two often travelled—Manaaki a little bit ahead, and Kanga just behind. That's how it should be, considering Manaaki was the older and wiser of the two (older being a generous term for five minutes, and wise being a generous word for calculating, as Kanga would often point out). Where they were going they didn't know, but they had come from the East. The forest they now found themselves in was welcome shelter against the blizzards and snow they had dealt with in days past.

Only a few minutes later, the first tell-tale flakes started to fall. Kanga stopped and glowered up at the sky. The stormy-blue clouds didn't reflect in his dark eyes, but that didn't mean he didn't see them.
"Quit being such a puppy," Manaaki said from ahead, jumping over a fallen log and carrying on. Kanga smirked and quickly closed the distance between him and the log.
Exhibiting speed and stealth unbefitting for such a large wolf, Kanga was on top of the log in a flash. Powerful muscles flexed, large claws dug into the wet wood, and then he leaped. Red highlights flashed out as his fur was unsettled. Then, colliding with his brother, Kanga felt his claws tear flesh (though not deep) as the two of them tumbled into the crusty snow.
Manaaki spun around with teeth flashing in an instant. The ground fairly shook with the weight of the combined brothers as they rolled across the earth. The crusty snow was certainly uncomfortable to land on, but one couldn't be weak in the face of a brotherly foe. Using their large claws as much as their teeth, the boys made sure to get hits in wherever they could. At one point Manaaki's powerful jaws closed around Kanga's ear, which actually got a yelp out of him—but a swift kick to Manaaki's stomach sent him tumbling away once again.

"You'll have to do better than that, little brother," Manaaki laughed as he launched the attack once more. Kanga grinned and met him, both wolves rising tall onto their hind legs and snapping at each other. In the boys' wake there lay broken branches and plenty muddy snow from having been kicked up. They were both panting, laughing, and bleeding (but only a little).

Suddenly then, Manaaki stopped. He had been on top of Kanga, but jumped off and took a few steps forward. His twin raked big claws down his thigh, not knowing the game was over, but Manaaki turned and snarled in a way he hadn't yet. Kanga danced backwards, his brown eyes flashing.
"What?" He asked, concerned.

Manaaki closed his eyes and inhaled.
"This is pack land," He barked, turning around and trotting back the way they had come. Kanga pinned his ears and lifted his nose to the air and found that Manaaki had the right of it. This was definitely claimed land. They must not have noticed the cross-over point during their play. How far had they come? He quickly began following his brother back up the wreck that they had made of the surroundings.
They had only ever known one pack, and to pass into that pack's land without permission had held great consequences. 

[Rykett]

((I meant to post this last night, but my WiFi cut out right before I could. DX))

Blaise:

A black form waded her way through a border patrol in the wet spring weather. Her pelt was damp with the humidity of the air. White paws made sloppy squelches in the slushy snow as they carried the alphess along the border. Her violet eyes noticed an irregularity in the familiar landscape. Blaise padded to the disturbance, a suspicion clouding her expression. Paw marks scuffles across the snow as it there'd been some sort of struggle. The trail of misplaced snow led into the territory. Blaise's nose twitched as she picked up the scents of male wolves. Her jaw clenched. Trespassers.

Following the obvious path created by what seemed to be battling males, Blaise's pace was steady and determined. As the two intruders came into view, Blaise dodged into the shadows and crouched low. Her black pelt would've blended perfectly into the shade save for her bright colorful markings. She approached cautiously, watching them for signs of aggression. The brown one pawed at the other but the grey male growl, obviously on edge. When the brown male questioned his behavior, the male responded, "This is pack land." As he turned to retreat back the way he came, Blaise stepped into his path. "Correct! Would you mind telling me why you're here?" The words were friendly but the tone, threatening.

[Meds]

Manaaki had just looked back to see if Kanga was coming or not when his keen ears picked up a faint sound. He swung his big head back to the front and stopped instantly upon seeing the alphess. He reacted so quickly it was as if he had known she was there the whole time—he hadn't. He blinked and said nothing, unconsciously waiting for his brother. His white fur was streaked with blood from their play.
Kanga, also muddy and spotted with blood, came trotting up the bend behind soon after. He could sense Manaaki's change in attitude right away, or perhaps smell it, and he approached warily. Upon catching up, he saw his brother face-to-face with the brightest coloured wolf he had ever seen. His eyes widened. Though he came silently, the minute he was behind Manaaki, his brother turned and made eye contact with him. By scent alone, the twins could tell she was an alphess.
Kanga's stomach twisted, looking back and noting just how far they had come into her land. What was about to happen? Upon looking back he saw that she had approached Manaaki first and now stood very close to him. Threateningly close. Manaaki had turned his eyes to the ground, as any sane and respectable wolf would, when trespassing and faced with the alpha. Kanga struggled fantastically to keep his lips from revealing his large teeth. Alphess or not, she needed to back up. Kanga sidled up and stood shoulder to shoulder with his brother, dark eyes trained on the female. They fairly towered over her, impossibly bigger than her in every way except colour.

When she spoke it was laced with intentions, and Kanga ran his tongue over his teeth. Such big words for such a little wolf. Manaaki cleared his throat and tried one of his most calming smiles.
"It was by sheer accident, I can assure you. We were—ah—wrestling, for lack of a better term, and we seem to have trespassed by mistake."
Kanga was still looking her and saying nothing. He was rolling things around in his head. In their old pack, they would have been dead already. Yet she was choosing to speak to them? Instantly that made him think that there wouldn't be any dire consequences for their actions. So in other words, she had done nothing to earn his respect yet. Without meaning to, a smirk came to his jaws. It wasn't a threatening smirk, but his undeniably large teeth couldn't be ignored when he smiled like that. There was silence for a long time—long enough to be considered awkward. Kanga finally spoke. His tone and words were a lot less formal, and slightly less polite than Manaaki's had been.
"We're travelling. We came from the East. Like my brother said, it was by mistake that we happened upon your border. What land do you claim?" His voice was deep and throbbed out over the falling snow. What was here? Would it be worth trying to stay, or should they leave this rainbow-coloured alphess and her snowy land behind them?

[Rykett]

Blaise:

The alphess's violet gaze was fixed on the trespasser in front of her. He smartly trained his eyes towards the ground only looked up as his companion approached. Blaise's stare shifted to the brown male as he edged towards the confrontation. Her intense eyes silently challenged the males to try her. They were in her territory and had no authority here. She would not back down in any way, shape, or form. She was alphess, here! The grey wolf seemed to understand the severity of his situation and spoke politely and calmly, careful not to push Blaise's patience. She considered the words. Secluded Sunrise was not an evil pack. It was not their custom to kill intruders on sight, but that didn't mean Blaise wasn't prepared to if the males showed any kind of aggression. Still, Blaise could not just let them leave without some sort of punishment or severe warning even if the infringement was an accident as was claimed.

As the alphess mulled over the situation, the brown male's expression shifted as if he'd thought of something amusing or favorable. Blaise zeroed in on him again, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. How could he smirk in a situation such as this? Her lip twitched, revealing ivory fangs for a second as Blaise wondered if the smirk was meant to be threatening. Then the male spoke and his tone cleared up what dilemma Blaise had about his intentions. He wasn't taking it nearly as seriously as his grey friend. The alphess snarled at the perpetrator, intended to put the male in his place. "Mind your tone, intruder! Just because I am the kind of wolf that asks questions before she strikes does not mean that I won't attack you after our conversation is over. I have half a mind to kill both of you for your carelessness." She paused before answering his question, wondering if he deserved to be asking anything. However, it was a simple enough question and there was little harm in answering. "You have trespassed onto the Sapling Grove territory, the land claimed by the neutral pack, my pack, of Secluded Sunrise. It is not a small territory and many wolves inhabit its borders. They would be here immediately with one call, so I suggest you cooperate. Now, what are your names? I prefer to know the names of any who cross my borders, whether they be intruders or new packmates."

[Meds]

Kanga's ears flattened against his head when she threatened them. She said she had half a mind to kill them. Both of them? At the same time? Kanga's gray-rimmed eyes flitted to the snowy trees above as he considered if a threat like that held any ground with a wolf such as her. However, when she spoke of backup that she could call, he grudgingly accepted that he and Manaaki probably shouldn't test her. At least she knew she couldn't take them both on at once all alone. Kanga's eyes dropped again, and even sunk to the ground a little bit, mimicking his twin.
Manaaki sensed Kanga's hesitant acceptance, and visibly relaxed. There would be no altercations here—at least not from his twin. He listened quietly as the alphess spoke, now confident that they were safe for the time being.
Kanga cleared his throat as the alphess mapped out her territory. Neutral pack? What did that mean? Well, certainly they weren't a bad pack, because the two brothers were still alive. Kanga's ears perked and he looked sideways at Manaaki before dropping his gaze once again.

"Manaaki," Manaaki said (mah-nah-KEE), dipping his head low when his name was requested. He did not smile, for they were not out of the woods with this wolf yet, but he allowed himself a measure of calm.
"Kanga," Said the other(KANG-ah), blinking to himself. "You mentioned neutral," He added, picking up on the same thing that his brother had. "Might we inquire as to what that means?"
Such formal language wasn't natural for Kanga, but desperate times call for desperate measures. He peered quickly at Manaaki, and saw a satisfied smile on his maw. Oh great. Now she'd think they were both a couple of goody-two-paws.

[Rykett]

Blaise:

The brown male backed down, thankfully. Blaise would prefer if things didn’t resort to a fight, though she’d kill if she had. Both offered their names after Blaise’s prompting to do so. Though they seemed confused. Kanga revealed the reason to their bewilderment and Blaise smiled as a revelation came to her with the new information. ”I take you two aren’t from this valley, then?” Blaise continued with an explanation, ”Wolves of this valley like align themselves with a side; Good or Evil. Those that wish not to be categorized into either call themselves Neutral. We are a Neutral pack. Unlike Evils, we don’t kill on sight. Unlike Goods, we are not above killing, either.”

With the males’ submissive attitudes, Blaise was slightly more relaxed as she continued to converse with them, but not so much that she lost her air of confidence and dominance. ”Now which side would you two align yourselves with. An alliance with any of the three would tell me a lot about what kind of wolves I might be dealing with here.” With that knowledge, Blaise could decide how to treat the intruders. Should they be escorted of the territory with nothing more than warnings as they were just Goods who wouldn’t consider harming her pack? Or should they be dealt with more roughly as they were Evils who could care less if they harmed wolves? Or were they Neutrals that could possibly be welcomed in Secluded Sunrise?

[Meds]

As the alphess spoke and visibly relaxed and the twins listened on, the quiet snow continued to fall. It was sticking, but just. A thin layer of fresh white dust now covered the old, and the carnage left in the wake of the boys' play seemed less noticeable with the clean powder on top.

When the alphess was done, Kanga turned to Manaaki and spoke to him, though loud enough that the she could listen on if she chose.
"So, what are we?" He asked, his grey rimmed eyes flashing. Manaaki's own brown-rimmed eyes met his brothers'. He frowned in a gentle sort of way.
"Do you think we're the same?" He paused, and Kanga hesitated as well. A slight tingle of worry sprouted in Kanga's stomach.
"Well, let's look at it objectively," He said eventually. "Evils kill on sight, she said. Okay—well, you certainly don't do that, and I never have either. I've thought about it but I've never done it. That means we come from an evil pack though, at least by this valley's standards."
Kanga was speaking only to Manaaki, and though the older twin was trying to include the alphess by giving her looks as if to ask 'what's your opinion?' the younger (Kanga) just barreled on.
"But, fully good? Well, I'm certainly not, simply because I'm simply not." Kanga continued. That pulled a grin out of Manaaki. He turned to Blaise.

"A little fun fact about us: We're brothers, as you probably heard—twins in fact; however, Manaaki is a term for blessing, and Kanga is a term for curse. I don't want to say that we live up to our names, but to say they haven't shaped us at all would be wrong." He shrugged his big shoulders. Kanga shot him a look that suggested he was saying too much. Manaaki turned back to his brother. "And no, I'm not good either—at least not by this description." He and his brother shared a meaningful look, but said no more about it.

Kanga turned to the alphess that had not yet given her name.
"Does that make us neutral then?" He gave her a wolfish smile, teeth glinting in the dying sun. "Not unlike yourself." Manaaki sat down with a huff and gave Kanga a look, dusting his tail across the gathering snow. He turned to Blaise once again.
"Of course, there is a spectrum of neutrality, is there not? As you may be able to tell, my brother and I, though we share roots, are on different branches of the same tree." He looked at his dark brother with a slightly worried air. Would they be split up? If that was the case the two of them would simply leave. It wasn't an option for them to be apart.

[Rykett]

Blaise:

Amusement tickled at the corners of Blaise's lips as the males spoke to each other. Now that the tension had eased, Kanga seemed very talkative. As Kanga continued, Manaaki looked to Blaise as if to hear her input. Blaise would've said they seemed like neutrals, but Kanga didn't leave any room to get a word in edgewise. Manaaki had a better understanding of his brother's speaking mannerisms and was able to interject with an explanation of their relationship, names, and personalities. He'd seemed to relax as while, for he flung a grin her way. 'Twins, interesting,' Blaise mused. She had two twins of her own to care for. Finally they came to the conclusion that they must be neutral. "I suppose it would," Blaise spoke in response to Kanga's question. Manaaki also had a question, "Of course, I'd say that the neutral alliance has the widest variety of wolves. It may even contain the largest amount of wolves."

Blaise considered the two wolves. They were certainly interesting wolves. Their neutrality opened up a new door for the males. Here they stood on a neutral pack's turf, talking to the alphess of that pack. Most wolves in this situation would be joining Secluded Sunrise. Perhaps, Manaaki and Kanga would be good additions to the pack... "Being neutrals, you now could join Secluded Sunrise if you wished it and if I found you loyal enough." Blaise supposed that she should give them her name. "Considering that I know both of your names and alliances, it would be fitting if you knew my name as well. My name is Blaise."

[Meds]

"Widest variety of wolves."
Kanga's ears flicked at her words. Manaaki winked at him from the side, quick enough to be missed by anybody but his own twin. This was good news for the boys. Since leaving their own pack and all the bad memories associated with it, they had never even hoped to join one together. Neither of them had thought it possible, and even more unlikely. They could join a new pack. A new family. Together.
Normally, Kanga wouldn't have wanted anybody in the new pack to know about his name being a curse and his twin the opposite: it opened often opened up too many questions that led to painful doors in his mind. Manaaki had meant well saying it, though. Besides, he knew he could say it and be safe. If anyone else ever brought up that Kanga was supposedly cursed, he often had a hard time holding his temper.

When she said outright that there could be a possibility to join the pack, Manaaki sat a little taller. Considering his already formidable height, this was saying something. Kanga noticed and rolled his eyes just slightly.
"I don't think your posture will help her decision," He said, chuckling. His deep voice throbbed out over the falling snow, echoing and yet muffled, as only sound over snow can achieve. Manaaki lifted a lip threateningly at Kanga, letting his large teeth sneak out past his skin. Kanga's tail flicked. He cocked one eyebrow and tilted his chin a fraction of an inch.
A challenge.
Now was not the time. Manaaki chuckled and shook his head, and Kanga whined a little bit. A whine from such a big wolf couldn't really be classified as a whine, but he huffed and faced forward again soon enough.

"Blaise," Manaaki said, nodding to her. He knew Kanga would kill him for saying this, but it had to be said. "In regards to our loyalty, there is something I must add. I know that we may not paint the prettiest picture—"
Kanga growled low in his throat, as if to put in that he thought he made a perfect picture and would not be blamed for his brother's goody-goody attitude.
"But—" Manaaki continued as if Kanga hadn't done anything. "You will not find wolves more loyal than us. My brother takes his time getting to the point where he wants to be loyal to you, but even until that point he would never go against his word."

Kanga's brows knitted and he looked like he wanted to give a biting reply, but they met each others' eyes and he hung his head, gaze angled up into the face of Blaise.

[Rykett]

Blaise:

The twins seemed encouraged by Blaise’s words. Manaaki straightened and Kanga noted the gesture with a warning. The slight hint of a challenge passed between the males, but Manaaki brushed it aside. The twins seemed at odds with each other often enough. They’re personalities seemed to clashed, but despite this, they appeared loyal to each other. When approached with the chance that they’re alliances might drive them apart, both had looked worried.

Manaaki address Blaise, latching on the subject of loyalty. He seemed the milder of the two males with a more humble and polite demeanor. Kanga didn’t appreciate being described as not painting a pretty picture as told by a soft growl. Blaise listened carefully to the proffered words. Kanga seemed displeased by the chosen sentence, but he kept his mouth shut and lowered his head, eyes watching Blaise. As slight as it was, the gesture helped Blaise place what kind of wolf Kanga was. He seemed to have a bit of a temper with a sharp tongue, but he had the capacity to withhold biting words that might cause significant damage, a trait that many wolves lacked. Blaise could easily think of several of the top of her head who would have lashed out without a second thought.

”Words must be proven through action, but in the light that I have little to go off of except your words, I’ll have to withhold some judgement. For now, you seem like trustworthy wolves who may excel in my pack. Though, I must take in consideration that you two have crossed our borders. Accident as it may have been, I cannot ignore that you were so unaware of your surroundings that the scent of an active border did not alert you even as you were busy. I suppose, though, that I can only extend a severe warning to never disregard the scents that surround you. I am willing to accept you into Secluded Sunrise as subordinates if you are willing to commit your loyalty to this pack. Perhaps that loyalty will have to be earned by each individual member, but as a whole, we offer you a safe home and food, which I would expect you to be ready to defend with your life.”

[Meds]

Manaaki nodded and closed his eyes in a long blink as Blaise impressed upon them the seriousness of crossing borders unannounced. He knew all too well that had they met another wolf instead of the alphess, their fates may have turned out much differently. To be sure, he hadn't the slightest doubt in his mind that he and Kanga could have easily over powered two or even three scouts, but pack wolves always have backup within howling distance.
Upon the subject of large and able-bodied scouts, it brought Manaaki's thoughts around to what he and his brother could bring to the pack. It pleased him how clear it was, that he and Kanga could provide a great deal; for example, he could pay close attention to detail, was sophisticated enough to speak in any sort of company, and large enough that many would not challenge him if given the choice (especially if he had backup). Kanga, on the other hand, was even bigger than he (and if not bigger, more obviously muscled). Not nearly as sophisticated or well-spoken as his twin, Manaaki still believed that Kanga was a distinctly talented wolf. He was smart, more so than he let on—and not easily fooled. Aside from that,the very obvious choice for his ranking within a pack would be a hunter or protector, where he could put his size, strength, and formidable speed to good use.

"We would be honored," Manaaki said in a humming voice, when Blaise said that she was willing to accept them. Kanga's eyes flashed for a fraction of a second, but he nodded low. She said something about earning loyalty and trust.
"Obviously," Kanga thought to himself with a half-smirk, but outwardly he straightened his broad back and fixed her in his deep eyes.
"Of course," He said in a chivalrous-enough tone.

Together the brothers stood—their massive stature impossible to ignore, especially when side by side. Two opposites of the same whole; grey and brown. Even their eyes mimicked each other. They glanced at each other momentarily, not needing words to communicate between them. Though no words were spoken, the depth of that gaze was more than either could have said aloud. That was it, then. They were members of Secluded Sunrise.

"May I ask," Kanga said, his large shoulders dipping as he tilted his head at Blaise. "What rituals might we expect upon joining?" Frightening customs of their old pack haunted both of the boys' minds.

[Rykett]

Blaise:

A smile creased Blaise's lip as the wolves both answered in the affirmative as to whether they wanted entry into Secluded Sunrise. It was evident that both males has varying strengths that could definitely benefit the pack. She'd be glad to have them. They still had some questions. That was understandable. A wolf should know exactly what kind of pack they'd pledged their life to. "Secluded Sunrise is a relatively new pack in comparison to many in the valley. We have few concrete traditions, besides, of course, pack meetings and hunts. We also have a training program for our youths. Perhaps more traditions will arise eventually, but only time will tell."

Blaise's eyes shifted past the males to look into the forested territory. "I have other matters to attend to. There is a hunt I need to conduct with a couple of my wolves. If either of you wish to join, we'll meet in the Canopied Clearing. You'll find places to dig dens in the Ashwood Grove. Pack Meetings take place in the Canopied Clearing as well. The grove is at the Northwest area of the territory and the clearing is just East of the center. I will meet with you two again. Hopefully, I might even have some promotions in tow for you." The conversation was finished in Blaise's mind. She walked past the two new members and into the depths of the forest.

-Exit Blaise-

((Congratulations, Kanga and Manaaki are now members of Secluded Sunrise. Make sure to post an update in the Pinboard so we can get it changed in the Character List.))