Birth of a Home (Tagged)

[Blood]

@shiver

Pearl grinned at her shadow trotting mystically beside her and watched it slither over the uneven ground, matching her speed. The days were slowly growing shorter as the unmistakable signs of autumn were showing themselves throughout the earth. A deep inhale of the crisp morning air, closed Pearl's eyes in content. She felt renewed by the fresh guvination it gave her, and she opened her eyes again to the rising sun that poked its bright arms over the rolling hills. It was perfect, the grace of life was on her, and it would continue to bless her with its abundance.

Shining bright reflections of the waking sky played in her eyes, as she took in the majesty and whispered a silent 'Tank you' to the earth. Her thankful mind turned to the new friend she had been traveling with, and her head pulled to the left to look beside her. In great strides the mighty Caesar trotted a few spaces beside her, his thick ashy brown fur bounced to his stepping movements, and her tail swayed in a pleasant rhythm. The morning sun glared off of his speckled coat, making him almost match her own pale pelt. Pearl smiled wide with happiness as she watched Caesar, and was grateful for his company and friendship in her life. She could tell they were going to live through many more adventure together, some good, and a peculiar feeling told her some bad as well.

A slight incline in the ground made the young she-wolf turn her attention in front of her, and sure enough, the trees clustered more on the horizon where the crest of a hill slowly came closer. "What is over there?" Pearl's cheerful voice shattered the peace filled silence that they were walking in.  Her pace quickened until she reached the crest of the earth's incline and a giant basin stretched out before her, like a huge bowl imprinted in the ground.  

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Caesar loped slightly behind Pearl, head high, enjoying the cool wind ruffling through his pelt. His paws tread over the rolling hills, in sync with the noiseless, ever-present heart beat of the earth itself. His breath came in rhythmic bursts of crisp inhalations, and bursting exhalations. The air wreathed around him, cradling him in a cocoon of weightlessness. However he couldn't let himself completely lift off the earth. (not that he physically could anyways) Fortunately, he had a very welcome anchor. Pearl ran ahead of him, gallivanting along, her silvery legs hardly even touching the earth. She was a fairy in her own right, an apparition of adventure and the mystical realms mirroring this one. Pearl had been a blessing to his life already. She was a wolf who brightened his day as soon as he laid his multicolored eyes on her. She was someone to talk to, to confide in. She was quickly becoming his best friend, and quite possibly the only wolf who truly knew him to his core. He hadn't yet shared the story of his pup hood and his brutal scar, but those intimate moments would come with time. And with time came better memories to replace the evil ones, and good thoughts to replace the depressing ones.

Caesar slowed as he climbed the next hill, his gaze immediately being drawn to the ring of trees down in the basin. Pearl panted out the question he was about to ask himself. "No idea," He huffed, reaching her side. "Let's explore a bit then?" He tossed his head and pushed his ears forward, eager for a grand day of exploration.
Blood

[Blood]

Pearl followed the line of trees with her curious gaze, and observed the lay of the land with the thought of opportunity for a possible territory. Just thinking about finding a new home with her recently met friend made her overjoyed, and her tail began to sweep back and forth brushing through the air. Pearl took her eyes from the basin and rested them on the face of her companion who came to stand next to her. His blue and golden eyes were pinpointed on the same earthy bowl that had caught her attention, and his question, should he have asked first, would have been the same as hers or vice versa, her answer being the same as his. However, Caesar's next question was what the small she-wolf was anticipating.

"Absolutely! No land uncharted will slip beneath our paws. Let's go!" Swift white paws scampered towards the clusters of trees in such an excited gate that her pink tongue lulled out of the side of her maw and flopped along with her trotting. A trifling emotion of nervousness entered her thoughts as Pearl made distance over the green plain of grass. This was brand new exploring for both of them, and for some reason the pale little female felt safer if Caesar would lead the way. Pearl brushed that idea from her head, and pressed forward. 'The mighty Caesar is right by my side, and that is enough for me to feel safe. And besides, what could possibly be in the woods?'

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"No meadow unseen." Caesar added with a laughed and a flick of his tail. Their little adventure was fun already. Not because they were necessarily doing anything fun, but because they were doing it together.  And anything that happened with Pearl and Caesar together was bound to be fun. Something about them just clicked, just made sense.They were, for lack of better words, meant to be. Sure they were not romantically inclined as of yet, but they just got each other. There was silent, mutual understanding between the two, an invisible link between them. Their personalities meshed perfectly, they laughed together, and talked together, they could grow to be the most dynamic duo the valley had ever seen. Of course they were still getting to know one another, as every good relationship must set its foundation on. They would get to know one another, and they would talk, for communication made the relationship pure and true. 

All those things aside, they were exploring. The Meadow's Edge Basin was right there. A step into the valley, and the perfect area for an outing. Caesar slowed down as they neared the more interesting part of the territory, ready to take in the sights and smells of an autumn forest, meadow, and-apparently- a pond.

[Blood]

Pearl smiled at Caesars addition to her charge, he was definitely opening up. She thought back to when they first had met each other in the snow storm by the big boulder, and how nervous and uncomfortable he had been. The young she-wolf was very glad now how much happier he seemed, and she was also glad that she had him as a companion. How much better her journey was going that she had a friend to travel with.

Small swift paws descended the slopping earth where a glimmering body of water waited for her at the center of the center of the basin. Swampy land surrounded the little pond and small puddles of water were easily visible as the sun's bright light reflected off of their glasslike surfaces. The ground became more and more moist as Pearl continued her decline. With each step she took, the ground made a soft squishing sound as her weight pressed the spongy grass. By the time she came to a halt, her small paws where no longer white, but a wet dull gray that stained her fur. She stepped in a shallow puddle, hiding her two front paws beneath the now muddy water. Cheery silver eyes sparkled with the sun's radiant light as they look behind her at her own paw imprints in the wet earth, the holes her weight had formed were already filled with inches of water and added to the numerous marshy puddles that littered the basin. Despite the muddy puddle she was standing in, the rest of the water, and the small pond seemed clean and fresh, uninfected with algae or stagnant water.

Following her own trail with her eyes, Pearl looked behind her at the large male that stood at a distance, his broad frame silhouetting the clear blue sky. "Come and have a drink with me Caesar. The water looks pure and refreshing." Her head turned forwards again, but her light pink ears swiveled to the back of her skull to listen for his deep voice. With slow movements Pearl navigated through the swampy grass, but despite her caution, a few muddy drops splattered on her clean pelt by the time the had reached the edge of the small pond. She had stopped and now had her head lifted high as she observed the land around her with excited eyes. "This place is beautiful." Pearl spoke softly, her voice hardly a whisper on the wind. "It's so secluded and hidden, almost like a special garden for the sun." Silver eyes were filled with wonder as Pearl thought back on her small sunny clearing where she grew up with her family... Home.

@shiver   

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Caesar padded down the slope behind Pearl, his heterochromic gaze panning the landscape, taking in all the sights. It was early autumn, and the grass was a brilliant amber-gold that shimmered as the crisp wind hushed over it. The sky was that strange teal that signified a harsh thunderstorm the next day. The trees clumping on the hills and in ravines were tall and russet-barked, their leaves a mottling of glassy greens and grandiose golds. Soon the tips of the leaves would become a fiery orange, and then they would make their final descent as the days grew short, and the nights brought frost, and then snow in their due time. But as of now, the air was a pleasant temperature with a refreshing breeze to ruffle the pelts of any wolves that found themselves in such a wondrous habitat. 

Caesar's paws found themselves sinking into the boggy ground, the grass slick under his foot. He carefully tread down into the basin, catching a smile forming on his face as he could clearly make out where Pearl's delicate paws had trod. His own large paws flexed as he spread out his toes, allowing him a little more stability as he squelched down into the marshes behind Pearl. She called him over to take a drink. The water, he found, was quite clear, shocking, as this was the collection of all the summer's rains in one puddle. He flicked his tail tentatively at Pearl, brushing her flank, before he too bent down to take a sip. 

As soon as his thirst was vanquished, a loud growl was heard, Caesar turned his head swiftly, hackles rising as he gazed up into the grasses. There was something here, and they were at a disadvantage, the predator had the high ground. The animal revealed itself as a large puma, it's eyes narrowed, but glinting with fear. Had Pearl and Caesar stumbled too near her den. If this land was to be their home, there would be no place for such animals.

Blood

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Nico:
Nico hadn't run very far.

He had met Ruko not far away, and had gotten a shallow gash in his side. It would heal without a scar, but in the meantime it was sore. Pain was a old friend however.

Running was not. He hadn't run much in the past five years, either because he was way too weak or because it was flat out dangerous. Literally running blind. His eyes were healed now, but he had to build his stamina back up and it would not be fun. It was haunting him now.

Briefly, he spotted Caesar and a she-wolf. Nico, for the first time in a long time, saw his brother. Nico felt jealousy rise in him. He was molted brown with blue-green eyes. He fit in with the other packs! Unlike Nico, who was silver with blue eyes. Though, he assumed they had both had it rougher then most. Though Nico was sure he had had it tougher then Caesar considering that Nico was blind.

Nico focused back on the puma, getting into a fighting stance. Long white fangs bared.

Lunging point blank, he found that the puma was bigger then he had thought. He almost whimpered in fear, but it was too late to back peddle. Besides, this Puma was threatening his brother and quite frankly he did not appreciate when someone attacked his family. Teeth barred he snarled at the puma that was coming into focus very fast. His silver coat glittered briefly and his opened his mouth even wider.

[Blood]

Pearl:

A loud raspy growl echoed through the air, the deep gurgling sound scratching the breeze as it wafted to the ears of the white and lavender she-wolf. Her eyes went wide as she realized that the sound did not come from another wolf, but a dangerous wild animal. Without looking up, Pearl froze far a second, her distorted reflection staring back at her with a petrified expression as it rippled with liquid movements. Tension emanated from the large speckled gray-brown wolf next to her as she felt the air shifted from his sudden lashing movement. Pearl slowly turned her direction towards where Caesar was staring with an intense heterochromic gaze; a dark beige figure lurking in the tall lush grass. Never in all her pup hood, or growing up had Pearl ever challenged a puma, and she didn't have her father or brother to help chase it away. It was just her and Caesar.

A gentle tremble had taken over the small female's shoulders as she leaned her body against the firm side of the he wolf. Pearl shrank behind his powerful shoulders, pressing her body against his. "C-Caesar?" With a slight stutter, Pearl looked up at male, but his brave face made her realize that she shouldn't be afraid. After all, she was right there with the mighty Caesar, and together they were more powerful. The poor wild cat also seemed to be fearful in her threatening cries, and Pearl wondered if they had invaded her home. "Are... are we going to chase her away?" Pearl preferred not to harm the puma, but her eye suddenly caught something silver in the grass not far from the wild cat. She squinted harder, and saw a wolf form stalking towards the puma. A fight was about to happen, and harm might just be caused. Pearl cringed, but she stood by Caesar's side and barred her sharp little teeth, prepared for whatever happened next as long as she stayed by Caesar's side.

@shiver    

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Caesar growled puffing his chest out as he lowered his head. All this was false, merely a bravado facade intended to make Pearl and himself feel safer and more capable. He was unable to answer Pearl's whimpered fear, for a silvery wolf lunged out of the grasses. Time seemed to slow down as Caesar caught his eye. Nico. Caesar would recognize him anywhere, his brother. A ghost from his past come back to haunt him. But if Nico was here to haunt him and torment his tortured memory, than why was he attacking their new enemy? He was only here to help. After that...there was no telling what would happen. But that would have to come...well, after. 

Caesar staggered back, his head pounding as instinct quieted the world around him. Even though Caesar himself was an anxiety-riddled softy, he was still a hulking wolf with a history of blood and battle. The instinct and skill was laced in his blood, handed down to him from generation of warriors. Alphas even. Caesar had to do something, one wolf couldn't hope to take down a puma. Caesar had to help. For the brightest future, for the lovely Pearl. For himself even. The peppered brown hewolf took a deep breath before he too lunged forward, aiming for the cougar's shoulder. He had to avoid the claws and jaws. If those things caught him, he'd lose a lot of blood very fast.

.: Nico succeeds in knocking the Puma to the side. This makes the cat angrier, but buys Caesar the opportunity he needed. Caesar succeeds in latching onto the shecats shoulder. The Puma reacts by twisting around, it's paw lashing out toward Nico:.


Blood

[Deleted]

Nico:
Nico smiled as Caesar latched on to the cat's shoulder, thanks to him. He tensed for another attack, his blue-silver eyes glittering and his pleasure of being back in the heat of battle growing. This was were he was meant to be. Fighting, this struggle to survive, to come out on top. It was electrifying, and Nico was bred to make the most of that electricity. Him and Caesar both. Nico was just better, as proved in the fight. Nico called "Just like when we were pups, eh?" He smiled, blue eyes sparkling. The claw was in a blindspot, his biggest.

Nico felt the claw tear his side, and he gasped. He whipped his head around, adrenaline pumping through him and dulling the pain. He didn't get a chance to look, but his side was soaked in red. He snarled and lunged again, his teeth glittering and his claws out. He was fierce, his silver fur glittering with it's natural glitter and the shimmer of blood. He was facing away from Pearl, but he saw his brother.

Nico felt no fear, that was evident in his expression. Dark silver coat glinting in the sunlight, he once again found the puma in his blind side. He turned his head, his tall ears listening to make up for the limit of his vision.

[Blood]

Pearl:

Gray and silver eyes widened as Pearl watched her friend propel himself towards the large snarling cat to aid the other white wolf in attacking it. Caesar was brave in helping the stranger wolf, saving it's life from a single battle against the puma... or could he have know this other wolf in a past encounter. Hesitation held the small female in place where she stood, her mind darting back and forth with indecisive thoughts. Should she participate in harming the she-cat, or just stay back and let the males do what they were doing for a righteous cause. But she couldn't just let them fight alone and make it look like she was a week she-wolf that didn't know how to protect herself. The young pale pink pelted wolf grumbled softly to herself before she sprung forward on nimble paws and bounded through the mushy ground that splatted up around her. She had decided to join the two males in an effort scar the puma away, but her plan was not to lay a fang on the innocent wild cat.

Colors flashed before her as she neared the battle, and snarls and growls filled the air around her. Caesar had lunged for the puma's shoulder, and his accuracy and strength had made its mark. A heart throb of concern racked at Pearl's chest as she saw the brown speckled male clenched to the cat's body and so close to her razor sharp claws and fangs. The other wolf had seemed to send a comment towards Caesar, but Peal didn't catch it above the loud ruckus. Pearl was one more bound from stopping before the cat and screaming at her with as threatening of a bark as she could muster, but a glinting reflection of the sun shining off long sharp black claws made her freeze in mid leap. A dull scraping sound of flesh being ripped reached Pearls ears, and a streak of red flashed in the air. The blood glowed in the sun as it flew from the now stained claws of the puma. Time had stilled for the small female as she witnessed the attack and whimpered with horror in her eyes. She had remembered seeing her father and brothers come home from hunts with blood dried scraps or bruised appendages, but she had never seen the wounds caused before. This new image played again and again in her head as she stood watching the white wolf slowly get covered in his own blood that leaked from his side.

A tail whip from the puma yanked Pearl from her stunned state of mind, and she suddenly leaped back in realization that the battle had come much closer to her, and the thrashing cat had now noticed her. Pearl fought her peaceful motives and forced herself to participate in the battle that this stranger had given blood to win. Maybe she didn't have to wound the she-cat but just nip her in a threat to leave. With her mind made up, Pearl threw herself forward, a loud piercing snarl cracked from her voice, and her lips lifted in a snarl that had never before been seen on the kind-hearted female. Pearl reached her neck out to nip at the rump of the puma that had been weighed down by Caesar's heavy strength. A deep warning showed in the eyes of the she-wolf as she prayed that the wild cat would just leave the basin instead of get herself harmed any more than she already was.

@shiver        

[Deleted]

Caesar felt his claws and fangs onto the cougars shoulder, the flesh tough beneath him. The shecat however turned to attack Nico, its large, muscled body bucking and twisting beneath his own bulk. Nico was talking to him...during battle. Just like old times? Just like OLD TIMES? This angered him. Old times of fighting and killing for sport?!! Caesar frowned, ignoring him for the moment. After all they were fighting a freakin'  big cat. However, while he pulled back on the Puma,he noticed Pearl. What was she doing?! "Pearl!" He was cut off as she began her conquest. 

.:the Cougar is overwhelmed by the three wolves, and turns tail, leaving the scene (and its baby):.

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Nico:
  Nico growled at the retreating cougar, blood leaking out of his side very fast. His blue eyes glittered as he smiled, but he staggered. "Well, that was... Fun..." Nico stumbled, blood trickling out his mouth. At least the tooth didn't come out... He felt his paws slip from under him. The ground came up, and he collapsed on the ground. His dark coat was getting darker. His breathing was getting harder. He tried to make sure no one was too worried. "Not.. The... Worst, not as.. Bad as.. When I.. Broke my sh.. Shoulder." He smiled weakly, his teeth stained in blood. His breathing was getting harder, and he was trying to stay positive.

  He was alone now, with no one to comfort him.

  He was also at the mercy of someone who hated his guts, and the very blood spilling out of Nico's side.

  Nico gritted his teeth, closing his eyes and he clutched his paws closer to his body. He was having a mild flashback to when he was a a year and a half old. His ears went flat against his skull, he felt cold. Very cold. His ribs ached, his silver fur getting even darker with blood trickling down his leg and pooling around his body. His vision, already terrible, was getting even more blurry.

The adrenaline was wearing off, and the pain was hitting him in full force. "Beh, non come ho programmato di andare, ma questo ... Opere." (Well, not how I planned to go, but this... Works.) He muttered in Italian, wincing with every breath.

(I feel like Nico's being a little dramatic)
(@shiver)

[Blood]

Pearl:

A sharp yip laced with a growl shot from the she-wolf's parted jaw, and her small white fangs glimmered sharply in the sunlight. Her mind was focused on the large cat, but somewhere in the commotion Caesar's deep clear voice rang out, calling her name... She heard it, but the power of her leap was already propelling her towards the puma, she couldn't stop, her fangs were already set in motion, but they never touched flesh, for the she-cat had swiftly turned tail and bounded off over the hill. With a small stumble Pearl landed her jump, the sound her her jaw closing on nothing mad a sharp clicking noise. Mistakenly her tongue had gotten in the way, and her sharp teeth made a small gash in the side of it, the taste of blood filled her mouth, and she stuck the tip of her pink tongue out subconsciously.

Golden hide and a long black-tipped tail ran off in the distance, but the vivid color of red quickly had Pearl's attention as she remembered the wounded silver wolf. He had a smug grin on his face, and his shining eyes were wide with thrill and exhilaration from the exciting face. Adrenaline was clearly still in his system because he paid no heed to the bloody falls gushing from his side. Pearl did however, and rushed to action. She had never treated a wound as bad as this, but she knew somewhat how to lessen the bleeding. The silver male collapsed to the ground just as she reached his side, and she licked her bitten tongue over his wound a few times she before glancing at Caesar beside her and commanding, "Help me apply pressure quickly before he bleeds too much!" With that, Pearl ran her blood covered tongue once more over her nose and then grabbed a mouthful of thick green grass and fresh moss which she pressed tenderly on the oozing lacerations.

Pearl couldn't tell if she was swallowing the blood that was already in her mouth, or fresh blood that was soaking through. Either way, the now mud splattered and blood smeared she-wolf swiftly ripped another swab of grass and placed it on the mumbling male, pressing down with her muzzle as firmly but gently as possible. The silver wolf almost seemed to have gone in shock as he muttered a string of strange words, and twitched a few times. "Shhhh, it's going to be all right. You are in good paws." Pearl softly cooed and spoke through the mouthful of grass and blood as best she could. She knew this wolf was going to make, his wound wasn't terrible, but he was very blessed to have had it happen with her and Caesar around or he may have not lived another day. Saving this stranger's life filled Pearl with happiness, and she continued to purr with positive encouragement.

[Deleted]

Everything was a blur. The puma, panicked by the flurry of wolves left in a blur of bloody, tan fur and a distraught yowl. She must've left a den, and possibly a cub behind in this area, the poor beast would have to be killed or driven off. However there were more pressing manners at hand. Nico, his brother. His brother who had rushed unexpectedly to the rescue, who had nearly killed him in the cursed pit, was at his paws, broken. Caesar took a long moment to react, thankful that Pearl was there for him and...his brother. Blood was furiously flowing from his wounds, the one on the side making him weak, and his head faint. The large brown male obeyed Pearl, his voice stuck on a lump. His throat felt tight, his eyes stinging, threatening a shower of tears. Why would he be crying? Pain? His wounds weren't severe. Overwhelmed? That must be it. Everything was happening so fast, like the river not far from here, in a frustrated hurry, not knowing where it was going but not content where it was.

The male applied pressure, woozy as he examined the cut. It wasn't deep, just long...he would be fine if the blood would clot. Desperately, Caesar hurried to recall the small amounts of herb knowledge that he had picked up in his trek beyond the valley. "Pearl," The knowledge found, he began to direct his companion. "Can you find any cotton? yarrow will do. Anything that will soak up blood." His voice became fast, sharp, clear, calm. A serene surface to a storm inside.