Reaching for Silence (Claiming Thread)

[Rykett]

@shiver
theragingstorm
@wiltingwallflower
@pittypat
Tiel
Meds
@spiraaurina
Fierfly

Skia:

Midnight Silence’s new home wasn’t as green as Skia would’ve liked. She crested a hill to look down on their territory. Their journey hadn’t been too long as Skia had kept them at a steady, unrelenting pace and the territory was in the Barrens, but it still had taken most of the day and night was quickly approached. Skia trotted down the hill and completed the final stretch of the trip. On the border, she paused looking out over her new kingdom. Skia wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting. Perhaps, in the back of her mind, she’d been hoping for a sort of paradise. The Outer Reaches was far from paradise. Though larger and more filled with foliage than Barren Wastes, it still felt a little dead… It was better than Barren Wastes, at least, and they were closer to a certain pack. No doubt they could certainly reap rewards from that fact.

Skia turned awaiting all the members to arrive and come to attention before addressing them. ”Welcome to Outer Reaches, the new home of Midnight Silence. The extra space here will give us more room for recruits and possible litters.” Skia said possible, but it was more of a “future” as her own pregnancy was evident. Skia hated feeling so round and vulnerable. She hoped she’d have the pups as soon as they settled down. But that in itself, would be a different kind of annoyance. Nevertheless, Skia would deal with the pups for Fjord. They’d grow up to be killers under Skia’s care, just the kind of loyal member Fjord wanted.

[Meds]

Nyx;

Unnatural darkness began to bleed out from the underbrush. It was silently pooling, swirling, and lapping against the ground like phantom water. The shadows of the leaves, grasses, and even the rocks suddenly seemed to melt together, never growing, but twisting into different shapes and becoming one—and all seemed to be gravitating to a common source. The source, of course, was Nyx. She came out from the bushes in due time, the orange tattoo over her eye glowing brighter than the orange of the fur it was set into. Black and orange. Contrasting colours, ever dark, ever shifting. Her eyes burned, the ember-color of her irises never staying the same for long.

Her eyes fell on Skia as the alphess crested a hill and surveyed the new territory below. The orange and black female said nothing, only watching.
Nyx's own shadow was prowling across her body in pulsating circle—first at her rump, now spiraling up to her neck and back again. It gave her the appearance of, if not a larger wolf, certainly a more disturbing one. Since wolves without the shadow mastery power could not see through her shadows, it would appear that the black, constantly moving waves were almost a part of her. She had ben playing with them for hours as the pack had moved, and was now beginning to feel the fatigue. Her mind didn't get tired as quickly anymore, she noticed. She sat, fixing the alphess with all of her attention. Her tattoo faded and died back to black within the orange patch of fur, and the shadows began dripping off of her as suddenly as they had come. In a blink, everything was back as it should be.

This new territory meant many things for the pack. Many possiblities had opened up. Nyx's twisted mind had been hard at work as they plodded along to their new land. All manner of ideas had come to her since they had started off. A too-sharp smile alighted to her jaw as Skia welcomed them to their new home. Oh, the possibilities.

[Meds]

-Cont, enter Acribus-

Acribus stalked through the bushes after Nyx, his ruddy white-gray fur glowing lamely in the heightening sun. It was a land-claiming day, everybody could feel it. His newly healed paw held his weight well enough, but it was still tender and he had a bit of a limp-step as the bones continued to reallign. He had White Magic to thank for that—without her, he would have remained a cripple forever.
The pure-white scar fur on his neck, the only visible reminder of his mother, glinted jokingly, so much brighter than the fur surrounding it. Acribus in all of his grimy glory, shouldered past Nyx and climbed up the hill after Skia. As he past by the shadowy female, a shiver crept up his spine—as if even walking through her shadows allowed them to enter his subconcious. He snarled quietly at her as he past, and though she let the shadows die, a fire lit up in her eyes and she licked her suddenly dripping teeth. Acribus wondered faintly what it would be like to rip her apart in the fighting pit. Suddenly Nyx twitched and caught his eye-line, as if she had heard his thoughts. He knew that was impossible, but there was something about her that set his fur on end.

He swung his head away from the unsettling orange and black female. Pack members did not fight in front of the alphess. Acribus climbed the hill, though he did not go as high as Skia had. He maintained a lower position, but went high enough to look over the new territory as well. It was still new to him to have anywhere to call home—so the unclaimed land looked good enough to him. He ducked his head and padded back down the hill, sitting as the three of them waiting for the other pack members to come.

[Tiel]

Deimos:
So this was the Outer Reaches. He was expecting something.... greener? But this territory was just as barren as Midnight Silence's old wasteland territory. Deimos did not complain. The Outer Reaches was larger in size, which is why he and Gaia would have a family here. Their old home was small without a doubt, and with Skia soon to have a litter as well, the pack could not possibly provide for all those pups. So this was their new home.

Deimos looked around him. Skia was here. Acribus was here. Nyx was here. Still no Gaia. She would arrive soon enough. For now Deimos would sit and practice patience, something he normally was not good at.

[Deleted]

Gaia:

The earthy Brown she wolf flicked a dark Brown war as she followed her packmates. She trailed a little bit behind but that was ok for the moment,she hoped. As she reached the others she came to settle down on her haunches next to Deimos. She gazed about the outer reaches for a moment. She didn't expect much but she knew that it could possibly be the same as their territory before. Though low and behold it was and it was no surprise to Gaia. She glanced to Deimos and said"it seems like we never left our original home"she said quietly.

[Deleted]

Fjord was excited! Evil wolves didn't have to be emotionless and unperturbed, no. The white male silently approached the top of his hill, moving past his ranks with his usual air of power and arrogance. He reached Skias wide and drew his white tail over her flank. He looked out over the territory. The territory was dry and full of sand. Yet it was not dead like the wasteland they had once called home. This land held a gentle slope in its form, the earth firm with a snady layer above it, the scrub lavender and silver hints of green in it's spring foliage. It was beautiful in it's own way, the land nearly untouched by wolven paws. Fjord inhaled deeply, breathing in the herb-like scent of the land. Travesty will have a hey-day. Fjord thought smugly, his bloody gaze sweeping over the territory. There was water and the smell of prey was all over the place. This was going to be good. The land was still barren and certainly not as beautiful as it could be. No, but with the help of a certain botanist...Fjord smirked now, he would have to hold a council with his high ranking wolves soon, to tell them of his plans. He turned around after giving his mate a wink, to address his pack. 

"Welcome!! Those who have arrived, to our new home!!" Fjord threw his head back in a triumphant howl, his voice hinting at a pleasurable smirk.

[Fierfly]

Allegro:

Snake had kept them moving, fast and unrelenting like she'd promised she would, anyone unfortunate enough to be left behind was going to stay behind. Too bad for them. By the time they arrived he was breathing hard from the trek of an entire day, a brisk trek at that, and though his legs were getting longer and his steps more sure it still took considerable work to negotiate the loose soil and steep foothills of the mountains. Not that he was tired! No way! He'd just gotten his blood flowing was all! He could take it, he ran a couple of steps to keep close behind the alphas just to prove to himself he had the energy left and could do whatever he wanted. He could make it! He could keep going all night! Bring it on - Snake stopped.

Allegro threw his weight back and claimed his spot just behind one of Snake's shoulders while Killer stepped up even with her and both alphas gazed down into their new kingdom. Allegro looked too and wrinkled his muzzle with what he found. It was dry and sandy, just like the Barren Wastes had been, not much to look at really, why had they come here? It was no better than the graveyard they'd left! Then he saw a clump of dried grass shake and flicked an ear as the sound of flowing water registered. Prey and water, a good enough reason since there hadn't been much of either back in the old territory. He guessed this was a pretty good reason to move.

Killer grinned, Allegro had to do a double-take, he wasn't just smiling, he was almost giddy! His face wasn't the usual dangerous smile, he was almost bursting with evil pride and delight of the new land to conquer. He smiled at Snake and turned to the pack to welcome them to the new territory, then threw his head back and let out a howl. It wasn't the same kind of howl that had called them to the pack meeting earlier, it had been low and certain, this one was loud and victorious, bragging of the victory of claiming a new land and promising more battles won. Allegro's ears pinned forward and his obsidian eyes glanced out into the new territory again, the new home of Midnight Silence.

---

Venus:

They'd been joined by other wolves who hadn't been present at the meeting during the trek. Some were marked, some were not, or at least not as far as she could tell, in any case it made her lack of a tattoo less of an issue with others also lacking the special mark. A dark she-wolf shifting in some strange, dark mist joined the parade, as did a limping male and a she-wolf she guessed to be his mate and her middle suggested that pups were on the way. The alphess's middle did more than suggest that the pack would soon be growing, she had to have been close to being due to delivering her pups, and still she'd kept up a relentless pace. Venus had great respect for this she-wolf who'd managed to get Fjord to share his throne and was now carrying his pups, but she also knew to be very careful of an alpha, especially a powerful one, so she kept her distance, careful not to trail behind, but making sure to always be far away enough from the alpha's to be able to see them at all times during the run and climb.

The alphess crested a rise and looked down into her new domain, Venus stopped where she was, not quite as high on the hill and also glanced down. It looked much like the Barren Wastes had, but she could smell a river nearby and though the territory wasn't lush there was certainly more plant-life here than there had been in the pack's previous territory, it was also bigger which, judging with how the parade had grown during the journey and with the two expectant she-wolves in their midst, was definitely going to be appreciated.

Alpha Fjord seemed very pleased with the new territory. He brushed his tail across his alphess's flank approvingly and grinned. She had noted he was quick to smile and did so easily, rather than scowling like his mate or remaining passive as Travesty seemed to prefer, he was okay showing his emotions, and his delight in the darker ones. Yet, this wasn't his usual sly, devilish grin, this one was deeper, meaner, there were some definite plans turning over and building in his mind, and he was eager to carry them out. He turned and welcomed the pack to the new territory and turned his nose to the sky to begin the song of claiming the new territory. The alphas went first, then their kin and advisors, Venus perked her too-large ears and turned her face expectantly toward the head of the column, waiting for the song to pick up so she could join.

[Deleted]

Odin:
Odin had kept up, and it had been quite easy thankyou very much. Odin slowed as the pack did, easily catching his breath and surveying the territory. His single bright blue eye glittered as he smiled. This was much bigger and grander! Odin felt his tail wag, and a crule smile crossed his maw. The song soon started, and Odin joined readily. His deep, powerful voice soon became mixed with the rest of the pack and almost indistinguishable.

Yaling:
Yaling had kept to the edge of the pack, her orange coat a striking color against the more muted colors of the rest of the pack. Vibrant. Her soft, elegant voice joined the chorus smoothly.

Tri-Color:
Tri had kept next to Yaling the entire trip. Her dull blue fur was mute next to Yaling's bright coat. Her melodic voice filled the air, mixing with the rest of the pack but still standing out in it's own way.

Devon:
Devon's shoulder still hurt, and he was therefor irritable. He had been at the back, keeping to himself. His voice was scratchy, nothing like the others. It was hidden, however, by the sheer number of other voices.

[Rykett]

Skia:

Fjord was definitely planning something. He flung a wink Skia’s way before also greeting the pack members. Skia hoped whatever the plan was it included killing someone. He led the pack into the claiming howl and Skia threw her head upward to join in. The symphony of howl reverberated around the group. This gathering of darkness would be remembered. With this larger territory, generations could flourish in it, ever paying homage to those who’d claimed their home and led this pack in its early years. Skia and Fjord’s offspring would be the first of them. Something kicked the inside of her belly ungratefully, cutting Skia’s powerful howl off a little earlier than the rest of the pack’s. Skia cursed the litter under her breath. For a second, she’d been excited for their existence, but the little rats had just whipped Skia’s sentimental nose in the mud in response.

The howl finished and silence reached. There wasn’t much need to linger on the border now. However, there were many other things that needed to be accomplished before Midnight Silence had fully settled in its new home. We need to split up and mark the border. Kill any intruders or prey you come across. Then we can explore the territory and find dens.” Skia commanded. She paused, allowing Fjord to make some final remarks. Then Skia moved away from the group padding along the border to do her part in solidifying their claim on Outer Reaches.

-Exit Skia-