Morning Frost [closed] thread paused until further notice

[tovaana]

Seasons had passed, and Kaisra had finally filled out into her adult frame, albeat a short one. She would pass off as a teenager for most of her young life, and it didn’t bother her. Her eyes crawled over the river until she found a calm spot where the water pooled and gathered, not as perturbed by the flowing water. Here she could see her reflection a little better, her mustard eyes blinking back at her – her tawny head melting in with the dark colors of the river. What did stand out in the reflection was her polka dotted freckles that splattered her cheeks, white and mustard gold. She lifted her chin a little, but it hid the freckles, so she tilted her head left a right, admiring the almost perfectly mirrored dots.

Kaisra let out a sigh in a puff of cold condensation. A frost covered the forest in an almost magical way, tipping the pine needles, the rough bark, and even the forest floor, except for where Kaisra’s paws had melted them, leaving dainty prints in the morning frost covered floor. Her golden gaze pulled up into the sky and then around, sniffing at the air. She had never felt any need to leave the packgrounds for any longer than a day, but she guessed her siblings had, the way she saw very little of them. She felt there was always something to amuse her, and while it was almost always the pack members, she felt content, blissfully happy.

She turned back to the pool, gazing at her reflection for a moment more before she took a couple of swollows of the frigidly cold water. It was a similar chill that penetrated her fur, a thick coldness that was carried by the breeze that whistled through the trees. She kept at attention, seeking any signs of any pack members that may be nearby.

[Meds]

DeSoto;

Angled shoulders rolled under navy fur. Muscles were present there, but they were not boastful. That the body powerful was no question—but it was not arrogant. Pointed ears and muzzle moved as one as DeSoto took in his surroundings. He found himself at the river that day, and it was flowing despite the chilly air. The water was clear and no doubt bitingly cold—so cold that it did not make him thirsty. Instead, he moved along the bank against the current, quiet eyes focused on the dancing stream.

Most noticable in his dark navy fur were three white slashes across the chest; the mark of a gifted being. Offensive. It was ammusing to him, still, that such a quiet being had gotten such a loud power, but perhaps the White Wolf had seen deeper into his mind than he thought. For when was loudness more powerful? In silence, or in noise? The former, of course. Perhaps she had seen that a wolf such as him could do great things with a power such as Siren.

He followed the river quietly for a time, until his keen ears picked up the sounds of another in the distance. He could pick it out from the sounds of nature all around, because the river quieted here. DeSoto inhaled, closing his eyes briefly, but found no unfamiliar scent. Good. Had the stranger been someone who didn't belong, he would have had to address it (loyalty spares nothing for those who wish to remain quiet). In a short time, he came upon a pool, and at its base was a young-looking wolf. On second glance, perhaps she wasn't quite so young as he thought, but she was certainly small.
She was alert, ready, and had no doubt already seen him approaching. She had a familiar scent. DeSoto thought perhaps she had a lignering scent of kinship with Perjury, but then again, most of the earth in Frigid Plague's lands smelled of her, since her influence touched all. Instead of making assumptions, DeSoto sat a little ways off from the female and looked into the water himself. He gave a slow, pointed nod.

[Fierfly]

Shantias:

A chill winter morning found the sleek, slender alpha's daughter padding through the frosted woodland. The trees did wonders in fending off the deep snow that the Valley snuggled under every winter and only a light dusting was there now, frosting the branches and ground she walked upon. It was still bitterly cold, but the river that ran through the territory always had one or two spots of thin ice that could be broken for some fresh water and that's where she was headed. With any luck she might get a snack out of the trip as well.

The foolish little she-pup had grown some. She was not quite as tall as her father had been (the Power rest his soul and all that), but thankfully not petite. She looked too skinny despite her insistence that she could-too hunt for herself. And she could! She was still working on getting the prey in her mouth instead of the snow, but she liked to think she was a fast learner. The pampered chubbiness of pup-hood had been lost since she'd left Mother's den to scout out for herself within the territory. As of yet she'd let to receive a rank, she hadn't even watched Mother interview a new member or lead a hunt - such privileges she supposed had been reserved for Narcotic, clearly the one chosen to be the next alphess. Shantias had no ambitions for leadership, she hadn't the patience to deal with any insubordinate idiots on her mother's land, but she was itching for action. She had to do something to prove herself to Mother! She hadn't minded the quiet affection of her childhood, even though they hadn't spent much time together, but what she really craved was Perjury's respect, her trust, and she'd set off far too young to try and win it and she was determined that she'd have it yet.

Crouching down on her long, lanky legs she flashed her quick tongue twice over a patch where the ice on the river had been broken and began to quench her thirst before her nose twitched, she caught a scent and her head went up. Ears turned and flicked and sharp green eyes scanned the area for the wolf it belonged to. The scent tickled a memory somewhere in the back of her mind but she couldn't quite...

A familiar freckled-face from her childhood suddenly caught her eye and she groaned inwardly. It was Kaisra. Kaisra had been one of the things she hadn't missed when she'd went of on her own, she was just so giggly and silly! Everything was a game to her! She was about to leave when she caught another scent, heavier than hers or her sister's. A male's. Duality? No, definitely not Duality, someone else. Obviously from the territory, but she was never one to back down and she wasn't going to retreat now, not from this stranger, not from Kaisra.

Drawing up to her full height she raised her chin and stepped back so that the three formed a triangle, the male and Kaisra on one bank, she on the other and she stood to wait and see what would happen.

[tovaana]

The cold breeze carried many scents, it almost made it hard to breathe the way it froze her insides each time she took a breath. She smelled the male first, as the breeze rushed with the water’s flow, it carried his musky male scent, covered in her pack’s scent. Her audits perked toward his direction and watched as a dark figure walked toward her, perhaps unknowingly at first – but then he seemed to notice her. As always when she came across anyone in her pack, her heart started to race with anticipation of the social encounter. And then her sister’s scent and a sound up river took her a little off guard.

Shantias. With how much time she spent roaming, she was familiar with different scents, but this scent was more familiar, and her anticipation started to turn into a dark excitement. Growing up, Kaisra had not known or cared how annoying she had been to her siblings, the fact that others had avoided her and tried to sneak away had seemed normal her whole life. Little had changed, except that she was more aware of social interaction, some social queues, the only difference was she ignored them. She had spent so much time not caring, that knowing she annoyed others often had not changed that she still did not care. Shantias had been the sister who kept her cool and was always missing. So it was excitement that she felt, that she would get to see her elusive sister.

She blinked at the male who had nodded at her, but she was distracted now by the fact that her sister was close and she stood up, turning just in time to watch the white striped mask of her sister come into view. Her tail started to rip back and forth in the cold air.

“Shantiii!” She said, drawing out the ‘ie’ sound, and not finishing her name. She made a quick play bow in pure reflex to seeing her sister.

Then her head jerked back to the male, as if suddenly remembering they were not alone. This would be fun. She felt bad that she recognized his scent as a pack member, but could not place a name with it. The feeling of guilt flickered out of her heart as quickly as it had fluttered in; her mustard gaze alit with glee.

Her gaze lingered on his stripes, which from her training she knew was a mark of a offensive power. Mustard pools widened a little in admiration then she flicked her head back at her sister, motioning toward her while still looking at the male.

“This is my sister, we’re sisters.” Her tongue lolled for a moment with a silly grin, but quickly brought her tongue into her mouth and out of the cold. “I bet you couldn’t tell.” She added with a slight shrug, and casting an innocent smile toward her ruddy sister. The cold made her joints feel stiff, but her tail didn't stop swaying in a friendly wave and she kept standing, walking in a quick tight circle before facing them again. She had nearly jumped around in a circle, the world dizzying for a moment, but quickly settled as she found her sister and the male.

[Meds]

DeSoto;

The female he had first approached was... younger than he had originally anticipated. She was clearly growing into adulthood, and would no longer technically be considered a pup—but her demeanor and attitude quickly gave away that if she was an adult at all, she was new to it. DeSoto wasn't often sure what to do around younger wolves. He swallowed quietly, keeping his face a mask (which wasn't extraordinarily hard to do, considering most surface-level emotions had been hammered out of him). He smelled another approaching wolf before he saw her, and this scent, too, reminded him of Perjury. Were these two, perhaps, sisters? The active one confirmed his suspicions almost as soon as he had thought them. Yes, they were sisters, but were they the daughters of the alphess? DeSoto's training flicked on in the back of his mind.
All of this loyalty within him, all of the grueling things he had gone through—born to be a beta; and yet, he was merely a subordinate in the pack. He was fine with it, Perjury knew what she was doing and she would see soon enough—but where did that leave him with her daughters? He wouldn't ask outright, for it wouldn't be proper, but suddenly he was more aware with the way he behaved.
The second sister had approached more quietly. DeSoto could already tell how different she was from the one who had spoken. Sisters, yes. But close? Kin? That would remain to be seen.

"I could not tell," DeSoto said slowly, his voice impassive, the lie perfect. It wasn't a total lie, for he hadn't been sure of their relation before it had been confirmed. "You two smell as if you are not new to these lands."

[Fierfly]

Shantias:

Kaisra eagerly greeted her sister, drawing out the i in her name and never quite adding on the last syllable as she should have. Shantias barely refrained from rolling her eyes. She had never cared for that pet-name, 'shanti', it sounded so sweet and childish. The alpha's daughter was hardly a child anymore, and she had never been 'sweet'. What's more, Kaisra had just blatantly announced her presence. She didn't mind that the male knew she was there, it wasn't like she was afraid to face him head on, but she wished Kaisra could learn when to keep her maw shut.

The male was decently sized. Not much above average, but his muscles were thickly packed and he had three white slashes across his chest - not just any slashes either, these ones were special, they meant that he held a power. His manner was mild enough all things considered and he did not move threateningly as he acknowledged the two young she-wolves. He politely answered Kaisra's question as to whether or not he could tell they were sisters and then made a comment about how they smelled as though they belonged to the lands.

Shantias raised her chin another fraction of an inch. "Neither do you," she commented, forest-green eyes steadily sweeping over him as he still stood opposite from her. She didn't know his name, but his scent was definitely familiar to the forest she called home and thus she didn't currently see him as a threat and he'd not behaved in anyway to change her mind, at least not yet...