The Birth of Ivory Wild (Claiming) (Closed)

[Meds]

Blood tovaana Calypso

((Heya, guys! So I know that NONE of us are even close to our conclusions yet with our meeting threads (and I really do want to get there with those), but I just want to get this out of the way and official. We discussed on the plot thread a bit, so this is just the repercussion of that. It doesn't have to be a long thread; unless Zeus, Nanouk, and Epicenter want to get to know each other, of course. Thanks guys!))


Koa

It was happening.
It was really happening.

Koa was stalking across summer-dried grasses, her eyes forward, getting ever closer to the territory. Their territory. There was only four of them at the start, but that's all that they needed. Ivory Wild had an Alpha, a Beta, a Gammess, and their first Recruit. The 'Core Four', she had joked. The three wolves behind and on either side of her trusted her. They didn't even really know each other yet, just a few quick hellos and debriefs—but they trusted that Koa had made good decisions.
And she hoped she had.

Awareness did not make her a mind reader, but even before she had had the gift from Sheba, she had been quite good at reading those around her. Cleverness—that's what she had discovered in the three wolves accompanying her on this journey. And not just cleverness, for that was just one trait among many, but reliability, confidence, and ingenuity. These were the things that Koa valued in others, and that she believed to have in abundance herself. She turned and smiled at her now-pack mates.
She hoped she could become the Alpha that they trusted her to be.

She broke arrived at the White Spruce trees that gave the pack its name, and shouldered through a pair of young saplings. It was now or never. She cast a glance behind her at the others that she knew were just behind her, then lifted her head and howled.

[Blood]

Zeus:

It was all happening so suddenly. Not too long ago, Zeus had met Koa when she was “spying” on him while he napped in the meadow of the Wildflower Clearing, and now he was helping her claim that very territory. Zeus never thought his life journey would bring him here, or that he would ever be apart of something is big as this, but fate had a different idea. Every situation and conversation had been the intricate making of a greater picture that he would end up as part of.

As the large stormy pelted male strolled behind the soon-to-be alpha, he couldn’t help but feel a strong sense of appreciation for the small slate blue and gray female. She, with so many options of other wolves to be a part of claiming this territory, had chosen him to be by her side. And she, in all her wisdom, had seen something in him that she wanted to be apart of her pack. Zeus was truly humbled, and a firm decision was standing at the front of his mind as he watched Koa stop at the boarder with two other wolves at her sides. He walked up to join the line, and took his place on the left side of the three with a solemn expression cast over his face. Turning his head, he beheld as Koa lifted her nose and began her claiming howl.

For a moment, Zeus took in the majestic sight of the small group of wolves and his alpha sending her song over the Wildflower Clearing, and in that moment, Zeus had made his decision; That he would guard this territory with his entire strength, and that he would be loyal to his packmates all of his living days, and that he would give his life befor he saw peril touch his Alpha. Zeus raised his great head to the sky and proclaimed to the valley the vow he just made.


((We can always claim the territory, and then come back to this thread when we have time for them to meet. ))

[Calypso]

Nanouk;

It had been a difficult decision to make. Originally, the dark-furred female considered not coming to the territory. She had lived for so long as a loner that the thought of suddenly becoming a pack wolf, and a Gammess of all things, troubled her. That, and if she were to dedicate her loyalties to this pack, her loyalty would split two ways, which was never a good thing to have. She had the option: Ivory Wild, or the male that she may or may not have had deep feelings for. In the end, she made the decision that hadn't even been an option to begin with.

I can be loyal to them both. I have always been a pack wolf on the inside. My family thought that one day I would be the very face of my pack, and even though I would only be the Gammess here, I am helping to establish a pack in itself. Plus, it isn't as if I'm helping form a pack while I am a part of another. I am merely forming a pack while I have a wolf on the outside that I hold close to my heart.

These thoughts had led her here. As she expected, she had found her soon-to-be Alphess near the territory. She also found that Koa had accomplished what she knew she could: find more wolves to help her. One of them was a large gray male covered in marks that resembled lightning. The other was a relatively large green male with brown markings. They didn't really have a proper greeting yet, but as she looked at these three wolves, she saw a group of wolves who could do anything. They would start this pack, they would make it strong.

Nanouk now stood to the right of Koa, walking along side her and the green male towards the border of the territory. Unlike most other times, her head was held higher and her long tail remained in rest behind her, her golden eyes only looking ahead. When they reached the border marked by white trees, the group stopped. She let out a quiet sigh, knowing that this was what she wanted. As her Alphess raised her head in a howl, as did the large grey male, her ears perked. Ivory Wild. She raised her head to the sky, letting out a low, calming howl, joining two of her packmates in becoming one single howl. Only one wolf needed to join them now.

[tovaana]

OoC// Yeah, I also need to have a thread that occurs before this one in Secluded Sunrise where he lets Blaise know that he's leaving/starting a new pack/asking for her blessing - and perhaps the idea of an alliance...

BiC//

Epicenter;

Was it not too long ago that Epicenter had met Koa in these lands?

He felt no regret leaving his other pack, as they had not seemed to need him, brimming of characters as it was. There were parts of the pack he would miss, but nothing had truly tied him there except for experience and opportunity. The thoughts of Secluded Sunrise brought thoughts of Amora. Their meeting and how he had come into the pack. She was someone he would always respect and admire, and he guessed it wouldn’t be the last he saw of her – especially since the borders of Secluded Sunrise and Ivory Wild were not far distant. He glanced at the others, being strangers to him for the moment, but Koa’s familiar form was comforting. This was an opportunity to rise and once more he thought of Sheba. And Secluded Sunrise. This was who he was, taking opportunities and risks for the vision he had.

The mottled green and brown male thought of the way he had met Koa, and the respect that he held for her, while new, was enough to follow her. Of course, the prospect of power held merit in itself, and even if she had been someone weaker he would have accepted and found out a way to usurp the position of Alpha for himself. Koa was different though, and he glanced at the others again – others who had chosen to follow Koa, and he deeply respected that. One who could attract others was an essential aspect of a leader.

When they came to a stop he glanced at Koa once more, and watched as she confidently raised her muzzle to the sky to claim the land that they had ironically met on. A soft smile played at his muzzle, remembering how he had initially met the young female. Wouldn’t that be a story to repeat among themselves. It didn’t take long and just as confidently raised his own muzzle to the warm sky and joined his own voice with the others.

[Meds]

((As we discussed, this thread will now be time-skipped forward! Basically just a meeting-up and a more formal introduction to everybody, as well as the discussion of Zeus becoming a trainee/ranking, and Nanouk's thing with DeSoto (however we wanted to bring that up). This thread was made in Summer, and since it's summer now I say that's perfect. I imagine this thread would take place some time before Yukio meets Epicenter, but some time nearby when Nanouk is beginning to really think about DeSoto. Is that in agreement with everybody?))

tovaana Calypso Blood

-Time skip-

Koa;

Koa trotted back through the trees to the same spot that she and her packmates had stood when they claimed the territory a few short seasons ago. The winter hadn't been overly difficult, despite being new to the area, and the whole thing just had Koa feeling very positive about Ivory Wild in general.
Epicenter, her ever business-like and loyal Beta—she could sense him nearby when she activated her Awareness. He was walking at the moment—perhaps towards her, she couldn't tell. She could see in her mind's eye his paws as they fell upon the earth, but had no actual image to gaze at. But he was well in general, she believed, and quite close. She turned and smiled in his direction should he appear from between the trees. Koa was really looking forward to meeting new potential pack-mates and getting Epicenter a few trainees to look after.
With her Awareness still activated, she also sensed both Zeus and Nanouk from the other side of the treeline. The Gammess and the pack's first Recruit. Zeus had helped to claim the territory, but hadn't struck Koa as an exact-fit for any position at the time. Now, however, after interacting with him over winter in passing—Koa could see him as a Hunter-Warrior with almost no effort. Of course, this would put him under Nanouk's order, but Koa had faith in her Gammess as well. Koa wasn't as close with either of them (Epicenter either) as she would prefer as an Alphess, but she was a smart wolf, and trusted her decisions thus far.
Koa's ears perked forward, and a graceful smile alighted to her maw. Perhaps a little impromptu pack-meeting was about to commence, with everybody approaching. The Alphess gave her vine-marked head a light shake, warding off a fly. Such a meeting would probably be a very good thing. Her subjects knew each other in passing, but they weren't as close with each other as she would like either; especially for a pack so small. Koa believed that the four of them should be truly like a little family, or else she didn't know how this idea would work in the long run.

The Alphess let the eye-tattoo on the back of her neck to fade once more, letting the images and feelings of her approaching-pack slide gracefully from her mind. It was interesting, this power of hers from Sheba. She was getting stronger in it—and she was finding that even when she let go of the power, she was more aware of everything as a whole. The sound the bees made as they zipped from flower to flower, the subtle creak of the white spruce as they shifted in the wind—even the babbling of the Amoux off in the distance as it emptied into Kai Lake.

Koa settled onto her hind legs as she listened to her surroundings, facing the direction of the on-comers, and looking for all the world like she knew they were coming—because in fact, she did.

[tovaana]

Epicenter;

Epicenter was trying something new with his power. While he had the ability to blend in with his environment, he was by no means see-through. So, theoretically, one who was looking at him from an angle different of what he was reflecting, would see a piece of the environment that was out of place. He knew this was a blind spot for him, so as he took in his surroundings, he took it in from all around him. The left part of the land painting his left side, the right part of the land on his right – and from behind and in front respectively on his front and backside. It took more concentration, but he knew what Sheba had said about him practicing would get him better – and to not forget the little things as he grew.

He supposed it was the same to be said about any power. Often when one grew in any stature it was easy to forget the little things, like a pup who gains in size and strength can forget the need to think before jumping, falsely assuming their strength will be sufficient…. Until their footing doesn’t line up correctly, because they forget about calculating the angle of the landing, and possibly ending up with a sprained ankle, or even more deadly, a broken limb.

Epicenter had not been Beta long, so he did not think this would be a problem for him so soon, but still he reminded himself of the little things. Thing like: the border, keeping a wary eye out – and communication. While the land was smaller, it would still be easy to isolate ones self if he buried himself in other duties, and he supposed that had been one of his father’s weaknesses. So, when the breeze carried his Alphess’ scent so nearby, he shifted his course only by the smallest degree so he would come across her.

When his duo gaze spotted her, he paused for a moment, but did not stop reflecting the land upon him. Epicenter was used to being invisible and unnoticed, but she was standing toward him, as if she knew he was coming. His head shook the smallest bit before continuing forward, stalking toward Koa, trying to place more caution in his step. He doubted he’d be able to surprise her completely, as sight was not the only sense of a wolf, but it didn’t hurt to try, right? Besides, he liked to make her smile. Epicenter wasn’t the kind of wolf to have ‘friends’, not the kind that Epicenter thought of as friends anyways. He was often nice and conversed, and felt it was easy to gain the other’s trust – and perhaps they thought him as a friend, but it was rare that Epicenter ever felt a real connection with the other. Perhaps he thought it was the price to pay, as he knew feelings were often skewed and caused weakness…but he knew it was important for others. With Koa, he wasn’t sure if he liked to make Koa smile for her benefit…or for his own.

It was hard that she was completely facing him, so he tried to shift his entrance to come in at her shoulder. His paws paused when he was a few yards away.

“Greetings, dear Alphess.”

He still did not reveal himself, though his voice would give most of his position away.