Pushing Boundaries [Open]

[Meds]

Pan;

Mismatched eyes flung open as if somebody had called Pan's name. He stayed frozen, un-moving, until his mind caught up with his now-awake body. Still not moving his body, his golden and red eyes flicked around his surroundings, then finally became confident that he was still alone. It was early morning, and the winter-sun had not yet risen. He was laying in a tree, his body splayed against a thick branch. His hind leg draped over the edge and twitched into motion, the first movement he had made since waking up. He often slept in trees, preferring the height rather than staying on the ground.
He sighed, then lifted his legs and crouched, then sprung off the branch. He was a good deal up from the ground, especially for such a small-statured wolf, but the fall didn't bother him. He landed gracefully enough, using the momentum to spring forward and break into a lazy lope through the winter foliage.

After some time had passed, a border-scent caught Pan's nose. He stopped dead as soon as it registered, eyes alive and wild. He scanned the area before him, but saw nobody scouting the area. His ears flicked, which sent the feather knotted into his mane into a frenzy of movement, then leapt over the border, careful not to touch the actual edge—as if it were made of fire. He smirked wildly, moving slowly and purposefully, as if in a dream or caught in deep water. Secluded Sunrise. He knew the sent, and he knew the area. He didn't go very deep into the territory, keeping his eyes on the border at all times, but loped North for a time and always looking for prey.
Soon enough, a pitifully small rabbit was clamped tightly in his jaws. He considered skirting off the territory before he was found out, but for some reason his smirk only widened. He sat his rump down with a thud in the light snow and set to eating, seemingly unconcerned that he was not only trespassing, but now eating a claimed-rabbit.

[Vile Chaos]

Movement flickered through the grass in the early morning. Slyck always favored the winter, signaling rest for the world. She has put lots of wolves to rest for good, but didn't really feel like it today. Slyck didn't know what to do to kill time right now at all, in fact. She leaped through the frosted grass swiftly and soundlessly. It took her some time to master that skill, because of her smaller frame and thick fur. Suddenly, a scent filled her nose. She didn't know this scent, but it seemed to circle around plants and trees. A pack scent, Slyck realized with a evil smirk. She knew now what to do. Create anarchy.

All to late, she noticed another wolf eating a mouse. He was sitting, looking as if he had no care in the world. Slyck crouched in the thin layer of snow and slowly moved over towards him. She wasn't trying to sneak up on him at all, but just get his attention. She popped her head out and stared directly at him, her black and purple eyes not betraying anything. She was right beside the border, a hidden smile forming on her face.

"Oops." Slyck said, her voice as thick as honey as she put her paw over the scent line. She then lazily jumped over the line and smirked. "Oh no! Please don't claw off my ears." She called over to the other wolf, who was a male. She then quietly laughed to herself, trying to conceal her amusement.

[Meds]

Pan;

A crunch sounded nearby, almost inaudible. Pan made no motion at all, as if he hadn't heard, and continued to eat his rabbit. Eventually, a head popped out of the deeper brush and stared at him. Pan looked up casually, having felt eyes on him, and glanced at the stranger. Her eyes were dark, perhaps purple... but a half-smirk had spread across her maw. Perhaps a Secluded Sunrise wolf? Pan inhaled quietly, the breeze in his favor, and found that no—she was definitely not a member of the neutral pack.
She proceeded to taunt him, placing her paws over the border and eventually hopping over it herself, mocking Pan and begging him not to attack her. Pan blinked his mismatched eyes, gold and red, slowly. He supposed her taunting would have made sense, even worked, if he had been a part of the pack. But he was not; he had trespassed first, after all.

"I'm not in the business of clawing off stranger's ears," He smirked, the expression fitting in with his generally wild appearance. "Though to trespass over such a clear border seems like a mistake..." He didn't add that he was not a part of the pack. Hopefully, he had been within the territory for long enough that morning that his own Loner scent was somewhat dampened; if so, perhaps he could have a little bit of his own fun.
"Welcome to Secluded Sunrise, though you seem to have already made yourself welcome."

[Vile Chaos]

Slyck;
The other wolf blinked at her taunts, like as if he didn't care. Slyck looked at him questionably ever so slightly. "I'm not in the business of clawing off stranger's ears," The weirdly colored male spoke, smirking. She slowly made her way over toward him and his rabbit. She wanted to know more about pack that she was trespassing on. Then he spoke about a clear border and it being a mistake to cross it. "No mistake, none at all." Slyck whispered, now in front of him, starring at him. Her tail swayed over the rabbit. Slyck realized that he didn't exactly smell like the border line. Her ear twitched, suddenly suspicious.

"Welcome to Secluded Sunrise, though you seem to have already made yourself welcome." He said, making Slyck smile. She swished her tail, taking the rabbit with it. She bent to take a bite, then looked up. "Oh yes, Secluded Sunrise. The neutral pack, am I right?" She ripped off a piece of the rabbit and pushed it back toward the male. Something bothered her, very much so. Why eat right next to the border? Wouldn't you take it back to the pack and eat it there? Slyck wasn't good at pack etiquette, but she at least knew that.

"Listen, I have a question. A few actually. Why munch down a rabbit here, beside the border? And why have you not chased me out yet?" Slyck asked simply, voice yet again thick. She was great at manipulation, but this wolf might not buy into it. Slyck sat down patiently and starred off, deeper into the territory.

[Meds]

Pan;

This stranger was good. It took a special kind of wolf to make Pan take notice. So enveloped was he in jokes and games that he rarely ever had to pull out his whit to have a laugh; however, it would seem that this female was not one to be fooled easily. In fact, Pan found himself actually feeling curious about her. Another wolf hadn't made him curious in quite some time.
She pointed out that it had not been a mistake at all to trespass, a statement that Pan could both admire and understand. It had been quite a purposeful choice for him, as well.
He nodded at her next words.

"Neutral yes," He paused, looking her up and down subtly as she grabbed his rabbit, helped herself, then pushed it back. There was a glint in her eyes that made Pan sort of doubt that she was neutral; or at least, good like him. He wasn't your typical good wolf, it was true, but even so, something about her made him feel like an outsider. "Lead by Blaise noblesse."
The female then went on to ask him a series of her own questions, such as why he was eating at the border instead of bringing it back. Technically, Pan hadn't lied yet. He hadn't explicitly said he was part of the pack; however, the illusion was fun, and Pan liked fun.

"Why eat here? Well, I caught it here, and I'm hungry now. No sense bringing it where other wolves—" He glanced at her meaningfully. "Might take the biggest share and leave me hungry and on the hunt once more. I owe nothing to the others, why should I go hungry for them?" His ears flicked, his piercing catching on his fur for a moment before pulling free, and the red feather in his mane catching in the movement.
The stranger then asked him why he hadn't chased her off yet. Pan looked her up and down. It was true, she was quite a small female, but on that same side of the argument, Pan was also quite a small male. He shrugged lightly, snapping up the last of the rabbit and batting the remains to the side.
"What have you done that would warrant a chasing off, save of course, walking on claimed land? I am no Scout, I don't believe it's really my duty to do such things..."

[Vile Chaos]

Slyck;

Slyck just registered the fact that she doesn't know this stranger's name. She opened her maw to ask, but he proved her correct. 'So then why am I still on this side of the border. No pack takes lightly of that.' She thought to herself. Then, he answered her previous questions, a red feather swaying. "So, what's this alpha Blaise like? A normal neutral wolf, or like you?" Slyck didn't specify what she meant by that, adding to the fun of all this. She then started to circle around him, her dark eyes watching for any movement at all. She tilted her head up and kept circling around him.

"Excuse me, but I don't know your name." She said softly in his ear, and then added. "Tell me your name first, then I would love to know more about Blaise and Secluded Sunrise." Hoping for him to hesitate, she picked up her pace until after a couple spins, she landed squarely in front of him. She blinked and smirked.
"I'm dying to know."

[Meds]

Pan;

Her dark eyes were sharp, watching him for any sign of movement. Pan, however, not one to be intimidated easily, simply watched right back, frozen and immobile. She prompted him to speak by asking what Blaise was like. Pan had never actually met her, nor heard much about her, but he had learned and guessed enough to form a half-way convincing lie.
"Like me?" He laughed, the sound like a free wind travelling through wild fields. "Nobody is like me." This part was entirely true. Pan was nothing if not unique. The stranger then asked him his name, but did not offer hers. Pan was quick to notice.

"Names are precious," He murmured, not flinching when she stopped directly in front of him. "To know a name is to control a thing." Mismatched eyes flashed. "Though I will give you mine, if yours you will sing." He waited for her response, then tossed the long hair of his mane. "Pan's the name." But then the conversation angled back to Blaise. Pan refused to be stumped at this new game he was faced with, so he put his best effort forward.
"Blaise is pretty seclusive—maybe that's where the pack got its name," He looked to the cloudy, overcast sky and realized that might actually be true. "Even her subjects don't know much about her. But I do know one thing, is she is very lenient against trespassers. If I were Alphess I wouldn't agree," He new he would be an Alpha, but Pan was silly to the core. It was the equivalent of imagining he were queen. "But alas, I am not she." A smile. "I didn't chase you off for this very reason. If the Alphess herself wouldn't, it's clearly not treason."
He still hadn't actually said he was a member of the pack, but he was pretty sure he was on a roll.

((I'm trying to introduce some rhyming into Pan's dialect—just if you notice the change xD I'm not doing it so much for other wolves to notice, but more of just a way he talks. He's still new to me, so I'm just feeling some stuff out!))

[Vile Chaos]

((Smart! I can see him rhyming a lot.))
Slyck;

He laughed at her. No one laughs at her. But she didn't show her anger, but just smiled. "Someone must be, surely!" Slyck said, glaring. She knew at least that plenty of wolves manipulate and kill others, so why is a wild wolf like him be any different? "Names are precious." The male said, and Slyck nodded in agreement. "Powerful and precious. As long as you know how to use them." He said some more stuff about names, and waited for her own name. "Slyck" She said only, not revealing to much to the newly named Pan.

When Pan said Blaise was seclusive, lenient, and he would change her leadership skills if he were Alphess, Slyck got another idea. To prove he wasn't apart of Secluded Sunrise, she already knew from clues. Slyck might be evil, but she isn't stupid. But she had to admit, Pan was good at this. She then took note of how he only does what "his Alphess" does. She backed away from Pan's face and started to slowly walk deeper into the territory, and then called back towards him. "Then Blaise isn't any good at being Alphess if she doesn't chase out trespassers." Trying to push his buttons, Slyck weaved through the undergrowth and even deeper, but staying where she could still see the wild male.

[Tiel]

Topaz:

Topaz had not been ranked for extremely long, but she took her job extremely seriously. Moons ago, Topaz had been an orphan looking for a home, and stumbling upon Secluded Sunrise, she had been welcomed into a community — a family. Now she was a devoted scout, serving her pack as it had served her.

Her paws carried her along the edge of the forest today, swiftly and silently. Her eyes were fast in scanning her surroundings, but still as careful as she needed to be. From days training under Manaaki, Topaz had learned a few things about herself. The first was that she was a hard worker, training not only to learn a certain skill, but to perfect it. The second was that she was remarkably observant, which meant that she did not need to stay in one place for a long time before she noticed something was off. And today, something was off.

She halted for a moment, her nose up and sniffing for the source of the smell. Rabbit, probably, freshly killed and quite appetizing she had to admit. The fact that whoever had caught it had decided to eat it on the border told her it couldn't have been a member. They would have brought it in to share with the pack, unless it was Ferox. She snickered at that thought.

Topaz followed the scent on light paws, the wind in her fur. Manaaki wasn't patrolling with her today, but the wind was here and at her disposal, always there for when she needed it.

Just when she was beginning to consider the notion that it might be some other predator like a bear or bobcat, she caught scent of two wolves, not Sunrise wolves. As she neared she began to hear voices that grew clearer the closer she got. She was surprised to hear her Alphess’ name in their conversation.

Topaz moved forward, scanning the vegetation until her eyes landed on the color purple, bright against the sun. When she drew nearer and peered through the branches, she found that the color belonged to a small female wolf, the rest of her coat silvery. Then she noticed the other wolf, a rugged looking male whose coat varied in shades of brown. His whole facade gave off an air of wild adventure, and she wondered if he was looking for trouble in trespassing. If so, would Topaz be able to take the both of them? She recalled Manaaki’s assurance during one of her training sessions: Secluded Sunrise was there for her, just a howl away.

While she was thinking this, she caught the female saying, “Then Blaise isn't any good at being Alphess if she doesn't chase out trespassers.”

A wave of anger surged through her. Who did these wolves think they were? Trespassing her pack’s territory, then insulting her alphess! Before she knew what she was doing, Topaz stormed from the bushes, sending a gust of wind toward the she wolf who had uttered such blasphemy against Alphess Blaise. She knew it wouldn't do much. At Level 1 Current, the only thing a gust of wind was meant for was stunning prey. It might surprise the wolfess, but it wouldn't likely knock her over or anything, unless from shock.

“Take that back!” Topaz barked, and stomped one paw on the ground. “Take that back or fight!”

[Meds]

((EE! I was hoping Topaz would show up))

Pan;

Slyck. Slyck. An interesting name indeed, and perhaps a glimpse into her personality. Pan tossed his long mane fur once more, eyes alight with the game. Just how slick was this female? Her eyes flashed when he had laughed, but her voice had been as sweet as a summer rain. Perhaps laughter was not her friend—to Pan, however, laughter was but medicine. He felt another chuckle rise to his lips at the very thought of it angering her, but held it at bay when Slyck spoke again. She spoke out against Blaise, and the words sent a thrill through Pan. Oh, say it again. Say it louder. Shout to the high heavens how poor an Alphess held the land! If they were very, very lucky, perhaps Slyck would be overheard...

And she was.

A subtle shift in the wind and a loud, angry growl later, and another wolf was among them. Pan leapt up and turned toward the sound, a wicked smile on his face. Ah, but here was a scout! Thick with the smell of Seclusion, and angry to boot. Pan could have giggled in mirth.
"Hark!" Pan said jokingly, tail lashing and feather swinging rapidly. "A Scout! I'd bet that her bite is far worse than her bark." Gold and red were suddenly fixed on Topaz and Slyck. "One shouldn't insult an Alphess on her own territory..." He doubted that Slyck still thought him a Secluded Sunrise wolf, but the pack-female hadn't been offended by anything he had said, and so hadn't paid him any mind. If Slyck was distracted from thinking too hard on it, she could have still be deceived...

[Vile Chaos]

((Ooo, Slyck is now officially in a pickle, but I think she got out of it. I think.))
Slyck;

When the Secluded Sunrise wolf showed up, Slyck didn't do anything but stare at the wolf who challenged her to fight if she didn't take her words back. A little gust of wind took her by surprise, but she recovered a little after. 'This wolf is angered,' Slyck suddenly realized, hiding a smirk. 'She'll believe anything.' She looked over at Pan, who is now rhyming his words. A soft hiss appeared in the back of her throat. Most wolves would've turned around by now, apologizing, begging for mercy. But where's the fun in that? She smoothed her voice over before she began her fun. "Ah, but why should I have to pay, when you're the one standing in my way? She rhymed, like Pan was doing, directing it towards him. That was true, in fact. The wild male was standing in between her and the border. "Why force me to say those harsh words, when you are trespassing as well and croaking like a dying bird?" Slyck snickered and turned towards the Secluded Sunrise wolf.

"I am dearly sorry, I was forced into trespassing by that male, Pan." Slyck remembered when Pan told her about names, and she agreed. Now she is freely throwing his about, and lying about it. Ah, what fun this was. Her dark eyes landed on Pan, a gleam of evil showing him who she really was. Just then she registered that she was still in the undergrowth of Secluded Sunrise. She hopped out and landed gracefully. Still looking at the Sunrise wolf, she forced fake panic into her eyes, which added to the burs in her fur. She picked some out of her fur and threw them back into the undergrowth she was just weaving through.

[Tiel]

Topaz:

The male, Pan, seemed delighted to be figured out, which confirmed Topaz’s guess that he was looking for trouble. Her head swung back and forth between the both of them as the female explained her reasons for trespassing and insulting Alphess Blaise, and Pan watched on in apparent amusement. A lot of things were being said, and Topaz had to close her eyes to process all of it. The female was trying to pin her mistakes on the male, and it was possible that they had not come here together. But Topaz had found them together, so she would treat them as one.

After a moment, Topaz opened her eyes, wondering where to begin. She glanced at the female. “Did you just…rhyme?” She shook her head. “Never mind. There are no excuses for trespassing, and no excuses for insulting the best leader in the valley on her own terf!”

Topaz scowled. Things were getting to be interesting, more so than when Maachah had intruded. The snickers they exchanged rubbed her the wrong way. These two hadn't come on accident, and there was a chance she'd have to howl for backup. Her eyes met Pan’s, a clear twinkle of mischief playing behind the mismatching colors, and she wondered how far this one would go. Then she remembered the rabbit, and her eyes landed on what was left of the meal. “I sure hope that wasn't caught within Sapling Grove, because we don't tolerate thievery here.”

What was she going to do with these two? Should she let them go, or would they then just come back again some other time? What if they hunted on packlands again, if that really was where Pan had found the rabbit? She decided to try one more thing, and if they were stubborn, she’d howl.

She heaved a sigh, then addressed both of them, voice low and careful, “There’ve been wolves who've trespassed Secluded Sunrise on accident before, and I usually let mistakes slide, but this was one heck of a mistake. Insulting Alphess Blaise and presumably hunting on her territory. I may not be big enough to kill you where you stand, but there are others who are. Just a howl away. So, what do you have to say for yourselves?”

[Meds]

((I’m on my phone! Forgive any mistakes ))

Pan;

Suddenly, anger that Pan had felt bubbling just below Slyck’s surface, melted away. She almost surprised him, with the level way she spoke—almost. It took a lot more than a fake attitude and a well-fitting facade to surprise or fool Pan. Pan was a master of such things himself, after all. He listened as Slyck said he was in her way and mimicked his form of speech. Pan tilted his head slightly, but the wild glint in his eyes remained. Perhaps this game would prove a little bit harder to win than he was used to... it was clear, in any case, that the rhymes were meant just for Pan—proven by the fact that the Scout seemed confused by them, if anything.
Slyck then pressed the limits of Pan’s expectations once more, full-out blaming him for her discrepancy all together. His eyebrows lifted, but again not in surprise. This time it was because he was border-line impressed, if anything. He couldn’t help but hold a chuckle in, and it rolled forth from his throat with all the implications of a wolf born on the back of wind.
”Forced you, did I?” He turned his small body broadside to Slyck. Slyck was by no means large, but she was clearly capable. Pan smiled. ”Tell me, was it with my blunt and awesome brutishness that I did such a thing? Or did I convince you with my superior and clearly stronger wit?” His tail lashed, truly wondering what the Scout would glean from his side of the story.

”No, lady Scout, I didn’t hunt this here. Follow my footsteps if you will. The only discrepancy I can imagine is if the border wasn’t well-marked in the snow. I saw a rabbit, and my instincts took over. It has been many nights since I last ate. As for this one,” He looked at Slyck. He was so comfortable in his lie and in his game, that he actually could almost picture the story in his mind. ”I won’t go back and forth, she said he said, because I’m sure you know better than I, that it is ultimately her word against my own.” He shrugged lightly, as if defeated. ”I am in the territory, yes, and fearing more and more by the second that I might have taken this rabbit from within without being aware of it—and if so I shall pay the appropriate consequences... however,” And now his red eye found Slyck again. ”I would never insult an Alphess, especially not within the territory’s actual view. That is something I simply wouldn’t do.”