Fine Lines {open}

[Deleted]

Amber

A flash of gold appears one second and is gone the next. Ferns rustle as if someone has passed, but no one is seen. Paws thud against the forest floor. An amber colored female burst out into the ruins clearing. The monoliths cast a shadow across her heaving shoulders. Her breath was labored and ragged. The golden ears flicked back and forth. She was listening for something, and something dangerous.

When she had calmed and was satisfied nothing was following she gave a dramatic flop down onto the ground. She pulled her white tipped paws up and over her eyes. A sigh escaped her muzzle.

[Deleted]

Carrado

It had been quite a long trek into the forests all the way from the mountains, but it was definitely worth it. I felt something drawing me back...back to where I had been crucially injured and back to where I'd seen my daughter for the first time in who knew how long. Enough time had passed since my visit to White Magic that my wounds had healed quite nicely but my left shoulder now had a deep scar etched into the skin where the blade met the torso. I sighed and stopped to drink some pooled water that had melted around my paws. There wasn't a lot of snow on the ground in this area, probably because all the trees kept it pretty well sheltered, but there was still enough to be cold and bothersome.

I continued on until I crested a small hill and saw the familiar rocky shape of the ruins. I had often wondered why the ruins existed and what exactly they were ruins of but I supposed I'd never know. Did the White Wolves know of this place? If they did I'm sure they never spoke of it. The ruins were harmless but superstitious wolves didn't roam here. I came closer and scented the ground, trying to smell my daughter Tala but I couldn't pick up on her scent. It was foolish of me to think she'd be there, she had probably crossed the mountains at this point...Suddenly my head jerked up when I heard movement. I froze and believed the noise to be my daughter but then the scent came to me and I knew it wasn't her.

Padding towards the clearing in the middle of the ruins, I picked up the smell again and it was stronger this time. I smelled a female and she was nearby but where? And then I saw her lying down on the ground with her paws on her face. She looked exhausted like she had been running from something. I crept nearer, not wanting to startle her and said "Hello?"

Black Coat

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Amber

Amber heard the voice and sprang up in defensive mode. The fur on her spine looked like she'd been struck by lightening. Whirling towards the source she dug her claws into the soil. Her gold and white tail lashed back and forth. "Who are you!" She growled angrily. She inwardly kicked herself for getting snuck up on. She trembled slightly but tried her best not to show it.

[Deleted]

Carrado

I almost jumped back in surprise when the female was up on her paws in an instant. She was quick and I hadn't expected such a reaction but, then again, I had startled her and sometimes very evil wolves lurked in these parts. I bowed my head and lowered my tail to show I was of no threat lest she attack me and I be injured yet again. "I'm sorry." I said "I didn't mean to scare you. My name is Carrado...I really just approached you out of curiositiy. I mean no harm." I flashed the female a crooked, awkward smile to show I was trying to be friendly. I was slightly larger than she was so I wouldn't be able to outrun her if she attacked but I was sturdy and I could take a beating. I didn't want to fight but my green eyes looked on at the she wolf warily, wondering what she would do next.

Black Coat

[Deleted]

Amber

Amber kept a wary eye on him. In case he was with "them". A few minutes of uneasy silence between them. Carrado didn't attack or anything. She relaxed her pose. Finally realising he meant no harm the golden wolf sat back down and rubbed a paw over her face. The cold, thIn layer of snow on the ground helped her flustered emotions cease. "Sorry about the snappy reaction." She apologized. "I'm not used to uhh.... other wolves randomly appearing. Well I'm sure you have you reasons, but you get my point." Amber stopped noticing she was rambling. She gave Carrado an uneasy smile and looked down at her feet. Snow begun to fall and a few flakes that managed to make it past the leaves began to dot her fur.

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Carrado

I blinked my eyes at the gold colored she wolf, hoping she wouldn't be hostile. She seemed nice enough and even apologized for her reaction. "Its quite alright. You can never be too careful around these parts, theres usually some hidden danger to be wary of." I quickly shut my mouth, hoping I wasn't scaring her or making her think I was this hidden danger. "Ahem, but it seems like there isn't any danger in these parts currently." I looked down at my brown and black paws awkwardly. It had been quite awhile since I'd had any interaction with other wolves that weren't trying to kill me. "So um...whats your name?" It wasn't the best conversation starter but it was definitely better than nothing.

Black Coat

[Deleted]

Amber

His awkward attempt to be friendly made Amber snicker a bit. Her social skills weren't top knot either. She shuffled her fur into a more organized state. "My name is Amber." She replied smoothly. She wasn't about to allow her moment of panic to last. She brought her tail to rest over her small paws. Perking her ears, Amber adopted a sophisticated pose to hopefully seem friendly but aware. Snow began to fall more heavily beginning to laden the branches. A sharp creak echoed off the ruins.

[Deleted]

Carrado

I shuffled my paws and looked at the ground where the snow and frost were beginning to melt even as it hit the ground. It wouldn't be too much longer now and the spring would come and revitalize the valley to a lush, green state. I enjoyed spring far more than winter and I found myself longing for the season. Unfortunately, it was still very much winter and the snows still continued to fall.

I looked back up as the wolf spoke and told me her name was Amber. It seemed to be a fitting name given the color of her coat but I kept that comment to myself. "Well its nice to meet you Amber." I said, not really knowing where to go from here. Perhaps I would ask her a few questions about herself? Wolves seemed to enjoy talking about themselves so maybe that was the right way to steer the conversation. "So what brought you all the way out here to the Ruins?" I asked and found myself actually curious to the answer.

Black Coat

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Amber

The question made Amber cringe a bit. "It's kind of a long story." She stalled. She want about to explain her entire situation to the wolf. It was a violation of Rule Number Three: stick to yourself. "I was just having a run and ended up here. I wasn't paying much attention. Why did you come here if you don't mind me asking?" Amber asked politely flicking her ears.

[Deleted]

Carrado

It seemed a bit odd to me that Amber had just been going for a run when I had come upon her with her paws over her eyes like she was hiding something but, then again, it was none of my business. I hoped she hadn't taken offense to my question but it was nice of her to keep talking to me. I didn't think she was associated with Tala and she didn't smell like the pack Tala was part of so I didn't think it'd be dangerous to tell her why I was there. "Actually I came out here looking for my daughter. I was here not so long ago speaking to her and...well sometimes family members quarrel." I tried to muster a laugh but nothing came out. "Things didn't end so well between us so I thought I'd come back and see if she was here so I could apologize. I've been wandering around the area for awhile now and I haven't smelled her so I think she's gone..." I gazed up at the ruins within the forest, wondering what had happened to Tala. "I do like the ruins here...there is something strange about them but not many wolves come up here so its a good place to relax and clear my head." I looked down at a small pebble that was gathering snowflakes and flicked it with my paw, watching it flop over in the grass and snow. I smiled at Amber, she looked about the same age as Tala so perhaps she had come across her in her travels. "My daughter's name is Tala. She's white with purple spot markings...have you perhaps seen her?"

Black Coat

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Amber

Amber could sense the slight nervousness but was relieved when he began to speak. Family's qarrel alright, she thought, especially if they arn't your real family. She pushed the thought away. Another creak resounded through the stones. Amber's right ear flicked towards the noise. "It is a peaceful place." She agreed. Tala? Have I heard that name? "I'm afraid not, Tala is a name I'm not familiar with. I'm sorry." For the sake of the fact that this father was actually going to apologize to his daughter for whatever he has done. Amber immediately trusted him. Or her gut did, her brain was relaying her Rule Number 3: Stick to yourself again. Her memories flashed through her head and she dug her claws into the cold snow.

[Deleted]

Carrado

My black trimmed ears dropped a little when Amber told me she had not heard of Tala before and had no information about her. I sighed deeply, saddened that I couldn't find her and knowing that I wouldn't find her unless she wanted to be found which wasn't likely. I looked off into the distance as the sun was sinking lower into the sky and thought about how spring was on the horizon. I remained silent for a little while, contemplating things about my life but getting a severe headache whenever I did so. I then turned back to Amber and smile albeit weakly.

I had noticed that Amber was quick to survey her surroundings, her ears and eyes always moving and giving her more and more sensory information. I briefly wondered what had made her act so paranoid but I knew that would be an incredibly rude thing to ask, not to mention she'd think I was calling her paranoid. I cleared my throat and padded a little closer to the she wolf and sat down in front of her, still a respectable distance away. "Thats a shame you don't know Tala but I thank you for taking a moment to think about it. She means a lot to me, my daughter, and it would mean a lot to me if I could mend our relationship..." I trailed off, thinking that this probably wasn't appropriate to discuss with Amber but I had so few acquaintances it was therapeutic for me to talk to any wolf I came into contact with. "We got into a brutal fight. She gave me this scar." I glared down at my shoulder where the angry, brown scar stood out against my black top coat. "I did some things in my past that I regret but I hope to some day make up for those sins." I smiled at the she wolf, grateful that she was listening.

Black Coat

OOC: Sorry I've been swamped at work x(

[Deleted]

Amber

"Looks like it was painful." Amber winced at the scar. Amber felt her back foot go numb. Well actually she didn't feel it at all. She got up and paced a few times around Carrado. Shaking her foot as she did. Once the tingling was gone she returned to her place. "You a lot better at being a father than mine was." Amber said absently. Her ear began to itch so she leaned down and scratched it with her foot as gracefully as she could possible manage.
She was getting comfortable talking to another wolf. And this one at that. He was kind, despite being rough around the edges. Ordos never had an ounce of compassion in his entire body. "Tala must be very special to you." Amber smiled. She let her crystal blue gaze fully rest on him. Taking a brief break from constantly analyzing her surroundings.

((Occ: I know the feeling! And I just wasn't sure ))

[Deleted]

ooc: Is Mothy going to post in this thread or should we start a new one?

Carrado

I blushed and looked down when Amber said I was a good father. I desperately wanted that statement to be true but I knew the truth; I would never be a good father. My green eyes looked back up slowly and I saw the she wolf was pacing back in forth, possibly a nervous habit? I blinked for a moment when Amber looked at me and it seemed she'd just said something to me. "Oh uh..yes Tala is special to me." I sighed deeply, the weight of my daughter's attack weighed heavy on my heart and it was made even more difficult by the fact that I didn't have anyone to talk to about my issues. It was nice to be able to talk to Amber though, even if she was still a stranger.

"I did some things I wasn't proud of to Tala when she was younger. I regret it deeply but...she hasn't forgiven me. Judging by her vicious attack on me, I don't think she'll ever forgive me." I looked down as the feelings of shame swirled around in my stomach and made me feel sick. I needed a distraction so I focused on Amber. She really was quite radiant in sunlight, her fur gleamed nicely. "Amber...is there something or...someone you're looking for?" I asked curiously, cocking my head to the side. She had been acting on edge the entire time we'd been conversing.

Black Coat

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((Occ: I'll go ahead and tag @ttop just to see))

Amber

Amber cringed at his question. "More like who's looking for me." She sighed. Her blue eyes looked Carrado over again. He had told her most of his troubles. Which she was surprise with. Her ears flattened. Short lean legs walked their way over next to him and sat.

"It all started when I was little. My father," Amber paused to compose herself. "My kidnapper, raised me from when I was young to a pack called the Southern Winds. Far south of this valley. They had trained an elite group of wolves to be assassins. Their pack had grown too large too quick." Amber closed her eyes and her fur stood on end. "An Alpha and Alphaess has given birth to one pup. But the Southern Winds wanted their territory. They sent their greatest thief to the lands to steal that pup. After exhausting all their resources to find their only child the pack had weakened. Southern Winds rained down in a massacre for the land. The weakened pack had no chance." Hot tears leaked out of Amber's eyes. She struggled to stay intact.