A New Presence {OPEN}

[Rykett]

Follow the river. It was Striken's only guide. He had only just entered the valley. The breeze suddenly seemed crisper and the sounds and scents were more intense. But it was all unfamiliar. Except for of course the ever present gurgling of the river. The river was probably the only reason he was still alive. It had provided him with both food and water. His only complaint was the twisting route that the river took. It had seemed to take forever to reach the valley. The White Wolf Valley had been his destination ever since he had started his journey. It was the only place that Striken knew of where wolf packs thrived. The only chance that he should meet his siblings again. They too would've headed to this valley. Striken had hoped for the scent of a good pack to drift his way but there was no sign yet. Suddenly a new scent penetrated his nose. It was unlike anything he had smelled before and it was coming from the forest. He hesitated before following it. The river was safe. The forest was unknown. But this was the White Wolf Valley. Prey had to be abundant to support so many packs. Striken trotted into the woods as a couple snowflakes began to float from the white blanketed sky. Striken followed the scent to a large tree engraved with strange markings. The scent's source was still far but this seemed like as good a place as any. Striken seated himself beside the tree to study the runes.

[Deleted]

Andria stormed through the forest, she was angry with a couple of birds that kept flying around her head.
(Sorry for small post)

[Rykett]

Striken flicked his ears back as paw steps approached. The markings were interesting and impossible to decode but Striken longed to figure their meaning. Despite this Striken stood to leave. He didn't want to run into any wolves. He had decided that wolves just brought sadness and despair. Any time of happiness they gave were short-lived. Everything had to end and Striken refused to be at the receiving end for despair when someone he had cared about suffered. He walked away from the tree and into the forest where the frustrated growl of a wolf and the laugh chitter of birds became louder. He stopped they where coming from the direction of the scent. But the wolf and the birds weren't the source of the scent he was following either. By this time they were unavoidable. A she wolf stormed into view.

[Deleted]

She finally bit at one of the birds, which made them go away. I was glad they were gone, I looked around for anymore birds that were coming over by me. I saw a wolf and walked over to him "Hello, my name is Andria. What is your name?" she said looking at him with a puzzled look.

[Rykett]

Striken couldn't speak. He didn't want to cause anymore pain, anymore suffering, anymore scars. But she had spoken. He had to answer her question. He opened his mouth but only a hoarse noise came out. How long had it been since he had spoken? Days? Weeks? Months? Striken didn't know. He clear his throat. "Striken, I'm Striken," he said hoarsely.

[Deleted]

"Oh, hello Striken. What are you doing?" She asked looking at him slightly tilting her head.

[Rykett]

"Mostly traveling," he responded, "I was resting here for a while. But I'd better be on my way now." Striken started walking again. The wind blew a couple snowflakes into the air.

[Deleted]

"Oh, well you could stay with me. If you want to." She said with a shiver.

[Rykett]

"No," Striken said. He never wanted to be with other wolves ever again. No more packs and a mate was out of the question. "But thanks anyways," he added after a moment.

[Deleted]

"Oh, OK" she said as she looked at the ground and lowered her ears. Was she disappointed? She asked herself. All this time she never really wanted a mate but now that she knew he didn't she was sad. "Are you sure? I have plenty of room, my den is pretty lonely." She said without thinking.

[Rykett]

"I'm sure," Striken hadn't come to this valley to get a mate. He'd come to survive. Even through winter was starting its prowl, prey was more abundant than outside of this valley. Now that Striken was here he didn't exactly know where he was headed. He was searching for something. A home or a den or maybe even... no he dared not to let himself hope. He walked past Andria, not meeting her eyes.

[Deleted]

Andria looked down," OK if your sure." She said and started walking home."well can I come with you for a while?" She asked catching up to him and looking at him trying to be nice and trying to be friends.

[Rykett]

Striken didn't respond for moment. He wasn't sure if he wanted her to come along but he didn't want to refuse again. If she was willing to walk alongside a solemn, sullen wolf like Striken, he didn't see any reason to turn her away. Except, of course, Striken's rule to remain a loner, but he decided to drop it for this final strech of his journey. "Don't see why not," he said eyes straight ahead.

[Deleted]

"OK... cool." Andria said looking down watching the rock rolling around on the ground. "So... what do yo wanna do?" She asked him wagging her tail slightly and watching his expressions.

[Rykett]

"Walk," Striken said simply. His eyes flicked around the lanscape before him. Any movement made by the forest creatures within his line of sight would be picked up be his alert and watchful eyes.