Quiet Before the Storm (Amora&Open)

[tovaana]

Epicenter listened to her cool tones, rolling over the info carefully in his mind without too much showing on his visage. It sounded like a pack that needed him, maybe? A pack that needed a little more leadership perhaps? While Epicenter liked to jump to conclusions, he was also very thorough. He smiled at her question and then chuckled as she flipped water in his direction.

“Ah- oh no,” He blinked the water out of his eyes, flinching, “you got me.” He feigned being blind moving left and right a little in the water to make ripples. He made a movement like he was tripping over his paw in the water and created a small wave in her direction, opening his eyes and chuckling. He moved a little away to avoid retribution. Still smiling, not so innocently, shook his head, freeing it from so much water.

“Now, wait- before you think about starting this splashing war, especially on false pretenses, we’ll never finish this serious conversation.” He said, with sarcasm and mischief.

“I am a wanderer, but I am a fish out of water- for I do enjoy the pack life. I am on the way to the mountain to gain a power from one of the White Sisters.” He said, his eyes glancing up at the looming mountains in the near distance. “-That I may have something to contribute to a pack when I find one in need of my services.” He added, all the while wearing his smile, and energy and excitement welling inside his soul as he thought about the journey ahead of him. He turned his duo colored eyes to the pretty femme.

“May I ask what pack you call home?” He asked. Remembering the tense she used- her mother’s pack… Which made her a princess of the pack- perhaps no real rank, but definite importance. Already he felt a draw to the pack, already connected with a potential friendship with the maiden.

[Deleted]

Amora leaned forward, taking the wave in stride ready for a counter attack, when he spoke, halting her offensive. "Good prediction." She too grinned, then relented. While water was not her strong suit-especially with three legs-she knew how to play. She listened in the water, he spoke with a purposeful tone, not exactly wistful, although something along those lines. What power would he ask for? Already he seemed like a wolf would would be content with any gift. He seemed to be a wolf of honor and ambition. She appreciated and respected that.

When he began speaking of packs her thoughts immediately placed him in Secluded Sunrise. He would be a strong, commanding, compassionate beta. Much better than Hawthorn. The black male was simply too absent. Surely Epicenter would be a better replacement. But Amora couldn't get ahead of herself just yet! She didn't know much about this male, she couldn't let herself get reeled in by his charisma and prowess. No she must observe him carefully, appraise him if you will. However, Amora trusted her instincts and intuition completely. And they were telling her that he would be a good fit for her ideals and get pack. Perhaps she should steer him that way. The opportunity to do so arose a mere moment later, as the brown and green wolf expressed his curiosity about the title of her pack. She fully realized that she had let loose plenty of information about her pack, however, the information was not vital. By sheer number, Secluded Sunrise could most likely hold its own. However they needed organization. Hopefully mother had taken her advice, and grew a pair. "Secluded Sunrise." She announced without too long a grace period. "I watched its birth and I will not see it fall in my day." Her deep purple eyes scoped Center once more wondering if he was purposely hinting at her pack as his future one. She hoped so, he was quite capable.

[tovaana]

He smiled at the spirit and loyalty that he heard resonate from her words. He thought about teasing her about not seeing the pack fall if she never returned, but his goal was to find an in - if the pack was what he was looking for. Loyalty was something he could do, if only to work himself up the ranks. He also had patience, he knew relationships took a while, while only for his favor. While selfish, it was usually to build what Epicenter felt was best for the world, to keep it well rounded and strong. 

"You sound like a loyal member of the pack, no matter how far you wander." He said, in not as teasing of a tone, but still held an amused twinkle in his eye. His playful manner was still there, but held back by a shallow barrier while they discussed more serious things. "Tell me, what is it about your pack or packlands that hold you captive?" He took a couple of nonchalant steps in the water toward her as he spoke, walking in a slight angle to not get too near to make her feel uncomfortable. He watched her carefully to try and gauge her thoughts and feelings. There was also the wonder about her missing leg, he wondered about that- was it an accident that she somehow survived or was she born that way? He admired her confidence despite her disability.

[Deleted]

Amora smirked, eyes wandering over the male as he thought. His eyes had a sort of calculating look that she admired, the way he was attentive yet focused at the same time. By this point, she had completely pushed Billy's presence out of her mind. She was still minutely aware of the hewolf, but she no longer presented him with silent places in which he might interject into the conversation. No, this was no longer idle prattle, this commute was a fateful one, the air of anew path seeped into the atmosphere. The words being passed between the wanderer and the amputee were laden with intention.

"Captive...interesting word choice...." She had shared so much already, surely a few more feelings and thoughts could be given. After all it seemed that perhaps this stranger would grow to be much more. That is, he could be if this interaction went well. "It seems as if I have left a piece of my soul there. Silly of me really, leaving bits and pieces if me all over the valley." She waved the small stop of her leg slightly, a dry chuckle escaping her grinning maw. "It was and is my first real home. Everyone I've ever cared about is there." Well....almost everyone. Ruko was still out there, doing who knows what. Amora had no idea how far gone he could be, but she could still occasionally 'see' flashes of him attacking the faceless wolf that was their father. The father they had never met.....Epicenter was obviously after information, and the black shewolf gave it freely. She was never one to hide things. Amora was much to vocal and out loud for stupid secrets. Important secrets were an entirely different matter. Her deep abyssal violet eyes kept a wary eye on the strapping wolf as he took a nonchalant movement forwards. Amora hadn't trusted in a while, not even her mother really, yet she was comfortable, not truly worried about another wolfs threats or otherwise potential intentions.

[tovaana]

Ears flicked, catching her words with interest. Soul. That also was an interesting word, and he wasn’t quite sure if he had one himself. However, he felt she talked about her heart, an emotional part of herself. Center had done well to keep his heart in one place, with himself, there was no need to create weakness quite yet, not when he didn’t have anything worth defending or loving.

“Well.” Epicenter said importantly, after she had expressed her feelings for the place. “Such a place that is worth leaving part of yourself in, is a place that some day I would like to know.” He said a gentle, but always confident and concise tone.

“But first, I will go to the mountain… Perhaps, if you give me directions of sorts, I could meet you in four to five seasons, after I have gained my ability and practiced it a little. And you can introduce to me to your pack… If you would not mind.”

He said, not eager to leave Amora’s presence, in fear that he would not find her in a year, or she would have changed her mind about himself. At the moment at least, she did not seem to mind his presence, and he would take advantage of that while he could. Epicenter fleetingly thought about sweet-talking the princess, woo-ing, or other means to leave an impression, but perhaps that would wait until later. He took a couple steps back, his movement creating a brief current in the water – his eyes cast up to the mountain in thought. Sheba. The thought of the white wolfess was the only comfort of leaving; that he would be one more step closer to his future.

His focus turned back to the lady, eager to hear what she would think and say.

[Deleted]

Amora smiled, then nodded. The mountain. She remembered her own moments there well. She remembered Akheron chasing after her when she left the den. Everyone else had been asleep, exhausted by forming the pack. And as ambitious as little Amora was, she wanted to get stronger! And so she did, blessed graciously by Sheba herself with the power of Botany. And Amora fancied being ready to level up to level two; She was becoming quite talented. As Epicenter expressed interest in coming back to investigate Secluded Sunrise, Amora eyed him. It was as if he was reading her thoughts even as they came to him. "Directions, I can give." She stood, lower body coming out of the water, the liquid coming off of her fur in rivulets.

See those mountains?" She tossed her head to the west. "Follow the Amoux Creek up them and you'll find the three caves. The faction you identify as will draw you towards the ideal white wolfess." She swished her tail, trying not to seem too eager for his companionship in her own pack. "It's not too difficult. I'm sure a clever wolf like yourself will pass her tests with flying colors!" Amora dipped her head in farewell. "I'd best be returning. And you'd best be on your way."

She sent one last llidded look towards the green and brown male before addressing the quiet Billy with a slight nod. She then turned, shaking out her fur on the shore. As she left the sight of the two males, a small patch of pink and yellow flowers bloomed in the paw print she had left on the bank. With a smirk and a swish of her tail, Amora headed home.

-exit Amora-

@pittypat