The Pack Comes First {Tagged}

[Rykett]

((So, here’s the plan. Blaise will scold Epsilon for a few posts, then she’ll call West over to join them and they’ll go hunting. Then Blaise will promote West afterward. Everything sound good with you guys?))
Fierfly
Blood

Blaise:

Blaise anger towards Epsilon had cooled as she awaited his return. He’d just been doing what he’d thought was right. But it still hurt to feel like he’d lied to her. Just as he was distancing himself from the wolf Blaise wished she could forget, the wolf that he mirrored so often, he’d lied and sent himself tumbling back to where he’d started. Blaise had half a mind to demote him, but no… She saw something in him. Something genuine that …he… had never truly had. He could help her pack and her pack came first, before personal feelings. So, Epsilon would stay where he was and Blaise would punish him a different way. He was her Trainee after all…

Epsilon was new to packs. He didn’t know all of their regulations for dealing with trespassers. It was Blaise’s job to teach him those and she’d failed thus far. She should start training him, immediately, but she couldn’t just let him off the hook. Perhaps scoldings were enough for now, though. He knew what he’d done wrong and he’d taken responsibility for his actions by caring for the pup, personally. Hopefully he'd learned his lesson.

[Fierfly]

((Sounds good!))

Epsilon:

The snow white paws had gradually begun to slow as he'd drawn nearer Secluded Sunrise land. It wasn't that he didn't want to go in it was just...hang it all, of course he didn't want to go back. Alphess Blaise had not been pleased with him, and to be frank he'd never seen a wolf so angry, especially not angry at him. He knew he should have called her and now he was racking his brains for his small-minded excuse as to why he hadn't called her immediately. Why? Why?! Because she didn't trust him? Because she didn't trust him he was weary to trust her? He knew better. She was a superior, he should have trusted her with everything. It was her pack, these were her rules, her lands, her authority he should respect; he'd known that, and thrown it all to the wind when he'd refused to call for his alphess. Even Zamir had suggested calling her and he'd suggested they wait for Zamir to heal up for a while. Why?!? He was getting himself all wound up, he needed to calm down. She was going to punish him for his stupidity, plain and simple. He'd live through it. If she snapped at him he'd take it, she was too small to hurt him much if the punishment was the physical sort and words couldn't hurt him. They couldn't. He just had to be better and not make the same mistake ever again. That was all.

The alphess was patiently waiting near the very tree Epsilon had used to shelter Zamir as he entered the clearing. He knew he deserved a talking to after what he'd done (not that he regretted it), but he couldn't help but duck his head a little, pin his ears and force himself not to put his tail between his legs as he approached his superior: he was sorry, yes, but he wasn't about to cry and grovel like some spineless weakling. For one thing, he was a grown wolf and could take it like an adult, and for another thing, he was not in the least bit sorry for what he had done. Sorry that she didn't trust him, yes, sorry that he'd messed up, yes, sorry that he'd put the pack in potential danger, yes, but sorry that he'd helped Zamir? No. He was not sorry, and he wasn't going to back down from his convictions, because he could be a stubborn idiot like that sometimes, but he wasn't sorry. If Alphess Blaise was going to punish him then so be it, he was not sorry for doing what he believed was right.

So he urged himself on to his waiting alphess, keeping his eyes averted (he was not sorry, and he could take it, but he did not like facing the disappointment in those dark eyes). He stopped a few paces in front of the dark form and nodded his lowered head. "Alphess Blaise," and braced himself for what he knew was coming.

[Rykett]

Blaise:

The colorful grey wolf approached. He’d departed from the Canopied Clearing to get Zamir settled, but now he returned for his punishment with a lowered head and flattened ears. The male couldn’t meet her eyes as he greeted her with an ”Alphess Blaise.” ”Epsilon,” Blaise responded, paused for a second to gather her words, ”Do you know why I promoted you?” Blaise didn’t give him much time to respond, ”I made you an heir because I saw your potential. You followed orders well, you seem to take your responsibilities serious, and you have a leader’s air about you. I thought I could trust you. I thought you understood a pack’s needs. It’s now obvious to me that you don’t understand.

“You could have endangered this pack. What you done may have been right, but the pack always comes first. It comes before helping any pup no matter how injured he or she might be. If you are to become any sort of leader in this pack, you must know that! If you were given the choice to either help an unknown pup or your packmates, you must learn to choose you packmates without hesitation.” Blaise watched for Epsilon’s reactions to the words.

[Fierfly]

Epsilon:

He had to work not to flinch as she returned his greeting. It was not icy as it usually was, but it was blunt, disappointed, and that somehow cut deeper than her anger, to know that he'd tried, made a mistake, and had disappointed her was worse than making her angry. She got right down to business. Why she promoted him. He screwed his eyes shut and waited for the really painful part of this punishment to begin, his own conscience screaming at him with the voice of someone who had trusted him. "I saw your potential...I thought I could trust you, I thought you understood...It is now obvious to me that you do not understand." he grit his teeth and clenched his jaw, he understood, he'd simply ignored. But the alphess was not interested in hearing his excuses. Not interested in what had driven him to act first and think later, she was in charge, these were her rules, her authority, both of which he'd ignored, he deserved some comeuppance.

She continued, she admitted that while helping Zamir may have been the right thing to do, the pack came first. It came before helping anyone not of the pack. The pack came first, it came before him, it came before what he wanted or needed, it came before helping strangers, which he'd ignored. He was tempted to reply that a half-dead scrap of life abused as badly as Zamir had been couldn't do any harm to the pack. That if it had been Amora or Spenca then she would have wanted someone to look out for them first. That you don't just let someone die, but he had no right to preach on any of them, and he wasn't about to cross her again, he'd had enough of his stupidity for one day, he could and would keep his mouth shut on this. Instead he nodded miserably, "I understand. Obviously I'm not the kind of wolf you thought I was." if one had been listening, they could have said that the tone was almost bitter, resigned, put out, not at Alphess Blaise, but at himself, at his own error, but only if you were listening.

[Rykett]

Blaise:

Blaise noticed several slight movements that hinted at his inner feelings. A grit of his teeth, and a tinge of frustration and resignation in his voice when he spoke. He was angry, but whether at her or himself, Blaise couldn't be sure. She suspected the latter though from the way he screwed his eyes shut as she scolded and couldn't meet her disappointed gaze. "It's obvious I'm not the kind of wolf you thought I was." Blaise clenched her jaw. 'It's exactly the wolf I think you're not that made me promote you. The wolf I think I see in you, the wolf I hope is there,' Blaise mentally responded. But she didn't speak the words. Epsilon wouldn't understand their meaning. Instead she moved onto the next subject she'd considered earlier, "I suppose I must take some of the blame. I am your trainer and it's my job to teach and instruct you in this pack's needs. I have not even started your training. We shouldn't let it wait any longer and risk future... misunderstandings.

"I have decided to take you and another member hunting. I have found that it is best to learn by experience, so you will lead this hunt. As for the member you'll be leading..." Blaise howled called for Westariquo. West had been a member of Secluded Sunrise for a fair amount of time, but there hadn't been an opportunity for him to show off his skills. Blaise figured she should give him one. Blaise planned to give Epsilon instruction on leading and hunting tactics that might be useful to him on the way to the hunting plains. If he was the leader she hoped he was though, his instincts would guide him.

Blood

[Blood]

Westariquo:

West had been wandering around the Ashwood Grove, in a nonurgant search for a half-dug den, or a good place to start digging when he heard a call on the wind. The howl was familiar, and after a moment of trying to figure out who it was coming from, the dark gray speckled wolf jolted forward realizing the Alphas was calling him. His ears flicked nervously as his muscular long legs reached over distance with speed. West had only interacted with a few members of Secluded Sunrise (them being pups), and Alphess Blaise once when he first joined the pack. Was he in trouble by his leader, or was she just wanting to speak with him about something? Had she found out about the stranger Fable that he had interacted with at the boarder, should he tell her about that? Fear and nervousness clouded Westariquo's thoughts as he made his way to where Blaise had howled for him. The life of being in a pack was so distant and forgotten by him that he wasn't sure if he remembered even the simplest rules that all packs kept. Being a loner for so long only taught him to survive on his own strength and wit, but the need for the company of other wolves, and for a true family brought him here. He didn't know much about Secluded Sunrise's pack interactions, but he was ready to give his life in loyalty. Would they except it, or would he be another failure to his pack?

Two figures appeared in the distance, one dark and colorful, and the other light but no less colorful. West recognized Blaise right away, but the he wolf was a stranger to him. As he neared, the adult picked up both wolves' individual scents, and as West had suspected, the stranger wolf was indeed a pack member he had not met yet. With chest heaving, and tongue lapping in and out of his parted jaw, Westariquo bowed his head respectfully to Blaise. "You called for me my Alphess?" The question came out with a steady voice, his conditioned lungs already relaxing as he took in deep breaths. Sea green eyes flicked over to the young athletically built male standing beside him, he looked fast and strong, and for a brief moment West wondered if the young chap could be able to outrun him, but the depressed expression shrouding his demeanor brought West back to the real question. Who was he and what did he have to do with Blaise calling him? Was he a soon-to-be Alpha, or just another pack member like him? Judging by his downcast face, West thought that maybe he had gotten in trouble, and Blaise had howled at West because he also did something wrong and was going to get a similar punishment. Uncertainty and a hint of nervousness was evident on the white muzzled face as he bowed again to his Alphess.

[Fierfly]

Epsilon:

"Obviously I am not the kind of wolf you thought I was. Obviously you can't trust me. Obviously I made a mistake - and obviously I can't do this." everything was so obvious to the aqua-themed male at that moment. The let-down, the disappointment in those dark eyes whose replicas he'd learned to trust, the failure, the misery, the heart-ache, the pain of having failed, having lost something, something that he couldn't get back. This had nothing to do with the pack! He needed to concentrate. He was about to continue, step down from her perspective position and ask that she consider someone else, maybe even Amora, when Alphess Blaise continued speaking again. "I suppose I must take some of the blame," that made his ears perk and he looked at her for the first time during the whole lecture. Her? Take some of the blame? As the authority figure of the pack she had every right to deal with him as she saw fit, he'd disobeyed, he'd broken a standard rule. She had nothing to be sorry for...the dark corner of his mind reminded him otherwise - Zamir had been on the brink of death, she had come off a little too harshly for wanting to help someone to spare their life, but he shoved the little voice aside and out of his head. She had nothing- she went on about how she should have been giving his training more attention. Well...he wouldn't argue with that, what, it had been Summer when she'd promoted him and now Autumn was drawing to a close? He wouldn't argue with that logic, so he nodded once in acknowledgement and she set up a howl.

They had only to wait a few minutes before a battle-scarred gray male trotted into the Clearing the join their group. The two males were likely close in age, although Epsilon's build was bigger - it typically was - but the scars made him look older, and the blue and green freckle-spattered muzzle on Epsilon encouraged something of a permanent youthful look. He hated those freckles, but they were not on his mind as he surveyed who he'd be taking hunting. He was a decent size, strong, the scars told him of experience, and his large ears were constantly flicking at every other sound. Likely a good, experienced hunter, this couldn't have been too hard. But...the new-comer shifted his weight from paw to paw, almost as if he was nervous and some worried corner of his mouth was turned decidedly down. Epsilon swiveled his ears toward his hunting partner to try and understand. Why was he nervous? He bobbed another bow to Blaise which only confirmed Epsilon's idea that there was something worrying him. Extra politeness with such a calm voice spoke volumes, but...he was being polite to the alphess, and with that look he'd gotten a few hours ago when her fury had thundered down on him, who wouldn't be slightly intimidated now and then? Instead he relaxed, cleared his face of the pain and bitterness and set his jaw firmly. He'd screwed up, but hang it if he wasn't going to keep trying.

[Rykett]

Blaise:

A grey form pushed its way out of the forest and into the clearing. Blaise smiled at the grey male as he approached. Westariquo gave a bow with a question. His eyes flicked over the situation then he gave another more nervous one. Did he think he was about to be punished? Well, Epsilon’s downcast expression wouldn’t be giving the grey wolf much confidence. ”Yes, Westariquo," She answered his question then quickly moved onto an explanation, "You can relax. I only want to take you hunting. Allow me to introduce you to my trainee, Epsilon. He’s an Heir and is training to fill one of our empty leadership roles. He’ll be directing you in a hunt to test his leadership skills. This hunt should give you plenty of opportunities to display your skill, so that I may promote you to a suitable rank.” Blaise smiled at the male, "That is if you'd to accompany us, of course." The words weren't phrased like a question, but it was obvious that Blaise was asking one.

The alphess waited for his response before turning to face westward. "The Hunting Plains are towards the West. It is some distance away, so we'll want to leave immediately if we want to return by sunset." Blaise turned her violet gaze back to her two companions. "The pack will need what food we catch for the upcoming winter. Are you two ready to go?"
-Exit Blaise-

[Blood]

(OOC: Oh my goodness, I am so sorry for the half post and not finishing it until now!)

Westariquo:

"Yes, Westariquo," Deep purple eyes bore into his ocean green orbs, and the black pelted alphess went on to reassure him of her intentions. West mentally sighed as Blaise stated the reason of her call, he had nothing to worry about, but he was still on the cautious side, he didn't want to mess up now and ruin the bond he was beginning to grow with this pack of wolves, and especially the leader. The sharp gaze of the she-wolf turned to the other young male standing beside them, West swung his head towards Epsilon as Blaise introduced him and his rank. The light gray coat was marked with light blues and greens, and his muzzle was sprinkled with the same colors, making his appearance very friendly. 'Heir?' West saw the large framed muscular male in a different light, and speculated that his personality could be a lot different from what the colors of his pelt implied. Lost in the thoughts of being put as a hunting partner with this serious faced he wolf, West almost forgot to introduce himself. "A pleasure to meet you Epsilon, I am West." Embarrassment suddenly hit the scarred wolf like being thrown on the ground by a whacking tree, as he realized that Blaise had already said his name, and Epsilon had probably heard it. West let out a nervous sigh that whistled through his teeth, and not even a moment passed before the white muzzle was flung towards Blaise again and he quickly answered the alphess' question. "Yes, I will gladly accompany you on this hunt." 

West was annoyed with how disoriented and socially awkward he had become, as he finally composed himself properly like any adult wolf would, with his head held high (not too high though in front of the leader), and demeanor respectful. Over two years as a loner sure messed up his social skills around other adult wolves like himself, but pups on the otherpaw... West felt like they were a lot easier to communicate with (except for Rontu who couldn't speak at all) and didn't judge him (except for Ferox who treated him like a cricket) if he messed up normal wolf habit. The large gray and white male had to let a grin slip over his straight face, as he thought about that, how pups probably still thought about him as a weird wolf, but for his sake, being in the presence of younger wolves was more pleasurable. 

Blaise's voice snapped him out of little world of pups as she went on to explain further information about the hunt. West pointed his nose in the direction she had mentioned, and tried to peer through the tree clustered forest. He didn't know the valley too well, but what he did know, was that a great plain was past the thick forest ahead. With a glance towards the young male that stood with a solemn face, "By your leave." West rumbled and nodded as he stepped forward towards the Hunting Plain, waiting for Epsilon to lead the way.  

-I am just going to exit West now-
    

[Fierfly]

((You're good Blood, take your time )

Epsilon:

Alphess Blaise introduced Epsilon's hunting partner, Westariquo. Epsilon's eyebrows raised ever so slightly, that was certainly an interesting name! Oh what was he thinking? He had no room to talk with a name like "Epsilon" that somehow both popped and slid off the tongue, a perfect paradox. The alphess remained unaware of the dilemma of the plague of unusual names that had suddenly descended on this encounter and went on to state the purpose of her call. Test Epsilon's leadership, test Westariquo's hunting skills and find him a suitable rank. Fair enough, two birds with one strike; Epsilon could get some much-needed practice and Westariquo could find a place in the hierarchy and order of the ranks. It suited him fine. Alphess Blaise smiled, Epsilon was caught slightly off-guard at that, even though the smile wasn't directed at him. Why was she smiling? She'd just finished lecturing an idiot! What was there to smile about? Had she forgiven him? No, the smile was directed at the other male - she was trying to put Westariquo more at ease, she too must have noticed how uneasy he was and how he kept shifting his weight. It probably seemed more polite that way as well, less like an order, a little more like a hopeful request, it didn't change the fact that the request technically was an order, not brusque or commanding, but an order just the same, but it softened the blow, gave Westariquo a little space to breathe, not really disagree or decline (which he didn't think he would), but it felt more open that way, more laid-back, easier to relate to, less intimidating. He wasn't sure if the idea comforted him or made him feel more standoffish than he was already coming across as. He needed to stop thinking about it.

Westariquo turned to him and politely greeted who would be leading the hunt, introducing himself as West, he must have preferred the shortened version of his name, not that he particularly blamed him, things would have been so much easier if "Epsilon" could be shortened or abbreviated, but alas, it could not, unless he was willing to go by "Ep" which he was not, and the one other shortened version had never been used by anyone but his family, so "Epsilon" stuck. Names again: he needed to stop thinking about those, he nodded back at West and tried to push the corners of his mouth up in some semblance of friendliness, but his maw wasn't being very cooperative, hopefully he didn't look stern enough to be biting anyone's head off at the very least. Concentration overtook any confusion as Alphess Blaise nodded in the direction of the Hunting Plains and asked if they were ready to set out immediately. Westariquo indicated he was and stepped forward, pausing to let Alphess Blaise lead, but she hadn't stepped up. Somewhat startled he recalled that she'd indicated that Epsilon would be leading the hunt, that meant he lead the parade back and forth as well, yes? In any case, no one was moving, he put one snow white paw in the direction of the Hunting Plains, then another. He didn't want to impose on the Alphess's authority (again), but apparently they were waiting for him to lead the way, so he kept moving. Should he have deferred the lead to the Alphess? He checked his pace so she could lead, or at the very least they could walk even, but quick enough to be able to make good time. Here was a chance to try and make things up to the dark hued she-wolf, and he was going to do everything in his power to make sure he made this count.

-Exit Epsilon-