A Wise Decision (joining thread)

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Avalanche had left her brother. Her longest and only companion in this dark life. She had left him and his pack. She could tell that Honovi was not or her, she could see the organization begin to crumble. Honovi was an elderly stag, the wolves of death on its tail, it would surely fall and perish. Torrent...he was not as wise as she, for he stayed with the pack. Avalanche knew he wasn't as cunning nor clever enough to compare with her, but for as long as she could remember they had stood together. That had changed upon deep reflection into herself. She was no neutral wolf, she wasn't content with the status quo. She was an intelligent, ambitious wolf who would do what it took to get there. She was resourceful and a wolf who knew her strengths and weaknesses. And her mind told her that she would thrive best in the promising pack of Frigid Plague. 

This pack was tough, intimidating, loyal. They were like her. The had known their goal and had reached it. Perjury, a famed shewolf was at their head, a resilient and strategic wolf. Under an organized leader, who wouldn't take mediocrity, Avalanche would thrive. And so The white and russet she wolf approached the well established border and positioned herself on a root between two trees. She knew of the Alphess' power, and if she fell out of favor, she had a better chance of getting away if she wasn't directly standing on the soil. Once she positioned herself as well as possible, she howled, loud enough to be heard but humble and fleeting. She did not require a sounding trumpet to pave her paths, she simply needed the Alphess' ears.

[Cascade]

(OOC: Just to fill you in on Honovi, I spoke with Gyll and she said it was alright to have Treason missing in action and presumed dead, but nothing set in stone. She had been heavily injured by a bear and it could go either way with her being dead or being alive and possibly brought back at a later time.)

How long had it been since Perjury had heard her cousin's voice? Or even news that she was alive? The timing could not have been worse. The last time she saw Treason in person, she had just given birth to her pups. For all the power she had to build mountains and tear them down again, her magic was of no use in helping her through it. Her small body took it hard, and it took several weeks to fully recover. By then, Treason and her pack had gone quiet.

Was that it? Was the end of the proud, storied Honovi not a great war or even a terrible disaster, but rolling gently into the night with a whimper? It was so undignified. And yet, as strongly as she felt for the loss of both a long standing institution in the valley as well as significant safety from the severing of their famed alliance, Perjury hurt most for her cousin's disappearance. It would have been easier if she had been cut down in battle, the two of them fighting side by side. Instead, Perjury could only fight to remember the details of their last conversation—half-conscious, as she lay in her den with four squirming bundles at her belly.

Vanitas, her pups' father, was an irreplaceable friend. He had been lost as well, a violent end, but at least Perjury had the peace of knowing. She saw the body with her own two eyes. Treason...they had grown up together. In spite of all their differences, no one understood each other like they did each other. How could it be that Perjury couldn't even feel her? What good was that bond in the end?

There was a disconcerting air about the wolf who stood at Perjury's border, as if she would stand out in a crowd of strangers. The alphess went back in her memory to try and recover a name or setting, but the best she came up with was a hazy "tip of my tongue" familiarity.

"Welcome to the border of the Frigid Plague." she said, searching deeply for where and how she knew this wolf. "What brings you to our forest?"

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Perjury arrived, the smaller, white shewolf calm. She did not come bounding into the area all pride and snarls like some evil wolves, no...she was careful, and yes prideful; she was there to judge, decide if a wolf was worth her time and worthy of her packs name. Avalanche observed Perjury's contemplative look with undetectable curiosity before showing her respect with a low bow. She declined to touch the ground yet, soon maybe, but she would watch her phrasing closely before doing so. Ava decided to reply in a straightforward way, empty of flattering words, although hopefully not completely blunt and insensitive. She knew of Treasons' relatation to Perjury, and so she would refrain from the perhaps touchy subject of Honovi's weakness unless directly asked. 

"I come searching after Frigid Plague's membership." Avalanche looked up, her seafoam eyes cool, and piercing. she met Perjury's eyes if only for a moment before dropping her eyes in respect. It wasn't in Avalanche's nature to be forgetful of customs or mannerisms, and so she danced a wide circle around endangering her first impression. Sometimes, wolves took direct eye-contact as an unspoken challenge: and so, confidently she stood, but respectfully she bowed.

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Keiran

It was a blustery day. The sun did not demonstrate its face to send warmth to the grounds. Despite the fact that the breeze made it cool, the air was marginally thick, exceptionally muggy. Leafage of the many surrounding trees and bushes moved with the wind. Looking at them closely you could foresee the coming storm, due to the leaves being turned inside out. Trotting along through the forest, Kieran was on a mission. The evil wolf needed an evil place to call home. A place he could belong. Friends or allies who would not judge the darkness that poured from his soul. Possibly he could put his dull, savage musings to use for once. Could he fulfill his desires to join the evil pack Frigid Plague? Simply the name of the pack put a wicked, sly smile on his maw.

After much travel through countless fully leaved trees, Kieran came to what seemed to be at some kind of border. As the small yet wise wolf came upon the border, a chill ran down his spine. He conjured a smile that contained more evil than before. Shaking out his dark, velvety black coat thoughts ran through his mind. ”I already feel at home, and I haven’t even crossed the line, let alone have I been excepted into this dimness that calls my soul.” With these thoughts, Kieran got as close as he could to the line that separated the pack from the outsiders. Head held high, the wolf called out to the leader of Frigid Plague. ”Leader of darkness, I call upon you for acceptance”

[Cascade]

"I see, said Perjury, taking note of this wolf's respectful manner. She could have sworn that she had seen her somewhere. This wolf, though they had never spoken, existed in the far reaches of her mind...could it be...?

"I don't suppose you have come from the bluffs?" The alphess asked cautiously. Not because she was unsure that the wolf standing before her came from the Honovi—she saw her now, blearily traipsing in the background of her memories. But because she wasn't sure that she was prepared to hear what had become of their ally. Of Treason. For all the wishing she had done just to have closure, it faced her now and she was hesitant to reach out for it. Was she so sentimental after all?

She could hardly make up her mind as to whether to question this Honovi wolf further, when another stranger appeared at her border, this one a male, and one whom Perjury was certain she had never seen before. A little ways away from where they were standing, this wolf was small and black, and he howled for Perjury's attention. She gave a quick bark to let him know that she was close. "Come a little ways up through the trees, and you will have my audience." the alphess called.

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Avalanche flicked her ears to the side, towards the direction of the nearby howl. The white wolf would've liked the audience to herself, but she supposed she'd have to get used to sharing. The alphess asked her if she'd come from the bluffs. She had. But how to tell her? Avalanche needed to ensure Perjury that she was an evil wolf now, and that she was no longer of Honovi. However, the tone of Perjury's querie could not be overlooked. And so, Avalanche chose her words carefully, firmly planting her claws into the soft wood of her root. "Indeed," She answered positively to the question before moving on. "I have come from Honovi, it's borders having been blown away by the breeze,"Avalanche used figurative language, not wanting to brutally state what had not been asked. "I assure you, however, that I have found my true heart, which, is the dark shade of an evil wolf." The white and russet shewolf watched Perjury carefully, unsure if she had poked a bear. Which wasn't funny considering the way Treason received her deathly wounds.

@faye

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Soon after Keiran called to the leader of the dark pack, there was a reply. "Come a little ways up through the trees, and you will have my audience." the alphess called. Keiran did as the she wolf asked of him. As the wolf walked through the trees he came across two others. The first one that caught his attention had a coat of mostly white, with ash grey coloring on her hind legs and beautifully colored spots of mahogany and gold on her hindquarters. He knew she must be the one who called to him just from her presence. The alphess of Frigid Plague. After looking her over once more, Kieran’s focus went to the other wolf. She was a very bright white with a swirl pattern throughout her coat. Looking back to the alphess the wolf introduced himself. ”I am Kieran.” He started off with his head held high and a grin that was getting slyer by the second. ”I wish to join your pack. That is, if you will accept someone with a heart as dark as mine." Kieran looked to the alphess for her response to his request.

[Cascade]

"I see." So, the Honovi was no more. Where Treason was, the female had not said, and she had been quite careful in choosing her words. Perjury could not bring herself to ask, both because she anticipated a very uncomfortable answer—if Treason were alive and without a home, she surely would have come straight to Perjury's doorstep—and because they no longer enjoyed the privacy of a one-on-one conversation. This was a topic that would have to be put on the shelf, as much as it pained her. Her duties as an alpha had to take precedence over her relationship with her cousin.

Perjury severed her gaze to look towards the male who was now approaching. Unlike Avalanche, this wolf was very dark of pelt. Also unlike Avalanche, Perjury was sure that she had never seen or spoken to him before. That was quite alright—she had had enough troubling news for one day.

"Hello, Kieran," she greeted, "Wolves with dark hearts are most welcome here—we of the Frigid Plague are called evil, for we do not bind ourselves by what the goods call 'honor'" Indeed, when Perjury fought, she fought to win. She would use any dirty trick, any dishonorable, devious, treacherous technique against her enemies to spare even a single wound on a packmate. Fairness was for wolves who weren't trying to kill you. Treating your enemies with fairness was something that Perjury called foolishness.

"You—both of you—are welcome here. All I ask is loyalty. You may spill a thousand enemies' blood to save a friend, but any treachery against your own will not be tolerated."

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Avalanche deducted that her answer had not been satisfactory, revealing the certainty of a ulterior motive. The pale shewolves locked eyes for a moment before Perjury welcomed the haughty stranger into their conversation. Avalanche dipped her head in greeting, her teal eyes searching him. He was a smaller wolf, his fur a velvet black that she had only seen in the mold found under fallen logs and dirty bones. Her gaze studied him with a care-free intensity, casually scoping out any visible flaws. He was a confident one, quick to assure the Alphess of his allegiance. He had common sense, perhaps he was a bit cocky, she would have to see, for, the apex of the conversation extended the invitation requested.

Avalanche dipped her graceful head, her own body average at the least. "Thank you. I will give you and this pack my all, any services I may provide will be given."Of course she would not do anything that would not benefit the pack. If it was for another wolf's personal gain...great thought would have to be added. Then again, Avalanche put thought into everything.

@faye

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As Perjury told both wolves that they were now members of Frigid Plague, nothing but excitement ran through Kieran's veins. Watching the other she wolf dip her head to the leader of the dark pack, Kieran followed suit. He was were he belonged. Where the amount of darkness his heart wouldn't bother, but yet help what he could now call his own pack. The dark colored wolf looked to Perjury. "I will help this pack any way I can. Even if it means killing many enemies. At, the same time, I will watch out for the packs members to make sure no harm come to them." Kieran was ready to do whatever Perjury asked of him.