|
Post by Tiel on Sept 16, 2017 7:59:08 GMT -5
Topaz:Early morning was a time Topaz disliked. Not that she wasn't an early riser—she was rarely ever groggy—but it was always so quiet. Topaz ardently hated quiet. Usually at this time, the rest of the pack was sleeping while she was out looking for someone to talk to. However, this was no ordinary morning. Today, she would begin her training as a scout of Secluded Sunrise. There was a dreary fog over the trees, and the ground in the clearing was clammy under Topaz's paws. As she sat in the moist grass, she wondered if when Manaaki said morning, he meant this early. Topaz sighed. No wolf ever got up this early. (Sorry this post is so short! >_< Didn't have much of a muse for waiting in the clearing ) Meds
|
|
|
Post by Meds on Sept 16, 2017 13:23:22 GMT -5
Manaaki;
Though it was summer, the morning had a chill in it that signified Autumn's approach. It would be hot later in the day, if the clear sky was anything to judge by, but in that early morning damp, Manaaki's breath was msiting in front of him as he paced through the trees. It was always nice at that time of morning. Louder, more active wolves weren't awake yet (Ahem, Kanga), and only those interested in maintaining the serentiy of the night were up and about. It took a special kind of determination to roll oneself out of a warm den and into a brisk morning, but determined Manaaki was, and today he had a task.
So. He was to be a trainer, was he? Shortly after being ranked within Secluded Sunrise as a Scout, he had also been given the new task of training a pup named Topaz; however, pup may have been a bit of a strong word, for the female could very well have been nearing her young adult stage.
The grey giant strode through the trees, making no sound to disturb the peace all around him. A few birds had woken with the sun and were twittering about, but none seemed too concerned about the massive wolf stalking below their feets. They had no reason to be afraid. Firstly, Manaaki was not out to hunt right now; and secondly, hunting small birds (or birds of any kind, save perhaps turkeys) was a waste of Manaaki's time, for they never filled his belly. Hunting such things was only good to keep up his speed and agility, but other than that, he mostly let them live.
In a short time, Manaaki's grey head appeared through the trees, some of the silver underneath his coat flashing as he brushed past the leaves. There she was, sitting in the middle of the clearing. She wasn't a flashy colour like many wolves in the valley were (save her eyes); in fact, her colour was more reminiscent of Kanga's fur (minus the red highlighting, of course). She looked unassuming and ready to learn, but most of all she looked bored. Manaaki's calculating face split into a smile.
"Good morning," He said calmly, dipping his head and going to sit in front of the little female. She was quite little compared to him—he would have to mind not to flatten her.
|
|
|
Post by Tiel on Sept 17, 2017 14:16:17 GMT -5
Topaz: Every time Topaz came face to face with one of the twins, she was taken aback all over again by their massive size in comparison to her. She often felt like a dwarf around average wolves since she was already a small wolf, but Manaaki and Kanga made her feel like a two-week-old pup.
It was kind of neat, actually. Topaz wondered what it would be like to tower over every wolf she met. Her mere presence would strike fear into the hearts of her enemies. However, in the case of the twins (more Kanga than Manaaki), a cheeky smile and a goofy laugh made them seem more like two giant puppies than colossal monsters. And Topaz guesses, being the particularly nonthreatening wolf she was, the same would go for her. Then there was Topaz's clumsiness. Being small and clumsy was hard, being gigantic and clumsy would be harder. She might accidentally flatten something or someone beneath her weight.
Topaz smiled up at her new mentor, beaming, and her tail which often had a mind of its own began to wag. "Morning, Manaaki!" she chimed, her voice lilted and cheerful. "So what are we doing first?" Her chestnut head swiveled around to gaze upon her surroundings, going over in her head the various places in the territory she might be training. With an eager expression, she turned back to face Manaaki's silvery form, her pointed ears awaiting an answer.
|
|
|
Post by Meds on Sept 17, 2017 15:08:35 GMT -5
Manaaki;
"Well I don't know about you," Manaaki rumbled calmly, watching the eager little ball of energy. She was happy, kind, and he could sense a good heart in her. That was important. The larger wolf sat down and huffed, watching his breath mist around her in the morning cool. "But eating before any sort of training is a good idea." His eyes, ringed with the colour of his brother's fur, twinkled down at her. He made a motion to quiet down, and he looked into the canopy above them. Sleepy birds that he had already noticed still fluttered about, but for a hunting lesson that was a little extreme. He would keep her paws on the ground for now. He bent lower, listening, and caught a sound. He glanced at her, seeing if she noticed it too. It was coming from the brush just out of the clearing. Breakfast didn't have to be a large meal, especially for a wolf of Topaz's size.
"Sometimes even small game makes for a good meal, if you're hungry enough and don't have much time to spare." He spoke just above a whisper, then glanced meaningfully towards the rustling. "And paying attention to any little sounds you hear from prey is a lot like paying attention during a scouting trip."
|
|
|
Post by Tiel on Sept 23, 2017 19:28:00 GMT -5
Topaz: As Manaaki spoke, Topaz listened, looking up at her trainer with wide knowledge-seeking eyes. "Right," she said. "Breakfast first, then training." She hadn't noticed the way her stomach was growling, but now that Manaaki mentioned it, she did feel a pang of hunger. Topaz watched her mentor's eyes wander up to the morning birds chattering above them, and wondered if he was going to have her catch them. It was a bit of an ambitious task, even if Topaz was a good hunter, and it just didn't seem too relevant for a scouting lesson.
But then Manaaki seemed to pause, tensing up, his silver ears repositioning themselves like he was listening for something. Topaz instinctively perked up her own ears to try and hear the sound herself, and sure enough, she detected the faintest rustle coming from a nearby bush. She was amazed that Manaaki was able to hear it, considering she could barely hear it herself. Perhaps it was his large ears, proportionate to the rest of his colossal body.
Manaaki whispered to her about small game and how listening is a part of scouting and whatnot. Topaz nodded. "OK," she said a little too loudly, then, careful not to startle the prey, whispered, "Oh, sorry, I'll be quiet now." Topaz faced the bush, lowered her body, ready to pounce. Her tail swished slowly and silently behind her as she listened to the rustle, sensed a smell that made her mouth water, and grinned crookedly. She glanced over to Manaaki with a this-is-how-it's-done expression, then lunged forward in one swift motion straight into the bush.
Topaz was confident of her hunting abilities. Sure, she was rather clumsy when it came to things like this, and based on that, one would assume she wouldn't be too great at hunting. But having fended for herself through pup-hood before she joined the pack, Topaz exceeded at hunting. Pushing through the leaves of the bush which now blocked her vision, Topaz's paws met a furry creature which began pulling away at contact with her. But it was too late. She already had the animal pinned down, and her jaw came down on its back almost gracefully, locking around its waist. After she lifted the prey up, Topaz's paws carried her out of the bush, and she bashfully displayed her catch, which was revealed to be a good sized squirrel. She met Manaaki's eyes, seeking approval from her trainer.
|
|
|
Post by Meds on Sept 25, 2017 11:12:50 GMT -5
Manaaki;
"There you go," He gave her a smile as she pinpointed the location of her prey in a fraction of a second and had the thing in her jaws soon after. "But there is a lesson here, too. We were pretty sure it was small prey, so the chances were good that you could leap in right away and snag itâbut caution is the Scout's focus. For all we knew, the small rustling could have been a piglet, with a mother boar nearby. The same goes for scouting. If you smell, see, or hear a wolf that is unfamiliar, or perhaps ranging a little too close to the border, never assume they are alone. More often than not, they will be and won't mean any harmâand in that case we get to be the first to meet and welcome themâbut there is always a chance that there are more strangers laying in wait. We are not warriors. We can fight, of course we can, but our strength is in our speed and our observational skills. One wolf cannot take on a packâbut if we use our minds, we may be able to bring word back to the main body before any damage is done."
Manaaki shook his head side to side, as if gently fending off a fly. She was clever, he could already tell—but the way she had hurried to win his approval was worrying. He chalked it up to excitement about her first day of training, but vowed to keep an eye on it.
"This isn't to frighten you. Like I said, more often than not, a wolf at our border means no harm. But a scout is always prepared."
He paced a few steps off, eyes sweeping the area. What should he show her next?
|
|
|
Post by Tiel on Oct 11, 2017 16:04:49 GMT -5
Topaz:
Topaz smiled when Manaaki congratulated her on the catch, but her expression changed when her trainer switched topics. She understood what he was teaching her, but she was a little disappointed that her hunting could possibly have ended disastrously. And what did that mean for her future as a scout, coming across actual wolves who could mean her harm? This was serious business, scouting. Topaz dropped her gaze as Manaaki continued, listening but not meeting his eyes.
"This isn't to frighten you..." Manaaki said. But Topaz was frightened. She feared she would fail her pack. She was reaching adulthood, and that meant taking up certain responsibilities which she wasn't certain she could handle.
Topaz lifted her head and watched her trainer pace a few steps away and scan the area. "Manaaki," she said, pawing at the dirt below her. "What if I fail? I mean, what if I'm not a good scout and I let the pack down?" The wind rustled her fur slightly, and Topaz twitched one of her cream colored ears as she looked up at Manaaki, her expression worrisome.
|
|
|
Post by Meds on Oct 13, 2017 13:27:07 GMT -5
Manaaki;
His words had the opposite effect that he was intending—which was quite apparent by the sudden look of fear in Topaz's eyes. He regretted speaking so bluntly with her, reminding himself that she was just a young little hing, fresh for her first day of training and probably terrified at the prospect of growing up, even if she didn't know it. He blinked slowly, mind turning over a few options of what he could say instead, when she confided in him some of her fears. She asked if he would fail. He withheld a sad little sigh. It was a common question, especially in his family. He smiled gently, and shook his head. "There is always a chance that you will fail—and honestly, sometimes you might. But you are learning. I fail sometimes, we all so. It's only natural. But if you pay close attention to what I teach you, and if you're open to learning alongside me, then perhaps we can lessen the aftershocks if and when you do fail." He grinned encouragingly. "And even if you do slip up—guess what? We are a pack. A strong pack. No one wolf is alone in anything; at least, not figuratively. You may do scouting trips on your own, in fact, I promise you will—but I also promise that it will not be until you are ready. And even when you are physically alone, all of Seclude Sunrise will be backing you up, just a howl away."
He smiled again, thinking of a way to break the tension. "A scout's best friend is her howl. Maybe we should practice." He winked, but didn't give her much more notice than that before he threw his monstrous head backwards and let out a deep, rumbling, fantastic howl. It did not have a note of urgency in it, so it would mr draw anybody to it—but it was sure loud. He closed his eyes and smiled through the call.
|
|
|
Post by Tiel on Oct 22, 2017 14:58:39 GMT -5
Topaz:
With ears flattened, Topaz nodded at what Manaaki said. His first few lines were not too uplifting. He just confirmed her fears that, yes, she would have plenty of failures as a scout. But as he went on, she could see where he was going with his words. Her expression reflected his encouraging grin, and her ears perked up again, reassuming their usual playful position.
"Because Secluded Sunrise is a family," she added. "And if you hear me howl, you'll come help me." Topaz's tail was now swishing behind her. "And once I become a scout, if I ever hear you howl, I'll come right away, too. I promise." She rose to an enthusiastic stance, her tail sticking straight into the air in a way suggesting she was ready to get focused on a new task. Howling, apparently.
Topaz never would have thought that howling would be something that needed to be learned. It was just something every wolf was born knowing how to do. She began to feel self conscious of her own howl, wondering if, since she had never noticed any difference in quality of howls, hers might not be very good. There was one way to find out. Topaz tilted her chestnut head back, releasing a sound mimicking Manaaki's thundering howl. Hers was higher pitched, and in its volume, frankly around five times smaller.
|
|
|
Post by Meds on Oct 24, 2017 22:38:35 GMT -5
Manaaki;
He nodded his head, smiling at her words. "That is exactly right. Secluded Sunrise is a family. A large, powerful, trustworthy family. The other members and myself are all behind you. But remember, I won't send you out on your own until you and I both feel ready—deal?"
Simply put, her howl was adorable. Manaaki had forgotten just how much their deep voices affected his and Kanga's howls (the only two that he was really familiar with). Hers was powerful, or would be one day, there was no doubt about that. It made him smile to listen to her, and halfway through his own song he slowly phased it out until it was just her howl echoing around the misty morning.
"Well done!" Manaaki said, his big tail waving behind him. "Now. Should we go and look at the border?" He wasn't sure if she had seen it before. He had heard that the border could be a pretty big deal for some younger wolves, and it was with yet another smile that he turned his shoulder and motioned towards the trees.
|
|
|
Post by Tiel on Nov 10, 2017 14:49:04 GMT -5
Topaz:
Manaaki's words made Topaz smile. "Deal!" she agreed, her tail wagging behind her. After she was through with howling practice, Manaaki congratulated her, confirming that her howl was not as bad as she thought it was after all. She opened her mouth to say something cocky, but decided, based on her previous hunting mistake, to be humble about this whole training thing. So she closed her mouth, and only smiled.
Her trainer went on to talk about looking at the border, causing Topaz's mind to wander back to the day she first joined the pack. The first time she saw the border at all. Not that she hadn't seen it since then. It was probably against the rules or something, her being so young at the time, but she had often taken small trips out of the territory to places around the valley like Kai Lake or the Redwoods. Alphess Blaise hadn't assigned her a caretaker, since she seemed independent enough, so it wasn't like anyone was telling her not to leave. But she still felt mildly guilty about never having asked for permission from anyone.
"Alright, then," Topaz said, maintaining her enthusiastic smile. She hopped to her feet, her tail pointed out showing that she was ready to start walking. "lead the way, Master Manaaki!"
|
|
|
Post by Meds on Nov 15, 2017 12:15:08 GMT -5
Manaaki;
By the time the two of them made it to the border (via a back path that Manaaki knew well, and others did not), the sun had risen fully. The morning mists had all been chased away, and the final chills were leaving the air. Manaaki kept a slow trot so Topaz could keep up—but after they were done at the border he would have to take close notice of her speed and perhaps show her a few more shortcuts through the territory. "Speed is one of a Scout's best assets; that is, speed, with the ability to still notice your surroundings. A fast scout can cover more ground in less time, as well as retreat for backup if need be. But a careless yet fast scout will miss lots of details, some of which may be crucial. Only go as fast as you can while still being observant, and in time both of those skills will get stronger."
The border that day was quiet, at least in the section they were in. Quiet was better for training purposes, thankfully, and Manaaki's eyes were already done scanning the area for potential threats before they arrived. The portion of the border that they came to was in the south-west portion of the territory. If they had left the packland and gone straight, they would have eventually come to the mysterious ruins. As it was, they stayed put, with the sound of the river off in the distance. The forest thickened at their border, rather than evened out—something that could prove troublesome in the future. But for the time being, the land was at peace.
"What do you see?" He asked. It wasn't a rhetorical question. He really wanted to hear what she noticed.
|
|
|
Post by Tiel on Nov 30, 2017 16:14:57 GMT -5
Topaz:
The route the pair took was one Topaz was unfamiliar with, but Manaaki seemed to angle his way through the shrubbery with agility, leading Topaz to believe he knew the area well. Even though her trainer was keeping at a slow pace, Topaz was still tripping over roots and bushes as she stumbled along, trying to avoid getting smacked by branches. When they stopped, Manaaki began to speak to her about speed and its usefulness for scouts, and she reflected on her own speed when it came to trekking through woods. Topaz had an unsettling feeling that Manaaki was just indirectly chiding her clumsy slowness.
Topaz let out a tiny sigh. "I can be real clumsy sometimes." She pawed gently at a fern as she said this, watching it sway instead of looking at Manaaki. "But I will get faster with practice, right?" Now she met his glare.
The morning breeze blew Topaz's fur and made her ears twitch. The chill caused her to keep her limbs close to her body, tail tucked in. When Manaaki asked her what she saw, she peered around the fern she had been playing with, beginning to scan her surroundings. In the momentary absence of voices as the two paused, the forest was both quiet and loud with life. The treetops buzzed with cicadas, the ferns chirped with crickets, there was rustling as birds and squirrels moved through the bushes.
But it wasn't a question of what Topaz heard, it was about what she saw. She could see a blanket of lush plant life before her with thick tree trunks emerging, their roots twisting, arching, bending, and anchoring in the ground. "I can see trees with really big roots." The canopy, which casted a shadow upon everything, was dense in some areas, but the bare spots allowed sunlight to fall through, and created a view of the blue and grey sky. "I can see the sky through the leaves up there, and the rays of sun coming through." Topaz continued to examine the woodland scene, now looking to identify the various creatures amongst the trees. Birds, squirrels, bugs, even a timid rabbit in the corner of her eye. "There's a rabbit over there," she said pointing her nose in that direction. "And up there are two butterflies… and a sparrow is on that log… and… I can smell a fox close by." Topaz's gaze went back to Manaaki's, and she drew one paw over her nose. "Sorry. I guess that doesn't have to do with sight."
|
|
|
Post by Meds on Dec 19, 2017 12:36:27 GMT -5
Manaaki;
”Of course you’ll get faster with practice! Unless something is very wrong indeed, practice will always make things better, easier, and stronger.” He smiled at her as she batted a fern and avoided his eyes. She lacked confidence in herself; though again, she was very young. But what Manaaki had already seen and sensed in her told him that she had all the makings of an incredible scout. Hopefully she would see it in time. ”You want to see clumsy,” Manaaki added to lighten the mood. ”You should see my brother.” He winked.
Then Topaz focused on his question and began observing the border that lay before them. The midday sun could only have helped—it might be good to come back on a stormy day and see if she could still look around satisfactorily. She mentioned the roots of a large tree, the sun, a few animals, and the like. It was good. Her eyes were tuned into movement, as all eyes were, but she also noticed that which did not move, like the tree. ”Very good. Now, because what we’re looking at isn’t our own land—where do you think a stranger may hide?” She had already spoken of the tree roots, but he wanted her to notice that. His eyes also flicked to the thick underbrush that had had him worried not long before.
Topaz also apologized for having used her nose rather than her eyes. Manaaki met her eyes and bent to her level, then looked out over the plain once more. ”Nonesense! The nose is our most powerful gift. Seeing is nothing without smelling and hearing as well.” He had seen her ears flicking when they had first arrived, a giveaway that she had noticed more than she let on to. ”You see more than you think you do, I think.”
|
|
|
Post by Tiel on Dec 31, 2017 10:51:04 GMT -5
Topaz:
"I think if an intruder crouched low, they could hide in the ferns." Topaz gestured that way. "Or maybe behind that log." She looked up at Manaaki, her tail swaying behind her, and said, "Does that mean as scouts we should go check there?"
Topaz listened to Manaaki reassure her that the nose is important to the scout. "Well, in that case, I can smell a whole lot about the forest." A smile pulled the ends of her lips upward, as she pointed her nose toward the border to demonstrate. It twitched as she took in the aroma of the forest. Topaz quite enjoyed the luscious scents. Smelled like home.
Topaz turned to Manaaki as she concluded: "It might rain today." It was that kind of smell. Of course, what good was that conclusion for a scout? Maybe Manaaki had an answer to that question. Or maybe he'd tell her not to focus on something like that.
|
|