Hot and Heavy <open>

[Akes]

The sun lovingly extended its warmth upon the earth, passionately providing its heat. It’s good intentions were just that, intentions. The tall grasses were dry and withered, shaking in the subtle breeze like a frail wolf hobbling down a slope. Rose was not frail, though she too felt the effects of the sweltering heat. Her dark, pink toned fur absorbed the warmth from above, and her large body maintained that heat.
Rose was early exhausted, carrying her large frame down through the grasslands was physically draining in this merciless heat. She had hoped these taller grasses could offer some shade and shelter from the heat...for a normal sized wolf it might’ve...but Rose was ridiculously huge.
Pouting, eyes narrowed against the brightness, Rose plodded on.

She had come to this valley to prove to herself and to Manu that she was perfectly capable of being an adult. She would show him! She had caught a fat rabbit just yesterday! But that wasn’t nearly enough to fill her stomach.
As if on cue her belly rumbled a thunderous complaint. Defeated and dejected, Rose sat down heavily, her thick tail slapping the ground with a thump. The grasses rose to her shoulders, perhaps giving her the appearance of a disembodied head from afar.
Being on her own was hard...too hard. Tears began to well up in her eyes, blurring her vision of the vast plain ahead of her. She wanted to go home! She wanted food! She wanted it now! Rose tilted back her head and let out a pitiful whimper-howl, a small sound from such a large, seemingly capable wolf. But Rose was a crybaby. A hungry, hot, tired crybaby.

[Watermelonllama]

.:Oasis:.

Almost black fur slid across the Lilly Warren, searching. Searching for a thrill. A blazing day like this will surely create one. She crept through the barren, eyes looking around and then widened. She saw a dark pink head pop up and then Oasis heard a thump of a tail. A small smirk spread across her snout. A thrill she wants, and a strong thrill Oasis will have. Slowly, she crawled through the brittle grass, one large law in front of another. When she reached the other wolf, Oasis considered them. She could tell that the wolf is a female of a large size. Not brutish though, but a gentle kind of giant, one that Oasis is not.

Oasis let her forever winter cold eyes and snout peek into the other wolves vision, wanting to see her reaction. She stood there for a second, starring at the other female. "Now, what do we have here?" She rasped coolly and let her tail swish across the dry grass of summer. Oasis took another long glance at her, studying her. She seemed to be exhausted already. 'She must be young. Younger than me at least.' Oasis thought, and yearned to spill the females blood. That's the thrill she wants. She needs.

[Meds]

Axel;

The sun was merciless that day. Summer in the valley was often hot, but that day it was especially unforgiving. Axel was no stranger to hot days, but even his dark-brown fur seemed to be soaking up more heat than usual. Thankfully the blue of his head and mane did something to redirect the heat from those areas, but it was little and less when the rest of him was that rich chocolate colour.
In any case, Axel had taken refuge in the grasslands that day. Why he hasn’t picked the forest for the shade of the trees, he wasn’t exactly sure... but he was there now, and had decided to make the best of it. His golden-yellow eyes scanned the surroundings, finally deciding on the Lily Warren. He hadn’t explored it yet, and ‘Warren’ gave the idea that it might be shaded, even just a little bit.

Once arriving at the Lily Warren, however, Axel realized that he was not alone. Blue ears perked, but whoever was nearby didn’t seem to be moving anymore. It wasn’t until he heard a whimper that he was sure there was at least one other wolf present. His eyes, well-used to nature and how the outdoors reacted to outside-influences, quickly picked up a barely-noticeable path weaving through the tall grass closest to him.
He picked his way along until a head came into his view a little ways off, and beyond that, the dark form of another. Two unfamiliar faces, was it? For some reason, when the dark form of the female standing spoke, a slight chill graced Axel’s spine. Something about the way her voice carried over the air didn’t seem right.

The wolf in the grass stood between Axel and the one who had spoken. Axel cleared his throat, hoping his misgivings were unfounded.
”It appears that the Lily Warren called to more then one of us this day.” His yellow eyes flicked back and forth between the large female in the grass, and the dark-furred one. He could sense a bit of tension in the air.

[Akes]

The grasses around her were buzzing with life. The soft clicking of quail, the nearly silent sound of a snake slithering by, the incessant buzz of field crickets and the scurrying of meadow mice were evidence of the life around her. Salty tears trickled into her cheek fur as she squinted angrily at the sun. Where were the clouds?! Couldn’t they help out?! Grunting with frustration she let her head down, lips pouting.
When she did so her attention was immediately pulled away from the insufferable temperature and onto a strange, smirking muzzle before her. Unaware of the strange, menacing aura about this peeking wolf Rose replied.

”Uh...what?” She cocked her head to the side. The wolf’s hiss had been quiet, startling her slightly. A soft bark came from her other side of her. Suddenly no longer alone, Rose stood, rising to her full height to try and get a hold of her situation. She hadn’t met many wolves aside from Manu and his parents...there was that old line wolf who came by once...but other than that strangers were, well, strange.
The pink toned wolf sniffed slightly, raising a huge paw to wipe at her dark, doe eyes. ”Oh, yes I...” She let her shoulders slump slightly. ”Its just so hot, I was kinda hoping that the grass could shade me...but I’m too tall...again.” She complained, resuming her panting with a quiet whine. Two strange wolves and the burning sun above...quite the day already. She wondered how Manu was doing...maybe he had found shade...
Ugh she was jealous!

[Watermelonllama]

.:Oasis:.

Oasis heard the clicking and calls of the animals around her, around them. She flicked her cold eyes towards the brown and blue male standing beside the pink female. She calmly walked out, although her muscles where tense and ready for a fight. The other wolves spoke about the heat, but the unhinged wolf beside them didn't join, yet she did watch closely to the sweating wolves, waiting for one of them to at least become a little fun. The female was panting and whining quietly while the male's eyes looked at Oasis, then the other wolf. She, on the other hand, was completely silent and welcoming to the heat. She heat of summer, because it meant fires and death to others.

She studied the other wolf with blue eyes. She opened her snout to speak, but instead lifted her left paw casually and stood dead still. She could clearly tell that he was a male and built for hunting, no fun her Oasis. He seemed to have strong legs and muscles from somewhere... And that exited her. She blinked only once and then redirected her gaze to the other wolf. "It is, isn't it? " The somewhat crazy wolf said, her voice raspy and seemingly frozen over. Then, she slightly turned her head at the next statement. "Again?"

[koolpup]

The heat. Consarn this heat. Lark is not amused and her fur is most certainly not amused. Tufts of hair are sticking out left and right in all directions. She looks mangey and deranged. This is not a look that the old wolf wants to put up with.

"This heat is worse than the heat outside the valley." She grumbles lowly, ears pinning back as she looks up at the sky, cursing it. Her apprentice Dove wanders ahead of her through the grass. She spies a small hole in front of him and raises her voice yet again. "Dove. Hole. Left foot."

"Don't worry Lark! I know. Thank you." He smiles softly, his paw feeling around the hole. When he knows where the other side is, he steps over it. "Also," He looks in Lark's general direction, his ears flopping forward amusedly. "This is the same heat, you're just grumpy."

Lark makes a face. She resists the tempting urge to nip one of Dove's ears.

"You are just young, and short-furred..... and short-minded." Alas, she is weak. She nips the ear closest to her, softly tugging, then pulling away. A chuckle rises in her throat as the young wolf screws up his face and shakes himself.

"I'll correct myself, grumpy and bitey!" After that remark, he takes off, giggling. He can feel the ground rushing under his paws, every pebble and dimple in the earth. The grass scratches through his pelt, tickling his skin. He knows he should stop, it is far harder to gauge the obstacles in his path when he runs, but it's fun and exciting!

"DOVE! Ugh, idiot." Lark watches him bound away through the grass. She grudgingly chases after him, if he breaks his paw he will heavily hinder on their travels. "Dove! Quit that! You will hurt yourself, and I don't want to nurse another paw of your's in my life!" Then she sees it. "DOVE! BRANCH!"

He hears Lark calling after him. She shouldn't worry, he's got this, he's been practicing a- Branch? Wha- He suddenly feels something hit his paw. All his forward momentum causes it to tug back painfully as the rest of his body sails forward. He topples head-over-tail through the long grass and rolls to a stop. He lays there, winded, not exactly sure which way is up for a few moments. Once he can focus he checks his leg, it is throbbing with pain, but not broken. He tenses suddenly his ears flicking and his nostrils twitching. Wolves. Two, no three unknown wolves. He relaxes and wags his tail, but it slows when he picks up on the tension in the air.

"Hiya." He says rather cautiously but still friendly, getting to his paws and shaking. He still wags his tail, trying to look in the direction of the wolves so his lack of vision doesn't seem too strange.

Lark growls, perhaps more out of worry than anger. She watches the yearling tense and sniff the air, wag his tail, then, get to his paws. The relief she feels about him not breaking anything is short-lived when he greets someone. She looks where his is looking and frowns, seeing three wolves in the grass. They are all far younger than her, but two are most definitely adults, one looks to be around Dove's age, about as big as him too, but more filled out and not as lanky. The dark grey she-wolf does not give Lark the greatest feeling. In fact... The old wolf moves forward, getting in front of Dove, making sure he is blocked from the she-wolf's vision.

"Yes...Hiya.." She says, her gravelly voice not exactly friendly, but not unfriendly either, just flat and cautious as she eyes down the three wolves. "My apprentice here made quite the entrance." She shoots a glance at Dove, knowing that, even though he won't see it, he'll sense it. "We are just passing through."

[Meds]

((Wowza, this Rp filled up so fast xD So, at WWM we typically do a post order. It's not a rule bu it's generally polite ^^ I say with this many people, if somebody doesn't reply within .... two ish days (One? Up to us, I'm easy) we can move on without them until they catch up. Thoughts? I believe it would go Akes, Watermelon, Koolpup, and then me again.))

Axel;

The female whines something to Axel, who leans back onto his haunches to listen. She complains that she had hoped the grasses would provide some relief from the heat, but she was too tall. Again. The darker, unsettling female repeats this word, obviously catching on it as well. Axel chews his lower lip for a moment, deciding it best to try and smooth over the situation with as much grace as possible.
"It is certainly a hot day. Typically the valley isn't quite so unforgiving..." He smiles, glancing once at Oasis, trying to appear nonchalant, but wanting to keep her in his line of sight. He dips his head in a nod to each of them, giving Oasis the benefit of the doubt, at least until something bad happened—which hopefully they could avoid altogether. "My name is Axel—pleased to make your acquaintance. And by the way—" He glances more closely to Rose, then at their surroundings. "Though you may be tall, some of the burrows here in the Warren should be large enough to fit a wolf. If our conversation proves dull, that may yet be an escape from the heat for you."

Just then two more voices broke into the already crowded gathering. Axel swiveled, easily seeing over the grass to the newcomers. He was a tall wolf, much taller than the youth that had just stumbled in, anyway—but he was not an intimidating figure. To underestimate him would be foolishness, for he was very strong; however, his strength was best suited to manual work, rather than violence. In any case, the new wolves greeted the trio kindly enough, so Axel remained at ease for the time being. It wouldn't do to have both Oasis and two more hostiles to deal with. Rose seemed alright so far; or at least, Axel hadn't got the same sick sense of mistrust from her.
The younger of the new pair of wolves didn't seem to be very aware of his surroundings Axel noticed, as he both tripped over a fallen branch, and came dangerously close to one of the openings of the underground network of tunnels that gave the Warren its name. Beside him, the older female that accompanied him seemed just as ill-at-ease about Oasis as Axel did. He hoped nothing would boil into a fight, and prayed that his polite, laid-back attitude could perhaps calm an otherwise tense situation.

"Quite the busy place today, isn't it?"

[Watermelonllama]

((Good idea! Sorry I'm not writing a lot, at school on my tablet.))
.:Oasis:.

A small laugh escaped from Oasis's mouth when the brown and blue wolf commented about the valley being unforgiving. "You clearly haven't been here for long, have you?" She asked, only narrowing her eyes slightly. Oasis then blinks when Axel introduced himself, then saying that there are burrows large enough for a wolf. "I am Midnight Oasis. I prefer Oasis, though." She weaved a threat into her introduction, using a voice more raspy and cold than usual.

The heat of the sun hit her in waves, but she only quietly hisses to no one in particular. She then looks at the peony wolf, expecting for her to answer when two more wolves appear. One of them seemed to have no sense of direction, while the other was older than her, but Oasis was confident that she could kill her easily. Oasis watched as the older one walked over to shield the younger from Oasis's vision. She lifted her paw only, yet again as a passive aggressive threat, maybe only the old wolf and Axel will take notice.

The old wolf called the younger apprentice, and Oasis nods. " Quite the entrance indeed. " She spoke, eyes glaring. She was ready if they decide to attack. She slowly walked to where she could see the younger wolf.

" Why are you hiding him? " She said, more like a growl, toward the old wolf.

[Akes]

(Oh, okay. I was wondering about that.)
The female wolf spoke darkly, her eyes lidded and her smile eerie. She was quiet as the brown and blue male continued speaking. Through his analysis of the heat he claimed that the valley was truly more mellow than it was now. Rose sure hoped so, if this heat was maintained she couldn’t survive here, she needed cooler temperatures to flourish. This Axel, as he named himself, also prescribed a possible shelter nearby.
Warrens. Rabbit warrens? Rose sat as well, following Axel’s example, effectively lowering her towering figure to a more conversational height.
Surely such small tunnels couldn’t provide much shelter. But she had noticed some pits and dens in the uneven landscape...perhaps wolves or other creatures had widened the earthen passageways. How engineering! A curious shimmer came to her eyes at the thought of the possible labyrinth below. Such fun one could have below the ground!
Interrupting her thoughts came a bark of warning, and a young wolf tumbled near the trio. This young male was accompanied by an older shewolf, her face was stern and her eyes wary as she crossed in front of her...”apprentice.” She was intrigued by this young wolf, he was surely not too much younger than she was. Though perhaps her sheer size would alienate him...her enormity was always getting in the way. And she wasn’t even fully grown yet! Stupid genetics.

So many wolves had arrived. So exciting! Though...she must admit their presence was slightly intimidating. Especially the first shewolf...she seemed...off. The same female commented on her “again,” remark. ”Oh yes, my size comes with so many problems. Ugh it’s so frustrating sometimes.” Rose snorted, and rolled her eyes, a small smile making its way onto her muzzle as she directed more attention to the two newcomers.
”Hi,” She chirped in response to their greetings. Perhaps chirp wasn’t the best word...her voice, while still immature, was rather deep and resonant. Perhaps a more apt verb would be...hummed. ”Im Rose.”

[koolpup]

Dove flinches as he senses his mentor's glare burn hot on his fur. He may have been a little overenthusiastic. Running is just so fun! He loves feeling the wind disturb his fur, hearing the sounds of the world rushing past his ears, smelling everything from the dry soil that nestles rabbits and other creatures within it to the tall grass that surrounds them. He sighs softly, still, Lark is right, he needs learn to be more careful before he runs a lot. The male wolf comments about how busy the area has become. He flicks his ears, about to answer when the older female comments on his entrance. The dark grey and white male feels embarrassment boil up inside him, was the tumble that awkward? He hears paws approaching from the direction of her voice, his ears follow her first, then he directs his gaze where he thinks she stopped.

Lark narrows her eyes as the female raises her paw. She has to physically relax as the female steps around her to look at Dove. She keeps herself ready to ward off an attack if one comes her or Dove's way but doesn't want to be the cause of the attack.

"I am not, as you can see him right there." Her remark is snappy and sarcastic, but she keeps her tone as light as she can. "Can I not stand next to the pup?"

Dove can almost feel Lark forcing herself to not tense up. He tilts his head, though he doesn't like being called a pup, he doesn't think he should comment on it. The she-wolf in front of him is acting a bit aggressive, but so is Lark, there must be something about her that the older wolf doesn't trust. He smiles and wags his tail, attempting to diffuse the tension. Then, the other wolf, the female close to his age, greets them. Rose, that's a pretty name! He also likes her voice, it's deep and smooth like a stream or honey. He looks in the direction of her voice, again, his ears swiveling before his face does.

"Hi Rose! I like your name! I'm Dove, this grouchy wolf is Lark." He nods towards Lark, then looks around, trying to pinpoint where each wolf is by their smell and the small sounds of the grass rubbing against their pelts. "We are traveling healers. If any of you are at all hurt, we can help out, though." He sniffs the air once more. "I don't currently smell any injuries... so that's good!" He wags a bit more, perhaps the she-wolf is just grouchy like Lark, maybe being treated with kindness instead of tenseness will help lighten the mood.

[Meds]

((Perfect! Order is established. After me is Watermelon, then Akes, then Koolpup. There was a bit of confusion with the last round of posting but it's all good!))

Axel;

The female scoffed at Axel's analysis of the heat, accusing him of not being in the valley long. Axel's brow lifted softly, nodding. He hadn't been in the valley long. Not long at all, actually. Everyday there were no things to discover about the natural world. Axel had so far discovered the Mystical Caves up in the mountains, WildWater Falls, and now the Lily Warren. Though he felt a foreboding within his gut about the current company.
"I can understand that," Axel said in response to Rose's comment about her height coming in as an issue. "Some of my kin back home were far taller than the rest, or shorter, or weaker—but we always found something for them to do, and to be of use to the pack. I personally was taught to build and to shape the land, because my shoulders, back and legs were strong enough to do the work required." He dipped his head once more, flashing another smile at the pink-hued female, Rose apparently. "There is no sense regarding yourself as anything less than extraordinary. Everybody has a place somewhere."

His attention was drawn away then, when Oasis spoke rather bluntly to the new pair. Axel's eyes traced her form, then the forms of the other two. Oasis shifted so that the pup was in her line of sight. Not an altogether comforting move.
"Perhaps just a misunderstanding," Axel said, his voice smooth and confident, regardless of how he felt. He tossed his blue mane casually, the very picture of calm. "I'm sure these two have a close bond."
He smiled at Lark and Dove as the younger wolf explained that they were healers. Well, that was something, at least. Unless of course one or both of them fell to injury and needed the healing.

[Watermelonllama]

.:Oasis:.

Oasis barred her teeth and growled. "Not unless you think I'll do something to him." She said smoothly, despite her current look. She slams her paw, making a footprint in the ground. When Axel and Rose carried on the conversation about Rose's height, Oasis turned, still barring her teeth. She's never been exactly considered tall or agile, but strong and quick. She's also been described as scary, evil, and unhinged. When Axel said "Everyone has a place somewhere." She quietly cackled, barely a whisper.

As Dove said they where traveling healers, Oasis stopped barring her fangs and smiled, like the former never happened. "Traveling healers?" She asked, yet not in a curious wish, but her usual chilly voice. A voice that could make or break a wolf. "Then you must've heard of Midnight Silence, my pack." She rasped, looking on curiously on at Lark and Dove, like she was the predator and they were the cowering prey. She loved this game. This was the thrill she seeked. The shed of blood. Oh, how she enjoyed blood. Oasis just came from Amoux creek, where she murdered Bob.

She looked up at Axel saying it's a misunderstanding in a confident voice. Her eyes shifted ever so slightly towards him, starring deep into him. Or so they look like. She tilted her head up and looked back at the duo. She smiled at Dove. He would be her next target. Next target after Bob. This will prove her worth to Fjord and Skia, who she secretly wants to impress. She knows it won't be easy, but if she brings a body of a pup to them, they just might consider her.

Oasis shuffles towards Lark, her eyes showing only one thing. Pure hunger. Hunger for a thrill, a murder. Then, she looks back at naïve Rose and calm Axel, showing the same hunger. She is mentally unbalanced, and Oasis will prove it.

[Akes]

Things were heating up, both in temperature and in conversation. The sun, as if keying in on the rising tension between the five wolves, amplified its fierce heat.

”Oh, thank you.” Rose replied, making an effort to smile despite the obvious frustration pulled taut between each wolf. Everyone was on edge. The young grey wolf seemed nice enough, and by extension Lark did as well. Maybe a little touchy, but there was reason enough to be. (Sorry for the late reply :’) )
Oasis was being quite threatening. Rose, naive as she was, would be an idiot if she failed to pick up on that. Axel seemed gentle and relatively peacemaking, though it seemed as if a conflict was inevitable. Someone needed to step in. She sent a desperate glance towards Axel before deciding to step in herself. After all she wasn’t doing much.

Rose, being at least as large as the other adults squared her shoulders and approached the two shewolves. ”Uh...you two need to calm down. It’s too hot to get into a scuffle.” Rose was to ignorant to the ways of the world to realize that real fights could happen, blood could be spilled and lived could be lost. The only violence she had witnessed was when hunting or arguing with Manu. She had no inkling of what horrors and gore could be conducted by wolves. All she knew was that this palpable tension between the two she wolves wasn’t good.

[koolpup]

Lark nearly grabs Dove by the scruff to drag him backward. It takes a whole lot of effort to just tap him with her tail and step forward. Oasis looks almost feral, hungry as she eyes them curiously. It makes the old wolf's skin crawl beneath her fur.

Midnight silence.

"We haven't been here long, though, we've caught wind of a few of the packs in the valley. Yes, I do believe that I've heard of your pack." Lark cants her head to the side, acting as if she has to think about it, keeping her voice level. She has heard of the Midnight Silence pack. Fearful whispers from terrified wolves. Stories that, if she were a younger wolf and naive of the world's cruelty, she'd dismiss as tall tales. So she is right to be very on edge. When Oasis begins to close the distance bloodlust obvious in her eyes, Lark's whole demeanor changes. She lowers and shifts into a more defensive position, tail lashing slightly. Watching the she-wolf like one would watch a cobra, cautious and ready for it to strike.

Dove's tail stops wagging, it stays still even when Rose thanks him. He can sense something rolling off of Oasis, a hunger that isn't quite right. He doesn't allow his smile to falter, trying to keep the peace. Midnight Silence? He tilts his head, he hasn't heard of that pack yet, but supposedly Lark has. Now he frowns out of confusion, Lark always tells him what she's learned about new places, why hasn't she told him about one of the packs in the valley? He is about to voice this confusion when he hears Oasis shamble closer to them. The hunger is stronger, making him feel uncomfortable, for it's directed at them. It doesn't help that he feels Lark shift and ready herself for a fight. Rose speaks again, beginning to walk towards Lark and Oasis. She also seems uncomfortable, but she is trying to keep the two from fighting. Dove decides to help.

"Rose is right." The grey and white male steps forward gingerly. "On a day like this, we should be trying to get along to find shade and solace. Not fighting!

Lark's eyes shift between Dove and Rose as they both step forward. She bristles visibly, the two naive youngsters are going to get themselves severely hurt, or worse. She's met wolves like Oasis before, they can't be negotiated with or calmed when they get that wild hunger in their gaze. This wolf has her mind set on bloodshed. She looks to the other male, he seems to also want to keep the peace. She wonders what he'll do now, help or stand back? She won't hold it against him if he decides to leave, everyone has their own lives and families to look after. She looks back at Oasis.

"Both of you, back off." She growls to Dove and Rose. Dove is still close enough so she taps him again with her tail, a silent signal to leave. "And you." She eyes Oasis. "I do not want a fight, but it seems you want a kill. Do you think me easy pickings because of my age? Oh, how misguided youth are. I may be on the decline but I'm not that old." She shakes her head and rolls her eyes, letting her signature snark take control of her words. Trying to Keep Oasis's attention on her so the pups can back away.

[Meds]

Axel;

Oasis laughed at his analysis, and Axel quickly realized that things were about to get out of paw. He was no fighter. Sure, he was plenty strong in the legs and shoulders—but that was from hard work, not fighting or training. His strength was in explosive speed and lifting or pushing. Hard work. He knew next to nothing of combat.
Rose looked to him in desperation, but he merely shrugged. If things turned really bad he could assist, but until then he was no help. All the same, however, when Rose tried to tell the others off, Axel moved instinctively to her side. They didn’t know he wasn’t a fighter. Perhaps his presence would be enough to keep the tempers cooled.

But then Oasis moved forward hungrily, the older female yanked the youth out of the way, and a few tense words were exchanged. Oasis was heavily outnumbered, Axel had no doubts they could fend her off—but it was how many injuries may happen in the meantime that had him worried. He straightened his powerful back and eyes the angry female down. He said nothing, his words of peace having already been said, but hoped that his silent supposed-confidence would be enough to keep Oasis in check.