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Post by tovaana on Jul 15, 2018 0:36:16 GMT -5
Epicenter;
His land, his pack, his family – well, mostly Koa, as their other two packmates had been unaccounted for – all of it had started to become part of him. Almost literally, as he let the landscape slide over his coat, his magic helped him memorize the textures and colors of his home. Home. It was not perfect, but what home was? It felt more like home than Secluded Sunrise, perhaps because he had seen it rise, perhaps because he now had a deeper growing history and life on it… Home.
The land was moaning in preparation of winter; leaves drooped, the land was turning gray, and the breeze had a bite to it. It would be rough, but it would almost a year on the land and the birth of Ivory Wild. At least, the birth of its idea.
That day Epicenter had been stalking prey and its movement around their land, seeing which they would hunt – which had weak links they would pick off when it was time for meals. After leaving a group of deer in peace, the smell of a stranger intermingled the chilly breeze. It wasn’t far, in fact, just over the hill he guessed by the strength of the scent. Duo earth eyes (though currently masked in his surroundings) looked in the direction of the breeze and he let his long limbs carry him swiftly in the direction. Soon Koa’s scent became stronger. Since she was Alphess, her scent was virtually everywhere, and even sooner – visual confirmation found Koa inviting a wolf over their border. His ears pressed forward at attention, listening at the conversation that they were having, a whisper of his name reached him. It was in Epicenter’s habit to keep a cloak of ‘invisibility’ over him almost all of the time. It was a part of him and second nature, so much that he even forgot at times that he was doing it.
This was one of those times as he approached.
“Well, well. What do we have here?” He asked his a smile wide, though masked with the background. They would be able to see him, his ability didn’t make him really invisible, but it would virtually almost ghost like – as if you could see through him to the background behind him.
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Post by Meds on Jul 15, 2018 23:26:17 GMT -5
Koa;
Because her gift of Awareness had not yet been silenced after speaking with Levi, Koa felt Epicenter begin to approach long before he actually made it to the tree line. Therefore it was quite a shock that when she turned to him to greet him, was instead met with a semi-transparent version of him. Minty eyes popped momentarily and her mouth parted in an 'O' shape, a rare expression of surprise for Koa. Her tail flickered behind her as she stayed frozen for a half-second before coming back to herself. Ah, well. Levi was a pack member now. She was allowed to have a few less-than-Alpha moments. She recovered quickly all the same. She knew of his gift. But it had been strange, feeling his presence and making a mental image of him, and coming up with that in reality. Her power mark lessened in glow until it was back to normal, and she spared Epicenter a small smile. It was quite an interesting gift. She turned, exhaling the slight breath she had apparently taken.
"Levi, this is my dear Beta Epicenter, as well as our resident Chameleon, as you can plainly see." She turned and looked upon him with fond eyes. He really was the only other wolf aiding her with holding up the pack. Without him, this dream of hers could have been in danger of fizzling. She turned back to the gawky male, their newest Recruit. "Epicenter, this is Leviticus."
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Post by Fierfly on Jul 18, 2018 12:02:57 GMT -5
Leviticus:
"Mom, how far is it to the stars?"
"Forever. No one could reach the stars."
"But the stars are our dreams, aren't they? Haven't you ever gotten close to a dream?"
a quiet, maternal chuckle, "I used to think I was there, but it would take so much longer than I've been alive to reach my stars."
"I'll reach mine someday,"
"It's good to have a dream," a soft nuzzle between tender, floppy ears. "But remember it takes a great deal of time to even start to get close, that's why the journey takes Forever."
"I can wait Forever,"
Well. It hadn't exactly been forever. Only three very interesting years and thousands of steps and a bit of good talking and Lady Luck and Lady Koa both smiling upon him. It was all an adventure, both the getting there and what waited for him now that he'd gotten to the first step, to the launching point where the elusive, flickering dream was nearly within his reach.
A good-natured baritone cheerfully inquired of his presence and he and Koa looked up simultaneously - and his jaw dropped as her eyes widened and her lips formed a delicious little O that he might have chuckled at if he hadn't been so surprised himself. Nobeast was there! Well, no, that wasn't quite right. Something was there, but he wouldn't exactly describe it as a wolf. The general outline was there, he could make out eyes and a maw and where the body and paws and tail ought to be, but he was seeing the landscape surrounding the beast more than he was the wolf! Was it a spirit? Could one recruit the dead for a pack in the Magical Valley? Koa's smile came back and she made introductions: the apparition was her Beta, Epicenter and "the resident chameleon". It took a bit of self control not to go bounding up to the Beta and poking him in the chest just to see if he would become more visible if he was touched. Was it a gift as well? If everyone in this pack was powered then he would become very dull to them very quickly! He recovered his slack jaw and bobbed his head as she introduced him to her second-in-command. "A pleasure to meet you," he could not say that it was good to see him because it was only a first introduction; that, and he really couldn't exactly see him if one was strictly speaking.
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Post by tovaana on Aug 1, 2018 23:50:46 GMT -5
Epicenter;
He knew he could not surprise Koa, which was why he paused and made a movement like he was going to look behind him… When he realized quickly what had been startling, he quickly cut the stream of magic that had been grabbing at his surroundings to create the illusion of apparition. He had glanced at the new wolf, but kept his gaze on Koa for a moment, relishing the realness that poked through for a moment.
“Sorry about that.” He grinned at them as his pine green and bark muddy brown tones came back in patches. His head lowered a little in apology, but then rose again and now looked at the new wolf.
“A pleasure indeed, Leviticus.” He hummed, glancing at Koa and then back at the new wolf.
“New recruit?” Epicenter asked, raising his head and looking the lanky male up and down critically. He didn’t need to test the male, he trusted Koa with her judgment, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t also have his opinion of the male.
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Post by Meds on Aug 3, 2018 18:03:29 GMT -5
Koa;
Both males reflected surprise in that moment at the same time, but Koa knew it was for different reasons. Levi, no doubt, was as much surprised as she had been—if not more—at seeing a semi-transparent wolf. Epicenter's surprise, on the other hand, seemed to be directed at her. This was confusing for a half-heartbeat before she, of course, recalled her own gift. In the split-second before she had wiped the surprise from her face, she caught Epicenter's gaze lingering on her. Once more she was transported back to that Winter's night where they had met—and had had all sorts of laughs within the snow. One would never guess that Epicenter could smile or laugh so easily as he had that night, but that was one of the reasons Koa liked him so much. He was a wolf who could do both. Should she need a serious opinion, well of course she would look no further than her Beta; and on that same paw, sometimes a laugh is what those in power most needed. And she could get that from him, as well.
Her eyes flicked off of the once more green and brown male, and back to Levi as they made their introductions. She smiled lightly, bringing her chin upwards through the air. Epicenter repeated Levi's rank, though did not exactly question it. It was merely a request for more information. "Indeed," Koa murmured in response, smiling at Levi. "I think I made a good choice letting him in... I hope you agree." She turned her smile to Epicenter then, for she was being truthful—if not getting there with a little bit of joking. His opinion really did matter to her, and meeting new members was as important for him as it was for her.
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Post by Fierfly on Aug 6, 2018 18:44:34 GMT -5
Leviticus:
The - it could not be called an apparition, there was no image in place of the one that was supposed to be there. Nor could it be called a shield or other color, it was the colors of all the autumn earth around them. It was some sort of invisibility...he wasn't quite sure what to classify it as, obviously a power, but to describe it...he was at a lost. In any case, the beta's natural colors came to light rather easily: an earth brown and veridian. He flashed a good-natured smile and apologized - not to either of them in particular, just generally and bobbed a greeting at him and turned his attention to Koa, lightly hiking a brow as he asked if he was a new recruit. At any other time he might have straightened to his full height, a few whiskers taller than this male from the looks of it and tried to puff out his chest to make himself look bigger and more professional, but he was still in wonder. The urge to bound up and poke him to see if he might change colors again was rather strong, puppish and foolish he knew, but powers were a novelty to him. They'd only been stories for so long...
Koa confirmed Epicenter's query, and admitted she thought it was a good idea letting him in, lightly but not overly serious in asking if her beta agreed. Her decision was still final, but Koa didn't believe in disharmony among her pack, she wanted approval from her second-in-command. Again, she was intelligent, but what would he think of him? He offered his own grin, that slanted little smile, awful and quirked with the one dimple in the corner that his mother had been so fond of. "Just Levi," he corrected,
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Post by tovaana on Sept 5, 2018 13:52:45 GMT -5
Epicenter;
“Alright, Levi.” Epicenter amended when he insisted on the shortened name. He met Levi’s gaze, who was no longer in shock, but there was curiousness behind his mask; a youthfulness that Epicenter longed to have back. Perhaps it would be a good thing to have a new personality around their home, and of course – numbers were always welcome when they could afford it.
“I guess time will tell.” Wasn’t that the truth. They did need numbers, so he couldn’t argue against more wolves…and youth was good, so there was a part of him that approved Levi’s entrance. It also meant change, which was hard – but Epicenter thrived in change, especially if it meant for the better and the better for the pack. All in all, it would be time’s paw that would ultimately show Levi’s true colors. Epicenter surveyed the male with a neutral gaze for a moment longer before turning to Koa. He smiled at her, acknowledging with gratitude that she showed that what he thought mattered, but at the same time feeling her powerful authority. It reminded him of the moment she had insisted that she could see herself no less than Alphess. He bowed his head slightly to her, then turned back to Levi in a quick instant, his head rising to his tall height.
“So, Levi, why Ivory Wild? What high hopes do you have in joining?” Was this a family wolf? Or a wolf looking for adventure? With the youth Epicenter saw in the male, he worried slightly about commitment, but also knew that youth came with many other qualities besides a short attention span.
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Post by Meds on Sept 8, 2018 13:36:55 GMT -5
Koa;
Green eyes, bright and alive, settled into a calm and quiet face. Koa watched as Epicenter gave her a bow, as was her right, but she smiled none the less. She had had her misgivings about starting a pack with a wolf who had all but told her he would not stop until he got what he wanted. She had even joked about it—why should she agree to start something with a wolf that was more than likely to challenge her position? But she had not seen that side of Epicenter yet; indeed, she was much happier with him alongside her than without. Her eyes flicked to Levi. The new one, the young one. Still lanky, though with legs long enough that she was sure he would come into his own before long. Epicenter was not short, either, though neither was she. She hid a smile as she imagined what Ivory Wild would become if all of its tall members procreated with each other. A ridiculous idea, to be sure.
When Epicenter questioned Levi, Koa turned and allowed him the floor for discussion. Depending why Levi had chosen this pack, and where he planned to go, Epicenter could well be his trainer in a few short seasons. "A good question, to be sure," She mirrored, settling more comfortably beside her Beta. "Epicenter is directly responsible for most new Recruits." She winked kindly. "Now it's just a matter of deciding where to put you."
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Post by Fierfly on Sept 11, 2018 17:32:02 GMT -5
Leviticus:
Epicenter asked him point-blank why he'd chosen Ivory Wild to petition for shelter and belonging. In truth he was beginning to think that no one would. Were not questions of this sort best left to the Alpha's interview? Ah, but Koa's drill of questions had concluded, it was only fair that Epicenter should ask it if he were the one that Levi reported to as a recruit."Secluded Sunrise is too old," he shrugged, awful trash of a tail unable to keep still. "They're settled and well enough off. I always thought I'd like to see an idea still being born, be more of a part of it than a mere newcomer who might come and go. It is much easier to learn and grow if one has the room to learn and grow wherever he is." Too long, weren't listening: he wanted the adventure and the extra effort. He was bored, he wanted a challenge.
And some dreams never died.
That cursed nostalgic smile: the downright weird bend in the corner. "I'd always thought...well," an ear twitched and fell a bit to the side, he lost eye-contact and found himself staring off after the sunset, recalling hundreds like it he'd seen before, thinking if he followed it he might find that dream niggling in the back of his mind. "I'd always thought I could matter. As a runner, as a gammma, a diplomat, I know I don't have the skills for a fighter or counselor - too lean, too impertinent," he wrinkled his nose at himself in disgust. "But that's never stopped me from trying." Amber eyes came back to his audience and as Koa and Epicenter had assumed more relaxed positions he dropped his tail and relaxed his shoulders and spine. He didn't want to sit - he wasn't about to get that casual in the first ten minutes, but he was among friends now, he would treat them as such.
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