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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2019 20:27:00 GMT -5
The large black and orange male approached the waterfall, hoping it would be a place where he could cool off from the scorching heat. He padded through the grass and settled at the edge of the pool. He bent his head down and lapped up a few cool drops of water. It was refreshing, but not enough. Shadowcast headed to the mist of the waterfall. He stepped into the water, which calmly lapped at his paws. He stuck his head in the misty cloud, allowing the water to settle in his pelt. After cooling off, he returned to the edge, quietly staring at his reflection. A few moments passed, and Shadowcast walked off to a flat rock nearby, crouching down by the pool, perhaps waiting for something to happen, or perhaps expecting to simply enjoy the solitude.
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Post by Tiel on Jun 30, 2019 21:53:19 GMT -5
Topaz:
The water was like Topaz’s mood. Roaring, howling, chaotic, mad. Five pups dead. She didn’t know what to make of it, it had nothing to do with her pack directly, but there was something on the horizon. She felt it humming like electricity in the air before a lightning storm.
When Topaz had been but a lost, orphaned pup, there’d been a crossroads, and one choice — join a pack — had led to her life as she now knew it. Everything she had now she owed to that decision, that simple, impulsive decision. She’d been hungry and lonely, that was all. But she had found so much more than basic sustenance. She’d found security, a family, a place to fit in. She’d found Sheba, the Power, the Current. She’d found something to dedicate her life to: neutrality.
But what was neutrality when pups were dying? There was no neutral anymore. To remain neutral was to take the side of evil.
This was the place she came to when her thoughts turned in this direction. Solitude was not something she normally sought out. When bright, bubbly, cocky Topaz faltered, this was where she went to recharge, to forget death and doubt. She stood on the foamy shore letting the white, wild waters veil her in mist and noise — white, wild noise.
There was another wolf nearby, ghostlike as she viewed him through the mist. He probably didn’t notice her as she hid herself in the waterfall’s stormy haven, but she saw his pelt’s stark black and bright orange unrelenting through the fog. He was large and muscular, but she’d spent enough time with Manaaki that it did not faze her.
She watched him a minute, hidden and unsure, before deciding to introduce herself. She harnessed the wind and let it push away the fog so that she became visible on the rocky shore, like a phantom at first, clothed in white mist. Then the fog was gone, along with the illusion, and Topaz was again a tiny yearling, a humble pack scout, chestnut fur slicked and wet.
She smiled at him. First impressions were everything. Because the waterfall was so loud, she let the wind pick up her voice and carry it over to the stranger in a playful whisper, “Friend or foe?”
She began to feel more like herself. She stood up straight, remembering self-assured Topaz, charming Topaz. But she was not a pup anymore. Life might never again be as simple as positivity and unquestionable loyalty.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2019 23:18:04 GMT -5
Shadowcast perked his ears up, hearing another wolf behind him. "Huh? Well, I don't know you. But I'm gonna say friend." , he replied, standing up slowly and turning around cautiously. He noticed a chestnut colored wolf behind him. Although the wolf was unfamiliar, Shadowcast felt quite calm in her presence. He gave his pelt a quick shake, partly to shake out the stubborn drops of water from his pelt, and partly to make sure he didn't look messy. He straightened his posture, and looked the wolf in the eyes, repeating the question, " Friend or foe? ", to make sure this wolf wasn't hostile.
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Post by Tiel on Jul 1, 2019 12:56:42 GMT -5
Topaz:
He threw her question back at her. “Friend or foe?” Slowly, Topaz was coming to realize this valley was full of vermin. Slowly, she was growing more wary of strangers.
He didn’t know her yet, he had said. Likewise, Topaz did not know this brute. He might as well have been a Secluded Sunrise trespasser. As a scout, her instinct with strange wolves was to be on the defensive.
But she was overthinking it. The question was meant only to see if she was looking for a fight, which she was not. It was not meant to decide the future of their relationship, or if there would be one at all.
“I guess we’ll see,” she settled on, smiling so he would know she meant no harm, though she didn’t entirely feel like smiling. Since the waterfall had not served as a sufficient distraction, perhaps a conversation would. Socialization had always cheered her when she was down. She might make a new friend today… if a friend she found in him. Say he was a habitual trespasser, she was a foe. Say he was a Midnight Silence pup killer — All at once, her eyes filled with warm water, and her vision was briefly blurred. Woah. Where did that come from? Quickly, she glanced off, blinking. Her fur was already wet from the mist. Maybe he wouldn’t notice…
She looked back up at him, maintaining composure. But it was too late. Of course he had seen her glance away. Of course he would address it. How strange it was, this foreign feeling, this sudden longing to be left alone. She didn’t know how to handle it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2019 20:10:21 GMT -5
Shadowcast shrugged, looking over at the other wolf. "Hmm. Well, we can't be sure if we shall be friends or foes without knowing each other. Allow me to introduce myself". Shadowcast briefly shuffled his paws, making sure he had some composure. " I am Shadowcast. A lone wolf. I am neutral, and I am looking for a neutral pack to join. I mean no harm to you, and if you have a pack, I mean no harm to them, either". He calmly stepped forward, realizing the stranger was no threat to him. He made careful eye contact. He tensed up slightly as he angled his ears forward. "And who may you be?".
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Post by Tiel on Jul 1, 2019 23:33:49 GMT -5
Topaz:
Shadowcast either did not notice her brief display of vulnerability or did not care. Either way, she was grateful. After introducing his name and story, he asked for hers.
“I’m Topaz, devoted scout of Secluded Sunrise, the greatest pack in the valley.” These words came instantly. She repeated them so often, they had long ago lost their flavor on her own tongue, but knowing there’d been a time when they’d stirred something up in her, she always said them to other wolves, hoping they’d discover whatever it was she used to have. Then maybe tell her about it.
Against all reason, Topaz left the misty shore and approached Shadowcast’s rock. This stranger was much larger than she. And at least twice her age. Still, she sat by his side. That strange longing for solitude she’d been feeling was beginning to disintegrate. Maybe there was a reason they’d crossed paths today, she and Shadowcast, two neutral wolves, both searching for something, he a pack and she... well, she still didn’t know what she was searching for.
“You know, I wasn’t born in a pack, either. I joined Secluded Sunrise when I was a pup… lost and parentless.” She watched the waterfall in silence for a moment, then went on, “Sometimes I wonder what it would’ve been like if I’d stumbled upon a different pack, or no pack at all. It’s like I didn’t choose the Neutral Alliance. It chose me.” She sighed, trying to piece her feelings together into coherent sentences. These were sentiments she’d never shared with anyone else. That was one of the beauties of talking to strangers: she could let out the emotions she didn’t want anyone else to know about, the emotions she’d been keeping within herself so long she was sick, and it didn’t matter, because they’d probably never see each other again.
She turned to him and said suddenly, “You’re neutral. Can I ask why you chose to be?” Topaz met his fiery, foreign eyes, then she glanced away, remembering who and where she was. “Sorry if that’s nosy. You don’t need to answer if you don’t want.”
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2019 8:21:49 GMT -5
Shadowcast replied, "Well, I was born to two loners. They were both neutral, and they influenced my decision to remain neutral. I don't know what alliance I would choose otherwise, if my parents weren't so dedicated to remaining neutral." He stared down at his paws, and suddenly wondered why he was neutral. He quickly dismissed the thought, and then started thinking if he wanted to join a pack. Well, he would like to , but only if he knew what it was like. "So, what is life in a pack like? Do you enjoy it? Survival has been difficult lately, and I want to know if I should join a pack."
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Post by Tiel on Jul 2, 2019 17:43:26 GMT -5
Topaz:
“Being part of a community is a wonderful thing, and Alphess Blaise is a great leader, the greatest. However,” Topaz added. She couldn’t help but notice Shadowcast’s reserved nature and wonder if he’d be happier by himself. If survival was his ultimate motivation, would he be an asset? Or a weight that held a pack down? “I like other wolves a lot, you see. I can’t stand being alone for too long. I don't know what the case with you is… but let’s just say, being part of a pack holds you to certain responsibilities. You have to… be involved. Connect with others.”
Topaz wondered for a moment what Shadowcast could contribute to Secluded Sunrise. Albeit hard to judge a wolf based on a thirty second interaction, there was something about this brute that struck her as a natural loner. But then, if she got to know him better, he might end up like Manaaki or Epicenter. Quiet in a thoughtful way, not a shy way.
“I’m not trying to discourage you from joining my pack. Just letting you know what you’d be getting into. Since I’m a scout, I’m usually the first to meet new members. Whether or not you’re Secluded Sunrise material is ultimately up to Alphess Blaise.” Topaz stood with her chest out, positively shimmering with devotion to her pack. Then, she caught herself.
“Sorry. I’m just assuming you mean to join Secluded Sunrise. We’re the only neutral pack in the valley, if you didn’t know.” She smiled pensively. The only neutral pack in the valley. While everyone else takes a decisive stand, we refuse to choose.
No. Secluded Sunrise was not indecisive. They chose peace over war. They chose to serve Sheba. They chose what was best for the whole pack. However, something unsettling pinched at Topaz’s core. Something within her, under all her instilled pack pride, whispered: coward.
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Nala
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Post by Nala on Jul 3, 2019 14:41:49 GMT -5
Akia;
Akia walked along on the soft, sweet smelling grass. She sniffed the air, she smelled rabbit. Instinctively crouching down low to the ground, her hind legs pulled close but slightly raised. Her tail also low but off the ground. She locked eyes with the rabbit, the rabbit took off. Akia cut it off and killed it with a bite to the back of the neck. "Well that was an unexpected meal. Let's hope it tastes good." She says to herself. She bit in to the rabbit tearing the flesh away and eating it delicately. Once she was done with her meal she got up and thought about going to take a swim. Akia decided not to, and started to walk some more. She soon came to a stop hearing two voices. Akia sat down and soon enough she got bored. Her body iched to run around. She got up, and trotted towards the waterfall. She sound of water running down the rocks soothed her. Akia laid down, and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Akia woke up a short while later, remembering where she was. She figured that sleeping after wondering around in an unknown place for hours then eating a hare, was okay. She then after sitting in her thoughts for a few minutes, got up and stretched, slowly not even caring how long it took. Because in her mind she was alone, no one to take care of but herself. So what did it matter she was enjoying her time in a beautiful place. She, once done stretching decides it would not be bad to roam other areas but this one. She wonders what it is like to be under trees. She chooses to go to a forest to find out after all, most of them have trees. Hence they are called forests, and what better time to find out the feel of being under trees than now. There was no place she really needed to be so, why not go on another little adventure. - Exit to The Redwoods -
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Nala
Newborn
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Post by Nala on Jul 4, 2019 16:36:54 GMT -5
Chris;
Chris happily made his way over to the waterfall. He climbed up the slippery rocks till he got to the spot he was looking for, his spot. The spot where there could be a dozen wolves talking at once, and he would not hear anything but the soothing sound of water hitting rocks as it tumbled down to the small creek at the bottom. His spot was in the one place that seemed that you were looking at a curtain of water. It was slightly misted, and was a cool temperature due to it being winter. His special spot also had a small isolated place in the rock. Like a small den, it had a few things he brought there frequently. On the ground there was soft moss that grew. And beside his little den, was the spot he ate his meals. Or stored his leftover food in the ground so it would stay preserved and so that no one could take it.
Chris checked and made sure everything was the way he left it. Then once again left, but this time to hunt. Chris stepped carefully down the rocks, and once close enough to the ground jumped. He stopped at the small creek and lapped some of the cold water. Once satisfied, he walked a little deeper into the water. Familiar with where he was and where he was going Chris waded out farther into the water. Now in the middle of the creek Chris stood up and bounded across to the other side. After he got a good distance away from the creek Chris shook all of the water droplets off him and onto the soft snow. The snow was not deep, only covering the ground lightly. Lightly enough that as he padded farther away from the creek and waterfall, the snow slowly turned back to the lush, green grass. He padded on and took the long route to the redwood forest. He liked to see all the plants covered with little snowflakes.
- Exit to The Redwoods -
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