username: dave. (previously d-dave.) ✦ gender pronouns: he/him/his ✦ name meaning: peaceful, calm
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━ CLOSEXYOURXEYES ━.
i.XknowX..what.Xyou.
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THEXXXXDARKNESSXXXXIS.
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and..you're..in..ten..feet.
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DXXXXXXXEXXXXXXEXXXXXXXP.
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butXwe'veXsurvived.
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andXXXXXyouXXXXXknow.
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iXXXwillXXbeXXXhere.
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TOXXTELLXXXYOUXXTO.
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┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈sālim; peaceful; calm; hebrew/ english/ arabic origins Salem is a strange xholis, he doubts himself 24/7 and ca-
n't get the idea he is useful and needed in the group and-
its an all for one, one for all. He is taller then average and
has a mostly lanky and thin figure, any form. As a pup he-
could tower other kids and could do things other people-
couldn't, as a pup it was getting things since he was small
and tall and as an adult it was being able to reach high pla-
ces, standing on hind legs. As well as this he loved things-
others didn't ! He adores birds, singing so brightly and h-
aving the power to fly makes them an irresistible creature-
and while out on duty he will-sometimes keep his eyes off
of camp to watch the feathered creatures fly about.
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Sal is, for most part, is just a quiet bystander. He doesn't speak his mind often and its pretty hard to get anything out of him. He lacks.. any type of social traits. It wasn't that he was a mean child or he separated himself from others, he just never had developed the right idea of 'socializing' and he always saw it a bit pointless but, ever since he was a small pup he had never understood the idea. He couldn't even hold a decent conversation with family, always replying with a few words and keeping all his replies simple to where his parents just stopped the conversation and instead talked to each other, thinking maybe their gem-child was just being nervous and quiet.
He had definitely tried to go off and make friends but he would always end up turning the conversation to an awkward silence. Even with his mentor as a yearling, he never talked with them. They would correct him here and there but he never got down with that xholis. He just never had the words 'talkative' and 'social' in him, but he did still try like said.. although now-a-days he just speaks in an almost rude and sarcastic tone. Though he keeps his words to himself for most part.
If anyone ever did get to really hear Salem to talk, they would often be suggesting he should just be quiet, or find a filter for his mouth. He's not mean and doesn't snap at everyone, more like it he's snarky and sarcastic, maybe even just a tad bit stuck up sounding. Sometimes his comments can come off as.. mean but he doesn't mean to be like such. Never having any real social skills with other people besides family, he's not sure how to act so he always said what he thought was right.. which was often just some classy remarks with a bitter tang to them.
Now aside all of his snarky, quietness, he always has put others before himself. Not even speaking guard wise because even if he wasn't the pack's guard he'd still be willing to go for others. Loyalty has always been his main aspect, using it to seek approval from others. He's more then willing to take a slash or bite for someone, whether they'd do it for him or not, whether that person is his sworn enemy or not, whatever he takes is whatever they don't deserve. Ever.. and it hurts him to see anyone in pain. Well, nobody can see their selves so him taking the whole blame and pain aspect works out well to him.
Salem always doubts himself, doubts his worth, mind, ideas and even existence sometimes. He never has really had a high self esteem, ever since the day one of his moms said 'to make sure your needed, you need to do blahblah..'. Now, his mother hadn't mean't it in a bad way at all. He was trying to look around for words and those had come out. This sent Sal down the wrong track, the one that had been labeled 'your not needed and your not doing enough, a pup could do better, you're just slowing us down' and ever since that one day those few words slipped he has always been pushing himself further then needed.
He constantly strives to be better, probably because of rumors of him being evil and bad which makes him try even harder. This all has its cons and pros. Pro being he is trying harder ! Great ! Con being he overworks himself sometimes and is really harsh on himself, often just scolding himself mentally. All he wants is everyone's approval, all he gets is a mouthful of salt.
There's many ways to take things, Salem always manages to see things as bad signs and often jumps to his own conclusions. He often assumes a head nod as a head shake and thinks he did something wrong, when his parents stopped talking to him and talked together he always thought they were disappointed or mad at him even, which upset him greatly upset him back then.. if anything you could even says he's just sensitive, which he is, but it all depends on how you take it.
Sal is all tough outside in, him having a hard shell blocking you from his soft spots inside. He always has his own replies which drive people away, thinking he's just a bad guy basically when he hasn't been taught any other way. He doesn't like admitting he needs help, which is what he guards up on the inside. He hates seeming weak and useless in front of others.. same for crying. He sees crying as being weak when in reality, crying is none of the such. Its strange how he does this.. quirks to seeing things in negative ways ?
Despite all of his... personality faults, he has his good sides as well. One being, taking loyalty out of question, he is quite protective.. almost over anything. Doesn't matter who or what it is he will protect it if it needs it. This has been a picked up thing from being a guard, he finds the natural need to protect or help anyone/thing in danger. Instinct.
Edging around everything, Sal is quite curious to the whole world. He always has his own little personal questions about it and what things could mean. Sometimes even if something looks dangerous he'll explore it.. more so for the fact if it looks dangerous it could mean a bad thing for his pack so whats to not explore ? He also just wants to know more about the world. If nobody else will tell him then he's just going to have to teach himself ! Curiosity never killed the dog.. he usually explores things in private when no one else can find out, or ponders over ideas in his head by himself. Kudos to him being hard from the inside out.
Despite Sal never speaking up usually and just staying on the sidelines as the stone still guard.. he does have these times he does jump out into conversations. He isn't snarky or anything when doing this and only does this when something seems very unjust, and if you ever got to know him in the slightest you could find out he hates when thing aren't fair. Even the god's siblings are just normal clan members like everyone else. Nobody should be looked upon differently.
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On a bright day, a new pup was made in a warm clearing in a patch of soft bluebell
flowers, pollen soon collecting on the newborns soft fur. The two xholis who had co-
mbined gems to raise the newborn were at its side in an instant, news having spre-
ad around camp like no other and the shaman happily announcing the newborn. As-
almost always, it was a single pup, no other pups forming. The two feminine xholis-
chirping happy noises at the arrival of their new 'child', though they had agreed up-
on this bonding as close friends. The pup ended up as a whole spur of their colors-
and it took quite awhile of the two mothers patient staring before they saw the pups
eye color. Cherry red. Both took no notice of the absurd color or delayed opening-
and instead leaned down to coo and cuddle the new Dusk Moto pack member. The-
pack had been bothered ever so slightly by the eyes but they pushed it aside
and instead went off to congratulate the two new hunters of their baby.
It took long but as a little newborn, the pup never would cry out for its mothers, it
would never snap or make any real 'puppy' sounds. Sometimes the mothers or sha-
man would fawn over this neat effect and sometimes grow concern for the pup over
it, as when it was deathly quiet they all feared it might have died. Soon the two h-
unters came up with a name they were certain was perfect for the little critter. Sa-
lem. One had always know of the name as something of 'peaceful', 'calamity', which
both agreed suit the quiet puppy well. Word passed around the clan and nobody had
/s ever objected to the calling so everyone stuck with it and today nobody would know
of Sal as anything different.
Sal didn't take much time in learning the basic maneuvers of moving,
walk, run, jump, roll, crouch, all of that. It wasn't surprising to see the child jumping
over other children, he had taken after one of his mother's agility, growing tall qu-
ickly. This being said Sal learned about gender identities, and although taking awhile
in deciding the child decided to use male pronouns. He knew good and well there were
many others yet he got dizzy in the head thinking of all the possibilities so he chose-
whatever was most simple and felt right to him, which are the pronouns he still uses
today.
As a walking puppy he was.. weird to others. He could tower over them and was lab-
eled as a 'dark walking gentle (people often questioned this, yet they had never met-
him before) giant' and other pups.. thought that was just indifferent. Strange slightly.
Different from them and yet not. Even so they all tried to communicate, play and be-
friends with the ever so distant pup but he never would speak above a whisper and of-
ten would speak too quickly, thus resulting in everyone just losing interest in trying to-
get through to him. It was rare to see him speak up to anything and word from his par-
ents revealed he never talked a lot around them either. Everyone saw/heard this going
on it this was the time everyone started getting their hackles high and ears flattened.
They thought maybe something was wrong with the pup yet.. all their beliefs stayed to
their selves, as the mothers said they would try to coax him to be more.. sociable but-
they would not promise anything and were not willing to force him to change simply be-
cause his peers did not approve of him being so quiet.
It was the same story as everyone else with his mothers, they tried to get through to-
him and got no avail so they just gave in. They didn't mind him being so.. caged in and
quiet. Not at all. To them, they were blessed with an obedient and quiet child. They n-
ever saw an issue with it either ! He always did his job and helped his moms as well !-
He never got into any trouble and never had an issue with anyone messing with him-
either. He was just bad at socializing. Overall though the pack enjoyed his company.-
He was a bit.. unsettling but they had everything put back again at the notice that the-
pup was rather.. useful per see. His height and small size was put to great use ! Eve-
ryone honestly liked the pup, soon over looking his ever quiet facade.
It was when Salem was a yearling and had been made a sentinel apprentice that ever-
yone suddenly had gotten hit in the face and saw how.. boarded up he was. The mentor
their self, was worried by Sal's quietness. He never spoke to his mentor, always used-
head nods and shakes. His mentor, despite worried, took it as an opportunity to train
the young xholis well, happy to never have the other complain when they had to re-do-
his routines over and over, being driven to make it perfect. This encouraged his ever-
need to be.. great. Perfect for everyone. It expanded his ideas and concerns almost..
yet he never said a thing about it as long as everyone found him of use. He was over-
joyed to hear how his mentor had been impressed through and through and that she-
must've been lucky to grab a yearling that could stand rigid like a stone and stay like-
such for hours, not to mention he made no sound when moving through thick over-
growth, overall, he was amazing for someone like his age. Though he never seemed
like he was good, no matter how much everyone praised him.
He took up his own personal issues with his mothers, explaining quietly at how he felt-
like everyone was lying to him. They couldn't help to not laugh and call him a foolish pup-
to think that, he was perfect in everything he did ! Obedient, quiet, elite ! They person-
ally praised him right then and there.. yet his mother let her tongue slip, explaining how
to be sure he was needed.. yadayada. She didn't realize how bad she had sounded until-
she saw the look of horror on her son's face, and then she full out stopped and started-
sputtering out apologies. She had messed up- though he just shook his head, said a-
quick goodbye and thanks, and dismissed himself.. and well. After that he was never-
the same.
Sal started apologizing more often and everyone noticed he started pushing himself to-
do more, this unsettled and brought confusion to everyone around. Other yearlings tho-
ught he was trying to be better and show-off, elders saw.. an omen. Ambition. The bad
kind, the kind that would push and make their way to the top by force. They ranted off-
about how he was a bad spirit, destined to send the pack into doom. The signs were ob-
vious, taller then normal and his eyes.. oh his eyes. And his name ! His name had that-
dark feel to it no matter what the meaning. It started first with just the elders and then
everyone brought out their own beliefs with such words, agreeing in a matter of days. He
never heard of this rumor until he eavesdropped in some of the other yearlings chat..-
they were talking too loud anyway.. but he felt torn down, broken. They thought he was-
bad ? This proved him to push himself harder. To breaking point even. He needed to pr-
ove himself no matter what the cost.
His parents brought the issue up when he was alone with them one night, he was a bit-
mystified to hear they knew exactly what was going on, what he was thinking (they cla-
imed it was because of family gems but eh he never had any real thoughts on the topic)
and he could only argue with them, snapping out snotty replies and throwing everything
down into a huge circus act. All it took were a few of his replies before his parents backed
down from the fight, apologizing for doing what they tried to do and leaving without a
word.. he felt horrible after that fact but never went back to apologize and to this very-
day, still debates over whether or not to try and get an apology out. Even though he still-
fought himself to work harder and be better, no matter what his mothers would try to say-
to him.
At the final stage of adulthood, he was made into an official sentinel. He was happy and-
proud but still felt a lack of something.. and it wasn't rank or anything, to him the rank he-
got was the best ever, but he just felt like.. something was off yet he couldn't put a toe on
it so he shrugged it off. He was excited to be a full worker for the pack, and despite eve-
ryone seeming so.. distant from the thought of him being a guard for their camp they still-
cheered the other on. This did somewhat ruin some of his excitement because well.. seeing
looks of distrust really hurt him but he worked with it all. He took the full rank and worked
it as best as he could. He did slightly overwork himself but.. nobody seemed to notice any-
more, its a damn lie that they didn't care because some (like his mothers) would clearly be-
worried of the guard running into things in the middle of the day due to his lack of sleep,-
even some of the elders who would accuse him of being bad fret over him and would urge-
him to sleep when he guarded them. But nobody made a move to change his ways, 's not like
they weren't motivated its just.. they knew they couldn't convince him to do anything, and-
they weren't going to force him to change against his own will. Not like they could do much-
even if they did try that.
Sal lived on well, upholding the expectations for his rank, he hasn't heard many complains-
about him being evil as it seems they trust him now and he has proved himself (many ti-
mes over) to them (but he knows they still have the thoughts of evil with him), and he has-
n't done anything to ruin his title. Nobody has messed with him and he sticks to his self for
most part.. he still does overwork himself and hates letting other people see his weakness-
es and that he might just need some help. If anyone tries to offer help he just shakes his-
head and continues doing what he's doing.. they range from head shakes to the baring of-
fangs, all depends on how much help he really needs. When his mothers passed away he d-
idn't cry in front of everyone, instead waiting until late night duty to sob his eyes out be-
cause that was hard.. real hard.
And yet late that sad night, while still on the job, he realized what he was, had been, mis-
sing. The exact flower he was born under.
Humility.
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salem was born ✦ he grew up as a quiet lad ✦ doubtful of himself ✦ rumors ✦ parents passed ✦ saved someone
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XXOne fine day, a bright and summer one, the sentinel was sitting outside the camp, ears perked high and chin tilted up ever so slightly. He was on guard duty at the moment, eyes wide and alert yet also showing the true need for sleep. He was indeed guarding.. seemingly a frozen red statue, everyone pausing once in awhile to simply stop and stare at him. He was unmoving, chest seeming to have stopped its faint falls and rises. Everyone would show their impression at this, nodding and then trotting off into camp. If it weren't for his gems sparking when he truthfully needed to stop and get a few deep breaths in, many might've thought he fell asleep or something. 'was funny to him to think this.. whoops.
XXA sudden chirp got his eyes to stare upwards, as a small red bird sat in one of the tree branches right above him. Oooo.. bird. He always liked birds.. ever since he was a little child. They often provided him company when nobody else would.. or could rather ! Such pretty petite little beasts. They had hard beaks for mouths and feathers adorned them. And not to mention what melodies they had ! Wonderful creatures. Almost pulling his lips up in the faintest of smiles he wagged his tail around on the ground as the little red bird started to chirp out some soft tunes. It really eased him while on the job... made him worry less for what troubles that could come.
XXHe was so into the soft tunes he didn't realize xholis rushing past him until one ran smack into him, them both toppling over with him on top. Baring his fangs he soon calmed and stared down at the other of his kind, who was wide eyed and clearly tense. " What is going on ? " he asked out in a rather monotone voice, eyes hard and narrowed in thought. " Something bad ! " the other yipped, obviously in a rush to get up. Lifting his head to stare around he snorted before swinging his head to look down at the.. pupsitter, it seemed, from the scent. " No duh, even a blind person could tell that. " he snorted out quietly, yet still moved off of the other, just to tail after them- or the group rather. When something bad happened, everyone was involved no matter what.
XXIt took a matter of seconds of traveling before he knew exactly where they were heading, whether it was the loud.. sounds or tangy smell, or even the ever familiar trail, he didn't know. All he did know was that they were heading down to the rivers.. and by the looks, not the easy parts of it either. The roughest areas where the dark water would swallow you whole if you were't paying attention or experienced with swimming.. he wondered what the fuss was all about ? No moto pack members usually went to the river as they had no need, they had perfectly good water sources then this running thing.
XXWell they reached the rapids rather quickly, his fur bristling. Everyone was worried, it couldn't possibly be what he was thinking right ? Well sadly he could push past everyone due to his tall form and thats exactly what he did and what he saw terrified him.. who could have let this happen ?
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's basically finished
yeah cliffhanger heh
i /might/ add others
yet all thats needed
is there yes yes so
voilà