Howling at the Moon (HM)

[Shellow]

Evorine smirked."Like my name huh? Your isn't to bad it's self." She gave him a little smile and turned to follow him,walking and watching him curiously."So,whats your take on the unfair,drastic,game we try to call life,Beta?" She questioned bluntly.She observed her forest suroundings,the trees dead and dry from the artic-like weather.The winter season always took it's toll on the forests.She turned to look at Deter smiling just a bit.

[Trick]

Burk laughed as he slid around on the ice some more. "Yes it's safe! It only gets risky when the snow starts melting." Burk replied as he started spinning in circles with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. Burk smiled as he slid his way over to Rose as she fell flat on her stomach. "You've got to keep your balance! Your legs need to stay up and flat. Lucky for you you're small and that makes it just a little bit easier then how us tall guys have it! Probably makes you so much faster too! Wow! We should race sometime!" Burk wagged his tail faster and faster with each word. His day was getting better by the minute. "Come on, just follow me and I'll walk you through it. One step forward and plant firmly." Burk instructed as he took one paw and placed it forward and then down onto the ice without slipping. Once he taught her how they could race!

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Deter flashed her a smile at her compliment before he smirked towards her question. Life? What was his take on the game called life? He had always held strong opinions and never really changed them and life was never really an important thought to him. "This dangerous game we play knows how to destroy the weak and empower the strong. In my life...in the pack's life we live on because we're strong and we look out for each other. Our bond is the most important thing we could have next to skill in fighting. That's where I come in. I'm the pack's main warrior next to Shu. When there's trouble I get called in and I make it regret ever showing up in the first place. Life is unfair though and we all know it. Sometimes it's too hard for even the toughest...everyone has their weaknesses..." Deter trailed off as his eyes flew towards the ground. He didn't like weaknesses but he knew everyone had them. What was his though? Too much pride, craving for power, hardheaded or was it simply because he was lonely as much as Shuin was? Sheela had shown interest and they had always flirted back and forth but they both knew they weren't meant to be. Shuin was to prideful and stubborn and Sheela was...well Sheela.

[Horse-girl123]

Rose sighed softly as she pulled herself back up. After regaining her balance on the slippery footing she watched Burk, copying his every move. Once she got the hang of it she jogged a few steps, letting herself slide across the ice. "What are you saying that I'm short?" Rose teased as she picked up the pace. As soon as she felt comfortable enough she launched herself across the pond, sliding a good distance. "Ain't bad eh?" She called out as she glided over to Burk effortlessly, bumping into him playfully as Rose skidded to a halt. “Are you sure you wanna take me on? I'm a fast learner,” Rose joked with a large smile spread across her face.“Oh and Burk, thank you so much for coming with me. I really needed a friend..... And by the looks of it you will be my only one. The pack doesn't like me, Deter hates me the most....”

[Shellow]

Evorine looked at him,and saw his angst-ridden face when he mentioned weaknesses.She thought,"Is this guy to proud for his own good?"She frowned and shook her furry head,no,she had just met him.She couldn't judge someone before she knew them very well.But,her personality traits caused her to jump to unlogical conclusions,and ideas.This guy seemed to want to out do everyone,but she could understand that.You couldn't let yourself be too nice and sweet out here im this pack life structure.She sighed,and turned to look at his face,"So,where to now Beta?" She hoped,he knew that she knew his name,she just liked to call him Beta because it was a logical pet-name sort of thing.She nodded to her self,surely he didn't think she didn't know his name."Am I going to have the pleasure of meeting the rest of the pack soon?"She smirked,as she questioned him almost sarcastically.

[Trick]

Burk laughed and shook his head. "Naaaaw you're not short...just hieght challenged." With that joke he laughed even harder until his ribs started to hurt. "Very good! You'll get the hang of this in no time and we could race around the pond! It's also good for escaping things that might want to do you harm...like bears. They can't slide on the ice very well...might want to keep that in mind." Burk said and shuddered a little at some past memories. "Good, the faster you learn the better." Burk smiled as he slid circles around Rose with ease. He slid to a stop when he heard her words and frowned. "The pack just doesn't know you yet. We haven't had anyone new join in for generations. Deter...Deter is just Deter. He's always like that really...but he'd risk his own life for a packmembers'...even yours now. He saved me a bunch of times even when I know I annoyed him in some way. Shu...now Shu is a bit different. He has to get to know you before he's more open and friendly to you. He doesn't really know you right now but he must have liked what he saw to let you in the pack." Burk smiled and wagged his tail. "I'm kinda glad he did really because now you're my new bestest friend!"

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Deter gave a light smile as she pulled him out of his thoughts. She kept calling him Beta even though she had complimented his name. He pondered over that for a few seconds before he let that drop. He decided she could call him whatever she felt like as long as it wasn't insulting to him. Now where would they go? Well they had to check out the rest of the territory before they went to the dens. "Well first we finish the patrol and then we'll go to the dens and meet the others. You're supposed to learn this land as Shuin always says." Shuin smirked but he knew Shuin was right. Knowing the land was the best thing any wolf could learn at first. "As soon as we go one full circle we'--" Deter froze in place and his hair went ridgid. His nose rose up into the air as he started taking in the scents and a new foriegn one that lignered on just the edge of their territory. Deter rushed to the spot as silent as silent can be and started sniffing along the ground. "Male...an hour old...never crossed the border but he found our scents all right. He took off the other way as fast as he could according to his tracks. I don't like this at all. Shuin needs to the know and he'll want to gather the pack up. Looks like you get your meeting first after all. Follow me and please try and keep up." Deter's voice was calm and serious but his body language spoke of worrys and anger. "Did...I just say please?" Deter pondered over in his head before she shook it out and took off towards camp. The day just got better and better.

[Horse-girl123]

Rose smiled halfheartedly, not believing Burk though she didn't let him see that. Trying to avoid eye contact with Burk, she glided out farther onto the lake. The ice had a thin layer of snow covering it, leaving her paw prints behind. Rose sighed softly, as she glided along slowly, trying to keep her distance from Burk. She didn't want him to see her upset.

[Shellow]

Evorine looked at Deter,he was worried,he tried to hide it.But,she could very well see through his act,she had gotten good at picking up body language over the years.But,she herself,was very overwhelmed,with the news of a possible rogue male.She would have not of been so stressed,had it been a female,but males scared her for some weird reason.She did not even try to hide her emotions,then she got some very familiar feelings at the mention of meeting the pack.Her confined,lonely,angsty,feelings started to push and claw their way up into her mind,knawing at her thoughts and feelings.She sighed,"I can keep up..."Her voice managed to speak,it was weak in a way."Pull yourself together!,"She scolded herself angrily,"Stop acting like fool!You can not show weakness,you are in this now,stop!"She told her self those harsh words very sharply,and shook her head,as if trying to shake the thoughts away.Then quickly started after him...

[Trick]

Burk watched Rose attempt a smile and slid off. Burk noticed something was off about her now. Had he said something bad? Was it even something he said? What did he do wrong? Did he offend his new bestest friend?! He couldn't do that! Burk along with Shuin were the ones in the group who could read people easily. Why Burk, no one really knew but he could do it as if it was second nature. He slid up beside Rose and maintained his speed to match hers.

"What's wrong Rose? Was it something I said? I didn't mean it to offend! I'm so sorry if it was me!" Burk frowned, ashamed at whatever fault he was at for offending his newest buddy. Burk didn't have a single mean bone in his body and to offend someone, especially a pack member and friend, was something that horrified him to his core. He had to make it up to her! Maybe if he showed her some more spots? Maybe where the alpha hangs out, it was a beautiful view after all! Maybe if he showed her his hideaway? Yes, yes, his hideaway was perfect! She'd have to follow him out a bit of ways but it'd be worth it he was sure.

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Deter raced through the forest as fast as his legs could carry him. He bounded through the snow, weaved through trees and jumped over fallen trees in his way. The importance of his information was on the highest of alerts the pack had. A rogue male was bad to deal with but...there was something off about what the rogue had done. Instead of heading into their territory it had taken off at full speed the other direction. Had it smartened up and left? Why the rush to leave then? It could have just walked away or in some other direction without fear. It had left at full speed and that's what troubled Deter imensely. His past experience shouted something he didn't want to listen to. "A scout...a scout means a pack...a pack means danger to our pack. If it's a fight they want, a fight is what they're going to get." Deter growled in his head, pumping himself up for something that might not even be true. At this speed it took a little while but they managed to get to the dens in good time.

The dens were several caves carved out in the side of snowy topped mountain. The caves were naturally formed and stayed at a warm temp through the winter and cool during the summers. It was an intricate tunneling system that connected all five caves to one inner sanctum that was big enough to hold fifty wolves or more. With their natural night vision, these tunnels were lit up as if the sun was shining its way throughout it all. As Deter and Evorine arrived, Sheela padded her way out on of the cave entrances and froze in her place as her hair started standing up.

"What is this...another one?" She asked harshly.

"Hold your tone before I make you." Deter growled in response causing Sheela to take a step back. She frowned as she eyed the new wolf but listened to Deter and changed posture to a relaxed one. It took her a few minutes before she read Deter's body language and knew something was wrong. "Sheela, this is Evorine, the better new wolf then that tiny fluff ball we let in earlier." Deter nodded his head towards Evorine before his eyes searched the entrances to each of the caves to see if anyone else was around. Sheela stared at Evorine and managed to give a light smile and a nod of respect before she caught Deter's eyes.

"No, I'm the only one home right now. Bella and Winder are off probably frolicking through the trees and giggling or something. Burk is probably off exploring and Shu went to the cougar dens." Sheela informed him and braced for his response.

"You let him go alone! You know you cant trust those cats!" Deter snarled and let out a strained breath of air that spoke of holding back much more anger.

"He told me he needed to go alone on this one, alpha's orders. He also told me to tell you to calm down and not worry over him...and...something of have her home before sundown? He laughed at that and I was confused be--...ooooooh." Sheela smiled as she looked at Evorine to finally piece it all together. Her smile widened as her mind worked further to what Shuin had seen of Deter and she was liking it already. "You know what Evorine? I like you, welcome to the pack." Sheela's smile never left her maw as Deter turned away from Sheela and howled up into the air. A howl that would carry throughout their territory and then some. The howl that read for the alpha to come immediately. This howl often brought the other pack members out of curiosity as well.

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The paths to the cougar dens were often dangerous to normal animals. Sheer cliff drops, crumbling rocks and gaps in the path could spell the end for any animal. Cougars were built for agility and speed and could navigate the most treacherous of paths and it made sense that they'd pick the most dangerous to stake claim to a home. A cave system like their own high up in the mountains. In truth they shared the same mountain, the wolves on the bottom and the cougars near the top. Neither camp could kick the other out so they had a truce. A truce that was broken by a starving cougar that tried taking their kill. Shuin didn't care how starving they were, they were not going to poach food from his own pack. As he leapt over a gap in the path a growl reached his ears. He looked up the side of a mountain to see a cougar glaring down at him. "A sentry." Shuin mumbled under his breath before he cleared his throat in the frigid air. "I'm here to see the queen in peace. I've come alone and am no threat to your camp." Shuin announced and waited for a response.

"The queen will be notified shortly. Remain where you are or you will be removed forcefully...better yet, why don't you try something? That's more fun." The cougar smiled with sharp blood stained teeth. Shuin rolled his eyes and sat on the pathway before a voice from behind the sentry called out. The sentry sighed and gave a nod to Shuin and disappeared from sight. Shuin smirked as he stood back up and made his way up the final feet of the pathway before his feet hit a flat surface instead of an inclined path. The ice covered dirt led him to the cougar camp and dens. His body language held true to that of a proud and strong alpha but in his mind it was slightly afraid. Never had he seen so many cougar in one spot before. It was clear they had new additions since the last time he had visited the camp. Cougar lay around the camp lazy and content until their eyes met his and their bodies froze and went ridged. The sentry from before walked over to him and matched his pace.

"You sure you don't want to try something alpha? We could have so much fun and some of us haven't eaten in a while. Surely a strong alpha like you could take us weak kitty cats on any day and win right?" The sentry taunted and laughed out loud. The rest of the camp joined in and laughed along with the sentry. Getting no reaction from Shuin who seemed calm and relaxed, the sentry grumbled and walked away. Shuin stopped midway towards the dens and sat down. He knew the rules that applied to such visits. The queen followed by two escorts pridefully made her way towards the alpha and sat down a few feet in front of him. She held herself up like something in royalty and according to the camp and number of subjects, she was. Her voice was calm and held the same kind of authority Shuin's had always held.

"What do you wish of me Shuin? Is it not bad enough we have to find food miles away from our own territory? Have you come to set more limits on us?" The queen questioned with a cautious look.

"No I have not Mera, I've come on a different matter." Shuin replied and locked eyes with one of her guards.

"You are to refer to her as 'My Queen' mutt, before I rip out your tongue and feed it too the crows!" The guard hissed back.

"Now now, hold your temper. Shuin has come with respect and we must treat him the same way. After all I'm calling him by name too am I not?" Mera questioned and watched as the guard backed down and sighed.

"Thank you Mera. I've come because we caught a cougar poaching on our territory. He was underweight but still strong and capable of killing. After trying to steal our kill, he attacked me and we fought to the death. You can see who came out of that one." Shuin replied and held back a flinch as all eyes fell upon his claw wound. The queen looked to be in deep thought before she nodded and sighed.

"That would be Editch. Editch was one we cast out for not bowing down to my royal status. He was told to leave this territory at once but it seems he didn't listen to that either. You've done us a favor Shuin, thank you." The queen bowed her head in respect and watched Shuin closely. Shuin pondered over this thought again and took her word on this one.

"Thank you for not breaking the truce. Next time, I'd make sure your guards run another outcast out fully. We are not your personal executors. Though I must say as a parting thought, I never thought to see so many cougar in one spot. Don't your species tend to want to live alone?" Shuin asked and saw all the smirks and toothy grins in the camp. The queen grinned at such an observation and even let out a light chuckle.

"When one must survive, one does what they must. In this case, it's either learn how to live together and be under my authority and survive, or go out on your own and die. Editch learned that lesson on his own, but we on the other hand...we continue to live and strive. Look around you Shuin and see the full bellies and blood stained teeth. We have managed to find food even with your rules and we are still alive and growing. Is this all the alpha wishes to speak to me about?" Mera asked and looked like she was growing bored. Shuin smirked and bowed his head in respect.

"Yes, this is all the alpha wished to speak to the queen about." Shuin replied and turned around in time for his ears to perk up as Deter's howl rang throughout the camp.

"Sounds like your beta needs you. Until we talk again Shuin, take care." There was a hint or sarcasm in her voice as she turned around and walked back into the den.

"Deter?! That mutt! If I run across him again I'm going to tear him to pieces. You tell him that if he wants to go another round then I'll be waiting for him anytime, anywhere! You tell him that alpha!" One of the cougars in the camp growled as his eyes filled with anger. Part of his ear had a bite mark and half his tail was missing. Shuin only flashed his pearly whites back at him as he gave a taunting smile before he raced down the pathway to see what was so important. Deter was probably just worried, that was all...or was that hint of worry in the howl about something else? Shuin could only wonder as he made his way back to camp.

((*cough*...soo I got a little carried away...heh...sorry about that. It's part of the story though so ya...))

[Horse-girl123]

“Its okay Burk, you didn't do anything.” Rose barked softly, looking up at Burk kindly. “I'm fine hun, you didn't do anything.” She muttered quietly as the glided across the pond. Wanting to be able to move on. “How far from the dens are we? I want to get back before sun down.” She asked, wanting to be able explore some more before night fall. Just thinking of sleep made Rose exhausted, she hadn't had a good sleep in a long time.

((Just a little?))

[Shellow]

Evorine had flinched at the female's sharp words,but then her muscles slackened when she welcomed her.This situation was worring her deeply,the rogue males doings were unfamilar with wolf behavier,most rogues would have tried to take a kill,or challenge.The snow had started to fall steadily,filling in the paw prints of all the wolves.And,making a layer of white fluff on her creamy fur.Then Deter let out signal howl...It worried her to see him this worried himself...

((Bad post,sorry.... :'())