இ۵Ŗace Ågainst ₦atureஇ۵

[BlackJaguar]

Attican

73 - Brute - Keeper

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As they walked the sounds and smells of the pack began to emanate stronger, hinting to the small group that they were quickly encroaching on meeting up with them. His maw nearly salivated at any prospects of a meal, but he pushed his hunger aside to help Resin with her vision.

Carefully the Alphess began to delve into her thoughts, appearing to choose her words almost gently and with great care to consider each word. Attican did not look at anyone during this time, falling lightly behind everyone as sometimes his eyes were closed as he mulled over each phrase. What he translated was important, not only did it affect Resin, but essentially it trickled down to every last being currently on this journey as the thing in question was their destination.

As he thought he began to feel extra sensitive to the world around him... the rhythmic constant sounds of his heart beating in the cage of his chest, the real feeling of the snow getting compressed by his paw pads every time he took a step, the fact that one of the wolves (he didn't know who due to his eyes being close, but figured Ahote as he still had yet to really rest from his long catch-up) just yawned.

Attican breathed in laboriously through his black nose as the wheels just spun and spun, weaving potential conclusions. The scent of the pack loomed ever closer and if he wasn't mistaken the Elder figured that they'd be amidst them in just a few short minutes now.

"I believe you." He eventually said, speaking his first phrase to confirm to Resin her recount. "You have been given a gift from our ancestors or spirits in what appears to help give you hopeful drive in a destination to a place that our kind is so desperately in need of. The scents and smells I believe are like indicators to you, something to have so when you come across it you recognize it as something you have 'encountered' before."

The Keeper's humbled voice fell silent again as he mulled around the symbolism of the white trees with the deep red leaves. Here is where his age and wisdom facilitated itself. The color red itself had deep symbolism, for one and probably the strongest thought in a dream such as this it could resemble blood. Yet even the symbolism of blood had different meanings in this case - blood as in the loss of it from wolves? Or the lifeblood of the pack being strong that they now had a bountiful new haven to call their home? Perhaps the leaves were red as an indication that they would finally arrive from their trek in the fall, when leaves changed color and fell from their host branches.

(Not many great wolves ever even knew about deciduous type trees that lost their leaves in the autumnal season. Trees such as that simply could not survive in conditions they dwelled upon, the only trees they knew were coniferous or with pine needles. Even so, those kinds were decently scarce. Every once in a blue moon a wolf may come upon a tree such as the ones the Alphess had in her dream, somehow holding on to life in the harsh cold conditions and growing and shedding its leaves in fall. Attican had seen one only twice, most of his knowledge about these trees essentially only from tales told by previous Keepers of the Past, stories passed down from wolves that had inhabited a different area still than they had lived in.)

Or at any case there was all possibility that the leaves upon the trees were just naturally red, an all too possible potentiality as well.

The Keeper rolled these thoughts around his head, Resin still waiting for his answer. Not wanting to leave out possibilities he finally decided to speak of all of them, sharing with her everything. All the potentialities were delegated carefully by his mouth, making sure to not leave anything out. As he finished his last few phrases the wolves appeared to round the corner, finally meeting up with the pack as they did.

[Soriams]

Ahote
Male | 36 | Fighter
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Ahote enjoyed the warm welcome of his pack-mates, basking in it like one would the return of the sun from the dark nights of winter. He looked first to Attican, smiling to the keeper then to Resin, "Ah, thank you both. I can assure you that you were all missed greatly as well," he replied, a small twist of sarcasm coloring his tone. Though some of the pack might have thought him a coward for it, his hatred of being alone was no secret, especially in the present company. After a few moments of rest, the ex-alpha climbs back onto his sore paws and take a moment to properly greet both the keeper and his alphess, tail swaying gently behind them as he bumped both beneath the chin.

It seemed as though they would be moving on soon, and Ahote didn't bother to sit back down once he was back on his feet, instead he turned his attention to Curse as Resin introduced the fea. "Curse..." he said as though trying out the feel of her name on his mouth, "I am surprised that such a name should follow you, but I suppose none of us chose our own names. Anyway, welcome! I am pleased to meet you as well," Ahote finished, with another little dip of his head. Though in his own mind he may have been disgraced and broken, there was still not an ignoble bone in his body. It was simply his nature to trust until given a reason not to.

After the short introduction, Resin begins speaking once more and Ahote felt a chill cross over him at her mention of the bridge. HIs ears tipped back as he remembered his all-too-recent crossing, and the further thought of the entire pack crossing the structure brought a lump to his throat. "Yes, well, at least we won't be going back that way," he said as Resin rose to her feet as well, shaking his head to chase out the memory. At the mention of mammoth though, he perked up a bit, feeling the hollow pit that is his stomach growl. He had been far too worried about actually finding the pack to feel the hunger that grew inside him, and now the promise of food whet his mouth with anticipation.

For Ahote, all is right with the world at that moment, and he was more than happy to follow as they returned to their southern journey. He let his mind wander, sloughing off the intensity that had carried him throughout his lonely mission in favor of simple companionship. Yet, he was not so insensitive as to not notice that an uncomfortable silence had opened up between the four, filled with a sort of nagging suspense. Growing uncomfortable in it, he nearly said something, anything just to break it, but before he could open his mouth, Resin began to speak. There was a gravity to her voice that made him close his maw with a click, and turn to look at her curiously as she spoke. At first, he didn't understand her words, or why her tone was so serious for something as trivial as a dream, but looking back at Attican, he can see from the Kepper's expression that this is important.

Ahote listened carefully, mulling each of Resin's words through his tired mind and holding onto them, but staying silent, knowing that this conversation is not for him. The talk of dreams and destiny immediately dredges up memories from his past, most specifically of his maternal grandmother who had served as Keeper in his pack when he was a child.

Vividly clear in his mind, he is taken back to a time when he was knee-high to a hare. His pack had lived in a place far inland, where there was true earth beneath their feet in the summer and he lay with his sister in the soft lichen at the foot of his grandmother Elisi, ears flicking as the cloud of flies stirred up from the warm sun nipped at them. It may have been very late, but this was the time of never-ending light, and the sun still hung low in the horizon. She had regaled the pups of stories of far away places and things that hadn't been seen in lifetimes, but her mood seemed to turn serious, and that made them pay attention.

"Dreams," Elisi said, pausing for emphasis until she saw both pairs of yellow eyes trained on her expectantly. "Dreams, my sweet grand-pups, live within all creatures. From deep inside they creep out in our sleep to tell us things about ourselves. Our fears, our hopes, the cycle of life and death all whisper from within, making us see that which the waking eyes cannot," she said, her voice taking on the camber of a storyteller. The grizzled old great wolf was truly ancient even then, and he claws had grown long from disuse, and she used them as scribes, drawing in the dirt as she spoke. Now before them lay a circle, with what seemed to be a star inside, where she had poked at the earth for emphasis. "But sometimes, there are those who will be touched from things far greater than themselves. Their dreams hold a far greater purpose," now adding a long curving line to the diagram, intersecting the circle so it looked like the rising sun. "These are the dreams of the strong, the alphas, the keepers, those who would lead, and those who would destroy, all see things greater than themselves," she finished, drawing a much larger circle around everything.

"As you too will be alphas, you must remember this and heed the words of your ancestors," Elisi said, her aged mind seeming restless and drawn away, and moments later she struggled to her feet, obliterating the drawing with her paws. "If you can understand..."

The warmth of home and that lazy summer crept into Ahote's bones, and somewhere far away he felt himself yawn. Attican was speaking then, and he turned his attention outward once more, twisting his neck to look back on the Keeper who had fallen somewhat behind. Quietly he listened to him, soaking in the wisdom offered in much the same way he had from his grandmother when he was a pup. In all his life, he has never been disappointed in the advice offered by those who Keep the Past. Already the wolf before him has lived as many more summers as his life has spanned, and in the way a pup does, he wonders on the things he must have seen.

When the Keeper finishes, Ahote finds that they have grown close to the pack and thoughts of food and comfort creep into his mind, pushing aside these worries of dreams and fate. He turns back to Resin then, his amber eyes meeting the sulfur yellow of her own orbs for a long moment as though he considered his words. "Resin, I know little of such things, as my life has led me far from the knowledge of a keeper. But I think I speak for all of us when I say we will follow you, dreams or no. Down halls of fire and melting lands, you are our alpha, and we are your pack. We belong together," he said, underscoring the last with an unflappable certainty that seemed to come from deep within.


((Hey, Jaguar! I look forward to RPing with you as well! I was very excited when I saw this RP, and everyone here just seems a perfect fit with my style and muse.))

[Apocalyptic_Punk]

Curse
{{Fae||Straggler||Alone||

Curse gazed at Ahote for several long moments trying to catch and ring something from his words as he spoke to her. When she questioned her name, she chuckled, a rare sound from the normally quite Fae. She felt odd the ease in which she was slowly coming into her own with in this pack. How easily Resin seemed to trust her, the kindness of Attican and now the kind and gentle words of Ahote. "It was not the name I was born with no, but it is the name I carry now," She supplied calmly. "It is a name I earned when I was younger, perhaps I will shed it soon enough," She rolled her shoulders in a sort of almost shrug as they began the short walk back towards the pack.

Her own mind wandering over the words of the Alphaess as she described her dream to them, she sounded much like the old Fae of her original pack, but she'd been insane and none had believed her, but there was one thing that Curse believed in and that was visions from the elders, if her pack had listened to the old Fae, perhaps the Darkness would of not taken them and murdered them in their Sleep. She turned her amber gaze towards Attican to see his response, listening silently her own paws pressing into the snow, feeling the flex of her own muscles. She twisted her ears, as she could now just faintly hear the pack, getting up moving around, she heard a yelp and a snap of teeth, but she was pretty sure no contact had been made. She let out a soft thoughtful humming sound as she complentatited herself what Resin had said.

[Resin]

((Sorry for the late reply. I just got home and it's 3:30am after a long, long day, so I apologize if my skills are lacking.))

Ash-Beta Male-30 Summers

Ash ate and slept. Then ate some more and slept some more. During one of his naps, the pup, River, had crawled away from him. Upon waking, he tracked her down, noting that she was curled up in a ball in the snow. Fearing that she was weak and would freeze, the massive white male picked her up and carried her back to the dugout that he'd made in the snow.

He curled himself around the pup, nestling her against his side at first, but eventually he felt the need to move and pulled her to rest between his forelegs. Still he held her close, giving her warmth by pressing his thickly furred chest against as much of the pup as he could manage.

He thought, torturing the rogue male in his mind. Only the most cowardly sort took their aggression out on those weaker than themselves. The bastard deserved to be hurt or worse. However, it wasn't his place to expel wolves from the group. He would have to wait until his sister returned.

Speak of the Devil, he thought to himself. He could see the form of his sister break into view. Three wolves accompanied her. One was Attican, of course. The other two he wasn't sure of until they meandered closer. Curse and... Ahote? Involuntarily, Ash's tail swished in the snow. Everyone liked Ahote and he was happy to have the male back with the pack.

When Resin approached, she questioned him about the pup. "She was injured by that rogue male, Grimshaw. He bit her pretty badly, but I bit him worse." He showed his canines in a smile, though it slowly sank away. "He needs to be punished. I would have already chased him off or worse, but that wasn't my decision to make." Although, for a moment, he wished he'd had that power.

Resin-Alpha Female-30 Summers

Dark ears flicked this way and that, catching each voice and giving it her full attention. A weight was lifted from her as each spoke of their belief in her. Though Curse said nothing, she had given her word, so Resin wasn't too worried about her silence. She was curious about it, if anything.

When Ahote spoke his kind words of encouragement, the dark female smiled lightly and nodded her head, closing her eyes momentarily. "I didn't doubt you for a second, Ahote." It was true. She placed a great deal of trust in the red tinged male. He had been an alpha and therefore knew the importance of the faith that the pack placed in their leader. If a pack didn't believe in their alpha, things usually went sour fast.

Attican shared his knowledge and Resin nodded several times, relaying that she understood that of which he spoke. She felt that the ancestors were leading her and his affirmation of that was a relief. It all seemed a little crazy when she said it aloud and his words were soothing to her mind. Still, she couldn't bring herself to mention the second vision. Not just yet. Perhaps she would bring it up to Attican when the two were alone, but for now, she didn't wish to alarm the others.

In time they came upon the pack, all laying scattered about in the snow or stuffing their faces on the mostly dismembered mammoth. Resin jerked her muzzle towards the beast. "If you can find anything left, eat up. I have a few things to do."

Taking her leave of her three companions, Resin padded to Ash and was surprised to see River laying between his long front legs. Normally Ash kept himself away from pups just in case he lost himself and attacked. "What's this about? Is she ok?"

After hearing about Grimshaw's actions, Resin's blood boiled. Lowering her muzzle, she inspected River, sniffing for any severe damage. Finding nothing that would have any lasting effects, the big female turned and made her way towards the rogue male.

Grimshaw was laying in the snow when she approached. Rather than attack him as she did before, Resin woke him with a kick of snow onto his sleeping face. Gaining his attention, she fixed him with a dead stare. Her endless yellow pools searing into him. "I do not know what you wish to gain from traveling with this pack...but I do know that if you touch another wolf again, I will kill you." Her voice, though even, brimmed with utter seriousness. "I have killed wolves in the past and if you harm another, you will be no different." The thick black ruff on the back of her neck bristled. "This is my last act of mercy towards you, Grimshaw. Accept it as the gift that it is, for you will not receive another."

Leaving the male with her words hanging in the air, she turned her back on him and made her way towards the carcass, hoping to pick off any bits that she could find. She would need her strength for the next leg of the journey. Tonight they would rest here. Ahote needed a break after running so far. Hopefully she would be able to get some decent rest as well.

[Hannah Elise]

River
4 summers; female grey wolf pup

River felt herself being lifted and carried before being placed down again and someone curled up around her, seeing she was still sleepy River keep her eyes closed for a bit longer. River was moved again and before she could curl up to keep herself warm, a warm furry chest landed on top of her what seemed a long time River flicked her ear slightly at Resin's voice "What's this about? Is she ok?" feeling the movement of the furry chest and a reply River had now figured out that Ash was the one that had picked her up.
Feeling a cold nose touch her then disappeared, Opening her eyes slightly River yawned before moving slowly out from underneath Ash's chest.

Grimshaw
27 year old Male Loner Wolf

Grimshaw felt snow land on his face annoyed he looked up to see the Alpha staring at him and he whimpered slightly at what she might do ... by hearing her serious words Grimshaw thought that the male who attacked him last night was alot worse than her cold, harsh and serious words after awhile Grimshaw watched her leave heading towards the carcass growling slightly he curled himself back up before resting and waiting for the group to move on. Grimshaw started to think 'they should be yelling at the pup for biting me in the first place because truly it was for self defense' well in his eyes it was, flicking his ear he watched the Alpha a bit before going back to sleep.

[Resin]

Ash-Beta Male-30 Summers

Ash watched as his sister spoke to the rogue male. His head tilted in utter confusion as she simply spoke and walked away. He had expected fur to fly. However, seeing the shocked look upon the brutes face caused the big white male to chuckle slightly.

Feeling a stirring against his chest, the giant white male looked down, ears perked forward. River was waking and she pulled herself away from his chest. Pushing his muzzle down against her, he inhaled, scenting for her well being. Puffs of warm air blew against her fur, ruffling it slightly.

"River. Are you alright?" Knowing that the pup would probably be nervous around him, he cleared his throat slightly, his fur bristling a bit. "Resin is near the mammoth if you'd like to go be near her. She'll care for you." He knew that wolves told their pups to stay away from him. It had been going on for years. Most of them were kind enough to tell their pups that he just wasn't a pup person. Others said worse things.

"Stay away from the big white wolf. He'll eat you up. He'll tear you to shreds. He's crazy." Ash had been unfortunate enough to hear things like this on more than one occasion. In truth, he liked pups. He honestly did. However, with his...periodically addled mind, it was safer to stay away from them. If, in his fury, Ash killed a pup, that would be the end of him.

His thoughts had darkened his entire being. Not even waiting for River to crawl away to Resin, Ash rose on his paws and padded away. He would scout a bit on his own. Not only would it help out the pack, but it would give him something to do and distract him from his all too prevalent dark thoughts.

Resin-Alpha Female-30 Summers

The big black and grey female deposited herself into a pre-dug hole in the snow. Bringing her muzzle forward, she latched her teeth into mammoth flesh. It was mostly frozen, but some meat was better than no meat. Here and there she picked off bites. After a while she moved to the beasts head and made short work removing it's mostly untouched trunk. The muscle and tendons within would be beneficial.

Dragging the brown appendage a ways off, she settled down into the snow and began biting and gnawing, effectively filling her stomach. Honestly, she hadn't realized the degree of hunger that she'd reached. Each bite caused her stomach to cheer with happiness. The meat upon the mammoth was mostly gone, so she hoped that everyone else had filled up as well. The journey would start again the next morning.

After eating was no longer a priority, Resin curled up in the snow and watched her pack interact with one another. Some slept. Others played. Some laid off on their own, detached from the rest of the group. Some were stragglers, but others were pack wolves. She wondered if the journey was already straining the patience of some of them. If they managed to last a while longer, it would all be worth it.

Sleep wasn't an option. She'd slept enough the night before, although it hadn't been entirely restful. She feared that she would be plagued with more visions or dark dreams. Every time that she would begin to drift off, her eyes would jerk back open, expecting to see a forest full of fire. Each time she was only greeted by white snow.

Yellow eyes latched onto Ash. His head and tail were drooped as he walked slowly South. She assumed that something was bothering him and he was going off on his own to scout and be alone. Resin let him go. If she followed him every time that something was bothering him, she'd never leave his side. She would never be able to fully understand the mental and emotional stress that constantly hung over her brother, but she was always here if he needed.

[Hannah Elise]

River
4 summers; female grey wolf pup

River blinking looked up at Ash with a new eyes, her mother always said that Ash wasn't to be trusted and others say Ash was crazy and dangerous but River never really believed it. And seeing Ash's caring side that River never thought he had made all those rumors and sayings about him entirely not true, before she could answer his question Ash told her where to find Resin before raising up and started to walk away.

River sat there for a little awhile flicking her ear slightly before bounded after him although Ash was probably scouting ahead River wanted to help in someway ... keeping her distance but close enough so she didn't become lost and could still see Ash's figure.

Grimshaw
27 year old Male Loner Wolf

Asleep

[Soriams]

Ahote
Male | 36 | Fighter
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Ahote smiled in response to Resin's acceptance of his encouraging words, feeling somewhat heartened at her lightened expression. Every Alpha had a burden that few understood, and it was only those on the outside that thought it was a privilege. While it may have been true that an Alpha often received credit for the good fortune of a pack, ultimately every hurt, every ill and pain also fell to their shoulders as well. Such was the weight of the mantle of leadership, and Ahote knew it well. In the years he had known Resin, he had come to trust her implicitly, seeing her for exactly the kind of wolf strong enough to carry her pack through both thick and thin. In his way, he has tried to support her as best he could, a silent partner and supporter of her decisions, as well as an advisor when warranted. In essence, he tried to be the kind of wolf he had always wanted at his side as alpha.

As the four finally closed the distance to the pack, Ahote watched as Resin accepted everything Attican said and slowly turned inward into a thoughtful silence. Quietly, he wondered if there was more that she holding back on, keeping to herself. However, his was not the place to say any more, and he simply hoped that she would speak with the Kepper about it before it began to gnaw her away.

Ahote had caught the scent of the mammoth, and he gratefully accepted Resin's dismissal. His stomach growled at him again, like a pup demanding attention as he made his way towards the kill, tail wagging happily behind him. For the big fighter, such a homecoming was the closest thing to heaven he could hope for, and no matter what other perils befell them, he would happily face them all so long as he could be counted as one of their number. Though many wolves still slept, curled close for warmth in their little hollows, he nodded to each who greeted him, his happiness plain as the smile on his face. Among those few, he saw Resin's brother, Ash, watching from his bed. For him, he stopped and barked out a cheerful greeting, wanting to be certain to include him. He had been in the pack long enough to see the fear in him take hold, and in some way pitied him. As a fighter, he has had to stand between him and the pack. Surely, that was an experience no one wished to repeat as the white wolf was more than a match for him, but at the same time, he understood. Often, he had seen the regret and self loathing in Ash's eyes, and he hurt for him, knowing well the pain of a guilty conscience. The Beta's affliction made him somewhat of an outcast within the pack, and Ahote tried his best to see that he felt included whenever he could. He knew there was nothing he could do to truly help him, but at least he could endeavor to treat him just like everyone else, as though his issues didn't even exist.

None of his greetings lasted very long though, as Ahote was extremely hungry, and the nearby feast was too hard to resist. Quickly getting down to business, he wriggled his way under the thick fur until he found a nice chunk of frozen meat to extract. At first, his sore teeth made him cautious of the hardened food, but soon he found that the icy cold of it actually made his mouth and head feel better, and he managed to extract enough to fill his belly. Taking his prize out into the snow, he laid down and ate until he couldn't possibly eat any more.

Once finished, Ahote lay for awhile, licking the blood from his fur before eventually getting up to shake the ice from his fur. Unfortunately, the whole process turned out to be agony, as his tired joints had locked up in the cold. He found his legs trembling beneath him, and for a long moment he just stood there, head down until he was sure they would hold. Finally he managed to steady himself and look around, using that moment to take a few unsteady steps to reacquaint himself with his forgotten feet. While most of the pack slept, it seemed as though Ash had gone off ahead somewhere, leaving Resin to watch over the pack. Deciding to leave them both in peace, Ahote instead seeks out his fellow fighter, Xani. Hoping for a bit more companionship before sleep over takes him, he would at least like to hear from her perspective how things have gone thus far.

[Resin]

Ash-Beta Male-30 Summers

As they journeyed farther South, game appeared more frequently, although still not enough to feed twenty or so wolves. Every once in a while a snowshoe hare would dart across the tundra and, though he was tempted to have a snack, Ash kept walking. He allowed the large trail that the herd of mammoths had left in their wake to ease his journey. He would suggest that the pack took the same route since the snow was packed down and the resistance was minimal.

A strong gust of wind rushed towards him from behind, bringing with it the muted scents of the pack. One scent stood out among them all and Ash turned just in time to see a dark spot upon the endless expanse of white. He seated himself, curling his tail around his paws. The pup obviously hadn't gone to find his sister. Instead she had followed him. A dangerous move on her part. Not only would her wounds make her an easy target for ice bears or even snow foxes, but she was following an even more dangerous beast. Granted, he didn't possess the strength of an ice bear, but his...affliction was a danger that you never saw coming.

Once he could hear her paws upon the snow, he spoke over his shoulder. "You can come out. No use in walking by yourself now." They had both come too far to turn back towards the pack. "Stick close and if something happens," he was referring to him losing himself, "you run and you hide."

Rising, he started forward again, though his pace was slower. The pup was still injured and he didn't wish to leave her behind. Though he wouldn't admit it aloud, he was glad to have the company. Being alone so often, not just physically alone, but mentally alone, made him feel less than a wolf. Though he was part of a pack and had a loving sister, he was still very much an outcast.

Resin-Alpha Female-30 Summers

Sleep came, but left just as quickly. When she woke, the big female felt slightly agitated. She stalked the perimeter of the camp, counting heads and taking inventory just to keep herself occupied. It seemed that everyone was accounted for except Ash and River.

Resin ferreted out the pups scent and followed it a short ways before stopping and looking off into the distance. Though she couldn't see the pup, she could tell that River had followed Ash. If he could control himself, River would be fine. Ash's fits didn't happen too often, and he'd had one recently, so Resin wasn't expecting another for a while. Still, a dark spot of concern sat huddled in the back of her mind.

Ash needed to feel a sense of trust. She would trust him. He had never harmed a pup in his life. Mothers and fathers warned their children against him as a precautionary measure. And, although Resin didn't approve, she wasn't a tyrant and wouldn't tell wolves how to raise their pups.

Turning, she moved back to the groove that she'd dug in the snow. Depositing herself within it, she huffed loudly, purely dissatisfied. They would begin their journey again in the morning. Though the sun still showed it's face, the moon was up as well and soon would envelop the land in darkness.

[Resin]

Size Comparison Sheet ((I thought this might be helpful when playing.))