இ۵Ŗace Ågainst ₦atureஇ۵

[Khaleesi Stormborn]

~~..: Azaria::.5 years.::Pup/hunter in training.::sleeping:..~~


~~..:Lokia.::45 Years.::Loner.:: alone:..~~

She hummed happily to herself as she ripped at the dead animal, she was quite happy with herself and the flesh was quite filling. She was in mid bite when someone started yelling at her. She blinked lifting her head from her meal she stared at the pup. She ran her tongue about her maw and stared silently for a second, her shattered confused mind trying to decide if the pup was real or if it was just a figment. Though looking over the young females markings she was quite certain this was not one of her former pack mates screaming at her. She flicked her ears back and licked her face again. "Really, I do not see anyone's name on it, She said cheerily as she dove her head back in and grabbed another piece, chewing as she spoke next. "I see now issue, I am one, old scrawny lone wolf, I won't eat much, no worries no worries, silly pup, go on along now, let me eat the best meal i've had in ages in peace, Her voice cheery and warm as she continued eating.

[Soriams]

((Bah, I got two horses and a rat... Or maybe one of them is a pony? I can't tell the difference anymore. I hope this like, backtracking conversation thing isn't too confusing, but I think it will work out in the end.))

Ahote
Male | 46 | Fighter
>>>–––———<•>———–––<<<

Chewing contentedly, Ahote listened to Hrafn's words as he admired the feas of the pack, inwardly quite amused by the whole thing. Of course, he respected all of them, and had worked closely with them for quite some time and to hear this newcomer's assessment on pelt color was rather entertaining. It had been a long time since he was the outsider looking in and the perspective was refreshing. Shaking his head, he looked over towards the raven-colored brute. "They are all lovely to say the least... All strong, capable and beautiful," he replied a bit flatly, wondering just what the sleeping Xani would have to say about this conversation. None of the wolves mentioned were the type to take well to such flattery, least of all the new Beta, or so he thought anyway. Far from the debonaire ways of Hrafn, Ahote simply treated all his pack-mates with respect, feeling that trust and kindness were more important than personability. While that brought him some small amount of regard, at the same time, it had pretty much assured that he never found a mate. Perhaps that same humility made him seem withdrawn or even cold at times, but nonetheless it was who he was.

Seeing Lani approach, Ahote nodded to her, snorting out a laugh at Hrafn's commentary. "Just be careful what you hunt for, because you might just catch it," he replied cryptically, thinking of poor Attican's plight with the white hunter. At the same time though, the thought of Lani fawning over Hrafn in that way made him laugh again. There was no doubt that if there were one fea in the pack who could dish out just as much as she got, it was Lani, and if Hrafn was half the flirt he seemed to be, he would quickly be in over his head with that one. Come to think of it, the two were perfect for each other, and Ahote made a mental note to mention that to Attican later. Perhaps he could pawn her off on him for awhile.

At the mention of food, Kona bounded off happily through the snow, and Ahote watched her go. It was always good to see one her age happy, instead of running for their lives. That sobering thought brought on his inspection of the pack before him and his eventual question about Pippa. Hrafn's somber respone makes him look back to the dark wolf, studying him with worried eyes. "Oh... I... When did this happen?" he said, fumbling for words. After all that Resin had done to ensure her safety, it seemed a cruel fate that she should be taken so soon. Shaking his head, he looked down at his bloodied paws. Ahote had never been particularly close to the ancient wolf, as both her age and the way she spoke unsettled him. However, that fact only made him feel more guilty, as though he hadn't cared enough. That would explain Attican's despondent mood, even after the hunt. He knew that the Keeper had looked up to her, as a mentor and friend, and he now fears that his ignorance may have only deepened the hurt. "We have all lost so much... The ancestors seem to be eager to take us all," Ahote mumbled as some of that hollowness returned to him.

[Apocalyptic_Punk]

Isis
{{Fae||fighter||36||W/Resin||

Once she fell silent it was as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her soul. For so long she'd carried that darkness inside of her. For so long she'd lived in the shadow of the nightmares of What Drago had done. She blinked in surprise at the tender caress, she leaned into it, her eyes sliding closed, her heart ached, but it was the ache of finally mourning, not keeping everything locked up. At Resin's words she tilted her head to the side before nodding in agreement, It was the name of one of our first ancestors, She responded softly before listening further to Resin's words. She nodded slowly, knowing and feeling the truth behind her words, she was home, she may not be blood kin to any of the wolves here in this pack. But this was now her family.

Resin's next words though sent her reeling, her yellows eyes widened in shock at the words. Her face crumpled as she thought rapidly my child is alive, he's alive..but how, Drago took him...Drago took him and raised him, how could he not be like that monster how? She screamed internally. She blinked rapidly her chest moving rapidly as she took deep breaths. The young brute who had joined them at the river, so pale grey he was almost white, with a slash of black across his shoulders and back. She blinked the image of the small almost white pup curled against her side. Her head lifted and she scrambled to her feet moving quickly she exited the cave.

How could the pup have survived 14 years with Drago and not be damaged some how, could he be a threat to the pack, would she have to kill her own son. But Pippa had said, he was safe, he was not like Drago....was it possible that her son, had held onto the goodness of the highrealm? So many questions, but they could only be answered by the pup himself.



Mirage
{{Brute||Omega||10|| resting|}}

Kuolema
{{Brute||Loner/fighter||14||resting

[Resin]

Hrafn- Male Hunter- 46 Summers

Xani stirred beside him, catching his attention momentarily. She seemed to be dreaming about something. What, he wondered. Was she chasing prey? Reliving her pup years? A small smile formed as she pressed herself against his side and settled. Again he rejoiced with the physical contact. He had missed it so.

Ahote's remark was true, but his tone was a bit off. Casting a glance towards the lighter wolf, he arched one black brow. "Don't get me wrong. I realize that they're all of those things and I wouldn't dream of disrespecting them intentionally." A flake of snow tickled his nose and he huffed lightly. "I've been on my own for so long. I haven't even seen another Great Wolf in years and years let alone a female. Being with this pack is purely amazing. This pack feels like home. I'm simply appreciative of everything that it has to offer." He wasn't sure how else to put it.

He went silent for a time, then upon answering the question about Pipaluk and hearing Ahote's response, Hrafn nodded. "It does seem that they're out to take us all. She had a gift. Perhaps they needed to make use of it. I imagine she's watching over us all now." At least he hoped she was. They needed all the guidance and protection that they could get. A cold wind blew from the North and Hrafn took it as an ill omen. What could possibly happen now?

Resin- Alpha Female- 40 Summers

Gingerly and with great care, she made her way through the sleeping and chatting throng of wolves, passing Lani on the way. She nodded to the white female and slid through the caves passage and into the open air. A blast of chill air hit her wound full force and she grimaced, but made no sound. After all, Ahote and Hrafn were resting there and she didn't wish to appear weak.

Plastering on a friendly enough smile, she greeted the pair. "Hello, boys." Only then did she realize that Xani was curled up beside the massive black male, her lighter coat looking white in contrast. The smile turned genuine and she 'hmmphd' to herself. An interesting situation. One that she was happy about. If Xani could connect with someone, perhaps she'd feel more comfortable in her own coat. Even if she was just using Hrafn for warmth, the physical contact that she allowed herself was a big step for the Beta.

Since the pair of brutes seemed to be conversing, she continued forward, moving away from the den and out into the thicker trees to relieve herself. Once finished, voices caught her black ears and she flicked them forward, enhancing the volume. The wound had made her left shoulder and leg stiff, so she wasn't able to reach the voices in a hurry. Instead she moved off at a quick limp, heading in the direction of the voices.

The smell of the kill pile greeted her before she even saw it. Breaking from the trees, the large dark Alpha saw Kona, the firey young pup, bristled and warning off a white and grey female. Moving up beside the black pup to give her a sense of safety, she fixed her yellow gaze upon the wolf that was filling her stomach with their kill. "The pup is right. This is our kill. It's customary to ask before eating the food of others. I know you smelled us. There are markings all around here."

She didn't mind that the food was being eaten. There was more where that came from. It was the principle of the matter. "You're welcome to it this time, but next time ask. Any wolf is welcome to anything that we have in abundance so there's no need to sneak around." Seating herself more for the sake of her shoulder than anything, she curled her black tail about her large paws. "I am Resin. Alpha of the Scarpaw pack. Who might you be?"

[Khaleesi Stormborn]

~~..: Azaria::.5 years.::Pup/hunter in training.::Sleeping:..~~


~~..:Lokia.::45 Years.::Loner.:: alone:..~~

Loki sighed flicking her ears back as she slowly stood up, shaking out her coat she turned and looked at the Alpha female. She blinked studying both of the wolves narrowing her eyes as she did so. She tilted her head and let out a long drawn out sigh. I am currently trying to decide if you are real, or a figment of my mind," She paused studying Resin. You do look an awful lot like one little pup, that used to ask a lot of questions, She shook her head and sat down, wrapping her own tail around her own paws as she continued looking at Resin, was it, was that what she called herself. That definitly had not been that annoying little pups names. Well no never you mind, you are definitly not Kanaili," She mused still lost in her own thoughts.

It took a few more seconds for her to catch up with and realize that she'd been questioned. Ah, I am but an old wolf, who has survived on birds and mice for the better part of her life, I am of no danger to you or your... She sniffed the air. According to my nose, its quite a pack, but like I said I am no Danger, I was Named Lokia of the Seven Streams, I was to be Keeper, but their all ghosts now...just old me, all alone." She grinned slightly. So you and your young friend here will not worry yer silly heads I will take just one more bite and be on my way,

[BlackJaguar]

{{ *Crawls out of the dark recesses of a dark pit all dirty and scuffed up* "I made it.. I finally made it!!"

Ah man guys. I actually AM alive. First off, I've come home from travelling from my college for winter break. Travelling was brutal as we went actually by car and the temps from the place I came were around -9 and dicey with wind and ice. Also (slightly ironic actually that this came up as I was gone), I am a professional dancer (over 16 years in total) and during this time I've been on back-to-back performances of the Nutcracker as well as dress/tech rehearsals. I've only managed to log in for truly minutes at a time, just enough to grab whatever event pets for the day and spy a glimpse on how much I've needed to catch up on here. Only 4 more performances to go this weekend, but being as they are spread out I should be just fine to post.

The good news is that I have all caught up now and like I said things should be decently settled now. I've got a lot to catch up in my writing so I'll try my best to cover everything - although I might end up glimmering over some parts for simple ease of reading/writing. SO glad to be back though, I've missed this and everyone here a lot!}}

Pilot

32 - Fae - Straggler/No Rank

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Pilot's eyes widened at the sheer ferocity of the Alpha as she suddenly turned and charged at a sprinting female. There was a huge scuffle and lots of growling and before the blonde newcomer could hardly blink, the targeted wolf had been killed before everyone's eyes. Not knowing the history of the sickness or exactly what was going on, it was only natural for fear to suddenly surge through the fae at the sudden display. What kind of pack was this if they'd turn on their own so visciously that they murdered one of their very own?? Not many wolves even seemed that phased... Were all packs like this? If so, Pilot was having serious second thoughts upon staying.

Even as she looked for a way to escape, her eyes came to lay on the Alpha again. Just having gotten through with her fit, she had rushed up to a rusty reddish brute and was sniffing him all over. Again the abrupt actions caused confusion to Pilot, making it very hard for herself to figure on anything that was going on. It appeared that she had come at a rather pretentious time. Quickly Resin made the call that everyone was to move and despite her thoughts, the fae's feet walked her forwards with them.

She walked slowly, making her way into the last third or so of the throng of wolves as they marched. Many individuals heads were down, especially as they passed the broken and still body of the one that was killed. The wolfess turned her head away too as she made her way past, but even as she did a strong odor wafted over her nose. Something about it wasn't.. right. Not healthy. Her nose wrinkled, trying to expel the bad scent out of her nostrils. Her mind thought, still confused over the whole thing.

Wait, was this perhaps what that one wolf had been speaking about? Even as she thought about it, Pilot's eyes scanned for Xani, the wolfess that had found her. When she first came up to her she had asked if Pilot had been bit recently, and then after she had told her 'no,' had gone into some short detail about some crazed wolves that the Pack had recently encountered. Maybe this was the reason for the commotion. Although still confusing, some of the puzzle pieces started to come together in the female's head as she still searched. If that other wolf had been sick, perhaps the Alpha's actions were only a way of protecting herself and everyone else. Perhaps it had been warranted. It would make more sense as to why she also had ended up checking so abruptly the ruddy male.

Finally Pilot's eyes found Xani, seeing that she was currently talking to the one massive black brute about something. She hadn't actually caught his name when they were in the circle. Drat. She couldn't interrupt her now. She looked to either side of her, a few wolves walking in close distance. Plucking up some courage she finally willed herself to speak with one of them, asking about what had taken place and more just overall about the Pack.

...

Time passed and the other wolf seemed conversational enough to clue in the newest female on things that she hadn't known about. She was told more on the Pack's history and where and why they had begun their move, and also some of the more interesting tidbits about their journey. She learned about Ash and a few others that had already passed on, as well as some of the personalities of some of the higher members in the group. Most importantly she learned of the reasons for Resin's actions to the one dead wolf, nodding her head to the words. It was sad, but now that she knew the history she understood the reasons behind it and knew that it really had had to be done.

The two talked for some time afterwards, Pilot too sharing things about her history and rearing. Overall the simple chatter helped pass away the time as they walked, as well drown out most anxieties the female had about the Pack. It was still daunting, but packlife didn't seem as impossible as before. Finally it appeared that the mass group had made it to their destination, Resin halting everyone in their tracks. As she disappeared to what appeared a small opening in the earth, many wolves chattered amongst themselves to where the Alpha many have gone, Pilot included with her new talking partner. Quickly she resurfaced not much more than a minute later, a bedazzled grin upon her face.

"Oh wow!" Pilot exclaimed as she padded her way into the cave. "Why.. it's like home!" Her eyes scanned every crevice and cranny of the enclosed rock, taking in the delight of it all. While they might have not been as big, Pilot's rearing home was made of caves much like this, dwelling near the edges of where the ice lands met with the great oceans. Even the air inside brought back memories to her childhood. Other wolves came pouring in, one even talking to herself to hear the echoing reverberation of her voice as it came back to her. It made Pilot smile, thinking about how she used to the the very same thing when she was little.

She was just about to share her revelation to her "partner" when the order to go forth in the hunt came by. She turned to say goodbye instead, the other wolf not going to go on the hunt. Pilot herself still wasn't very sure if she had been officially chosen to go, but she had offered her services to run if they needed them, and well, they were still up for offer.

Piper. Piper had been the one she had been speaking with. Rather ironic Pilot thought, the two wolves having close enough names like that. She was a medium-sized grayish wolf, really nothing too special in her looks. But Pilot was thankful for the kinship she had provided and she hoped that when she got back that the other female would still not mind to talk. It'd be very nice to have a friend in such a large group as this. At least someone to stand next to if anything else. Pilot was caught in her thoughts as she walked, finally pulled out of it as the large black brute from before began to speak.

"Got it." She spoke to herself, taking in all the advice and plans that the male had to say. Being on her own for some time had sometimes brought her to talk to herself, usually to reassure her of her own ideas as she travelled. She loped off with the four other runners, one of them being the wolf that had echoed her voice in the cave. She gave a miniature smile to her as they situated themselves, preparing to get the signal to go ahead and start the herd moving.

Waiting. This was the hardest part. Pilot could hear the sounds of the herd just over the small bank of snow that she hid behind. Her paws trembled in anticipation in her spot. The wind seemed to be changing direction with every gust, worrying the female that their prey might catch onto their ambush early, perhaps jeopardizing the entire plan. Thankfully the signal came quick enough though before they were discovered, all five wolves bursting out from their hiding place at one simultaneous moment. Just as suspected the caribou were in complete shock, the entire mass group of perhaps 100+ suddenly trampling their way away from the runners and straight towards the funnel of trees where the other hunters waited in anticipation. She yipped excitedly, joining in their howl as the other runners began to bellow their calls. Never had she been a part of a hunt this big before! Heck, she was a good hunter yes, but even a single downed beast had been a win for her. This, was amazing.

Wind whipped past her as she ran, nipping at the heels of a few that were already straggling behind. Trees began to dot in her peripheral, telling her that they were nearing the area that the other wolves waited. Feeling comfortable enough that they were close proximity now Pilot turned her thoughts from running mode, to hunting. The caribou that she had been nipping at to encourage forward now became her target as a meal. Pilot pulled herself forwards, veering off to the left side of the beast, lining up with its running hock. With a swift lunge she nabbed her jaw around its ankle, stopping the leg from taking another step. The caribou nearly flung itself into the air as it crumpled its way to the ground, no leg for it to kick from. The fae held fast, both still clamped down on the leg as well as managing to dodge the rest of the flailing three. It was just her and the beast now, as the rest of the herd and wolves were just farther ahead.

It took some time for the wolfess to actually bring the beast to its end. Very nearly inching her body as best she could she made a mad dash from her bite on the leg to lunge herself at the throat. It has ended up being a very swift movement, as well as exceedingly effective. After that it was just a waiting game, waiting for the bite to make full purchase and suffocate the creature. While she obviously wanted the caribou as a meal, Pilot was also thoughtful, trying to not cause too much stress or prolonged pain to the creature as it passed. After all, all creatures, at least to her, had some sort of beyond. When she was positive it was done, she released her jaw, the head falling to the ground with a thud. Her breath came in short pants, still catching up from the run. What a blast that had been huh? A smile crept up her face, curious as to how the other wolves had fared. Not wanting to leave her meal behind though she grabbed an antler instead. She would have to simply continue to wonder exactly how many creatures they had managed to fell, right now it was her job to somehow drag this beast back to the cave.

It was slow going. A caribou that large, a great wolf her size, and the decently long upwards trek to the cave all adding to the difficulty. Basically she had to move in short tugging bursts, yanking the literal dead weight up the hill. Many times she paused and took a rest, stretching out her jaw and tongue to relieve some of the pressure. Albeit slowly though, she did end up finally reaching her destination.

Success.

Many other wolves appeared to already have drug their carcasses here to the cave. About 9 or so kills were already being feasted upon, happy and grateful wolves digging greedily into the fresh meals. How long had it been since they all had eaten anyways? That was something that her and Piper hadn't actually talked about. With the thought of the other wolf, she looked around for her talking mate. Try as she might though she couldn't seem to find her. Eh, she was probably already head-deep in a caribou. Shrugging to herself Pilot yipped once to some of the wolves that still remained. There was plenty of food here and honestly even though it had been a day or so since she had eaten her muskox, she wasn't actually that terribly hungry. She smiled as three more wolves came up, sniffing the prey rather precariously.

"I'm new, not evil." Pilot smirked, noting the wariness in their eyes. "Come eat." Her jaw dove into a hindquarter, as if setting some example. It didn't take much more coaxing however, already the three circled around the beast.

Pilot smiled, completely immersed in her new ScarPaw "family."

Attican

73 - Brute - Keeper

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After Resin had left him, Attican took a bit more time to himself before too setting out for the Pack. He looked over the horizon with the sun now in the sky, taking in the gentle smell of the crisp air. During that time however the entire scene with Kira commenced and the orders for the mass group to move were barked out. The Keeper moved at a slow pace, unaware that ScarPaw was now moving at a much faster one, on the trail of a large herd of caribou. One pad in front of the other he walked, mind still brimming with thoughts.

Where exactly did loved ones go once they left their earthen home? It was a question worth thinking about. Sure, yes, they went into their secondary life, but where exactly was that? Did they float around? Or was there a special place for them?

His head still milled with thoughts until he was abruptly awaken by the mass group of footprints at his feet. Wait. He snapped his head up, looking all over. Wait, what.. where did-? This was where the Pack had been, wasn't it?? Attican cursed to himself, prancing out on his feet nervously, shifting his weight from paw to paw. He scanned the ground, looking for any telltale signs. Spying a dark dot near the trees the Keeper ran towards it, hoping to find something to explain the Pack's sudden disappearance. His nose sniffed as he ran, both the footprints direction and the scent telling him the direction they went. But if they had gone, what exactly was over here that had been left behind? Maybe someone had caught a small kill?

Oh god.

No. nononono.. he hadn't been wanting to see something like this. This was a kill, but not the kind the brute had been hoping for. Attican's eyes averted away, the broken body of Kira now frozen and stiff in the snow. More death, more loss. He bit his lip to keep the tears from coming again. It was obvious what had happened, the scuffs in the snow and her physical state telling all that there was to say. The sickness had taken claim to another victim and of course action had to be taken to prevent it from spreading.

"I- I'm so sorry Kira." He spoke to the body, eyes still diverted downwards. "Annu, Pipa, Ash... take care of her."

The large brute turned away, heart once again heavy. Regardless of the sadness and loss it was not a time to dwell, especially since he was still alive and had to play the game of catch-up with the Pack to stay that way. With a final yip of parting, he ran off, legs reaching out with every stride to make up for lost ground. He fell into a steady rhythm as he went, heartbeat and breath all matching up with his feet as they thundered their way across the already pawprinted snow. "Go, go, go.." it seemed to encourage.

It took a while, but over time the Keeper started to make some headway. Wafting scents of the Pack would float past his nose from time to time, only hinting to him all the more that he was catching up. His stomach growled as he ran, but there was not much he could do about that now. "Oh pipe down back there," he mumbled, glancing back for a second at his belly.

The scents continued to get stronger as he went before finally the brute caught his first glance at the receding masses. He had climbed himself uptop a hill, just slightly out of the way of the tracks in hopes of a better view of them or their potential destination. The brute barked excitedly, tail wagging for a moment. It had paid off, he could see them. They were nothing but elongated dots with tails to him, but they were in sight and now he was sure that he would be reunited with them. Taking hardly a moment to breathe the older wolf jumped his way down the hill, newfound energy surging through his veins. "So close," he thought, pulling his weight still-forwards.

Finally. Reunited with his Pack.

With tired-yet-satisfied legs, the Keeper pulled to the back of the group and slowed down to their speeds. A few wolves looked back to him confusedly, more than likely not even noticing that the Elder had been gone for all this time. He lightly nodded his head to them, nostrils flaring as his breathing regulated back to a normal pace. He had made it, reunited back with the group once more. They walked on, carrying themselves to whatever destination that they were headed towards. At the moment he didn't care where it was though, for now he was simply pleased for the companionship of others.

It didn't take long for them to stop however. Resin called everyone to a halt and before really anyone could get a single word in she had already disappeared into what appeared to be a large den. As he waited Attican's mind wandered back to the scene he had recently left, images of their fallen packmember still laying in the snow. No doubt it had been the Alpha who had taken care of it all. He sighed inwardly, knowing that once again, as it had many a time before, the top spot put the female in a very difficult position. He worried for her, not many a wolf could handle as much as life seemed to dish out at her. Even Attican himself, the supposed wise Keeper, too had just recently had his own breakdown. How much was just too much?

He was pulled from his thoughts once more though as Resin once again appeared from the hole. "Just wait until you see this." She exclaimed, yellow eyes wide with what almost appeared to be wonderment. Curiosity filled the brute as they walked forwards, more and more wolves filtering into what appeared to be not that big of a space. Geez, how big WAS it in there?

One by one they shuffled, nearly single-filed as most of all the packmembers squeezed their way inside. Once it came to the Keeper's turn he too pushed his way inside, his eyes widening much like the Alpha's were when she had stepped out. This was not just some old den. To be honest this was nothing like the 73 year old brute had ever seen before in all his years on this planet.

Whoaaa- wha, whoa." he cut himself off, noting the strange feeling of the rocks beneath his feet. Being inside the cave with the dark rock floor added to the steady stream of light actually made the ground a little warm, something that Attican was definitely not used to. To be honest it was almost a little unsettling. "Ehe..." he scoffed, looking around as it appeared the others had made the same discovery as him. Other than the unusualness of the floors however, everything else about the cave seemed great. Large enough for everyone, nooks and crannys to curl into, no wind, and ample enough light to see. Heck, even the warmer floors were something that one could probably get used to. If only they had had something like this back in their original territory all those years.

After a few minutes of everyone exploring, Hrafn too entered the cave. He called for wolves for a hunt, many hopping up and joining him. Ah. Perhaps this was where they were headed. With so many wolves already volunteering themselves Attican sought no reason to go, he padded himself to a darker corner of the cave and watched the group leave, eyes particularly locked up on Resin, Ahote, and Xani. He blinked as they exited, wishing everyone well on their hunt. Hopefully everything would go along without hitch, the Pack on the whole honestly needed a true break.

...

Attican had fallen asleep at some point while most of the wolves were out in their attempt for the herd of caribou. He curled himself into a tight circle and had a dreamless sleep, his mind acting as if it were totally blank. Of course that wasn't the case, but still it was immensely helpful for a recharge after that long dash to catch himself up. The sounds of scuffling feet woke him up, a bleary eye blinking to see what the fuss was about.

"'Are you okay?' 'Oh Resin does it hurt?' 'Oh wow that looks really bad, are you sure that you're alright?"

Many voices chimed in all at once, a huge huddle congregating near the entrance of the stony enclosure. Resin, okay? Bad. Wait, what? What was bad? What looked bad on Resin and why were they asking if she was alright?? Attican lept to his feet, any fogginess from his sleep puffing away in a cloud of smoke in an instant.

The crowd was large and stuffed, no room to be had for him to squeeze in. He could hear the Alphess say something, but what it was he couldn't overhear. He huffed worriedly, tail swishing a few times behind him in nervousness. No, not Resin. Out of all the wolves in this pack Resin was the very last one he could handle losing. Without his "daughter" he would not know what was left to do. He jumped up on his back legs, trying to stand up and overlook the huddle. "Excuse me," he gruffed, back legs dancing to keep himself upright.

To be honest it did look bad. Little blood icicles trailed their way down her dark chest, a tissuey flap of skin and fur completely dangling to the ground. "Oh golden girl.." he murmured, no one hearing him over the buzz that still hummed over the circle. The Alpha once again reassured everyone that she was alright, lightly pushing herself forwards and away from them. For some wolves it was enough for them and they dropped away, still others looked at her rather concernedly. It'd be a lie to say that Attican was not one of them. He pulled back down to his all-fours, amberish eyes trailing the fae as she walked herself to a resting place. The smell of food entered his nose, but as his stomach protested its case for hunger, he couldn't tear his eyes away from that gash.

Disease, broken bones, infection, and slowness all entered his mind. While it all may seem fine for the moment, he would have to watch that injury as it healed. He wanted to go up to her himself and ask about it but refrained. Already so many wolves had barraged her, her answer to him would still be the very same. He sighed inwardly, biting his lip before turning around to the exit. Other wolves could be heard now dragging their kills to the group, many of them already eating. Time to get a meal.

...

After finishing his own portion of a buck and thanking the hunters for their skills, Attican had placed himself just outside of the cave. He sat there for some time, turned inwardly in his thoughts. He did this often as a Keeper, self introspection being one of the best things to keep himself sorted and able to give the best advice, but current events brought him to think all the more. His brows furrowed in concentration. Everyone was stressed and tired. While maybe not as physically, but many if not all carried mental burdens as they had traveled, each event that occurred only adding to the load. As was his job he wanted to relieve some of that. But how?

The Keeper sat in the snow for some time, now staring at his paws. He drifted to look over at one of the trees, watching some of the boughs sway in the light breeze. Hey, maybe that was something. A small smile snuck its way across his muzzle. He walked himself back to the inside of the den, making his way towards the center.

"If anyone would like to hear, I will be telling a story this evening." His words were loud enough to be heard over the expanisve space, yet gentle enough to not cut through the dreams of wolves that had already succumbed to rest. "Come, come," he encouraged, trying to sound cheery, "come gather 'round." He smiled warmly and set his haunches on the floor as others appeared to get settled. He hoped that the simplicity of a good story could help any troubled minds, or at least ease them for a short bit in time as she spoke.

"This cave reminded me of a story of mine that I thought I'd like to share with you."

[Apocalyptic_Punk]

Isis
{{Fae||fighter||36||Alone||

Mirage
{{Brute||Omega||10|| Awake|}}

Mirage had slept for the longest amount of time that the young Omega had slept in weeks. He lifted his head slowly, smacking his jaw open and closed as he yawned widely. He stood up shaking out his fur he then stretched from Fore to aft and shook himself out again. He trotted up out of the cave a bit relived to be free of the pups for the time being. He nodded hello to Ahote, The new Black wolf and Xani who was asleep as he passed them. He could smell the reindeer, and slipped off to the pile of food, digging in he quickly and easily ate his fill before turning to head back to the cave. Just before entering though he heard Attican calling the other wolves to him, to hear the story.

Wagging his tail, he loved hearing Atticans stories. He trotted over quickly and lay down in the snow, using the moment licking at his paws clean of the blood from his meal. He lifted his head gazing at Attican in interest, waiting to here the story.

Kuolema
{{Brute||Loner/fighter||14||resting

[Resin]

((Yay! Glad to have you back, Jag. (: You've been missed. So you're a dancer eh? That's a pretty big accomplishment. If you dance as well as you write, I'm sure you're leagues better than the rest. (:))

Resin- Alpha Female- 40 Summers

The words of the strange lone wolf made her wrinkle her nose slightly, eyes narrowing. "From the look and smell of you, we're of a similar age meaning that you're hardly old." One black ear flicked. "Eat your fill and either stay or go." Latching her teeth into a buck that seemed to have a good deal of meat remaining on it, she motioned for Kona to follow her and drug the meal closer to the den. This was undoing Ahote's work, but she'd rather have the pup close with the strange female about.

Dragging the buck wasn't as easy as it should have been, but she made it happen. Once she was almost to the mouth of the cave, she released the carcass, dropping it's head to the ground with a thunk. Turning to Kona, she smiled and licked the top of the pups head, righting a few rogue furs. "Fill your belly. Gotta keep that strength up so you can grow into a fine fighter some day, right?"

Attican's announcement caught her attention. It seemed that he had a mission to lift everyone's spirits further and she was thankful for it. Already wolves crowded around him, forming a sort of semi-circle with the Keeper a few paces ahead. Each wolf gave him their full attention. Everyone loved Attican's tales, but with the stresses that they'd gone through, there hadn't been much time for them.

Moving stiffly towards the congregation of wolves, she wove through them and deposited herself upon that raised platform of stone at the back of the cave once more. Not only was Azaria still sleeping there, but sitting apart would ensure that her wound wasn't bumped. Something to occupy her mind for a time would be very welcome. The Keeper was close enough to the cave entrance that both Ahote and Hrafn would be able to listen with the rest. Attican had a storytelling voice that carried and she didn't doubt that those still outside the cave would hear him as well.

As Attican waited for everyone to find their seats, she caught his gaze and gave him a loving smile and nod. He hadn't been around for the killing of Kira, the hunt or her injury. The little smile was just her way of reassuring him that everything was ok. She would make a point to talk to him later and catch him up to speed. For now, she was content to listen to his story.

[Soriams]

((Welcome back Jaguar! Sounds like you've had quite the trip as well as quite the busy time performing! Lovely post BTW, I think you really wrapped things up well. Glad to hear Pilot has a friend.))

Ahote
Male | 46 | Fighter
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Ahote sighed softly, looking looking back down at the bone that lay between his feet. At this point, he had gnawed much of the goodness out of it and it seemed old and tired, much the way he felt recently. Did they really all end up with their ancestors when they died? He had always thought of that as a comfort before, to reunite with all the loved ones that had been lost over the years, but right about now he wasn't so sure. Oh, of course it would be good to see Ash again, he had loved him like a brother. But Kira? He's not sure he could even look her in the eye should they ever meet again, even less so the members of his pack he had lost what seems a very long time ago. What of those like Lani and Attican that had lost their mates to time and accident? Lani seemed perfectly happy to move on and find new companionship, but where did that leave them in the afterlife? The thought hurt more than it should of, and Ahote's mind pulled him through it exactly where he didn't want to go. What if a wolf who had lost their mate found a new one who had never had one before? Would the happiness they had together end when they were reunited with their old mate, and the other left alone for eternity?

It was all foolishness, and Ahote shook his head as though trying to shake the thoughts out of his head. It was senseless to dwell on what would happen after death, when there was still life left to be lived. "At least for Attican's sake, I hope so..." Ahote murmured, finally responding to Hrafn's comment after a long moment. Luckily, before he could dwell on it any longer, Resin appeared and graced them both with a smile that could met the hardest heart. Ahote returned it whole-heartedly, feeling a bit relieved to see her up and moving about. Having suffered with more than one wound, he knew that to keep it moving was important, lest it stiffen up and the scar become so tight it wouldn't move.

Watching Resin leave, Ahote's thought turned back to Hrafn's earlier comments about being on his own for a long time, and he turned back to him. "So, you have traveled a long way on your own then?" he asked, gently prodding the male for a story, anything really to move his mind off of Pippa and the death that seemed to overshadow their journey.

It seemed that Attican shared that thought, as not long after the Keeper got to his feet and headed into the cave. Hearing his voice echo inside, Ahote tipped one ear back to listen, curious as to what he would have to say. However, he was unwilling to leave his station and head inside just yet. He still wanted to know more of Hrafn, and Resin was still outside as well. Thus he simply settled himself into the snow licking at what was left of his bone thoughtfully while he listened.

Lani
Female | 57 | Hunter
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The sound of Attican's voice cut through Lani's food induced coma, and she awoke with a snort. Confused at first, she lifted her head and blinked in the dim light, trying to make out what was going on. The Keeper had settled himself directly in the middle of the cave, and now had quite a crowd gathering around him, thus it was an easy leap to assume that he would tell a story. The sight brought a smile to her muzzle, an easy and well-practiced expression for the Hunter, and she got up to her feet to pad closer to him.

Seating herself just to his right, Lani looked at Attican expectantly, doing her best to catch his eye. Times like these, she would often imagine that the Keeper spoke only to her, and she would just sit and melt into his voice. Heck, anything just to feel closer to him really, be it fantasy or otherwise.

From the look on his face, the Keeper had come up with something interesting, and Lani sat in anticipation of a great tale. Had her tail been long enough, she would have wrapped it around her paws like Resin, but as it was she looked more like a fat partridge sitting on its eggs. However, there was not a self-concious bone in her body, and she just looked on with wrapped attention while he spoke.

[Resin]

((Sorry for making this so short. I'm going to a concert tonight and have to dash.))

Hrafn-Male Hunter- 46 Summers

He watched the wolves file into the cave one by one, excitement on their faces. They were all quite happy to be full and safe. Ears perked forward and his attention locked on Resin who, despite her injuries, was dragging a buck back towards the mouth of the cave. The dark pup that had gone to eat was following her. Once Resin dropped the carcass to the ground, she made her way into the den as well.

When Ahote hinted at wanting to know more, Hrafn furrowed his brow momentarily. It had been different telling Xani of his past. He felt a connection with the light colored female who was still sleeping away at his side. Ahote, not so much. Still, he would try to be personable, but he doubted that he'd be able to share his story so completely with the brute.

"I've been on my own for ten or eleven years. I hadn't seen another Great Wolf until I stumbled upon your Alpha. I suppose that's why I was so taken with her." Ears tilted backwards, listening to the echoes of the excited wolves inside. The Keeper telling a story was obviously a welcome distraction for the rest of the pack. He didn't wish to rouse the one beside him, so he would stay put. Besides, the clear voice of the Keeper could still be heard from where they sat and Hrafn planned on giving him his full attention.