Divided We Stand (A Packs Roleplay, OPEN and ACCEPTING)

[-goldleaf-]

A warm hum vibrated in Roans chest with the gentle pressure of Amara's touch, a blossom of affection for the fae blooming in his heart with the fleeting touch. Even though he felt like a mammoth beside her just then, he couldn't help but liken her to Lilu in a sense; for her own touches had always been just as carefully given, yet quite sweet in their own right. A friendly half smile parted his lips as the wolf a few dens down took notice of them, enabling him to catch the suggestion of a doves figure as he blinked and took focus upon the fire-furred fae. "Good morning," he called in return, assuming from Amara's silence that it would be left to him to return the slender fae's greeting. Roan cast an amber-ringed glance to the graywash dove beside him thoughtfully, brows raised in good-natured question as to whether or not she wanted to take company with the dove unknown to him.

((debating about posting for my shore's twins, hmm))

[The Royal Mirage]

((So, I've just finished reading through the thread up until the most recent posts, and think I've sufficiently recapped for myself. Wolves I have free are: Amos in the Northern Mountains, Lia in the wilds near the Northern Mountains, and Aron in the Eastern Shores. Granted, I have to send Aron on a little quest to find Olaf and figure out if he's babysitting Serhilde tonight (lol), but apart from being extremely dirty Amos is free :3 Lia may be a little far out for anyone to come across her, though it's possible she could catch sight of Kirsten at least? She might be a bit further out though, and I'm not sure if I want Lia to be the first to see her))

Goldie - I think Tanga and Nutmeg have been cooped up together this whole time, I'll quote Tanga's last post for you. I'll also be working on finishing the flower language dictionary today

So general recap - it's noon, or around that time, for all the packs. In the shores, everyone should be wrapping up their business soon-ish to start preparing for the party which begins around mid-afternoon. In the forests, Lilu is approaching camp with n'Obi, Ruby and Saber took down a moose but are both injured, Quinn is also injured and bringing a wolvering back to camp with Ashen, and Gemini is planning to stay in camp to look after the injured wolves and greet n'Obi while Clarence goes to help with bringing the moose back to camp. In the Northern Mountains, there's a scouting party out checking the area leading towards the Southern Camp, Tanga brought medicines to Nutmeg and is keeping him company, I admittedly have no idea what's up with Sam and Aspen, and Frey is presumably still asleep. I probably left a ton of holes in that, sorry :s I'll write up a new post later tonight for the rest of my playable characters))

The pixie fae was silent a moment, her gaze shifting between her tiny stilled paws to the moving, weathered greys belonging to Nutmeg, as she let his words process. She had already spoken with Bastian, it would definitely be possible for her to see the Western Forest if she so desired, and maybe she could make plans to visit the Shores as well. It wasn't a whole lot, but it was more than many pack wolves would see in their entire lives, and she had already traveled so far. But even as these thoughts nagged at the forefront of her conscious mind, a tiny part of her seemed to warm with motherly affection at the idea of someday having a grandson, or even a son for that matter. Perhaps it was because she tended to mother her pack - caring for their wounds, looking after them - that Tanga felt such an idealistic wistfulness for motherhood. And yet, she also wished for adventure, excitement. The interests clashed, in her mind at least, and confused the small fae for a moment before she seemed to snap herself out of it. Tucking her silky bangs away from her eyes, the shaman nodded a bit belatedly. "Yes, I think I will. I know the pack would be in good paws with Kael, and there's so much I want to see... and then I can settle down in peace."

[*~WolfSoul~*]

((Got home early from practice, I'll post for Amara as soon as possible.

Also, I just found a stinkbug crawling on my leg, these things have practically made a nest of my house.

And Mirage, if you want to RP Amos, we could split up the Roan/Sera/Amara group one way or another into two groups of two - 4 might be clumping a bit but I'm open for anything, as long as nobody else minds. ))

[-goldleaf-]

((Aspen, Fen, Kirsten, and Bastian are all technically free in the mountains; Fen, Devin, and Nicolette are free at the shores; and I surprisingly just have Lilu in the forests but she isn't free at the moment))

(((Lia can come across Kirsten if you want Mirage, though I'm not sure how they would behave around one another)))

Gnarled paws stilled finally as Nutmeg raised his gentle eyes to Tanga's freckled face. He nodded slowly as she spoke, white-speckled ears flicking absently to the sounds outside of the den of other pack members wakefulness. "A right smart idea yes," he returned easily, nodding, consoled that she would take the advice that he himself had never quite applied to his own life. His still black-tipped tail shifted to curl against his side where he was seated, head tilting downwards just slightly as he surveyed the assorted medicines she had brought, as well as the ones that stayed in his den all the time. "I have always wondered what the other pack lands look like," rough and rumble voice had faded to husky softness with age, "It is perhaps too late for me to see them now though."

[*~WolfSoul~*]

Fleetingly, the lightly-flecked grey of Amara's gaze swept up to meet Roan's glance before swinging her eyes back to the fae before them. As socially exhausted as she was, the thin dove could think of no way around making another acquaintance. Sera's slight sign of submission had Amara inwardly stumbling, however, for she had never been treated so before. Awkwardly, the miniature fae shuffled her paws, hearing the quiet scrape of claw again stone as she did so. With her tail now clamped more firmly in its usual place between her legs and ears lowered timidly, Amara gave a shy but assuring dip of her coal muzzle to the unfamiliar dove. The tiny dent of distress between Amara's soft brows smoothed out as she summoned up whatever courage she could find, "Of course, what do you need?" she asked, voice lilting in its silken softness, crafted to appease and engender calm in others. Though her body language was unmistakably submissive, Amara's face was shy yet still welcoming and open. The only sign of her deep unease with this stranger was the nearly imperceptible buzz of her tense energy, brushing faintly against Roan's pelt as she resisted a shiver in the breeze.

[The Royal Mirage]

((I'm pretty curious actually about what Bastian might think seeing Amos in the mountains, though I'd be happy to have him bounce off Amara again as well. Granted, maybe Amara has had enough of attentive brutes for one day I think I'll steer Lia clear of Kirsten for now, it wouldn't make sense for her to be so close to the pack still anyways))

((So happy to be writing for Tanga again aghhh))

Copper tufted ears flicked to the sides of the tiny fae's head at the near-wistful tone the elder baron used, his hollow voice low and soft as he spoke of the other packs.In that moment Tanga truly felt for the first time how large the gap in their ages seemed to be, seeming to take in the age that had always been visually apparent yet never quite obvious to her emotions. Nutmeg had always been a figure she felt she could relate to, he was kind and companionable, but had a sense of humor and wit that surpassed many of the younger pack members easily. It had never dawned on her so obviously as it did just then that Nutmeg was.. well, very old. Sure, she knew it in her mind, knew that every time she brought him medicine it was to treat the conditions brought on with age, but he had always seemed so youthful in her eyes. He had always seemed so vivacious, filled with an inner life that was more striking than any youthful complexion. The pixie fae turned sprout-green orbs away from the pinstriped brute then, getting up from Bastian's nest of furs and taking the now hot pot of stew off the fire carefully. "I'll be sure to tell you what they're like, if you want," she hummed, her usual bright smile softened as she hoped he would indeed still be around for her to recount her possible journeys. She could even bring back souvenirs of some sort, or new cooking methods for a fine returning meal. Her hopes were those of a pup - wishes that she craved so dearly, yet knowing they were likely in vain.

As the lean figure covered in dirt leaned half way out of a den's entrance, it's full size concealed beneath a spindly sapling, little puffs of warm air visibly escaped into the cooler mountain atmosphere. Even at noon, with the sun at its highest, the cold and wind ravaged the mountainside, prompting a shiver from the den's slender inhabitant. Amos didn't like being so dirty, his coat almost completely covered in dirt and dust from fixing up his new living quarters, but he also didn't look forward to going out into the cold entirely; the thought of the chilling bath to come was even less appealing. But in the end, his desire to rid himself of the debris which clung to his short, rough pelt won out, the one-eyed brute hesitantly pulling the full length of his body into the sunlight, and consequent wind currents. He could recall passing by a river on his walk the previous night, fed by a waterfall, though it had seemed almost like rapids with the greater current caused by the rain. It was the only place the oak brute knew of for a dip though, so he reluctantly turned away from camp in the direction of the fresh scent of water.

~

((warning, exposition dump ahead))

Phaedrus' grin widened as Athena mentioned that she had found something of his pack, a copper piece it would seem, pale blues sparkling with mirth and sculpted head nodding as he began leading the pair towards camp. "Ah yes, our currency system here is much different than what is usually seen elsewhere," he reaffirmed, reaching dexterous paws to the little sack at his ankle which held his days spending money and pulling out a silver coin as he walked. "Are you aware of the value of our coins? I'm unsure if it is taught outside the shores," he mused, flicking an ear to Beau to show he was still paying attention to the brute, and he was free to ask any questions if at all curious. Even without an answer, Phaedrus seemed to have already gone into 'tutor mode' as some of his colleagues liked to call it, the joys of recounting knowledge obvious in his jovial tone. "The copper piece you found is generally used in exchange for snack foods or cheap crafting materials, or to tip a wolf who has done a good job for you. This piece, however," he paused, flashing the coin in his paw, held delicately between dull claws, "is silver. It is twenty times the value of a copper piece, and will get you a couple good meals, or perhaps a particularly excellent one. They're also the primary coins used when paying for cloth materials, pre-made lengths of fabric, that sort of thing."

[-Ethereal-Catalyst-]

Sera could hardly hold herself back from cocking her head at the small fae's reaction to her sign of submission, noticing the tail hidden between her legs. Why did she act this way? Wolves of her old pack were proud and busy beings with almost no time for dealing with the hierarchy except when absolutely necessary. Oh well, I'll just try to be nicer to her. Maybe she'll loosen up a bit, she thought to herself. "Good morning to you," she said politely, slowly and deliberately walking toward the wolves on paws still ginger to the touch. "It's nice to meet more wolves here. I think I may have scared Samreth away," she admitted sheepishly,"I was wondering if you could tell me a bit about how this pack runs and who the alpha is? I should probably meet him if I want to be here longer than a day." If she was going to find her way in a new pack, she would have to be as kind as possible. No more moody grump moments, no more snapping at other wolves out of frustration. She would need a lot more meditation in her life if she wanted to stay sane.
She relaxed herself further when she reached the dove and the brute, sitting with a heavy, ungraceful thump. She just didn't quite have the mindset for gracefulness. She thought for a moment, pondering her choice of words. "If you wouldn't mind me asking, what are your names? And are you both members of the pack here?" she asked, the words taking more energy than she had thought they would. She felt unpracticed in the art of conversation after the long time she spent away from other wolves. It was an odd feeling, having always been able to manipulate others with her words, to not be able to sufficiently calculate her words to her exact point.

((I'm open to anything :) ))

[*~WolfSoul~*]

At the mention of Samreth, Amara's head tilted delicately, one ear flicking back in a blink-and-you-miss-it sign that she was briefly taken aback. The dark dove knew little about the beta - he was not the most social, nor was she all too keen on starting conversation with a brute, much less one with authority. All the same, he did not seem the type of wolf to be "scared away." Amara's attention remained trained on this ginger dove nonetheless, ears perked forward and low. Oddly enough, the skinny dove felt herself relax when she found this newcomer was a touch unsophisticated in conversation like Amara herself. The ungraceful thump with which Sera plopped herself down didn't quite draw a curl to Amara's lips, but the light of her pale eyes shimmered briefly with what might have been amusement. "My name is Amara," she began when Sera had ceased her questions, voice soft and low like velvet, "I am the omega of this pack." The admission felt a bit coarse on her tongue, for it was not something that Amara thought anyone would want to put out in the open. Moving on quickly, the frail she-wolf gestured toward Roan with her velvet black nose. "This is Roan Thornfellow," she spoke shyly, mind easily stretching back to their first encounter to recall the second part of his name, glancing at her companion, "but I believe he simply goes by Roan." The omega dove was more than a little uncomfortable speaking for another wolf, but she continued with her momentum none the less, fearing any awkward silences. "He is a loner, resting here on account of an injury." There was a brief pause as Amara glanced up at the aforementioned brute, eyes twinkling ever so briefly with knowing light, recalling the less-than-prudent choices and consequences that led to said injury. After a brief pause as Amara recollected her thoughts and ran through the rest of Sera's questions, the dove returned her greystone gaze to the wolf before her. "Actually, our Alpha is a 'she.' Her name is Maia." For the briefest of moments, Amara stood faintly straighter, a tiny wisp of pride filling out her frail figure as she spoke of her Alpha. "She is kind and would be glad to speak with you, I'm sure, but she's out scouting right now, I believe. I'm not sure when she'll be back."

((A little bit of a dump, oh well. Goldie, if you wanted Roan to get in there just say so and I can delete this so you can reply. Also, it's finally warm enough to open up some windows in my house!))

[-goldleaf-]

((Apologies, I went away for a family camping trip and neglected to give y'all a heads up. I'm back now though, and ready for whatever you guys dish up))

"Pleased to meet you," Roan husked gently just after Amara introduced him, almond shaped eyes peeking over sideways to the grey fae in affectionate return for her own glance his way. He couldn't help but flex his paws in a subtle movement of restlessness to her having remembered his full title, ears flicking minutely in surprise. His amber-ringed gaze shifted back to the odd she-wolf before them again, fixed upon her bright eyes in fascinated appreciation for the stark contrast that her light eyes played against her fiery coat. With the mention of the packs alphess, Roan again flicked his ears shortly, thinking of the hierarchical order of packs and resisting the urge to frown in disapproval. He understood the order of things, and even acknowledged it as a valuable system in most respects. But it had always been his silent opinion that everyone was equal, and deserved to be treated and respected as such. He knew it wasn't a theory that could ever be put into practice for packs, they needed order. But still the thought never left him. Honey highlighted fur winked restlessly as he leaned subtly into a breeze, catching the scent of fresh turned earth on the breeze, and wondering absently how long it would take his shoulder to heal well enough for him to be able to dig again.

((Bit of a random post for Roan, his thoughts were everywhere, but he doesn't always do well in groups))

"That would be lovely Tanga," Nutmeg murmured, lips quirking lightly into a smile that was reminiscent of his own grandsons bright charmers grin. His coarse ruff shivered over bony shoulders as he leaned forward into a gentle stretch, his dark nose tugged in the direction of the stew she had pulled from the fire, sniffing appreciatively. "My my, you could make a feast out of stones and sticks," his wiry frame hummed with light laughter, head shaking just so as he straightened. "I swear it, honey." another half charmer smile played with his aged features, age like a mirage as the change in expression brought youthful touches to the structures of his face. "I'll have to get after Bastian about asking you for some cooking lessons, he needs to bring some real flavor back to those woods of his."


Fine fangs clicked against one another in an acute snap of controlled power as the dark baron buried his nose into the dirt. Dark paws rooted themselves half-buried into the chilled soil, toes aching with the force that they had been shoved into the nearly-frozen earth. Bastian tugged his snout out of the rabbit hole with a definite snort as he blinked turquoise eyes free of dried grass seeds. The little valley between twin hills of shale was like a small haven for the wind-blown rabbits of the mountains, and he had played at a game of chase after them for reasons of research more than hunger. He did not feel it has place to fell any kind of game here, not even a rabbit; but he was curious as to whether or not they were any easier to catch out here than in the forests close undergrowth. He had been chasing them right into their holes for longer than he liked to admit, bright smile tugging at his lips in breathless appreciation for their witty speed in the open-range. Classically-adorned ears flickered as he lifted a forepaw to wipe across his face quickly; already leaning forward into a measured lope. He had spent the morning exploring the areas nearest to the camp, feeling his sense of duty call to him faintly every now and again for him to return to his grandfather, but always finding a new something or other that would divert his attention anew and lead him just a few steps further into the foreign territory. The tall baron reached the top of one of the little shale hills with ease, breath puffing past dark lips in eager frostiness as bright eyes took in the scenery on the other side of the hill with unabashed fascination.

---

A laughingly pink tongue swiped across dark lips, just the barest tips of porcelain fangs winking with the movement as Fen licked the remnants of his breakfast from his lips. As he savored the lingering taste of honey powder, the fine-shouldered brute packed up the little scraps back into the meal basket, taking another nose-wrinkling sip of his bland water. The disorderly baron released a measured sigh as two-toned eyes lifted to gaze out at the ever moving waters. A marbled purple paw came up to pass through his wild ruff, dark toes combing through the unruly spikes and catching shortly on the silver beads that had been braided into the longer bits; their winking glint flashing from the depths of his ink-dropped pelt like dewy stars. He settled his paw back beside its mismatched twin, slanted eyes tired of squinting into the sun as he stood and stooped to pick up his basket. The dappled brute exited the little waterside garden on lithely long legs, making quick work of disposing of his scraps and returning the basket to the back of the little bakery booth. With a flick of silken ears the tall baron was again squinting into the sun, long legs working in a smooth lope as he headed back for the blinding beach.

An equally ink-blotted creature made her way easily through the market buzz. Willowy figure painted prettily against a white-washed hut as she gave slight pause to re-lace her thin bag to her supple shoulder. The dark faes ears were at easy angles, though the carved line of her feminine jaw was tickled into spotlight by the exotically colored feather that was lifted into motion in the breeze there. Diamond-adorned eyes glittered in their warm hazel light as she glanced shortly back at the quieting market before she was turning around again to run her way up the little white-sanded trail that would take her down to the crab apple trees. No one would eat the apples, for they were far too tart and only fleetingly in season to be any good for the rest of the year. But they were sometimes nice for adding to ales, and could be pressed into lovely cinnamon drinks if you had the right recipe. Devins sleek figure was wildly colored into contrast against the quaint little runs of sun bleached wood-weaved fences along certain sections of her chosen path. The dark fae was intent on bathing before the party that night, and in her little bag was the press of both lightly scented honey soap and a spiced cinnamon wash.

[*~WolfSoul~*]

((Hi there everybody! I know I posted just yesterday but I came home early today not feeling well and now I'm restless. I have the creative bug, so if I don't keep myself occupied one way or another I'm liable to write pointless, random drabble with all of our characters.

So I'm just dropping in to wish everyone a good day and pleasant evening! :3 ))

(( EDIT: Lmao @ myself, just waxed poetic like 500+ words about a friendship between Amara and Kirsten (and a couple other little head canons with other characters) whom I am SO interested in and curious about meeting. I'm stir crazy. Does squirreling away scraps of head canons and musings about our characters make me a creep?))