A Tale of Two Packs [reboot] [RP Play!]

[sunhorsestar]

Leo | Warrior | L-Pack | Tagging: Lucas, Louve, Rya | Location: Forest


Even with the rejection, soft as it had been, Lucas only insisted, encouraging Leo to try, and Leo's heart ached for his friend. The last thing he ever wanted was to hurt any of his Packmates, and especially not his best friend. For better or for worse, even when Leo had found himself in trouble, Lucas had been there to back him up in the end. Yet there he stood, rejecting his friend. It's not fair if I agree, not fair to anyone. He reminded himself. He was tempted to agree if only to spare Lucas the heartache, but he knew if he did that, he could miss his own chance, and one day, the relationship wouldn’t work out, and it might fall apart on its own from the lack of romantic connection on Leo's end. He adored Lucas, he would go to the ends of earth for him, would do almost anything if he was asked, but not this. He couldn’t do this.

"I'm not uncomfortable with the word mates, I’m not a pup anymore, but it’s just a strange concept while I’m still at a young age, not even an adult for a few more days to come." Well. That was part of it. Leo hated admitting that part. He was going to two soon and then officially an adult. He had other reasons why it caught him so off guard though. His eyes were closed so he didn’t have to look at Lucas, but he could still feel the other Warrior's gaze fixed on him, and it burned straight through his pelt and skin, to his heart. "Thank you. It’s…It's good to know." Leo wasn’t sure if that was true. It was nice to know he was loved, but at the same time, it put them in an awkward place.

Leo's eyes snapped open and his head jerked up again, so fast he swore he almost gave himself whiplash. Okay, so that stung a little, the accusation, but he supposed he deserved that. He could see where it could come off that way. "No. Absolutely not! I have zero issues with same-gendered couples, at all! I grew up seeing them all around, even if some of them were trying to be a little more subtle than the others. Your gender has nothing to do with this. You’re amazing, and you mean so much to me, but…" Leo trailed off. What was he supposed to say that wouldn’t sound harsh? There was no easy way with this kind of situation.

The words were hard to get out, like he was choking on them. This wasn’t how he had imagined it happening. He refused to look back at the white furred Warrior walking behind him. He would make it clear enough, but saying her name right now, in this exact situation, would make him too anxious. He didn’t know if Lucas knew all the facts, but he knew she would understand what he was talking about. Maybe he wouldn’t have to pull her aside and fumble over his own words trying to explain one day though.

"You asked me if there was someone else, and the answer is yes. The first friendly face when I came back after my absence, the first wolf to vouch for me when I needed someone's help. A wolf who spent so much time just making sure I fit in." Her personality played a large part of it too. Leo hadn’t a doubt in his mind that Lucas would try, but maybe that was part of the problem. "And there’s the other thing. Lucas…I don’t want a relationship where someone has to try. It ought to come naturally, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t, and I won’t have a mate, and if that’s what the Sky-Dogs want for me, then that’s that. I can’t ask someone to try for me when I wouldn’t be able to try nearly as hard for them though."

Leo saw the exact moment his friend started to panic. How his breathing was a bit more laboured, like he was struggling to keep it under control, and the ever so slight shift in his tone of voice. Leo wanted to salvage the friendship, but hadn’t the faintest idea of how to start. "You’re going to find someone, you’re going to meet someone who's even more of a perfect match for you, someone who can give their whole heart and soul to you and give you an amazing life together, I just know it! They’re out there. Maybe…you just haven’t looked in the right place yet. And when that happens, you’ll forget me. You’ll forget you loved me, and it’ll…" he hated the words. "It’ll be for the better, because it means one day, you’ll get to be happy. If I tried to be the one you settled down with one day though…I don’t think you would end up as happy as you imagine."

[sunhorsestar]

Karter | Warrior | L-Pack | Tagging: Aala, Storm | Location: Forest


"I'm not sayin' it’s a good idea. I’ve got nothin' against Leo, don’t get me wrong, he’s…certainly somethin', but that somethin' ain’t leader material. He may be the son of an Alpha, but he’s not an Alpha himself. His attitude makes that perfectly clear. The kid's an overgrown pup." Sometimes it was hard to realize Leo was only a little over a year younger than Karter himself, and that said, Karter was hardly the most mature wolf in the Pack himself. The difference really was that Leo didn’t make an effort to act mature and grown up so far. Like he wasn’t ready for his childhood to be over.

"Truly excels at the craft?" Karter echoed. What Warrior excelled at the craft of hunting except one bent on disrupting the system? Truthfully, he had no idea why the system was built the way it was. Shadow always said with different skill sets, different wolves were better at various tasks, and it meant they always had someone available to hunt and always someone available to fight when they needed it this way. He wasn’t sure how well he agreed with it though. "She’d just better hope Shadow doesn’t catch her bringing in prey," he sighed. Shadow was a kindhearted wolf, but when she decided someone was in trouble, she wasn’t as gentle as normal with them, unless they weren’t yet adults. At two years old, River may be her favourite former Trainee, but was very much still an adult.

Karter's gaze slid slowly towards Aala as the Scout spoke up. He was honestly surprised she didn’t straight up tell them off, but he was relieved for it. "Yeah, no kiddin'. I don’t mind a little gossip here and there, and I’m sure others discuss me behind my back too, but I’m not gonna try and cause problems. We don’t need internal conflict." Aala had a point. Karter nodded faintly. "Shadow's smart, she's always had the Pack's best intentions in mind. I’m sure whoever she chooses will be a good fit for the role. Shadow would never let someone come to power who she could even potentially see as harming the Pack in a position of authority later on."

[belloblossom]

Lucas | Lightning Warrior | Location: Forest | Tagging: Leo (mentions: Louve, Rya)

Lucas nodded his slow understanding as Leo divulged his feelings in regards to the term mates. A mateship was a serious undertaking - at least in Lucas' own mind, but if Leo wasn't bothered, at least by the word, that had to be a step in the right direction, right? Leo then had to go close his eyes and Lucas couldn't help, but feel like he was trying to ignore Lucas - as though Lucas was a problem to be avoided. His ears ducked - this had to work out. All relationships needed some effort, some time. This would be no different! It couldn't be - he and Leo were so close!

"If it's not my gender then what is it, Leo? What's so wrong with me that you can't find it in yourself to love me like that?" He asked once Leo had protested against Lucas' initial point. It was difficult for Lucas to keep his temper in check - but he was his father's son and he could hear the blood rushing through his ears. He blinked rapidly, hoping to regain his sense of balance in the world - but Leo had always been the rock to steady him and now... that entire foundation was crumbling.

"I thought I had done that for you. Haven't I always had your back, Leo? I've given you everything I can - my time, my affection - we've flirted with one another on a regular, and yet now you're saying that was all... what, a lie? Did you only tell me you love me out of pity? If there was someone else, then why play with my emotions like that?" A low keening noise began to emit from Lucas' throat. Somewhere between a desperate whine and a growl. He stifled it as best as he could - but he felt like he was breaking. "Trying is apart of being in a relationship, Leo!" He barked in frustration. "Love where you get along perfectly at every moment, where you never fight - that's impossible! You're going to fight, you're going to argue, but you're going to persist through it if you really love someone. I've given you my time and I'm willing to give you more of it, to work through it. You just need to give me the chance!" He shook his head. "If there was really someone else, surely you would've acted on it by now?" He shook his head again. "Who is it, Leo? Do they even exist, or are you just making things up to get me out of your fur?" His breathing was coming in quick, harsh gasps as he fought back the urge to snarl, to roar, to weep.

"You don't get to tell me what my future will be like. You don't get to tell me I'll forget about you, Leo. Because I won't. Don't condescend to me and pretend you can predict that my life will be better after this rejection. Because that's what it is - even if you try to honey-coat it. I'm just a friend. I'll only be just a friend." Lucas spat the word like a curse. "You're stuck in this dream land where love comes naturally and easily, when it doesn't and it's clear that nothing I say..." Lucas stumbled back. "Just tell me, Leo. Tell me that you don't want any part of romance with me. Sky-dogs, tell me who this mysterious wolf you're in love with is. And I won't bring this up again. We can go back to being friends as you want to. Just tell me that we're not going to work out - in clear terms, without trying to make me feel better."

[sunhorsestar]

Leo | Warrior | L-Pack | Tagging: Lucas, Louve, Rya | Location: Forest


"Nothing is wrong with you. If that was the case, I would’ve said it straight up," Leo insisted. Was that really where Lucas' mind had gone to first thing? That something about him was wrong? That wasn’t the feeling he had ever wanted to leave anyone with, much less his own friend! Lucas had always been there, had always supported him, had always been a friendly face. What was wrong with that? What did he possibly think was wrong with him? "I don’t even know, Lucas, I guess just the same reason I haven’t fallen in love with any wolf my age. Sometimes…it’s just not there. The chemistry's there, the connection is there, but you just…don’t feel that romantic spark, and I want you have someone who sees you and stares at you and thinks you’re the most handsome, amazing wolf in the whole world, because you deserve that."

Not to say that Leo couldn’t acknowledge Lucas was an attractive wolf, and not that he couldn’t see the kind heart, but he wanted someone for Lucas who could hyperfixate on it. It wouldn’t be fair to even consider taking that away from him. Especially when it seemed that was the way Lucas looked at him. "You have," Leo agreed, nodding. "I’m not discrediting that, and you mean so much to me, I can’t…I can't imagine what it would’ve been like if you weren't there, but that just brings me right back to my initial point."

It was harder than Leo had expected, and he had never expected it would be easy. Seeing the shift in his friend though, how he struggled to keep himself under control…it was scary, for a number of reasons. Because it was unpredictable. Because he didn’t understand it. Because it was his fault. "No! I flirt with everyone in my age range, because there’s so many amazing wolves. And…And there’s so many kinds of love in the world, Lucas. I would never, NEVER lie to you. Why do you think I’m being honest with you right now, instead of trying to sugarcoat things or swallow it back and agree, when agreement itself would be a lie?" He pointed out. He blinked back tears. "If I had known back then that there was genuine attraction, do you really think I would’ve kept messing around? I don’t want to hurt anyone, ever. I wouldn’t purposely play with someone…" He understood where Lucas was coming from, but the accusation still stung. What did Lucas take him for?

"I never said that. I know nothing is perfect, I guess better wording would be…" Leo considered that momentarily. How could he make it make actual sense? "A relationship where there’s no need to be constantly trying, whether it’s to impress a partner, or to try and secure the relationship and keep it steady at all times…things happen. I suspect if I had agreed, one way, somewhere down the line, things would go sour, and I can’t even stand the thought of that." Leo knew that might already be the case, but at least if it was…well. At least he didn’t toy with Lucas' heart further now that he knew the truth. The hardest part about a friend breakup though…is that afterwards, there’s nothing to go back to. I just…I just don’t want him to become a stranger all over again.

"That doesn’t make sense! I’ve never tried to get you out of my fur. Why would I purposely try to chase off a wolf I care about?" He wondered. So it was going to come out by name anyway, or he would only stand there and listen to accusation after accusation, apparently. "I was waiting for the right time, and I hadn’t acted on it because I was scared," Leo admitted. That was a tricky thing to admit. He was the son of an Alpha. He wasn’t raised to be a coward, and yet, when it came to matters of the heart, that was exactly what had happened. "I don’t see how telling you a name will make things anything other than worse, but if you must demand an answer, Louve."

Leo tensed, narrowing his eyes. Well. So much for trying to be optimistic, for being nice. So much for attempting to reassure him or make it easier. At least he could say he tried, and he truly believed the things he had said. "I am not trying to condescend you. Seriously, what do you take me for? If you loved me, I kinda figured you would know me better than that. I’m just saying what I believe. If you’re not willing to accept that I believe that, then that’s your decision." Leo had avoided the word "No" directly. It was never a word that had come easily to him. He hated rejection, giving or receiving. If that was what Lucas needed though in order to take it in properly, he would force it.

"Fine. No, Lucas. I can’t do this." There was a fleeting moment where Leo wondered if it was for the best if he just abstained from taking a mate in general. He had flirted jokingly with many a wolf. How many wolves would that lead to believing he was genuinely attracted? He only ever meant it as good, lighthearted fun. It had led to this though. And this hurt, for both of them. "You wanted a yes or no answer, and the only honest answer I can give you is no."

[belloblossom]

Lucas | Lightning Warrior | Location: Forest | Tagging: Leo, Louve (mentions: Rya)

Lucas struggled to process all the information that was being thrown at him. At the final word of it, he'd stilled, his breathing still came heavily, but he was not growling anymore. He stared Leo down, refusing to close his eyes and look away. Unlike Leo had been - Lucas was no coward. He wasn't sure how much time passed as he watched Leo - from the white wolf's perspective, it may look like Lucas' soul left his body. His eyes became hard and then entirely vacant.

Indeed, Lucas couldn't feel his paws on the ground anymore. Everything had begun to feel numb. He felt his mouth moving, forming the words, but it didn't feel like he was the one saying them. It felt as though someone else was giving him the words to say and he was just along for the bitter, resentful ride.

"You should've just said no from the start." He said and his tone was flat. "It could have saved us both some trouble. Come on. We have a patrol to get back to." He turned and added. "We can go throw our post-argument tantrums after we get our job done." Was he saying this more to Leo or himself? It was hard to tell.

He passed by the two she-wolves and looked over to Louve. He stared at her for a long moment, words moving through his mind, but what could he say to her? It was ultimately her decision whether to love Leo. He shouldn't meddle in their affairs. He was not so petty as to try and ruin her life just because she was the focus of Leo's attentions. He turned his head away and began to walk ahead, taking the lead and scraping his nails against every few tree trunks to mark their path.

[AlittleDregon]

Rya | Huntress | Lightning | Location: Forest | Tagging: Leo, Louve, Lucas

As the tension grew up, Rya's attention went to the sort of fight that was happening between the two males. The oldest of the quatuor had a hard time understanding the conversation that was full of poison in her opinion. One was taking ages to answer while the other was getting rilled up because Leo tried his best not to hurt his friend. By what she could see, Rya believed that Lucas had a short temper and not having his way made him quite angry, she couldn't relate to that. The poor she-wolf couldn't even remember her life before her accident. Had she ever been in love? Has anyone ever loved her? What about her family? The four year old couldn't recall any of it. She was walking behind Louve, looking at the ground to not make any eye contact, not wanting to get hurt. In a way she felt bad for Lucas who had surely gathered up a lot of courage to tell his feelings but why was he so bitter? Was truth not good enough for him? Would have he prefered to been lied to? Love was a concept that Rya had a hard time with had she was very much focus on her hunter job and pretty much nothing else. The brown and cream wolf didn't dare to say a word, let out a sound of some sort or even lift her gaze off the ground she was too afraid of the possible outcomes.

[sunhorsestar]

Leo | Warrior | L-Pack | Tagging: Lucas, Louve, Rya | Location: Forest


Normally, Leo might’ve been intimidated, being fixed with such a hard stare. Almost icy. However, he forced himself to meet his friend's gaze as evenly as possible, holding steady, trying not to break down too. If he just bowed his head again and backed away now, Leo had no idea what would happen next. Did he try to stammer out an apology or go back on his word? Did he turn his back and run away? He didn’t want that. The way Lucas had spat out the word FRIENDS hadn’t been reassuring as was. Like he didn’t want to be anymore, even if there was no potential for them romantically at this point in time. Ultimately, the ball was in Lucas' court now though.

"I did say no from the start. I told you I couldn’t do it. I told you I was in love with someone else. I told you I couldn’t give you what you were looking for. You just chose not to acknowledge that it wasn't happening." Leo didn’t mean to get on the bitter end himself, but this had gone sour fast, and he was on the verge of panic himself. He couldn’t ruin this, leave them with nothing, but he was struggling just to keep himself from breaking down too. He hadn’t expected being the one to reject would be so upsetting, but Lucas wasn’t a stranger, or an admirer from afar, he was someone Leo knew on a personal level, shared an emotional connection with.

Leo wanted to run away, more than he ever had before. Even more than the time he HAD actually run away. His paws itched to carry him away from here, away from the place he’d called home, away from the fight, maybe to somewhere he wouldn’t have to deal with his own emotions. He couldn’t just run whenever things got hard though, he’d done that before and settling in when he’d recovered had been a task and a half. He couldn’t do it again. He only had one more question, and debated whether now was the time to ask, or if it was best left until they’d both had time to process properly.

Leo slowly let out a shaky breath, a breath he hadn’t even known he was holding. He nodded. "Yeah. Sounds good." It didn’t sound good. Nothing about any of this sounded good right now. He was a Warrior though. He’d been entrusted with the Pack's safety, and that meant his own emotions came second. He had to first and foremost ensure the Pack would be safe, and that meant trying to focus on the patrol for now. Leo had never been in a fight like that. Not with an ally or friend. He had hoped that he would never have to, but such a thing as a perfect life didn’t exist. He couldn’t bring himself to face Louve, he was aware now that he thought of it of how fast and tense it had escalated, so poor Rya had been forced to observe too, having no part in it and no connection to anything going on, and most of all, Leo couldn’t face Lucas right now. Not until he had processed what had just happened.

[belloblossom]

Lucas | Lightning Warrior | Location: Forest | Tagging: Open (mentions: Louve, Leo, Rya)

Lucas couldn't hear anything beyond the blood rushing in his ears, couldn't feel the ground beneath his paws. He hadn't felt this way since... Well, since just after his father died. He had hoped to tell Leo about that... about what he had gone through, but now...

Even if he says he loves me, it can't be true. He kept his head high, his shoulders tense as he stalked ahead from one tree to the next, to the next. Not in the way I need him to love me. He thought to Louve and his ears flicked back. What was so good about her of all wolves? If it wasn't a gender thing, than... He quickened his pace, trying to put as much distance between himself and the group, while still staying within hearing range if one of them should find anything. Anger gnawed at him like a cold stinging bite. He needed an outlet - but... Leo certainly wasn't the one to go to vent to. And like he'd just lectioned Leo on - they were apart of a patrol. He had to at least act mature, until they started on their route back to the camp.

[Queen of flames]

Willows | female | healer trainee| Lightning | crush - open | tags - Kotori, open

She opened her jaws to answer the other healer trainee but didn't have time to say anything before their mentor showed up. She blinked her eyes not so surprised that the healer was already sorted their herb storage "Good morning Terra, we were already waiting for you..." she said with a flick of her tail. She looked at Kotori as the healer finished talking "are you hungry Kotori wants to share something with me perhaps?" she asked the male trainee.

Chronos | male | warrior | Lightning | crush - Blizzard, open | tags - Basil, open

He narrowed his eyes "I didn't try to order you around, I just told you...you don't want to be around when the others get hungry and angry because of that..." he responded to her with a sight. His eyes looked to his half-sister Nyx there talking with Risen "hmm, well at least someone is being useful to do things without waiting for some orders" he said to her "you know we don't have a lead hunter to order you around..." he said with a smirk.

Nyx | female | hunter | Lightning | crush - Smoke, Leo | tags - Risen, Smoke, Thessa

She didn't say much anything to Smoke, as for her she didn't find warrior rank important at all. Hunters hunt every day to keep the pack feed, but warriors do fight to protect the pack in crisis, but how often does the pack face a crisis. She saw there some warriors which don't do anything except sleep half of the day, then wait for food, has a little chat here and there, and go back to sleep, of course, there have those hard working warriors too, which sure highs her trust to that rank. She looked at Risen "yeah, everyone always seems to say that, then someone else could be better than you are" she said to him with sight. She sniffed the wind too when the all-around mentioned the herds, yes she did scent them as well, which a little bit surprised her "well...aren't they close...it's smell like a big herd..." she said almost whispering.

Comet | male | all-around | Lightning | crush - Terra | tags - Kieko

He took a few steps backward to give the hunter more space to eat, he sat down with a little yawn escaping his jaws "actually I don't think anything important being happened so far...I am not being awakened long either..." he said to her. He thought for a moment "but I think some patrols...no hunters left the camp...so I think you need to wait for a little later to join a hunting patrol...perhaps...I could go hunting too, but...well...I just ate..." he responded with a laugh.

Roque | female | hunter trainee | crush - open | mentor - Toby | tags - Toby

She felt confused and a little proud of herself as she found something before her mentor did "Of cool a hawk..." she said flicking her tail in excitedly, but then stopped moving her tail "I want to catch a hawk? how do I do that?, How I get it down to the ground so I can catch it?" she asked her mentor. As she started to think about birds the voice of the owl she heard last night come to her mind "Is everyone ever caught an owl? is that good?" she asked suddenly.

___________________________________
Archer | male | scout | fire | crush - open | tags - Blitz, open

He gave the older she-wolf a long weird stare after hearing her answer, he felt like he didn't even get what was she talking about '...she doesn't know what your highness means? what...how? then how do I know that word? it's like your alpha...' he thought to himself as he shook his head and walked away from the group 'whatever' he kept thinking. He looked over to his brother when he made his way to him "Blitz, what? no...not word war..." he responded to him.

Blitz | male | warrior | fire | crush - open | tags - Archer, open

He made one last look to his friend with Canary and whoever else they were going to involve in their patrol. Shooking his black fur he looked over to his brother who walked away from the so-called group "why so shocked look bro?" he asked him "did you have a word war with Enui?" he asked him.

Octavia | female | hunter | fire | crush - Max | tags - Aleck, Blaze, open

She silently watched after the medic, she could see his nervousness but didn't find anything odd about that. She gave a look to the Blaze as well, as the medic was bringing the remedy for her little problem "oh thank you Aleck" she responded as she took the remedy "yeah I will come to you if I needed to thank you again" she said to him with a soft smile as she started to make her leave.

Sable | female | hunter | fire | crush - open | tags - Destiny

She left the small-worded hunter alone and looked for someone else to chat with. Her eyes looked over to Destiny there. The black she-wolf walked toward the brown-grey all-around "hello, nothing to do?" she asked the she-wolf. Her eyes looked around for the others the groups seemed to be organized here and there, she didn't know if they were involved in patrols or has they just organized their own little groups.

Serafina | female | all-around | fire | crush - Kassandra | tags - Kassandra, Tendril

She rolled her eyes at Kass "Haahaa...funny" she said sarcastically. She looked over to the other hunters as she suggested a place for them to go "lower slopes?" she repeated "Cool, sounds good to me...I am not being in that way so often...most hunters I am joined want always go after large prey, but yeah pheasants or hares are a good choice too." she said to her. She gave a little odd look to her when she saw the apologetic smile she gave her.

[~Raining Fire~]

R i v e r

Lightning Pack | Fighter | Single | Tags: Fish, Rain

River smiled to herself as she approached Fish and Rain . She shook out her fur once she stopped "Alright, we're good to go!" she said cheerfully, part of her was thankful they hadn't left on patrol without her. But she trusted Fish and knew she wouldn't leave her behind.
Her tail wagged softly as she looked at the two wolves, she was truly excited to go out with a smaller patrol than normal. Maybe she would be able to get to know these wolves more? Perhaps make two new friends today instead of one?



R i s e n

Lightning Pack | Hunter | Single | Tags: Nyx, Smoke, Thessa

Risen offered a nervous smile as Nyx mentioned how she though Risen could potentially fill the lead hunter role. He lowered his head before responding to her in almost a whisper "Thank you, I would love that one day however there are many more members of the pack much more suited" he commented.

Thessa had mentioned they were close to the meadow. Risen lifted his head to scent the air and caught a whiff of deer. He nodded to the All-arounder "You're right. They're here" he said watching her scent the air once again. His tail flicked slowly in anticipation. He was excited to be out hunting with these wolves. This was a group he hadn't gone with before. They all seemed nice enough - at least he wasn't trying to claw his ears off like he wanted around other members of the pack. These wolves were alright he decided.




D e s t i n y

Fire Pack | All Arounder | Single | Tags: Open due to LOR



Destiny bounded into camp , her normal excitement seemingly being more present than normal, she had tried joining onto the tail end of a patrol but had missed it. And she didn't want to impose, besides she could wait for the next one to be sent out. As she walked into camp she attempted to relax a bit and bring her relaxed composure. It took her a few moments to compose herself but after she did , Destiny shook her fur out and gave her tail a few swishes. She looked around the camp to see if any of her pack mates would need help with anything , this was one of her favorite things about being an All arounder - she had a reason to make friends with almost everyone in the pack.



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B l a z e

Fire Pack | Warrior | Crush on Aleck | Tags: Aleck, Octavia

Blaze dipped his head as Octavia began to leave the meidc den. He knew there wasn't much left for him to say without sounding odd. He turned his attention back to Aleck with a smile. "have you eaten yet today?" he asked with a soft flick of his tail. The dark wolf wouldn't let anyone know - he had a habit of showing Aleck the most affection than the other wolves. Perhaps the most affection he had shown ever. He had a genuine what felt like instinct to take care of the medic.