((Ecology / Zoology? That's awesome! I'm glad you have something waiting for you once you finish your degree. There is absolutely no reason for me to get a masters in my field, as the only thing it would do is qualify me to teach college level courses. And I am defiantly not a good teacher… Not to mention the closest school that even offers one is like, 1000 miles away. Bah. I suppose I'm just a little jaded, eh?
Anyway, I am kinda leaning towards Attican having the issue, if for no other reason than it seems more logical. Pilot is almost back to the pack, and if she were to run into trouble now, it would bring it down on top of them. Besides, Attican just saw some humans nearby, so that makes sense too. Beyond that, like Resin said, it would give them all a reason to come back together and book it back to the pack.))
Ahote
Male | 46 | Fighter
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Standing before Resin, Ahote met her cold gaze evenly with his own, refusing to look away or flinch back. Over the past few days, he had again and again been pushed to his breaking point, and each time had pulled himself back into center. Each time, something inside him was stressed, and the constant pressure had bent it so far out of shape that it could never be put back into place. The fevered dreams that were forgotten just as soon as he woke, and the terrifying vision from earlier, all too had had an affect on him. The most recent was not so easily put aside as the others and haunted him still, fluttering just on the edge of thought, and he acutely felt the fear and sudden revelation of mortality acutely. Perhaps it was the wolf he used to be rebelling against the sadness and guilt that had kept him trapped so long, or the affection that grew in his heart for the grey wolf before him, but whatever it was, Ahote wasn't about to back down now.
Before anything further could be said though, an ominous rustling sounded nearby and Resin signaled that they should find shelter as if he didn't know that already. However, this was no time for an argument over something so trivial as a little miff to his newly reborn ego, and he simply followed her. By this time, he could no longer bear weight on his rear leg, and though structurally sound, it was nearly useless with the tightened eschar that had formed over it. It was difficult for him to crouch down and crawl the way she did, and this put him a few paces beside her, his limping gait holding him back. Reaching the place she had singled out, he pushed his way in, once again having to shut his eyes tight and clench his teeth to keep from whimpering as the blackened boughs clawed at his burnt side like greedy hands. The second his weight was off of his tired legs, he felt them go numb and he knew it was a mistake. Should they lay here too long, he would be unable to get back up.
A few moments Later, Resin pressed her way in behind Ahote and settled herself on the scarred ground. Where as she brooded, looking at the ground, he fixed his eyes on her, struggling with the mix of powerful emotions that fought within him. Part of him longed to embrace her, hold her close and wallow in the reassurance of her touch. Yet, like the wounds on his side his heart was raw and open, his love for her burned, scalding and tearing at him from the inside. Fear of loosing her and the casualness with which she would throw her life away, as though she herself meant nothing only fanned the flames, making them rise up into a passionate rage.
For the most part, Ahote kept himself well in check, holding back the flood that threatened to overwhelm him. However, when Resin finally decided to speak, her words hit him hard, like stones thrown against a dam, threatening to break it open. Her growl very nearly drew one in return from him, but instead he drew in a sharp breath, continuing to meet her gaze without flinching. The final words that followed were more than he could bear though, and he could no longer stay silent.
"Opinion you say? When's the last time you stuck around long enough to hear anyone's opinion but your own?" he began, his voice quiet but holding an angry seething the bubbled just under the surface.
"You act without thought and throw yourself head-long at every danger that comes your way like a bull in the rutt. You want us to vote you out of your position? Is that why you moved Xani up to the position of Beta? We all thought maybe you had finally grown up enough to admit that you couldn't do everything yourself. But I guess we were wrong. You just wanted someone to plough forward in your absence so you could run off and do as you please without having that nagging bit of conscience to hold you back," he paused in his tirade to swallow, his throat raw and protesting the abuse he now gave it.
"Oh, and incase you didn't notice, there is no way to follow the pack. Somebody smarter than us found a way to cover their trail, and it disappears without a trace about a half mile from the river."Ahote did growl then, so firmly in the grip of his anger that he practically shook. Into that wild fray, Resin flicked her ear back, and quietly inserted yet another string of mordant, self appreciating lines.
"Faith!" he roared, sending his taxed lungs into a coughing fit. Recovering, he spit out the black sputum and clawed his way forward to pin her eyes with his own.
"Attican and I have so much faith in you that we would blindly follow you into the gaping maw of the devourer if you'd let us. But recently you haven't given anyone even the flick of your tail to follow," Shaking his head, he struggled to his feet then, standing splay legged above her.
"Neither one of us will just stand idly by while you make a martyr of yourself, Resin," he said, firmly, and just like that all the strength of fury went out of him and he hung his head. She had heard him, and no matter how she took it, he had said his piece and in its place a great weariness settled in on him. Though the fire was gone, the spark that had created it still lingered, and the tenderness that kindled it finally had a chance to return. Looking down at her grey form, Ahote pressed his forehead to hers,
"I love you too much for that…" he finished, his voice soft and distant.
Gathering his legs up under him, Ahote hobbled past Resin to peer out from under the tree. Whatever had made the noise was gone for now, and they needed to move before it decided to come back. Turning back to Resin, he cleared his throat as he stifled another cough, speaking softly and quickly,
"You spoke of Attican, have you seen him? We should collect him and keep moving," he said, turning back to the entrance as though he expected her to follow. He wasn't accustomed to giving orders, lest of all to Resin, but right now they fell out of him feathers from a frightened goose.
"If I rest for too long, I'm not going to be able to get back up…" he finished, finding that admitting to the weakness was much more difficult than he thought it would be. With that, he pressed out of their blind and back into the desolate forest. He genuinely hoped that she had seen the Keeper, otherwise finding him was going to be like searching for an icicle in a snow drift.
((Thanks for the opening, Resin! What you said all played in exactly with what I wanted to have Ahote say.))Lani
Female | 57 | Hunter
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Dashing away from Pilot, Lani was surprised when her tail received a playful nip in return. Letting out a little squeak, she looked over her shoulder just in time to see Hrafn's grin as he bolted past her. Beaming, she took after him like a bolt, her squat little legs flying over the snow. She might not have been big, but Lani had spent all her life chasing things and running them down, and her age hadn't quite caught up to her yet. This meant she was quick, surprisingly so for a creature as pudgy as she was.
Thus, Hrafn didn't get too far ahead before Lani was able to tag him and dance away from him, nearly bowling Pilot over in the process. Only at the last minute was she able to hop out of the blond fea's way and avoid a collision. This didn't dampen her spirits in the slightest though, and she pushed forward along the path, pulling out ahead of the others.
Quickly crossing the wide valley, the land began to rise up in front of her, and Lani slowed her pace, falling back in line with the others. Before long, the slopes of the hills grew steeper and steeper on either side of her, and she soon found herself running through what appeared to be an massive chasm. With more than a little bit of awe, the white hunter looked up at the rocks the towered over her on either side. Never before had she seen such a thing, the only thing even remotely like it was the ice rift they had crossed earlier in their journey, and that she had been on top of. It was a far different matter to find yourself at the bottom than it was to peer in from above.
Suddenly, Hrafn put on the brakes in front of her, and Lani shot past him, flying into the retreating pack like a furry avalanche. Spry enough to avoid doing any real harm, she apologized to those she had trampled, ensuring with her wide smile that there would be no hard feelings. Her next thought, was to find Attican, and make sure that he was taking care of himself. She might have returned empty mouthed, but that wasn't her fault. Surely he would understand.
Bobbing through the pack, Lani looked this way and that, hoping to catch sight of his greying pelt.
"Att-ican," she called out, in a sing-song voice, circling back to see if she had missed him on her way in. However, the Keeper was nowhere to be found, and slowly the smile faded from her face. Where could he be hiding?
"Attican?" she called again, this time a tinge of worry wavering in her voice.
He wasn't here.
A furious mix of worry and anger rose up in the little white wolf then, and she forced her way up to the front of the pack.
"Xani! Where's Attican!" she demanded, causing poor Wolf to startle half out of his skin. The straggler quickly ducked around to the other side of his security blanket, and Lani took his place at Xani's side.
"You… You didn't leave him behind again, did you?" she asked of the Beta, resentment forming in her voice. The Hunter had yet to notice that Resin and Ahote were also missing, and her only thoughts were for the Keeper. It didn't matter that Xani could swat her like a fly, her worry made her bold and stupid and she stubbornly stood by her waiting for an answer.
((Ug… Was just looking over some of my recent posts. This danged new-fangled computer at work has autocorrect like a flipping cell phone. (Which, mind you, I didn't notice until now either >.< )) So, I apologize for all the recent typos!))