Let The ;;Morning;; Shine

[;; ♥ crow ♥ ;;]

[atrb=width,400,true][bg=black] The winds were silent among the moors, it was quite unusually. Despite it, the ground was still blanketed with a light cover of snow. Enough to pass the paws of a grown wolf, but nothing more than that. More of an annoyance than anything else, just something impossible to walk on, and something that made its way into your paws, sending a shock of cold through your body. It wouldn't help this wolf much, she hated the snow anyway, light or deep. Despite her beta status, she was often wandering. Making her way from task to task. Whether she settle on hunting or patrolling, she was usually just doing it as busy work, enough to make the day go by faster, but it did make it duller. She hardly ever caught any of the small prey that lived in Celia territory, and she wasn't very lucky when it came to spotting loners, most of the time missing them by a day or two. The scents, no matter what, were always stale by the time she reached them. Maybe it was just her luck. Her inherited luck. Magdalene's paws hit the ground ground almost silent, only her claws made sound, as they hit the tiny chips of ice beneath the snow's surface. The black pelt of this she-wolf was so obvious, whether it be to prey, or to an intruder. Maybe that was a good thing, they saw her coming, she wouldn't need to attack them. Not like she was coming out to the borders of Celia territory for a patrol anyway. Camp was just so far from the river, it took a little while of running to just get a drink, but it was a good way to get away from the stress of the pack. Soon the open moors began to flatten, and gave way to a loose collection of trees. Very loosely placed, they were scattered, but soon thickened a bit more as the wolf moved on. The sound of rushing water met her pricked ears, the level of it had gone down a bit in winter, but hadn't stopped the flow completely. The snow only fed it, and when all of the bitter snow melted, it would most likely flood. What a bother that would be, for her pack of Celia, and for Maleficum, their neighbor to the west. She didn't like water, and Magdalene wasn't worried about showing it. She had to drink it to survive, but no wolf in their right mind would try and get her into it. Never once had she ventured into the depths, and she never would. No wolf could ever force her, and if anything, taking a path across some stones would work just fine. Of course, the majority of the time they were covered by the raging water, but only when it rained or the snow fed it, sometimes it was calm enough. And one of those times was now. She slowly leaned over the lightly flowing water, even as it echoed, the slight roar, she was calm. The flow wasn't high enough to reach her, or topple her over, no need to worry. Her tongue rasped over the water's surface so gently, taking in small drink after small drink. Such a calming day, a nice way to spend a morning, when the day had just begun. She pulled her head back slowly, a few seconds slower than it had been lowered. She let her blue orbs flickered over the river. To the packland of Maleficum. The pack of the dense forest. count :: six-hundred-and-four

[Athri'ell]

Athri'ell had been walking in the forest for quite some time, tracking a rabbit. Or, he thought it was a rabbit. He chased down the rodent and bit down o its neck, crunching the neck bone in half. He walked with the rabbit in his jaws. Wandering the forest for a place to eat. As he walked he thought about what he would do. Where will her go. No pack would want him. He didn't want to be in a pack. Pack's have rules. He couldn't seem to follow them. Being a rogue meant freedom. Freedom to do what he wanted.

He walked along the lightly covered snow ground. Leaving prints behind him. He didn't like the snow. Snow reminded him of his past. And his past wasn't that great. His parents got killed during the snow season. He watched them get killed. Watched the other wolves tear his parents apart. They ripped their throats. The snow turned red that day. And Athri'ell swore to return the favor.

He found himself at a river. Still frozen over a little bit. He sat under a tree and ate his rabbit meal. it had grown cold by now.
He didn't care. After he ate he licked his chops and sat up.
He looked around. He got up and walked to the river and broke dome ice off to get a drink. As he drank he felt himself getting refreshed. He looked up and stepped back. Looking across the river he saw a lone wolf on the other bank. He stared at the wolf.

[;; ♥ crow ♥ ;;]

[atrb=width,400,true][bg=black] Her heart seemed to leap as the sound of ice being broken hit the ear drums of her. The crunch of frozen water beneath claws. Not just claws, the claws of another wolf. She had bent over to get a second drink when the sound hit her. The river may be a border, but she hadn't expected to see any other wolves, not now anyway. She continued to drink, even as her pulse and heart beat began to pick up a little more. No. This wasn't a pack wolf. It wasn't a wolf from Maleficum. Even if it was on their territory, it wasn't one of them. It smelled of forest, but not of pack. The scent that drifted from it was a mixture. A mixture of carcass and forest, but not of other wolves. She scented it once more, just to make sure. Good. It was a rogue. Her heart calmed down, back to normal speed. Not a pack wolf, not a pack wolf. She told herself this many times over. Pure relief settling over her. If it had been a pack wolf, well, it may have gotten more daring than the rogue would. The borders were still young. Having been announced as permanent, but some thought to challenge them. And running into a pack wolf, it might have ended in just that. But this was a rogue, not a Maleficum wolf. She had nothing to worry about. Besides the male, as she soon realized from scent, was on the opposite side of the river. He wasn't on Celia territory, no need for her to do anything. He was their problem. Let them deal with the rogue, or loner. She let her eyes drift to the top of the sockets they each rested in, but continued to lap up water. He was scarred, most loners were, his fur was black and white, and he was staring at her. She felt a bit of sympathy for this wolf. Most of the wolves in these packs had all been loners, before the packs formed. She had spent a good portion of her early life as a loner, traveling from place to place. But she had been wrapped up in the affairs of these lands, these territories. The only reason being who her parents, parent's, had been. Her was one of the grandchildren of the last alphas of the long lost pack. Nothing else had made her a subject for the affairs. Sometimes, she hated it, and sometimes she adored it. But most of the time, she just wished she could get of the pack. It was just such a feeling of being trapped. She finally raised her head after the long train of thought. Her deep blue eyes locked onto his. Her gaze held no hostility, just depth and understanding. She couldn't help it, her body language was how her emotions were often expressed. Her muzzle was closed, and none of her teeth were showing. She seemed so calmed. A very serene she-wolf. She Just patience, as she waited for the male to speak, or turn and flee, it was his choice. count :: five-hundred-thirty-five

[Athri'ell]

Athri'ell watched the she-wolf, He now scented her, drink from the river. She raised her head after a long drink, and met his eyes with hers. Her eyes were blue. She looked calm, not hostile, toward him. She smelled of the pack that left markings over there. He looked at her. Then spoke.

"Hello." He couldn't think of anything to say. He hadn't talked to a wolf in years. He looked at her. He wondered what to do. He needed to cross the river. For that was the way he was planning to go. He looked down and up the river for a place to cross. he spotted some thicker looking ice he might be able to cross over on and walked to it. It was only 20 feet away. As he walked, he spoke.

"I am Athri'ell. If you are wondering, i do not belong to a pack. And i mean no harm. I have been traveling the lands and stoped here to drink. Obviously." He began to cross the river on the ice. Slowly he walked on it. Towards the middle, it cracked. He let out a yelp and fell in. He cursed and swam to the opposite side, and shook himself off.

[;; ♥ crow ♥ ;;]

[atrb=width,400,true][bg=black] Magdalene stiffed a laugh as the wolf started to try and cross the ice. She knew he wouldn't make it, and he seemed older than her, he should have realized it. Every wolf seemed to know not to try and cross a river when it had ice on it, it was always unstable. Streams were fine, rivers, they were fast and had a harder current, only a naive wolf would try and cross it. And it appeared that this male was just that. But she still would it downright amusing. Then he fell in. That was just something she had expected, it didn't phase her at all. She knew he was strong enough, for a loner, to make his way out of it. The current wasn't even at full power, he would have drowned in that. If her memory served correctly, some wolf had drowned here. But that was when the packs were just forming, and it had been in early spring when the snow melted. The thought was driven to the back of her mind when he pulled himself to the riverbank, on her side. She wanted to curse him back onto the other side. Snarl at him until he crossed the damned river back to the opposite side. SO she didn't have to deal with him. But she didn't. Instead she scented the air. Relief flooded over her when she picked up no signs of other Celia wolves. If any did show up she could just make it look like a face off, but she wouldn't unless she needed to. Maybe talking to an outside wolf was what she needed to calm herself down. She didn't move from her spot by the riverbed, her only movement was going into a sitting position. Her black tail wrapped lightly around her, but the way it puffed out still held dominance. It was such a die hard reaction. Oh well. Old habits die hard, no way to change that fact. Her voice was low, an attempt at intimidation, but the playfulness was very easy to recognize. Her eyes were closed, her head lowered lightly, almost in a solemn position. But her playful and intimidated tone gave it away as all show. "Your on Celia territory." count :: three-hundred-eighty-three

[Athri'ell]

Athri'ell just looked at her when she said this. He knew she was not threatening him. The tone was more of a playful one. He glanced around the terrain. Observing his surroundings he said: "I dont see anyone here that wants to stop me." He smiled. He knew this could be taken a different way, but he was just like that. He sat down and looked at the she-wolf. She was slender. She looked like she ran alot. Athri'ell loved to run. He laughed to himself.

He got up and took a drink from the river. He looked back where he broke the ice and fell in. He laughed. "I should have found a different way across. But with my idiocy, it might have been on thinner ice." He looked back at the she-wolf. She was just sitting there. Still as a tree. The slight wind ruffled through he fur. He stared at her. "So i take it you Celia pack wolves don't talk much eh?"

[;; ♥ crow ♥ ;;]

[atrb=width,400,true][bg=black] She laughed a bit to herself. He was saying exactly what she had been thinking, how amusing. It had been awhile since she had been able to just talk to another wolf like this. Betas hold a high rank, and your supposed to act like it. She remembered those words so calmly. She did what she must to make Celia survive, but forcing herself to stay in camp was jump, just, such a bother. She felt like one of man's dogs. Tied up, with a collar choking her around the neck, unable to move without their permission. Unable to live her own life, her own way. Trapped in a life she didn't want. She let her sleek tail sway back and forth at his question. That was downright hilarious. Some wolves would kill him for saying something like that, but she was on the verge of bursting out with laughter. Only dignity kept her from it, and the fact some other wolf would hear her howl with laughter. Sweet, sweet irony. Sometimes it felt like the wolves in Celia never shut up. Always jabbering with one another, always talking about a loner or a catch. It seemed like they were never fully silent, of course it seemed, all packs were like that. Perhaps she was still used to loner life. She put on a sort of smile, but showing her fangs, it looked like a mocking sneer. Not threatening, just a smirk from his comment. Any wolf that knew the irony of what he had just stated, or asked, it was hard to tell, they would smirk too. She knew she wasn't used to pack life yet, even if the majority of her life, or a bit over half, had been spent while the packs were forming. "Maybe they don't, or maybe I'm just the silent type." Her voice came out smooth, not a trace of dominance or hostility. "I'm Magdalene." count :: three-hundred-thirty-five

[Athri'ell]

Athri'ell laughed a little. "Ah She speaks!" He laughed a little again. "Nice to meet you Magdalene. My name is Athri'ell in case you were wondering, if not, too bad i just told you." He let out a smile. Though a wolf's smile doesn't look like a kind one, more of a teeth baring grin. "Now i know that usually i would be attacked at this moment and then probably either killed, or dragged back to your pack camp. But, it appears you aren't doing that, and if you were going to you would have done it long ago." He said looking at her. He took another drink, then stood up.

"What would you do... if i started to walk farther into your territory" , he said slightly testing her. He knew she wouldn't do anything. She was amused with him. He had a way with most wolves like that. He took a step closer to her, cautiously. "You know, all the wolves in the packs i have met, would always try to harm me or kill me. That is why i typically avoid packs. " He said with a chuckle.

[;; ♥ crow ♥ ;;]

[atrb=width,400,true][bg=black] Maybe the lack of hostility being shown was just because she had once been a loner, as the male went over his name, her thoughts began to double. Was she being to kind and understand? She was the beta of the pack that owned these lands, perhaps she should just do what any other wolf would do, chase the wolf out, back across the river, so he was back in Maleficum territory. Out of her fur, and out of Celia. Just do what she was supposed to and get it over with, so she could at least say she tried and succeeded. But her paws stayed firm. Even as her thoughts started screaming at her to run and attack. To get the loner out of her pack's territory. She didn't move, not a muscle in her legs. As she could do was give another flick of her tail. An occasional sort of flick of the ear, maybe it was to show she was listening. But why was she listening? She was just sitting there, listening to each word he spoke, instead of doing what she was ranked to do, what any pack wolf was ranked to do. Show dominance and chase the wolf off pack grounds. She wanted to say something, just at least say something in response to his first comment. But she didn't. Her thoughts of why she wouldn't attack were circling each other. Like two sparing wolves, circling each other in a rounded fashion, one lunging for the other, the other being bitten, but delivering a blow of its own. Her mind was doing that, measuring and sparing with each other of the good and bad of chasing the loner out. Of why to do it, and why not to do it. She didn't want to chase him out, but the thought of having to do it wouldn't go away. She opened her jaws to say something, but bit it back sharply. Now was not the time for one of her harsh remarks, it just wasn't. Instead she just gave a sort of nod, though the firmness made it look rather curt. She didn't mean it, it was just her mind was just so full and moving so quickly it took her a moment to process what he was saying. She answered him without thinking. Just a smooth response that had no time taken to be thought over. "Someone else would end of killing you." It held no emotion that time. Just pure honesty. As he took a step closer she was reminded that he was a loner. "Don't we all." Those words came out as more of a murmur. count :: four-hundred-fifty-six

[Karma]

His tail flicked with annoyance. He couldn't find Celia wolves anywhere, usually they weren't hard to find, out and about as if they had nothing else to live for but to live. That was one of the reasons he had chosen to stay here. They were so full of life, unlike the other pack he has been too, sure they were hospitable, but they were always so suspicious of him, watching his every move as if he were going to snap and kill everyone in sight. He never felt cquite so comfortable, quite so a home as he did with Celia. And to repay them for you acceptance he would offer them what he had left of his life fighting for their protection.

It was a rather nice day out, not storming that is. He had always taken a liking to winter. Perhaps it was that he could hunt easier or strategize easier when there was an environment that he could blend into well. Or maybe because his burn scar wasn't irritated during the cold season as it was in the hot summer, under the sun. The thought of heat made his scar hurt and burn all over again. But during the snow moons it felt as if it was not even there. He pushed the thought aside, crunching through the snow and dead plant-life and toward the river, catching a glimpse of black against the snow. He pushed out of the trees and into the clearing that surround the sides of the river.

Magdalene was there, his beta female, talking to a wolf that did not look at all familiar to him, and he was good at remembering faces, he had trained himself to be after all the wolves he had met, some nice some.. not-so-nice. But this wolf he could positively say he had never seen or met before. A few moons ago he would think that it might be a friend of the pack, but he had been here long enough to know that it wasnt. So that left the question of why Magdalene was talking to this wolf as if she didn't care that he was on their land.

'Time to find out,' he silently decided. He lifted his crown, making his posture upright as he left the shelter of the trees and toward the two black lupines. He felt completely opposite to his beta. She was a female, he was male. She was black, he was white. She was tall, he was small... er. He wasn't exactly short, but just shorter than the others.. He began to close the distance between him and the pair, thinking of what he was supposed to say to her. But as he got only a few feet away, he dipped his head in respect to Magdalene and nodded slightly at the new wolf, eyeing him carefully. "Hello Magdalene, may I ask who your.. friend is?" He flicked his gaze to the brute and then back to the beta.

[;; ♥ crow ♥ ;;]

[atrb=width,400,true][bg=black] She would have cursed. She would have shouted a curse so vile that both wolves would have cast her shocked looks. She would have howled it for all wolves in the four packs to hear. Letting everything out in just one, loud, ear splitting howl of a curse. Just let it all out right there. In that single curse she would have damned them all. Damned them all to hell. Damned them, them and her. Oh how she wanted to scream that curse as loud as she could, louder than loud. But she didn't, she merely gave a flick of her tail. Her relaxed position on the riverbed was interrupted. Her conversation cut right down the center. The one chat she had taken part in since last moon had just been shattered. Dropped in the rapids it had been, taken by the tide and washed under, never to be seen or spoken to again. How frustrating it could be, she knew these wolves respected her, most knew of her ancestry, most knew of the she-wolf and male, of the pack. If this male did, she could care less. If he did it would only give him more of a reason to bark, chase, and maybe even kill. It was the way of a pack, and she hated it. She pulled herself from her sitting position, bringing herself to stand on all fours now. This was now when she over sized the Celia warrior. Her tail was held higher than early, only to remind him who had the bigger impact in this situation. She didn't take a step toward him, only bared her fangs for a moment before letting her snarl drop. She knew what he was thinking, even as she scented him, she knew it. He was a pack warrior, he knew loners were not to be tolerated, and so she did as well. Maybe it was because they all knew she had been born a loner herself. Maybe that was just it. Magdalene dropped her gaze of blue coldly on the warrior. Her blue orbs blazed with dominance, the point she was trying to force was obvious. He couldn't do anything with her here, not while she out ranked him. The choice to attack the loner was hers, not his. If he had stumbled upon the loner himself, alone, then it would have been different. But he hadn't, no, Nostets had stumbled upon her as well as the loner. Maybe she had misread him for anger, maybe his feelings were something else. The thought was blown out like a candle by his question. Not once did he sound hostile. Not a single word had sounded like a threat. Just, a greeting. But the way he said friend, it had sounded so mocking. As if he was a pup ratting on his sibling. Complaining that he hadn't done anything, when he really had, and let his littermate take the blame. Oh well. She still had the upperhand over him. Rank, rank, rank. She sang the words in her head, amusement flickering in those dark blue eyes. She couldn't help letting the loner's name slide out of her muzzle the way it did, so calm, so smooth, so matter of fact. It sounded almost like she was mocking Nostets herself. "Why, this is Athri'ell." count :: five-hundred-sixty-seven

[Athri'ell]

Athri'ell had scented the wolf long before it arrived. He hadn't ignored it. Yet he hadn't brought it up. He just played along with the act that was portrayed.

He saw the other wolf out of the corner of his eye. He looked bigger than the she-wolf, and bigger then himself. Then again all male warriors puff themselves up for intimidation. He heard the wolf ask Magdalene who he was. He laughed inside at the word "friend". Athri'ell never had friends. Only enemies and random wolves he had met.

"Yes. I am Athri'ell, as she introduced me. But i have a question as well. Who are you?" Athri'ell asked blankly. " And please. No "Grand introductions. They are tiresome. He yawned.

Athri'ell knew this could be taken as an insult or offensive. But he was looking for some fun, so why not. He walked to the river, took a long drink, and waited for the reply. This shall be fun. He thought. He chuckled a little then straightened up and looked at the male wolf.

[;; ♥ crow ♥ ;;]

[atrb=width,400,true][bg=black] The beta suppressed a twitch of her lip. Not hostile at all, but more of a gesture of amusement. Honestly, it was so entertaining when a loner snapped their words at a pack wolf, it was to her at least. The pack wolves had the upper paw as some may say, but it was really the loners. They had no reputation or image to uphold, they could act how they pleased. Sure, they might make a few enemies while doing so, but then you could just leave the area. So simple, yet why had she given it up? That one question, it still confused her. Why had she gone into Celia in the first place? She had known no wolf in the area, in the packs, any of them. Although it is said that she most likely has relatives somewhere off, it was always doubted. Most of the wolves of the descendants has died off without giving birth. That, or they were killed in the original battle. That blood soaked battles she had nightmares about as a pup after her mother told her stories of it. Yet, how her ancestors had manged to escape. and give birth after that, is something she could never figure out. That was when she felt it, she felt something around her neck. As if something was circling it, tight, unbreakable, and irremovable. She knew nothing was there, but what had that been? She shook her head lightly, maybe one of the males caught it, the loner or Celia warrior. Maybe they didn't, hopefully that outcome. Shaking her head at nothing, she probably looked downright mad. But then again, she was the one to feel something that wasn't there, she was the one to give up loner life for the life she loathed, maybe she was mad. She blinked once, slowly. Dark blue orbs flickered over each of the males once more. The burned white warrior, Nostel, and the black loner. Two completely different lives, different worlds, different thoughts. They even looked opposite. It was making her head spin, along with that feeling, that feeling she couldn't describe, but she could name it: trapped. count :: three-hundred-sixty-two

[Athri'ell]

Athri'ell saw Magdalene twitch a bit. This was tiring to him. They were just sitting there, like lazy pack wolves do. At least, the male was. Magdalene was getting a kick out of his humor, he could tell. He was in a pack once, but that was the past. In a pack was not his place. He liked it much better being free, not being told what to do. Plus he had bad experiences in a pack. Especially when he was told to do something he didn't approve of.

Athri'ell laid down, yawning. "This is getting tiresome. Dont you guys do more then try to stare down loners eh? I could beat you in a staring contest any day." He said blankly. It was true. Every pack he met tried to stare him down. As if they could hurt him with their gaze.

Athri'ell grew bored and stood up. He took a step closer to Magdalene, then stepped towards the direction of the male wolf. He would go between them. He took a few more steps. "So. I am just going to walk through, and not get harmed in anyway seeing as i am no threat here." He said sarcastically. "Unless any of you have reason to make me stop. I'll keep walking." He said continuing slowly, testing the wolves.

[♥ hayden ♥]

Talon ;; Celia

Talon had been listening to the wolves conversation since the start. He lay in a thin bank of snow, taking a relaxing break to enjoy the scenery around him. He lay in one of the patches of forest that Celia had within it's borders, and Talon looked over the wide, seemingly endless stretch of moor that lay before him. The snow lay thin along the moor, and had made annoying crunching sounds as he stepped along it minutes before.

The pack being so small, the few amount of wolves were constantly on patrol, hunting... doing whatever needed to be done. Talon had felt some sort of responsibility toward their numbers, and had always tried not to burden any member more than needed. Most of the wolves it didn't seem to bother, which was a great relief to the Alpha these days, enabling him to take his own time off from time to time, like the time being as well.

Talon lay his head on his paws, letting out a deep shrug, and letting the lids of his eyes softly close. Of course, he hadn't had more than five minutes of silence before he had smelled the loner that now created a threatening and on edge could, looming above the three wolves heads. The loner, none of the wolves seemed to be hostile at the moment, just the smells of annoyance, envy, and curiosity stung his nose.

As snappy replies starting being exchanged between the two male's, Talon felt a sort of urge to sort things out before the resorted to anything more. He had faith in his beta, and knew she could sort things out if things came to the need, but yet, Talon felt better to prevent it earlier than let it escalate. With a heave, Talon was on his paws, and he gently shook his coat to rid of the white flakes that speckled his fur.

One step after the next, Talon made his way over to the group of wolves, his ears pricked curiously and head held high in authority. He looked from the loner known as Athri'ell, his beta Magdalene, and finally across his other beta. He took a calm, serene seat, and slightly tilted his head to the right. "Well well, I hope your not going so soon, Athri'ell. I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you myself," Talon called to the loner, a friendly, warm smirk staring in the corners of his muzzle. He let his head un-tilt, but kept his ears pricked, curious for further discussion.

Talons deep brown gaze moved over the loner, hoping for some sort of reply or reaction. He understood the freedom of being a loner, and how Talon's offer to be made may easily be declined, but it was worth a shot. The brute seemed rather like-able, and to have a good humor, and he could see the male fitting in well with the rest of the pack. He had good form, too, ideal for hunting and it it ever came battle.

Talon could feel his claws silently digging in through the snow and into the soft, mushy earth anxiously as thought zipped in and out of his head. He remembered how loner usually felt a sense of pride, and that not many usually joined packs, unless they happened to be desperate or looking to join. Doubt's began to settle in his mind, but he shook them away with a slight shake of his head, hoping that the male would at least consider his offer.

He waited. The time had seemed to be everlasting with all the thoughts going through Talon's mind, but which had only been a few seconds. He began growing anxious to invite the brute into Celia's Pack, but he knew he should probably discuss such matter with his beta's. Talon knew his beta's though, and he knew if they had any advice, they would speak up when the time came. With that, Talon put his mind at ease, and focused on the male, shielding the internal doubt and struggle from his eyes.

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