A Warm Place - Nine Inch Nails

It was pleasant outside, at least to the brown furred desert brat of a wolf that padded his way along. Something was nagging at the back of Newol's mind in the weakening light. He liked this land. And thus far, he'd liked every wolf here that he'd met. This place was a very nice land. A good strong place to make a home in. But was it really his time to find a home. He had no mate, and was still young. The brute was only just a young adult. He still had a lot of playful youth left in him. Though, he swore that he would hold on to that for as long as he possibly could.

When he found the cave, curiosity wouldn't allow him to turn it down. Making his way inside, light flooding in from behind him, a sense of aw washed over him at what he saw inside. Polished stone and water caused a very dim light to reflect all across the inside of the cave in a dull blue green color. Stepping in deeper into the cave, he stepped into the pool of water that had been trapped inside. Then he waded in to the shallows of the water, it coming up past his ankles. Looking up at the walls around him, he found a very humble feeling was washing over him. It had been awhile sense he'd last prayed to the God that his mother and father had raised him to know.

Lowering his head and closing his eyes, he found himself thanking the figure for having made it this far, and for all the people that had gotten him here. His parents who had raised him, and told him to run away from the desert and find a better place that he could thrive it, and for the other young rebellious hearts that had charged across the sands with him. Weather he liked it or not, we all had to stop running eventually.

Satu

Satu had finally ventured forth once more after her bout of sickness had temporarily scared her off from exploring. The brown-coated female had ranged far, and now found herself staring with interest at the mouth of a cave. Caves were always full of interest, with the thrill of the dark and the risks, but they weren't always worth it. A good misty forest, or a foggy plain, those were risks with benefits. But caves just kind of tended to blend together. Still, this one was here in front of her now, and if there was one thing Satu couldn't resist it was the chance to go adventuring. So, glancing around at the beach one more time before she did, Satu stepped into the dim interior. She was immediately delighted to see that the interior wasn't simple rough, plain stone walls, but worn smooth by the tides so that the stones shone in a plethora of colors. She was so enchanted by it that, having reached the end of the cave, she nearly didn't notice the wolf standing in the water. When she did, she was puzzled by what he was doing. Had he fallen asleep standing up? "Excuse me," she called out softly, her voice bouncing around the cave. "Are you all right?"

A Warm Place - Nine Inch Nails

When the other wolf entered behind him, one ear rotated back so that he could make sure he was in no immediate danger, but held his posture as he prayed for what he'd been given thus far in life. After a moment more, the new wolf finally addressed him in a female voice, asking him if something was the matter, which was surprising enough. Perhaps she'd never seen a wolf praying before. He offered her a quick flick of his tail as an indicator to be silent for just a moment longer. Then finally, he reached the end of his prayer. His maw parted for a moment as he uttered one word silently. "Amen." Then his eyes slowly came open as he brought his head up just as slowly, looking up and taking in the interior of this cave once again.

Finally, turning to face the new comer again, he held a friendly and welcoming smile on his face, the scars across the bridge of his muzzle appearing even here in the dim light. He would never be rid of them, it seemed. The woman that he beheld though, intrigued him. She had a very interesting appearance about her that added just a little perk to his smile, as Newol liked the oddities of this world. Much like himself, a wolf of such high pedigree who was very simply just a loner rather then waiting to sit upon a throne. With a polite bow of his head, he addressed the lady before him. "My apologies. I was giving thanks for my blessings in this world." Then, he waded his way back up the stone floor, which was so easily visible through the clear water, stepping out a good respectable distance from his new company.

Shaking off his paws, he took a sitting position, his head placed firmly above his broad shoulders, chest clearly visible, and his ears perked up. With a friendly tone, he spoke to her. "Is there something I may do for you, my lady?"

Satu

The other wolf gestured for quiet, so Satu closed her mouth and took a seat, her tail curving over her paws as she watched him curiously. A short time later, the wolf lifted his head and began wading out of the water. She returned his smile with one of her own, one that turned a little wry at his words. Giving thanks for his blessings sounded a lot like something Song or one of Ludicael's other theologists would say, and it was silly of her not to have recognized it. Though, to be fair, she rarely saw someone standing in quite that manner to give thanks. "Sounds a lot like my pack," she observed instead. "My cousin Song is the Oracle for Ludicael - there's a lot of theologists there. I'm not really a theologist, I'm just a storyteller." And an adventurer, she added silently to herself, though it felt somewhat presumptuous to say that out loud. It was different with Kili, who had brought it up first. The wolf's next words would cause her to blush beneath her brown fur. "Oh, no, I didn't need... I hope you didn't cut it short or anything because you thought I needed help. I was just out exploring," she waved a paw vaguely around them, "and I saw this cave, then I saw you..." She trailed off with a shrug.

As the wolf spoke, an interested wage game to Newol's tail. It swayed every now and again to show his intrigue with both the topic and the female before him. Now he had a chance to learn something about one of the packs that he shared this land with, which was an opportunity he didn't plan to waste. But as the girl trailed off thinking she might have interrupted him, a light chuckle escaped his sealed lips. With a content smile, he reassured her.

"I don't worry, you where no trouble to me. I was merely taking a moment." Turning to gaze out into the cave and it's beautiful lighting once more, he pondered her words. Theologists? Does your pack have a particular religion that it follows? That is, if you don't mind my asking." Knowing one's religion was a good way to learn about the nature of someone. It was encouraging to see that a belief system existed, but at the same time it posed some unique dangers. Some of which didn't set particularly well with Newol.

When someone believed that something was wrong by their religion, it could lead to pointless and wanton hate. This could cause others to shun and outcast good people without knowing the first real thing about who they where. Believing that there was only one right way to live and that it most be conformed to. But if everyone conformed to one singular way of life, then all the variety that Newol loved so much would be gone. It was something that he hated. Just about the only thing that he honestly and truly hated. Everyone should be allowed to find a good honest way to get through their life.

Just imagine it!

The other wolf speaks reassuringly to her, and Satu smiled back at him. He seemed pretty laid back, which was good considering that Satu had a habit of talking first, thinking later. He asked about her pack's religion, and Satu could only shrug a little guiltily. "I don't really pay attention to that sort of thing. It's more Song's area than mine, and I don't really spend as much time with the pack as I should. But I don't really think they all believe the same thing. They don't fight about it, though, so I guess it doesn't really matter all that much." She really should go to one of the theology lessons - being in a religious pack it seemed like something she should at least know about.

Pushing the thought aside for the moment, she gave him a cheeky grin. "So, do you have a name, then?"

OOC: sorry for the short, crappy post, I don't have much time and wanted to get this in there before I left)



"Speech"

There's a whole world to explore

Newol listened calmly as the fea spoke, a smile situated on his face. He couldn't scald her for her ways, because he himself wasn't the most active member of his own religion. But he did make sure to carry it with him. Not to forget it. He couldn't deny that it was a part of his life. It just wasn't the most massive thing in his life. And though that was perhaps not the greatest thing in the world, he did the best he could. Newol lived day to day for the time being, seeing as he had no real active friends other then the more and more new wolves he was meeting every single day. He was sure that he'd make some real friends eventually, perhaps even something a little more somewhere.

Finally, the female questioned him about his name, and he gave a happy smile as he introduced himself, bowing his head slightly in a show of respect as he did so. Names where powerful things. Names where single words that encompassed every single aspect of who you where. "I do infact. My name is Newol Fated Zaraidd." Bringing his head back up to meet the female before him, he found her brown eyes with his own green eyes. Now it was her turn. "And what of you, friend? What would you have me call you?" He asked in a content voice and welcoming voice.

Just imagine it!

Satu returned his smile with one of her own. "Well, Newol, it's really good to meet you. My name is Satu." She cocked her head to the side as she regarded him curiously. "Are you new to Alacratia?" He seemed to not recognize the name of Ludicael, but he didn't really seem the type to pay so little attention to his surroundings as to not recognize the name of one of the few packs in the area, so it was the most likely thing. Even Satu, who didn't care about the other packs enough to know details about them, still could recognize the names. "I mean, not that it really matters, but if you're new I could show you around?" It really didn't matter to her if he was new or not - she certainly couldn't fault someone for not wanting to pay attention to that sort of thing, what with her own tendency to daydream.
OOC: I'm continuously giving you short crappy posts. Very sorry.



"Speech"

There's a whole world to explore

Newol

A chuckle escaped Newol's maw at the young creature. She was certainly of a pleasant disposition much like himself. He enjoyed being able to interact with such a laid back stranger. One from a pack too. Part of the reason he'd never been apart of a formal pack before was do to past experiences with less than likable personalities that would like to ether force him to the position of one of their lackeys or rip his hide off if he was gone in ten seconds. But that wasn't the case here. So far he'd been received fairly well by everyone he'd met. This was all the more reason to stay and make this place home. Answering her questions, he spoke in a mature voice. "A pleasure, Satu. And I am in fact new to these lands." With an entertained wag to his tail he continued. "Thank you for the offer, I may take you up on it some time. But I seem to be finding my way around just fine."

Satu

Satu wagged her tail in return. The stranger was likeable, and seemed like a really nice guy, and she had no qualms about continuing to talk to him. She knew there were bad people out there, but she had only ever met nice ones like Newol, so she was quick to take him at face value. "Ok, well, if you ever do change your mind, just ask for me at Ludicael, I'd be happy to," she told him, momentarily forgetting that if he hadn't known the name of the pack he was unlikely to know where to find it. "So what about you, Newol, where do you come from?"