A Change in the Wind
She stood and stretched her legs out in front of her, groaning as all of her tired muscles stretched out. When she stood up again she shook out her thick, multi-hued fur, breaking loose the snow, dust, and pieces of grass that had gotten caught. She look another look around her and noticed, to her surprise, dark patches all over the ground between the patches of snow. She trotted over to one of these patches and sniffed along the ground, catching the faint, but unmistakable scent of old blood. She took a step back and looked around her again and noticed these patches were everywhere and she was sure they were under the snow as well. "Where in the hell am I...?" she whispered, shaking her head. Walking over to where she thought it might be a little less stained than the rest of the earth, she sat down again.
For a year and a half this had been her life. Wandering from place to place, only stopping to sleep and eat. After surviving the attack and making a new life for herself after she had lost her memories... There wasn't much else she could do. She looked skyward once again and took a deep breath. Something was going to change, she could feel it. Meili didn't know who or what was coming or what was going to happen, but whatever it was she was ready for the change.
Cormalin |
The large black male padded along the edge of the Battlefield. He?d been here a pawful of times, sparring. He?d won the first one, but he wasn?t sure what had even happened in the second. Now he was here again, considering a spar, but also keeping an eye out for wolves that might want a home. Mismatched gaze of gold and blue swept the plain, as he took a sniff of the wind, ignoring the scents of blood and strife, and perused the other scents. He was a Beta now, and proud to serve Valhalla in this position. He could accept new wolves, or turn them away. The ability to do so meant a great deal to him. The slaughter of his birth pack had been the result of lax caution in who was accepted into Redwood Pack. Three males, guised as runaways from the rival pack, Blackmoon Pack, had come to the Redwood borders, with the tale that they wanted to change their ways. It had been a cleverly played ruse, and after six months, they had led the slaughter. He had meant to die fighting that battle, only a yearling. His sister had been lucky; she?d slipped out early that Spring morning, to gather herbs. She had come home to a bloodbath. Cormalin had used the last of his strength to command her to run. Then everything had gone black. But he hadn?t died. And he was here in Valhalla, with his sister. His head raised higher on his shoulders as a fresh scent shook him from thoughts of the past. Feminine, matured but young. And no pack scent intermingled with her own. He padded lightly toward it, until she came into sight, then he paused, hovering on the edges of her location, taking in her form. She was small, and bore the natural Timber coloring and markings. She seemed weary, and wary.
He stepped closer, in time to hear her words. ?This is the Battlefield, Miss.? His baritone, British accented voice rolled gently over the plain as he approached, keeping a respectful distance from her. Stopping that distance away, he settled onto his haunches, head dipping in a respectful greeting. ?I am Cormalin, Beta male of Valhalla, a large pack in the southwest. His head lifted and he studied the female as his heavily furred tail coiled around his paws. "Forgive my curiosity, Miss, but, if you don't mind me asking, what brings you to such a place?" His question was voiced in a gentle, conversational tone as his ears pressed forward to take in her answer if she wished to give one. |
She returned the polite nod he had given her while her teal blue eyes continued to watch him carefully. A year out in the wilderness taught her to never trust anything till it was proven to be safe. It had kept her alive many a times.
"Honestly, Cormalin, I haven't the slightest idea," she responded, her voice naturally gentle and smooth, her tone conversational like his own. "I never really know why I'm anywhere though, so it's not a surprise to me." She rolled her shoulders in a slight shrug. There was a brief pause as she considered the bit of information about his pack. "I've never been in a pack. Well, not that I can remember at least. The only contact I've ever had with a pack... Well, it wasn't pleasant..." The scar on the back of her head ached as she thought back to the day she woke up covered in blood among several dead wolves. As far as she knew that was where her memory began. She shook her head and brought herself back to the present. "I won't bore you with my story, Cormalin." She paused again and then realized she had never introduced herself. "Oh! My name is Meili by the way," she said with an apologetic nod.
Meili wasn't sure what to do now. She had only heard rumors and stories about packs and what they were like from other lone wolves like herself. She had no idea what to expect with Cormalin, but the ache in her bones reminded her that she needed to do something besides run endlessly. Eventually she would have to stop.
The Battlefield. It was the first time Deteste had visited. He had been to many such arenas in his life but within the country of Alacritis he was a stranger to these lands. It was eerie how alike each battlefield had been, this one no different than the others. All were flat, thinnly grassed and bloodied lands. Deteste was grateful that it was winter. The ice sterilized the air and it did not smell so much like decay, even in the freshest scenes. In this unforgiving land Deteste did not bother silencing his walk or masking his presence. His tall black form was bold against the snow and the short taupe grasses that reached out from it. His gait was formal and somewhat stiff legged yet the pace was leisurely and his posture implied no status. The sol had ventured into the battlefield only to survey it ahead of Jupiter's battle and he did not desire to attract any attention to himself. However there was an alternative but minimal reason to his exploration. Were he to come across any friendly strangers he would readily invite them to join the Ludicael.
In the distance two bodies formed before Deteste. One black, the other timbre. His walk ceased and he allowed himself a moment to observe the interactions between the two. He would not enjoy unwittingly stumbling upon a personal battle. He was sure that the traffic around here minded it's own business but he'd rather not spare the chance of getting involved in anything. The behavior between the two strangers ahead of him seemed friendly but formal. Deteste believed the wolves were meeting for the first time and their violence-less interaction insured for the most part that it would be fine to at least briefly graze their company. A hot, white breath snaking from his jowls he resumed his lope and prepared to approach the strangers.
Where in the hell am I? These were the words that greeted Deteste as he entreated in the other wolves' shared space. It caused him to take pause and observe again the bloody ground he walked. He admitted to himself that he was somewhat desensitized from the environment he was in. He waited silently until the two wolves had reached a pause in their conversation. Hello. his deep voice breaking the silence. He dipped his crown in respect of both wolves and allowed his crown to hang casually in their presence. There were no kings here. In the battlefield only your physical ability separated you from the rest. "Since I have caught your names in your conversation, I will introduce myself. I am Deteste and I hope that I am not intruding." He spoke with a respectful timbre, observing them both with a warm glance.
The woman before him was obviously a traveler. Having only recently been freed of the nomadic life style Deteste easily recognized the details of a worn body and calloused feet. Her words were not necessary to describe her situation. He sympathized with her emotions. Her tiredness. He had been so worn down when he joined the Ludicael that some members would not be able to distinguish his past self and his current self as the same being. Content with his analysis of Meili, as the wolveness described herself, Deteste shifted his glance to the man who accompanied her. He was a Valhalla member and Deteste would do well to treat him respectfully. From what Jupiter had told him a new alliance had been formed between the Valhalla and the Ludicael and he would do anything in his pour to nourish that relationship.
Cormalin |
She jumped like a fawn out of a thicket when he spoke, but after the initial alarm, she held her ground and studied him, suspicion evident in her teal gaze before she nodded, eyes still on him. She spoke her reply, and he listened with interest. She went on to say that she?d never been in a pack, and her reference to her only contact made him wonder what pack she?d come across.
She gave her head a shake, seeming to clear her mind, then went on that she wouldn?t bore him. ?On the contrary, I find tales interesting, but you don?t need to speak of it if you don?t want to.? It was then that she seemed to realize that she hadn?t introduced herself. She gave her name as Meili. He mulled over the name. ?A pleasure, Meili. So what do you plan to do with your future? Are you considering joining a pack?? The gentle question was given, before a black male approached, giving a greeting, before introducing himself. Deteste. The male had the scent of an Alpha. |
Cormalin |
Meili?s reaction to Detestes arrival wasn?t as pronounced as her reaction to his own approach. A slight smile tugged at the corners of his maw as she gave a polite greeting to Deteste?s introduction. Her answer to his own question had been a nod, and she had seemed to be about to answer vocally when Deteste had arrived. The hesitation he could understand. If she had only ever been a rogue all her life, with the only experience of a pack being horrible, then joining a pack, any pack, would be a big step. And not a little frightening, he thought sympathetically. He had to give her praise for her courage though. Deteste?s reply to Cormalin?s inquiry brought a smile to the older male?s face, and he answered Deteste with a wider smile. ?I?ve heard that your Territory is a beautiful place. Perhaps someday our packs will have a meet? It?s good to see new places. Valhalla is a land of plains and patches of forest. Beautiful place, but I have never seen a mangrove in my life..? Mismatched eyes twinkled with good humor as he allowed Deteste to veer the subject away from possible joining of either pack. ?A hunt does sound good. As long as it?s not rabbits. I?ll leave those to younger and faster wolves.? He smiled to Meili. Her light frame and long legs were perfect for hunting bunnies. |