Tired of Being Lonely
11-08-2013, 12:45 PM
Qanik limped through the redwood trees, tired, footsore, and heartsick. It had been months now that she'd been on her own. Months of subsisting off rabbits and squirrels and whatever else she could catch on her own, months of being chased off territory by unwelcoming packs, months that had just strengthened her belief that she was nothing without a pack to belong to. Just the thought of her old pack sent a pulse of pain and guilt through her. Her fault that her father, the alpha, had died when she'd frozen up in battle and he'd had to save her. Her fault that the pack had slowly disintegrated without his leadership, when she should have worked harder to keep them together.
A failure. It was no wonder she hadn't been welcome anywhere.
The white female slumped down in the shelter of one of the trees and, sighing, began licking her aching paws. She just couldn't muster the energy to keep going, and what did it matter anyway? She could be lonely here just as well here as anywhere else.
A failure. It was no wonder she hadn't been welcome anywhere.
The white female slumped down in the shelter of one of the trees and, sighing, began licking her aching paws. She just couldn't muster the energy to keep going, and what did it matter anyway? She could be lonely here just as well here as anywhere else.
11-08-2013, 03:53 PM
Aislin had been mostly everywhere it seemed, but over the last couple of days, she had been in the Red Forest much longer than any other land. Aislin for some reason liked the scenery in this forest and it was sad that no pack resided here. It would have been a perfect place for anyone considering the number of possible shelters here. The way that Autumn had settled here made this place peaceful and mysterious, and the silence mixed with the occasional whispers from the trees was all that was needed to make this the perfect place. The smells in the forest confirmed that other animals besides her kind had agreed. The leaves crunched beneath her blackened claws and paws and the smell from the freshly crunched leaves lifted into her nose, and warmed her lungs. It caused her heart to flutter and a smile to spread on her lips, which usually never happened. Aislin was a monotone, mellow sort of wolf with few emotions, and only care for herself. More or less, she was kind of ho hum of everything, and wasn't seriously affected by any traumatic or dramatic events that took place, unless it involved her, however, there were a couple times already where she saved two wolves; an adult and a pup. Aislin felt that was highly out of character from herself, but with the way both victims were treated it would have been very shitty if she just stood by and did nothing, and refusing to become more than a witness. Besides, it gave some excitement to her otherwise dull life.
Aislin came deeper within to the forest where the trees were much taller and thicker, and upon coming upon a tree that was open in the trunk much like a den, an inside was a white wolf and it made her jump slightly. The thickness of the trees had blocked out the scent since she was hiding inside, and even with her tracking skills, how she was not able to smell her was disappointing and surprising, but Aislin didn't dwell on it for now. The white female was licking her paws, possibly sore from her travels or just washing out dirt and maybe rocks in between the pads, and looking rather down. Who would want to be down in a place like this? It confused the jet black tracker.
"Hello there. Another new face in a new land. Though you don't look presently happy."
Aislin groaned internally hoping that she wouldn't have to be another savior of sorts to this wolf, as she had been in the past. As much as it was needed for the prior events, it was still so annoying that she had to stumble on it twice in a row, all in the way of finding her perfect pack. Ludicael was still heavily on her mind for the mixture that the pack had, as all the others were too goody goody with stupid goals or unobtainable ones, or just evil ones who were crazy out of their minds. Aislin was neutral evil, not chaotic, but whatever paid the right price for her own sake, she would take regardless. Aislin had heard about Glaciem where every female there was used for nothing but breeding. As much as Aislin liked the pleasure aspect of it, the pleasure was only temporary and not long lasting, and it strained the body unnecessarily. Tracking and running Aislin liked better. Eventually, she would become a hunter and be successful at it. For now, she was to remain a tracker.
Focusing her attention back to the white female, she wondered what her name was. Aislin wasn't too keen on sharing hers until she at least heard what she had to say, and most of the time she expected others to say their name first as Aislin wasn't the most trusting of lone wolves. Pack wolves had a bigger sense of dignity and duty that Aislin preferred (especially since she was a pack wolf before), and those that were rogues for too long tended to lose that sense of respect or discipline over time. Aislin refused not to so she would keep her mind in a sort of alpha state, but with no territory. It was rough to explain how it worked, but it worked for her and that was all that mattered.
"727 words. Man I had to type!"
11-08-2013, 04:41 PM
Qanik was so tired and so lost in her own self pity that she completely missed the approach of another wolf to her hidden resting place. It was only when she heard a voice address her that she realized anyone was there. She whipped her head up, fur bristling in alarm, to see another wolf.
She took a moment to assess the situation and regain her balance mentally. Female wolf. Taller than Qanik, but built lighter and she looked younger. Less experienced, maybe? Not something that could be depended on, and she looked fairly rested while Qanik herself was worn out.
Qanik cast a glance and a sniff at the forest around them, but the other wolf seemed to be alone. She didn't smell like she belonged to a pack, but again, not safe to assume. She could be a scout, away from the pack long enough for their scent to have faded. Better to err on the side of caution.
The white wolf levered herself carefully to her feet to put herself on more even footing with the black female.
"I'm just passing through," she said warily. "Taking a break to rest my paws, that's all. Not looking to encroach on anyone's land."
But it felt like a lie to say she was only passing through, and she didn't want it to see like she was hiding anything, so she added, "I'm looking for a pack to join up with, if they'll have me. Name's Qanik."
She took a moment to assess the situation and regain her balance mentally. Female wolf. Taller than Qanik, but built lighter and she looked younger. Less experienced, maybe? Not something that could be depended on, and she looked fairly rested while Qanik herself was worn out.
Qanik cast a glance and a sniff at the forest around them, but the other wolf seemed to be alone. She didn't smell like she belonged to a pack, but again, not safe to assume. She could be a scout, away from the pack long enough for their scent to have faded. Better to err on the side of caution.
The white wolf levered herself carefully to her feet to put herself on more even footing with the black female.
"I'm just passing through," she said warily. "Taking a break to rest my paws, that's all. Not looking to encroach on anyone's land."
But it felt like a lie to say she was only passing through, and she didn't want it to see like she was hiding anything, so she added, "I'm looking for a pack to join up with, if they'll have me. Name's Qanik."
11-08-2013, 04:57 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-08-2013, 04:58 PM by Aislin.)
It seemed that Aislin had also caught the female off guard, possibly because of the same reason that she couldn't smell the wolf, though the sound of footsteps on the leaves should have been a dead giveaway. Perhaps Aislin was just that light footed. When the female jumped, Aislin gave an apologetic look. As much as she didn't like involving herself into troubling situations, she didn't like causing them either. Even though Aislin was taller than this female, it seemed she was also younger, but it was hard to say what differences in experience the two women had. The female seemed a little guarded, which was understandable, and answered that she was just passing through. It confused Aislin a little, but perhaps she was headed somewhere too. Maybe she was in search of a pack like Aislin. Before Aislin could open her mouth to reply, the white woman continued and confirmed her answer; she was looking for a pack, just like her. Aislin hadn't come across another with the same goal or ambition. Perhaps they could travel together so that the days weren't so boring, or maybe the female didn't wish for company. For now, it seemed that the female was not yet so trusting. Neither was Aislin so they were currently on common ground. It made Aislin at least feel a little better.
"Aislin. And I was also originally, though more I am exploring. Discovering what other packs are around. I have found a few, but none have piqued my interest like Ludicael. Like you, I am also searching for a pack. Nice to meet you."
Aislin remained kind to Qanik, though pronouncing her name tickled her tongue like a new flavor; tingling to the tastebuds, but in time she would adapt to it. The black female sat down, trying to make her more neutral body language to be that of a little more friendly so the other female would be a little more comfortable. The way she shifted herself was Aislin shifted her shoulders so they were in a relaxed slouch, and her neck was not so tall like a soldier in a squad line, but loose and relaxed like someone who would be slouching. Aislin's tail also wrapped around her toes, since she stopped they began to get cold. Licking her lips, Aislin wetted them with her tongue so it was easier and not so chapped to speak to the white Qanik.
"Are you new to the lands like me? Or have you been a rogue for a while?"
Aislin asked just to make conversation. Her voice was soft, not necessarily monotone, but it held a positive and relaxed tone to it. Aislin had been wandering for a very long time since she left her last pack, which was more boring than watching water dry on a rock. In honesty, they did nothing more than get together and... just be together. Sure, hunts occurred once in a while, but there were no adventures, no great festivals or celebrations, just nothing going on and it bored the hell out of her. It was one of the reasons why Aislin became a rogue, though she was pretty much ready to settle down again. One of the other reasons was because she just felt like getting away and being by herself for a while. Being the neutral evil she was, she only desired things for herself, but at the same time, she didn't mind accompanying others. It made her life a little less boring that way, and really there was no need to waste energy by acting insane and crazy, and making the beautiful world that much darker of a place. Honestly wolves that fed off of their body's adrenaline by battles or whatever their rise came from and not focusing on what their destiny or purpose was just simply frustrated Aislin, and she preferred to not associate with wolves like that. Aislin didn't mind the rogue life, but after a while it got rather bland and tasteless, and Aislin could use some spice to kick it back up a little bit.
"685 words."