oedipus
The soldier stopped, shook his soaked fur, and kept going. Wet snow, this. Temperature wasn't high enough for it to stick and not melt from his body heat. It covered the ground well enough that there was no way to tell where he was, even if the blizzard wasn't right in his face. Better hope it slacked off before he froze to death, he supposed. Or maybe he'd make it to the trees he'd spotted in the distance, right before the storm started. Yeah. Possibility. Unlikely, though. He stumbled over his own feet, regained his balance without thinking about it, and stopped again to catch his breath. Walk along, moving slower and stubmling more often. Either the snow cleared slightly or the hill he came to was unexpectedly large, but it loomed in his vision suddenly. A huge, insurmountable obstacle. He'd have to go around it. Keep going, then. He wasn't really dead yet. Pretty close, though. Ganelon skirted the side of the hill, blinded again by snow, hummed a few notes of a song to himself, and imagined for a minute that he was carrying on a conversation with someone. Not that there was anyone in the world who would want to talk to him.
Did it anyway. Got as far as 'how are the kids?' before he tripped again and found himself staring at the entrance to a cave. Maybe the gods still wanted to keep him around after all. The scarred wolf struggled back to his feet and lurched through the entrance and into the darkness beyond. It was more or less completely black for a second until his eyes got used to it.
The first few things he noticed were some pictures on the walls, which meant nothing to him. Next were bones from a deer maybe, which was a clear sign that other wolves lived here and he'd probably just wandered right into some pack's den. Whatever. Ganelon would take his chances with a local tribe rather than the blizzard outside. He shook water out of his fur, which didn't much help the fact that he was already so stupid numb from cold that he could barely move, limped backwards to put his tail against one of the walls, and waited. Probably wouldn't take long for someone to show up. If it did he would assume he was completely safe.
Better be prepared to fight, though. The soldier lowered his head down near the floor, so a surprise would have to be aimed at his already-scarred shoulders, and concentrated on breathing in hopes that the extra oxygen would warm him up faster.
Noises in the darkness. He was ready.
ooc: Gonna be small :c Im at school.
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Must be the alpha around here. Ganelon afforded him the respect that he'd expect if someone had walked into his place. So he didn't make any threats, but he wasn't really the type to suck up, either. He stood normal, head and eyes and personality as neutral as possible, and waited to see if the other wolf would talk. Or maybe he was expected to say something. Ganelon thought about it for a second.
Couldn't think of anything to say. Decided to keep quiet. Talking wasn't his strong point anyway, and it wasn't like he was going to start defending himself like some kind of terrified kid. The guy might be upset by that. A bunch of people he'd met lately didn't seem happy with the fact that he chose not to talk all the time, but there it was. He supposed he'd have to get used to it.
He shot the bigger male a curious look suddenly. If he was in charge of a pack, maybe he'd be interested in hiring a soldier on for the winter. Or the year, whichever. Ganelon needed a warm place to sleep and he assumed someone as arrogant-looking as this guy probably had some enemies. Maybe he was looking for a person to kill them. Or keep an eye on them. The scarred wolf cleared his throat in preperation to say something and settled on introducing himself.
"Ganelon Maokas," he said, in a tone of voice that he hoped made it clear that he was saying his name and not just some words. Voice inflections were difficult and he knew his accent was atrocious, but it would have to do. He paused to see if the younger (visibly younger) male had anything to say before he took another stab at conversation.
ooc: Gonna be small :c Im at school.
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Presently the other wolf seemed to figure out what he was doing and introduced himself. He was the alpha, like Ganelon had figured. Had a last name and a welcome for him. Ganelon hadn't been welcomed to many places before. The soldier waited a bit longer and he kept talking - a question and then he turned and walked off, still chatting. What he was saying wasn't something Ganelon cared too much for, though. Sure, he was as willing to join this Amenti pack as much as he was any other. Dedicate his life to this place, though? Why? Ganelon was pretty fond of his life. Although, to be honest, it wasn't as if he had much of it left to dedicate. Still. Ganelon wasn't a knight anymore. So the white wolf raised his head slightly and ground out another few words at the other wolf's departing back. One step forward, to move his back away from the wall slightly. He wasn't on the defensive. And he had to make it clear that he was interested, so he moved his body language from 'passive' to 'mildly curious.'
"I'm a mercenary." What's in this for me? He wasn't some desperate homeless loner, either, looking for some place to call home. He'd had one of those already and he wasn't there now. He was a professional and he had professional needs. The white wolf stood and waited, flicking his remaining ear into a neutral position again. Negotiations. Fortunately his wants and needs were pretty simple. Ganelon had worked for everything from a dry bed to women to a meal, before, but if this guy wanted him on a permanent basis he'd have to offer up something pretty lucrative.
Or the other man might change his mind, and probably attack him, but Ganelon figured even if he lost he'd leave a mark on the man that this Syrinx fellow wouldn't forget quickly. Ganelon fought hard when his life was on the line. Which was always. He wasn't one to play the challenges and dominance games.