Lost and Lonely [Thanatos]

[Deleted]

The soft, slow thud of his own footsteps was lulling Jericho to sleep. It had been a long few days of wandering, and he wasn't in danger of dehydrating or starving just yet, but he was tired. He tried to keep himself alert by paying attention to the rhythm of the sounds his footfalls were making on the cool earth and the feel of the grass on the pads of his feet.

It didn't take long before Jericho felt another vibration in the earth, not caused by his own weight. Instinctively he looked around for a place to take cover despite knowing there was nothing in his immediate vicinity. He crouched on the incline of the hill he was standing on to keep out of sight of whatever was on the other side of the hill and used his sense of smell to determine what was there. The unfamiliar scent of bison flooded his nostrils as he breathed in, but despite the unfamiliarity of the scent, he could tell he was in no danger. They smelled distinctly of large prey.

Jericho slowly moved around the hill to catch a glimpse of the bison. Perhaps he could think of a way to take one down. However, there was another scent he picked up in addition to the cool, clean air, the damp grass, and the bison. Something familiar that stopped him in his tracks.

His eyes widened as he made the realization that this was a wolf scent. And not just one wolf -- a pack of them. He had unknowingly stumbled upon a pack territory. No longer feeling drowsy with adrenaline coursing through his veins, he stood there weighing his options. He had no doubt he could return the way he had come and never have to run into these wolves, but his curiosity was piqued. He had to know more about the wolves in these lands. It was entirely possible they were different from the past he was trying to avoid.

Yes, he needed to do this, only if not to have to wonder "what if" forever after this. He could track the wolves by their scent. He was bound to run into them eventually. Taking in another deep breath full of all of the scents on the hills, he cautiously moved in the direction he thought the wolves would be, hoping this wouldn't turn out to be a mistake.


Words: 401
Muse: Medium
Tags: Thanatos

[Thanatos]

The day had been so, so quiet.

The wind was soft and cool, like a refuge in the midst of the bright sun. The grass intertwined with the wind, and it tickled Thanatos's sides as he rested calmly under the shade of a tree. As the days went by, this place had become Than's favorite, because of the enormous peace and quiet he felt here. The birds chirped distantly in their little homes, the clouds were up high and slow in their paths, and the sun was bright, but warm and embracing. His eyes were semi opened, often closing due to the weight he felt upon them. Things had been hectic around here since Eden formed, and Thanatos felt exhausted. It was as if all the work of the week had finally found its way to increase the burden on his shoulders. It was due to this reason that Thanatos was found sleeping often, using every moment he had to his own to recharge his batteries.

He had a dream before waking up that had him thinking a lot. In this dream, he saw Elohim in the form of a white lion resting on the side of a river. The lion was majestic, with piercing blue eyes that were as fierce as they were loving. He was quiet, observing the river flow throughout Tiayr. Then, the lion looked at Than, and smiled. Thanatos couldn't speak, but the silence that surrounded him was comforting. There were no words spoken, just a soft smile. Thanatos walked and moved near Elohim, and the Great Spirit kept smiling at him, inviting him to rest alongside Him. 

Thanatos rested his body on the soft grass, and placed his head on top of Elohim's front legs. He breathed peace and exhaled all of his anxiety, all of his burdens and worries were now vanished into the air. Was Elohim allowing him to rest, because He knew that he was tired? Possibly. But all he knew is that he was thankful because now he felt much better. Even if he didn't want to stand up, he felt rested and free for the first time in what seemed like ages. However, the wind suddenly brought an unfamiliar scent that entered his nostrils, making him immediately be on his feet. A male was approaching.

Walking towards the direction of the scent, he saw a rusty colored wolf with intense yellow eyes walk in the direction of the borders. He began to pick up his pace until he was now a few feet from the stranger. "Greetings, stranger. I am Thanatos, Haimovi of Eden. May Elohim bless you," he spoke, his voice respectful but somewhat firm, "what brings you to the lands of Eden?" Standing still, he hoped that this stranger wanted to join, and that this wasn't anything to worry about. A smile quickly appeared in his maw, protecting a softer atmosphere for the lone traveler. 

@jericho

[Deleted]

As Jericho continued to walk, he could clearly sense the presence of another wolf nearing him. The wind, gently blowing his slightly matted fur, now sent chills down his spine but was unfortunately headed the wrong direction for him to be able to pick up a clear scent. It did not, however, take long for the form of a wolf to be visible approaching him.

Jericho stood still, not quite sure what to do. Should he back off? Should he also walk towards the wolf? What should his stance be? Out of habit, Jericho began lowering his head and tail, not wanting to upset this wolf, whose lands he knew he had trespassed on. He kept a careful eye trained on the wolf, though, to notice movement patterns that might be indicative of imminent attack. He saw no such signs as the wolf continued to close the distance between them.

A wave of relief rushed over Jericho at the words of the stranger, senseless as they were to him. This wolf was friendly, welcoming even, wishing him blessing. He smiled and dipped his head in greeting, still puzzling over what he could have meant. Eden, he could only assume was the name of the pack. Haimovi? Elohim? These words made no sense to him. But before his questions could be answered, there was a protocol that needed to be followed.

"Greetings, Thanatos," he replied. "My name is Jericho, and I am sorry to have trespassed on your lands." He paused before continuing, not sure how much he should say about his intentions. He didn't know anything about this wolf or the pack. Though if he was going to get answers from anyone, this wolf seemed a good choice to ask. The way he carried himself spoke of his position in the pack. He was clearly not one of the lower ranked wolves. Jericho realized it was entirely possible he was speaking with the alpha.

With this knowledge, he took a few moments to choose his words carefully and respectfully, his eyes on his dirty and worn paws, now ashamed of how haggard his appearance must be. But he had so many questions. Where to start? "Eden is your pack?" he began. A harmless enough question, leaving room for Thanatos to explain anything he wanted about the pack, something Jericho was very curious about. "And who is Elohim?"




Thanatos

[Thanatos]

The yellow-eyed stranger seemed friendly in Thanatos's eyes, which made Thanatos sigh a little in relief. He stood still, with his head on high but his body posture calm and relaxed. Curiosity apparently took over the male's mind as he asked about the pack and about Elohim. Thanatos then decided to sit down, in order to make the stranger even more comfortable in this environment. His name was Jericho--it was a rather unique name indeed, that made Than tilt his head a little as he heard the male pronounce it. "Yes," Thanatos began, "Eden is the pack I founded under Elohim's guidance," he said proudly and softly, looking for a second at the beautiful land that surrounded him. Returning his focus back to Jericho, he then continued. "Elohim is simply... indescribable, but I'll try," he chuckled before continuing, "He is also known as the Great Spirit, and He is what gives this pack a purpose. He created everything we see around us, and He is the Father of Creation. He is the deity we worship and love with our hearts and souls." Thanatos then remained quiet, trying to explain Elohim to Jericho in a way that it could be easily understood.

"I had a couple of visions and dreams," Thanatos said, "and through those dreams, Elohim spoke to me. He told me to lead a pack that would give hope to the hopeless, and guided me to these lands that we now claim as our own. But... as time passes, we'll discover about Him more and more. We just have to have faith," Thanatos smiled at Jericho, hoping that he had understood at least something of it. If not, Thanatos was sure that he would understand someday. Elohim was still a novelty for Thanatos, so he was capable of understanding if Jericho didn't catch up on what he had said, because Thanatos himself was only starting to comprehend Him.

"All in all," Thanatos interjected, "I invite you to become a part of your family, and to find a purpose among our lands." Thanatos nodded vaguely to reaffirm his statement, because in these lands he had found his own purpose. Sitting down quietly as the wind blew between the two males, Thanatos hoped for the best out of this encounter, and for the growth of Eden. He had no idea what plans Elohim had, but he was sure excited to be a part of them...

@jericho / Sorry for the insanely late reply x.x

[Deleted]

Thanatos was so… regal-looking. He was not that much bigger than Jericho himself, but there was something about the way he carried himself and his disposition that commanded respect. Jericho could not help but assume a more submissive position. His body seemed to move instinctively, on its own, as if knowing what place he held in relation to this wolf.

Elohim is simply… indescribable, but I’ll try.

Jericho listened intently and hung on every word Thanatos spoke of Elohim. The words seemed to resonate deep within him and spread outward towards his extremities, bringing warmth with them. There was something wonderful about the Elohim that Jericho wanted to know. And the conviction with which Thanatos spoke of him. So sure. He did not speak as though he had to convince others; he spoke simply as if he was stating fact.

He is what gives this pack a purpose.

Purpose. It was a concept that had plagued Jericho’s mind for quite a while. The idea seemed so elusive. It was something the wolf had been after his whole life and had yet to find. Perhaps this was what he was missing? He had never considered the idea of belief in a deity, but now that he was confronted with it, it did not seem so outrageous at all.

“So what is your purpose?” Jericho interrupted. He noticed immediately that he had spoken out of turn and lowered his ears and eyes and kept quiet while he waited for Thanatos to finish. But this was something he desperately needed to find out. This deity—this Elohim—gave them a purpose. What was that purpose? What was this pack like? Thanatos spoke of worship and love. It did not sound like a violent or selfish pack, but as far as Jericho was concerned, one could not be too careful.

But Thanatos answered his question without even pausing to consider it, just in talking about Elohim. To give hope to the hopeless. Jericho almost didn’t need to ask anything else. He was ready to commit himself to this kind of life. If only Thanatos would have him?

But before he could ask, Thanatos invited him. Jericho could hardly believe what had just happened. So many thoughts were swirling in his head. So many questions. But none as important as this decision.

His eyes watering in wonder and happiness, he bowed his head and muttered, “I would be honored.” It was all he could manage. There was still so much to speak with the Haimovi about. So much he needed to know. “How can I be useful to Eden?” This question was important to him above all. He did not believe in taking without giving, and he was going to give all he could for this pack.

Words: 462
Muse: good.
Tags: Thanatos
Notes: My eyes started watering imagining Jericho’s feelings and emotions and response. :3

[Thanatos]

There was something about this wolf that made Thanatos happy about following Elohim's will and creating the pack. He seemed... lost, hopeless, and Thanatos observed how the brute's eyes lit up as the bright, twinkling stars of the night sky as he spoke about the Great Spirit. There was a thirst to know more about Elohim in everyone's eyes, but he had yet seen anyone to be as thirsty for that love as Jericho was. It made Thanatos's heart swell up with gratitude and joy to see how Elohim was directing every step of the way and uniting them as a family--and now, He was adding new members to that family every day. His heart just couldn't take it; it sometimes made his eyes fill up with tears. Sometimes he felt as if he was swimming in Elohim's love. He felt tiny in such an enormous ocean of grace.

Redirecting his thoughts back to Jericho, Thanatos smiled as the other asked about how he could be useful for Eden. Thanatos then looked at him as he pondered about his question before answering. "Well, we have various ranks here that I can offer to you. There are Pallatons, which are warrior apprentices, there are Akandos which are our hunters, the Abeques which are caretakers and gatherers... or, you can be a Hastiin, a normal subordinate, until you find your calling in Elohim," he smiled, then looked at Jericho once again, "although... you seem like the hunter type, am I right?" he inquired as a soft smile formed in his lips. He didn't know what gave it away... maybe it was Jericho's slender frame and long legs that gave him the appearance of a swift runner and agile hunter. He could be wrong, but still, they needed hunters. And who knew... maybe Jericho would end up being the Otaktay, the leader of the hunters.

Thanatos had already begun to observe the wolves that surrounded him. He knew that some of them were perfect for certain ranks that he had in mind, but he was still analyzing a few aspects before coming to a decision. He needed a second-in-command, an Ogema, to be there for him when he couldn't be present, or act in his name with allies. He needed a strong warrior as the Qatelaqa, and a wise, spiritual wolf for the Yenene rank. But, he knew that Elohim would bring the missing pieces of the puzzle one at a time. All he had to do was have faith in Him and trust Him more. He looked at Jericho, and he began to see a lot of potential in him, but he kept quiet as he stood still, waiting for the reply of the multicolored male in front of him.

@jericho

[Deleted]

The Haimovi’s mood seemed to resonate deeply with Jericho, the two almost feeding off of the emotions emanating from each other. In that moment, Jericho felt as though he knew this wolf beyond their brief encounter today. He felt a sense of connectedness and belonging that he could not remember ever having felt except maybe in his dreams. Was he sure this was not a dream? If he did not think it would look stupid to Thanatos, Jericho would have tried nipping himself to make sure he was indeed awake.

there are Akandos which are our hunters…

Among the explanations of the Haimovi, which Jericho was struggling to follow considering these were all new terms he had not heard before (had they come from Elohim himself?), this phrase stuck out at him. Hunters. Yes, that is one thing I can do, he thought to himself.

although... you seem like the hunter type, am I right?

This wolf never ceased to amaze him. They had just met. Thanatos could not possibly know this about him. And yet he did. His insight and wisdom and understanding far surpassed anything Jericho had ever imagined. This sparked a train of thought about the nature of his communication with Elohim. Did Elohim speak with him on a daily basis? Had Thanatos known about Jericho’s arrival? Or was Elohim communicating with him perhaps in his head this very minute guiding him in what to say? Or had Elohim simply chosen a wolf he knew would have the necessary skills for the task with which he had charged him. Jericho was not sure how this worked, and asking seemed unnecessary for the moment. He did not need all his questions answers, and many of them already had been. In fact, his biggest question about what part he was to play in the game of life had been answered this day. He should give it a rest with the questions.

Still somewhat in awe, Jericho responded, “Yes, that is correct. If I may be so bold, I have acquired some amount of skill in that field.” With a nervous laugh he added, “I suppose that is not uncommon for those who end up fending for themselves, however.” Still, it was something he could offer the pack. Whether he hunted with others from the pack or not, bringing down enough prey to feed several of them would not be a problem for him. “I could join Eden as a hunter, then? I would be glad to extend whatever I can offer.”

Words: 424
Muse: fading… it’s nearing the end of the day. I apologize.
Tags: Thanatos
Notes: How much longer do you want to continue this? Was there anything in particular Thanatos wanted to say or show Jericho or should we wrap it up soon?

[Thanatos]

“Yes, that is correct. If I may be so bold, I have acquired some amount of skill in that field. I suppose that is not uncommon for those who end up fending for themselves, however. I could join Eden as a hunter, then? I would be glad to extend whatever I can offer.”

Thanatos smiled at Jericho before replying to his petition. "Of course you may join as a hunter, Jericho, and I officially welcome you to Eden's family as our Akando. You'll be working alongside Naira in providing the daily food of the Eden family," Thanatos smiled before adding with a soft, fatherly tone he used quite a lot lately, "and listen here, Jericho. You are not just a member of our pack, but you are now part of our family and you already are our brother in Elohim. And I am proud to welcome you; may Elohim bless you deeply and greatly." A smile formed in his lips as he saw the bright, yellow eyes of the newest pack member and brother. 

Thanatos sighed and then observed Jericho once more. This male had come from a possible hard life, and wandered the beautiful valleys of Anikira without a sense of purpose in his life. And his heart was aching because of this--there were hundreds just like Jericho who did not have a sense of purpose, and he knew that from a first-hand experience. For many years he wandered too in this Earth without hope and without purpose, until Elohim found him. And he couldn't be more grateful about it, and sometimes he felt unworthy of such love. But, he promised himself that he would preach about His love to everyone he could--everyone had the same shot of redemption as he himself did when he felt that the world was ending due to Kuruk's death. And now, he was in front of Jericho, and that same sense of wonder and purpose was apparent in him. He knew there were others like Jericho, serving as a mirror of his own image of how he was when he had no hope in this life.

And now, he was excited to see new members being added to the family every day. He knew that Jericho would do a fantastic job, and in his vivid eyes he saw the possibility of him becoming something greater than Jericho even wondered possible. Jericho didn't know about it, but he would be under intense study by Thanatos, just to make sure what he is capable of. Thanatos believed that Jericho may be the hunter of hunters, but only time would tell. He had to live one day at a time. Smiling at the sunny-eyed male, he signaled him to follow him into the mainland. "Come," he said, "let's go home."

@jericho

[Deleted]

Jericho could hardly contain his excitement. An Akando! All of this was so unfamiliar to him. He wondered how long it would take him before he would catch onto all of their strange terms for everything. Akando, he repeated to himself and smiled. Yes, he could get used to that.

Thanatos’ mention of Naira caused his tail to start wagging a bit as if it had a life of his own. Social situations were not something Jericho was used to of late, and something which he longed for. Having a fellow hunter would be so much fun. “I very much look forward to meeting Naira. I’m sure I have much I can learn from her about your lands, the game here, and your hunting techniques.”

and listen here, Jericho. You are not just a member of our pack, but you are now part of our family and you already are our brother in Elohim. And I am proud to welcome you; may Elohim bless you deeply and greatly.

Jericho felt a lump in his throat that seemed to keep getting tighter. This was truly more than he deserved. “How did you get to be the way you are?” he asked, trying to swallow the lump. Aware that must have sounded like a strange question and might need a bit of explanation, he continued, “I just mean that… You are so different from any alpha or pack wolf I have encountered before. Excuse me. Haimovi.” He smiled a sheepish grin and added on, “It might take me a bit to learn all the names. I apologize.”

He stood up and followed the larger wolf’s signal and beckoning to go home. Jericho felt as if he could almost fly across the ground his feet felt so light. It was then that he became consciously aware of his appearance again. Being a loner had taken its toll on him in so many ways. Was he going to be taken straight to the heart of their territory or shown around the lands a bit? Either way, Jericho hoped the opportunity for a bath would present itself soon, preferably before he met the rest of the pack. The thought of being introduced to them in his current state was a bit embarrassing and heat rushed into his cheeks. He walked in silence next to the Haimovi, however, patiently waiting for a response to his question. This was an odd wolf and an odd pack, but he felt privileged to be part of it. He already felt as if he fit right in.

Words: 428
Muse: Found some stuck in the Venom thread. xD
Tags: Thanatos
Notes: How long do you want to keep going before we wrap this up?