Uninvited [Open]

[Deleted]

The scent of others haunted the male as he padded through the flat lands, golden grass nearly as tall as the brute surrounding him like a vast ocean, gently waving in the soft autumn breeze. Keeping his head low and eyes ever moving, Everest moved quickly through the foreign lands. The plains seemed to last forever, mind numbing and monotonous, Everest had lost track of how long he had been traveling there. The sun was still rising in the east, the morning new.

Each step was a step closer to untold dangers, and Everest’s mind never ceased its worrying. As the largest of his litter, he felt it was his place to keep them all together, to ensure that everyone was safe, when deep down he knew… There was nothing he could do to save them, if something bad were to happen. Life had brought a series of misfortune, starting with the death of his smallest, frail sister. His mother had abandoned them before the sun could set, and father… Memories of his father’s final moments, bloody and horrific, still fresh in his mind. He saw it night and day, a nightmare he could never escape. It took everything he had to keep from breaking down, but for the sake of his brother and sister, he continued on.

Everest was growing closer to his adult size, and he had inherited his father’s stocky, muscular physique, but the young wolf found it difficult to eat, even when they were successful in catching something. It was never bigger than a hare or fish, and it was never enough to feed the orphaned trio. In desperation, Everest had struck out on his own today, hoping to find something more substantial to hunt. They were far from being experts when it came to tracking and catching prey, but they were learning. Now, Everest was no longer certain he was treading safe ground. The smells of other wolves, though faint, were undeniable present there, and he didn’t know if he was still in the unclaimed lands that remained open to those who had no pack to claim it.

The sound of movement nearby stopped the boy dead in his tracks, and his breath escaped in a warm gasp. The muscles tightened beneath his pale pelt as the fur along his neck stood on end unconscious, masked face peeking over the grass cautiously.

words: 401

tags: Descai?

ooc: short post, just trying to get him out and about.

[Saphira]

Saphira walked along the prairie lands, a bounce in her step, as usual, almost giving the impression she was skipping. Despite her upbeat and happy demeanor, she was not particularly excited on this morning, but neither was she melancholy by any means. It was simply another morning, and sadly, another morning she could not be by the water. Today, she needed to hunt. She also kept a sharp eye peeled for rattlers. They liked to be difficult to see, and she did not feel like upsetting one by accidentally stepping on it.

The weather was fairly nice, she noticed. That is… if you like overcast skies with a chilling breeze and the threat of rain hanging over you. But Saphira tried to maintain her cheerful demeanor. It almost felt fake today, and she was not sure why. Perhaps she should have requested help on her hunting venture. She was well aware of the fact that hunting was not necessarily her strong suit, and this was sometimes exceedingly frustrating to her as an idealist. She might be able to snag a few prairie dogs, however, if she was patient. They were quite plentiful, although fast.

Suddenly a scent permeated the air around her, distracting her from her thoughts—a foreign scent. There was someone here, and they distinctly did not smell of Descai. Several emotions rushed through her in quick succession: confusion that someone would trespass on obvious pack territory, curiosity at who this could be, excitement that it might be a wolf looking to join Descai, disappointment that they were likely only passing through, and a bit of fear that they could be hostile.

“Well, the only way to know is to go figure it out,” she sighed. Not wanting to scare whoever it could be, she crouched lower into the grass and made sure to tread lightly as she headed in the direction of the smell, grateful for the tall grass that afforded her cover. She crept closer to the smell, and every now and then, she could have sworn she saw a flash of fur between the grass a ways out, but it could easily have been her imagination. Before she could actually approach the wolf or get near him, however, she recognized the still faint yet noticeable sound of a rattler who had just discovered her.

Saphira turned her head slowly to see a snake looking at her, its tongue flicking, coiled, and gently shaking the end of its tail. She inhaled sharply and carefully backed up before dashing a ways to the side out of the way of the rattler, which she was sure would not come pursuing her. However, in the excitement, she realized how noisy the grass was moving around her. “Darn it,” she whispered to herself knowing that the wolf must know someone else was here by now. She crouched even lower, her ears flattened to her head, her eyes tightly shut, but one opened a crack that she was peeking through, just waiting for the stranger to find her.

Words: 507
Muse: Good
Tags: @everest
Notes: you called for Descai?

[Deleted]

The cold touch of an autumnal breeze brought a shiver. His fur was thick, reminiscent of his Arctic ancestors, but the changing seasons were a hint of what was to come: winter. It would be the first winter in his young life, and the idea of it scared him. Would there be enough food? The ivory-hued brute had been taught to remain ever vigilant of sounds, but every now and then, he was afflicted by the same wandering mind that had brought so much trouble to his father. The words echoed endlessly: What if… The thought of what might have been followed him day and night, like an incessant shadow. His mind never seemed to stop racing, and the thoughts had not been positive since the death of his sister and disappearance of his mother. His memories were a trap.

What if I turn the wrong way, and am lost forever?

What if something happens to Ren and Arete while I’m away?

What if I run into someone who wants to rip me to pieces?

What if we had gone a different way that day?

What if Dad was still alive?

But some things could not be changed, no matter how much he wished to go back. Some things were gone forever, and he could only imagine with dread with tomorrow would bring to the trio of orphans.

Amongst the subtle scent of strangers, another scent had caught Everest’s attention, one more prevailing and precise, and one decidedly feminine. This fact alone set the male’s at ease, though he realized that females could be just as fierce as their masculine counterparts. It all depended on the wolf’s temperament, and given the recent traumas the boy had sustained, Everest was quick to assume the worst. The way the other wolf crept around suggested that she, too, was a loner in strange lands, uninvited and maybe even lost. The growl was lost from his lips before it escaped, neck craning so that he could get a better look without getting too close – just in case.

Through the tall grasses that obscured most of the brute from view, he caught a glimpse of white, with a dash of gold. The
day was gloomy, but the golden mask he spied from a distance was the color of morning sunshine, despite the dreary afternoon. ”Hello?” He was uncertain as he called out to the stranger. Everest was still young, but certainly did not have the voice of a child any longer. He looked closer to adult than puppy. Slowly, he stepped closer to the stranger, but his muscles remained taut. He was ready to run if he had to. But even from where he inched closer, he could see that the creature lurking in the grass was smaller than he was. Even though he was not yet full grown, he was a tall adolescent, and he was not finished growing just yet. ”I’m not looking to fight,” he offered, words slow and deliberate.

words: 512
tags: Saphira
ooc: yay!

[Saphira]

Hello?

The words seemed to pierce the silence very suddenly, and Saphira jerked and winced in reaction to the voice, even though she had been listening intently for it, all her senses heightened, knowing she could not escape its inevitability. Well, no point in hiding now. She stood up, peering through the grasses to see a very young, though considerably sized, wolf standing not far from her.

“Hello,” she replied uncertain, trying to muster the courage and confidence she knew belonged to a pack member in their own lands in the presence of a stranger. She had no reason to be intimidated. Her whole posture seemed to change as she straightened and her disposition moved from submissive to dominant. Probably the best way to keep a fight from occurring was to convince the other wolf she could win. After all, this was a trespasser on her lands. No need for her to defer to him.

I’m not looking to fight.

“What are you looking for, then?” she questioned gently, her eyes narrowing. This whole encounter was very different for Saphira who was used to making friends of everyone immediately. Her responses and words felt foreign to her. She was not like this. Who was she kidding? Hopefully, him, she thought to herself in response to the never ceasing strain of thoughts racing through her mind.

Unsure how long she could keep this up, she eased up, her facial muscles relaxing into a pleasant expression. “I’m Saphira, daughter of Vorilye, alpha of Descai.” Her chest seemed to swell with pride and her cheerful nature began to leak through in the tone with which she said those words. Her tail twitched and she sat down in front of him, assuming a very non-threatening pose, hoping they could have a nice chat. Why not just be herself? Did it matter that he was a stranger? They could still be friends. “Really, though, what are you doing here? You know these lands belong to Descai, right? Where do you come from? Do you have any family or friends nearby?”

Her seemingly endless questions droned on before Saphira caught herself and closed her mouth sheepishly, affording the young stranger the opportunity to respond to her incessant curiosity. Her hunting venture was already completely forgotten. Unimportant. She was completely wrapped up in the excitement of this new meeting. Other wolves were infinitely more interesting than prairie dogs.

Words: 400
Muse: Decent
Tags: @everest
Notes: Where do you want this to head? I’m open to friendships, or if you’d rather they remain acquaintances, that’s cool, too. Basically I’m just curious about your plans for Everest. =)

[Deleted]

The female revealed herself with some lingering reservation, her coat as white as the tallest mountain peaks, save for her face. She was a lovely fae, mismatched orbs meeting Everest’s own fiery eyes, and he couldn’t help but smile – partly out of relief that she was not very large, and because he had never really encountered someone beyond his own family before. Still, it was clear from the boy’s hunched posture that he was not comfortable, and his gaze was aimed squarely at the female’s dainty paws.

“What are you looking for, then?” The question brought a cloud of confusion to the façade of the young brute – seemingly so simple an inquiry, but one with implications that the gold-masked fae could not begin to comprehend, and something that Everest didn’t have the energy to explain. ”I – I don’t know,” he admitted quietly, more to himself than to the pale stranger, who had already moved on to the matter of introductions. She announced that she was called Saphira, and she was the child of an alpha. The mention of an alpha brought an unconscious scowl to his muzzle, someone whose name was as mysterious to Everest as the name of the pack he controlled. He looked at Saphira with newfound scrutiny. He was trespassing. He was doing the exact thing he knew would lead to trouble. The knowledge made the boy quiver, and he cast an uneasy glance to the side to find a quick escape if things quickly disintegrated into violence and chaos.

Saphira didn’t look like the sort who would kill him for overstepping his boundaries, but maybe her father was different. Nothing about her demeanor screamed alpha’s daughter – really, she seemed too nice to be from any pack. Granted, Everest’s experience was packs was limited to one horrendous day, but it was quite enough to sour his opinion of every pack that could be lurking around, waiting for intruders to punish. The girl’s feminine voice questioned, “Really, though, what are you doing here? You know these lands belong to Descai, right? Where do you come from? Do you have any family or friends nearby?”

The barrage of questions the young female posed nearly made the boy’s head spin, and for a lingering moment, he simply stared at Saphira, uncertain. He wasn’t sure where to begin, or what he should share. His eyes quickly fell to the dust beneath his paws. If she knew that his parents were gone, and that he was trespassing… There was just no guessing the trouble that could follow. And so Everest sat there, trying to seem dignified, calm, and collected, despite his mussed fur and the terror coiling inside of him. ”No. I don’t know anything about packs.” His mouth felt parched – How long had he been traveling now? ”My family? Yeah, they’re here. Well, not here exactly, because they wouldn’t be trespassing on purpose.” He cringed as he heard his own voice hanging in the air, quick to explain himself to avoid further ire. ”Not that I did it on purpose, though. I didn’t know, honest. My name is Everest. We’re wanderers,” he offered as his focus finally shifted upward to meet her stare again.

words: 571
tags: Saphira
ooc: sure, they can be friends!
He’ll be traveling north for a while as he grows,
and he’ll eventually settle down with Ananke, but not for a while.

[Deleted]

The plains were sprawling, stretching on endlessly, very much unlike Ren’s patience. He’d been tracking the scent of his brother for some time now, having reluctantly left Arete not long ago. He was fully aware that his sister was capable of caring for herself, and yet still the thought of leaving her – or any of his remaining family, which consisted of a meager two – gnawed at his conscious. Everest had left to hunt, and while Ren had originally agreed to stay with his sister, he’d swiftly changed his mind. They’d survived on little since they’d been forced to learn to feed themselves, and the guilt that Ren felt sitting idly while their elder brother searched for their meal could not be ignored any longer.

On and on he went, the stalks of grass brushing against his frame. He’d grown so much so swiftly, and while originally his gangly limbs had posed an irksome problem, the male had finally grown into his size. He was smaller than Everest still, and not quite as muscled as his brother, but Ren was fit from many days spent traveling, becoming burlier with each passing day.

It had certainly not been an easy like for the trio with tragedy hanging over their heads and dogging their steps, but still they persevered. Today was no different. The day could have been described as dreary at best, and while many wolves might have preferred sunshine and pleasant days, Ren thrived beneath the heavy gray clouds. The occasional bursts of chilled wind caressed the short fur along his muzzle, his face turning skywards as if it were sun rays touching him instead of frigid gusts. The sole downside to the weather was, unfortunately, the very reason he and his brother roamed today: prey. With the scent of rain so heavy in the air, he doubted that they would find much.

The sound of voices drifted through the stalks towards him and Ren froze, flashbacks of the last time he’d stumbled upon others in a foreign land assaulting him where he stood. He could almost smell the coppery tang of blood on the breeze as he had on that fateful day many moons ago, but it was not his father’s voice who floated towards him this time; it was Everest’s, followed swiftly by another that was undoubtedly feminine. ”…Saphira, daughter of Vorilye, alpha of Descai.” While she certainly did not sound threatening, Ren’s pace picked up as he approached the two, the grass obscuring his vision as the rest of their conversation reached his ears, louder now. His brother finished speaking just as Ren stepped into view, relief flickering in his gaze as he beheld Everest standing tall and healthy, entirely in one piece. His golden-brown gaze slid to the stranger whose name he’d narrowly caught, and immediately a grin replaced the worry on his features as he beheld the ivory-and-gold female who stood before him.

”And I’m Ren,” he interjected smoothly – or, as smoothly as a young brute who knew little to nothing of charm could. Just as Ren’s body grew and developed each day, so too did his personality, although this Saphira character was the first female who was not family that he’d stumbled upon. She was really quite pretty, he thought with a flick of his ear. ”My brother spoke truly when he said we didn’t mean to trespass, bless his honest heart. I hope we haven’t inconvenienced you.” He flashed a suave grin in her direction, entirely unconcerned with the fact that she was clearly older than he was.

TAG: @everest + Saphira
WORDS: 594
NOTES: lawl Ren is trying but failing to flirt; I figured Saphira can be the first to witness his failure since she's the first gal he's seen outside of family, poor thing. xD Also not gonna use his table since imageshack is being a butt.

[Saphira]

I – I don’t know.

Hesitance and unsurety is what Saphira heard. She could not really imagine why. It was true he was trespassing, but it isn’t like she could ever make a fearsome impression on anyone. And this brute was bigger than she by quite a significant sum. At least he was much taller. The fact that her introduction of herself brought a scowl to his face surprised and worried Saphira. What had she done wrong? She was only trying to be friendly. Perhaps this wolf was not interested in being friendly. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she contemplated how she would defend herself if it came to that. She was determined not to let him get the best of her. She was a proud princess of Descai. She could and would defend her pack, and there was nothing this loner could do to change that.

There was a pause and Saphira desperately tried to figure out what was going on in his head. Sometimes I think mind-reading would be so useful! she whined to herself in her thoughts.

At the mention of his family being here, Saphira tensed a little. How close was here? He seemed to imply it was not close enough to be an immediate threat to her or her pack. She opened her mouth to reply, but just then, another wolf appeared, seemingly out of thin air and startled her to her feet in one graceful, yet sudden, motion.

And I’m Ren.

The normally friendly and calm Saphira, who was already on edge from her short conversation with the first loner she had run into, bristled at the voice. Trespassers. They were everywhere, and she suddenly felt very surrounded and threatened. She tried to take a few deep breaths, telling herself things would only get worse if she let on that she was not comfortable with the situation.

The cheeky grin on the face of the second young wolf to appear was enough to make Saphira start laughing. Surely two wolves so young and inexperienced could not mean her harm. Her heartrate slowed and she resumed her friendly, open posture, her fur smoothing out again. Still laughing some, she responded, “It’s no inconvenience,” she half-lied. She really hadn’t been keen on hunting anyway. Meeting strangers was a more interesting use of time.

“So where do you guys come from? Where exactly is your family?” she flashed a smile at Ren, catching onto the fact that he was trying to impress her and attempting to use it to her advantage. She needed information from these wolves.

Words: 425
Muse: good
Tags: @everest, @ren
Notes: Well, this will be interesting. I cannot wait to see how the two brothers interact and how they interact with Saphira. She is definitely going to be a bit manipulative and see how much she can use their inexperience with females. I apologize for her in advance.

[Deleted]

Everest cringed visibly when his brother’s voice followed his own, for the same reason it stirred up anxiety within the female. It was bad enough that one of them had been found there – How would it look if Saphira’s father suddenly appeared? Everest’s opinion of alphas was already tainted. What if this Vorilye wolf was as cruel as other pack wolves seemed to be? He was certain that Saphira would be upset now, and if Vorilye was close, the brothers needed to leave now. The next words that Ren offered, however, produced an arched brow and incredulous stare toward his sibling – What exactly did he think he was doing? Everest couldn’t suppress his amusement at the strange smile that he cast in the she-wolf’s direction.

Ren’s sudden appearance and the absurdity of his attempts to appear debonair for the female seemed to be enough to partly assure Saphira that the young intruders held no ill toward her or her pack. A single brown-tinted ear flicked, but Everest said nothing about how Ren really wasn’t supposed to be there, having apparently trailed along in his track. When Saphira again inquired about their family, Everest answered as honestly as he could without obviously stating the truth about their mother and father. ”We’ve never had a home or a pack. It’s us and our sister.” Remembering Arete, he threw Ren a sharp look. He had left Arete to her own devices, and while he knew his sister could handle herself if something happened, he didn’t like the idea of leaving either of his siblings alone. He was the biggest, and though he was the youngest of their litter, Everest had always felt protective of his siblings, as a big brother worried over his brother and sister.

His own anxiety seemed eased in Ren’s presence, as well. Everest could feel his heart beginning to normalize its steady rhythm, but his muscles were still taut beneath his snowy pelt. You could never be cautious enough, he had learned. Where his father had been happy-go-lucky, Summit had also been careless. And now he was dead. Everest refused to meet a similar destiny, though he was still a loving and gentle soul at heart.

”What about your family? Is Descai a very big pack?”

words: 400

tags: Saphira + @ren

ooc: woo now it's a party

[Deleted]

While Ren did not necessarily miss the suddenly alertness of the female or the exasperated look in Everest’s eyes directed at his arrival, the tinkling laugh of the girl – Saphira, he reminded himself – promptly wiped all of this vital information from his thoughts. I made her laugh, he thought triumphantly, standing a little straighter as Saphira’s questions flowed, seemingly prompted by his sudden appearance. Eagerly his muzzle parted to reply, but before he could utter a word Everest was speaking to partially answer Saphira’s questions, and at the mention of Arete’s name, Ren’s ears flattened against his skull with shame. He was struck by the mad urge to explain himself, to justify why he’d left Arete in favor of following Everest, but he knew that now was most certainly not the time. It was with great restraint that Ren’s muzzle remained closed, his eyes sliding back to the ivory-and-gold femme as Everest posed his own questions.

Descai. So that was the pack that reigned here. Ren’s ears lifted from his skull suddenly as he glanced around, half expecting to see a horde of wolves come stampeding towards them. His experience with packs was not exactly positive, and yet Saphira seemed so light and composed compared to the raging demon that had torn his life asunder. Don’t think about that. Not now, he told himself, chasing away his thoughts with an easy smile. ”It’s very spacious,” he murmured, casting a glance across the sprawling plains once more. ”If it is a big pack, at least you’d never want for room.”

Unlike many places, these plains did not make Ren feel trapped or claustrophobic. While he doubted that he would ever be comfortable staying in one place for very long due to how he was raised, it always helped when he didn’t have a canopy of branches closing off his view from the sky – or worse, caves. The very thought of them made the brute shiver. Yes, thank the gods it was open in Descai – though he doubted they would be here for very long, not when Arete still waited ever-so-patiently (as Ren liked to imagine, anyways) for her brothers.

He turned his easy grin on Saphira once more, edging closer to Everest and then collapsing onto his hindquarters, his tail sprawling out behind him like a great banner. ”Probably have better prey here, too. I’m getting so sick of scrawny hares.” He paused before casting a swift, sheepish glance in Everest’s direction – who, Ren remembered, had originally left to hunt. ”Not that I’m complaining, of course.”

TAG: @everest + Saphira
WORDS: 425

[Pharaoh]

The days of laying around and keeping close to the birthing den were over. Pharaoh's litter had been born fairly late in the season, but they were strong and healthy unlike the other litter of Descai. Celosia's litter had been born sickly and weak, and because of this, Pharaoh and his siblings had been forced to find other entertainment outside of each other. Pharaoh had been lucky. He had found his companion and playmate early in life. Things had started off a bit rocky, and Thirteen had met his father in a rather unpleasant way, but they had worked things out well enough and the feline and canine were inseparable. They had both been young and impressionable when they first met, tiny little children with no experience and no mothers to guide them. Angel had been ill, much too ill to properly raise and care for her litter. This had caused a tough childhood for the young pups, but Pharaoh was stronger than most.

He was stronger, and he knew it. Now, at nine months old, he was nearly full grown, and had easily surpassed all of his siblings with his size. His coat had grown into a thicker, fuller adult coat, with his yellow marked eye accented beautifully by his bright blue eyes as he moved slowly away from the den and out into the pack territory. Like always, his tigress companion moved alongside him, easily larger than him specifically because of her species and breed. She would always be larger than him, but she was not quite full grown yet, just like the canine she traveled with. If his father knew they were out here, he was honestly not sure what the older male would think. Vor was the alpha of Descai, and very strong and confident, but Pharaoh was honestly not entirely sure of what he thought of him. Of course, being the largest and most attractive male of both of the alpha's litters was a prize in and of itself, he had never truly discovered his father's feelings for him. Or for anyone, for that matter.

That, and he had never even met the many siblings he knew he had. Well, half-siblings, anyways. He had been secluded to the den with their sick mother and his siblings for so long, it was finally time to break away and risk upsetting his father in order to stretch his legs and explore. Plus, it was not like he was going to be a pup forever. Even now, at nine months old, he was likely already larger than the majority of the wolves in the pack, but he had yet to meet any of them to confirm his suspicions. That is, until he caught the somewhat familiar scent of Descai mixed with female that did not belong to his own brood. But she smelled like his father, and very strongly of him. Was this perhaps one of his half-sisters? He moved forward, brushing lightly against Thirteen's shoulder as they traveled closer and closer to the edge of the territory and into the prairie. Perhaps he could practice his hunting here, but as he lowered his nose to look for any sign of prey, the female wolf's scent hit him strongly once more.

He forced himself forward, following the trail she had left behind in the grasses until a low grumble of a growl in Thirteen's throat alerted him to the presence of others. He lifted his head, inhaling deeply and frowning as he caught the scent of not one, but two males on the cold wind. But, the young male's inexperience showed through as he pushed forward, against the obvious protests and dirty looks from Thirteen. It took him only a few moments to reach the group, and though he came up from behind the female and stood a few feet away from her, he could easily see the resemblance they shared in the gold coloring on their faces. There was no doubt that this was one of his sisters, but instead of introducing himself, he turned to look at the two males that were roughly the same size as him. They were young, too, but likely a little bit older than him. He would surely be larger than them both when he was full grown, but right now they seemed to be on a fairly level playing field. That is, until the grumbling Thirteen entered the mix and sat down beside Pharaoh, easily towering over everyone present.

Words: 749
Tags: @everest, @ren, Saphira
Muse: Medium
Notes: n/a

[Saphira]

Saphira immediately noticed Everest cringe at his brother’s appearance. Did the two of them not have a good relationship? She could only guess why Everest would be upset by his presence. But mention of a sister and his pointed look at Ren quickly answered her questions.

She turned her attention to Ren, who looked smug and proud of himself as if he had just won a prize until the mention of his sister. After that his disposition changed to one of looking guilty and defensive, but he did not answer. Saphira could not help but be a little impressed by that small display of self-control, and she smiled at him before turning back to Everest.

“Where is she?” Saphira asked, addressing what seemed to be the elephant in the room for the larger pup. Also, she had to admit she was curious about these wolves and their family. There had been no mention of a pack or parents. Just the three of them. Saphira was not even full-grown herself, but these wolves seemed hardly more than pups. “And where are your parents?” She did not want this question to sound rude as if she was being demeaning by recognizing their age.

What about your family? Is Descai a very big pack?

It’s very spacious. If it is a big pack, at least you’d never want for room.

This kind of question was not one usually asked by loners or answered by pack wolves, unless they truly did have a very sizeable pack and nothing to fear. But Everest seemed innocent enough and simply curious. She could not blame him after she had just asked him about his family.

“We’re not very large, no. We’re currently trying to rebuild our numbers.” She answered sincerely and honestly, hoping it would be appreciated and serve to benefit the friendship she hoped to develop with these two pups. If they did not belong anywhere, perhaps they would even find the idea of a pack, home, and family intriguing enough to stick around. “But yes, it is true that we have enough room for now. We even have room to grow some.”

Probably have better prey here, too.

Saphira sighed remembering that she had come to the plains to hunt, but she just did not feel like it. Of course, she rarely felt like doing something she felt she had no choice but to do. “I suppose,” she answered, not volunteering any more information about a subject she did not wish to speak about. However, not wanting to offend the young wolf, she continued, “Thank you for your compliments about our lands,” in a slightly flirtatious voice, hoping he would forget she had not seemed thrilled with his topic of conversation just seconds before.

It was then that another wolf joined them, and not just a wolf, but a large, white tiger. Saphira’s eyes went wide and her maw opened slightly before she quickly closed it. This must be Pharoah. Remus had mentioned him.

Without missing a beat, she said, “Everest, Ren, meet Pharoah, another member of Descai.” She seemed perfectly relaxed and at ease, but kept a sharp watch on the tiger, not trusting the beast one bit. She also sent a quick glare toward Pharaoh warning him to keep his companion in check. If he ruined what could be for her just a simple, friendly interaction with these two brothers, she would not be very happy at all.

Words: 575

Muse: Great.

Tags: @everest, @ren, Pharaoh

Notes: Woo! Welcome, Rita!

[Deleted]

When Saphira inquired about the location of their sister, Arete, Everest cast another pointed look in Ren’s direction. ”That’s a good question. I don’t know if she’s also in Descai’s territory, but I assume she can’t be far.”  They were guilty of accidental trespassing – and while this female seemed friendly enough, Everest knew the next time they made this mistake, it could lead to serious repercussions.

Her next question, however, was met with silence as Everest’s mind quickly weighed out the consequences of finally offering an honest reply to the femme. He swallowed the lump in his throat, and when he spoke again, his voice had fallen an octave. His masked visage betrayed the sadness his reluctant reply inspired. ”They aren’t here. We don’t have parents anymore.” His words escaped him for a second, for admitting aloud that they were indeed orphans was still difficult to accept, the pain still so raw in spite of the weeks that had passed without their sire to guide them. In case there was any uncertainty left for Saphira to ponder, Everest stated bluntly, ”They’re both gone.” And that was all he was willing to say on the matter, fiery eyes moving slowly to Ren. This was the first time he had ever admitted their absence, and it took all that he had to keep calm. Maybe the wounds would one day heal, though inevitable, the loss would leave a permanent scar.

By the time Saphira spoke again, Everest was lost to his thoughts, expression crestfallen and mind lured elsewhere. The female talked about her pack, the land they had claimed, but Everest didn’t hear any of it. It wasn’t until someone new made their appearance – not just one, but two someone’s. His eyes widened like saucers at the sight of it: big, white and black and thoroughly strange.

He barely noticed the wolf now approaching, eyes fixed squarely upon the massive striped beast. Everest had never seen a tiger, or any other feline. This was something entirely new. It was much larger than the gathered wolves, and though it remained silent, Everest watched it intently. Unconsciously, the snowy fur along his nape began to stand on end, muscles once again taut. He didn’t want to fight that thing, but he would do anything for the sake of his family, even if it meant fighting off something so exotic and huge. The white wolf that accompanied the striped animal seemed wholly unperturbed by its shadowing presence. Everest wondered if it could speak their language, and more importantly, why was it here? What would cause something like that to follow a wolf around in the first place? Warily, still staring at the two-toned beast, Everest asked tentatively, ”What is that?”

He moved closer to Ren, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with his brother. The boys had no real training when it came to fighting – both of their parents had been peaceful wolves, their peaceful natures a far cry from the cruelty of others that called Anikira home. But since their father was slaughtered before their eyes, Everest had been making a conscious effort to learn, to become stronger and more capable of protecting his loved ones. Already, he had lost half of his family, and Everest did not intend to lose his remaining siblings.



words: 573
tags: Saphira + @ren + Pharaoh

[Deleted]

”They aren’t here. We don’t have parents anymore. They’re both gone.”

While Ren had previously been too busy making eyes at Saphira to seriously consider the mechanics of the conversation, the quiet words that fell from Everest’s maw drew his attention in a heartbeat. Everest’s golden gaze was hot upon his pelt as Ren lifted chestnut eyes to meet his brother’s stare, his spirit deflating as quickly as it had lifted. The weight of his parents death weighed heavily upon him still, smothering the light in his life. Sometimes when Ren was alone, he could almost swear that he heard them just out of his reach, speaking softly to each other. The first time it had happened, and the second and even third, Ren had charged towards the voices with hope swelling in his heart, only to find that it was an illusion.

“Thank you for your compliments about our lands.”

Saphira’s clear voice startled Ren out of the chasm he’d been sinking into, and he glanced up towards her quickly, his familiar grin sliding across his features once more – if only a fraction smaller than it had been before. ”Any time, lovely,” he murmured, preparing his (small) arsenal of charms. He had no opportunity to further woo the young fae, however, for at that moment the most horrendously large and strange creature he’d ever seen stepped through the underbrush with a wolf padding along at its side. Ren recoiled in momentary horror, his nerves on ends as he came to stand alongside his brother, his posture echoing the bafflement that Everest voiced. Saphira seemed undisturbed by the strange pair who’d appeared before them, revealing that the ivory wolf was called Pharaoh, though she gave no name for the banded beast.

”I’ve never seen anything like it before,” he murmured, casting his gaze towards Saphira as if she could explain. Surely she knew something of the beast if she lived near it, though he noticed that she certainly made no moves towards it. His eyes flicked to Pharaoh then, who hadn’t bothered to speak at all, and for the briefest moment the striped thing was forgotten. Was he perhaps close with Saphira? Competition, then? But no, the two looked so similar in their coloration…perhaps they were related?

”Nice to meet you,” he said to Pharaoh, though the wariness was still evident in Ren’s tone. Though Saphira had been polite enough to introduce them, he felt the need to clarify which brother he was. ”I’m Ren.” As if speaking his own name had returned a smidgeon of his confidence, Ren took a step away from Everest, though he cast his guarded gaze back towards his brother once. He would not move too far from Everest; if they had to fight, they would do so together, though Ren hoped it did not come to that. ”Does your companion have a name?”

This was the most interaction that Ren had experienced with outsiders since his birth, and he found that he was both excited and nervous, though he was determined not to show the latter with Saphira in his presence. He cast a wink in her direction for good measures, not even stopping to consider that he might look ridiculous. It was not a word that was part of Ren’s internal dictionary.

TAG: @everest + Saphira + Pharaoh 
WORDS: 549
Notes:  C: 

[Pharaoh]

The shock and confusion on the faces of both strangers made a smirk spread slowly across Pharaoh's face as he sat down and tilted his head slightly. Not only did they look surprised, but they questioned the tiger beside him almost instantly. But Saphira, however, did not seem surprised at all. Instead, she seemed almost angry with him. However, much larger and much more cocky than his older sister, the young male flashed her a charming grin and then focused his attention back on the two males in front of him. At least one of the males was intelligent enough to refer to Thirteen as a real live creature. "This is Thirteen, and she is a tiger. Do not worry, she will not do anything unless provoked." He said, smirking at his companion and laughing softly as she rolled her yellow-green eyes at him. Clearly she was not amused that he was talking about her as if she was a dumb, mindless pet, but the reaction he got out of her clearly amused him.

For the time being, though, she refrained from the typical wrestling and punishment that his comments usually brought out of her. They were with strangers, wolves outside of Descai's pack ranks, but they had yet to show that they were a threat. Instead, it seemed that the handsome white and gold male had interrupted his sister's attempt at flirtation. He looked over at her, smiling once more as he tilted his head and looked back and forth between her and the two males. "I apologize, it appears that I have ruined your attempts at seducing the virgin minds of our present company. I am so very sorry for interrupting, sister." He said, teasing the female beside him even though he had not enjoyed much of her company in his short life. He was almost an adult now, but it was clear these males were nearly the same age as he was, which was much younger than the female that they appeared to be flirting with. The entire situation was amusing, though it was clear that he was not threatening either party, but rather enjoying the discomfort both his and Thirteen's presence seemed to be causing.

Words: 369
Tags: @everest , @ren , Saphira
Muse: Low
Notes: n/a

[Saphira]

Saphira felt a lump in her throat as Everest mentioned his parents being gone. She felt as though she could almost feel his pain and felt out of place as he shared a wordless look with his brother, the mood of both of them seeming to shift. A whispered “I’m sorry,” was all she could manage, and that felt so pitifully insensitive. She had nothing else to say, however, and knew that her words would mean little to them anyway.

Any time, lovely

Ren’s simple response to her friendly gesture made her smile. She seemed to be making decent headway with these wolves despite having brought up an obviously painful topic. But Saphira decided it would be best to drop the subject of their family entirely, including their sister, regardless of her curiosity.

Pharaoh’s cheeky grin at his apparent notice of her discomfort with his tiger almost made Saphira laugh. There was something about the confident, outgoing, slightly cocky type that Saphira had always thought was kind of fun. She was bubbly and playful by nature, and that type generally had no problem playing along and knew how to have a good time. She felt like if she ever got to know Pharaoh, she would probably like him. She could also see why Remus felt somewhat inferior and intimidated, though. Not that he was inferior and needed to be intimidated, but it was easy to see how Pharaoh’s personality might seem somewhat overshadowing. She flashed him a return smile, hoping to establish a decent basis for their relationship.

While Everest seemed somewhat intimidated, Ren seemed willing to accept Pharaoh’s presence and the presence of his larger companion, however wary he might be. Saphira quietly exhaled in relief that there did not seem to be any problems with the appearance of another pack wolf and his large feline.

This is Thirteen, and she is a tiger. Do not worry, she will not do anything unless provoked.

Regardless of how safe or unsafe Saphira felt around Thirteen, she knew that if she responded comfortably, it would help to put Everest and Ren at ease. So she gently responded, “I’m sure,” and worked to relax her posture before returning her attention to the visitors. She definitely thought of them less as trespassers with every passing moment. Making friends had always been easy for her, and she hoped she would be able to add these two to her ever-growing list of friends.

The good feeling about Pharaoh disappeared, however, when he embarrassed her with his, obviously teasing remark, I apologize, it appears that I have ruined your attempts at seducing the virgin minds of our present company. I am so very sorry for interrupting, sister.

“I-I..” she stammered uncomfortably, trying to be able to confidently find her footing again without appearing flustered, though that did not seem to be working for her at all. “That was not my intent…” She nervously glanced over to Everest and Ren, wondering what they must be thinking of her after her half-brother’s words. She did have to admit that the attention from Ren had felt nice. She had even caught him wink at her. It was not that she was seriously interested in them, but she was at least slightly flattered. It made her feel important somehow. Saphira shot a glare at Pharaoh as if to tell him he had no right to embarrass her that way. Her cheeks were hot as she awaited a response from the visitors.

Words: 598
Muse: I love Saphira. :3 much muse for her.
Tags: @everest , @ren , Pharaoh
Notes: ugh trying to keep up with order of things happening. xD like what part of the messages do I respond to first? lol. I hope I grouped this in a somewhat logical fashion? I can change/move anything around, if you’d like.