Her Second Start [Valeria]

[Rassa]

This place was miserable, and it really did her head in was the conclusion that the she wolf came to as she observed the area which she found herself in. The heat was unbearable, and even if it might feel nice if she were in it, right now the steam and humidity was seeping through her fur, and it make her long for a breath of real -fresh- air. She really didn't know what compelled her to venture here of all places It must be hotter than hell but she had told herself she would explore as much as she could before she was caught by this pack.
They were most likely lazy, and if that meant she could explore the area a bit before she moved on all the better for her. Scenting the air she only inhaled more of the toxic air, and wasn't able to detect any prey hiding in this place. Still the longer she stood here she reflected, the more pleasant it felt. The air was a warm temperature, and even if it was oppressive she found herself curious as to what the water felt like. While she carefully make her way to the pool of water she observed that it was serene, she could detect no turbulence that would pull her under if she decided against better judgement to put her paws in.
Leaning her head in closer she quickly drew it back up, not wanting her face to get wet, the sensation was one that she hadn't really felt since awhile when she had first experienced and was unpleasant enough that she had no desire to repeat it. Right there she almost fled to the much more comforting chill of the winter frost to fill her lungs and freeze any forms of water on her. Keeping that in mind she remembered that if she decided to put her paws in then as soon as she was out of range from this maddening heat it would turn to ice between her toes and in any other nooks and crannies it found as it soaked through her fur. Turning away from the pool she breathed a little easier now that the source of her discomfort was a longer distance from her. Still as she looked back at the waters she noticed that the steam obscured her vision of the land on the other side. Once again curiosity got the best of her, the most direct route would bring her closer to the pool, but if she went roundabout then she might increase her chances of getting caught since the water and humidity in the air might not guise her scent as well. She wanted to know what was on the other side even if there was land on this side of the basin. Pricking her ears forward she doubted that even if the water was calm she would be able to hear whatever was on the other side unless it was making enough of a racket.
The she wolf debated; face the heat for a short period of time, or leave - the decision was made before she had even examined the pros or cons of each I'm not running from a little heat was her resolve as her paws began carrying her again towards the pool of heat, but she still made her path to there angle out so she wouldn't get close until she really had to, but if anyone asked she was being efficient.

tagged|| none
ooc|| Joining
word counter|| 584
muse|| eh

[Valeria]

It seemed these lands were far more lucrative than the alphess had first expected. Valeria had made it her duty to patrol the territory, ensuring that everything was as it should be within the pack's territory. She was not going to risk a repeat of the last pack land's. After all, Kairos now ruled their neighboring territory to the west, which quite frankly unnerved the alphess. She was not ready to have a confrontation with the monsters again, but hopefully with time, they would rebuild, and they would conquer. There was a bright future on the horizon for Valyn, and the merger was the next step toward becoming a force to be reckoned with in Anikira.

Both the northern and southern borders were clearly marked, and the south had brought her a treat that she had not expected. There were only a few more places to explore and mark within the heart of the territory, and she would be fully instated as the alphess of the territory. And so the Valyn Seraphim headed inward from the southern borders, determined to revisit the hot springs her mother had taken her to when she was little more than a pup. Sarin never cared much for her youngsters to play in the waters, but it always intrigued Valeria how the waters remained warm year round. With the weather turning colder and staler by the day, perhaps a dip in the hot springs would be exactly what the alphess needed. The water would do wonders to cleanse the wound on her hip, and a quick healing process would be a requirement. She would not allow herself to fall victim to Kairos in the way her father had. She was stronger than that. She had to persevere to continue their family's legacy of greatness.

What the black and golden hulk did not expect to find was another wolf nestled in the heart of her territory. The femme's hackles raised with irritation as she approached the steaming waters of Enackir, barking out to the wolf in irritation. If she had thought it would be a good idea to enter pack lands without notice, she would soon learn otherwise. Valeria was even more on edge after the Kairos invasion; she would have little progress if she continued to allow strangers to enter her pack lands.

"You there, what are you doing here? You are smack in the middle of Valyn territory," she snapped out irritably, her tail held rigid and high in an obvious display of dominance. Gone were the days of the sweet face for all that encountered the alphess. Lilith, Fawn, Inara... the females of Kairos had clearly shown her that not all females were trustworthy, and sometimes it was better to lean on a male than to place faith in the honor of a female who did not know the meaning of the world.

The Mackenzie Valley female approached, she could not help the anger that rushed through her. Not only was this wolf invading in their lands, but she was bathing in their waters. The possessiveness was new, but it was not uncommon in a nesting female. She had ever desire to ensure that her home was safe and ready for the offspring she was likely to bear. With steely gold eyes fixated on the stranger, she introduced herself. "I am Valeria, the Seraphim of the pack. What business do you have here? It is not wise to enter a pack's territory, particularly unannounced."

Word Count: 586 words
Tags: Rassa
Notes: So Valeria is actually in charge of the pack, and it made more sense to have her come greet Rassa. Hope that's okay. I play them both anyways XD

[Rassa]

The female was still plodding along, putting off her inevitable contact with the waters, her ears were pricked, and she felt the weight of the heat. It was not sudden but subtle - she heard a noise. The thick humidity drowned out her sense of smell, but she could make out the distinguishable sound of something approaching. The logical part of her wanted to leave, hurry now before this most likely pack wolf decided to make an enemy of her which would stop her exploration of their lands further - or call in reinforcements to deal with her. She might have wanted to hunt on their lands for a short time, but she had not made a kill yet, but she knew how packs were. Still despite her better judgement running would only confirm this wolf's suspicions about her unsavory character, and she was far in the pack lands, far enough that this other wolf who knew the land better would most likely outpace her. Glaring at the water she cursed her curiosity, she really was not in the mood to deal with some angry guardian who spent their entire life mindlessly patrolling borders and being coarse with anyone who went near them, she didn't want to deal with this other wolf, but she guessed that if she had somehow been more aware she could have circumvented the entire situation. Sighing she turned so that she would be facing the wolf when the other finally appeared out of the mist.

Rassa observed the other wolf, it was a female she moved away from the waters so she could better meet the other's gold gaze, she had no interest in backing down yet. If the female proved useful she might suck up to her, but right now she would hold her ground. She didn't snarl, but she wasn't speaking in the most friendly way either, her accent didn't really help matters "Right, let me spake if ya want me to." she paused and then composed herself, considering the best way to approach this. She was right in the middle of their territory, but this female thought she could just come in and snap at her like this then she had another thing coming, but she was this assertive and aggressive, she observed the female's posture, then she was most likely of high rank even if she had never heard of the phrase Valeria was using. Deciding to err on the side of caution she began again "I'm Rassa. Ya sound like yer an alpha. Sorry if I crossed yer borders, I was just wandering." Hoping to smooth things over she wanted them both on the same page she almost sighed. She wasn't used to speaking this much, and she wished that her speech was as smooth and normal sounding as this stranger's, she didn't dislike her accent in particular - she loved her home, she loved it more than anything, but here it made her stick out - "Catch on?" was the last thing she said as she inevitably waited for the tirade. She had probably phrased it wrong, but if a fight came out of it then at least she would cause a little chaos if the female alpha died, her mind flickered at the idea. If one of the alpha's died it would create a turmoil in the pack, she wasn't sure what that meant, but it might mean the group would become unstable, she wondered what that would mean for her. The hunting grounds of this pack would definitely be easier, but there were more bountiful places she might be able to sneak a meal. Appraising this female she decided to withhold judgment for another round, she seemed decent, but there was something...

tagged|| Valeria
ooc|| Ok
word counter|| 619
muse|| Eh, she feels a little ooc, but I'll get into her. this is my first time doing a character with an accent and I'm using this site as a reference.

[Valeria]

The Seraphim's lip curled back dangerously, flashing her canines at the intruder with ire. Let you speak? she thought angrily, a snarl brewing in her throat as her golden eyes narrowed with disdain. This wolf was in the center of her territory, using her hot springs without permission, and she had the audacity to speak to the leader of the resident pack that way? She must have had a death wish, for there was no other reason a wolf would act so foolishly in the presence of the pack's leader. It did not help that the femme did not at any point show any form of submission to the alphess. The Mackenzie Valley wolf's hackles rose, her tail and entire back rigid as she puffed herself up as large as possible. The wolf, who introduced herself as Rassa, was less than half the size of the alphess, yet she spoke with such frivolity that every word from her mouth, Valeria grew angrier. Her eyes flashed with rage as she stared at the wolf incredulously.

"Wandering would be a little bit over my borders, Rassa," she bit out, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "not smack in the heart of my territory, where you must have walked past dozens of scent markers. This territory is littered with the scent of my pack, yet you have chosen to blatantly ignore it, hoping you would not be caught. Only a fool would chance such an encounter," she snarled with venom. The little wolf should have been cowering from her very appearance, and yet she acted as if this was just a minor error. Violating the most basic of pack etiquette, however, was one of the most grievous errors in Val's eyes right now. Her borders were swarmed with strangers; she would not allow wolves to come and go as they chose through her pack lands.

Things might have been different even a few months ago. Valeria had once been a far more lenient alphess, and it had brought her nothing but trouble. She saw now that she had to rule with a firm hand, or things would grow out of control. She would not allow her pack to fall again, and she would not let someone who could very well be a Kairos spy hang around her territory without invitation. The old Valyn was gone, and a new kingdom was on the rise.

"It would be in your best interest to leave, now," she growled out, her golden lip never falling from its nearly permanent snarl. The alphess was livid, and there was no reasoning with her when things got to this point. "If you like your body in its current configuration, you will leave, and you will not return."

Word Count: 460 words
Tags: Rassa
Notes: Val is really not happy about her reaction.

[Rassa]

Rassa internally sighed, she had really made a mess of the situation. She supposed that she would have to leave this area at least and be careful not to run into this particular wolf again, she wasn’t going to stop exploring but she would definitely have to be more careful. Avoiding eye contact as the female was already raging, and she wasn’t looking for the fight with the alphess she gave the wolf a deliberate nod, not too deep or long, but enough to make her intentions clear. Not quite wanting to turn her back on an angry wolf she saw very little choice in the matter. Speaking softly she responded in an even tone “My apologies, it was out of turn.” Her eyes flashed, the borders had been confusing mixed with the scent of another pack, and she reflected it may have been because of a war, no wonder the alpha was on edge. Still even if she was out of turn threatening her might not have been the best idea – it spoke of a challenge, and she was all but ready to accept, until she thought of a better way. Lowering her tail she forced the fur on her back to completely smooth out when she said in an apologetic tone “I sensed the borders and strayed in because I was looking for a patrol.” The story rolled off her tongue with ease, the truth was always harder than lies. She paused, she had no obligation to tell this female the truth, and it may make her seem all the weaker to admit she really had no idea how big the island was or what packs resided in it, “I’m not” she struggled to say it, the words to find were hard not knowing this language, and the actual show of weakness almost as difficult “well acquainted with this area, and am searching for a pack.” Turning away she made to leave, the most direct route to a border, she had no intention of fighting right now “I’ve clearly made the wrong impression, my apologies, again.” And she turned to leave, I really should have been smarter. was her thought. She felt very little guilt at lying about looking for a patrol, she was looking for a pack, but she hadn’t really been actively seeking out a patrol on this territory – and she didn’t really even feel bad that she had rubbed this other wolf’s fur the wrong way, but if she made the alpha think she wasn’t going to come back again then she might be able to at a much later date. Not to spy as this female probably thought, but for curiosity, still she doubted she would be able to do that for another few moons.

tagged||Valeria
notes||yeah, I messed that up, it's fine if she isn't accepted at this point
word count||460

[Valeria]

The alphess was having difficulty believing anything this wolf said was sincere. Her golden eyes narrowed at the smaller wolf, her irritation evident in every facet of her face. She was not going to tolerate insubordination within her pack lands, even if it meant making an example of someone. "Do not wander my pack lands unattended," she snapped bitterly. "You have done everything in your power to dash your chances at joining my pack, Rassa." The she-wolf softened her glare slightly, huffing with irritation at the situation. On one hand, the wolf had no respect for her scent markers and had traipsed right in without so much as a thought as to the consequences. There was still a possibility she was a Kairos spy; but sometimes it was better to keep the enemy closer rather than further. Perhaps she could find a use for the wolf within the pack, even if it were just as a provider for the pack. She was anxious to reconstruct, as it seemed many of the wolves of Valyn had abandoned their cause at the loss of the territory.

The blank, nearly incredulous stare of the Seraphim was again reaffirming that the smaller black wolf was not only mistaken in her actions, but also so far in the red zone that Val could hardly fathom her remaining in their ranks. "What would you have to offer my pack, Rassa?" she asked against her better judgment. She was not taking in any freeloaders, and their pack was about to experience a culture shock. There would be no more of the widespread dens and wild independence that the Valyn wolves experienced last year. That had simply unstabilized the pack's foundation, opening them up for the attack. They would have to live as a unit, and Valeria was not about to bring someone in that could not contribute to that unit. She was not pleased at the femme's methods, but she would at least hear her out at this point.

"I will not tolerate behavior like this in the future if you are allowed to remain," Valeria warned, a sharp edge in her voice. Whatever was going through this stranger's head must have been muddled to chance wandering into pack lands unattended. Maybe they could straighten things out, but right now she was on thin ice. With the addition of her brothers and father into the pack, there were others who would easily stand behind her. They would not allow anything to tear the family apart again.

Word Count: 423 words
Tags: Rassa
Notes: Yeah she's thinking about it right now. It honestly depends on what Rassa has to say.

[Rassa]

Rassa mulled over the thought, but her first reaction that wanted to show on her face but what quickly suppressed was shock. What kind of alpha was this? Her story had been a quick construct meant to get her out of the boundary without any blood spilled on either side, it had never occurred to her that the alpha would even consider thinking about allowing her to stay in her borders any longer She is either desperate for new members or she has an ulterior motive of her own for saying those words and if that was true then the she wolf would definitely be interested in sticking around to see what the alpha thought she would accomplish by keeping her here. Still she had to answer the question, she didn't really know how. She wanted to join this pack, it would offer her a place to stay for the winter, and a way to earn herself a name, and she wouldn't have to be alone for any longer, she had spent most of her life in pack, and she didn't really think that a lone wolf was much without others to stand beside. Besides hunting and fighting though she didn't think she had very many skills, she could hunt, track, and kill large or small game but that didn't really distinguish herself from a much larger stronger wolf who could do the same. She could fight despite her size, but she didn't really know if that skill appealed to this wolf, and she hadn't proven herself especially loyal to the omega of her old pack so she couldn't really offer her not so stellar personality. She thought about her words carefully for the second Be simple and she was hoping that she would state it eloquently. She wasn't going to put too much more effort in trying to sell herself to this alpha, so she took a breath and said "I can hunt, fight, and" she wondered if it would be a good idea to meet the wolf's eyes, but decided against it. She didn't really know the disposition of the wolf and thought that like her the female was quick to judge and difficult to dissuade from her verdict. So she said simply "And I would be another wolf to stand behind you." She almost considered flashing a smile and asking what else she really expected, she could already see that the alpha was trying to set a standard, for a wanderer or a future subordinate, but Rassa didn't really care, she could pretend to respect this alpha her entire life without actually doing so, but she would much rather the wolf earn that place, she would be a pack member in this pack of this alpha's as long as she wanted, and everything that came with it, but her opinion was still there. She wasn't sure if she could ever really trust Valeria as she was sure that the alpha didn't trust her. In time she supposed that she could come to truly hold Valeria in high regard, the she wolf was intriguing enough to her to find out what kind of alpha Valyn had.

tagged||Valeria
word count||506
ooc||sorry for the late reply, my muse was low and I was having trouble with this post

[Valeria]

The she wolf seemed to be trying her hardest to make up for her foolish behavior before, and Valeria could give her some credit for that. Her eyes were still ever full of scrutiny, unsure if she could trust anything coming out of Rassa's mouth. She smirked slightly as the black wolf rambled out her uses to the pack, and she could only bite back in retort, "A body behind us is of no use if it is not trustworthy. I will bring you in to Valyn conditionally. You must prove to me that you are no threat to our pack before I will even consider ranking you." Her golden lip curled up slightly in distast. "And if I so much as catch wind of your scent outside our pack's boundaries, you will be hunted as a traitor. Do I make myself clear?" The alphess was done with the games others tried to play with her. She was not going to sit around and wait for someone else to tear her pack apart, particularly not from the inside.

"You may join the pack at the dens or introduce yourself to some of the others. I must warn you, we are in a period of transition. Not many of the others are feeling very welcoming right now," she stated bluntly, her golden eyes monitoring the wolf's body language closely. If she showed any signs of disloyalty, the Seraphim would not hesitate to run her out of the pack and place a bounty on her head. There was no more room for leniency and casual behavior within the pack. If a strict leader is what she needed to become, that was what she would be if it kept Kairos out of their pack lands. The disdain for the rival pack was heavy in her heart, as it would remain until the day the blood of the male Typhon ran through the lagoon of her jungle home. He would rue the day he ever set foot on her pack lands, just like the rest of them. They would see that angering Valeria was a mistake that was not easily undone.


Word Count: 360 words
Tags: Rassa
Notes: N/A

[Rassa]

Rassa almost shrugged but stopped herself. This pack was not very different than any others she had come across - instead she responded with a practiced tone "Crystal." She paused, while it was obvious the female didn't trust her she doubted that the alpha would allow her to simply wander around the lands 'introducing' herself, there was no room in a pack for any sort of dead weight even if they hunted for themselves. If that was the kind of pack this alpha ran then it might not be wise to go down with it, however she had promised, she internally sighed - she wasn't opposed to work, but as much as Valeria didn't seem to trust her the alpha might not realize that appearing as revenge hungry might not make others very trusting of her. She wouldn't put it beyond the alpha to arrange her death in some accident rather than tell her outright whatever perceived injustice she thought she saw.

She guessed that for awhile at least things would be interesting, the inability to leave these pack lands disturbed her, but ultimately she would have very little reason to. Her mouth almost opened to speak, but she quelled it, she had no idea what to do. Every pack differed in what duties they placed stress upon, and usually each member had a specific job to do - being unranked didn't bother her, but she had no intention of looking like dead weight to the pack. Deciding it was better to ask the alpha rather than being caught and thought doing something she wasn't later she asked casting a respectful tone on her speech "What is required of me in Valyn?"

She had no idea how large this pack was, small enough for her to not be caught slipping through their borders, but large enough that they weren't exactly needing members. A small part of her hoped for a place within this pack, but she ignored it - this could only be a place, until she was accepted hoping would only crush her if the alpha found fault, which she already had.

tagged||Valeria
word count||350
notes||About wrapped up, or do you want to keep the thread going?

[Valeria]

The new femme was far more passive now than she had been previously, but that did not mean Valeria was not still suspicious of her intentions. Perhaps Rassa would prove her wrong and be an excellent member of the pack; it was her greatest hope to build the pack up to its former glory, but that did not help quell her insecurities. The large alphess would consistently be on the look out for someone trying to harm them, and perhaps she was looking for trouble where there was indeed none. "For now, your only expectation is to not cause trouble," the Seraphim explained bluntly. Until she had a better feel for the wolf, she did not want to task her with anything of consequence. "Once you are more integrated into the pack, we will see what you are best suited for."

It was a game of give and take right now, but they would find the balance soon. The black and golden alphess eyed the newest member of Valyn suspiciously but said no more. She was done lashing out at the she wolf, but if she gave any cause for concern, Valeria would not hesitate to exact punishment swiftly. Perhaps amongst the males of the pack, there were some who would be well suited to serve as their inquisitor. There were many changes that needed to be made to the male hierarchy, particularly after her conversation with Pharaoh. While Val was still not a fan of males in power, it did serve for some cause to allow them to at least convene and have a representative. There were many things to be considered, and soon the alphess hoped to reclaim their jungle home.  

"Come with us back to the dens, and you will be introduced to the pack," Valeria advised, her voice far more gentle than before. Perhaps she was judging too harshly, for she knew not what this wold had encountered before Valyn. "If this is to be your home, it is best that you get acquainted with the family." The alphess turned tail and trotted off gently, gesturing for your black femme to follow her back to the crevice that served as the Valyn dens.

Word Count: 367 words
Tags: Rassa
Notes: N/A

[Rassa]

Rassa observed the alpha, the wolf fit the role well enough, and she mused I have been searching for a pack keeping a respectful demeanor she glanced at the other female if I have to be in a pack then maybe this one will prove a good fit and despite wanting to leave she knew that that wouldn't be wise at this juncture. Taking a breath she reasoned that she hadn't been standing here very long and could wait longer. Moisture seeped in between the pads on her paws and a flicker of irritation rippled through her. Her ears perked forward slightly as Valeria spoke. The yearling knew that eventually she would have to learn to think of her as alpha, but was comfortable right now and knew that she could mind her tongue.

She almost shrugged at the words, she supposed that she wasn't going to be trusted with anything right now - but it wasn't really her decision, and she was willing to go along with the flow as long as it suited her. She didn't feel trapped, so she took a breath and listened to her alpha, that was another question she was dying to ask; Valeria had introduced herself as the Seraphim however the female had never encountered that term before she wondered if all of the ranks now had a different term in this pack. Another thing to get used to she mused but was willing to follow the black female. The gentler voice almost took her aback, she followed keeping her steps silent. the mushy ground sank beneath her paws but she knew that the Valyn territory extended beyond this and wasn't particularly bothered. While she had before given the den a wide berth she now was reasonably intrigued to see it. Green eyes observed the land in a slightly new light until they closed and opened again.

tagged||Valeria
word count||316
Notes||