Knowledge Over Hunger (Open)

[Anima]

This wonderland made of ice was far colder than the lands that the white she wolf had come to call home. But, she didn’t really mind. The cold kept her head in reality, stopped her mind from wandering off to far which was a blessing during these months when she carried her mate’s offspring within her. It was during these times when her mind wanted to wander off more than usual. Back to the times of Tala, back to when she helped her mom through the three labors that she had gone through after giving birth to Anima. Back to when she helped raise her younger sisters, back when she learned all that she could so that she could one day be an amazing mother and a wonderful alphess. She wondered what her mother and especially her uncle would think of Jadir. Surely, they would love him, though of course Cato would never admit it. But still, there was always the doubt and the pain in the back of her mind. It was for that reason that Anima had decided to stay in these new lands and raise her pups here.

The she wolf had been out exploring when she happened to stumble across the barren plains known as the Irengu Plains. At first, she thought she was alone but after a few minutes of looking around, she froze in place, her stomach growling, as her eyes locked onto something off in the distance. It was a creature she had never seen before, a small black and white creature that seemed to wobble on two feet. It wasn’t alone either, as there were several more surrounding it. The noises they made were ones that she had never heard before and thankfully for them, her curiosity and thirst for knowledge outweighed her hunger, at least for the minute. She stalked forward slowly, thankful for her white pelt that blended in effortlessly with the snowy terrain. Once she got close enough to them, she sat and watched them with interest. She wanted to learn as she could about them before she gave into her hunger.

[Aztec]

The frozen air brought about a nostalgia feeling to the heart of the night dusted figure of earthly browns and white. Eyes that rivaled the very depths of the oceans color gazed out across the snow covered terrain. It reminded her of home, it was also a reminder of what her recklessness cost her brother. That gaze dropped, as did the thickly coated head, ears drooped with her sorrow. It had been a short time since they had washed ashore on Airila lands, and the Alpha Arche had greeted and given them a new home. So much had changed, that the wolfess was still reeling, attempting to wrap her head around it all. From the moment that pinprick of pain in her rump, to the drugged darkness, even the wicked plunge into wayward seas, everything was a jumble of confusion and uncertainty riddled with a guilt so profound that it weighted heavily on the wolf's heart. And so she had ventured from the others, the new scents and faces.

Don't get her wrong, she was more then a little grateful to Arche, to Airila, and it's members for welcoming two strangers with open paws. But still, if she had not been so reckless, her brother would be back where he belonged among the warriors he trained with for the whole of his life. Everything was her fault.

Despite her inner turmoil, Aztec still was very much aware of her surroundings. Having been born and raised in the wilds of Yellowstone park with its deadly winters and harsh summers one of the first lessons it to always be aware, because danger could, and would appear when one least expected it to. So she was not overly startled to catch scent and sight of a white wolf who's scent was distinctive, one she had known before. A fellow huntress within Airila, in spite of herself her natural curiosity got the best of her and the lithe female began trailing the other until an odd sound cause that skull to jerk upward... What in the...?! Came that single thought as short thick figures in black and white hobbled to and froe. Even the white female seemed intrigued, enough so she crept forward to watch. Tec hung back, given that her darker coat was an easy blemish on an otherwise snow white terrain it was far more difficult for her to get any closer without giving away her own as well as the white ones presence. Twins perked forward the ocean green of those eyes locked on the little forms in complete puzzlement.




Word Count: 435
Tag: Anima
Muse: Awesome-sauce
Notes:

[Anima]

So focused on the strange creatures in front of her was she that she didn’t even notice the sound or scent of an approaching wolf. Even after the wolf had made itself comfortable a few feet behind her, did her attention remain focused, completely unaware. She wanted to know what the creatures were, why she had never seen them before and, her growling stomach wanted to know how they tasted. She was about to stalk forward to see if she could get a closer look when her ears perked, finally catching scent of the other female. Her head snapped around relaxing once she saw the female meant no harm but was also sitting and watching the weird animals.

Quietly getting to her feet, the white she wolf walked back and sat next to the other wolf. “Strange, aren’t they?” she asked, wondering what she thought of them. After a minute of silence, Anima turned her attention back to the wolf, her eyes scanning over her form in search for any recognition. “My name is Anima, a huntress in Airila and the mate to Jadir,” she introduced herself with a polite bow. “Who might you be?” she asked her tilting her head curiously. She wandered if she was also part of Airila and if so then what rank she had and if she too had found a mate this breeding season.

After the introductions were done, she went back to watching the black and white bird looking things in the distance. But, she was only quiet for a few minutes before she got to her feet, a sly grin making itself known. “How about we go stir up some fun?” she asked the other with excitement, her tail wagging. She wasn’t necessarily referencing a hunt so much as just chasing after them and watching their reactions but, if they happened to catch one or two of them in the process, she certainly wouldn’t complain.

Aztec

[Aztec]

It wasn't lost on the earthly brushed female when the snow white femme became aware of her presence a few feet away from her. Those oceanic eyes shifted from the strange paddlers to the other wolf a smile playing across her mew as the other took a place at her side. An ear twisted towards the white wolf even as those eyes shifted back to the curious creatures. She didn't know who Jadir was but she assumed he was another member of this pack. Not that she had met anyone really, much like she was doing with her brother she was avoiding it.

She didn't have a right to settle down and find happiness here, not after she tore her brother from his. Riddled with guilt she'd sigh softly as she listened to the other speak before finally answering her. "Its a pleasure to meet you Anima, I am called Aztec. My brother and I recently washed ashore at the Alphas paws, he invited us to join and we gladly accepted. My brother, Argent, is to be a warrior. And I am to take a place among the hunters." Tec fell silent at that point, staring out at the creatures with a growing curiosity. The first sign of her old self that had shown since she arrived here.

But it was until she caught sight of the sly smirk across Anima's muzzle that her spirit perked up just a bit. The words that followed brought an even bigger boost, though for how long one couldn't really say. "Indeed that sounds like a good idea, anything particular you have in mind?" Pressing her thick frame upward and a quick shake to loosen muscles and remove the chilling snow from her underbelly. She could not contain the delighted grin that crept across her muzzle as excitement and adrenaline began to course through her veins.


Word Count: 317
Tag: Anima
Muse: Dandy
Notes:

[Wildlife [NPC]]

The cold waters had been quite refreshing for the rookery, and though it was always unpleasant to come back onto hard land and wander once more, the penguins, one by one, launched themselves back onto the ice and shook the chilly water from their feathers. The unhappy squawks of their youngest members rang out, but it was time for them to head back in before the threat of hunting whales turned up. And so the rookery moved further in land, headed back to their nesting area with plenty of wiggly tails and flapping flippers in tow. Their chirps and trills were far from subtle as the group meandered into the region they called home. Little did they know there was danger looming on the horizon. The lands had always been plagued with predators, but there were new predators just waiting to take them down at every turn that they had yet to encounter in Cryothia.

As the penguins settled in for the night, a couple of the younger penguins took it upon themselves to wander out away from the group. The adults were bringing them back in far too soon, and they were not quite ready to roost for the evening. Three such youngsters waddled off back in the direction of the water, eager to defy the control of their parents. As the three slipped and slid on their bellies across the ice, they flopped around and swatted at each other playfully. There was so little they could do around the rest of the rookery; out here was far more fun! So while the rest of the brood roosted away, safe from predators, the three young penguins found themselves separated from the rest of the family, their small, beady eyes scanning the horizon laxly as they wandered back to the sea.

[Anima]

“The pleasure is definitely all mine,” she argued with a friendly smile, “It is very nice to meet you Aztec, I am glad you and your brother washed onto our pack and not one of the others. We are always looking for new members and we have a very family like feel here as I am sure you will come to find,” she nodded knowing her words were true. Airila was like one big family and it was that comforting feeling that had helped her through her time as a pet to Zitao. Zitao, even know in an island made of ice where a black wolf would stick out like a sore paw, she could still his haunting voice whispering, “Little bird,” from behind her. She wondered if she would ever fully recover from him but now was not the time to let him take over her thoughts. “Perhaps after I give birth we can go on a hunt together,” she said excitedly, getting her thoughts away from the dark corner they had traveled to.

It was then that she brought up the suggestion that they go stir up some fun. She, herself, was already excited about the fact but she was even more excited to see how quickly excited the other wolf became. The white wolf watched silently as the group of creatures started walking away, her ears perking at their waddling. She was about to think they wouldn’t be able to have any fun after all when three smaller penguins came waddling back. It was then that she smirked, her stomach growling again. “How about we teach those three youngsters what happens when they don’t stay with the group?” she asked, her head tilting as her eyes remained on the three.

“I say we just go with the flow, let whatever happens, happen,” she nodded with a growl. As she crouched down, she waited only a second before sprinting forward, running straight toward the group. She knew the other was behind her so she didn’t bother to look over her shoulder, keeping all of her attention on her prey. As she got closer to them, she started to run past them, hoping to cut them off from being able to run back to the group. She hoped Aztec would know to stay on the other side so that they could trap them between them.

[Aztec]

Tec fell silent at Anima's explanation of Airila pack structure. At least the feeling, family. Such a word brought back every ounce of guilt she harbored within her breast. She did not have the right to a family after the betrayal she dealt Argent. He stupidity had cost him everything, and now he was forced to reestablish himself in a whole new pack. They would never see siblings, parents, friends not a single soul they were raise beside. They no longer had their family, and it was all her fault.

Still lost in the self loathing she felt, Aztec nearly missed Anima's words about a hunt after she had her puppies. This brought a small smile to the wolfess's muzzle. "That sounds like a plan!"[/b] Making sure she added warmth to her voice that she really couldn't feel at the moment. But through the depression she had to force herself, else she'd make more trouble for her brother.

At the suggestion of fun at the waddling suit wearing creatures expense Tec had been quick to jump on it. Maybe a run, some sport, would help give her the strength to shove these negative feelings that overwhelmed her into the background. With a practiced ease she focused her attention firmly on those weird creatures as they clustered together and began moving away. A step or two forward was taken as she studied the loud mouthed squakers for any possible targets. It wasn't until three youngsters separated themselves returning to their previous location that opportunity finally showed its head.

An ear flickered towards Anima as the white wolf echoed her own thoughts. With a smirk she'd give a subtle nod. "Lessons are best learned through experience." Repeating something her mother had always told her and her brother. The moment Anima bolted forward, Aztec could be found hard on her heels. The way the snow packed ground met heavy winter harden paws was somehow comforting to the stricken femme. With the ocean green of those eyes locked on their target Tec was able to catch the subtle burst of speed Anima preformed in order to race past. Working on assumption Aztec slowed circling back and forth on the opposite side of the white wolf. Leaving the other in charge The earth colored wolf waited for the next signal all the while snapping and snarling at the three creatures ensuring they could not escape from her side.



Word Count: 411
Tags: Anima
Muse: x.x
Notes:

[Anima]

So wrapped up in her thoughts was she that for once Anima failed to realize the expression on the wolf beside her. Normally she would have instantly realized the subtle change in her posture and the differences in her expression. It was a skill of hers, the empathy that she possessed. But, with her mind on her pups and how things would go after she delivered them, her mind wasn’t in the present reality like it usually was. Instead, she was thinking of the potential Aztec could hold. Maybe they could become best friends, maybe she could help Anima through her birth and vice versa whenever Aztec had a litter. So many possibilities running through her head and she was hopeful that they would come to be.

She was pulled out of her thoughts when the she wolf mentioned that Anima’s idea sounded like a plan and the excitement in her tone made it sound like she was looking forward to it. The white she wolf was happy to see that her new friend was eager to hang out and hoped that it would continue. Anima was longing to find someone who she could be as close to as she had been with her siblings but so far, she had yet to find someone like that. The thought of Aztec taking that position filled her with excitement.

Anima chuckled at the comment the other female made, nodding her head in agreement. As Anima ran past the penguins, she was relieved to see that her hunting partner seemed to be on the same page. Once she had made it past them, she began doing the same thing Aztec was, moving forward and backwards so that they couldn’t escape. With a growling stomach, Anima locked eyes on one of the three penguins. Taking a step closer, she motioned to another of the penguins for Aztec to go after. The smallest of the penguins would likely get away unharmed but since the white wolf happened to be carrying pups, she couldn’t afford to let the larger two penguins get away.