Self Discovery [Laurel]

[Ryker]

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The majority of the pack seemed to be away, and for that, Ryker was somewhat relieved. Though he was enjoying the feeling of belonging for once, he was still mildly uneasy about spending time with the body of the pack. Galathe had been an interesting introduction into the pack, and he was not certain what to make of the young male just yet. Certainly he would grow more fond of him with time, but Ryker's instincts told him to be cautious of everyone. Even the alpha of the pack was up to suspicion in this place, though he would never be caught dead telling anyone his true thoughts. It would likely get him thrown out of Aleru, and the vast expanse of Anikira was far more dangerous to him than this little hole in the ground.

But it turned out, this litlle hole was not so little after all. As Ryker wandered the territory, the sound of gushing water caught his attention. What he discovered was far beyond what he had imagined. An entire ocean ran through this cave! Though the water was merely an underground river, the darkness kept Ryker from seeing the far side of the water, and much like the ocean, the water went as far as he could see. There was something remarkable to be said about this place; Ryker was constantly surprised by the territory. What he had once thought would merely be a small cavern was likely an old aquifer, spanning much further than he first anticipated. But the best thing about the water was that he could finally drink without worrying about someone lurking over his shoulder. His mind drifted back to the desert femme, Twist, who had nearly taken off his head for his appearance at the oasis. Here, the heat of the desert was no concern; the temperature seemed moderate at all times, though here at the water's edge it was certainly cooler. And so the male finally lowered his head to drink, lapping up the water and quenching his physical thirst, though the water could not truly satiate the Mackenzie Valley male.

Though this was a new page for him, Ryker constantly felt an emptiness in him. His life was incomplete in some way, and he was not certain what he could do to fill the void. As the male stared down into the moving water, the distorted reflection of a gold-face wolf, with eyes that sung of insecurity and distrust, stared back up at him. This was what his life had become. He was nothing but a shell... existing. Somehow he thought that by joining Ultoris, it would fill the void in his life. But yet, the hole was still there.... lingering and tearing at the back of his mind. Was this how it would be forever?

---

Tags: Laurel
Notes: This poor boy XD

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[Laurel]

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[attr="class","pltxt"]It had only been a few weeks since Laurel had come to call this place her home. She had met the alpha but the rest of the pack had not made themselves known to her. Despite knowing that fate had led her to this place, she still felt like an outsider. No one had made a friend of her, but she was probably to blame for that. Her only real friend was Rocket, her little furry companion. He would chatter away and fill the silence that she seemed to have difficulty with. Growing up talking had never been something that was required or even encouraged. Something was said only and if it needed to be. Even then Laurel rarely ever voiced much of her opinions unless she was in the company of those she really trusted. Rocket had found Laurel during her journey to Aleru, his small frame had been beaten and battered. The protective instincts within her had surfaced with a vengeance. Whatever beasts had caused harm to her little friend would never get the chance again. From then on they had been together, travelling. Rocket ate most of the same stuff that she did so she hunted for him, making sure that he regained his weight. She wanted nothing more than for him to be healthy and safe so she protected him. In return he kept her company and for the most part kept her sane.



The caverns of Aleru were very expansive and darker than she was used to. She had spent much of her time since joining Ultoris exploring the many caves and tunnels. The worst thing that could happen was her getting herself lost in one of the many rooms that belonged to her pack. Huffing she leaned down to nudge Rocket as he crawled about next to her. After feeling her nudge he turned to nip at her foreleg hissing a little at her before chittering away. If one thing was a constant in her life it was him. "It is nice here. I like it here. You do too, don't you. Otherwise you would have never chosen to stay." He gave her a stern look before moving further away. He was constantly trying to prove his own independence while remaining by her side. She was his muscle and he was her mouth. It didn't take long for Laurel to smell an unfamiliar scent that drew her further into a cavern. The tunnel opened up to a wider cavernous room that had plenty of space. Her eyes had already adjusted to the dark, but this room was a little lighter than the caves she had recently left. Rocket enjoyed the colder darker places and often wanted to explore them further.



She saw him after a few minutes, his fur dark tinged with a few gold spots. Rocket was quick to jump onto her back, his little paws clenching in her fur. He was not a fan of new people, his disposition often a little more reserved than Laurel's. She was mostly friendly so she didn't hold back as she moved forward. Her manners were a little less than practiced so she didn't stop herself when she reached him. Her muzzle reached out and she sniffed at his body letting his smell become part of her memory. Her tongue lolled out in a wolfy grin as she gave him the once over. Rocket hissed from atop her back and Laurel shook trying to get him to quite his aggressive display. Her voice was rough but firm as she introduced herself to the ebony stranger. "I am Laurel." Those were her most frequent words, the only ones that needed to be said on many an occasion.
Words: 622
Tags: @ryker

Muse:
 Good!
Notes: SO READY! 

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[Ryker]

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Ryker did not bother to lift his gaze from the flowing water to acknowledge the arrival of company. There was no surprise to him; the sound of the femme's paws echoed against the rocks around him. It would be very difficult to sneak around here at all, especially with a raccoon on one's back. As the golden and black male turned to face his company after some time, he only nodded in the femme's direction. What caught him off guard was her sudden advancement to him; as she inhaled his scent he balked with surprise. Most wolves were to wary of him to get so close, and for an absolute stranger to invade his personal space was shocking. But Ryker did not lash out or growl at the femme, for she seemed to mean no harm other than analyzing his scent. As she introduced herself, Ryker offered a pitiful half-smile.

"I am Ryker," he introduced himself evenly, fighting to keep an even face. Though Laurel had invaded on what had felt like an intensely personal moment, he could not help the flicker of relief that rushed over him. With another wolf around, he could at least feign normalcy. "And what might your raccoon's name be?" he inquired with curiosity; the little mongrel was still making horrible noises in his direction. Again, he took no offense to the little raccoon's actions, though the male could have reasoned that they approached him, so the theatrics were quite unnecessary. Instead, Ryker opted to keep his mouth shut in favor of a more polite response. If he did not have anything nice to say about the little beast, he would not say anything at all. Though he did not favor befriending other species, he held no ill will toward the wolves who seemed to bond with the strangest of critters. Take this raccoon for example. Normally, Ryker might have made a quick snack out of the little thing. But one: he was not hungry. Two: there might have been about four bites on the thing. And three: it seemed to be Laurel's friend.

At last, the male turned himself to face the new wolf. "I assume you are also a member of Ultoris?" he offered casual conversation to the femme. He was not sure how much longer they could sit in silence, and if that little raccoon was going to keep staring and hissing, he was not sure how long he would stick around. Little beast, he thought, annoyed at the thing that clung to Laurel's back like it was dying. Ryker had little sympathy for the thing... All it did was make horrible noises at him. With a frown cast in the raccoon's direction, he looked at Laurel once more. "What is his issue?"

---

Tags: Laurel
Notes: Ahahahahaha he doesn't care much for Rocket. Also, to tag Ryker's account it's actually @ tike XD

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[Laurel]

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[attr="class","pltxt"]His body seemed to stiffen at her rude approach, but Laurel didn't let it get to her. For all she knew he was the one being rude by not sniffing her over in return. He asked a great many questions that Laurel though over trying to decide which ones to answer and which ones to leave open. It seemed that most of the wolves on this continent valued their conversation, something that seemed odd to her. The silence was so pure that she hated to break it. Maybe it was the fact that he knowledge of speech was a little limited. She didn't want to embarrass herself by saying something wrong. Besides Rocket was more than capable of speaking enough for the both of them. Her little companion on her back seemed content to hiss and glare at their new acquaintance, but Laurel paid him no mind. "Rocket." Laurel jumped to the side jostling her furry little friend so that he almost fell. He was obviously putting on a front, and it puzzled Laurel that he was so friendly to her, but so aggressive with everyone else. He ought to have know by now that she would protect him against anything. She was the protector of the weak and defender of the innocent. Smiling at the darker male she tried to remain friendly to offset Rocket's foul mood. She nodded at his inquiry of her membership of Ultoris. His pack scent was faint which suggested that he was fairly new to the pack as well. It made her the smallest bit pleased that she was not the only newcomer.

Rumbling deep in her chest she sat down allowing the pesky raccoon to slide down her back. He hit the ground with a thump before squawking at her. With a wild thump he showed his displeasure before running to sit in front of her. He nestled into her chest as if trying to mesh himself into her. She leaned down to lick his head before looking back at Ryker. "His problem is being stuck with a bunch of stinky wolves, but what the hell. Not like I have any other place to go. Plus I like these caves." Laurel nodded agreement with him since she knew how much he liked being here. She tried to think over what she could say, but nothing much came to mind. "He is mine. I brought him here." She felt as if she should try to explain why Rocket was even here in the first place. He was an ornery little bastard and was sure to make people angry at times. The sooner they realized he was hers the better. That way they wouldn't try to hurt him. She had no idea why someone would want to kill him for he was very adorable. She would never tell him that however because he had some kind of pride to maintain. "Yes I am with her. She is the muscle and I am the brains of this outfit." Laurel couldn't help but snort at that. She was curious about this male. Where he had come from and why he wasn't with the rest of their pack mates. "You not joining the others?"

Words: 543
Tags: Ryker
Muse: Good!
Notes: Rocket's speech is in black.

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[Ryker]

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Though the Mackenzie Valley male had encountered a lot of things in his life, this was a first to him. Not only did the little raccoon, or Rocket as he had introduced himself, answer his question, but he seemed to be more vocal overall than Laurel. Ryker was moderately pleased to have even garnered her name, for it seemed that she was not a fan of speaking. The little devil, however, had no such qualms. Ryker could not help the sour face he made at Rocket, and he fought back the urge to snark at the damn thing. Certainly Laurel must have seen something in him to keep him around, but the way he talked about her was degrading and frustrating to the male. "She is no more just the muscle as you are just a snack," he finally griped back at the little best. His dislike of the raccoon grew steadily with each passing moment; how could he co-exist with the damn thing if it did nothing but try to provoke him. "I suppose I will have to play nice, if only for her benefit." The black and golden male offered a gentle smile to Laurel; though he was not one to go out of his way to please others, it did not hurt to make friends with someone who seemed would be more of a listener than a talker.

Ryker may not have always been the most conversational of wolves, but there was something to be said about one would communicate without having to verbalize their thoughts. Though at first impressions it seemed Laurel was just quiet, he could not help but feel there was something more to it. She seemed perfectly normal, yet the blasted raccoon was essentially talking for her. She was capable of taking care of herself, surely. So why was she allowing him to belittle her by talking for her? It just did not click in his head that maybe she actually wanted him around. For Ryker had not experienced the desire to be around anyone or anything for a long period of time. Those around him came and went, just like the water as it flowed beside him. He was no less fluid that the ocean.

"You are not stuck here, you know. No one is holding you here," he remarked off-handedly to the ring-tailed mongrel before turning away from the pair and back to the water. Though he was less inclined to return to his musing with the devil itself in critter form lurking behind him, he had no desire to continue to fuel the fire, either. He did not want to anger Laurel, and somehow he felt that if he continued to poke and prod at Rocket, eventually he would not be faced with this calm, quiet wolf. Ryker knew better than to pick fights with everyone; he was done with that phase of his life, and he needed to move on here. He needed to make friends, and if that meant making nice with the fur-covered satanic being, so be it.

---

Tags: Laurel
Notes: I can't help but laugh. He HATES Rocket XD

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[Laurel]

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[attr="class","pltxt"]Laurel took no offense after hearing Rocket's words because she knew that he was only kidding around. She was his muscle, keeping him safe from the very cruel world that was out there. In return he gave her something that was very precious to her, his friendship. During the course of her travels she had been alone for the majority of it. Being raised in a pack where solitude simply never happened Laurel had grown to resent her lonely state. All because she had killed her siblings. Her 'parents' had thought she was dangerous to everyone within the pack, that if she killed once she could kill again. That was the truth because her siblings had been far from her last kill. Anyone who chose to harm the weak and the innocent for their own sick enjoyment deserved to die a slow and painful death. Her paws were covered in the blood of her victims and yet she felt no remorse. She would do it again if she was presented with such a situation. When she had killed Rocket's tormentors she was unsure if he would even live past a few days, his body seemingly torn apart. Yet here he was her truest friend. No one really seemed to understand Laurel the way her little friend did, he never pressure her to talk and he never judged her for her past choices.





When the dark wolf spoke again it was almost as if there was outrage in his tone. Like the things Rocket had said were upsetting him. The word snack was one that didn't sit well with her friend and he took in a sharp breath. "Snack? Did you hear that? He plans to make a meal out of me." His little black paws clutched at his chest and he dramatically pretended to be afraid for his life. Laurel only chuckled at him for if he was really afraid of the black wolf he would be behind her trembling like her always did when he feared something. No it was safe here, at least when he was here with her. "Her sake? What about my sake? I am very good company. I mean look at me and Laurel here. We get along great. Maybe you should try to be a little nicer to me and not so rude, because I think you might hurt my feelings." Rocket was being sarcastic with his words, something he had to teach Laurel about since she took him very literally when they had first met. She reached down again to nudge him because he was being very rude. Besides she wanted to make a new friend and she wasn't helping thing out.





Her gaze turned up just in time to see the male smile at her and she wagged her tail in return. He was a very polite wolf, with manners she supposed were proper for wolf etiquette. She had yet to master all the ins and outs, but at least she hadn't scared him off yet. He would make a very good new friend, that is if she didn't scare him off later. Her own smile was a goofy one her head tilting to once side and her tongue lolling out. His next comment made Laurel wonder why it was that Rocket chose to stay so long with her. He was no prisoner here and was free to leave her to return to his forest, yet she felt as if there was a bond between them now. If he left he would be breaking something that neither truly understood. Although it was completely unnatural a wolf and a raccoon were friends, companions. He was her best friend and she didn't want any part of that to change. "Yes something is holding him here. I am." Her words were firm and her eyes bore into his as if she was willing him to understand. Not many wolves would understand the kind of bond they shared. "Yes she is right. She saved my life, which means wherever she goes I go." For a moment the raccoon dropped his sass and sarcasm to give an honest answer. Laurel knew that the topic of his near death experience still shook him. He never wanted to talk about that memory. Instead he was content to block it out. "See?" Laurel hoped that Ryker would understand at least a little bit better. Besides he could not be a friend to Laurel if he couldn't at least tolerate Rocket.
Words: 758
Tags: Ryker


Muse:

 Great
Notes: Sweet and Sassy.Laurel took no offense after hearing Rocket's words because she knew that he was only kidding around. She was his muscle, keeping him safe from the very cruel world that was out there. In return he gave her something that was very precious to her, his friendship. During the course of her travels she had been alone for the majority of it. Being raised in a pack where solitude simply never happened Laurel had grown to resent her lonely state. All because she had killed her siblings. Her 'parents' had thought she was dangerous to everyone within the pack, that if she killed once she could kill again. That was the truth because her siblings had been far from her last kill. Anyone who chose to harm the weak and the innocent for their own sick enjoyment deserved to die a slow and painful death. Her paws were covered in the blood of her victims and yet she felt no remorse. She would do it again if she was presented with such a situation. When she had killed Rocket's tormentors she was unsure if he would even live past a few days, his body seemingly torn apart. Yet here he was her truest friend. No one really seemed to understand Laurel the way her little friend did, he never pressure her to talk and he never judged her for her past choices.





When the dark wolf spoke again it was almost as if there was outrage in his tone. Like the things Rocket had said were upsetting him. The word snack was one that didn't sit well with her friend and he took in a sharp breath. "Snack? Did you hear that? He plans to make a meal out of me." His little black paws clutched at his chest and he dramatically pretended to be afraid for his life. Laurel only chuckled at him for if he was really afraid of the black wolf he would be behind her trembling like her always did when he feared something. No it was safe here, at least when he was here with her. "Her sake? What about my sake? I am very good company. I mean look at me and Laurel here. We get along great. Maybe you should try to be a little nicer to me and not so rude, because I think you might hurt my feelings." Rocket was being sarcastic with his words, something he had to teach Laurel about since she took him very literally when they had first met. She reached down again to nudge him because he was being very rude. Besides she wanted to make a new friend and she wasn't helping thing out.





Her gaze turned up just in time to see the male smile at her and she wagged her tail in return. He was a very polite wolf, with manners she supposed were proper for wolf etiquette. She had yet to master all the ins and outs, but at least she hadn't scared him off yet. He would make a very good new friend, that is if she didn't scare him off later. Her own smile was a goofy one her head tilting to once side and her tongue lolling out. His next comment made Laurel wonder why it was that Rocket chose to stay so long with her. He was no prisoner here and was free to leave her to return to his forest, yet she felt as if there was a bond between them now. If he left he would be breaking something that neither truly understood. Although it was completely unnatural a wolf and a raccoon were friends, companions. He was her best friend and she didn't want any part of that to change. "Yes something is holding him here. I am." Her words were firm and her eyes bore into his as if she was willing him to understand. Not many wolves would understand the kind of bond they shared. "Yes she is right. She saved my life, which means wherever she goes I go." For a moment the raccoon dropped his sass and sarcasm to give an honest answer. Laurel knew that the topic of his near death experience still shook him. He never wanted to talk about that memory. Instead he was content to block it out. "See?" Laurel hoped that Ryker would understand at least a little bit better. Besides he could not be a friend to Laurel if he couldn't at least tolerate Rocket. 

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[Ryker]

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The dynamic between the pair in front of him not only confused Ryker, but also subconsciously made him long for some sort of companionship. Though he had nothing but resentment toward the little raccoon thus far, he could certainly respect the bond that the two clearly shared. And that became even more evident at Laurel's declaration that she was the reason he stayed. The male merely nodded his head silently in acknowledgement to the statement. Ryker was not one to argue for the sake of arguing; he did not plan to go after Rocket, so long as the little beast kept his distance from the Mackenzie Valley male. If he decided to cause problems, Ryker would not kill him, but he may very well have a shorter tail by the time he went crawling back to Laurel. A smirk crossed the male's muzzle as he half-glared in Rocket's direction. Though it was clear that Laurel cared for him very much, that did not mean Ryker had to enjoy his company. He was simply a part of the package.

"So, what brings you two to Ultoris?" he inquired, finally realizing it was best to just direct the question to both of them. Speaking to Laurel directly only riled up Miniature Satan, and he seemed to be the one answering for her anyways, so the open question seemed the most logical answer. Though he was not keen on discussing his own past, he would be more than willing to do so if it meant getting to know the femme before him a little better. Well, he would discuss what of his past he knew; unfortunately, the multi-year gap in his memory tended to stifle that conversation quickly. It was interesting not knowing where he came from or who he knew, but in many ways he was grateful for the clean slate that had been offered to him. That was the main reason he had made his way to Ultoris; though he continued to use the guise of a safe home, he knew that in all actuality he just wanted a change from the life he had been living for the last year. His fear of the assassins was still all too real, but the likelihood of them tracking him down after all this years was little to none. It seemed that fear had been ingrained in him, and perhaps it was time for him to shirk that veil and get on with living.

Would things be different here? The company was certainly different from what he expected. From the "little brother" type annoyance that was Galathe to the stoic Laurel to the middle-ground Severus, he was not sure what his overall impression of this pack was just yet. Everyone was so different that he had a hard time seeing the cohesion that kept the pack together. Clearly they were functioning up to this point, but where were the relationships? The friendships and the confidence in one another? Both himself and Galathe were admittedly new to the pack, and it appeared that Laurel was a recent member as well. Were there any older members of the pack that could help him figure out exactly what it was this pack stood for?

---

Tags: Laurel
Notes: Sorry, he went off on a mental tangent there.

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[Laurel]

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[attr="class","pltxt"]The tension that seemed to be hanging over the cavern dissipated. Ryker seemed to realize just how important Rocket was to her, his attempts to ignore him finally ceasing. That seemed to appease her furry friend and he released his grip on her fur. His fat little body flopped down on the ground and he began to play with the grass and rocks at her feet. One thing that Laurel never seemed to forget was that Rocket was a very intelligent creature, one with feelings that he tried to hide. Even when she had first met him he had been so abusive with his words, berating her for trying to help him. After so long spent together she had come to realize that he was afraid of her and that was the reason for his cruelty. Now even he was afraid to let himself be vulnerable in form of this strange wolf. Something that Laurel found to be very odd. She had always protected him and she would for as long as they remained together. Laurel refused to keep him here so the time he spent by her side was voluntarily. It seemed that he craved the company as much as she did. When the darker wolf asked them why they were here in Ultoris Rocket motioned to her as an indicator that she should answer. He still didn't quite understand Laurel's reasoning either.

Pausing for a moment she tried to think of a good explanation for what had lead her here. There was no physical reason wy she had chosen this pack. As a loner she was efficient and capable, but her heart knew that it wasn't where she belonged. "Destiny. I belong here." That was all that Laurel could think to say. As she had journeyed after finding Rocket there had been a definite pull towards this place. As if a string in her heart and soul was connected to a similar one here. "I don't know why, but I felt led here." Rocket didn't feel the same as she did, in fact he thought she was crazy for ruining the life they had led previously. He had enjoyed the freedom of not having to interact with other wolves, but now Laurel was pushing him to his limits. Despite his rude disposition he did care about her and he was afraid that she was making some kind of mistake. Her promise to give her life for him was one that she would keep, especially if any of her new pack mates tried to hurt him. This was supposed to be her fresh start, a place where she could trust her pack and exsist happily. She only hoped that Rocket could find the same peace of mind here. "Why are you here?"

There was something foreign in the male's eyes. As if Ryker had a longing for something more. Perhaps that was what brought him here, hoping that something new would spark for him. Maybe his destiny had led him to this place too. "Whatever it is that brings us here must be important. Because it was a nice life out there. Two peas in a pod living the loner life. The only good thing about living here is the caves, so dark and cool." Laurel was pleased that he had decided to say something nice about their new home. She knew that he especially like catching frogs by the river beds.
Words: 578
Tags: Ryker
Muse:Decent
Notes: GIVE ME A MINUTE TO ENJOY THIS!

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[Ryker]

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Though Ryker had not intended to allow others into his life right off the bat, his prejudice toward the little raccoon was slowly waning. It seemed that Laurel was someone whose company he could enjoy, and her quiet nature was far more to the male's liking. She was not probing him with questions like Galathe had, and he was grateful for that in a way that he could not really show. This place was so new and overwhelming to him; he had barely had a moment to enjoy what he now had. And that was the reason that Ryker was surprised when, instead of Rocket answering his question, Laurel spoke. Destiny. The idea was foreign to him, for how could one have a destiny when they did not know who they really were? Perhaps Laurel had been fortunate enough to know her place in this world, but Ryker still did not know where he belonged. The world was a scary place, and this place offered protection from the world. He had enjoyed not being tied down, but the insecurity he felt at not knowing what was out there drew him to Ultoris.

"I am here... because I do not know what is out there," he replied cryptically, his green eyes once again falling back to his reflection in the water. There was no way the male could fully explain his reasoning without exposing his faults. Ryker often though that, with time, the memories would come flooding back. But for over a year he had wandered completely in the dark. If the memories were going to come to him, he likely would have retrieved them at this point. "What matters now is that I am here," he stated matter-of-factly. He would likely not be left to wallow in his own misfortune for long in Ultoris, as he was certain the alpha that Captain spoke of would expect him to take a job within the pack. Thankfully, he was a skilled fighter and would likely be able to climb within the pack's ranks. He outsized many opponents and, as the scars that covered his neck and back indicated, he was a well-seasoned warrior. He would find a place here, and he would make it his home.

Whatever the future held, he would tackle it head on. For that was the new Ryker, and he was done feeling sorry for himself.

---

Tags: Laurel
Notes: This was shorter than my other posts. I'm sorry D:

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[Laurel]

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[attr="class","pltxt"]Ryker's words confused Laurel, as if he was here for no other reason than that there was no where else to go. Surely he had some sense of where his fate was carrying him. Perhaps he did not feel it in his heart the same that she did. Then again he probably didn't believe that is what brought him here, but no matter his beliefs Laurel knew he was here in Ultoris for a reason. Just one that hadn't made itself known yet. It was the same as Laurel. She knew her destiny laid within this pack, but she had no idea when or where it would present itself. Until that time she would be here integrating herself into the ranks of her pack. Laurel knew what was out there and maybe she was using this as an escape as well. When she was a loner she was a mercenary, killing to protect those who were in need. Here her existence meant a little more than murder and blood. The amount of kills she had made in her lifetime should have weighed heavily on her conscience, but instead she felt no remorse. Those who chose to torture and kill those that were weaker than them for sport deserved death. A slow painful one, but she always killed her victims quickly. She refused to become that which she hated most.



It seemed as if in Ryker's eyes he had a life to discover here, some purpose unfulfilled. What mattered was that all of them were here, together, giving some meaning to something. Laurel had no idea what it was Ultoris stood for, but she would discover it's mysteries in time. The more members she met the more it would unravel revealing what she was now supporting, and what they stood for. For the first time since her banishment from her birth pack she was actually beginning to think of a pack as her home. She knew that it would take time and trust for her to fully love living here, but as long as she had Rocket she would make it. "We will be happy here." Her words were not a question, but a simply statement that she believed to be true for all three of them. Outside of Rocket she had no friends here and it was time for her to start making them, no matter how much time it took. Ryker was a good person, and although he didn't seem to like Rocket very much , Laurel liked that he didn't force her to talk. He seemed to enjoy her silence more than others she had met. "Would it be alright for me to call you friend?"



Words: 449
Tags: Ryker

Muse:
 Straggling
Notes: So formal  

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[Ryker]

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Things in the cave were growing less stressful by the moment. Though he had first seen Laurel and Rocket's arrival as a bit of a nuisance, Ryker certainly found a peace around them that he had not yet seen here. The idea that this place was safe, and that in some way he was meant to be here, calmed him. His nervous nature dwindled, although slightly, and he could not help but offer a smile to the femme before him. It also did not escape his notice that Rocket was growing a bit quieter, and though he promised himself he would be kinder to the raccoon, he was quite please that the chatter had ceased, if only for a short time. There were many wolves here, but Laurel was the first one to ask him the simplest of questions: could they be friends.

The question caught Ryker off guard. He had never been asked to be a friend before, nor did he believe he had any. Even in the flashes of his past that occasionally came back to him, he did not see the faces of any friends or feel the comfort of someone he might have loved in his past. It seemed he had been painfully alone, and although his dislike for Rocket was obvious, he could not help but be jealous of the relationship he and Laurel shared. They were friends, and now, it seemed that he and Laurel were friends as well. "Of course I will be your friend, Laurel," he breathed cautiously, as if speaking the words would somehow make them vanish. It was a new concept to feel that someone could be trusted. But he had no suspicions of Laurel's intentions like he had of Galathe's, and instead he found himself enjoying her company, even in her mostly silent nature. Some of the loudest statements could be spoken with silence, and Laurel was proof that one did not have to be chatty and crazy in order to have a good heart.

"Perhaps I am here for a reason. I have... never had a friend before," he admitted, suddenly feeling painfully small. The admission slipped past his golden lips before he could stop himself, and once it was out, it could not be taken back. He could not help but smile sheepishly, as if trying to play off the statement. Surely he had had friends before, he just could not remember them. He could not have forced himself to be alone for all this time... could he have?

The male's golden and black face turned to Laurel once more as he dipped his head in thanks to the female. "I fear I must seek out others, but I will not forget my friend," he commented with a gentle smile. The male craved exploring this place, and his once individual time had been interrupted. Though he was not unhappy with the outcome, it was time he moved on and enjoyed the company of others, if he could find someone so pleasant to share his company with in this place. And so the male turned away, his dark coat fading into the darkness as he wandered along the water's edge to wherever his paws might take him.

---

Tags: Laurel
Notes: This'll be my last post in here because I'm doing some stuff with Snuffles and Antares buuuuuuut we can thread again with them <3

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