Burning Cities [Joining/Open]

[Cassiel]

Dew drops from the low lying shrubbery and grass beneath his paws clung to his pelt and brought down an almost heavy feeling onto the brute as he trotted aimlessly, looking for a small meal to soothe his hunger. He had never been a very skilled hunter. His mother or sisters were usually the ones who caught the bulk of the prey that was to be eaten by the family. It wasn't due to gender roles or anything, just that Cas was a god awful hunter. He could catch the occasional rabbit or groundhog, but anything larger than that was much more difficult for him to handle.

The early morning air was cool and humid. The canine wasn't having any luck with his hunt, so he found himself wandering carelessly. The approaching smell of fresh border markings were apparent, but the scent of a rodent of some kind proved to be much stronger to the hungry male. It didn't take him long to spot the little prairie dog perched atop a rock. Cassiel crouched, the hairs on his stomach tickling the ground, and tried to sneak up on the creature. Suddenly, the thing must have realized Cassiel's presence because it darted away. The brute's mind was still foggy from his recent slumber, so his reaction time was much too delayed to catch it.

He knew this was true, but out of frustration he ran in the direction that the prairie dog had rudely escaped. He grumbled angrily before slowing to a stop. It was then that he realized his mistake. He had completely ignored the edge of the pack's territory about ten yards behind him. Sighing grumpily, the hungry canine weighed his options. He could easily turn around and return to his loner life outside of this claimed area. But, thinking to himself he was faced with the fact that he did not necessarily enjoy living on his own. Let alone his poor hunting skills, the male missed the company of his sisters.

It was almost as if there was a never ending void left in their space wherever he went. He knew he would need to fill this void at some point before he lost is mind or starved to death - whichever came first. Why not summon a pack member and find out what they're all about before leaving. There was a chance it could be the most beneficial choice in his life, who knows. Tilting his head back, he let out a low howl. There was no backing down now, Cassiel wasn't a coward. He would face whatever was about to come at him and decide his next course of action based on that.

---

words: 454
tags: Valeria
notes: Forgive me if this sucks, still trying to get the feel for him xD

[Valeria]

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The mood hovering over Valyn was somber at best. With the passing of their great alpha and father, Valeria found herself not only stuck in a state of constant haze, but she also founder herself wandering the pack lands aimlessly in search of some purpose. Though she had thought herself to be mentally prepared for Vorilye's passing, she could not have imagined exactly what impact it would have on her mental health. While she knew that the day had been looming on the horizon for well over a full moon, she simply was having a hard time wrapping her head around the idea that her father was gone. And with the fall of the Prince, it was time for another to rise. Though he had yet to find Pharaoh and let him know of his new position, he was more than confident that the young male's leadership skills would blossom within the hierarchy of Valyn. But as all things live, so much others die.

The great patriarch of Descai had fallen.

But life in Valyn had to go on. And so the now heavily pregnant Seraphim, in an effort to get away from the dens, headed out in response to the call of a loner within their territory. Though it likely was not the safest or wisest decision for the alphess who would whelp within a couple weeks, she was not content to remain within the dens right now. There on the den floors, her father still laid. They had not yet offered his body up to the earth; it was too soon. So the Seraphim walked away from her responsibilities and the honoring of her father in persuit of honoring her father's dream to expand the family. They were a cohesive family unit now, but the introduction of new blood into the pack continued to strengthen their ranks.

As Valeria strolled to the outside of the pack's borders, the black and golden alphess found herself faced by a red male; it was the first desert breed wolf she had encountered in quite some time. Though the wolf looked much like her sister Zirena, the male's startling blue eyes were a staunch difference from her older, little sister. With a half-mustered smile, the Seraphim dipped her head in greeting to the male. "Welcome to the lands of Valyn, stranger. I am Valeria, Seraphim of the pack. May I ask what your business is at our borders?" she inquired politely, her golden eyes watching the male curiously.

Word Count: 422 words
Tags: Cassiel
Note: Post for yooooooou

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[Cassiel]

Rash decisions were not new concepts to the Red male. He enjoyed living in a way that left everyone on their toes, not knowing what to expect. Even himself at times. That's why he wasn't too surprised when the ebony colored wolf approached him that he found himself cursing his own choice to call. Her gold markings reminded him of the blazing sun and she seemed polite enough, but the brute wasn't sure what his next move should be. Based on some well calculated inferences, this unique-pelted she-wolf was the dominant wolf of this territory, meaning that there was no room for messing around. Although she was politely awaiting an explanation that Cas did not have, he could tell she probably had better things to do than deal with him. That, and she was clearly very pregnant.

Bowing his head in respect as his mother had taught him to do in all situations with a wolf of authority, the Red male took this moment to quickly decide his entire fate in a split second. He could stay, or he could leave. The choice itself should have taken extensive consideration and proper time to sink into the male's brain, but that wasn't going to happen now. Well, what the hell am I supposed to tell her? Raising his head slowly and in a non-threatening way, the brute put his thoughts on standby and decided to simply act on a whim.

"Greetings, miss. The name's Cassiel, but most call me Cas. I don't know much about Valyn, although I do remember my sister talking about it once," he replied, cocking his head and scrunching his brow, trying to remember the context of the reference to the pack he was now apparently trespassing in. "I don't have a real reason to be here - it was more of a hunting accident. But I would very much enjoy a nice spiel about what the values of your great and wonderful pack consist of. If you would be willing to give me one of course." There was a hint of humor ringing in his voice, but that was expected of him always. At this moment, standing before a powerful female such as this one, Cas really was trying to hold back his sarcasm and witty humor, but it was a part of him that never really went away. He had never been a pack wolf and never planned to become one. But now that his family was all gone and living out their lives without him, Cas felt that maybe he could at least try to branch out of his comfort zone.

---

words: 446
tags: Valeria
notes: starting to warm up a little c:

[Valeria]

The Seraphim listened calmly to Cassiel's introduction, and she might not have been pleased to find him within her boundaries, but he was at least honest about his intentions and his trespassing. That did not exclude the fact that he was within her markers without invitation, but she was not really in the condition to chase loners out and invoke a fight. She was far too concerned about the safety of her young. So when Cassiel requested she tell him about her pack, she nodded wordlessly in response at first.

What was there to tell about Valyn? The once fiercely matriarchal pack had been overhauled in the recent months. What had once been their core value had been thrown to the wind, and though only her brother stood above the general pack ranks, she was still fierce in her convictions that females ruled the pack. She would not compromise that point, and though she was warming up to the males around her, she had no intentions of letting an unfamiliar male rise to stand beside her as an equal. But the pack was no longer a place of hatred, and perhaps all in all, that was the core value of their pack.

"Valyn is a place of strength, duty, and first and foremost, family," the Seraphim stated firmly. "We place a strong emphasis on equality of females to males. While other more traditional pack hierarchies are run by males, Valyn instead is comprised of a primarily female leadership. My half brother assists in the governing of the pack as well." She paused briefly, her golden eyes scanning around casually to ensure there were no others lurking around. She could never be too cautious away from the dens in her condition. "We are a close group, though many of us do not have pleasant pasts. We have been scorned and broken, and yet we continue to rise from the ashes like a phoenix." She could not help but smirk slightly at the thought of the male she had left behind with the pack. Perhaps Cassiel would realize the irony in her words in time. "Valyn is a place for new beginnings. We are brave in the face of adversity, and we do not back down." Her rant finally satisfied, the femme rested back on her haunches, watching the blue-eyed red male with interest.

Did he really have any interest in the pack, or was he just here and looking for an escape from punishment for intruding on their borders? If so, he was likely going to escape quite lucky, for she was not about to go chasing after him if he chose to flee. But somewhere in her heart, she hoped the male would take a liking to her little slice of heaven. She needed some good news in her life, and the continued growth of Valyn would live to honor her father's memory. There was a huge hole in the alphess's heart, and she needed something to help repair it, even if it meant throwing her attention back into the management of the pack. 


Word Count: 518 words
Tags: Cassiel
Notes: N/A

[Cassiel]

The Seraphim paused as if she was trying to come up with the best way to answer to Cassiel's request. This impressed the Red male, and he listened quietly as she talked about Valyn, taking in every detail. The raw passion in her glimmering gold eyes was apparent and made it painstakingly clear that she cared about her pack and wouldn't back down from anything to protect it. The story of Valyn, with its admiration of the female race and its fair share of difficult pasts, surprisingly perked the canine's interest. It reminded him of his high regard and respect for his own three sisters. He was never allowed to boss them around when they were younger let alone now. In fact, they were usually the ones bossing him around. The thought of his siblings brought a small smile to the brute's face.

As the Mackensie Valley finished her spiel, adding that Valyn was a place for new beginnings, Cas was faced with a difficult descision. There was still the possibility of escaping. He doubted that it was out of his abilities to outrun a very pregnant female. Running was the obvious choice for the rough around the edges, generally independent male. But a small feeling was telling him not to go. The source of this odd sensation was unknown, but the brute was used to reacting based on the feeling in his gut rather that proper reasoning and thought, so he would go with the feeling once more. "Valyn sounds like quite the powerful force. Are you perhaps seeking another member for your ranks?" he hinted with a flash of a quick smile. The male straightened his shoulders and stood tall, trying to prove that he might be worthy of a place here.

Everything that he was doing was urged on by pure instinct. Or maybe it was the drowsiness fogging his common sense and thought processes. It was all new to the loner - requesting acceptance from and simply speaking to a pack wolf. All his life, he never once seriously considered joining a pack. He thought he could do it all on his own, but his failed hunting expedition that lead him to this situation proved this belief to be utterly wrong. That, and Valyn seemed different. There seemed to be no cruel, totalitarian ruler or even one of those overly positive and "love everyone" type atmospheres that made him feel sick to his stomach. He needed a place that was fair but also somewhere that required everyone to work hard and do their part in order to make him proud. Valyn seemed to offer all of this, which was the only reason his heart rate began to quicken as he awaited a response from Valeria.

---

words: 462
tags: Valeria
notes: this was bad I'm sorry :/

[Valeria]

If there was one thing Valeria respected, it was a wolf who was willing to listen and be patient. Not only did Cass listen calmly through her entire spiel, but he also immediately requested a pack with in her ranks. The femme quirked a brow, a bit surprised at the male's request. Not even a few moments ago, she could have sworn he was gazing away from the borders, almost as if he were going to take off at any moment. She would have let him run; there was no use chasing down a male whose only crime was an inability to stop at scent markers. After all, he had been polite enough to summon her. And in their time of mourning, the Seraphim could use all the help available.

"I do believe we have room for another male such as you," she stated coolly, the slightest hint of a smirk tugging at her lips. She was not yet ready to smile, for everything was too fresh for her to handle such a raw emotion. Right now, she mostly felt numb. But singing the praise of their pack made her feel alive again. It was as if, through Valyn, her father could continue to live. He was in the pack, and he would exist in their very essence so long as she kept his memory alive. "What would you be able to contribute to our family, Cass?" she inquired. The male had admitted to hunting, so he was capable of sustaining himself, but they had plenty of skilled hunters within the pack. She was intrigued to see what the lone male had to offer them, as he clearly had not come with the intent of joining a pack. That was just an added bonus to their little conversation, it seemed.

Over time, the pain will lessen. The ebony-coated femme held back the sigh that threatened to escape her lips. Her entire demeanor fought against the sadness that threatened to spill out, for she did not want to appear weak in front of the male. 

"We were once a proud, strong pack."

The words of her fallen father still rung clear in her mind. Vorilye had believed they would rise again, with the help of her brothers and sisters. Now, they were adding new family to the mix. Cassiel, along with Evani, Phoenix, Raksha, and even Rassa were steps in the direction her father hoped she would steer the pack. She would live to make him proud, and that would drive them forward. She would fulfill her promise and take back their homelands. 

Descai and Valyn, together, were stronger than she could have ever imagined.

Word Count: 446 words
Tags: Cassiel
Notes: So Val goes on this mental tirade quite frequently, but right now she's using it as a coping mechanism. Meep.

[Cassiel]

Cassiel wasn't yet sure if his decision had been the right one, but there wasn't any backing out now. He had dove too far deep already to be able to climb himself out easily without making the situation very awkward. Swiveling satellite dish shaped audits listened as Valeria agreed that Valyn might possibly have room for another. This perked Cassiel's interest once more, and any doubt he had developed in the short time of awaiting the female's response temporarily vanished. What could I contribute? The thought echoed in his brain as he searched for a way to make himself sound moderately useful to a pack.

What a pack considered a worthy contribution, the Red brute had not a clear idea. He knew the basics - wolves need food. But, alas, even if the black and gold hued wolfess hadn't already picked up on the fact that he was a lousy hunter, it was undoubtedly true. He definitely wasn't the healer type either. He couldn't tell the difference between a deadly herb from a medicinal one to save his own life, let alone cradle another's life in his paws. The only possibly beneficial skill that the male possessed was fighting, which he had proven over the years to be pretty competent with.

Flashbacks from the day of his mother's demise threatened to make a return, but he pushed them away before answering the Seraphim swiftly, "I guess you could say I'm a fighter. My formal training is close to none, but I've taught myself and - without being too cocky - I must admit I'm not too shabby."  He grinned humorously, hoping Valeria didn't take his playfulness too seriously yet understood that he was being serious about his fighting skills. She seemed somewhat detached from the conversation at this point. Her eyes showed that she was waging her own inner battles in her mind, and from all of Cassiel's experiences, he knew best that a wolf fighting their own emotions was one that needed space. Having fought his own wars inside his brain after the traumatic experience of his mother's loss, he felt empathetic towards the female for whatever problems she was working through and hoped she wasn't doing so alone.

---

words: 383
tags: Valeria
notes: meh post, sorry <3

[Valeria]

Valeria had half expected the male to turn tail and run. It was a pleasant surprise that not only did he intend to stay, but he was willing to fight for the pack. The Seraphim's half smile screamed of approval; she was more than please to incorporate more fighters into the pack, even if he was self taught. "I am certain we can hone your skills as well, Cassiel," the ebony femme smirked with her eyes twinkling with amusement. He would be in for quite a shock when he saw the Seraphim's brothers, but not all the wolves in Valyn were massive, nor did she want them to be. She had hopes that her litter would grow large and strong, so she would have more loyal defenders of the pack. She would do better with this litter; hopefully they would not venture out or vanish like her last litter had. The words of Silver had rang in her mind for ages. Arya was alive, and she was out there. She had simply walked away from Valyn without even so much as a goodbye to her mother, and that hurt more than she cared to admit. Though Valkyrie was always the obvious choice as her heir, Arya held a special place in her heart. The smaller femme was sweet in nature and never wavered in her kindness.

But that was the past, and she could only look forward to the future. Cassiel was now part of the family, and it would be best for him to join the others and learn their ways. "You are free to wander within our territory, though I do warn you not to head too far west," she cautioned with a crinkle of her nose. "It is dangerous territory over there, and you don't dare wander too far alone." Soon, we will not have to worry, and Kairos will be gone from our lands, she thought with annoyance. They had held her lands too long, and soon that would all change.

"The others will want to meet you as well," she stated, though it was less of a suggestion and more of an order that he integrate himself into the pack. A wolf would not last long in Valyn territory if he did not make friends, and it was best that Cassiel get to know some of the family before they were all too consumed with other responsibilities. "The time will come soon where we will get to put your skills to the test."


Word Count: 421 words
Tags: Cassiel
Notes: N/A

[Cassiel]

Cas nodded as his Seraphim spoke. It was odd, to have another wolf to answer to. He was used to having an equal ownership of group decisions and responsibilities with his sisters. Of course, their mother had been like a leader to the siblings, but that time seemed so distant that the brute didn't even consider it to count as living beneath someone else. He would have to get used to it, but he didn't for one second doubt his ability to adapt to this new pack lifestyle. Well, he hoped he could adapt anyway.

He knew about the dangers of Kairos. The giants that roamed the west were wicked in his eyes, and he was glad Valeria felt the same. "Trust me, it would have to be life or death for us to make me go anywhere near that pack of rabid mutts," he grumbled. He was happy to make the adjustment, though - by saying 'us' instead of me, he was already showing signs of acclimation to his new life. From now on, there would be a lot more 'us' and a lot less 'me' for Cassiel, and it was good for him to begin making the transition now. Change could be difficult in all aspects of life, and it was no different for the desert canine. Losing his mother had nearly killed him too, but he carried on for the good of his sisters. Now, although the shift from solitary life to pack life might be grueling at first, he now had a pack to consider. 

He smirked at the night hued wolfess, raising an eyebrow. "I'm not sure anyone would willingly seek me out and welcome me in with open paws. I'm not the quickest to make friends, I'm afraid." He was half joking, but it was true. The male had never been the sentimental type. Acquaintances, sure, he had several. But actual friends were few and far between for the Red. Sharing his emotions and deep thoughts was unnatural for him, and although he was always willing to have banter, he could usually sense that his sometimes bitter sarcasm made other's uncomfortable. "I will do my best, however. Anything to please the great Valeria." His words were sincere in the most part, but he couldn't help to come off as a bit mocking of the idea of authority. He wasn't used to this, but he would need to be. Finally, he dipped his head respectfully to the female. He really was grateful for her accepting nature thus far, he was lucky she didn't have his tail when she found him trespassing in the first place.

---

words: 448
tags: Valeria
notes: I'm thinking this could wrap it up, but there's also room if you'd like to make one last reply I think ^^

[Valeria]

Though his attitude might have needed some adjustments, Valeria could not find any reason that he would not be a good fit for their ranks. Valeria could use every able-bodied male and female at this time, for she would not allow her family to fall victim to the monster to the west. She nodded affirmatively, highly approving of the male's attitude toward Kairos. "You will fit in well here, Cassiel," she mused, her mouth tugging into the slightest of smirks. She was proud of her pack's unwillingness to submit to the monstrous pack. She was certain that some of the surrounding packs likely had similar sentiments, but she had yet to seek them out to forge alliances. With their new pack lands, it would be wise to forge relationships with the packs around them. 

The Seraphim watched Cassiel cautiously as his snarky words met her ears. Instead of succumbing to her urge to bite back, she instead drew her mouth into a tight line. "I have business to attend do, but the dens are east of here, near the old human ruins." The word "human" was a bit of a foreign concept to her, as she had never encountered them herself, but she knew well enough that they were something to be feared. It was good that they no longer dwelled in Anikira, for it would make their inhabiting the region far more difficult. And so the Seraphim turned away from her newest pack member, intent to make one last patrol before succumbing to the comfort of the dens. Her pups would be here soon, and she needed to be prepared. The pack had a lot hinging on a safe birth of her litter; Valyn could not afford to lose another leader. The alphess would do everything in her power to protect her young, even if it meant retiring to the dens for a short while to keep them safe. "Be safe," the Seraphim called back to Cassiel. She was trusting him, as was not well within her nature these days, to stay within the pack borders. Many wolves on the continent would not take well to a Valyn male; they could only really depend on themselves.


Word Count: 370 words
Tags: N/A 
Notes: Doneskies!