Soft pads pounded against the forest's dirt floor as Xinelil traveled between the trees. He could feel the dirt grow softer, muddier, and the smell of water was thick in the air. Water. He hadn't had a drink in so long... He picked up his pace and trotted forward as the trees gave way to a beautiful water pool. "Ahh.." he murmured, lowering his maw to the glossy surface. A rough pink tongue lapped up the water, breaking the ice and quenching the long-lasting thirst.
Satisfied by the liquid's cool touch, Xin briefly raised his head to look around. This place... It was beautiful, as if a little oasis in the land. Although a thin layer of ice glazed the surface of the water, he couldn't help but stare in amazement. He'd always occupied the less-beautiful portion of the island, the place that had been taken in by the human's flaming touch. This was all new to him; Alpha, pack lands, the works. He'd never been in a pack, let alone run one. He'd just have to take things as they came. Maybe this new experience would help him build character. After all, he'd never truly interacted with wolves other than his family. It would be a whole new chapter of his life, a change...
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Uru | Plays Valeria, Vorilye, Ryker, Leviathan, Neviah, Aurik & Sorin | Site Owner | Roleplaying Since 2005
Nahuel's eyes looked around the forest as he tried to take a grasp at his surroundings. Where on earth was he? This land he'd come upon so many nights ago had been charred with little trace of life. Then he'd walked a small distance and it was filled lush with creatures everywhere. How did that come about? With a shrug of his massive shoulders he let that thought slide for now. The scent of another wolf was in his nose; mingled with the smell of water. He wasn't entirely sure which he was more relieved to scent. Another wolf meant possibly a pack to join, while water meant something to drink. Something to sooth his aching throat. He'd been very cautious about drinking from the water of the charred lands, thinking they may have been tainted or poisoned by human hands. It wasn't as if such a thing was above humans. They'd do anything just to have their way.
Scoffing at the thought of those ungrateful two-legged creatures, Nahuel changed his pace to that of a trot and made his way towards the scents he'd caught moments ago. The sources were mixed together and located within the same region, so he automatically knew if he found one he'd find the other. But still, what if he was unwelcome? An intruder upon lands touched by so few? Well, he'd just have to find out. He could tell just by smell that this wolf nearby was a male--something that didn't bode well in Nahuel's mind. All his previous encounters with females had been good ones, while his with males were never that good at all. Females tended to greet him with wagging tails and happy grins, but males...they tended not to greet him at all. They would growl or snap, or even both. Nahuel wasn't sure what it was, but males just didn't like him at all. Probably jealous. His proud mind indulged him.
A small grin appeared on his maw after that, while the large brute made his way closer to the sources of the smells. Within moments he caught sight of a male standing next to the water's edge. He was doing little more than looking around and faintly Nahuel had to wonder why. Had he been scented? Surely not. His steps were too soft to be detected, his scent blowing behind rather than in front. Still he decided not to dwell on that for long and soon allowed himself to pad up behind the male drinking from the pool of water. "Greetings. Are you by chance a member of a pack running within these lands? Or is there not even a pack?"Better to keep things polite for now, lest this male be like all the others that had scoffed him upon one look. He decided idly.
The multi-colored brute lifted his maw from the water, droplets streaming down and dripping to the ground. A sound that had not been heard for some time in the brute's ears now rang through the air. Paw steps, pounding against the ground. He inhaled deeply. Brute. Not familiar to this area, he analyzed the situation. If this brute would try to steal his land, there would be problems. But Xin was anxious to greet another wolf, to have a chance to speak with another of his kind. The rough tongue gently swept the remainder of the droplets away from his muzzle as he lifted his gaze to the other brute's.
This wolf was larger than him. Xinelil felt slightly threatened. That is, until the other wolf spoke. He could sense no hostility in his voice, and this encouraged Xin. "Greetings. Are you by chance a member of a pack running within these lands? Or is there not even a pack?" His vivid green eyes swept across the brute, looking for any signs of dominance displayed towards him. He could find none. "I am Xinelil, Alpha of these lands." Short and sweet. Until he was more familiar with this wolf, he would not attempt to make conversation with him. He saw this wolf as a trespasser, one who had entered his lands without permission. This could be forgiven, of course, but it would not be forgotten. He had run into few other wolves on his journeys, and he wasn't sure exactly how to respond to this wolf. He did not seem to be threatening... But looks can be deceiving. If every wolf my parents had met had been greeted with enthusiasm and friendliness, I would not be here today.
Many encounters had ended in fights. Many more had developed rough relationships and curt words. Xinelil had never quite forgotten what those other wolves had done. They had hidden together, yet there was no kindness between them. Their lives had been intermingled; he was not going to let it go...
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Uru | Plays Valeria, Vorilye, Ryker, Leviathan, Neviah, Aurik & Sorin | Site Owner | Roleplaying Since 2005
Nahuel could feel the other's tenseness around him when he had first stumbled upon him. He had been intimidated, nervous. That's what initially made Nahuel wonder if he was truly the alpha like he had said. Had he made a more intimidating or proud display of his power, Nahuel would have been second-guessing his choice of confrontation, but this wolf hadn't. He'd just spoken a short and sweet response to his words. Nothing angry as would have been guessed due to Nahuel's trespassing, but maybe this was more of a blessing than a problem. Nahuel was indeed looking for an alpha position, but he didn't believe he minded not having one. At least for awhile. Challenging the brute before him could be fatal, even if he was smaller. Size did not matter in a fight, as Nahuel had learned earlier on in life. Tact was the main thing.
Still, either way he had to get to know this wolf better before he would even think to attempt to take his position from him. For now, things should remain neutral between them. "Alpha, hmm? Nice to make your acquaintance then." He said nothing more for the moment and instead just turned and bent down to lap at the water. It felt cool in his mouth and doused the thirst he had been holding back for many hours now. The substance slid down his throat with little trouble and wet the previously dry area, making his mind silently thank the pool for being there. Outwardly his relief did not show because that would be weakness. If the alpha had a problem with him not speaking further for the moment, then he wasn't about to show any signs he was in need of a lot to drink.
Carefully he continued to lap at the clear water until he had his fill and sat back on his haunches, tail curled delicately around his massive black and grey paws. "So, tell me. Are you looking for pack members? Because if you are I'd like to try for the position. I need a pack, short and simple." He wasn't about to offer anymore than that. Why say more than was needed anyway? This told what he needed and why he was here. That was all the alpha needed to know, right? Oh wait, maybe a name would be nice. "I'm Nahuel, by the by." He spoke then, tongue lapping over his lips as a few traces of the water scurried down maw from his previous drinking. His amber gold eyes looked from Xinelil's own green ones to the area behind him. He didn't want to lock gazes because that would be a challenge and for the moment he didn't want to instigate that. No, another wolf's blood is not getting on this pelt for a long while.
So, Xanelil wasn't the only one who seemed coarse during this confrontation. He watched the other brute with lessening anxiety. He felt no threat from this brute, which was strange to him. "Alpha, hmm? Nice to make your acquaintance then." He raised his brow. "You as well," he retorted, his facade briefly cracking as a small smile spread across his black lips. He watched the brute drink from the lake, and he nodded slightly in recognition. This brute... He means no harm. The thought was involuntary and true.
"I am looking for members, in fact," Xin spoke in an almost amused and surprised tone. "Nahuel, you are welcome to join my pack, the pack of Aldgar." It broke down then. Smiling broadly, he gestured to the water. "Drink your fill. I will see if I cannot catch us some fish." Trotting a ways away from the other brute, he watched the mid-sized fish underneath the surface as they wiggled their tails and swam back and forth.
They are fast, but you are faster. He memorized their patterns, watching each one as it circled, swirled, and danced in the water. With a sudden jerk of his head, he snatched one from the water, throwing it to the shore and savagely dislodging its head. "One down," he muttered with a grin, watching as the other fish scurried away. Rats. He, for some reason, hadn't counted on the fact that the other fish would swim away. It was a stupid mistake, yet it would not set him back too far. Shuffling further down the lake's shore, he located another patch of fish and repeated his game. This time, though, he managed to nab two fish, which he carried, along with the first fish, back to the other brute. He nudged one towards Nahuel, then gulped down one of the others. It was much needed food, and yet another need was satisfied by the kindness of the lake.
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Uru | Plays Valeria, Vorilye, Ryker, Leviathan, Neviah, Aurik & Sorin | Site Owner | Roleplaying Since 2005
Repeatedly Nahuel was surprised by the other's lack of hostility towards him. He had been expecting to be rebuked for his action of trespassing and then turning his back on the alpha, but he was not called on either action. How odd. His curiosity rose as this alpha continued to show him kindness by accepting him so graciously into the pack. Alphas did not do that normally. Especially males. Was this brute planning something? To lure him into a false sense of security and then attack? No, if he was looking for members then he wouldn't do such a thing. Even Nahuel could see that. Still, his guard never went down should his assumptions have been wrong. These were foreign lands. The alpha was a foreign brute. He knew not how many pack members he had already, nor the span of this terra. Should he have many, many could be hiding and watching. If not, well then that would explain why he felt at ease and not like someone was watching him.
The broad smile given to him by the alpha caught him off guard and for a moment he thought that might be a precursor to a growl or snarl--his hackles raising instinctively--, but as he was offered to be caught some fish they went back down and he eyed the alpha carefully. He turned his head to watch the other catch fish easily--an experienced fisher no doubt. Without much warning a fish was tossed to shore at him and he had to jump back out of surprise, eyes widened ever so slightly. Now it was his turn to be tense. The brute was only catching fish for the two of them, why should he be nervous? He had no reason to be. Well, okay, maybe he did. The male's overly kind nature made him more than a little wary. He wasn't used to that and it showed it the way he watched curiously as the alpha plucked two more fish from the pool and tossed them ashore.
Nahuel continued to stand and watch with interest as the male trotted back onto land and began eating. His head was comically tilted slightly to the side as he tried to figure out this alpha's game. Still, his stomach was more powerful than his curiosity and eventually he had to give into it and walk over to grab one of the fish. He sliced it open easily with his teeth and then back gnawing at it, tearing away strips of meat as if they were nothing and swallowing them whole. Despite being large in size they slid down his throat as effortlessly as the water from the lake had earlier.
Once he was finished he stood back and looked to the alpha once more. "...Thank you." He spoke cautiously, but gratefully. "I...wasn't expecting to be accepted so easily and then to be fed so quickly." There was a brief pause in which Nahuel had to think hard on what else he was going to say. "Though I must admit, I'm grateful for both. Thank you, Xinelil." He was aware he had spoken "thank you" more than once, but he felt it was needed. One thanks for being accepted and one thanks for the food. It fit in his mind.
Xinelil had to stiffle a chuckle as he watched the other brute. He was so tense, to the extreme that he was almost acting unfriendly. What did he think, that Xin had poisoned the fish in the instants that he'd snatched it between his powerful jaws? With a small shrug to himself, he picked the other fish to pieces, calmly allowing his tail to wag and his defenses to slide. Mind you, he was still on guard, just not to the point that he would spring at the brute with the slightest detection of motion.
Listening to the brute's words, Xin couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "Ah, well you see, I have just recently claimed these lands. I see no need to turn anyone down." The first sign of any emotion. Xinelil felt no need to act quite so rough towards him, seeing that he was now under his rulings. "And as for the fish, I was starving myself," he tagged on with a friendly smile. Why would he catch himself a fish without attempting to feed his new pack mate? The logic made perfect sense in his head, yet it didn't seem to be falling into place in the other brute's, as least, from what he could see. Ah well, things could be smoothed over more later. All Xin had ever known was his family, and within his family unit, no one was harsh or cruel. He almost considered his newly formed pack as a subsitute family unit; his own little piece of the past.
A chilling silence fell over Xin, as he could not think of anything else that needed to be said. Eventually, they would have to seek out a den site. He could tell that this had previously been a pack land, as aged wolf scents were here and there. That meant there was a den site within the terra, and it would be found sooner or later. He hadn't had the chance to explore the mountain range not far off from the lake. Perhaps they would find a cave or something that could be used for dens. Yes, that was what they would do. Dens, then perhaps find a few others that may have survived the human menace, he thought, nodding to himself. It may've seemed strange to others, but Xin often acted as if he were talking to himself. As if a mirror image of himself, his mind, was standing before him and deliberating the ideas that formed. Of course, it was not true, as he was completely sane, but it was how he seemed to conduct his inner mind.
"I have not had the chance to explore the rest of the lands," Xinelil admitted slowly, his gaze sweeping over to the mountains. "Perhaps later we could wander the mountains and check for possible den sites." Would this brute think him irresponsible for his lack of knowledge of his own lands? Foolish. I have just arrived here, and, seeing that I was in the process of doing so, I believe I am perfectly okay.
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Uru | Plays Valeria, Vorilye, Ryker, Leviathan, Neviah, Aurik & Sorin | Site Owner | Roleplaying Since 2005
Nahuel listened calmly as he was told that Xin had only recently claimed these lands as his own. Well, that wasn't much of a shock, but it did come as somewhat of a surprise to Nahuel. If that was the case then why wasn't he afraid the lands might be taken from him? Sure, there had been the bit of apprehension he had shown when Nahuel had first arrived, but since then he'd saw no signs of nervousness or anything that would give way to thinking the other was anything less than happy for his company. The other's take on things perplexed him to no end, but he didn't speak a word of it. Everything that needed to be shown was easily seen through his gaze, that for the moment he refused to allow to meet with Xin's because sure enough the other could read him like a book should he get the chance to see his eyes. Being read was not something Nahuel enjoyed. At all.
As silence reigned over the two of them, Nahuel was forced into looking around the area, wondering of this span of lands. His nose detected scents of other wolves, but they were all old. There was no way there were any other around he couldn't detect. But then again the wind was blowing upwind--away from him and Xin. If there were any other wolves, they would be the first detected and not those other wolves. It was a bit unnerving, but like all other emotions, Nahuel was good at hiding it from the brute before him. So long as he kept his gaze away, which he did. His eyes trailed to the mountains in the distance, so as he heard the alpha's next words he almost agreed to them right off. True, he thought it was not the best thing if an alpha didn't know his own lands, but who was he to judge that. The alpha had indeed just admitted to claiming the lands.
With a slight nod of his head he turned his attention back to the smaller brute. "Sounds good. I'd like to have a look around anyway. I've only recently entered these lands myself." After he spoke he lifted his maw to the air and scented some more. It was as if he had caught the scent of something, even though he hadn't. He was just smelling the air for others. Call it instinct or paranoia, but he wasn't exactly keen on not knowing this area. "I wonder if there are other wolves here...Do you know of any besides us? Is there more to your pack?" He voiced, bringing his maw back down to be level with his body as he gazed over to the alpha. Slowly he blinked, drawing the motion out to show he wasn't afraid but rather just wondering. True, he was uneasy, but he wasn't afraid. He was a big wolf and could take care of himself if the need arose.
Although Xinelil had let his guard down mostly, he couldn't help but feel a tad... intimidated by him. He never seemed to show emotion, and it was slightly unnerving. Can't read his stinking feelings from facial expression, he brewed tempermentally. He liked to be in control, yet this brute was messing with his mind somehow. He solemnly watched as the brute glanced around, taking in the surroundings like he'd done previously. It seemed awkward for some reason, the two of them just... standing there. Xin needed motion, and fast!
Finally, the other brute spoke, and Xinelil nearly sighed in relief. Silence is not my thing. It was true. He was definitely a talker, even if half the stuff that came out of his mouth seemed to contradict himself. With the other brute's words confirming that they would search the terra further, he nodded slightly and began to turn. He halted once more and tipped his crown back towards the other brute, Nahuel, as he spoke once more. "I wonder if there are other wolves here...Do you know of any besides us? Is there more to your pack?" He blinked slowly, almost as if it took a moment for the words to sink in...
"None that I have seen," Xin replied instantaneously once he'd snapped back into his proper mind-set. "As I've just barely arrived here, I have not had time to gather any other members besides yourself." That would likely satisfy the brute's questions. He wanted to be able to say that there were more of them, but, alas, he could not. Time was the most helpful and hurtful thing at the same time. Time had brought him here, yet time had kept him from building a proper pack, to be able to, hopefully, extend his dominion over the others and perhaps take in members from other areas of the land, not just ones who magically appeared on his territory.
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Uru | Plays Valeria, Vorilye, Ryker, Leviathan, Neviah, Aurik & Sorin | Site Owner | Roleplaying Since 2005
As the alpha male started to turn, Nahuel padded his way over to stand behind him a fair distance away. Not enough that would warrant questioning, but enough to show he wasn't about to instigate anything or become buddy-buddy quickly. His movement was to show he was accepting the role of follower easier than some might have. Not that he truly enjoyed following--no he'd much prefer leading--but he could accept the role since it was dished out to him. His time to be alpha would come soon enough. Whether in this pack or another he knew eventually he'd become alpha. Again, he wasn't about to fight Xin for his position--for all he knew Xin could be twice the fighter he was--but rather he would just have to see what came his way. Maybe some land would be up for grabs he could attain later on. As far as he had smelled all lands had been claimed, but you never know. Things could easily come up.
Shaking his head barely to clear it for those thoughts, he allowed his attention back to Xin as he was replied to. No other packmates? Well, that was to be assumed. He had thought the brute would have at least had one more packmate. Maybe he'd just arrived a few minutes before Nahuel himself. A slight shrug at his own thoughts and he nodded to the alpha. "It's surprising you don't have any. I would have thought at least one other aside from myself would have joined your ranks." He spoke up conversationally. From the experience with the silence a few moments ago he could tell the alpha was not attributed to deal with times where no one was talking. While Nahuel himself was not one for conversation he guessed it'd be better to try talking than to go through with extremely tensed silence. Besides, there would be time for him to be silent when other members started to join the pack.
Nahuel's attention was drawn back to the shore when he remembered the fish the two had caught. Any wolf walking by would know that there were other wolves around and bears might flock to the killing scene if it remained unburied. Without speaking a word to the alpha, Nahuel padded his way over to some nearby bushes and began digging in the padded dirt below. Luckily it was a bit soggy from the lake water running upon it so as to make for easier digging. Once he'd made a hole deep enough and wide enough he walked over and picked up all the remnants of the three fish and buried them in the earth. Gently he brought all the dirt and mud he'd uncovered back to it's rightful place--by use of both his paws and his snout. As he completed the task he trotted back over to his original spot behind Xin. "Couldn't leave them unburied. Bears might've flocked to it."
Xin yawned, flashing bright white canines in the dimming light as he watched the other brute. Something seemed strange, but he couldn't put a paw on it. As Nahuel turned back and buried the fish, he couldn't help but nod in agreement. The fewer predators we have to deal with, the better. The fish had been much-needed, but they could do their best to replentish the soil with their bones and remaining flesh. "Time has been against me thusfar," he retorted when Nahuel made a statement about his lack of members. "No sooner had I shown up here than you appeared." A light smile accompanied this statement as he started off towards the mountains.
The silence between the two brutes that often arose once again found its place. Xin turned his head slightly to speak to the brute, then quickly figured out that this was not a bright idea. His head thudded against a tree, and he stumbled dizzily. "Wow, that was dumb," he laughed, trying to make it seem like less of a big deal. Why do I have to be so stupid sometimes? he growled in his mind. There was a slight throbbing in his crown, but nothing that would be impairing to him in the long run. "Perhaps looking back wasn't the brightest idea of my life," he chuckled.
Once he'd reached the opposite side of the lake, there was only a thin band of trees between himself and the mountain range. The snowy peaks stretched high into the sky, and Xinelil couldn't help but stop to admire them for a moment. Realizing that any paths would likely be extremely slippery, he made a mental note to watch out. After all, it was the middle of winter... One last glance up to the mountains, then the brute strutted off through the trees towards what he hoped would be the source of his new home.
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Uru | Plays Valeria, Vorilye, Ryker, Leviathan, Neviah, Aurik & Sorin | Site Owner | Roleplaying Since 2005
Nahuel seemed not to even notice the words that Xin had spoken to him right before he'd started off towards the mountains because he didn't say a word to show he acknowledged them. He just trotted after the brute in front of him as they made their way to the mountain range neither knew much about. His gaze drifted from Xin to the area around him, taking in every detail he was able to. It was almost as if he was making a mental map of everything around. This was only half true, however. While he indeed was making sure he knew the area, he didn't exactly have the best mind to allow him to remember everything he was glancing at. The smells and the edge of the lake were probably the only things that would make him remember this area, sadly enough. As he grew up he'd always wished for a photographic memory like some wolves had and he'd tried his hardest to gain it, but it never did happen.
Hearing the sound of a dull thunk against a tree, he brought his gaze back towards the brute in front of him. Nahuel's brows furrowed as he watched the male dizzily sway around, laughing at his action. Nahuel wasn't sure if he was more surprised that the male had done it or that he was indulging himself in what he'd done by laughing. If he had done such a thing he most certainly wouldn't have been admitting to it, even in the face of people who had seen him. That was just his pride talking, though. He was one of those wolves who couldn't stand to make a stupid move. Not that that really was much of a surprise given the way he acted around new people. "Not the brightest indeed." He repeated quietly, though not in a rude way. It sounded more like he was disbelieving the other had said that. I would have kept such things in my mind and my mind alone.
He kept at an even pace as they made their way to the opposite side of the lake, his senses all alert for any scents coming in on the breeze. Due to his being to focused on the scents he neglected to see that Xin had paused in his steps and thus ran right into his hind side. Immediately Nahuel jumped back and rose his hackles, unaware of what had caused the sudden collision. When he noticed that it was he who had done it, he allowed his hackles to fall back into place and just backed up a few steps. Here I was just saying stuff about his collision and then I go and do it. What a bigot idiot you are, Nah."Sorry about that. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."Must be karma coming back to bite me in the butt. His mind scoffed at those thoughts, but he couldn't keep from thinking that was more than likely the case.
A jolt against the alpha brute's rear end was enough to force him into the air, whirling around, with his hackles raised. When Xinelil realized that it was only Nahuel running into him, he nearly burst out laughing. And from the look of his face earlier, he wasn't that approving of my collision. What goes around comes around, he thought with a soft chuckle. "Eh, let's keep going," he barked, grinning slightly. He wouldn't make a big deal out of the incident, as he knew it was an accident. It was similar to his own stupid act.
It seemed with each step, the mountains grew nearer and nearer. The snow, each miniscule piece, grew thicker as he approached the mountains. "Come on," he hollered back to Nahuel, his fur twitching as snow dripped off a tree onto his back. "Ack, cold!" He leapt forward, forging a path through the white stuff as he steered through the trees. It seemed that, with each step, the snow rose. This'll be difficult to navigate each time, but as long as this trip is worthwhile, it doesn't particularly matter. He yawned, his ears twitching and his tail flicking.
Perhaps everything would work out with his pack afterall. He wasn't alone, and they would surely get more members over time. There wasn't much more that a new alpha brute could ask for. Ashen fur could be seen as a bright contrast against the delicate white snow. He reached the mountains and stared up in awe. This was it...
((OOC: I'll make a new thread at The Kinath.))
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Uru | Plays Valeria, Vorilye, Ryker, Leviathan, Neviah, Aurik & Sorin | Site Owner | Roleplaying Since 2005