Nothing Left. [open]

[jay]

Without Aldgar, Jay was an empty shell.

It was difficult for the brute to admit, but he had held the pack in such high regards that with its absence, he was simply nothing. He held much hatred, much rage. He needed an outlet for that rage. And yet there was none, and so the feelings continued to stir.

Jay wandered aimlessly, hoping that, somehow, some way, he would find a purpose. And yet the further he walked, the scruffier he grew, the more dirt got caked in his coat, and the less he cared. By the time that he had migrated to the southernmost territory of the continent, the brute was in such horrendous shape that he could hardly be distinguished as a wolf. In fact, he would do nearly anything he could for food. The brute had consumed a mother and four baby rabbits he had discovered buried in the brush; while he was very supportive of life, he could not bring himself to feel any sorrow. They were prey, he was a predator.

Alearia was gone. Xinelil was gone. Meikou was gone. Kadhi was gone. And Siscarm...

The brute harbored horrid feelings toward the old brute. While his sane mind knew that such feelings were unwarranted, Jay was spiteful and furious. That rotting old wolf had destroyed his home and his security blanket. Had the young male been in the right mind and in proper position to take care of a pack, he would have stepped up to the occasion. But Jay knew he would not have been able to provide for a pack. He could hardly provide for his own basic needs right now, so what wolf would blindly follow such an awful leader. His eyes fixated on the road ahead. He could not stop. He would not stopped.

Left, right. Left, right. Left, right.

Jay only focused on his steps and how close they brought him to a destination that was still so far away. There would never be any reprieve, any end to his journey. He would never find what he was searching for. He could not bring back his family. All he could ever do was bring them shame.

And so Jay continued to do the one thing that he knew he would be able to achieve, and that was living. It was the only reason he had not laid down to die. It was the only reason he still awoke in the morning, found whatever food he could, and continued to inhale and exhale. It was only for them, and it was the most he could do not to give up.

[sapphire]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=background,http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/7924/seatb.png,true] Sapphire had became quite fond of travelling with Ulrich, and it seemed strange to part from his side now. Okay, so she hadn’t been travelling with him for very long now, her time as a lone rogue had so far been longer – but she was fond of the brute, appreciated his friendship (if you could call it that – the silent brute only allowed her company because she knew the lands a little better then he did) But when it came to hunting, it was something she did on her own. Anyway, she could find him again later and see what progress he had made on his mission. She would keep an ear out herself and if on some off chance she heard something of the wolf he sought after, then she would tell him when she saw him next. But enough of him – she had moved a few days journey from him now and she moved her lean, strong paws in a silent motion as she stalked towards the lone deer that he stumbled onto the endless graveyard of boulders. Its footing would be unsure, more use to grass then hard rock. But, so was Sapphire, and she was taking her time as she paced towards it, no need to rush, no need to risk her paws trapping in a crack and pulling a tenant, or worse, breaking a foot and becoming helpless – prey! For far too long. The deer picked up its head, and Sapphire froze, sure she had not made a sound and that her subtle movements where no reason to cause alarm. Then – she heard it herself, the beat of paws against rock, and her ears swivelled in the direction of the noise – her eyes where soon to follow. The deer skidding it’s paws in fear and began to move in the other direction, giving up trying to pull the thin strands of grass – or was it weeds? – from between the rocks and instead concentrated on putting distance between itself, and the predator it had sensed. Sapphire made a decision then to leave it for now – if it moved to quickly it would trap itself anyway. She moved her eyes to the stranger and watched his progress, before Sapphire sat on her hunches, lifted her head, and began to howl. She howled a gentle song of companionship, a friendly ease to a brother – one of her own kind. She could see him clearly now, her sharp eyes picking him out. He looked worn, and wind-beaten, like he had been through a lot. She glanced towards the deer, which had stopped now, staring at her and the other with weary eyes. She debated hunting it, and sharing it with this weary brute – but decided to speak with him first. She remained where she was to see if he would answer her howl.

[jay]

As the brute wallowed in his own little world, the howl of a nearby loner filled his ears. Jay was surprised that someone would even bother to call out to him. He was a nobody, a waste of space. Why would this wolf ever want to fellowship him? At least, that was what he gathered from her song.

But yet, Jay desired some form of companionship. He was tired of walking alone. Maybe this stranger could snap him out of his funk. But what if they see me and laugh at me? I am quite a disgrace, he thought, dejected. His internal battle continued as he fought with his own sense of self-preservation and his pride continuously. He could not let someone in again, could he? His pack had fallen apart, and his dear companion had abandoned him. Everyone seemed to run away from him. How would this stranger be any different? Even the last loner he had encountered had been afraid of him. I'll just have to deal with it.

The brute finally made his decision. Jay lifted his head, returning her call with a sweet, sorrowful song that revealed so much more than he had intended. He wad lost, lonely, and starving. He was mistreated by the world, and he needed an outlet. While the last wolf he had encountered experienced the rage he had built up over all this time, now Jay was giving in to the sadder side of events. His alpha and fatherly figure was gone. His mentor was no longer around, and he had no idea where Kadhi had disappeared to this time. And all of those wolves he had encountered had abandoned him. Maybe he just needed to go back out into the world and start over.

But what if I fail? What if there is no way to dig myself from this mess that I've created? The brute was becoming a chronic worrier. But here was another wolf, who was approaching him. Not physically, yet, but she had taken the step to call out to him instead of him seeking her. Maybe this was a sign that what he was doing would not end well. The brute's thickly matted coat was a prime example of how little care he had taken of himself in the previous months. It might be good, even if he would likely scare the daylights out of any unsuspecting wolf, to have a normal, civilized conversation. At least, as normal a conversation as Jay could muster.

And so he searched the horizon for the wolf. Finally, spying a beautiful arctic femme not too far away, he trudged along the giant shards of earth, his paws almost to the point of bleeding from the many miles he walked each day. They were cracked and broken, just like him. And yet he continued forward, believing that somehow by just existing, he was doing Xinelil a service. He was doing something that his Alpha had not been allowed to continue doing, and that made Jay carry on with a small sense of pride. He was not perfect, but he was doing the best he could under his circumstances, but maybe, just maybe, things were starting to look up.

((OOC: Not a great post, but it's doable. I'm still working on getting my muse back for him.))

[sapphire]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=background,http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/7924/seatb.png,true] The response that Sapphire received to her welcoming howl was not quite what she had expected. The bitter-sweet taste it left in her mouth at the story the song seemed to hold. Although there was no words in the melody, it was filled with a longing and a lost that twisted her stomach and pinned back her ears. A wolf should not need to know such sorrow, and Sapphire wished that for the gentle-voiced wolf there was something she could do. She got off her hunches now, one last look to the deer she had been tracking – pinpointing it on a mental map in her mind before she began to make her way over the other. She hadn’t had life easy, Sapphire, but she hadn’t had it impossible either. Well her story sounded sad, it was empty her – meaningless. She had lost her mother, her father, her siblings, but she was too young to remember and what she knew of them did not make her miss them – it made her weary of what was inside her, afraid the ability to give up and die was generic. This wolf had been through hell, and here he was. She could scent a faint trail of blood on his steps, something that gave away the state of his paws. She could see his sorry coat from here, matted and dishevelled, and a sunken look of loss in his sweet eyes. Yet... here he came, making his way towards her, moving with each step, every rise and fall of his paws was an indication of his ability to keep going! This was a wolf, surely, that respected strength. Not brute strength – but strength of will, that when the world crashed down around his ears he kept going. If her parents had been made out of the same stuff as this wolf then they would still be alive today. Already holding respect for this stranger she kept making her way towards him, until he was but a few steps away. Then she stopped, tilted her head, and took in a deep breath of him – learning what she could from his scent, watching his progress. He didn’t seem to notice or care for the faint trail of blood left behind in the shape of his paws – didn’t let his skeleton, energy-less form keep him from his destination. She wondered what his story was, what had brought him to this state, this state so close to bringing him to his knees, yet somehow, as she watched him, he never fell. She would not ask of course – when she took on the path of a loner-life, she understood that those that chose the same life did not appreciate prying. But maybe he had fallen to loner by default, maybe conversation and confession was what he needed – maybe he would need to tell his story. “Greetings stranger” She murmured politely, an opening for him to pick up conversation. His skinny body was certainly in need of nutrition and she vowed them that she would catch that deer and feast with him – there was nothing pitying about the idea – it was a celebration of one’s ability to keep going, and a thanks for sharing a moment to speak with a lonely wolf.

[jay]

He always messed things up.

Jay could not even greet a stranger properly without messing it up. While he could not understand what was going through her head, he knew well enough that his response had been unacceptable. He was a pack wolf at heart, and he had no idea how to do this "loner" thing. This femme was trying to reach out to him, and he did not know how to response. She was not his family, or anyone even close to family. This was a random wolf wandering Anikira. The brute had a nagging feeling that told him he should be on guard, but what else did he have to lose at this point?

“Greetings, stranger.”

He simple greeting was not filled with pity, worry, or confusion. Jay was surprised that she was not looking at him as if he were a filthy mongrel, which is what he felt like at the moment. Maybe there are some decent wolves left, after all, he thought absently. This was a new occurance for him. The last femme had started off the confrontation poorly, leaving no choice for Jay but to respond hatefully. This femme seemed virtually indifferent to his situation, and he liked that. "Hello there, ma'am," he spoke softly, but he would never be rude to a female without cause.

"What brings you to this southern portion of the continent?" he inquired in a quiet, kind voice, trying hard to keep the inquisition and scrutiny out of his voice. His words screamed why the hell are you talking to me when you could be making more of you life, but the blunt words simply could not leave his mouth. He did not feel worthy of companionship. After all, Alearia left him. Why would anyone else want to stick around?

Stop berating yourself. What's done is done, and wallowing in self-pity is not going to change that. If you don't shape up, you will die miserable and alone. Is that what you really want? he screamed at himself. Visibly, the brute was unresponsive for but a brief moment as he argued with himself. However, he returned to the sane world long enough to dip his head in respect to the female. They were of equal position, yet in the sense of the food chain, he was far inferior to her. She was obviously taken care of in some manner, as her appearance was much greater than his own. She held herself well; her tail swung as a normal wolf's would, not slightly tucked between the legs as Jay's was. She had a healthy coat, where his was matted and patchy in areas where he had actually attempted to fix it. Her eyes seemed alert and happy, whereas his were full of misery and lackluster.

Jay had found himself in an awful state, and it was going to take some serious work to break him of the bitter, closed-off brute he had become. "I do apologize, but why are you here? Talking to me?" he asked suddenly, his eyes focused on her face in search of the truth. "Most wolves would steer clear of me. Believe that I am rabid or diseased in some manner. But not you. What I'm asking, is why?"

He was not sure if he wanted to hear the answer. What if she did pity him, and that was the sole reason she stood before him? Jay would never forgive himself for succumbing to the charms of the world. He could take care of himself, and if some stranger passerby thought he could not do it, then he was portraying himself in a negative light. Like there is much positive about me right now, he thought with a scoff.

((OOC: He is sort of a projection of any insecurity I've ever had; I apologize for the depressingness lol.))

[sapphire]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=background,http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/7924/seatb.png,true] You’re gona hear my voice when I shout it out load! Sapphire found her eyes drawn to the stranger – well, where else where they going to go? She studied him with un-judging orbs, seeing how not only was he un-kept and looked as though he had been through hell, it was his eyes that told her he hadn’t found his way out yet. The way his eyes seemed uncertain, sunken, and empty of a life he might once have lived. What was the chance he was a pack wolf? It could explain something of his situation if he was unaccustomed to living on his own. It’s my life! It’s now or never... She didn’t have to wait long until the brute responded to her simple greeting. His voice was soft, a contrast far different from the state of his coat, but then his coat spoke of recent events (or so she assumed they were recent) well his soft tone of who he was inside. Polite and gentle words eased a smile across her mussel as she took a seat beside him – she felt not hostility from him and felt no need to show any of her own. Setting well he was so close was like a sign of good faith – t was harder to change to an aggressive stance when sitting then it was when tanding. I an’t gona live forever... I just wanna live well I’m alive Like a sign to back up her hunch that he had not always been the loner he seemed to be now, he spoke again. Continuing the conversation where loners she had come across before might have just let it die. “Hunting... killing some time, exploring, maybe even escaping. Take your pick – I’ll fit into all of them” Her voice was light, saying something of an easy air about her, joking so that he knew not to take her too seriously - that what she said might be true, but that it was nothing to truly worry about. Oblivious, she was, to the underlining words of what was truly going on his mind, words unspoken. My heart is like an open highway Like franky said “I did it my way” As she watched, the other seemed to fall silent, still, and she wondered if he even remembered she was still there... she found herself wondering what exactly when on in his mind – what horrors he had seen and faced to bring him to this state, what he saw now when he tuned out the world. He tore himself from the state of his mind, lowered his head in sign of respect to the stronger wolf. Sapphire lived a life of strangers, a loner – a life she had exiled herself to. Sapphire lowered her head – a mimic of what the other had done. Yes, she was sure of it now – he was a pack wolf. She cared not for signs of strength – the only strength that truly mattered to her was the one that kept you going, through any and through all, the type of strength this wolf seemed to hold. She rose her head once more, and locked her eyes back on him. I just wanna live well I’m alive She got a glimpse of his state of mind, when hs eyes snapped on her – searching for something, as his heavy words slipped free. “Well, maybe I thought you had a story worth telling. Or maybe I know what its like – to go to hell and the journey of clawing your way out again. We all have our hardship, brother, some more than others, sure – but that doesn’t make them not worth the effort.” She stared him down now, took a breath “Nothing is not worth the effort” She concluded, her light words falling heavy – emphasising the importance of her last words, and how she felt about them. It’s. My. Life. Bon Jovi; It’s my life

Ooc: Am I alright to put the lyrics of the song I’m listening to in a post? If not I’ll take it out

[jay]

It was astounding. Jay kept expecting the femme to show pity, yet she showed none. It was actually a spirit-boosting experience; if she did not believe he needed pity, then maybe he could actually get better. He could start over, find a new family, and make something of himself. This was the end of the line. Jay was sick of living like a heathen, and he wanted some place to call home again. Amazing what the right wolf can do, he thought. The beautiful arctic wolf would never realize what sort of change she had brought in Jay.

"Ah, yes. A story," Jay chuckled. It was the lightest his voice had been in nearly a year. A burden had been lifted from his chest, and hopefully it would never return. One could only hope for a better future. "I do not know how familiar you are with the packs of Anikira." He smiled wistfully, as he missed his family every day. "The three original packs were Aldgar, Salen, and Zahir. At least, the three packs since the absence of humans," he corrected himself before returning to his story, "and to this day, Zahir is the only one remaining. The cry of Salen's alpha was heard not even a week ago, disbanding his pack..." He paused. I wonder what happened there. I always thought that pack was the strongest, next to Aldgar. I guess even the greatest things must eventually come to an end/.

The brute had wanted to tell his story for quite some time, but this was the first time he could find the words without a thick layer of agony and anger laced in each word. Something different... Something in this femme had changed Jay's perspective. "Xinelil was the alpha of Aldgar, Isolde of Zahir, and Exodus of Salen. Xinelil found me when I was still very young and took me into his pack. That was where I was raised," he continued in a soft voice. "Now, the pack was not without its troubles. But that pack was the closest thing I had ever had to a family. Kadhi, this god-awful arabian brute that for some reason decided to live in the mountains, was supposed to teach me to hunt and fight." He laughed a little at the thought of Kadhi. Sure, he was still upset about the brute's abandonment, but at this point, that was ages in the past. Jay had aged sufficiently in the last few days, and right now he felt a new confidence in himself.

"The knaves that were terrorizing the packs, they killed Xinelil. From that point, Aldgar fell apart. One of our members tried to step up to the position, Meikou. She was a great friend, but just not a strong enough leader. We were grasping to the last little strings before the pack fell apart. Kadhi abandoned us when Xin was killed. He kept yelling about him being a traitor and abandoning us, but I know he would never do that..."

Jay trailed off, finding himself lost in thought. Maybe the femme didn't want to hear his story, but this was not for her. It was therapuetic for the brute to tell his story, and it was something he had not found the courage to do until this moment. "Kadhi came back. However, he was a different, cocky bastard that did not even seem to be the same wolf I had known. He tried to take the pack from Meikou. As much as we were failing under her leadership, at least she didn't walk away from us," he explained, his ears falling back some. "Then came Siscarm. The brute walked in, took the position, and broke the pack apart. To this day, I do not understand why. If I had been in a position to take the pack, I would have done it in a heartbeat. But I'm simply not alpha material," he stated bluntly. He possibly never would be, but today, he was one step closer than he had ever been.

"I hung around the Oriens for a little while. I didn't know what to do or where I should go. If anything, I felt abandoned, betrayed. I especially felt bitter toward Siscarm. He had never had anything to do with our back, and he destroyed it in the blink of an eye. To this day, I do not know what sort of emotions would go through my head if I saw him again."

It was as if the seal had been broken on Jay's mind.

"Since I brought myself to leave my homeland, I have just been wandering aimlessly. To be honest, I am lucky to be alive. I have done the bare minimum to survive, somehow convincing myself that that was how I was doing Xinelil a favor. I was doing what he could not do any longer, and I was doing it for him. He could always lead and be strong, and I was still alive. I suppose I felt by only doing that, I was giving him the one thing he was lacking."

[sapphire]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=background,http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/7924/seatb.png,true] The arctic wolf ruffled her thick coat, settling herself into a comfortable position, ready to wait a while and here what this wolf had to say. ‘A yes, a story...’ Was the indication that something was to come – and the lightness in his voice was breathtaking to the female, seeing him already dragging himself from the despair he had settled into. He turned her attention first to the packs – which came as no surprise to Sapphire, she had already made up her mind that he had pack-blood in him, in some way or another. She gave her head a light shake, an indication that no, she was not familiar with the packs of Anikira. Not that that mattered, in his next breath he began to explain it all to her, and for this she was grateful. It was information she could store away and might find useful one day. She hadn’t realised how sorrowful the information of the pack lands would be, however. All but one of the original packs was gone? She wondered what could have happened to break up a family. She knew that Evian – the pack she had exiled herself from would have to die to the last wolf before they became anything less then the family she knew them as. History of the pack – then introduction of his own part into the story. She found he was a good story teller, ready to explain in detail to an outsider who did not know how it had been for him. She liked his voice, it was easy to listen to, it held life and emotion. She wondered what wolf he had been, and what wolf he would soon become – she found herself wanting to find out. In his voice Sapphire heard laughter, remembrance for the things he had lost, and the ability to remember the days with love, not anguish. There was strength in him, strength and kindness – she could hear it in his story and his voice. “So you figured, so long as you where alive, it didn’t matter if you weren’t living?” She quizzed, making sense of the last words he had spoken, how he believed he had been living only to keep his Alpha alive. But to be alive, and to live – there was a very big difference between. “I understand. You lost everything – but at least you didn’t give up, you have room for another chance now – because you didn’t give up! You let yourself live, even if it was for the wrong reasons. So long as your alive through, then there is always the chance to live! ” Sapphire had a feeling he had already taken that step towards living, she didn’t doubt for a second that there was hope left in this wolf, hope and life. She offered him a gentle, friendly grin now. He had got his story off his chest, was that a weight off his shoulder? She could have been wrong but it almost appeared he held himself that little bit higher, that little bit less holding him down. “Let’s find us some lunch, brother. What do you think?”

[jay]

((OOC: I promise I didn't forget! I've hardly been able to get online this week because I'm swamped x.x But heres ya go now! =D And sorry that it's short.))

"I know, isn't that terrible logic? I guess I just never thought about it before now," Jay responded with a chuckle. There was so much the brute could do with his life, and now that he had gotten that whole story off his chest, he felt much lighter. At Sapphire's mention of lunch, the brute nodded his head gently. While he had not been the greatest hunter, his skills had increased expontentially over the past year. So what if Kadhi had abandoned him? At least now he could fend for himself, even if he had chosen not to up to this point.

Jay smiled gently. "Sounds like a plan to me. It is always good to have some company," he stated softly, still a little confused about what he was feeling. There was no greater moment in the brute's life than when he realized that he was free from his self-given burden. Now that his story was out in the open, the brute did not feel the need to speak near as much, and the angry words he had spewed at the last femme that had crossed his path were almost forgotten. With a toss of his head, the brute shook his coat, and bits and pieces of the grime from his travels rained to the ground. He would have some work to do, but there was nowhere to go but up.

"Perhaps you would like to lead?" he suggested off-handedly. Jay was still not completely comfortable in his abilities, and he was better off taking commands from another than trying to do it by himself. Maybe the day would come sometime soon that he would realize just how much of his potential he had been suppressing, but he needed to take little steps toward the goal. He had made leaps and bounds today, and the rest would come with time.

Maybe it's time to find a new pack, he thought. While Jay could somewhat provide for himself, he knew how much less the burden would be if he could share it with a family. It would not be replacing Aldgar, but supplementing what he had previously had. This could end up being good for him. If only Alearia were still here...

[sapphire]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=background,http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/7924/seatb.png,true] Sapphire was astounded at the changes that seemed to overcome the other wolf. When she saw him, at first, he seemed to weary and bent over with mental weight upon his shoulders. He looked like he had been shown no kindness and barely even knew what kept him going. Yet, he had determination, a spark missing from his eyes by only a few breaths, knowing if she looked hard enough she would see it in his nature. She saw it now, clear for the whole world to envision. There was no hiding his mental strength now that some of the weight had freed him from its oppression. Lunch sounded like a fantastic idea, and she was grateful at the nod his head gave. She already knew where they would head – the deer that she had followed here in the first place. Her stomach did not forget that she had delayed her meal for interaction with this wolf, Jay. He especially liked the idea of company, most likely because that aspect of his life had been fairly lacking for some time now. He shook out his coat, as through a moment of self-consciousness had encouraged him to do so. It looked as through it had been a while since his coat had had a seeing to – but with his new frame of mind that would surely change now. “"Perhaps you would like to lead?" The voice cut through her chain of though, and she raised her head with a gentle smile. Of course she would be happy to lead, after all she knew where the nearest deer stood, and she wouldn’t be surprised if she had the most strength of the too, seeing as he hadn’t been getting the proper nutrients lately. “Alright then, if you care to follow, dear friend...” She murmured politely, and moved forward, retracing the steps she had taken not long before that had brought her before this wolf. Now she had a friend by her side as she once more took to the frame of hunting and located her prey. Sure enough, the deer was yet to wonder far, and just a little to the east of where she had left it, it stood unsure upon the rocks. It seemed almost out of place, and she wondered if it had lost its herd in some fear and need to run, or something along that line. She moved slowly forward, shaking her head to the left and speaking through the corner of her lips. “If we both flank her, and herd her towards the higher rocks where she would be slower to escape, we should be able to trap her. We’ll try surprise first, but it’s pretty open out here. When/if that fails, we’ll start the chase” It had been a long while since she had hunted with another, hoping her instructions made sense to him, she moved to a crouch, and watched her prey, making little steps towards it.

[jay]

While the brute had expected the femme to know more about hunting than himself, he was not prepared for the directions she began to lob in his direction as he stood there, frozen. It took several moments for the instructions to process, and a few more moments after that for him to nod his head in affirmation. It would take some time before Jay was once again used to the company of others.

It took a second for Jay to realize that he did not even know his new friend's name. I ranted about my past, yet I do not know her name, he mused silently, perplexed at his approach to this newfound companionship. I can't seem to do anything in the right order, he realized, almost laughing outloud at his failed attempt at socialization. But the lovely femme was offering to help feed him, and it had been quite some time since Jay had enjoyed a fresh kill and eaten his fill. The brute could not have possibly downed a full-sized deer by himself, especially not a healthy one. It was without mention that he had practically lived as a scavenger in his weak attempt to continue living.

"As you wish, miss," he chuckled quietly, following after the femme and spying the target prey that she had indicated they were to hunt. He mimicked her movements, lowering his body to a crouch as he tensed in anticipation of the hunt. Jay crept forward in rythmn with the other loner, and together they worked closer and closer toward the lone deer. It almost hit the brute how similar this deer was to himself. It seemed as if the world had been preying on him while he was separated from his family. He had had no chance of escape until a fellow wolf with her heart in the right place had rescued him from himself. For that, Jay would ever be grateful to her.

But the list continued on. Not only was the femme a great listener, but she was helping Jay realize his potential. He had found the will to live again, and after this hunt, he would be headed in the direction of the packlands, in search of a place to call home once more. Maybe things would be different for him this time, and he would have a second chance at the life he had never gotten to live before.

((OOC: This is part of the reason I froze Jay for a long time; he gets difficult to roleplay by himself lol. I'm gonna have to bring Alearia back, though that'll be after they finish the hunt. Hope Sapphire likes birds!))

[sapphire]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=background,http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/7924/seatb.png,true] Sapphire, even though she had begun to make her silent way forward, watched as the other wolf took in her instructions. It took a few moments for it to compute in his mind – from what she could see, but sure enough he got the idea, and with his gentle polite manner he spoke and began to follow after her. He did as she did, and soon enough the peer began to creep across the rocky surface, there movements in sync like they had hunted together all their lives. Sapphire found herself marvelling at the ease in which they matched their movements together. They were almost upon their prey now, and there was an elegance to their stealthy movements, and the skill between the two meant they were nearly upon their prey before it realised their approach. It was the change in the breeze that warned, rather than blowing the deer’s scent towards the hunter, it was the wolves scent upon the back of the wind that reached the scenes of their prey. It raised its head, and for just a moment she saw her reflection in the deep pools of its fear-enlarged eyes. With a cry of shock it reeled, hooves striking the air in warning as it turned abruptly and took off in the opposite direction – exactly as Sapphire had intended. With a single bark of indication to her companion, Sapphire took off after the racing hooves of the doe. Paws smooth on the rocks, slight toes matter for better grip then the slippery hooves. The deer, in its mad race to safety found itself slipping and slowing on the rocks. Sapphire herself was weary of tripping and breaking a paw – but the kill was so close now, she could taste success on the wind. Throwing her head into the race she found herself coming up alongside the doe. One glance to the other side to see where Jay had brought himself, never mind, if he was matching her along the other side of the deer then fantastic, but if he had lost his speed she would worry about that later. She pushed her mussel out, biting at the deer’s hooves. It didn’t get her anywhere, as dangerous as the fast-moving limbs where, but it threw the doe into a frenzy, a neck-breaking pace later and the higher rocks where right in front of them. The deer let out a animal-squeal of fear and fury, and threw herself forward. For a fantastically wild moment Sapphire found herself gliding through the air –she had never felt so free! She let out a cry as her paws touched earth, the shock of the impact vibrating through her teeth, but at least her paws had found solid ground. The deer screeched as its hooves failed against the slippery rocks and twisted, falling to the ground. Sapphire was on her in moments, biting her neck and ending her misery with one merciful snap. Panting, exhilarated, she looked to see what had become of Jay – no that she had caught him dinner. Ooc: the pack Sapphire came from had a companion bird (the pack itself) called Arrow, so she isn't a stranger to the idea ^^

[jay]

It was remarkable how close the pair drew to the doe before it noticed their approach. Both the femme and Jay could virtually taste the meal before the wind gave their position away. Jay yipped back in response to his companion's bark, acknowledging her command as he darted after the deer, and the two accurately herded it toward the towering wall of stone, all the while not letting the doe break from their intended path for her. Jay matched the beautiful femme's pace almost effortlessly; one who had seen the brute as he hunted would never have imagined his sheer lack of skill not even a year ago. The brute's mind shifted to auto-pilot as the doe found herself cornered by the pair.

Jay watched with an appreciative gaze as the femme pounced upon their dinner, as she had nowhere left to go. The femme's fangs quickly ended the doe's suffering, and the brute sunk his teeth into the deer's rear thigh, careful to keep the convulsing animal from thrashing his new found friend in her last moment's of life. Jay watched as the life flowed from the doe's eyes, and he removed his sharpened canines from her flesh, turning to face his companion once more. Jay found himself marveling in the grace of her hunting abilities. He had never had the opportunity to hunt with someone who was so obviously born to lead the hunt. It was effortless to follow her lead, which had resulted in a speedy kill for the two.

"Ma'am, I am quite impressed," he stated with a chuckle. "Though I feel my appreciation would be much better suited if I put a name to the face. I am Jay, and you are...?" His eyes twinkled; never mind the fact that the brute was virtually standing on top of a fresh kill that was appealing to his senses and the rumbling cries of his stomach. He wanted to know who his new friend was by name, and the food could wait until he properly thanked her.

A flurry of wings and a disgruntled screech of a bird above quickly snapped Jay's neck toward the sky. The white mass, dove instantly, her talons lurching forward as she slowed her descent with the upturning of her wings. Alearia landed effortlessly on the brute's shoulder, and she hooted in greeting. "I was wondering when you would come to your senses, Jay," she chirped affectionately, throwing her head from side to side as she shifted to find a more comfortable perch on his back. She was careful to avoid puncturing the brute's skin; it had taken much practice, but the pair had previous perfected their "carry," and it felt as if nothing had changed. "You could not have gone on much longer the way you were living. But you are alive, once again, my foolish little wolf," she hooted. Alearia only then turned to look at the brute's company.

"I am Alearia, and you are?" the little owl inquired impatiently, a series of chirps and clicking noises following her question. "Alearia," Jay chastised the owl with a stern glare. "Will you please be quiet? I haven't seen you in months, and you just swoop in here like nothing has changed?" he asked, seething. Alearia did not even bat an eye.

"Little one, I never truly left you."

[sapphire]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=background,http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/7924/seatb.png,true] Sapphire stood beside their prey now, panting from the exercise and after-effects from the thrill of the hunt. Her eyes made her way to Jay, who had been the perfect hunting companion from the first moment the hunt had begun. He kept stride with her, despite the disadvantage of the way he had treated his body. His paw-steps where steady against the uneven ground, and when it came to bringing down their kill he played his part. Then he turns around and compliments her. No, he got it all the wrong way – his actions where the impressive ones. “Jay” She murmured with a light laughter, it was unusual of Sapphire to not realise that the first introductions had never actually been made. “I’m Sapphire, or Saph” She nodded her head in courteous greeting to make up for her lack of it earlier on – the not parting with her name part anyway. “And Jay? I should be the one thanking you, you did fantastic – you’re a natural and hunting with another.” Sapphire didn’t always connect the dots to the best way to work with others, not immediately anyway, but there was something so natural and automatic about the way Jay had hunted with her. Sapphire snarled out a warning as a white fleck of feathers dive-bombed towards them. She slowed her dive as she approached them, and she noticed how Jay watched every movement. The Arctic fae however pulled back her lips and growled at the bird, wondering what had enticed it to dive bomb a bunch of predators. She landed on Jay’s shoulder, and the other did nothing about the invasion. When the bird began to speak, it was clear why – she knew the brute, and had worried for him. Sapphire relaxed her snarl, but her eyes here still weary on the bird. “Alearia, is it?” Sapphire murmured, raising herself to her full height, and glaring at the bird, trying to gain some advantage of height to the creature that rode upon the back of her friend. “Tell me, friend of Jay, why have you shown your face only now? Sounds like you’ve been gone a while. Sounds like your companion could have used your friendship” Now, where did that protective burst of words come from? Then again, despite her solitary nature Sapphire was a strong believer in standing strong for her friends, being there for them. Where had this bird been when Jay needed her?

[jay]

The white owl's piercing eyes burrowed into the back of Sapphire's skull. "You," the owl sneered at Sapphire, "do not know what you are talking about. Before you make foolish assumptions, try pulling your head out of your rear and thinking a little bit."

Jay shook his head, perplexed. The owl had not changed one bit; Alearia was just as blunt and rude as always. "Ali, don't talk to Sapphire like that," he stated in a warning tone. Though Jay would never hurt his friend, he was not so sure about the other wolf, as Alearia was not trying very hard to make friends. "Sapphire is it? Do not presume that you know what Jay needs. I have watched over him for many months. You did not have to see him wither away," Alearia snapped, completely ignoring Jay's warning. "You did not see the lifelessness in his eyes and watch him throw himself into a world of misery. You were not there to see him ruining his own life."

Alearia did not miss a beat. "Sapphire, I love Jay like my own. This is one thing you must understand. But when he started destroying himself from the inside out, there was nothing more that I could do for him. Leaving him was the best thing I could do for him at that time, as you can plainly see now," she screeched at the arctic wolf. "Fool," she grumbled under her breath.

Jay did not understand where the owl's outburst was coming from, as she had never acted so hostile toward someone who was obviously trying to help him. "Alearia, what is the matter with you?" he snapped at her finally, and the owl's head turned to look him right in the eye. "You wouldn't understand, Jay. This is the way it had to be," she explained vaguely, and the brute growled under his breath. "I'm not taking your shoddy answers any longer, Ali. Explain why you're doing this, or you can get the hell out of here," he growled. The snowy owl pecked him in the head once before glaring at him. "You are being a fool again! Why should I have to explain why I know what is best for you? I know things that you do not, little one, and it would serve you well to remember that," she snapped back angrily. "And how many times do I have to remind you about the language? A filthy mouth never got a wolf anywhere," she chided him, turning her stare back to Sapphire.

"My involvement in this is none of your business, ma'am. I'm sure I know a lot more about him than you ever will; after all, I know him better than he knows himself," the bird mocked Sapphire with an evil glare.

((OOC: Ahahaha Alearia's jealous XD))