Stap Aanteken [open]

[wysheid]

It had been three hours since Wysheid walked away from her siblings. With the death of her brother, she held a pain deep in her chest. The words of her late mother echoed in her head: Remember yourself, my wise council. Do not forget your reason to life. The sound of the raging river was finally falling so far behind her that she could no longer hear its angry roar. Toorn and Kalmte were no longer beside her. She had watched them walk south, unsure of what lay before them. She did know this, though: She was free of any ropes that would hold her down. Having stepped away from her siblings, she finally had the chance to explore her horizon in search for anything that would come her way.

The warm wind blew from the south, a calming breeze washing over her fur. The warm sun counteracted the winter chill that should be expected any where else, and the horizon showed nothing but the Occasus desert ahead. She soon realized that the scent of her family had left her, a new aura coming through the wind. She had gone through her whole journeys without seeing another wolf, and her voice had taken refuge deep inside her mind. The desert would not be friendly to newcomers, even in the coolness of winter. She knew that new hardships would meet her in this unknown land. The scent drew closer, something was coming to meet her. Would it be friendly, or a predator? Either way, Wysheid felt an anticipation she had not felt since she was a pup. She was ready for anything.

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[atrb=background,http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1830/rasmid.png] Confidence was roaring throughout the canine on this day. Certainly there had been some struggles with the volcano puffing ash and flames into the sky, but now the brute was back where he belonged. It was his first attempt at adventuring through the desert that was now his home. The russet brute would not have let his pack adventure in first, after all they were his life force. Should one of them get hurt then he would die a bit more inside. Another pack meeting would need to be called soon, perhaps ranks would be given to those he found deserving. One could never be certain what would occur in a world as mysterious as this. For now, the brute knew that safety within the Occasus must be reached prior to everyone's return. The images of the fiery sky exploding cascaded across the brute's eyelids once more, halting his gentle pace. He knew it was merely his imagination acting up on him, but the fear within his heart was still unsettling. Something had felt strange since the volcano had erupted, Rasalas believed that there was something else that had occurred. 'You're being a paranoid fool,' the brute emitted a sharp growl at himself. He would not be afraid of some stupid natural disaster, it had been a start at the time but now everything was fine. There was no reason for him to have such resonating worry captivated inside his chest. It would prove to simply be another wasted effort, 'like Aries.' His own snide thought brought a malicious grin to surface for a moment. Rasalas was not a cruel being, but did play host to a field of anger and repression. There were many things that the brute wished to be different about himself, none of them were changeable. Hackles raised as the brute proceeded across his own scent marker, he was refreshing them as he paced deeper within the lands. The brute had made it permissible for one pretty little lady to be on his side of the river, but that would be the last time it was going to be acceptable for a creature to just meander into the Occasus. They would need a reason to be here. Ignorance would not be tolerated anymore, inside his mind the alpha knew he was merely attempting to harden himself to what may await him. Rasalas was more forgiving than he should be, that was something he could even admit. Perhaps everything would be changing now that things were coming together. The pack had assembled, sure some were later than others and a few had raced a different direction - but they were together. Ryala had come to his summon when the sky rained hell. It meant that they trusted his song and his guidance. Golden orbs narrowed upon the creature in the distance, another loner. For a moment a spark of rage jump started itself; however, he managed to at least stifle its' appearance for the time being. He would give this creature the benefit of the doubt, this time. 'Hopefully they appreciate this,' he continued his gentle gait to approach the foreign being. It was amazing that so many canines cared so little for his markings. Did none realize that signified pack territory? Perhaps the ashen odor from the volcanic eruption had masked it enough, or they could have been thought dead. His mind neutralized itself as the brute halted his movement in order to confront the creature before him. "Greetings, do you realize you are within pack territory, madam?" Although there was a stern undertone to the brute's words, he was not cruel with his speech. It was a simple fact, the brute was curious if this female had even realized that the Occasus was a claimed land. If she had, then there would be an issue. Maybe. It would depend on her choice of words, how she reacted towards him. The brute's insides were absolutely tingling, it was now mid winter. Mating season was swinging in full bloom. 'No one would even know,' his eyelids shielded himself from the foreign femme. 'No,' it would not be what the respectful alpha would do. The red brute shook his pelt slightly, puffs of ash waved themselves into the air. It was a decent enough attempt to prevent himself from doing anything ignorant. Now was the time to ensure that his lands were still belonging to only himself and his pack.

[wysheid]

She had seen the explosion from the distance many moons ago. The hopefully dormant cap now loomed to the north. Though she was not too near to it, she still took heed that it might assault the land again. Wysheid still walked west, walking to the distant horizon. The scent of her family had long left her, but now a new one surrounded her. The first wolves she had seen other than her family and they were territorial. Wysheid took in a deep breath of the dried scent, the succulent male aroma filling her nasal cavities.

She stopped her pace, her nose picking to the air as she searched for the source of the scent. She was aware of her small frame, her lithe build, so it was very important that she not offend anyone. Unlike her late brother, she could not handle her own in a fight, but her wits and wisdom could be of use to her. Her gaze scanned from north to south as she looked upon the dunes for a source. Finally, her eyes caught a lone brute, significantly larger than her. He was walking towards her in a straight line, almost as if he had already seen her. It was mid-winter, meaning mating season was in full heat. It was time to make a decision. 'Do I stand my ground, or do I flee to safety. Realizing even more the size of the brute, she assumed the safe bet that she could not outrun him. Her fate had been decided for her, she would hold her ground. Perhaps he would even be friendly.

The echo of his voice caught her off guard. She did not expect the elegance she received from such a gentle introduction. Surely from the power of the scent, she was in someones territory, and usually, that is not room for such kindness. What would be the best path of action for this? She thought through countless scenarios in her head before responding, taking every inch between them into account. Finally, she opened her muzzle, calming herself before speaking. "Apologies, I was unaware." She spoke just loud enough for him to hear her without seeming hostile. She knew that the slightest mood could end in her demise.

Remembering the actions of her family, she took a seat. It was her intentions to stay as little a threat as possible, for she could live passively. She made no sudden movements as she thought, unsure of what more to say. She had not said twenty words since her time as a pup, so it seemed alien now for her to continue to speak. Instead, she waited in silence, her tail casually flopping to her right side and wrapping about her hind legs.

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[atrb=background,http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1830/rasmid.png] His gaze casually swept across the femme, taking in her delicate build. A part of him was intrigued by the entire situation, the pack had yet to return to the Occasus. So many options were available; yet, he knew not to take advantage of them. The respect of those beneath him was valued far too highly in his mind. He would not give them a reason to distrust his decisions and authority. 'Unless, it's mutual,' the brute caught himself before emitting an angry snarl. The noise would have been directed at himself and not the femme; however, he knew how it would look from her view. Rasalas did not like the concept of being threatening, unless another was attempting to overrun him. He typically remained fairly at ease with most situations, at least on the exterior. There were none that knew the demons that would occasionally race through the grey matter. His shoulders rolled slightly as he took a step closer, the brute struggled with himself. It was a struggle to resist the urge to pace in a gentle circle around the female. How long had it been since he had been completely alone? The brute could not remember, but the freedom he felt pulsating in his veins was surreal. Golden eyes held a soft gaze upon the female, "I am not going to hurt you, darling," the brute offered up a comforting grin. In truth he would not harm the femme unless she attacked him first - something that Rasalas did not foresee happening. If she really ended up giving her trouble, then he could just chase her off. Certainly his large size could scare her if she really proved to be an annoyance. He nearly smirked, the thought of a member that had sense left passed across his mind. That female had annoyed him from the moment he had first met her, that was a creature that Rasalas had wanted to claw. This one, she seemed quite sweet for whatever that thought was worth. Gradually, the alpha permitted a steady wag to possess the motion of his tail. His friendliness was showing, which may prove to be his own benefit. Despite all the thoughts within his mind, the alpha had always attempted to be a gentleman. It had never been his intentions to hurt another creature, in fact he would sacrifice himself if it meant another would have a better life. For a time that had included loners, there were restrictions upon it now. Should this female opt to join Ryala, she would be under that same protection from him. As the brute proceeded to study the newcomer, he prepped the walls guarding his heart as well. One mistake had been made, and it had nearly cost him everything. The same one would not be made again. The red brute would not allow himself to make such a deep connection with another. Or so he believed. "I am Rasalas, the Alpha of the Occasus," pride was evident as the brute spoke of the desert. It truly was a paradise to him, it had been a refuge when nothing else had been. In a sick way these lands had saved him from himself. His past had slowly been gnawing upon his present and future, there came a time when the past had to remain exactly what it was. No longer did his life persistently bleed with the memories of sisters lost. He did not mourn for the female that had broken him; it was quite the contrary in fact. Rasalas despised that femme in true reality. But none of that was to be thought of anymore. The future was glimmering vibrantly, and he was standing there waiting to accept it. "What is your name?" His tone was gentler when inquiring about her calling. Imagination romped with conversations and situations that could occur, but most likely wouldn't. 'Hormones,' the brute chastised himself mentally, ashamed that such thoughts were grinding away at him. The alpha had never had a mate, the world had never given him the opportunity for such passion. It was always growing with a lovely swirl of violence in the back of his conscious mind though. One day it would break free, Rasalas felt certain of it. Maybe he really was a ticking time bomb, either way the brute knew he could handle his own situations. Hopefully.

[wysheid]

The female slightly cocked her head to the side, her ears perking up. Such kindness from this brute seemed to scratch her the wrong way, leaving her very intrigued and confused. 'Darling?' Such formalities seemed a little ridiculous given the situation. Whysheid had never been spoken to in this manner, her brothers only speaking to her with the utmost respect and reality. She sensed something deeper in his intentions. She seemed safe at the moment, seeing as he could easily overtake her. She continued to listen, straightening her neck back out as the muscles relaxed. Her ears seemed to calm themselves, though they still pointed forward, listening to every inflection in every word.

'Rasalas.' The name floated in her head. Perhaps there was some meaning behind it. If he was an alpha of the pack that called this desert home, then there was surely something deeper in him that he was keeping from her. 'Occasus.' That must be what they call these mild deserts, assuming mild was really the proper word for them. She took a second to look over his bulking frame. Her mind wandered casually about him. 'Did the land harden the wolf? Or perhaps it takes a beast this great to live in these harsh environments.' Such questions made her wonder if the summers here were not as gentle as the winter.

The fact that he was an alpha resonated in her mind. This was no simple meeting. This situation was vital to the next chapter of her life. Wysheid took the moment to observe the wolf. The auburn globes in her skull scaled down his torso, outlining his flowing fur and thick skin. She was in the presence of a very great alpha, she was sure of it. This was no mild pack like the one that she was in. If any of the wolves were anything like the alpha, then this was something much greater. The femme was at an cross roads. Did she show submission to the male to show that she was not a threat? Or would it be better to show that she was not weak, despite her tiny form.

Finally, she raised her head as he asked her name. A sense of pride filled her, her chest sticking out as she looked directly at him. She made sure to not seem as if she was threatening his authority, but she could not help but fill up when she thought of her name, her origin, her mother. She offered not the same formality, but a simple answer. "Wysheid." was all she gave him. Though he was an alpha, he was not hers, not yet at least. She still had her own freedom, and she was ready to defend that if it came to it. Her tail swayed around the other side as she sat, wrapping itself around her left leg and sweeping between her hind end.

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[atrb=background,http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1830/rasmid.png] Shivers raced up the red canine's spine. Did the world just adore making everything increasingly difficult? The air seemed to be growing increasingly still around the two wolves, something that was slightly disappointing to the alpha. He had hoped at least a light breeze would be stirring the land around them, perhaps it would shoo some of the overwhelming amounts of ash away. The Occasus hardly seemed the same with the newly formed rocks and grey tint it was currently holding. 'Stupid volcano,' his yellow gaze twisted towards the directions of the great mountain. It now had his utmost hatred, although it did bring his pack together. Now they were closer than before, some much needed introductions had been done - even if they had not been the most formal. Either way, the pack would see itself as one now. Things were falling together more so than he could have imagined. 'Perhaps I do owe you some form of thanks,' the idea nearly brought a chuckle about. Like many things, he restrained it as well. The silence that hung between them for a moment felt eerie, the brute felt nearly mistrusted by the female. Not like he could blame her, after all he did hold quite a bit of size on her. A twinge of hurt shattered through the cement surrounding his aorta, the pain became numb seconds later. It bothered him to be thought of as a potential monster; however, he knew how easy it was for situations to turn dangerous with a stranger. Mixed emotions were curling themselves up within his guts, 'everything will be fine.' His auds further directed themselves to detect the darling female's name. Her words brought warmth to him, reminded him that they were still real. Their conversation was encouraging to the brute and he was uncertain was to why this was. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Wysheid," his words nearly dripped from his muzzle and almost formed a puddle at his paws. The quiet demeanor of this female was intriguingly erotic to the brute and for no particular reason. It was not as if he did not have flawlessly beautiful females living within Ryala already. 'I'm alone,' no one would know if something happened, but he didn't want it do be so. If there was an option, the alpha happily would have brought this female back to meet the rest of the pack - introducing her as the newest pack member. Hesitance chewed at him, what did she have planned though? He had yet to establish exactly why this creature was here. His mind pulsated gently with concepts of what could happen. His tail twitched a few times behind him, reminding him of the task before him. Regardless of Wysheid's decision or reasoning, eventually the brute must proceed with his evaluation of the Occasus. Hopefully, it was suitable for the pack to be returning to soon. They had been gone for several days now, they would be wanting to return to their own comfort zone. In truth, the brute wanted to be back in his own as well. No lands would ever feel nearly as welcoming as these. This was where he had established a new life and attempted to slaughter the old. Certainly the blood would always taint his paws, but it could fade with time. Right? Gradually he was working towards fully convincing himself that his kin could be forgotten. His sisters would never be returning to his life. The truth was becoming more numbing to face every passing day; Alas! He had prevented himself from dwelling on the topic. Now, they were merely a second long thought that disappeared into the hazy clouds above. 'Where they belong.' The lagging conversation bothered the red creature slightly, it was making his mind jump further. His continuous breathing was drawing in more of her scent, making the entire scenario that much more difficult for him. "Do you have intentions for being here?" his question was formal, something the brute needed to know an answer to. "Were you merely passing through or searching for something, my lady?" his gentle flattery was not intended to offend or disturb the female before him. It was merely the alpha being calmer than he had been weeks before when Anubis and Isis had decided to stay within Ryala. At that time his mind was bleeding in anguish, his life was shattering. It had come together quite nicely now, even if the volcanic explosion had detoured the perfection slightly.

[wysheid]

Wysheid stayed very still, not out of fear or worry, but out of a wandering quietness. She did not feel the need to struggle or move, but simply wait as the day passed away. Her mind wandered as her ears began listening to the silence. She could hear the roar of the river behind her, or was she imagining it? Either way, her mind wandered back to her brother, the waves tearing at him. There was no way he could have survived that raging deathtrap. Yet she hoped he had. She knew her fate was before her either way, but the idea of her brother starting over on his own relaxed her thoughts. Perhaps he would build his own pack, he surely had the build and mentality to be an Alpha male.

'Pleasure.' Not quite the word she expected from Rasalas. She knew little of him, but something still seemed off about his demeanor. Was it out of formality that he spoke like this to her, or was it just the way he was? If that was the case, then why? Why would a brute as large as this one require a smooth tongue to have his will done. If there is anything she learned from her family, it was that brute strength would get you far. Then she remembered the betrayal. Her siblings torn against each other by the struggle for power. Blood spilled onto her coat that could never be forgotten.

His words echoed around them as the wind faded into nothingness. For the first time in her life, she had been asked a question that she did not have the answer to. She wondered back to the words of her mother. 'Do not forget your reason fore life.' Her thoughts reminded themselves of the countless dreams she had had. Her destiny was sending her forward, but to where? She had been heading west, but she was unsure why. Her brother had spoken of a new life across that river, but what did this new life hold? She thought for what seemed to be hours on the question, her mind delving within itself to come up with an answer. Was she even here for a specific reason, or was it just circumstance that these two had even met?

She realize that as she thought, her chest sank. She no longer held the pride that she had when she gave her name. Her eyes had begun to wander to the ashen floor, the light of refuge and pride seeming to dim for a second. It was a very good question, and she still had no answer. Was he the reason she was here, or did she have to keep heading forward? The questions raced, and her eyes dipped closer to the ground beneath her paws. She simply did not know. Finally, a spark revealed itself. That was right, she did not know. However, that was okay. Her dream did not show the tree going anywhere, it simply showed her that the tree was leaving. She followed the tree in her dreams, and whether she was there or not did not matter. This was the journey, this was the reason. As she was reminded of this answer, her head picked back up, the calamity of the situation washing itself from her expression. Her eyes brightened up again as she spoke. Her soft warm voice did not carry like the males did, but instead, the silence carried it just past her muzzle. "I do not know. I am here." This answer was enough for her at the moment, and it seemed to show in her expression. Her tail even began to wag a little bit, flicking around the ash behind her. She did not know for once, and she was proud that she had made it this far. She would be okay, this much she knew.

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[atrb=background,http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1830/rasmid.png] How many eternities had he shared alone? The russet pelted alpha could hardly even answer. How many centuries ago had it been since his own frame had been snuggled up to that of the blind bitch. She had instilled a hope in him that no other had been able to, and with that she had jerked him around cruelly. At the time he had been naive to the entire situation, to the truth of her actions. That she simply was toying with him for the support of a strong and able-bodied male. The flashback hit the brute with the same force as the volcano had used merely days before. His eyes grew glassy, 'No, don't think of this.' He felt her claws sink into his bare flesh, ripping it away once more. The memory that was coming to life had been long forgotten, the alpha had shoved it far away from his mind. 'Things were different - the pack had yet to even come together.' Rage began caressing his lungs, soothing them to steady their breathing. Vision glazed red. She had awoke violently, her dream spilling rabidly from her lips. "I could see you, I saw you!" She had spoke of vision that had never belonged to her, he was what had plagued her dreams that night. The love that had pulsated through his chest had been for no reason though, for after that moment it all drifted away. Once the pack was formed, Aries had distanced herself from him. His support had been useless. She stole from him what she wished and then left him to do her bidding and carefully collect the pieces to his already tattered soul. Was there a right way to feel about this? Rasalas would have been more accepting of the situation had the end result not occurred. 'They died, because of you,' his mind had convinced him of such a truth. Without the Alphess' guidance, things had shattered and broken. His fur threatened to stand itself on end upon his back, his lips dared themselves to peel back and reveal fangs. Rasalas allowed the rise only internally, he knew what that would appear like for Wysheid. 'Dangerous territory,' but he was thankful that no longer was lust racing inside his mind. That part of his brain had been silenced for the time being; although, he knew it would not have the ability to remain in such a way. Life would be excessively simplistic if one could simply rid themselves of everything that they hated about themself. All the creatures would be walking around acting in ways of pure perfection - or what they saw to be such. Rasalas wished he could claim to embrace his flaws, but there was no truth to such a comment. On the contrary, the brute worked his hardest to shield others from the monster that he truly was. None would be able to respect a canine with such an impulsive mind, one who could steal something and would have to force himself to feel bad about it after. He did not have the ability to feel bad for satisfying such an urge that he knew of; yet, the brute had restrained them for so long that there became a point where he was unsure what would happen. His glance upon the female softened, her whispered words kissing his ears with such delicate flavor. 'Maybe she is as lost as I am,' the thought was entertaining to the alpha for a few minutes, but it soon became trashed like several of his others. It seemed that their encounter would be derived through the silence that they shared. It cast unsettling waves through the larger brute; yet, he could not force the female to speak nor to interact with him. Yet, if she wished to remain here as a permanent home he would need to get some sort of information out of her. He shuffled a few potential comments around his mind before opting to speak, "Indeed you are here now, is it where you wish to stay?" Slowly, he tilted his head to the side, an inquiring glance attempting to view Wysheid's soul. Rasalas was unsure what he would see within it, or if he even wanted to know the reason for her silence. Casually the brute shifted his body slightly, turning himself away from her to give a brief scan of the terrain. If she had managed to wander into Ryala in such a short time after the eruption, many others could have as well. The thought brought him to become more on edge, the thought was rather sour. Rasalas despised the persistent border patrol to fight off the vast amount of loners that simply attempted to slide themselves away from view in the desert. They believed that for an eternity they could hide from a rapidly expanding pack, that was not an available option. Those that were not a part of his pack would either bend and join or be cruelly chased away. There would not be an in between stage, why should he grant them such a privilege? They were merely stealing from his family. Rasalas hoped Wysheid did not have that exact intention.

[wysheid]

Wysheid flavored the silence they shared. The savoring idea of thoughts communicating without words almost brought a smile to her face. The thought of their bodies communicating without the need to speak left her warmed as a small breeze washed over her. She looked up as she waited. She did not wait for a response, she simply waited for the fleeting seconds of life to drip over her. She enjoyed this waltz of communication they shared, for she had not been able to have this with anyone before. If this is what she was missing in her secluded life, then she decided she had missed out too much.

Her tail turned to a wag, her hind swaying back and forth as her breath raised itself in her chest. Her eyes were on the brute, but they did not seem to be focusing on him. In fact, it was almost as if she was gazing through him, her eyes focusing on some object far off on the horizon. They wandered in and out of focus, her brain deciding that she did not need to use them as she thought back to the short lived conversations that her brother held with her, even through her silence. None of them ever left her with this feeling she currently held.

Something within her gaze changed, though. She focused back on the brute before her, as she could see his composure was drastically changing. His eyes swelled slightly, and his fangs began to reveal themselves. Had she said something to upset him? Surely not, it would not have taken this long for him to react. She did not react with fear, instead, she showed wonder. It really intrigued her to wonder exactly what was tearing at his mind. She had only seen such anger in a wolf once. The day that possibly marked her brothers fate. The day that two brutes fought for power. It was not a challenge out of sport like they said it was. It was pure, undignified, rage. It was instinct breaking itself through the cracks of sanity.

It did not last though, and the brute seemed to calm himself. This quirked her interest even more, and she caught herself with her head cocked to the side in wonder. She slowly lifted her head back to the original stance as his gaze on her softened. 'He seems so lost. So confused.' She did not know if it was pity or passion she felt for the brute, but something welled up in her chest as she watched his emotions fly. As he shuffled about, she almost broke a smile again, seeing the innocence hiding behind his weathered body.

When the question finally raised itself, she knew her answer. She did not have to question her fate or remember back to a moment in her past to find an answer. She was never more sure that this was where her fate was bringing her, at least for this stage in her life. Her tail began to wag again as her hips swung back and forth. Her mouth opened as her smile finally broke. She had never felt so right about a decision before, and she enjoyed the joy that followed the certainty she had never felt. She finally calmed herself enough to answer, her body quieting itself."Very well, Rasalas. I will stay." She almost could not control the joy that was held in her heart, but she contained it enough to keep it from exposing itself to the brute. Perhaps she was home, or at least for now.

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[atrb=background,http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1830/rasmid.png] He permitted the glimmering orbs placed within his skull a moment of relaxation, eyelids slowly closing the light from his mind. A slight burn had begin to grow within his temple, gradually aching its' way throughout his crania. It had been quite some time since Rasalas had thought himself into this much discomfort, certainly everything was getting better. 'Why now,' he attempted to hold his stoic appearance; yet, the brute knew that evidence of his headache was more than likely apparent. There was not much he could do, stress and exhaustion were beating the poor red brute already. That was not even mentioning the massive amounts of ash and decay that the brute had recently inhaled; not all of them had been choked from his lungs yet. Silently, the brute prayed that he could manage to cough the rest up later - in private. The idea of spewing ashen mucus from his face was not an appealing concept ever, especially not in front of his newest pack mate. His chest filled with pride at the thought, Ryala really was growing. Slowly but surely he was gaining more and more members, he hoped they would truly stay. 'I am not going anywhere,' the brute knew this was the truth, his pack offered him far too much. They were the only family he had; and Rasalas would be damned if anything hurt them. The eruption had startled him enough, it had nearly driven all of them away from their home permanently. The thought of claiming Xisyn was distant in the brute's mind, the Occasus was where Ryala belonged. If he could even call it Ryala anymore, the name that Aries had given them seemed so distant and unreal. The pack didn't feel like it was Ryala anymore, or that it ever truly was. It had risen and fallen so rapidly, but with a rebirth such as this one - did it not need a new name? Rasalas had decided long ago to rename the pack, but he was still stumped for the actual new name. The brute was confident he would eventually think of something, hopefully sooner than later. Eyes brought themselves back to the real world, only to scan the horizon for a moment before settling back upon the new femme. She was a pretty sight, he could not deny that, but something within him had drawn numb. His mind had drowned itself in worry and concern for things that he shouldn't be worrying about. Now was the time for patrol, to ensure that the Occasus was a safe haven for all of them once again. This time all of the loners were going to be pushed away, either join or leave. There would be no opportunity for another to harm any of them. When the pack meeting occurs he was certain that some ranks would be assigned, if the others were willing to work together. A shiver shook the Alpha's body and he straightened his stance slightly, deciding that the two of them needed to proceed their adventure. Patrol needed to be done, and there was no better way for the two to get acquainted. 'Perhaps she will prove to have a beneficial skill to us,' the brute nodded slowly. "Wysheid," her name was spoken from his lips with the utmost sincerity and to ensure that she knew that the red one's attention lay upon her once more. "I would like it if you would join me on the finishing patrol of the Occasus," his crania nodded forward, indicating the direction they would be heading. "It will ensure that you know your new home," the brute offered a slight grin before taking a few steps away from the femme, awaiting for her to follow. "Do you possess any skills, darling?" He genuinely needed to know the situation he had gotten himself into. Truthfully, Rasalas knew little about many of his newer members - but that would need to change very soon. A bond needed to be built, the others needed to get acquainted with each other. That was vital to the pack's survival. Additionally, every canine needed a task in order to thrive. They would thrive again, despite the odds. Everyone would live and they would last. The concept brought another smile to the brute's lips, this one more emotionally filled than the previous. Hopefully, they would at least gain a few wolves with hunting skills. Then he would not have to patrol as well as hunt, it was quite a difficult task to accomplish on a daily basis. 'It will only get easier, do not worry,' it was easier to think than to actually do; however, he was attempting it. Sometimes it could be a struggle to release his mind of the persistent worrying, but Rasalas knew the truth. If he directed his attention towards the pack, it kept the dark things away.

[wysheid]

Wysheid savored the answer in her maw, even after having released it into the world. The air between the two wolves was not dry like the ashen desert around them, but it held an aura of gratitude and compassion. The words she recited echoed into the stale air around her, dissipating into the sand below. Even after the thought had become word and eventually silence, she contemplated the answer she had given. Was she so sure to move onto the next chapter of her life? Was she so ready to leave her brother and sister behind her? Was she so ready to let go of her late mother and brother? Whether she was or not, Wysheid had signed a deal with Rasalas, and she was okay with that fact.

As her mind wandered about the next step, she noticed the discomfort in her opposite's eyes. Wysheid could tell just by looking that something was tearing through his mind, yet he still tried to hide the pain. Her head cocked to the side as she watched with intrigue more than anything. It did not surprise her that he was trying to hide something so simple as physical pain. Being the alpha of this land meant holding an appearance. As ridiculous as she felt it was, she understood his pride in the situation. She saw the same look in Krag when he would attempt to suppress the memories of their mother. Such a trivial struggle to hide pain. Was it such a crime to show emotion for an alpha, when really it just showed a foolishness not only for him but for those around him? His eyes told a distant story, even if this pain was just physical. It was obviously caused by a deeper emotion, something that ate away at him. She had to fight not to pry, knowing it was not her place to ask about his history just at meeting. Perhaps one day she would have the luck to know just what happened that was causing so much strife.

Almost in an instant, he changed. The light in his face returned, passion filling his chest once again. It was like he was two different wolves fighting over one body. Such an interesting being, the creature that stood before her. Rasalas was a crumpled statue, holding the weight of the world on his back. She could see that his pride had filled him again, and he overcame the pain in his eyes. As he released her name into the wilderness, the air around his muzzle moistened. Her name resonated through the open air, reaching to the distant horizon. His question was expected, but Wysheid was still glad to hear it. Of course she would accompany him in his adventure to contain his land. She offered a small nod, suppressing the desire to show the happiness hiding behind her calm expression. Her hips wagged with a sense of excitement as the next chapter of her life unveiled itself to her.

As she picked up her backside to follow him throughout the lifeless desert, she was struck with his next question. Skills? She had never considered what value she would be to a pack. She knew the plants of I'queyer well, understanding when to use which one and how to mix them to help with illness, but the Occasus was a foreign land to her. Surely in time she could memorize the flora, opening her knowledge of botany to this new land. Until then, however, she did not have much else to offer. She knew that her wisdom was a welcome trait, but other than an innate insight of the world, she did not have much else to offer at the time. Would Wysheid's willingness to adapt and learn be enough to secure a rightful place in her new home, or was she to be forgotten because she could not offer a skill set to her new home. She stumbled around for a proper answer, one that would not discredit her as a helpful member of the new pack. "I am quick to learn about flora, already knowing the plants of the plains to the east well." She fought to try and hide her discomfort at the fact that she had so little to offer, but she knew that botany was an important study to packs and their survival. This would have to do for now, he would see what more he needed later.

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[atrb=background,http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1830/rasmid.png] The silence between the two canines held a strange comfort to it, unlike most Wysheid did not seem to be demanding answers or any sort of conversation from him. It certainly eased some of the tension from his shoulder blades, they were getting sore from all the stress. Muscles had begun tightening and forming large knots recently, most likely due to a mixture of dehydration and his constant worrying. It was natural, and rather healthy, that the brute worry about his pack though. After all, they were family and he was willing to die protecting any one of them, even his newest subordinate. If her commitment to the pack was genuine, than he would be just as faithful to aiding her. That aspect of being an Alpha had come easily to the red canine. He had been born to protect and demolish all at the same time. The powers countered each other drastically, each wavered in their control over his mind. The hormonal rage he was experiencing upon first laying sight upon the female was nearly gone. Too much had surfaced upon his mind once more, the rage needed to be controlled. It could not be let from his sight for just one simple moment, for he feared control would never be gained again. Rasalas did not want to be known as some cruel Alpha that raped his women and slaughtered those who opposed him. Sometimes the idea did make him smile when he was alone; yet, it would never become reality. He would take his own life before he hurt others because of his own misfortunes and neglect. That was not their fault, just as their histories were not his fault. No blame needed to be placed, it was simple - he needed to keep himself in check at all costs. Regardless of the amount of effort it would take; he would remain strong. Vixen even seemed to have doubted him, that was why she had ran off for awhile. He could not blame her, when Aries left he had been wandering off searching for his sisters. There had been no guarantee that either the alpha or beta were coming back. That certainly left the others in quite a bind and Rasalas was quite lucky that no others had stepped up in an attempt to claim the pack and lands. Perhaps there were some sort of gods above that were looking out for him, maybe he did actually have some sort of a purpose. The brute didn't like to further clutter his mind with the thought of afterlife. This one had caused him enough trouble, hopefully he could at least sleep when he was dead. 'Another medic of sorts,' the brute was pleased. Sure Scout had knowledge of medicine and was training Vixen, but it wouldn't hurt to have one more learning. 'Maybe Vixen could eventually train her, once she is fully trained of course,' the thought was pleasing to the Alpha brute. He did have plans for Scout after all, especially since the brute was his closest companion at this time. Who knew if one of the newer members would draw themselves closer, Rasalas was willing to form a bond with his pack members. Hopefully they were going to form the same bond with each other. The constant worry of arguments was additionally tearing away at his mind. He did not want to have to drag pack mates off of each other. Then they would be getting quite a raged out beat down from the Alpha. Sure he wasn't a huge wolf, but he could fight - and being blinded with rage would only add to his violent streak. Smiling at his newest member the brute finally brought himself to speak, "We have a shaman and a gatherer who would be very pleased to answer any questions you have." Rasalas was happy to say that Vixen had returned to them, he had been worried about her. After the volcanic eruption, the alpha was pleased to have so many medics. At least - hopefully - they would be able to help any that were suffering from wounds. He did know a bit about herbs, enough that Aries had taken advantage of it. For now he was letting that talent lay in rest, hunting and guiding the others had been his main priority alongside protecting them. Now he knew that one area of his pack was completely covered. Hopefully soon he could summon a pack hunt and gain some hunters. His mind would be much more at ease, life significantly simpler. "We shall continue up the river this way," the brute spoke calmly as he proceeded alongside the bank. The water still looked dark to his judging golden optics. He wondered how long it would stay so clouded and hazed over, hopefully it would be clearing out soon. Maybe it would take another week or so before the Occasus totally was ready to be inhabited again. His pace was steady and slow, nostrils rapidly flaring in an attempt to detect any other loners that had wandered onto his land. At least Wysheid turned out to be another beautiful addition to the pack. Rasalas could only imagine what some other loners would end up like.

[wysheid]

The Ethiopian femme almost sauntered in the silence, her tail flicking from side to side as she pulled herself to all fours. Wysheid was overcome by a calming joy at the fact that she had a home, something to belong to that did not seem corrupt. She had read Rasalas well in her eyes, and she believed that the good in his heart was strong. She could see a pain hiding behind his eyes that wanted to release itself, but the brute was strong willed, and seemed well capable of not letting his emotions interfere with what the pack needs from an alpha. In fact, he reminded her quite a bit of Krag, though significantly larger. They both held a pride deep within their hearts, but not one that would crush those close to them. It was a warm flame that smoldered in their chest, one that could provide comfort to those in need of a protector. He would make a fine alpha for her.

Wysheid was relaxed by the fact that her skills seemed appreciated. She was willing to learn anything she could to help her new home prosper, even that outside of her comfort zone like hunting and fighting. She was lithe and in shape, though extremely small. She had contemplated many times using this to her advantage since she had grown out of her puny self she once was. The Ethiopian was still just like the rest of her kind, small and slender, but with the right help, this could prove to be extremely useful if she took advantage of it. The she-wolf contemplated these thoughts once again, wondering just how she would be able to push herself to the max that she could handle. She wanted to be more than she was, she wanted to better herself so she could help others. Wysheid knew her mind was ready for anything life could throw at her, but the body was much weaker than the spirit in her case.

The femme watched Rasalas very carefully as he spoke, applying her insight of emotions to the best of her ability. She enjoyed watching others, reading what they were hiding behind their eyes to see their true intentions. She had spent most of her life watching and listening instead of speaking, observing her siblings meticulously on their journeys. She read into their minds very well by the betrayal, but she did not take action. That was her fault. She knew that something bad was to come after watching Toorn closely, but she was too weak to act against it. She simply watched, and that would be her downfall. Perhaps it was time to begin taking action if she wanted to protect her new family. She could not let the same thing happen twice. She would not let betrayal be a regular observance for her.

Wysheid seemed to get lost in Rasalas' eyes, her mind floating in the air between them. She did not even realize that he was speaking to her, let alone hear what he was saying. There was something about this wolf that caught her eye. Perhaps it was simply because he was the first wolf she was to see since her family, and only the fifth wolf for her to ever see. Or perhaps there was something deeper about this brute. Was it coincidence that he reminded her of her brother, Krag, or was this fate continuing to reveal itself to her? Either way, she already cared greatly for Rasalas. His willingness to take a stranger like her in, his control to not let anything happen to her when he could easily overtake her. This new Alpha meant a lot to her just within moments of meeting him.

As she continued to wander about him with her gaze, she realized he was turning off. Finally, her ears kicked back into work, hearing his last few words before he turned off. This is how it began for her. This was the connection made that would keep her safe and alive. This was very good, and Wysheid enjoyed it thoroughly. She picked up her feet, following after him step in step. After following his prints perfectly for a few seconds, she brought her pace up to be closer to him, coming up by his right side. The she-wolf felt a comfort by his side that she had never realized she felt with Krag. She always suppressed these feelings because they were unnecessary to their adventure. This time, the feeling was fervent, almost overpowering the bitches excitement of her new home. She noticed how Rasalas was paying attention to his surroundings, studying carefully for any other intruders. It was obvious how much he wanted to protect his family, she would not let herself be the reason for a mistake. Wysheid dipped her nose down to follow suit, her nostrils being filled with a distinct smell of the new world she was in. She smelt the ash from the mount that loomed to the north, revealing a pain that all inhabitants felt. Lives were perished in this event, that was for sure. It was no wonder that Rasalas was so protective. Perhaps he even blamed himself for turmoil felt by those around him even though there was nothing he could have possibly done to stop the event. This was respectful though, and her admiration for him steadily climbed.

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[atrb=background,http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1830/rasmid.png] The company of Wysheid was soothing, he felt that for once he could really be silent and pace through his land with another. Yet, there were heavy topics weighing upon his mind. The Occasus had become quite destroyed from the volcanic eruption. It simply was no where near what it had used to be, the former glory had been reduced to almost nothing. What was he supposed to do if they could not inhabit this land anymore? For a second the brute felt as if he truly was a failure, even if it had not been his fault for the natural disaster. There was only so much that he could take and perhaps this was nearing his breaking point. The stress had been piling upon his weary shoulders since he was a pup, perhaps he had taken charge more than he had thought. Maybe this was the same as when he directed his family where to go through the snow. Some were lost; yet, the others survived and thrived. 'Sacrifice needs to be made sometimes,' his golden orbs shifted to the rocky ground beneath his feet. Sand had once been so noticeable between his toes here. A quiet sigh escaped his muzzle and for a moment his pace faltered. With a heavy heart the brute turned to look at the Ethiopian female, "You should have seen it here before." His words held a mixture of numbness and memories. True, his life within the Occasus was nothing glorious. He had little truly fantastic recollections of these lands, most that had occurred to him here was agonizing. Either way, this had quickly become a place accepted into his heart as home. Despite the trauma that had scarred his fragile sense of trust, he still put forth every ounce of effort into rescuing Ryala. That meant keeping them safe within their lands. 'This one isn't your fault, don't try to make it that. The others are still safe within Xisyn,' that much was true. Other than some small wounds, some of which would take awhile to heal, it seemed that all of the others were safe and healthy. They would recover and move forward with their lives. His head shook slowly, the destruction surrounding him was drawing more worry into his mind. There was still potential that they could live here, it was not like everything was decimated. 'Or am I being optimistic?' Rasalas was weary and uncertain as to what would become of them and the Occasus. It simply was nagging upon his mind. Something needed to get his head free of this topic before he completely broke. "Were you born upon Anikira, or did you travel here?" He was curious how much of this deranged island the female had seen, if she had came here first than perhaps she was lucky. The red brute had seen and witnessed more than he had ever wanted to. Life was beautiful and disgusting all within one. In an instant everything could change and be something different. One could never truly know what to expect, it greatly upset the Alpha. He was desperate to provide the best life for the others that he could. 'Especially since Algethi and Adhara are gone,' a whine pleaded to escape from his lips - yet found itself swallowed. He gazed upon the pretty femme once more for a moment, struggling to see if he could extract anything about her past from her. It was not necessary for him to know; yet, the brute was curious and eager to release his mind of the worries gnawing around. OoC| Sorry this is so short ><