As far as the eye could see was golden sand, smooth as glass. Even with the winter season gracing the land, the sands of the Occasus were the same as they always were. Which was good, considering Riptide wasn’t much of a wolf for snow. The Ethiopian brute lay basking in the sun, red pelt practically glowing in the golden light. His entire body was still, save for the occasional rise and fall of his chest. It was all he ever did, day in and day out: sleep. He was not a fast animal, and could hardly hunt for himself, let alone the black kite that perched just overhead. He was not a warrior by any stretch, though there weren’t many opponents around to fight anyway. There was simply nothing else for the brute to do.
The bird perched over Riptide’s sleeping form let out a light sigh. She had been with him for a year and a half now. One would think she was quite used to his constant laziness. But weren’t wolves supposed to be active? Or, at least, more active? Like running around and chasing helpless critters. Or swimming in the ocean. Or chasing after random others that wandered too close to their slice of paradise. All Riptide ever did was sleep. If another came too close, he would get up and leave. Like a coward! But despite that, Aveline didn’t have it in her to leave the pathetic brute. She knew that he had a tendency to limp after exerting too much, or that he was prone to respiratory problems if the heat got to be too much. She couldn’t just leave the brute to die.
But that didn’t mean she was staying with him for free. Aveline played the part of loyal guardian as he slept; watching for potential threats and driving them off. As payment, Riptide was supposed to hunt for her on a regular basis. The hard part was getting the lazy beast on his feet long enough to do so, however. The kite’s dark eyes darted down to the red-coated beast beneath her. She was hungry. He was sleeping. Time to wake him up, whatever the cost.
As Aveline took flight, Riptide’s ear twitched. It wasn’t nearly enough sound or movement to fully rouse him, but it affected his dream. He was back home, in the Sanctuary, with Cyrion and Soren, wrestling in front of the dens. Everyone was happy; mother, the pack, the scientists. The smile on his maw extended into the real world as a contented sigh caused his body to flatten closer to the warm sand. This dream happened often, the last time he had been truly happy. Reality was far worse. His brother had left him for a small band of loners. Left him with nothing more than a limp in his paw and a black kite to watch over him. Sometimes he would stay up at night, eyes locked on where the sands met Xisyn, hoping, praying that one day Cyrion would appear. The two brothers would be together again, as they had been as pups.
For now though, the dreamworld would have to suffice. Just as he was about to take a bone from Soren, something smacked him on the face, yanking him from his sweet dream. The brute groaned at Aveline’s screech, one magnificent blue eye opening to glare at her. “I was having a good dream, Avi,” he grumbled. The black kite scoffed, ruffling her feathers as she returned to her perch above him. “I care not,” she muttered, preening. “And I’ve told you numerous times not to call me ‘Avi’. You don’t see me calling you ‘Rippy’, do you?” Riptide shot her another glare as he rose into a reclining position.
Why was it he kept her around exactly? Probably because every time he’s tried to chase her off thus far has led to her dropping things on his head. Riptide’s gaze honed in on the weapon of choice for today. A lizard? Was that some sort of euphemism? The Ethiopian brute tilted his head back to look at his companion, but she was too busy preening to pay him any mind. Why can’t she just eat the lizard? he thought as he got to his feet. He scoffed, stretching, as he answered his own question. Because she only eats real food. He still didn’t entirely understand the big difference between a tiny lizard and the jack rabbits he sometimes captured. More meat, perhaps. Or maybe she just liked to see him make a fool out of himself as he chased down the fast moving rodents.
Over ten minutes later, Riptide returned to his lounge with a prairie dog. It was no jack rabbit, of course, but Aveline didn’t seem to care one way or another. She flew down from her perch the moment he dropped the meat and immediately began tearing at it. Riptide lay back on the ground once again, eyes scanning the horizon. He knew a pack resided in these lands, but he had yet to encounter any of the wolves. Last he knew, the alphess had gone missing. He snorted lightly, causing Aveline to eye him warily. Aries, the blind Mexican femme. Riptide had run into her when Cyrion was still at his side. Cyrion had been cruel to her, nearly causing the femme to tear his face off. Riptide had been rather surprised to hear her claiming call, and almost wondered if he should have joined in. But no. He had believed the pack would perish within months.
Seems that he was right.
words:: Nine-Hundred and Fifty-Four muse:: Meh tags::Open ooc:: This post is so icky XD I haven't broken him in yet, so the edges are all sharp and pointy *pokes Riptide*
New found strength pulsed throughout the red brute's veins as he began border patrol once more. This time, he was confident with his every movement. The pack had began to grow in the past several days, now he just needed to see if these wolves were as true to him as they claimed. Worry was slowly draining away, the alpha's mind was wandering happily for the first time in nearly two months. 'It has been that long, two whole months - at least!' He sighed lightly, it could have been longer that Aries was gone. Either way, after a month of struggle his pack was finally beginning to take form. No longer were they on the verge of being run off, Rasalas just needed to set everyone into their own role. That would come after the border patrol and the pack hunt though, he could not trust another canine to care for the lands and well-being of the others entirely just yet.
Paws briskly caressed the top of the hot sands, he was pleased to be within the desert. The heat was comforting, for the most part, this time of year. It was certainly cooler than the summer, but it allowed them to actually be able to leave the dens during the day. The thought of being cooped up inside on those scorching hot days drove Rasalas mad. He had always despised when the weather was controlling what he was going to do. 'If we survive next summer, it will be worse for me.' Being the alpha he was beginning to believe that there was never a moment for rest. He could not simply sit and waste away a day, certainly the pack had grown but by no means were they prepared in the event that some sort of invasion occurred. Preparation would come later, for now he just had to keep them safe and everyone's place would be evident eventually.
A shriek caught his partially focused auds, causing them to erect and his head to lift higher between his shoulder blades. For a moment the brute was concerned, a carnivorous bird and Vixen was still missing. Scout had spoken of her returning, or making an appearance, in these lands. Did she perhaps starve and now a flying creature was ripping her to shreds? "I hope not," his words were hoarse, frightened to actually be spoken. The thought of seeing Vixen's dead body frightened him, the alpha did not want to see his pack falling apart once more. Even if she was just the gatherer, she still played a part in the functioning of their life. The female was still important. Worry creases appeared upon the alpha's features as he began to trot in the direction from which the screech came.
He did not need to wander long, soon the image of the bird and her canine companion began to materialize before his golden eyes. Relief. Body stopped its forward motion, Rasalas needed to breathe and calm himself. 'You are going crazy sometimes, it is nothing,' but the brute knew it was something. Perhaps he had not tumbled upon Vixen's corpse being picked apart by a vulture, but he had wandered upon a brute and his companion. Crania tilted itself to the side in order to study the scene from afar, the other wolf seemed so relax and at ease. Laughing silently to himself Rasalas calmed his nerves, there was little point in getting worked up about anything now. He could simply walk over and communicate with these two, find out what their story was.
And with that, the brute managed to pick up his pace once again. His muscular figure carrying him with ease towards the two foreigners, or perhaps he was technically foreign since they had been in the deserts here longer than himself. Inquiring eyes gazed at the two as he drew near enough that it was time to stop his movement. For a moment Rasalas became tongue-tied, he did not wish to be rude to these other creatures - yet he did not wish to be a pushover either. Awkward silence settled thickly around himself for a moment before he spoke, "Greetings stranger." The sound of his voice left bitter remains upon his tongue. What was next? He hardly knew himself. "I do not recall seeing you around the lands of Ryala before?' he partially raised an inquiring eyebrow at the two creatures. His tone was light-hearted, as if he was nearly joking. Rasalas hated that, in his attempt to be nice he may have lost any authority within his tone. He hoped that they would answer kindly, and swiftly with that. He was nearing the ends of his border patrol and was eagerly awaiting to call upon the pack meeting. The thought of introducing all of his new members was exciting.
His head wandered away from his corpse, thinking once more of his sisters. 'I wonder if they ever find me if they'll be proud? Would they stay here?' His auds flicked themselves a few time, reminding the brute that there were other matters to concern himself with. Family was all fine and dandy to think about when he had the spare time, but now these lands and the wolves living within them must be his focus. The pack would fall apart once more and lives would again be lost, he would not allow more blood to stain his paws. Even though he had not directly killed any others. A quiet sigh escaped the brute's maw as his gaze took in the two beings before himself once again, part of him wondered what their story would be.
Last Edit: Dec 19, 2012 11:36:18 GMT -5 by Deleted
The only time Riptide was ever as still as he was while scanning the horizon was when he was sleeping. He could easily pass off as a corpse when asleep, and easily as a statue when as alert as he was. Aveline was not his kin, but he had a bond with her that compelled him to protect her. In fact, the only time he truly fought against another creature was when Aveline was in some kind of danger. He would take as much of a beating himself without raising a paw. But Aveline was the only family he had, even if she annoyed the crap out of him. She stuck to him for whatever reason, and he to her.
Therefore, it was up to Riptide to protect her while she was eating so defensively. The only sound for some time was the tearing of the meal’s flesh. Occasionally Aveline would screech at the corpse, as if it had done something to her, but not once did Riptide remove his gaze from the distance. Besides. If Aveline was crazy enough to screech at a dead animal, she was either crazy or paranoid. Either or, Riptide wanted none of it to rub off on him.
It was then that a strong scent filled the Ethiopian’s nostrils. He recognized the scent as one of the pack wolves, but couldn’t place a name to it. He got to his feet, ears erect, eyes scanning the distance. Aveline seemed to notice something was off, and she averted her gaze from the prairie dog’s corpse. “What is it, Riptide?” She too turned her sharp eyes towards where Riptide was looking, but she saw nothing. With a scoff, she turned back to her meal. “There is nothing there, wolf.”
But Riptide wasn’t convinced. True, the sands almost always carried the pack’s scent, as it was technically their land. Had been. Whatever. The scent that reached him, however, was strong. Alive. Coming closer. Then the wolf appeared. It was another brute, a red wolf, and at first, he seemed to stay at a distance. Surveying. Riptide made no change to his appearance; no raising of his hackles or tail, no curling his lips back to snarl. He even kept his head slightly lowered, more cautious than afraid. “We have company, Aveline,” he whispered as the other brute began to move once again. Startled, Aveline turned to the potential threat. “Why has he come?” she asked, taking flight. She perched on the bush once again, staring down the approaching red brute. Riptide shot her a dark look. “As hard as it may be for you to believe, I cannot read minds.” The kite shot an equally dark look down at the wolf, murmuring something under her breath. Riptide didn’t bother asking her to repeat herself.
By then, the strange wolf had grown close enough to be in earshot. He was much larger than Riptide himself, and even held himself more proudly than Riptide ever had. Almost instinctually, Riptide dipped his head in greeting as the red brute came to a halt. There was a heavy silence for a brief moment, and Riptide’s gaze flicked to Aveline for a fraction of a second. Her piercing gaze was locked on the stranger, her mistrust quite clear. When the stranger spoke up, Riptide looked back at him, ears twitching slightly. He said nothing in response, however, as he felt his little head nod had been enough of a greeting. And he wished to know what this brute was doing here. In his lands. His paradise.
The stranger spoke again, mentioning the Ryala pack. Riptide snorted in derision; he couldn’t help himself. “We were here long before Aries claimed these sands for herself.” His tone had a little bit of a gruff bite to it, but he said Aries’ name with utter respect. He had no qualms against the blind femme, unlike his brother. “We have done our best to steer clear of the pack, simply because you make us uneasy.” From above, Aveline let out a scoff. “Speak for yourself, wolf. I do not fear landbound creatures such as yourselves.”
Riptide glance briefly up at his companion, earning a irritated ruffle of feathers, before he turned back to the red brute. Feeling a little more confident, the Ethiopian male lifted his head slightly. It was his turn to ask the questions. “I would have thought with your alphess gone, the Ryala pack would have become part of the sands beneath our paws.” As if to emphasize his words, Riptide wiggled his toes to sift around the sand. “Have you taken the responsibility of keeping the pack afloat?” Despite the almost curious question, his tone remained somewhat cold, bored even. Rarely did he come in contact with others, but he did like to keep up on the goingson of the sands. If the pack was still in full bloom, he would have to be far more careful where he tread.
words:: Eight-Hundred and Thirty-Seven muse:: Better tags:: Rasalas, Open ooc:: Hm... He's kind of a jerk, isn't he? XD
Golden orbs studied the other creatures carefully, neither of them seemed particularly fond of his arrival. Both were clearly caught up within their own lives and wished for himself and the pack to stay out of it. It was a struggle to maintain a stance that was non-threatening but dominating, showing his pride for these lands. The Occasus was his home, and none were going to be raping him of that. Especially not two loners that wished to sit and eat their meal. 'Stealing our food,' mentally the red brute scoffed at the other two creatures, but currently he would opt to remain silent on the topic. Perhaps their unfriendliness would change once the conversation began flowing, obviously this was not going to occur for some time.
The nod in greeting was pleasant enough that Rasalas did not immediately begin firing off his own aggressive remarks. He was highly possessive of his pack and home, even more so now that stability was so near in view. They were doing absolutely grand now, despite Aries' disappearance destroying the initial coming together of a pack. Often now Rasalas could remove the emotional aspect of Aries from his mind, especially now that he saw what great wolves were currently gathering here. Not that he would turn away disabled wolves, but everyone now seemed as if they were able to pull their own weight. Although he was still a bit concerned about Vixen and if she was still alive or not, Scout said that she would be coming back. Who knew if that was actually true or not, it could have been friendly encouragement to prevent the poor red brute from completely giving up upon Ryala.
He listened silently to the words spoken by the other canine, waiting for some sign of aggression to become apparent. None came. Rather, the other spoke that he had been here long before Aries had even claimed these lands as her own. For a moment Rasalas felt unsettled, if these two had avoided interaction with the pack - then many others could be doing the same thing. A snarl flared within his chest but remained silent, he wished not to irritate the others. Perhaps, there were more of them. A group of loners that were planning to overtake the Occasus, to claim it as their own. "It must be nice to know a land so well," the brute's eyes averted towards the volcano. It had been hiccuping and belching quite a bit lately, it would only be a matter of time until it exploded. The thought of their lands being surrounded with lava was not a fond one within his skull.
"But, why do we make you uneasy?" his head turned to the side slightly, showing his intrigue with the scenario unfolding before him. As the bird spat off her fiery remark, Rasalas almost chuckled. It seemed that many desert wolves were friendly with other species. All of which seemed to be a bit sassy. A bit of anxiety flared in his heart; however, Rasalas attempted to hold his cool. The concept of being over run by loners was chewing at his mind now, were his pack members avid enough supporters? Did they even want him as alpha? Both were growing questions in the red brute's brain matter. It would most likely take longer before they would actually truly support him. One day it may happen though, his confidence was gradually growing.
Riptide's abrupt remarks shook Rasalas from his paranoid thoughts and snapped his neck back into reality. 'Does he think he is proving a point?' a smirk threatened to appear upon his muzzle, yet whatever part of him was still alive managed to keep it away. "We are stronger than before," a bit of a chuckle slipped through his lips, "Ryala has the gift of sight now, if you will." His golden optics snatched the opportunity to swim across the desert sands. He saw no others approaching them, nares flared but only to announce that it was simply the three of them. Relief swept through him, at least Riptide was not attempting to get him wound up and then ambushed. His eyes settled back upon the bird, the alpha was uncertain how to react to this canine associating with a scavenger of sorts. Well, he was not certain how this entire interaction was making him feel.
"I am certain you have seen the rapid growth we have experienced, having an able-bodied leader can do that to a pack," his tone remained mostly serious, but there was a hint of humor. It was all the brute could take to prevent from firing off at Riptide, he had to remain half light-hearted and half serious in order to keep him mind somewhat at ease. The last thing he needed was to get into a scuffle with them. "What do you two call yourselves?" since they were taking turns asking questions back and forth, Rasalas took it upon himself to dictate the next one.
OoC| He is a bit of a meany, but I kinda like it. And when I make the thread in Xisyn for the pack running south when the Volcano erupts you're more than welcome to post Riptide in it. Just let me know if you want it to be played off as if he is accepted already, I'd be more than happy to do that.
Fighting was something Riptide tended to avoid like some kind of plague. He was, by no means, a large wolf, let alone one that could handle himself in a fight. His last true skirmish had been with Cyrion, and that had been at least two years ago. His worst battles were those of speed, against the flighty jack rabbits or gophers he took as a meal. The idea of having to defend himself against another of his kind generally made the Ethiopian brute sick to his stomach. He would sooner roll onto his back in a pathetic show of weakness than lift paw to an opponent.
The stranger’s outward aura was beginning to trouble Riptide. He came across strangers rarely, but whenever he spoke rudely, as he was with this brute, they would either become aggressive and attack, or they would become irritated and just leave. This stranger, however, remained, stoic. When Riptide mentioned Aries, he had been hoping for a twitch, a sign that he had struck a nerve. Pack wolves were like that, weren’t they? When one mocked their alphess—even if said alphess was currently missing—pack wolves were supposed to grow angry, and defend that alphess with their life. But this brute hardly moved. He spoke, however, though it wasn’t what Riptide was expecting. He frowned, unimpressed. “It is nice,” he muttered flatly. Aveline laughed at him, earning a scowl from the brute. Having been caught a little off guard, he had thought of no response.
When the stranger glanced off into the distance, Riptide followed his gaze. The volcano... Something wasn’t right with it, even a dunce like Riptide could tell. Since his landing on Anikira nearly three years ago, the giant mountain had never sputtered as it had now. And given that Riptide had never been in a place with a volcano, he wasn’t entirely sure how to feel about it. Even Aveline was nervous, and she was never nervous. The stranger spoke again, dragging Riptide’s focus back to the task at paw. He snorted at the question. “Shouldn’t that be obvious? I call these sands my home, as does your pack. We cannot both be correct, however, and I fear you may one day decide to run me off.” It was a rather logical response. For Riptide, anyway. “But I cannot call any other location my home, you see.” A wry, almost knowing smirk appeared on his maw. “And that is why you make me uneasy.”
Above him, Aveline scoffed. She said nothing, however, and merely preened as oceanic orbs flicked towards her. Before, she had called him out on his words. Why was she silent now? The strange brute spoke up again, this time defending his pack. The gift of sight? Riptide snorted, bringing his eyes back to his company. If that was what he wished to believe... Riptide grew puzzled seeing the brute start looking around, nostrils flared. Oceanic orbs flitted around, trying to pick up that which the brute was. Nothing? “What is it you look for?” he asked warily. Had he brought the pack? To run him off already? The Ethiopian male shook his head. No, they had only just met. Before now, this brute hadn’t been aware of his existence. But perhaps he had brought the pack on a hunting excursion... And with the words the Ryala alpha said about his pack...
He couldn’t hold his own against one wolf, let alone an entire pack.
It was time to go. Riptide began to slowly retreat, eyes darting to Aveline, then back to the alpha, then back to Aveline again. His cold remarks were dangerous in the face of a pack. They would kill him. And he still had many things he wished to do before his time was up. He would be ended at Cyrion’s paw, not by some pack. Riptide’s retreat was interrupted, however, when the alpha spoke up, asking for names. The Ethiopian brute froze, staring at the alpha. Why did he wish to know? Did he have take some sort of pleasure in terrifying his victims before killing them? Once again, Aveline let out a scoff. “Answer his question, coward.” Riptide shot a look to the kite, earning a deep sigh. “He is called Riptide. And I am Aveline.” For her to be polite to a wolf other than Riptide.. It meant she wanted something. “So you are alpha, yes? What is it we may call you? Or will Alpha suffice?”
Riptide’s eyes grew wide as he let out a startled yelp. That was what she wanted. “What are you doing?” he cried, completely ignoring the Ryala alpha at this point. Aveline turned to him with a cold glare. “What you are obviously too frightened to do yourself, wolf.” She turned back to the Ryala alpha, clicking her beak somewhat impatiently. “Do not mind him, Alpha. I certainly do not.” All Riptide could do was watch as the events before him unfolded before his eyes.
words:: Eight-Hundred and Forty-Two muse:: Good tags:: Rasalas, Open ooc:: I could always have Rip follow the pack to Xisyn and join them then. Though Aveline might start pressuring Rasalas to accept Rip now XD
It had been quite some time since the alpha had last got himself into a skirmish with another canine. Typically this was an event he tried to avoid, but sometimes there came no other option. He preferred hunting to violence among wolves, but sometimes certain things were necessary. Rasalas was not cruel by any means, just lost and a bit confused about himself and where life was heading for him. At least now things were shaping up. A few weeks ago and Riptide would have seen a completely different Alpha approach him. Now, the red creature had some air of confidence about his pack, they were not falling apart at the seams anymore. Hopefully soon there would be ranks to give out and that would further push the others' loyalty.
Casually the alpha's orbs swam throughout the desert sands once more, ensuring that he was indeed safe. Border patrol could be quite the dangerous task if he would happen to stumble upon a group of loners. At times the brute wished there were more warriors, but as of the past few days he was content with where Ryala was. The alpha permitted himself to nod slightly as Riptide expressed his apparent concerns with meeting someone from the pack. It did not fail that there was an ever increasing number of loners within the Occasus, and some had managed to live here undetected for years. 'Not anymore,' Rasalas felt smug at the thought of convincing all of the loners to join or chasing them out. It would only further secure his land and his family. No one was going to be threatening them.
"And why have you avoided pack life?" The question that the alpha deflected onto the other brute was not meant to be harsh or rude. He was quite curious as to why this canine had opted to risk the wrath of an angry alpha rather than request to join one of the packs that had lived within the Occasus. Before Ryala there had been Zahir, certainly Riptide had known about them as well. "Why do you risk death as a punishment instead of joining a community?" His tone expressed intrigue with the other brute's decisions, for they were ones that Rasalas himself never could have made. The red canine had always wished for a family after the separation of his; steadily he was coming to the realization that his sisters were most likely gone. Without them he certainly would need the support of a pack in order to proceed with life. They drove him and gave him purpose. The brute had a reason to wake up when the sun rose
For a second the alpha lost himself in the dreamy concept of his tumbling sisters. They had been the joy of his life since they were born. Something about them had given a sense of responsibility and loyalty to the brute that he had never had before or since. For a moment the idea of being a father passed through his mind, Aries had certainly slaughtered all chances that Rasalas had of committing to another. She had raced off and sacrificed not only his life but all the others within the pack. 'Bitch,' the thought of the former alpha angered Rasalas greatly. She had only wanted to toy with all of the others, attempt to get their sympathy because she was blind. And he had fallen for it! That was definitely the part that upset the red brute the most. He had believed that her words and actions actually held some sincerity.
The Ethiopian's words stole Rasalas away from the rage in his heart. "There used to be many loners within the Occasus," the brute spoke mildly, "I am defending myself." It was not that he distrusted Riptide, but one could never be certain. If others were going to come spilling from the borders than he needed to be aware of it as soon as possible. Hopefully the other canine would understand, after all Riptide had lived in fear of the packs ever finding him. His weight shifted boredly as the brute's attention shifted to the bird that had decided to speak in place of the wolf. 'Apparently my request for names took him a bit off guard,' Rasalas mused lightly, still attempting to defend himself against the thoughts lingering upstairs.
"I go by the name Rasalas," the brute gave his crania a small dip in a more formal greeting to the others. "It is a pleasure to meet you Aveline and Riptide," the brute said their names as he tried to ingrain them into his mind. He did not wish to forget what to call these potential new members, and if they did not join he needed to recall who all was chased off. Somehow, the brute doubted that these two would cause him much trouble. Aveline seemed to have control over the sassy canine she associated with.
At Riptide's sudden comment, Rasalas could not help but jump slightly. The tone in which the other male used had certainly cast the alpha quite a start. 'Is the thought of staying within Ryala that bad?' for a moment he almost ached at the thought. It could not be that embarrassing to be held within their ranks, why would it be? The pack had changed significantly since their old alpha left, and Rasalas was donating his entire life to the progress of it. 'Perhaps he fears commitment, or rejection.' The red creature knew both of those fears quite well. He wished to speak in comfort to the other brute, but words were failing him for now.
Ears flat to his head, Riptide gave the Ryala alpha an annoyed look. Why did he avoid pack life? He ought to ask the alpha why he chose pack life. It was an equally annoying question, and would likely result in a tension in the air. But Riptide wanted to avoid that atmosphere. He didn’t want to give the other brute any more reason to linger. “The past has not been kind to me,” he mutter gruffly, hardly looking at the brute at all. “We all have scars, and I doubt any of us like to speak of them.” Instead of gazing at the alpha brute, Riptide brought his gaze to Aveline. He knew about as much of her as he did the alpha brute, and he had been with her for half a year already. There were just things that were never brought up in conversation.
Riptide brought his gaze back to the brute at the second question, snorting lightly. “So long as I mind my own business, most leave me in peace. The previous pack was fine with my presence, so long as I kept hunting to a minimum.” Aveline hadn’t liked those times, despite the fact that her hunting excursions wouldn’t be the end of her life. Oceanic orbs bore into the alpha’s golden ones. “It has been some time since I was last in a pack, Alpha. To join one now seems rather redundant. I am next to useless, and I don’t follow orders all that well.” From above them, Aveline let out a scoff. “I’ll say...” Riptide smiled, but kept his eyes on the brute’s. He knew she would back him up on that one.
At the tone the alpha used, Riptide took a step back. It wasn’t harsh or mean, per se, but there was plenty within his words to cause the Ethiopian some concern. “Defending yourself from what, might I ask? I have no intention to cause you harm, Alpha, and if Aveline were to try, I’m sure you would just eat her.”“Thanks a lot!” the black kite snapped from above him. In anger, she broke off a small twig with her sharp beak, dropping it on Riptide’s head. He just barely managed to dodge. “I didn’t say I’d let him eat you!” Not that he wouldn’t watch for a moment before acting. The alpha brute was a bit larger than Riptide was. That battle would not end well for the Ethiopian male.
This conversation was dragging on, and if Riptide didn’t act soon, the entire Ryala pack would appear, seeking out their alpha. They would then assume the worst, decide Riptide was the enemy, and would all attack at once. If he didn’t get away now, Riptide might not see the light of the next day. But, of course, Aveline didn’t want to leave just yet. The Ethiopian brute let out a low growl directed at her, urging her to cease her chatter. She merely cast him a sharp look, silencing him in a flash. “Rasalas. It is nice to meet you as well.” Aveline glanced down at Riptide, smug at the cowardly pose he was holding. “Riptide is also pleased to meet you, Alpha, though he may not seem it.”
With little warning, Aveline flew down from her perch, landing on the ground in front of Riptide. His ears perked up as she stared up at him. “Would it be so awful for you to join a pack?” Riptide gaped at her, glancing up at their company before looking back down at her. She gave him little time to answer, however, and quickly cut him off when he tried to speak. “You’re useless and pathetic, but you are aware that I will not be around forever, correct? You will be much safer in a pack than with me.” Her words made it seem like she genuinely cared for his well-being, but her tone was harsh, almost as if she was trying to get rid of him. Riptide caught onto this immediately, frowning at his companion. “And what, might I ask, would happen to you? The coyotes would feast on your bones by nightfall.”
As much as he hated to, Riptide brought his eyes up to the alpha brute. Unease and insecurity swirled in the blue pools, but he managed to look straight on, unwavering. “Rasalas. Are her words true? Will I really be safe within your pack?” The doubts pounding at the back of his mind surfaced in his tone, laced with the worry he felt for Aveline. “And, if I were to join, would Aveline be allowed to accompany me? Would she be as safe within your pack as I would be?” Aveline went to add in her two cents, but Riptide silenced her with a sharp look. “I will not leave you alone out here to be devoured by coyotes, Aveline.” Unlike Aveline, his words and tone matched up, both sounding worried. Riptide brought a hard gaze back to the alpha, his eyes speaking for him: Answer my question.
words:: Eight-Hundred and Fifty-Nine muse:: Great tags:: Rasalas, Open ooc:: And so appears the Riptide that protects a bird XD
Rasalas was unsure what to think of this wolf before him, it seemed that he was stuck within his old ways. For a moment the alpha considered letting the brute stay within the Occasus as a loner, but that thought quickly snapped away. If one canine was allowed to do it then all of the loners would believe it fair to stay here. It was not worth the risk to his pack, the dangers, and the potential lack of food. Either way, he continued to hold his tongue and listen to what the Ethiopian had to say. Even so, the brute could not help but emit a slight chuckle with Aveline's agreement to Riptide being unable to follow orders. 'At least he is honest,' despite how many may have reacted to a loner such as Riptide, the red alpha found it quite honorable that he was so brutally honest. It gave him little reason to believe that this canine would betray or lie to him in the future. He had plead no allegiance to the pack now, so why would he abandon them later?
The Alpha spoke calmly in response to the other brute's statements, even though his remark hardly seemed fitting. "Your honesty - it is very appreciated, it is an honorable trait to hold." Rasalas knew that this was the last thing that Riptide would expect to hear; yet, he believed that the other should know how valued that was. Ryala had enough betrayal and abandonment from Aries, they did not need to deal with that from any of their members. Everyone was important and every single soul had a role within the pack. As long as it got accomplished, the method they used to do so was irrelevant. His mind was satisfied with the situation playing out before him, even if it was a rather strange one. After all, few need to coax a loner to join their pack - Rasalas really did not wish to chase anyone out unless truly necessary.
At Riptide's sudden outburst, Rasalas' ears pulled back and his gaze narrowed slightly. His reactions were out of being startled rather than fear, and quickly the brute felt it required of him to speak. It was apparent that his previous statement had rubbed Riptide the wrong way, "I apologize for upsetting you, I was not intending to call you a threat. There have been many loners wandering throughout the Occasus searching for food - they are a threat to Ryala. I am simply keeping my guard up, I do not wish for either one of us to be ambushed." The topic had caused the brute to begin scanning the terrain again without even realizing it. Rasalas was worrying himself excessively over something that most likely would end up not being a big deal. It could not be helped though, he absolutely loved and needed his pack.
Silence consumed the brute's lips once more, he settled himself to observing the scene between the two loners. It seemed that Aveline really did care for the canine she accompanied, for she even seemed to insinuate that she would leave for him to join and be safe. The thought warmed the brute's heart and nearly reminded himself of his siblings - he would extend any offer to them if it meant they would be safe. His claws gripped into the sandy ground beneath him, tugging the brute away from the thought of family. 'You have none, get over it.' His stance had since eased up from Riptide's sharp comment, and rather the brute's expression had turned rather sympathetic towards the two. It was clear how much they meant to each other, their bond was rather strong even if they were not exactly the most loving towards each other.
Gold and blue pools gleamed within each other, the two brutes matching their gaze. "I can assure you Riptide - both yourself and Aveline would find security within Ryala. All species are of equal value, another wolf has a jackal with him. Both are happily accepted." He took a swift glance between the two, wondering what their thoughts on all of this would be. It would seem that both wished to be with the other, yet they craved more security than they were receiving now. It was true, Ryala was growing quickly and there certainly was a place for them. In fact, the alpha had already thought of a task that the two would perhaps enjoy. It would allow them protection as well as the freedom to somewhat do their own thing if they so desired, and it would certainly aid him in getting rid of some of his stress.
He decided to inquire about the job in his mind, to see if it truly was something that they would be interested in. With Riptide's previous honesty, the alpha assumed he would proceed with it. "I have a bit of an idea, a job for the two of you should you decide to join. Obviously, border patrol has been wearing me down quite a bit. The two of you could remain out this way if you would like, and help me in preventing loners from wandering in. With it being winter more food has been wandering into the Occasus - the loners are coming along with it." The brute paused for a moment, attempting to collect his thoughts once more. "You are more than welcome to join up with the pack and stay in the dens, whatever you would like. But if you two would like to stay mostly isolated you are allowed to do so. You would be aiding Ryala and in turn you both would be guaranteed food, water, shelter and protection. We would all be more than happy to have you socialize with us, though." Softly he smiled at the others, Rasalas hoped that he had made it clear that they were more than welcome to hang around with the other pack members. It was merely an offer if they wished to proceed with their previous lifestyle yet wanted pack benefits.
It was difficult for Riptide to converse in a manner that didn’t immediately put off those around him. He felt that all others would bring him harm, and that the only one he could truly trust was himself. And, perhaps, Aveline, though he’d never admit it out loud. The humans who had taken him in when he was young had turned him away a year later, sending him to a place where he was nearly killed. His own brother abandoned him for a female, not caring about how Riptide’s paw had fared after having it nearly crushed beyond repair. It was just easier for the Ethiopian male to keep others at a distance; so that they couldn’t hurt him.
But Rasalas had yet to attack him or turn away in irritation. He remained, conversing calmly, as if Riptide’s harsh words were nothing more than a gentle breeze on his face. He was actually putting up with Riptide. Aveline was the only other creature he knew of that could stand him for more than a few minutes, and that was only because she was verbally abusive to him in return. That and he kept her stomach full. You don’t bite the hand that feeds you; Riptide learned that at the Sanctuary as a pup. Rasalas had no reason to remain, other than to run him off. Yet when Riptide had made it clear he wasn’t leaving, the alpha brute still remained, acting as if this declaration was nothing.
The Ethiopian had to admit: This brute is persistent. He even had the guts to say Riptide’s honesty was honorable. Honorable? A curt laugh slipped from Riptide’s maw. “You’re joking. Please tell me you’re joking.” What was so honorable about being incapable of lying? Sure, it could be seen as trustworthy, but it was somewhat annoying as well. Riptide always had an opinion for things, and those opinions didn’t always make the opposing party happy with him. It was the reason so many other loners had attempted to run him off. He just didn’t know when to keep his opinions to himself, let alone his mouth shut in the first place.
After Riptide’s comment of the alpha brute’s defensive behavior, said brute seemed to grow angry with him. Those amber eyes had narrowed, and his ears flattened to his head. But his overall stance hadn’t altered any, causing a sigh to escape Riptide’s maw. And at the words of the alpha, Riptide found himself dwelling too long on them. By ambushed, did he mean he wished he, himself, and his pack? Or did he, perhaps, mean he, himself, and Riptide? If this were a normal situation, Riptide would believe the former. But this wasn’t a normal situation. If Rasalas were worried of an ambush, it meant the pack was not near. Which meant his only concern would be for himself, not the pack. But he had said “either of us”, meaning himself and another. Which meant Riptide, yes? His heart swelled slightly at the possibility. Someone that actually gave a crap about his wellbeing. Someone who had no reason to give a crap. It was heartwarming, and Riptide found his opinion of the Ryala alpha rising.
When the Ryala alpha met Riptide’s gaze, he was certain the other brute was going to tell him off, say that Aveline was not welcome in his pack. Why would she be? A wolf pack belongs to wolves, no other creatures. She was a bird, a scavenger, another mouth to feed. The alpha brute had every right to refuse her. But when the brute spoke, surprise filled Riptide’s expression. ‘All species are of equal value.’ Spoken like a true alpha. Riptide gave the alpha brute a puzzled look at the knowledge of a jackal being part of his pack. That was odd. Oceanic orbs sought out Aveline’s amber ones, catching them seeking his out as well. What was he to do? The question must have been swirling in his eyes, for Aveline gave a short nod, flicking her gaze to Rasalas. Riptide stared at her a moment longer before following her gaze.
Before he had a chance to speak, however, the alpha brute spoke up again. He offered a proposition: Riptide helps with the border patrol, and he would, essentially, be a part of the pack. But, at the same time, he wouldn’t have to travel with the pack. He could remain mostly on his own. Like a mercenary. The idea earned a small nod from Riptide, more to show he understood than as acceptance. If he were to help with border patrol, that meant he may need to fight to run off the loners. Of course, with some conditioning, he might actually become good at actual intimidation, therefore avoiding the need to resort to violence. The offer seemed too good to be true, and Riptide wasn’t sure how he felt about it. Aveline was, however. “We decline,” she said sharply, fluffing up her feathers. “No we don’t!” Riptide countered quickly, turning to Aveline. “What are you thinking? With this, we don’t have to change our lifestyle!” She gave him a sharp look, causing him to falter. “What happens when a loner larger than yourself refuses to leave? Are you going to attack him? You?” Riptide said nothing, merely cast his gaze to the ground at his paws. “Precisely.”
Aveline brought her sharp gaze to Rasalas. “As glamorous as the offer sounds, we will be turning it down. We will also be leaving.” The last comment was directed toward Riptide, earning his eyes on her. “As he said, it is winter. We should head to Xisyn for a while. Or perhaps I’queyer.” Riptide gaped at her, glancing towards Rasalas. “B-But...”“We have no reason to remain here! Unless he gives us a reason to stay...” Her eyes, once again, fell on Rasalas, as if urging him to give them a better offer.
words:: One-Thousand and Twelve muse:: It just kept coming XD tags::Rasalas, Open ooc:: I'm not sure if Avi is stupid or persuasive...
Conversation always seemed to be awkward for the Alpha. It seemed that he never quite spoke in the right mannerism or used the perfect words to please others. After awhile it nearly seemed a burden to speak with strangers, but it was his duty after all. Not that he was anti-social, he just felt that often his words did not come out as eloquently as he had planned. This proved to be rather frustrating, but there was little to do other than continue to work on remaining relaxed. Surely his persistently wandering mind was no help to his word choice. 'It will get better once I can rest,' the brute knew that part of his intense anxiety must have been from working himself to death. This new life had been quite the struggle, no where near as easy as his mind had wanted to believe. Then again, he had never planned on stepping up and taking charge. Aries did overload him with work to accomplish though, even reasons to rush into another wolf's territory.
'Bitch must have wanted me dead,' the thought must have been true. Otherwise the female would not have sent her beta on random herb gathering missions that caused him to run half-way across the island and back in a day and a half's time. That had been bullshit, but partially it was his fault as well. He had permitted himself to give in to her every desire. It was foolish, he could see that now of course, but at the time it seemed like the right thing to do. For once another creature seemed to give a crap about whether he survived or not - one that wasn't family. It had absolutely tickled the brute, but he had been weak and given into the evil of females. His guard was raised high over his heart now, stones blocking it away from the rest of the world. He could be a gentleman and still hide himself away. After all, his life was spent forcing his inner demons off. Although the alpha realized even that was standing upon a very fragile line, especially during mating season.
The brute's audits pulled back once more as Riptide's laughter crossed him. 'Have I screwed up again,' this was beginning to agitate him greatly. How could he possibly continue to mess things up? 'Maybe I didn't,' the concept was intriguing, but Rasalas had no time to dwell on it now. The laughter from the other brute made Rasalas feel as if he was being made fun of. It greatly bothered him; yet, his cool still remained. Rage was burning beneath his flesh, the brute was surprised it wasn't burning his pelt away into nothingness. "I would rather have your honesty over a bunch of lies," the brute's words were said a bit sharper than before. Stance was still relaxed and the brute had no malice visible within his optics, he simply was exerting his dominance. Honesty was highly valued, even if it was spoken in a rude mannerism. A half smirk peeked at his muzzle for a moment as if the two were close friends that were being dicks to each other for no reason. After a few seconds it hid again, not wanting to be visible for too long.
When the bird spoke up again Rasalas was certain the look upon his face expressed his utter confusion. The creature had just begged the canine to stay within Ryala; however, all of a sudden this was a poor decision. The brute wanted to call the other creature out on her sudden change of heart, but figured he would remain quiet for a moment while the two proceeded speaking. 'It seems Aveline has quite the power over him,' the thought entertained his mind slightly as most of the time one would believe a wolf to hold dominance over a bird. Anikira housed many strange things, that was certain. The alpha did not mind though, in fact he welcomed the variety that staying within the Occasus had brought him. After all, these wolves all needed someone - just like he had.
With everyone disappearing from his life, Rasalas had no drive or direction. His own survival was hardly a concern, life was simply one day followed by another. Everything blended together to become the exact same thing. Searching for Algethi and Adhara had brought only more sorrow to him, rather than the closure he so longed for. 'They must be dead by now,' the thought made the Alpha feel as if he was going to vomit. The thought of his two little sisters being shredded by a bear's violent gnashing jaws - it made him see red. His breathing grew deeper, attempting to hold himself together for a moment and collect himself. Not only did he need to gain composure from the slight panic attack, but the brute needed to respond to the bird's words.
"I have offered to you all that there is within the Occasus," the brute's words were short, rather plain in tone. He was not going to attempt to flatter the bird into joining Ryala, catering to them was not exactly the alpha's idea of a good time. If they did not believe that there was anything within Ryala for them, then they could get out. By no means did the brute want them to leave, he was starting to enjoy Riptide's attitude - even if he was a jerk. "We have food, shelter, water and protection. An entire desert for you to live within. I even offered you a task and opportunity to maintain a lifestyle similar to the one you currently lead. I do not know what else you wish to have." The brute tilted his head to the side slightly, curious what they would have to say. He had began to soften his words slightly at the end for he was beginning to doubt himself. Was he the one causing issues?
For a moment the brute wondered if he had even offered them anything worth their while. If they were doing fine on their own, then what would they gain? Family and friendship? It seemed that they had their own relationship and did not find it necessary for there to be any more. A soft sigh escaped his lips and the red brute shook his head slightly. Disappointment settled within his chest, for a moment he thought that he had quite a bit of help. Even if they caught scent of another and summoned him, it would still be easier than the persistent pacing he needed to do now. 'I will see.'
