Defying Gravity [open]

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An idle mind is the devil's playground. That was the saying, wasn't it? Of course, Kuva didn't entirely see what was so bad about that - 'the devil' could come up with such interesting ideas!

Although the fae had spent most of her life on Tas'alea, she had never bothered much with the Geysers of Nysm. Delia Basin was a much better hunting ground and the Aleisul Crossing was much more beautiful in her opinion. She had never really been one to stop and admire scenery, but the vast blue waters of the ocean had captivated her from the first she saw them. Even the jungle to the south had always been much more entertaining. Of course she avoided spending her nights in the dangerous brush if she could, but at times it could be so much fun to stir up the baboon troops that resided there or try and catch a spider monkey that had perched itself on a branch just a bit too close to the ground. Although the danger of the scorching water was exciting in a way, Kuva had never found any incentive for spending her time at the geysers.

Until today.

The young wolf was crouched low to the ground, body tense and ready to spring into action in a second. Her ears were folded back against her head, streamlining her form as she took a slow, cautious step forward. From behind the minimal cover of a dead bush, she waited, eyes sweeping through the geyser field for her target. She had seen it around here somewhere... Ah! There you are!

Gleaming brown and black feathers came into view as a small weka bird slowly made it's way around a fallen tree. The bird's movements seemed as cautious as Kuva's, if not more so. Its head swiveled around nervously, completely missing the she-wolf's presence, and Kuva couldn't help but smirk. It had good reason to be afraid. While wandering earlier, she had unintentionally flushed the bird out of its hiding spot and it had gone running in the direction of the geyser fields. And suddenly, the idea struck her like a ton of bricks.

The weka was a flightless bird. It seemed like such a crime in her eyes - birds were meant to be in the sky! The poor weka was missing out on something magical for sure. But maybe with some luck, she could teach the unfortunate weka a thing or two about flying. With a little help from the geysers, of course! It was taking plenty of patience, as she'd been carefully herding the bird around the fields who knew how long already, but she was so eager to see the result that time was no object. Besides, things had been pretty boring the last few days and she had finally found something to entertain her!

As the bird carefully trotted into the open, it faced a small dip in the earth surrounded by cracks which Kuva recognized as one of the smaller, less conspicuous geysers. Hopefully, the weka wouldn't recognize it. If she could position it just right, then maybe...

Kuva moved further behind the pathetic bush and grabbed a branch between her jaws, giving the thing a gentle rustle before letting it fall completely still. Looking through it, she could barely make out the figure of the weka, frozen on the spot and staring almost accusingly at the bush. It didn't seem to realize she was there yet, but it had been spooked enough to start jogging in the direction of the dip. Yes... The bird did a small hop into the dip and paused again to scope its surroundings. Yes...! Everything was perfect as the familiar gurgling sound of a geyser preparing to spew up reached Kuva's sensitive ears. An excited grin took hold of her features and the she-wolf couldn't help but wag her tail slightly. She quietly shifted her form around the bush to get a better view. It was going to happen! Yes!!!

From between the cracks, a small splurge of water and steam was pushed up into the air. It was nothing special compared to what the larger formations could perform, and if she had to guess, the trail of water was probably no taller than she was. But it was a direct hit, and the force of the water combined with the extra power of the steam was enough to send the flightless bird another foot or two higher than the blast. Kuva didn't bother masking her presence and let out a triumphant laugh as the thing let out a wretched squawk. She watched, tail wagging furiously now, as it spun slightly in the air, powerless wings flapping desperately, but in vain.

Finally the bird landed head first on the hard earth, feathers awry and steaming. It was still, save for the barely visible rise and fall of its chest. The devious she-wolf padded casually over, grin wider than ever, but the little weka still didn't attempt to flee. "Oh, poor little birdy! Was flying for the first time that amazing? Are you in shock now?" she cooed, using a paw to roll the bird on the ground a couple of times. Still, it didn't respond and Kuva shrugged.

Well, I guess I ought to stop playing with my food now, hm? The bird gave a weak screech, seeming to come to at last, but it was too late. In one fluid motion, Kuva had snapped the bird's neck, putting it out of its misery. Now, to find a place to enjoy the spoils.

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Words: 962
ooc: ...idk man :I

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On an expedition to locate both the pack's alpha and, at the same time, trying to recover some of the bodies of the fallen, the Vashti beta wandered south of Vor'asa, intent on finding Darius and bringing him back to the pack once more. It was unlike their alpha to disappear for long stretches of time like this. Indeed, it seemed so abnormal that Maglor felt the need to go after him. Darius would not abandon his pack, particularly in a time of crisis. Though things were settling back into normalcy, there was still much that needed to be sorted out and repaired before they would be back to their former glory. Maglor was mostly just pleased that nothing became of his sister and that she was still nestled away safely in the dens. Melethiel served as a warning to the remainder of the pack of the dangers that rested all over Tas'alea. Having grown up on the island, they were not out of the ordinary for Maglor. However, many seemed to underestimate the strength of the animals that prowled the southern jungles. There was danger around every corner, and sometimes those predators found themselves a little too far south for the beta's liking. He held a strong disdain for the large cats, based solely on the injuries his sister still bore to this very day. Being angry with them would never bring back Mel's sight, but Maglor would always feel responsible for not protecting her like he should have done.

As the Kenai Peninsula male strolled into the loner lands of Tas'alea, he could hear the crooning of another wolf from not too far off. Interested to see just who would be out in the open in mid-day, Maglor trotted in that direction, drawing close to one of the larger geysers and poking his head around. What he saw was both amusing and surprising. A tiny wolf - at least, tiny in comparison to himself - was poking at one of the weka birds. They had always made easy prey, but this wolf seemed to be enjoying herself a little too much at having conquered the bird. The wekas were what his mother and father had originally used to teach him to hunt. In comparison to a wolf, not only were they smaller, but they were much slower and not as agile. They were easy to hunt and could also be wounded so as to make an even simpler target for the pups to practice their skills. A smirk spread across the male's muzzle as he let out a short yip, alerting the female to his presence before trotting toward her, his body language that of a relaxed, non-confrontational companion. Here, he was not the beta of Vashti. In the loner lands, his rank held no power, and he was not prepared to call rank on some strange female wandering the island.

The closer Maglor drew to the female, the more amazed he became. Never before had he seen such a tiny wolf. He was more than double her height and probably twice her weight as well. From a distance, Maglor believed it to simply be perspective. But up closer, he could tell that this was one of the daintiest wolves that nature ever created. Perhaps that was why she did not use typical hunting methods to kill the weka. Maybe they were still a little much for her to handle, particularly with her... size impairment. A smirk spread across the male's lips as he literally had to stare directly down to look the female in the eye. It had been quite some time before something amused Maglor so quickly.

"My, my, little wolf. I hope you enjoy that meal," he crooned with a laugh. A smile spread across the Kenai brute's lips as his brown eyes met the female's like-colored eyes. She was so small and breakable! How could a wolf like this survive in Tas'alea? There was so much danger here, and she did not resemble any of the wolves Maglor knew growing up. If it weren't for the similar body structure, he would not have even believed this female to be a wolf. She was like a midget. Maglor had been that size once... When he was around six months old. Perhaps her growth had been stunted somehow and her size was not her fault. Maybe she would take offense to his teasing about how little she was. Perhaps he was going to hurt her feelings with his words.

"I'm sorry, that was thoughtless. I am Maglor. What is your name?" he greeted in a much more friendly tone, the amusement and laughter gone. Well, they were not truly gone, but Maglor buried them away for a later date. There was more than enough time left in the day to make size jokes. He was technically on a mission, but this wolf was far too interesting to leave alone. Was she really from Tas'alea, or was a stranger who had come across from the land bridge? She seemed so... breakable for Tas'alea's harsh environment. Was it really safe for her to be here? The sense of concern Maglor felt was sudden and akin to that he felt toward his own sister. Even though he did not know this wolf, he had an urge to protect her. Maybe this was the real reason that he was destined to be the beta of Darius's pack. While Darius brought fear and submission to the females, he brought a sense of hope and a promise of protection. They balanced each other out, and now his leader had gone missing. Where in the world could Darius have gone?

Word Count: 945 words
Tags: @kuva
Notes: Sorry if this is a little on the rambling side. Maglor is just surprised to see a "tiny" wolf... XD

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Sharp teeth grasped the weka's bent neck tenderly, ensuring not a single drop of blood would spill. The game had been entertaining, but now that Kuva was coming down from her playful high, reality was rushing back to her. The bird hadn't made a true racket, but Kuva was familiar with the jungle cats that could wander the area - yet another reason why she didn't frequent the geyser fields. The squawks it had made could harness their attention, and if not, then the scent of fresh blood would. Of course, she had no reason to believe she wouldn't be able to slink out of the area undisturbed, but better to play it safe rather than sorry, right? Before she could vacate, however, a short yip resonated across the field and Kuva felt her head snap up in it's direction.

A large brute was strolling easily towards her, as if he didn't have a care in the world. At first, she ignored his size. Most wolves tended to be large in her eyes, after all. What did this brute want, then? Had he mistaken her for someone else? Was he out to swipe her bird? Or was his character even more... unsavory? A twinge of anxiety struck the she-wolf as he drew closer and she was able to appreciate his size properly. Kuva was used to being dwarfed, but this male - he was a monster! She eyed him wearily, her tail giving a nervous twitch, but otherwise managing to keep her body relaxed.

Stay calm and cool, now. Don't trust him, but don't fear him. she told herself, and steadily she felt the anxiety melt away. Kuva had nothing to fear from this brute, surely. She was suspicious of his amiable entrance - a cunning wolf could fake their intentions quite easily, a trade she had plenty of experience in. But if he did prove to be hazardous, well... she had managed to slip out of a jam unharmed before. She could do it again. And if he turned out to be as easy as he seemed, then she had nothing to fear anyway.

Kuva dropped the weka, the tension she felt before having dissipated, and when she looked back up the stranger was right in front of her, his massive form towering over hers. Peering into his dark orbs, she would say he seemed amused by something, but before Kuva could make a comment, the male spoke up. ... So, he found her size that laughable, did he? Though the fae didn't see the humor in his words, she gave out her best self-conscious giggle, figuring she'd play along for now. Though she really wanted to tell him that so far she found his smile to be brighter than he was, the brute was practically twice her size. Feigning to be friendly for now would probably be in her best interest.

"Well, I'm sure it would be different for someone of your... altitude," she hummed, a smile to match his appearing on her maw, "But I'd have you know that for someone like me, this bird is practically a feast!" She puffed her chest up to jest at indignant pride, before letting another, more relaxed laugh rattle her vocals.

"Ah, don't fret over it. I was always the small one in my family, so I'm used to such things by now," she replied with a dismissive shrug. In truth, she really was used to it. But that wasn't to say that it didn't get old at times. Though for the most part she wasn't self-conscious about her size, hearing the same jokes over and over again could be... grating, to say the least. "Maglor, hmm?" Kuva let the name roll off her tongue, as if tasting it. "...Interesting. My name is Kuva. I must say you had me worried, Maglor, but... you seem pleasant enough. It's a pleasure to meet you!" she returned his greeting by beaming softly up at the brute. Emphasis on the seem.

The Mexican Wolf wracked her brain to see if she could remember hearing of a Maglor before. Loners on Tas'alea were few and far between - the island offered more dangerous predators, so many who came quickly retreated across the land bridge once more - but the ones that she ran into she made sure to remember. She couldn't recall hearing of a Maglor from any of them, and she would certainly remember meeting such a cowing character as he was. Was he new? Or could he belong to the Vashti? As much as she was tempted to explore the unknown packlands, she didn't have a death wish, and so she had never acted upon the fancy. Thus, she had never interacted with the pack wolves, and honestly the only things she knew of them were the basics. A militaristic pack ruled by a wolf dubbed as Darius; the other loners tended to avoid them and so she had followed suit. Kuva tilted her head slightly at the male in front of her, genuinely curious.

"If I may ask, are you... new to the island? There aren't many loners who choose to stay on Tas'alea, but I know most of the ones who do. I've never heard them mention your name before, though." she inquired cautiously. Some wolves could be touchy about their pasts and the last thing she wanted was to upset this towering stranger.

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Words: 943
Tags: @maglor
ooc: That's perfectly fine! And sorry if it's not a whole lot to respond to or something kjdahfaslk bad muse tonight ;A;

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Well, at least the tiny wolf did not seem hostile... That was always a bonus. Maglor watched with mock surprise as the female not only responded to him, but laughed in turn. A smile spread infectiously to the beta male as well; he could not help but be amused by the entire situation. "Altitude, hmm? That is most certainly a new one. I might have to use that sometime."

The Kenai Peninsula male laughed heartily as the female introduced herself as Kuva. He dipped his head in a kind greeting, nodding in acknowledgement of her words. There were not many loners on the island that the chose to interact with, so it was not a surprise to him that she was not familiar of the Vashti Pack and its beta male. However, he had recently been all over Tas'alea in search of the pack and his former packmates of the southern pack, yet not once had he encountered the dainty little wolf before him. It was interesting how fate seemed to bring wolves together whose lives should have crossed many times before, yet not once had they encountered one another.

"It is not me that you will need to worry about. However, I caution you that, with the recent events, the island is in chaos. Those who typically choose to restrain themselves to the pack lands are running rampant, including some of the rogues that stayed hidden away in the southern jungles. Keep alert, because if you are running into me, there is a chance that I am not the only one around," he cautioned Kuva, his legitimate concern for the smaller wolf almost palpable. He was never one to wish harm on anyone; his fierce loyalties laid with his family, of course, but something about this tiny wolf made him want to protect her. But Darius would never approve of bringing her into Vashti. She was much too small, too fragile, and too much of a hazard to bring into their male-dominated pack. Maglor would never want Kuva to be subjected to that environment, either. It was too harsh of an existence for many.

It was no surprised that he intimidated the other wolf; it was a common reaction, particularly because even the harshest Dire Wolf of Tas'alea paled in comparison to him in size. He may not have been an aggressive type, but he had intimidation behind him, and that often served its purpose. Kuva did not seemed too intimidated to him once they settled into a little polite conversation, though he could still see a little tenseness in her body that was bound to remain. He was no wolf to be trifled with, that was for sure.

"You would not have heard of me from the loners, Kuva. I am the beta of Vashti, the northern pack. I'm currently searching for our alpha, Darius, who seems to have vanished once more. I wonder if he took it upon himself to investigate the land bridge to the east. I have been dying to venture that way and investigate myself," he admitted with a slight smirk. Surely there could not be too much danger awaiting them on the other side. His curiosity was killing him, and if heading east would be what it took to locate Darius, he would do it. He had sworn his loyalty to Darius and Vashti, and he needed to do whatever it took to ensure that the pack remained in tact. However, perhaps his duty obligated him to remain at the pack lands until the alpha male returned. Surely he would not have left permanently; Darius had such a strong leader's instinct that it would be unfathomable.

However, what Kuva said piqued the beta's interest. How long had she been here on Tas'alea? She was much stranger than any other wolf Maglor encountered, and nothing like her existed in Vashti. That pack was as old as the dirt they claimed as pack lands, so it was surprising to the Kenai Peninsula brute that he would never have encountered a min-wolf, other than the Honshus running around Tas'alea, such as this. Her coat looked much thinner than the mostly thick-coated Tas wolves, and she was leaner and leggier than anything Maglor had ever seen. "Kuva, just how long have you been in Tas'alea? Did you come across the land bridge?"

That would certainly explain things better for Maglor. Perhaps there was an entire different world of wolves waiting out there for them to explore and claim. Maybe this was not the end of their pack after all, and instead of the fire being a curse, it was actually a blessing in disguise...

Word Count: 777 Words

Tags: @kuva

Notes: I'm sorry I took so long to respond to this. I suck XD

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It was strange. Though she still had her reservations - It's dangerous to trust others. - Kuva also couldn't force herself to believe that Maglor was the deceptive type. When he said that he was nothing to worry about, she strangely found herself swayed. He seemed to be more of the 'honest and noble' sort than of her ilk. Mind games didn't fit him - or at least, that was her current impression. What's more was they were utter strangers, but for some reason that Kuva could not quite wrap her head around, when he spoke of the dangers of the land he seemed... concerned.Genuinely concerned. For her.

The thought was a perplexing one, and the little she-wolf couldn't help but give the enormous male before her a puzzled look. Why would someone she barely knew worry for her safety? None of the others she'd ever come across had. In fact, in her experience, most of them seemed to either be overly fearful (and my, could those ones be barrels of fun!) or overly aggressive (about as fun as a swarm of pirahna). Now that she thought on it, she hadn't felt concern for another since... well, her family. And no one had been around to feel concerned for her, either. It felt... strange to be on the receiving end of it again.

"...Is it my size that has you taking pity on me? Or are you really one of those 'big, friendly giants' one hears stories about as a pup?" she spoke quietly, a slight teasing lilt to her voice. Kuva had not lived long, and so far her life had been a rather harsh one, but she had made it through many ups and downs. So the world around her was becoming more chaotic - she would adapt and survive, just as she always had.

"I appreciate the warning, and your... concern. But I've been on my own for most of my short life, and I know how the game is played. I've had run ins with all types - even the nastier ones. Though I could never hope to be as intimidating as you when it comes to dealing with them, I have my methods," at this, she allowed herself to give him a confident smirk before adding,"We smaller creatures have to find our own ways to survive when the big, bad wolves of the world come knocking."

The she wolf quieted as Maglor explained his status. So she had indeed found herself in the presence of a pack wolf. Beta of the infamous Vashti, no less. Fantastic. she thought, grimacing inwardly. Well, if his size hadn't been enough to ward off her usual antics, the knowledge that he had a gang of cronies backing him certainly did. Falling back on her haunches, Kuva took her eyes off the male for a moment and stared down at her bird pensively, taking in the new information.

It was expected that the Vashti would be affected in some way by the island's current state of upheavel. A missing alpha was strange, though. She'd heard stories of Darius, but she hadn't taken him to be the flighty sort - in order for a pack to thrive, they needed a steady leader, didn't they? But perhaps she was judging the situation too quickly. Leaders needed a break too, she supposed. She perked up once again as her new acquaintance directed a question towards her. Blinking, the young loner moved her gaze to the south towards the distant treeline, a comforting breeze caressing her for a moment.

"I've been on the land bridge a few times, but I've never crossed it completely. Never had the guts to leave, I guess. Tas'alea is dangerous, but it is my home. I was born just that way, on the Ridge of Vesirtin. It would feel strange to leave it all so far behind." Though it was true that the curiosity killed her at times, she had never done anything more than pace around on the far end of the bridge before turning back. Usually she would jump at the opportunity to explore something new, but for some reason she hadn't been able to make the plunge yet.

Glancing back at Maglor, she grinned up at him once more. "I'm going to guess you're a native yourself if you've been on the bridge. But how can that be? I would've thought that such a thing would have been investigated immediately. Do you really not venture out of your packlands that often?"

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Words: 757
Tags: @maglor
ooc: Sorry if this one is rushed or if there's mistakes. I just wanted to get something up for you finally really quick.