You Better Work (claiming, open)

[Deleted]

After Yahvi's little conversation at the lake here in Tiayr, Yahvi decided that it was time. It was time for Anikira to be afriad. She marched up to the top of one of the hills. Her children were following somewhere behind. Her little pups followed her like little ducklings everywhere she went. It was wonderful. She had raised them exactly the way she wanted and they trusted her with their lives. Of course, why would a mother kill her own young? She had no plans on disposing of them today. It would have been a waste of two years of training and raising them to be cold assassins. She held her head high and her tail was in an ever raised position. The butchy female knew she wasn't pretty and delicate and she counted that as a blessing. She had blessed her daughters with the same largeness. One of her daughters was 175 pounds at least. Beautiful.

The reason she had come here to this place was that her three kids just weren't enough anymore. The amounts of wolves needing to be disposed of far surpassed the capabilities of the four family members. Besides, they needed more to not get caught. Everyone had their own killing style but if the same four kept showing up everywhere, they would be caught. She knew that the other wolves didn't see the light like she and her children did. They would try and kill them. They would rather have the island overrun by wolves who would pass on weak genes and weaken the whole species! It was pathetic the way they saw things. How could they be so blind?

She stood tall and proud as she sniffed the air. Preparing to howl for followers. She was actually out in the day light for once. Normally, she slept during the day and was more active at night. She and her children were rather nocturnal but today they needed to be out when it was light and active. She needed wolves to respond to the call she was about to make. They would not stay in the same area for long. After today, she and whoever responded will be moving out of this area and to somewhere new. She needed her "pack" to be hidden and forgotten. She didn't want anyone talking about Osani. She didn't want them to know it existed. On the outside, they would appear and a peaceful and harmless pack and only it's members would know the truth that went on behind closed doors.

She tilted her head back and let out a strong and powerful howl. One you would expect from an alpha male and not a female. "Come and follow me and I shall make you great," the call said. A vague promise but a promise nonetheless. What she really meant was "come and follow me and I shall make myself great through you" but, it was close enough. She didn't want the other packs that heard her call to know what was going on. She had to keep everything vague. All the other packs needed to know was a new pack was forming and that was it.

Yahvi knew that her life was about to change as her call ended. She stood and waited for wolves to come to her calling. How could anyone resist such an offer? A devilish smile grew on her face as she overlooked the hills and planned her next move.

[Deleted]

A brightly-colored form moved along the ground with swiftness and silence. It would appear that she floated; her paws only barely touching the ground. She was used to constantly being silent, or dancing on her toes when practicing a fight. The wind danced along the ground, floating leaves into the air, and swirling them about. The fall season was just beginning, and the transition was dry air, crisp, in fact, with a few breezes. The sky was blue, light blue, and the sun shown upon the terrain. The dancing white form began to slow as she reached the edges of the Nyjoro Hills. She watched a bulky white form climb the hills that ranged from bumps to small mountains.

Chuckling dryly to herself, Zaida followed the white form at a slower rate, her strides much more graceful. She knew that her mother cared not a wit about her appearance, or how she carried herself, other than looking dominant, but Zaida did care. Her quick and intelligent mind told her that carriage and appearance was everything, especially when you wanted to look a certain way. Out of the four adult wolves that made their way through the hills in Tiayr, Zaida retained the most of her mind. She was the most sane. If her views weren't so twisted, she could actually be considered sane. However, Atoyo, her brother, was mostly ruled by his constant paranoia. Most often, this paranoia would be manifested as anger. However, Zaida didn't fear her brother, and provoked him very often. They were quite evenly matched in battle, even though Zaida was almost half her brother's height, and five pounds heavier. Because they were evenly matched, and total opposites mentally, Zaida could fend for herself. She also knew, but didn't trust, that her brother would never really harm her. He actually cared for her under the paranoia, and she saw that through his unnecessary protectiveness of her. This protectiveness of Atoyo's was seen as an annoyance in Zaida's eyes. She could protect herself. She wasn't the heaviest, best--in her eyes--assassin in the family for no reason. She was proud of this strength, and of her abilities. She had worked long and very hard to attain the precision and swiftness that she had attained. She had also worked hard to lose all emotion, although this was probably greatly helped by the fact that she grew up constantly suffering from her mother's 'cold shoulder' and her siblings' taunting. She still competed constantly with her siblings, and saw them as such, but not for the reasons that one would suppose. She didn't compete for her mother's affection, for she didn't care whether or not she received it. Rather, she competed for her title, name, and reputation.

And now, as she climbed a rather large hill, in the middle of the Nyjoro Hills, she couldn't help a smirk escaping onto her lips. She watched as her mother smiled, threw her head back, and howled viciously into the sky. She had said, Come, follow me, and I shall make you great. Zaida wasn't fooled. She knew the real intent of her mother, but she also knew that her mother really just wanted to make a name for herself. She didn't care if anyone remembered the names of her children or followers, so long as they remembered hers. But she had raised her children to see through her eyes, and had unintentionally--Zaida was sure--also taught them to think in this way. She had at least passed that information on to Zaida. Zaida could care less about anyone else, even her own family, so long as her own name was remembered. If, in the end, she had to kill her mother, or either of her siblings, to make that happen, it would. A rather large smile plastered the lips of the wolfess, and she turned her head to her left. This is gonna be good, Atoyo. I can't wait to see who turns up. I call first dibs on anyone who shows up that we have to kill. I can't wait to taste their blood...

Word Count: 714
OOC: This is gonna be fun (:< I can't wait for the first person to reply to the call!

[Deleted]

The young brute's jaw parted in a small yawn as he trudged up a large, grassy hill as the large autumn sun blazed on above him. He was following his Arctic mother, and his sisters, Zaida and Far, were following as well. Atoyo and his family normally would have been sound asleep at this time of day in one of their temporary dens. The canine was practically nocturnal. He slept during the day, then awoke after the sun had made its descend to travel to a new part of the continent. He and his sisters and mother, Yahvi, could not stay in the same place for lengthy periods of time because of their unique and risky lifestyles. The four wolves dedicated their lives to the purpose of picking off the weak and deformed canines that polluted Anikira's bloodlines. In Atoyo's mind, if they weren't around to do the job, nobody would have the courage to step up and do it themselves, and weak excuses for wolves would dominate the population. He took pride in his family's work and admired Yahvi for being the wolf to discover how important it was to eliminate any and all canines who showed any weakness in order to prevent them from breeding.

As his drowsy brown eyes watched his beloved mother halt at the top of the towering hill about twenty yards ahead of him, his adrenaline started pumping through his veins. The male gained a sudden burst of new energy because he knew what was coming. His black tail wagged furiously as he trotted up the side of the hill. Just as he reached the slightly more level ground at the top, his mother's confident howl rang in his audits. She was calling out to any nearby wolves who wanted to join their mission. A small grin stretched itself onto Atoyo's muzzle in reaction to her cleverness. The way she had kept her claiming howl so vague, no canine would ever suspect the type of activity that her new pack, Osani, would be taking part in. For some reason, other wolves tended to disagree with he and his family's beliefs. The black male could not seem to wrap his head around the reasons why some canines were so incredibly stupid in that way.

The half Arctic, half Grey brute approached his mother and sister, Zaida, with a new determination and feeling of importance in his steady-paced walk. His eyes darted rapidly from left to right, checking for any nearby predators. At the same time, the brute sniffed the chilly autumn air. He did not spot any enemies in the surrounding hills, nor did he detect any suspicious scents. Atoyo's paranoia had only increased as he got older and more aware of the dangers that lurked on the continent. He did a decent job of hiding away this part of him from others, thinking that it could be seen as a weakness, but he was nearly positive that the other members of his family also had small cases of paranoia to some extent. It came with their duty to kill and not be seen. Next, Atoyo directed a respectful nod towards Yahvi, showing that he appreciated what she was now doing. Then, turning to his white colored sister who had "called dibs" on the first wolf who showed up that they would have to kill, the male gave a small smirk. "No way. Whoever gets to the ugly bastard first should be the one to end it's pathetic life," he answered slyly back to Zaida in a low voice, half teasing and half serious. He loved the feeling that accompanied the action of ending the life of a wolf. His reddish brown eyes gleamed evilly with excitement. He had never killed in the middle of daylight before, never been able to see the thick, red blood trickle onto the ground so clearly. Just the thought of it caused a quiet rumble of an excited growl in the back of the male's throat. 'Yes, Zaida, this IS going to be good...'

words :: 688
tags :: @yahvi @zaida
muse :: not great. sorry this post isn't the best. it should get better as the thread moves along.
notes :: so, I was just wondering, I doubt that anyone is going to come into this thread planning on having their character killed. If we wanted to, could we npc a wolf who for some reason needed to be killed? Maybe after one or two potential members show up? Just a thought <3

[Deleted]

Come and follow me, and I shall make you great...

The distant melody of a howl scattered birds from the treetops. It seemed to change the very tremor of the autumn wind which snaked through the knolls and rolling dales of the Nyjoro Hills. The afternoon was warm, the sunlight honey-colored against the patchy, dying grass. There were few clouds in the sky, and those that hung around in puffy, white cotton-clumps held no promise of rainshowers. The day was thoroughly mild.

Along the curve of a hill crouched Djinkka, her enormous, black form obvious against the flat and earth-colored slopes of the environment. She remained perfectly still, her only subtle movements the rippling of her fur as the wind brushed by and the slight, twitching oscillations of her pale yellow eyes. Her gaze was latched on a large prey animal, grazing in the grass some ten yards away. In spite of the predatory disadvantages of her size and color, it hadn't noticed her yet.

At nearly three feet tall and over five long, her dark fur loosely blanketing her thick musculature, Djinkka's affairs in hunting were often short and sweet. It was the stalking, the cornering of her prey that took some time and effort. The benefits of her size and strength were leveled out by her plodding gait and general clumsiness. She was not an agile wolf. When it came to flight or fight, she was cornered by nature into choosing the latter.

The howl pierced the tension of the situation, breaking Djinkka's concentration and startling her intended capture. As the creature bounded away in the opposite direction, she turned her head toward the direction of the sound and peered curiously into the distance. Her interest was considerably piqued. She knew the Tiayr territory well from over a year of solitary exploration -- she knew that there were no established packs within its boundaries.

Yet this howl was a howl of authority. It was the howl of an Alpha. With a mounting inward excitement, she wondered if a new pack was taking shape within the confines of her home territory. She had long been wrestling with the question of whether to seek acceptance in a pack. Coming from a broken home, pack life appealed to her on many accounts. She was keen to the idea of a collective brotherhood, a sort of familiar bond which tethered pack members together. She had never known friendship; she'd hardly known family. The concept of a pack both amazed and intrigued her.

Still, she had her reservations. Fear of rejection had, until now, kept her from actively searching out a pack to join. She didn't need to see her own reflection to know that she was a fright to other wolves: huge in height and length, solidly made of muscle -- naturally intimidating. Even her most passive of expressions seemed to always be mistaken for antagonism. Would any Alpha hear her out, let alone accept her into his ranks? Would her new packmates accept her differences? For much of her life, it had seemed as though she would never find out.

Yet the howl was promising -- an invitation, it seemed, directed solely at her. What other evidence did she need that this was fate? Djinkka rose to full height, eyes on the hills. She took a few steps forward. Then, a few more. She began at a walk which soon broke into a run. She rushed through the hills, between them, pushing against the current of the autumn breeze as she hurried to meet her fate. Her heart beat rapidly as she imagined what might be waiting for her. This could be the day. If they accept you, it will be a new start. Maybe they won't run from you. Maybe they will like you and use you as a hunter. If they accept you, do anything they ask you to.

The silhouette of three large wolves at the peak of the highest hill slowed her run. Djinkka hesitated; the sight of wolves brought back a sense of reality, and she immediately began to have second thoughts. The second thoughts flooded her brain and a wave of anxiety washed over her. She was inclined to race back off into the distance before they could notice her.

But, in all probability, they had noticed her already. She was not easy to miss, and though the direction of the wind masked her scent, her galloping around had probably stirred up more than enough noise to alert them.

Her fate sealed, she drew herself up with as much confidence as she could muster, and with uncertain feet she approached Yahvi and her kin.

[Deleted]

With two of her children by her, Yahvi took the time to think of how she would use them in the upcoming events. Her beautiful daughter Zaida had a feminine quality about her that made her irresistible to many males however, she knew the rules about breeding. Females were allowed to breed outside of the pack but only with permission from the queen herself. Failure to do so would end in extreme consequences and should the pups be weak, they will be destroyed. She knew she could use her daughter to seduce the male half of the population into her trap. However sometimes she worried that her daughter cared too much about her appearances and would be defeated in battle by a stronger wolf and maybe even have her life taken from her. She needed to concentrate more on her work and less on her beauty. Her daughter had the skill and the tools that she needed but whether she would take advantage of those things would have to be up to her.

Her son followed closely behind his sister. The young male reminded her of the male who had raped her two years ago. Her son was stronger than that male though, thanks to her. Her son was large and strong and efficient in battle. His killings were getting cleaner and cleaner with every one and he was leaving less evidence behind with every mission. She couldn't say she was surprised. With a mother like herself teaching him and his sisters everything they knew, how could they fail? Her son was also a paranoid fellow. She didn't consider herself to be paranoid she was only being careful. She also knew that she had more control over Atoyo than she had over Zaida. Zaida was smart and ruthless. She knew that someday she may have to fight her daughter and destroy her should she become too out of line. She wouldn't allow her operation to be ruined by her child. However, Atoyo was protective of herself and his sisters. He would stay with her forever, and should that be true, his loyalty may be rewarded.

Where her last child was, she didn't know. However, if they did not get here quickly, Yahvi would have to punish her. She knew the importance of staying together and should she choose to break her rules, she must accept the consequences.

The two children that she had here though seemed ready to kill. She smirked as her children spoke of killing any weak wolf who dared to show themselves to her face. That was one aspect of this pack calling she hadn't thought of (though she won't admit that). Any wolf who didn't pass her inspection would be eliminated and this way she wouldn't have to take the time to seek them out. "Be still, children." She said to them in a calm and quiet voice. "Mother will decide who is fit to live and who should die." Yahvi referred to herself as "mother." Her children knew not to call her by her given name for that was disrespectful. It also set a maternal feeling and made her children feel as if they could trust her. She had kept them safe and sound for two years and she could do it for many more, if she wanted to. But the name "mother" had other purposes as well. It put her children back in their places, under her. Sometimes they needed to be reminded that she had birthed them and raised them and taught them everything. Yahvi did nothing without reason and the name "mother" was no different.

After a few more moments, Yahvi heard a rusting in the dying grass. It sounded like a wolf was approaching however she couldn't smell anything on the wolf yet so any information about the approaching wolf was hidden. However, the closer the wolf got, the better Yahvi could distinguish characteristics. It smelled like a female and it also smelled of sweat. The female must have been running or hunting or something before rushing to her call. The female soon came into view and Yahvi liked the size she was seeing. This female was certainly not weak in body. Her son was of breeding age now and she had been looking for a potential breeding partner for him. Males were not allowed to breed outside of the pack to make sure the pups stayed with her. She examined the wolfess as she came closer. Yahvi remained in the same position, not fearing the wolf approaching. She could handle whatever meager attempts at an attack that the other female could muster. "What is your name?" Yahvi asked her, careful to keep her tone inviting. She didn't want to scare away anyone too quickly. This was all part of the game and if this female could answer her questions correctly and pass her physical examination, she looked like an Osani member to her.

[Deleted]

Black audits swiveled to catch the sound of approaching paws. They were not far behind hers. They were not graceful, but neither were they ungraceful. They were right in between the Arctic's plodding gate, and the half-breed's angelic one. Green eyes sparkled with feigned excitement. Her ears twitched in feigned anticipation. No emotion coursed through the white bodice. She was not apathetic; she simply felt no emotion. No anticipation shot through her muscles; no adrenaline pumped through her veins; no excitement sent her heart racing. However, Zaida feigned all of these things. She knew that her family would see through it all. But that was not the point. She was not trying to fool them. She knew that they knew that Osani was her life, and that she would not veer from it, even though she never felt any emotion. They would never doubt her; they would never think that she would leave: because she wouldn't. The wolfess was simply trying to fool the newcomers. She wanted them to believe that she was excited about her pack, so that they would be excited. She wanted them to believe that she felt fervor for the pack's mission, so that they would feel fervor for it. Even after they found out that she was emotionless, which would be in the far future, as Zaida could effortlessly keep a mask in place for a very long time, without common thoughts to distract her, they would still believe that she felt this way. They would have witnessed her ruthless assassinations, and her constant obedience, without hesitation, to her mother. They would believe that she was loyal to her mother, her pack, and their mission, even if they later learned that she felt no emotion.


Zaida smirked devilishly as her brother responded to her words. No way. Whoever gets to the ugly bastard first should be the one to end it's pathetic life. He was half-teasing and half-serious, as the wolfess quickly picked up. Zaida knew that it would really be her mother who would decide who would pick off the weakling, if one ever showed it's ugly face here. She would probably notice it, narrow her eyes, and then speak one word: a name. She would pick one name, one of her children, to show the other wolves that were joining the pack what they had come for. And then, if another one came, she might ask one of the newcomers to show themselves capable by killing it off themselves. Zaida's mouth watered as she thought about tasting the blood. No matter who killed it, should one appear, Zaida had already decided that she would make a meal of it. She hadn't eaten in too long, instead focusing all of her energies upon sharpening her senses, and her fighting tactics. She had made a killing, but had not partaken of the wolf, as her mother had commanded her to leave it to be found whole. Now, she was ravenous, and she licked her chops. Atoyo's eyes gleamed with genuine excitement, and if Zaida had been able to feel emotion, her body would have been pulsing in anticipation. None of the family members had ever made their assassinations in broad daylight, and should the opportunity arise today, it would be a bloody affair. It would not be messy, but it would be glorious.

Zaida's audits picked up the low, excited growl that rumbled in her brother's throat. Be still, children. Yahvi commanded quietly. Mother will decide who is fit to live and who should die. Zaida imagined Atoyo rolling his eyes. Uh-duh she could imagine him thinking. Of course. Their mother had always decided who would live and who would die. None of the children had ever sought to make that decision on their own--not yet.

And then, Zaida's sensitive audits picked up the faintest noise. She knew that she would notice the sound first, not because she had better hearing, but because her thoughts would never distract her. She was therefore able to pick up a noise about two or three seconds before anyone else, even her own family. They would only notice once it was loud enough to pull them from their thoughts. The approaching creature was a wolf, and it was running. Of that, Zaida was certain, although the wind was dead, and she therefore picked up no scent. When the wolf was close, just far enough away to remain out of eyesight, she stopped abruptly. Zaida's audits swiveled, catching the sound of her slowing breath and heartbeat. The wolf hesitated, of that Zaida was sure. Weak. Zaida smirked mirthlessly. And then, the wolf approached. No one would notice her hesitation; Zaida had only noticed it herself because of her capacity to predict other wolves' behaviors. Even by sounds and lack of sound, she could do this. The approaching wolf was huge, probably weighing as much as Atoyo, or maybe even as much as Zaida. She was mostly black, with some white and other dark colors scattered over her pelt. Zaida smiled. The wolfess, as Zaida soon scented, look very similar to her brother. And Zaida knew that Yahvi must be thinking of the two mating. Both were quite large, and strong, and black. All three qualities were amazing. The coat color would enable the pups, who would probably inherit it, to easily stay concealed in the blackness of night. Her pale yellow eyes and Atoyo's brown ones would combine easily as well. Yahvi's voice rang out with clarity, as she asked the female invitingly for her name. This was a test. It was all a test. And Zaida smiled cruelly at the female as she waited for her to respond. She would either pass the test and live, or she would fail the test and die. Black, or white. It was all so clear.

Word Count: 1016
Tags: @yahvi @atoyo Far @djinkka
OOC: I'm so excited! > ALSO: I think we really should have at least two NPC wolves who get killed. One that one of Yahvi's children kill, and then at least one that one of the newcomers must kill as part of the test. Tell me what you think!!

[Deleted]

Atoyo's audits swiveled at the sound of his mother's quiet, commanding words. He already knew that he was not of the authority to choose which wolves should die and which should live. He would usually attempt to determine the fate of any given canine inside of his brain, making calculations based on size, mentality, and physical strength. These assumptions would either be confirmed or denied by Yahvi, who was all in all the queen of the small brood. She would either command one of her children to kill the disgrace of a wolf, do the deed herself, or allow a capable wolf to live on and reproduce. That was most likely what would occur today. If a weak minded animal appeared in response to his mother's howl, one of the four wolves would have no choice but to end its life. The command would come from Yahvi's maw as either 'Atoyo,' 'Zaida,' or 'Far.'

Speaking of his smallest sister, Far, Atoyo had absolutely no idea of her whereabouts. The masculine wolf was almost certain that she had been following the family up the large hill that they now stood upon, but he had been so preoccupied in the exciting fact that he would soon be a member of a pack that he might've forgotten to look back to assure that she was still following them along the way. Oh well. If Far took much longer to appear, both he and Zaida knew that it would mean trouble for their sister. But, that also meant that they would receive a larger bulk of any food that they acquired today. Sometimes, it seemed that his entire life was centered around competing against his two white colored sisters. Even now, as their mother's long awaited pack was now being created, only competition was on the brute's mind. He wasn't sure about Far, but he knew for a fact that both he and Zaida would most likely be appointed warrior positions. The only question was, which one would earn the title of Lead Warrior? It was all in the hands of Yahvi. Whoever impressed her the most would probably get the honored position. Atoyo knew that she noticed his undying loyalty and determination, so hopefully that would assist his chances. All he needed was another reason to be able to boss around Zaida, and having a higher rank than her would do just that. Plus, it would prove to Yahvi that he could handle any responsibility or task given to him.

The rustling of fallen leaves and the thudding of large wolf paws suddenly took over the large brute's attention. An evil grin spread across his maw, knowing what would come next. His claws dug in and out of the dirt beneath his paws instinctively as he awaited the appearance of the nearing canine. When the scent finally entered his nose, the first thing the male noticed was the feminine smell. Great. Why did he have to spend so much time around females? It was quite ironic that Atoyo already lived with three she-wolves, and now a fourth may be added to the pack. He had never had a male companion or friend, though he had certainly killed plenty of brutes in his lifetime. Truthfully, the night colored male didn't mind this much. As long as they proved themselves worthy, gender didn't matter to him. He would treat both males and females equally if given the opportunity. The only factor that differentiated between the two sexes was their ability to bear puppies. And when the large Tundra femme finally made her way into view, Atoyo was sure that this factor had just crossed his mother's mind.

Being the only male of Osani at this point, Atoyo was sure that Yahvi would be using him to produce a litter or two of strong, capable puppies during the coming breeding season. The looks of this canine made the brute assume that she would be 'approved' by his queenly mother and maybe even demanded that he should mate with her. She appeared strong, fit, and healthy. All that mattered now was her opinion about their specific views and habits. If she were to disagree, she would be killed. However, if she decided to follow the family's customs, she would probably be accepted into Osani. 'We could use her,' Atoyo thought to himself. He listened to Yahvi's not-so-genuine welcoming greeting to her and awaited her response. His eyes raked her body, searching for any indication of weakness. Not only because he wanted only the best for his pack, but also because he wanted nobody but the best to birth his offspring. He found nothing yet, but it was certainly possible that something would arise in the near future.

words :: 815
tags :: @djinkka Far @yahvi @zaida
muse :: crap. crap. crap. I am honestly so sorry for how awful this is. Dx
notes :: I agree with EJ. ^^ Does anyone know if the official NPC account is still functioning?

[Deleted]

The three large, statuelike forms of the Osani wolves cast long shadows in the autumn sun. They seemed strangely ancient, Djinkka thought as she approached them slowly, carefully. As if they had been standing, waiting her arrival for all eternity. And yet, at the same time, the whole scene seemed oddly staged. With these thoughts hanging in her mind, she proceeded with some reserved trepidation.

Djinkka focused her gaze. While the wolves before her were large, indeed -- larger than any other loner that she had come across in her travels across Tiayr -- she did not feel fear. Perhaps it was naive of her to believe that, should a fight break out, she could take on all three of them at once. But fear was not something that she experienced often. In fact, in all her life she could not remember once being truly scared. Anxious, maybe. Stressed, yes. But never had something sufficiently overpowered or outmaneuvered her to cause her to fear for her own well-being. If there was some internal, instinctual fear caused in her by the sight of these three tall and powerful wolves, it's doubtful that she would have recognized it.

Her pale gaze, shifting with intrigue, darted among Yahvi and her kin in turn. First, it fell upon the group's only male. He was dark-furred, like herself, though the color was deeper and more consistent. His brown eyes seemed to be drinking her in, scrutinizing her. She shifted uncomfortably as he scoured her for imperfections, but still kept her posture steady and respectfully submissive. If these were to be her new packmates, she would have to impress them. If that meant allowing them to check her over for every detail, so be it.

Next, she turned to Zaida, whose white form appeared to be heavily laden with muscle. She marveled at her physiognomy for a moment. The she-wolf smirked at her dangerously; Djinkka immediately felt a chill as her eyes swept her. It was a strange feeling, a sickening discomfort that she couldn't quite source. It rose from the pit of her stomach and radiated out to her every extremity -- not fear, but something just as animal. She quickly moved on -- her blank, steady expression betraying no emotion -- refocusing her eyes and senses on she who had voiced the howl.

The great white female stood over her like a judge over a courtroom, her gaze the heaviest and most poisonous of all. Yet Djinkka bore it, knowing that one false move would quickly put her out of favor and close the book on her potential membership forever. She was careful in every movement, every motion, every glance. Her ears, eyes and tail twisted and pointed perfectly, shaping into a stance which Djinkka hoped read, I give you all my respect. Please think favorable things of me. Though her expression showed no emotion, inside she was wracked with a nervous tension.

This was her chance. Perhaps it was the first of many, but more likely it would be her first and last. A wrong move, a wrong answer, and she could expect to live out her miserable life in solitude. These wolves before her, fierce and cruel as they appeared, were her only available chance at kinship. It was all or nothing, and Djinkka intended to have it all.

When Yahvi's voice addressed her, her head rose gradually -- as regally as she could manage with all of her bulk and stature -- and she spoke in a voice that was smooth, sure, and as confident as her nerves could muster. "I am Djinkka," she said. She meant to say more, but hesitated, and then decided that this was enough. She didn't want to speak too much or say the wrong thing too soon. She had a tendency to mince words and that would no doubt work against her in this situation. They could ask the questions. She would provide the answers.

words: 637
tags: @yahvi @zaida @atoyo
notes: Happy Halloween, everyone. (:

[Deleted]

Yahvi knew that her children were still under her complete control and she planned to keep it that way. She knew as they grew older still that they may want more independence. They may want to start making their own decisions and Yahvi knew that was dangerous for them. She also knew that the competition between her children would grow larger as this pack of sorts was formed. More wolves meant less opportunities for each one and more competition. Only wolves who proved themselves capable got the honor of carrying out tasks for the Queen. Wolves with the cleanest kills, the best tracking ability, the ones that could pick out weak wolves from a mile away. Ones like her own children. It was true that Yahvi would compare each wolf that answered her call her her own creation. Yahvi was looking for impressionable wolves. Wolves that she would mold and create. Wolves that had potential and wolves that would believe everything she told them.

All of Yahvi's attention was focused on the black wolf. Her mind automatically went to her son Atoyo when she saw her. Both black. Both large. Both muscular. The two of them could create beautiful puppies together. The large white wolf approached the black female who calls herself Djinkka. By the looks of her mouth after she introduced herself, it seemed like she had more to say. Hesitation. Yahvi hated it when her own children hesitated. It was the worst evil. With hesitation comes mistakes and mistakes could cause her her life. However the female looked to be about two years old and Yahvi was sure after a few months she may be able to straighten her out. She noticed how she looked at her son Atoyo. She also knew how Atoyo looked at her. Atoyo looked upon Djinkka with the intent of finding imperfections. Her children had been trained well. The females posture was still and submissive. Good qualities. Fear wasn't something she sensed from the female, yet. Healthy fear was a good thing. She wanted Djinkka to fear her just a little. She wanted her to see her as a mother-figure. One who would care for and protect her but also scold and correct her. She sensed in the she-wolf's stance that she sought Yahvi's approval. More good things. Physically, she couldn't find anything that would cause her to be useless. After the physical examination was over, Yahvi went back to her original place to ask more questions.

"Tell me about your family, Djinkka. Your siblings and your parents." There was no way Yahvi could determine sexual soundness without knowing a background story and there was no way she was going near Atoyo unless Yahvi was certain of her ability to produce pups. She would not shame her name and her sons name over a she-wolf who produced weak pups. She needed to know how large a litter Djinkka came from, what colors her siblings were, what colors her parents were. Both black and white wolves came in handy. Usually during the winter she would use Far or herself to do tasks. During the night time she would use Atoyo. Zaida was normally used during the day or for searching purposes. Her leaner figure allowed her to be more stealthy. At the thought of her daughter, Far, she grew irritated. Where was her final daughter? Why had she not gotten here yet? She was certain that she had been following herself and her siblings here from their temporary den but she had not yet arrived. Stupid girl. She would be punished for her absence. Yahvi was a master at hiding her true emotions and showing different ones. Yahvi presented herself as a trust-worthy wolf that Djinkka could tell everything to. Her warm expression was something she had practiced many hours. She tilted her head slightly to the right as she listened to Djinkka's story while she listened for more hesitation or weakness in her character.

Yahvi would not have wolves who second guessed her or her judgements. She needed wolves who would carry out tasks as ordered, no questions asked.

[Deleted]

Sanris slunk through the undergrowth, keeping in the shadows. You wouldn't think a large wolf such as he would be capable of any kind of slinking, but Sanris managed it as though he had been doing it his whole life- which he had.

A smile curled across the male's thin lips, even as his stomach clenched with nerves. He had heard the call; "Follow me and I will make you great".

It was them.

He knew it. The whispers of loners and outcasts had been correct, after all. There was a new power working in Anikira, and the gray-and-black wolf was not keen on missing his chance to get in their good graces.

But even as he moved toward the call, he began to feel a surge of panicky doubt. He didn't know these wolves- they could kill him as easily as easily as accept him. Sanris stopped and mentally kicked himself. "If you don't do this now, you could easily meet them later- when they're not so keen on new members. Then you'd be dead, no ways around it," he hissed to himself. And besides- the howl, deep and musical, had stirred something inside him. He wanted this. He wanted to be great. These wolves could do that. They could ensure his life, his comfort. They could keep him from starving to death, alone in the winter, and keep him from being attacked by savage rogues- and other packs. Sanris grimaced, baring pearly fangs. Packs. How he wished to inflict the pain on those like the ones who had hurt him long ago. He had been defenseless- they had been cruel. But that would change. 

As the male moved along, he began, to catch the scent of wolves. A female, first, then, others. They were close.

A slope rose ahead of him, opening to a broad, grassy hill. Sanris caught sight of light-coloured pelts at the crest. There. He took a deep breath, steeled his nerves- this is it, this is everything, everything you've ever wanted-

-And stepped out of the folliage, to meet them.

OOC: The evil!! >x3
Muse: Incredible!

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Zaida wasn't surprised by her sister's apparent lack of concern for the matter at hand. But she was also not unsurprised. She was simply indifferent. She felt nothing, either when she thought of her sister's lack of attendance, or the punishment that was unavoidable. Cruel? Maybe. But it was simply part of being emotionless. She neither relished nor disliked her sister's impending punishment. She never really even thought about it. She simply noted it in the back of her mind.

What she did pay attention to was the large femme in front of her and her family. She seemed nervous. Zaida couldn't quite predict whether it was good anxiety or bad, but she assumed that it was good. The femme shifted her weight uncomfortably under Atoyo's ravaging gaze. It was apparent that she didn't like his looking her over for any imperfection, but she endured it, keeping all emotion clear from her face. Instead, she retained a blank stare that was neither disrespectful nor belligerent. And when she turned her eyes on Zaida, with cruel smile, her gaze did not falter.

The female looked Zaida over, apparently admiring her physiognomy, as her muscles were able to be seen under her pelt. Yet she retained an extremely feminine beauty. It was incredulously impossible, and yet, here she was. Then the female's yellow eyes met Zaida's green ones, glimmering with false excitement. Her cruel smile widened slightly, and the femme shuddered slightly. Zaida chuckled lightly as she intently watched the effect that she had on the wolfess. The wolf quickly looked away, focusing all of her energies upon Yahvi. But the effect that Zaida had had on her did not subside quickly, which made Zaida grin widely. All of her emotion was fake, but no one but her mother and brother would know this. It was perfectly acted out.

I am Djinka.

Her voice was strong and smooth, but again she hesitated. And then, remaining quiet, she awaited Yahvi's next question. Zaida knew that Yahvi would notice this hesitation. She strangely hoped that she would continue nonetheless with her questionnaire. Zaida had already taken a strange liking to the femme. Of course, the reasons behind this liking could be argued. But the fact that it even existed was amazing. Of course, there was no real emotion, and the liking was quite small. But it was there. And Zaida was not wrong.

Tell me about your family, Djinka. Your siblings and your parents.

Her mother's voice was strong and clear. The dark-colored femme seemed to seek her approval. And then, just as Yahvi's voice rang out, Zaida's audits caught the sound of another heartbeat. Again, she knew that it would be another few seconds before anyone else heard the almost silent approach of another wolf. On reason was the interview that was in progress. It would keep the focus of all three wolves until the noise was loud enough to be caught subconsciously. The other reason was the quietness of the approach. It was almost silent, and therefore, the wolf would almost be upon them before he was detected. The wind was dead, but Zaida thought that the wolf was a male, based on a lot of different factors that she picked up on from the quiet noise on his paws on the leaves.

It did not take him long. Zaida smiled warmly at the male as soon as he approached. There was a hint of a flirtatious atmosphere to the snowy femme's body language. All of it was feigned, of course. But no one would know this except Atoyo and Yahvi. There were two reasons that Zaida only hinted at her feigned interest in the approaching male. One, because it would very clearly show her mother that she was completely open and obedient to her decision: if she decided that they would mate, or if she decided that they would not. Even if she decided that he would die. Secondly, do that she could let the male know that she was attracted to him (he wouldn't need to know that she really wasn't), without being overbearing.

Zaida listened for three things: Djinka, Yahvi's acknowledgement of the new male, and the new male. If Djinka were smart, she would answer Yahvi's question quickly, but thoroughly, and then be silent to allow Yahvi the option of welcoming the new male. She kept her green gaze on the male, looking him over politely. Her green eyes sparkled with feigned anticipation and joyful surprise that a male had come. And her warm smile was never redirected from his face.

Tags: @yahvi @atoyo Far @djinka @sanris
OOC: sorry that this was a little late! Anymore comments on the NPC wolves? Can't wait for the replies!!!

[Deleted]

Cold, hard eyes held their stare upon the brutish female that now had answered Yahvi's initial question. Her reply had been simple, yet Atoyo knew that she had meant to say more. He could sense the hesitation in her body language and in her tone of voice. An evilish grin stretched the corners of his lips upwards, showing off the tips of his fangs. Weakness. Though this sign of hesitation was quite subtle, he knew that both his mother and his sister had also recognized this quite easily. Their senses had become quite keen when it came to discovering weaknesses among another canine. It was how they survived. The reason for Djinkka's sudden hesitation was a mystery to the canine, although he did have a theory. Prior to this moment, he had been able to observe the way the Tundra femme had shifted uncomfortably under his cruel stare. He hadn't meant to appear overbearing or evil in anyway, but he just couldn't help it. There was rarely a situation where he would ever be able to make himself look approachable. Not that he even cared to try doing so unless there would be some kind of reward.

His mothers next question was regarding the stranger's family. Atoyo knew this trick, though it wasn't exactly a trick at all. The wolfess who has raised him wanted to know if Djinkka's genes were hearty enough to be allowed to continue being passed down to future generations. If this female was smart, she would hide nothing. She would offer Yahvi all of the information that she wanted to know. If she showed any more signs of vulnerability that would prove her to be unfit for reproducing or joining Osani, she would most likely be put to death. So, her next words were crucial in the deciding of her fate.

Not a single moment later, Atoyo heard the slight treading noise of paw steps approaching the trio of wolves and the newcomer. A low rumble emerged from his muzzle, warning the others of the loner that would soon emerge from the foliage a small distance away from where they stood. His night colored tail swayed with anticipation. He couldn't wait to catch sight of the next brave wolf who had decided to answer Yahvi's call. His wishes were quickly answered, as always, when the decently sized Mackenzie Valley brute made his appearance. Another evilish glimmer shone on his brown eyes. He wondered what his mother would do with now two possibly pack members who hoped to join the pack. Of course, Yahvi was always in control.

words :: 432
tags :: @djinkka Far @yahvi @zaida
muse :: *hides face* Oh my gosh, I'm so horribly sorry for the awful quality of this post. Dx
notes :: I can't believe I'm even posting this piece of crap. I just wanted to get something up for you guys since I was holding up the thread!

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Their eyes weighed on her, dumping onto her thick layers of judgement and expectations and scrutiny and suspicion as though they were actual and dense objects which tangled themselves into her fur and hung down to scrape the earth like anchors. The air itself seemed to cling and hang upon her stiflingly; it turned syrupy at her lips and stuck to her throat, threatening to choke her with every measured breath. The massive forms of the black and white wolves standing stock-still at rigid attention before her liquified and molded together within her fixed gaze, their dichotomous colors swirling as if blended on a palette until only the eyes -- bodiless, motionless, timeless eyes -- remained.

And yet, despite the pressing anxiety within, Djinkka's expression did not falter. She kept herself braced and steady, her legs parted in a strong stance, her posture submissive but confident. If anything, she seemed more sure of herself, now; realizing that there was little she could do to escape the curious and penetrative stares of Yahvi and her kin, she accepted the situation and adapted to it. There was some small thought within her -- some vague, fleeting intuition -- that warned her not to hesitate again when she spoke. Perhaps it was the ghost of an expression of disapproval that flickered across Yahvi's face when she'd paused, a moment only long enough to be noted within Djinkka's subconscious. Perhaps it was the flicker in Zaida's eyes, or the fanged grin which curled Atoyo's black lips.

Whatever the tell, Djinkka knew, somehow, that she did not have many second chances to waste with this group. They were clearly a particular bunch when it came to choosing new members. She saw nothing wrong with this. In fact, the idea excited her, in a way. To be a part of an exclusive band of wolves that only accepted the best, brightest, and most talented -- that would be a great honor. But, then again, she knew very little about pack life and how these things worked. Perhaps all wolves required some amount of checking-over before being admitted to a pack. She thought this much was reasonable, as it wouldn't be advantageous for a pack to accept all potential new members. What if there were too many females in a group, or too many males? Or what if too many of the members were injured, sick or old? As charitable as it might be for an Alpha to abstain entirely from discrimination, it simply wasn't practical.

The considerable black she-wolf looked steadily in Yahvi's direction as the dominant female approached her. She was careful not to make direct eye contact, gazing towards her rather than at her. She was still, poised like a show hound on display -- or, at least, she felt like it. But she bore the examination with humility, allowing Yahvi to peer and check wherever and whatever she pleased. The moments seemed to draw into hours as she circled Djinkka. The silence was loud enough to frighten the birds from the treetops. All the Earth seemed to hold its breath as Yahvi passed her silent judgement.

Then, without a word to qualify her findings, the great white she-wolf returned to her perch, turning to regard Djinkka from a small distance once more. Her voice shattered the valley's silence, piercing through it with the sharpness of a blade. Her tone was nonthreatening -- conversational, really -- but still, Djinkka was wary. Her expression ever-calm, she considered the simple question posed to her for a moment. She was ready to answer. Whatever imperceptible mistake she had made the first time, she would be sure not to repeat.

Just as she opened her mouth to speak, though, the scent of a fifth wolf raked her nostrils. Before she had a chance to react he was standing there before them, poised on the hilltop. It was an inopportune moment and a dreadful interruption; her moment to shine, upstaged by this tardy interloper. She hid her annoyance, regarding him with a brief glance before turning back to Yahvi and reclaiming the moment as hers. She spoke with a deep and even voice, as if the male had never stepped from the cover of the bushes in the first place.

"I never knew my father," she said, "but he was very large and very strong. A black wolf who mated with my mother out of season and then left her. My mother was black also, with some white. She had me and my sister." She had never spoken of her history in much detail before. Now, as she began, she outpoured the information freely. "She was away much. Though she cared for us, she had other things to attend to. When she brought back food there was not much and it was not often. Since I was bigger, stronger, like my father, I always ate the most." The words fell from her lips, and as they went, they relieved her. With each sentence, it was as though her heart was lifting away from its shackles in her chest. She spoke not emotionlessly, as there was some flicker of passion behind her yellow eyes, but her tone was smooth and unwavering. "My sister died of starvation. I left my mother shortly after."

She closed her short speech matter-of-factly. It had not sounded confessional in her voice, but from within, Djinkka felt cleansed. At last, she had spoken out loud what had been on her mind for so long. Of course, she did not draw the line explicitly; she did not say outright that she had, accidentally, starved her sister to death. Let the wolves think of her what they would. Let them draw their own conclusions. If she was to be accepted into this pack, she wanted them to accept her knowing, objectively, what she truly was and what she had done. Whether they decided to cast her as a monster or a victim of circumstance was beyond her control.

word count: 993
tags: @yahvi @sanris @zaida @atoyo
ooc: I think the NPC wolves are a good idea!

[Deleted]

The first thing Sanris thought as the wolves- there were four of them he now saw- shifted their attention to him briefly, was, great stars, these wolves are huge. Sanris himself had seen in years past that wolves often looked upon his size with awe and a good touch of fear- which he exploited- but never had he seen the likes of the towering, imposing strangers that crested this hillock. He was easily outnumbered and overpowered. The wolf could feel his fur start to bristle and prickle in fear. If these wolves were to decide that they did not want him around, he had no chance.

No, no, NO! This is not how it's supposed to be! You want to impress them? Don't show a lick of fear!

Sanris lifted his head, letting his ears and tail rise and his ruff continue to fill out along his back, creating the impression of slight agression rather than fear as he trudged up the hill, stopping beside a coal black wolf, standing slightly downslope of the others. He dipped his muzzle to the centermost one, a large white female, sitting upon the very top of a hill with the air of a queen before her subjects, but only lowered his ears and tail slightly, hoping his daring would impress, not anger, these strangers. As he did so he caught the gaze of the dark coloured wolf standing beside the queenly white female, the only male of the trio. The wolf almost seemed to grin for an instant, and the devilish look in his eyes set alarm calls ringing in Sanris's head.

The slimmer, white female on the other side of him met Sanris's gaze with startlingly green ones. Sanris felt his eyes widen at the look she gave him, and struggled to maintain his attention on the rest of the wolves. The she-wolf, with a coat as soft-looking and pure white as newfallen snow, was stunningly beautiful. Sanris haad never known true nurturing or love, and the feelings rushing through him were certainly much baser than compassion, but his attraction to this, in his eyes, fallen angel was evident.

The she-wolf next to him spoke in the middle of this, seeming to answer a previously posed question. He missed most of her answer, but her interruption served to draw his attention away from the white she-wolf.

This wolf, Sanris thought as he took in the monsterous muscles and impossible height, is nothing like her. The way being around this wolf made him feel small and expendable, coupled with the look she had given him when he first approached, caused a deep mixture of feelings clench in his stomach- and none of them good. Jealousy, anger, and fear, much fear. Sanris hated fear, hated that this wolf, with her, her... ugly physique made him feel the loathesome emotion. He narrowed his eyes slightly. He hated this... this thing.

Sanris's mind, all-consumed with single goals by nature, was in an uproar. Suddenly there were so many things he wanted, no, needed to accomplish. His revenge, the revenge on pack wolves that he had wanted for so long, driven by the scars crisscrossed under his fur. This wolf, gone. Her memory ruined so that he would not have to dwell on the ugly feelings the sight of her created. And the beautiful, snowy angel that smiled slightly at him. He needed all of these.

And to accomplish them, he needed this pack.


OOC: Good god, sorry this sucks. I just felt horrible that everyone was mentioning Sanris and suddenly he wasn't on the face of the planet anymore. >.<
Muse: Really terrible.

Note from staff: In the future, please remember that there is a specific posting order. In this thread, you should be posting after Yahvi because that is the place where you joined the thread.

[Deleted]

Her last daughter's lateness was getting out of hand. Yahvi's patience had run out. Wherever she was, Yahvi would find her and there would be hell. She knew that her other two children were probably pleased at their sister's lack of concern. They knew it would mean more food for them and that her wrath wouldn't be pointed at them for at least a few days. She knew that her children were all waiting for each other to mess up in order to save their own asses. She was neither proud of this fact nor disgusted. She was indifferent. It was what it was.

She also knew that her children were torturing Djinkka with their stares and smiles. A good move on their part. Yahvi needed to know if this large female could handle the pressures of what Yahvi would ask her to do. She tossed the idea around in her head of having the brutish female preform a mission. On the one paw, it would prove her loyalty and make her feel obligated to stay. She would feel as if no other pack would accept her. She would feel dirty, as if she had sinned. On the other paw, it was very risky. This female could back out and their whole cover would be blown. She could be messy and someone could find them. Decisions.

She noticed another male approaching. His steps were quiet, almost silent. Almost. She noticed her daughter's reaction to the new male. She knew that her daughter had no emotions for the male, or any emotions at all for that matter. She was flirting with him, teasing him to keep coming. Yahvi's thoughts were of the male and Zaida mating, should the male be worthy. Zaida was of breeding age now and was ready to begin having pups for Yahvi. Killing off the weak was only one part of Yahvi's missions. Breeding the strong was the second and the most important part. She knew her children knew that she would choose who they had children with.

Yahvi's attention was back on the female, but she was sure to keep an ear on the other male. There were some parts of Djinkka's tale that didn't quite add up and some things that were red flags for the Queen. "If you never knew your father, how can you be sure of his appearance?" She asked with a questioning tone. She didn't enjoy being lied to. That was one of her biggest pet peeves. She hated being lied to. She also said that she only had one sister. A fault on her father's part for not producing a larger litter. Her mother only produced one strong pup out of the litter of two. Did Yahvi want to waste her time on a female who may only produce one useful pup? Did she want to spend three months waiting for one pup? Yahvi was going back and forth. Djinkka was obviously the strongest out of her litter. She had starved her sister to death but again, there was the word "father" again. How would she know? She had never met him!

Regardless, she needed to move this thing along. She didn't want to attract unnecessary attention from the other packs in the area. "Have you had children before?" Yahvi asked, planning on it being her last question. She needed to move on to the other male who had arrived a short while ago. She wasn't sure about this female. Yahvi wanted to feel more secure in this decision she was about to make. Does she live, or does she die? Djinkka was making the decision difficult.