The Question (Toiro)

[Audas]

The clearing was of a decent size with an elongated shape. An unusually large pond dominated one side of the clearing, the water was clear enough to see the brown bottom. A grassy stretch moved alongside the pond, some grass in particular was well trodden, and stood less tall than the other grasses, a sign of the the traffic that moved through here. The clearing was surrounded by trees of varying sizes and shapes, some trees stood leafless, others maintained the coniferous leaves as the winter progressed. Whilst the sun was out, clouds still dotted the sky with the occasional dark cloud moving past, threatening to release it's cargo, but carrying on nevertheless.

Audas emerged from the forest, jogging at a steady but relaxing pace. His brown furred body loose and fluid, ears upright but relaxed and eyes just looking straight ahead, with the occasionally scan. The hunter had been out taking the time to relax before he went on another hunt, he enjoyed these little moments to himself. Before, he would just wrap himself up a cloak of guilt and distrust, but since arriving here... since meeting Nymph... he felt more of that darkness shrugging off his shoulders. He was gradually feeling more...

'Alive?'

Yes, that was the correct term.

Audas slowed to a walk as he approached the pebbled edge of the pool, had a casual look around, then lowered his head to the water to take in several large droughts of water in. The grey wolf wasn't hugely thirsty, but it was refreshing to feel the cold water move through his mouth and throat.

After taking his fill, Audas sat down, looking at his reflection in the water. The muddy coloured wolf with patches of white and, occasionally a grey spot. 'Look at how much I have changed since coming here. Not just to Airilla but on Anikira.' The hunter gave a small smile at the thought, and the reflection instantly did the same.

Audas had hopes for the future, he lost his hopes a long time ago, but since meeting Nymph and arrive at Shyia, many had returned.

And the brown furred wolf was glad at it.

Word Count: 389 (approx)
OOC: Hope this allows for a good enough start!
Tag: Toiro

[Toiro]

If the six year old alpha was entirely honest with himself, Airila needed a fresh start. The soft-hearted grey had been so upset about his beloved mate going missing that he had withdrawn into himself somewhat, and failed to realise the value of what he still had. His pack meant everything to him, and yet its progress had been much slower than it should have been. As a result, Toiro now found that there were too many subordinates around, with Audas and Nymph being the only wolves to occupy proper ranks.

Furthermore, he hadn’t had a second in command since the disappearance of his trusted friend Huxleyi, as if he was still hoping for the male to return to his place at any moment. Growing old was not really a concern for the alpha, as he knew that his pack was not one where his position would be challenged as soon as some eager young fellow sensed any weakness, but the thought had occurred to him that if something did happen to him, the pack would be left without an obvious leader. The most likely candidate was probably his son Jadir, but Swan and Kujo both held the same right to follow in their father’s footsteps as Toiro hadn’t yet explicitly named an heir. Besides, he still felt that his pups were too young to handle the responsibility. He himself had acquired the position of alpha at only two years of age, but there was no way he would have been able to manage it without Kastiel, the beta who had chased him all over the place in an effort to watch over and protect the carefree young alpha.

Toiro hoped that he had learned many things since then so he didn’t necessarily feel he needed a guardian any more, but it could never hurt having a deputy to advise him or give him that little bit of help with any tricky circumstances. After pondering the idea for a while, he had found his attention being drawn to Audas the hunter. Audas seemed to have a good head on his shoulders, being strong-willed but equally kind and compassionate, and Toiro wouldn’t mind getting to know the male better. So today he had decided that he would test the waters and see if the younger grey would be open to such a proposition.

The scent he had been following eventually led him to the long meadow in Xayar Forest, where he found the brown furred wolf sitting by the pond. “Hey Audas,” Toiro wagged his tail in a friendly manner as he came closer to greet the hunter. “How have you been? And how is Nymph?” The alpha’s posture was relaxed and calm, and his grey eyes were warm as he regarded the other male with a smile. He was genuinely interested in the well-being of his packmates, as that had always been his top priority.

[Audas]

Audas, in his relaxed state, did hear or smell the wolf coming close into the meadow, but despite this, when the wolf spoke, the brown furred male didn't react in shock, but simply rolled his head round towards the source. A grey wolf had emerged from the forest the way Audas had came in, slowly wagging his tail in a friendly manner. One would mistake this wolf to be just another friendly wolf, but in reality, this wolf was an alpha, one who Audas respected greatly.

"Toiro", giving a friendly nod and a brief smile back, "I am doing well thanks. Nymph has been doing great as well. She's probably exploring somewhere and getting the lay of the land." Audas imagined the little white wolf that was his mate poking her head into bushes and looking at plants with eager fascination. That very thought brought another brief, but slightly bigger smile to Audas' face. The hunter quickly realised that Toiro was still here, and Audas gave a brief shake of his head before turning back to Toiro.

"I'm just taking a break for a moment before I go for another hunt, see what I can find" explained the brown wolf, he felt it was right to explain himself, though Toiro probably wouldn't mind and would understand. "And what about you? Have things been going well for you aswell?" Audas tilted his head slightly inquisitively at the alpha. Whilst most alphas Audas had heard of were more demanding of obedience, Toiro was different in which he treated everyone in the pack as a family member, and such social interaction ranging from questions to advice was something Toiro seemed to support.

Audas greatly respected that, it was one of the reasons why he came to Shyia with Nymph in the first place. Because it felt like a family.

Word Count: 306
Tag: Toiro

[Toiro]

Toiro watched as the hunter smiled at the thought of his mate. It had been a while since his own mate’s disappearance, but he still recalled the feeling which had come to him every time his mind conjured up Aludra’s image. Those feelings still lingered, and although many of them had been dulled by the pain of her loss, the grey male could thankfully still find pleasure in her memory.

“That is good to hear that you two are doing well,” he replied. The alpha was beginning to wonder if Airila might have a litter of puppies coming their way soon, considering the wolf breeding season had recently started and Audas and Nymph seemed to have a strong loving relationship... but he would not pry into their private affairs despite his curiosity and his hope that his suspicions would turn out to be true.

“I have been good too, thank you, though it seems my age is starting to affect me more than I would like to admit.” Toiro said in a light-hearted tone to assure Audas that his complaints were not really warranted and that it was nothing that would bother him for quite some time yet.

The large grey male sat down where he was, figuring he might as well get comfortable as well as lower himself to the same level as Audas so that his question might sound less like a demand from an alpha so much as a request from a friend. “Audas… I’ve been thinking. You are an intelligent wolf, kind and noble of heart. An adept hunter, you’re good at the job that you do for us and Airila is grateful to have you. I would consider you a friend, and I would trust your opinion if I ever needed help or advice. So… how would you like to be my beta, Audas?” Toiro smiled at the brown-furred hunter and his tail wagged happily behind him as he looked forward to the other male's acceptance of the influential rank.

[Audas]

“That is good to hear that you two are doing well,” Toiro replied to the brown furred hunter's question, Audas was grateful of the the alpha's acknowledgement of the two mates well being. Speaking of which, maybe he could look for Nymph later, and see what the furry white explorer was up to, though he already knew the probable answer already.

The alpha continued, “I have been good too, thank you, though it seems my age is starting to affect me more than I would like to admit.” he explained light-heartedly. Whilst Audas might have shown some concern, the tone had suggested that Toiro didn't seem to worried about it.

That nevertheless brought up a thought, 'Why would Toiro bring up his age? He isn't too old, or at least the way I have seen him'.

The older grey wolf sat down, and spoke once more. “Audas… I’ve been thinking. You are an intelligent wolf, kind and noble of heart. An adept hunter, you’re good at the job that you do for us and Airila is grateful to have you. I would consider you a friend, and I would trust your opinion if I ever needed help or advice. So… how would you like to be my beta, Audas?”

Whilst Toiro seemed quite happy with his smile and offer, and whilst Toiro greatly appreciated the respect and offer from the alpha, Audas felt a deep sadness inside him, which had manifested itself onto his face. Memories of his old life hung in the corners of his mind, almost lucid. The death of his family, his brother, Reland and that of his mate, Alika. And his own killing of Xavier, who had been his own uncle, and one who he thought of as a friend, Dex, in revenge and guilt.

Before, Audas would have suffered flashbacks, nightmares and even hallucinations of those dreadful events, tearing himself up in his own guilt. Since that night with Nymph at the grove in Canrus, after he revealed his past to her, Audas had gradually began to let go, and let those he cared about rest in peace. First the flashbacks stopped, then finally the nightmares vanished. All that was left was a soft, dormant spot that Audas didn't want to open up fully again.

He had lead people once, and they had died on his watch, even as a beta, Audas had no desire for leadership. He didn't want that kind of responsibility again. The brown furred wolf turned towards the water's surface, stared at the water, and quietly said, "I appreciate your opinion of me and the offer... but... I must decline."

OOC: I'm still up for beta in a other thread! Just need Audas to have the motivation to do it.
Tag: Toiro

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[Toiro]

The six year old alpha waited with eager anticipation for the pleasantly surprised reaction he expected the brown furred hunter to express at his offer of the beta position for Airila. The response he received instead, however, would seem to have been more suitable had he just told Audas that his best friend had died. The younger male’s expression was one of sadness and guilt, though for what reason Toiro couldn’t guess as he watched on in awkward bewilderment.

It had been clear to him even before the other male finally spoke that he was not going to accept the position, so Toiro only nodded in understanding. “Of course, Audas. I would not want to pressure you into taking a position you are not comfortable with, and I’m sure you’ll continue to do well as a hunter for our pack.”

Toiro had never even considered that his offer might be rejected, though he probably should have. After all, he himself had had his reservations about being an alpha at first – his sights had originally been set on becoming an ordinary hunter for the former Aldgar pack of the Oriens – and it was only because of his adoration for his first mate, Keyara, and his willingness to follow her wherever she chose to go that he had become alpha alongside her. Then, of course, she had tragically died in that cruel blizzard and her devastated young lover had felt that it was his responsibility not to allow the pack she had created to wither away and die with her. Airila had grown and prospered since then, and so had Toiro; perhaps those who originally didn’t want to lead made the best leaders, he mused. Audas appeared to be fairly adamant that he didn’t want to take a higher rank, but the kind grey wolf felt the need to allow his options to remain open in any case. “If you ever do decide to change your mind, know that you are free to approach me about it any time.”

[Audas]

Thankfully, Toiro seemed to understand Audas opinion on the matter of not becoming a beta. “Of course, Audas. I would not want to pressure you into taking a position you are not comfortable with, and I’m sure you’ll continue to do well as a hunter for our pack.”.

Audas nodded, and gave a tiny smile in thanks. He greatly appreciated the alpha for accepting his decision. He wasn't going to take any kind of leadership position even in the future. He would only take it if there was a situation so dire he had to take such a position in order to protect others, and afterwards, he would step down and let someone else do it.

He considered whether or not he should explain his reasoning to Toiro, explain past events from before he arrived, Audas felt that he could trust Toiro, but would he want to hear it? No, he would keep that dark story under wraps for now... Maybe some point in the future.

“If you ever do decide to change your mind, know that you are free to approach me about it any time.”

It took a moment for the brown furred hunter to realise that Toiro had spoken, and Audas quickly turned back to him, "Of course. I doubt I will, but I will keep it in mind."

He hesitated for a moment, and then decided he should at least come up with some minor explanation. Much like he first did with Nymph. "It's just... I led to an extent before and... It didn't go well." Audas shook his head sadly. "I don't really want to talk about it, but I hope you understand why I don't want the position again."

OOC: Ok, turns out I'm a filthy liar. Completely sorry this took so long and for the terrible reply too!
Tag: Toiro