Safe Return [Taurus, Exodus etc]

[silver]

Exodus remained quite after the initial part of the white Beta’s report. His thoughts were unleashed and the parts of his mind worked together to make sense of the news. Breaking his short vow of silence, the Alpha said, “The distress call from Zahir. Yes. I faintly recall hearing one. At the time, I had been out to tend to the arrival of potential members for the pack. There was a brute; his name escapes me. This brute went on to check on the standing of the desert pack. I, too, have heard nothing from him or anyone else. It does strike me odd that there has been no howl whether for the good or bad.” Nodding to confirm Taurus’ worry about the possible victorious rouges affecting Salen, Exodus gave a soft growl. “We must not allow harm to come to Salen.” Thinking again, Exodus wished more than ever his pack was just a few wolves larger. If that had been the case, patrol groups could have been sent out to watch of the territory. Without said patrols, the rouges could easily prance onto the land and wreak havoc in their wake. It would not be tolerated under any circumstances. Swift, meaningful action must take place.

Following Taurus’ gaze down the tunnel, Exodus grunted to himself. “Yes, Taurus. I trust you to get the job done and to get it done correctly. Travel to the desert lands first, then head over to see if Xinelil has any news. It wouldn’t hurt to suggest the makings of an alliance as well. The official business should be carried out between the two of us, though. Like you said, it would benefit us to get in good with them if a threat should occur.” The Alpha paused a moment thinking back on how he had once traveled to the other Alpha’s land to speak with him. Such a young brute he had been in Exodus’ silver eyes.

“You know, I fear this pack would be nothing more than a simple band of rouges if not for you. However, I do fear that it has yet to become a unified pack. With any luck, this problem will help that situation. I’ve noticed, though, it seems as if the wolves on Anikira are more interested in wandering than in pack life. That doesn’t give us much to work with, unfortunately.” Turning back to the eyes of the other who watched him, Exodus thought aloud. “I feel as if I over-work you with little reward, Taurus.” The Alpha murmured and sighed. “From now on there will be a wolf at the mine entrance. The job will be done in shifts to watch for potential dangers.” There was one step towards making the pack a whole and ensuring its safety. “Anyhow, rest up before you make this journey. It‘ll be a lengthy one. I need to call the pack together to talk about certain matters with them.”

Turning to leave down the way he came, Exodus stopped and turned back around to Taurus. “Ah, I forgot. While out, I heard a howl from the Kamari lands. Apparently, there is a new alpha among us. If problems do not arise during the beginning part of your journey, I would like you to check out this new alpha. Maybe an alliance can be forged with him as well.” Nodding to Taurus, Exodus turned once more to make his way down the tunnel and back into the main area. Coming in, Exodus’ optics flickered to Crise who was now up and awake. “Ah, Crise. You’re awake.” The words were gently said as Exodus approached the female cautiously. “Feeling better I hope?” He inquired and then gestured towards the deer meat. “If it was hunger that caused your faint, I encourage you to eat something now least you leave us one more.”

[mikko]

The prospect of being within these mines still loomed over Mikko. She didn't like being so close to something human, nor did she feel safe in a den like this. But she felt welcome here, and she was certain that given time, she'd be able to call this pack home. She no longer wished to run her own pack, nor did she want to have her own pups. It had been too painful for her, and she didn't want to go through that pain ever again. She'd seen too many deaths in her life, two of which had been her fault. She didn't want to experience that pain ever again.

It was nice to know that the Alpha Exodus was understanding of her position. She didn't want to settle straight away before knowing what she was getting into. She hadn't been a part of a pack for a long time, she didn't want to rush things. She'd made so many big dessicions in recent years, she just needed time to consider her options. She didn't want to make a mistake that she'd end up regretting. She didn't want to hurt anyone. She'd made foolish mistakes before, and she was still regretting them. She'd left her mate because of her pain of loosing her pups, and in doing so she'd hurt him and had hurt herself. And although this was a different situation, she didn't want to be the fool she once was. "I would be honoured to stay here sir. It has been a while since I left my family pack, I have traveled far and I seem to have forgotten what pack life is like." Flattening her ears, she looked away, almost embarrased to have admitted her forgetfulness. "But so far, this pack has been kinder then any other's that I have come across."

It was true, Mikko felt no need to lie about the fact that there was much kindness in this pack. She was not digging for anything, and she was not making any compliments in hope of a reward, she was being honest to the marked alpha. Many of the wolves here seemed to find her appearance amusing, she'd been laughed at and had been teased alot. It was rather lonely here, she seemed to be the only wolf of her kind here. But she was grateful to have come across the Salen pack. It seemed that they did not care about her appearance, and she felt at peace here. "I am Mikko sir, so named because I was a gift to my parents."

As Exodus excused himself, a sense of curiosity and suspicion ran through Mikko. Were they talking about her? What was so important that they had to move away from potential pack members? And although she knew it to be wrong, she moved closer to where they'd gone. But she stayed back so that it didn't look like she was following them. She couldn't really hear all of the conversation, only small snipits. She heard the name Zahir and wondered what was going on. She also heard the mention of rebels and a knot formed in her stomach. She had heard of rebels trying to destroy all of the packs. Her father had warned her about such wolves. He hadn't known much, but he'd warned her that they were dangerous.

The mention of the desert lands made Mikko uneasy. She'd originally been set to find the pack there and join them. After all, she was a desert wolf, she worked best in warmer conditions. I should offer my services. I know a lot about deserts, I could help Taurus. But doubt flooded Mikko's mind, if she offered to help, it would mean revealing that she'd overheard the conversation, and she didn't want to risk a fight. She was stuck, she wanted to help but had no idea how to offer her services. She couldn't just sit back and let Taurus go alone, what if he got hurt? The desert was a dangerous place, he would need someone of experience to show him how to survive in such conditions.

A sound distracted her, and Mikko looked over to find the source. Joy filled her as she saw the femme awaken from her unconcious state. The wolf seemed to look well, and Mikko was glad to see that she was okay. "You are in the Salen pack lands. The alpha Exodus brought you here. You were unconcious. You had us all worried." Suddenly realising what she'd said, Mikko shyed away and moved away from where Exodus and Taurus were talking. She had sounded like a pack member, and she had no right to do so. She was not part of this pack, not yet. It was wrong of her to make it sound like she was.

The arrival of Exodus startled Mikko to a small extent and she lowered her head in embarassment. She was very shy at times, and after overhearing sections of the conversation he'd had with Taurus her boldness had dissapeared. She was still wondering what she'd say to Exodus but fear was holding her back. She had to find some way of informing him of her wish to serve. It was then that an idea struck her. It was risky but it could work. "Exodus" Standing up tall, Mikko looked directly at the wolf, hoping that the lie would work. "Before I join the pack, I wish to visit my brother. It has been a while since I saw him and I am concerned. There has been much talk of savage wolves, and I wish to make sure he and his pack his okay." Taking a deep breath, Mikko tried to calm herself down, she hated lying, but it was the only way. "I will have to travel through the deserts of Anikira in order to reach him, but my journey shouldn't take long." Now all she had to do was wait and see if she'd convinced the marked wolf.

[/size]

[athaza]

Nodding his head, the white male fully agreed with the alpha. Salen couldn't fall, even if the first few dominoes had been pushed, threatening to cause a challenge. The pack was small, but maybe that was an advantage. Less members to keep track of and it did give them a chance the bond closer when they were all acquainted. Intently, Taurus continued to listen to the other wolf, analyzing every word. Hearing the word 'trust', brought a proud smile on his face. Part of what caused it was twisted, amused by how Exodus was so foolish. At the same time he was proud how he was able to get this deep into the pack's heart. In soon time, without him everything would collapse. He planned on making the pack one day extremely dependent on him, the thought of his loss catastrophic. That day, Taurus would know he could do whatever he wanted. It all depended where his morals lied and his plots guided him...

Speaking of alliances the smile curled, a little eager to converse with the other Alphas. This would be very interesting indeed, especially how Exodus described them. By the time he left there lands he was determined to know there strengths, weaknesses, and if they could be a threat to Taurus himself. As well, he wanted to make a good impression, and just be a good example on how the Salen shouldn't be messed with. This could potentially be a more meaningful message than anything that could pass through with words. Hearing Exodus's words on the rogues his smile turned to a frown, letting his eyes wander to the wall behind the male. “I know what you mean, but I'm sure once we get back on our feet we can collect a few more.” he confidently said. Trying to reassure the male, as well to create a more buddy-buddy atmosphere he added, “After all, with two persuasive males like ourselves, they'll be begging to join.” There was a glitter of humor in his eye, seeming completely genuine. As hard as it might be to convince on lookers, it wasn't fake.

There Taurus was going off again, getting too soft. He needed to get out of these lands for a bit, even if the reason he left was to support it. As he followed the alpha back to the main dens, he shook his head to disapprove of the option of resting. “I'd rather make my trip now, Exodus. No use wasting anymore time.” he disagreed. It worried Taurus that this threat was so unknown and how it could approach them any minute. He love the time to rest and eat a decent meal – running off only a rodent right now – but he was used to running around. The brute had been a loner and was used to going awhile with out a good meal. He'd survive. “Worst comes to worst, I'll ask the first Alpha I encounter to stay overnight. It would be a lovely way for him to demonstrate that he would keep his word on an alliance.”

The white male again nodded his head as Exodus spoke of Kamari. There would be a lot of pit stops on his journey, running all over the continent. When they finally reached the main compartment he began walking towards the entrance, ready to depart. Brow rose when he heard Mikko speak of traveling to the desert lands. That was awfully convenient? Eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at the female, but they slowly relaxed while he allowed everything to sink in. This wolf was a lot more then met the eye. He'd have to keep careful watch on her. He wasn't sure if she was lying or not, but this sudden want to go to the desert lands- when he needed to go? It was too perfect. He wouldn't wait for the alpha to respond. “Well I'm going to be off, Exodus. I shall return in a few days, and shall howl if things appear...” Eyes swayed over the two females, not wanting to give much away, “... messy.”

With that the male exited the chamber, running off towards the desert. If Mikko's intentions were truly to meet her brother, he might bump into her. If not, and he figured out she was trailing him, he might have to do a little interrogating. This female might know more than she was revealing.

-Exit Taurus-

[silver]

Kind silver eyes fell upon Mikko once more as the femme spoke to the charcoal alpha once more. She had accepted to stay here within his pack, another member stronger. Exodus gave a small smile and dipped his head graciously. “Welcome, officially, then to the Salen Pack. May your life here be peaceful and full of pleasure.” He spoke words rolling from his silver, charming tongue unlike it often did before. What Taurus had said earlier flickered in his mind. “After all, with two persuasive males like ourselves, they'll be begging to join.”

[/I] Exodus pondered these words for a moment chewing over them. Being persuasive and used in the right sense could be a key to members joining. However, in Exodus’ eyes, having another wolf join his pack meant more than just a charming tongue and a few choice words. Pack members were important but Exodus would not simply let any wolf trample upon his land asking for acceptance into his pack. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mikko.” The brute said after finally learning her name. It was a beautiful and unique name.

Turning his optics to Crise, Exodus frowned deeply unsure of what all was going on. Did she not remember who she was or what had happened? Why had Mikko had to explain to the Mexican femme who she was and where. His name rung in his ears and the brute dropped the thought of the other for a moment to turn back to Mikko once more. Listening with a blank expression, he thought over what she just asked of him. It was a long while before he spoke. The entire time the demonic brute considered her request. It was too dangerous for her to travel alone and yet there was no one fit enough to travel with her. Grunting with the decision of letting her go and possibly getting herself in trouble or making her stay and causing a situation where feelings may change about him. That was all he needed was a newly joined female to dislike him because he did not want her to go out and find herself in harms way.

“Mikko,” The Alpha began and paused for a short moment before continuing, “I would much prefer you to hold off this visit with your brother until the danger has passed. Or, at the very least, the danger and its threat has been identified.” Stopping to sigh, the ebony male sat back upon his haunches and stared out of the entrance of the mine where the dim light of moon light filtered through and shone upon the floor. “I should talk to the pack as a whole so everyone knows what is going on. However, that is a problem with a pack member missing. I do wish Abyss would make her grand entrance.” Exodus remarked dryly. Slinking up to the opening of the mine, Exodus surveyed the land before him. It was stunning in this light. Throwing back his head and forming the usual ‘O’ shaped muzzle, Exodus howled out for Abyss to return home. The news of important tellings drifted upon the air finding the wolf to which they belonged. She, too, needed to be here to hear what the brute had to say about the dangers lurking in the shadows of the continent of Anikira. It was a potential threat to all.

Sighing, Exodus lowered his head and looked out at the land once more. One ear swiveled around to hear the rustling of the other wolves within the mine while the free ear stayed forward and alert searching for sounds of any approaching enemy. Perhaps they should take a hunting party out to gather more food. Especially since it was winter now, food would be very important. Already they had a small start what with the deer and all that Crise brought down earlier but it would never last anywhere near long enough. Still, it had a couples day left of good meat upon the bones. That would last until a new hunting party could find and bring back more. ”Stay safe, Taurus. The last thing I need is for you to go missing or worse."[/blockquote][/size]

[mikko]

It was pleasent to be welcomed so warmly into the pack, and Mikko was certain that she'd made the right choice, though she hadn't really explored the other lands properly, she felt safe and comfortable ere, and she did not fear the wolves making fun of her, the alpha was the same as her in a certain way. He was marked differently to the other wolves, and she felt much more comfortable with this knowledge. "And a pleasure to meet you Exodus; Taurus spoke very highly of you"

Watching Taurus carefully, she pondered wether following him would be good or not. She'd seen a darker side to him, and although it hadn't bothered her much, she did not wish for that anger to suddenly be directed at her. She liked Taurus, he was a friendly wolf, and he was strong and had respect within the pack, she would not wish for there to be a bitterness between them. But then again, if he traveled alone in the desert areas and got lost, or hurt, or even worse died. Then she'd constantly blame herself. It was a tough decision, and Mikko was still unsure what she should do.

Mikko didn't understand why Crise was confused, perhaps it was because she had woken up in a strange place, after all, she had collapsed and Exodus had brought her here. But there seemed to be something deeper going on, and Mikko was worried, the pack seemed small from what she had seen, and it wouldn't do the pack any good to loose more members. If she had any true knowledge on herbs and remedes then she'd try and find out what was wrong, but unfortunatly she had a simple mind, and such things were confusing for her.

Mikko was none too pleased with Exodus' response, okay, she had been lying, and from what she had overheard, things were not good right now, but her mind was made up, she had to acompany Taurus, she had to keep him safe. A wolf like that was not built for deserts like she was, and she couldn't live knowing that she could have prevented another unnecisary death. "I appreciate your concern Exodus, but it is important that I go." She hated to lie, but it was the only way, Exodus seemed to enjoy Taurus' company alot, and she'd hate for Exodus to loose someone like that. But she hadn't thought this far ahead, and suddenly she was at a loss for words.

Taking time to think of what to say, she watched as Taurus left, if she had any hope to protect him, she had to leave soon. Never mind this meeting Exodus wanted to take when the femme Abyss returned, she had to leave. Anything that was important she could recieve when she returned. But she wouldn't allow herself to sit here and do nothing. It was then that an idea struck her, she had once promised to visit her brother again at a certain time, a few days before their birthday. The meeting was many moons away, but it was the perfect excuse. "Exodus, I really must see my brother. When I left my family pack, I promised to visit my brother at a certain time, that time is coming up, and if I do not show then my brother may worry, and I cannot let him believe that something has happened to me."

It was a long shot, but Mikko hoped that Exodus bought it, after all, it sounded convincing, and held some truth behind it. And she was sure that Exodus knew the pain of worry, and hoped that this would convince him to let her go. "I shall only be gone a few days, but I cannot betray my brother by not meeting him."

[/size]

[silver]

As he listened, the beast’s eyes narrowed and his head rose higher than it had been moments before. Occasionally, his pink tongue darted out from his muzzle to lick the side of his snout. It was a sign he was having a serious conflict within the confines of his mind. Mikko insisted that she go out into the world, the potentially dangerous world, to talk to her brother. They were to meet at a certain time least he begin to fret about what might have happened to her. Turning away from Mikko with a grunt, Exodus crossed the threshold of the tunnels that ventured deeper into the mines. His muzzle was clamped together tightly as his eyes flickered from one side to the other as he watched his step. This presented quite the problem for the olden black wolf.

If he were to let her go, he would seem a weaker leader who could not stamp out any challenges that a pack member may open. Already he had shown his dislike for punishing others when the imbeciles who ventured onto his land knowingly had done so. So many had come and yet he did nothing but bark. Was his bark worse than his bite? He was an alpha! An alpha’s bite is supposed to be much worse. Or… Ah, perhaps there was to be balance between the amount of bite and the amount of bark exerted onto his fellow pack members. A little of too much and the scale would tip letting chaos ensue.

Then of course, if he didn’t let her go, she most likely wouldn’t think too highly of him. She had only just now joined. Without any ties to the pack, she could easily just walk out and never return. Sighing heavily, Exodus stopped very suddenly and swung his massive head towards Mikko with a not so pleased look. For a moment, he simply held her gaze before speaking to help his soon to be sung lyrics get across her mind. “I’ll let you go. However, let it be known that I won’t allow this again. Now that you are apart of this pack, you have a responsibility to the pack. By putting yourself in danger, you also put the pack in danger. I will not stand for harm coming to my members.” The black demon’s head lift once more and a soft growl escaped his throat.

He closed his eyes and sighed again, then opened his orbs. “Go on. And make haste. Don’t just take your time.” He said with a grumble. Watching her leave, the alpha’s nose twitched. He hoped he just didn’t make another mistake. Turning his head to Crise, the brute frowned. “I’m going to explore a bit. You can follow me if you’d like.” Facing the tunnels, Exodus’s brow creased for a moment. Deciding that the one on the right looked most promising, he followed that one.

[machi]

<sub>Sighing softly to herself, while Mizuki had managed to find a place to wash herself off she was now wet and cold. Not the best time to be wet and cold. Dead smack in the middle of winter time. While the weather at the moment was sunny and clear it was still rather cold. Cold for a Mexican wolf that was. Which she was. She shivered to herself and frowned. She has lost track of that large brute of an alpha. The black one with the marking on his forehead. She could not recall his name, if he had ever stated it that was.

Mizuki sighed again. ‘I didn’t even get to talk to him.’ She thought with a frown. She had been to shy as usual to ask him anything or even say hello or state her name. How easy it would be if Kai was there, her personal spokes brother. But, her brother wasn’t here. She was alone, by herself, an outcaste. This was her time to go stray and live her own life. She was no longer a pup. Now a little over two years old, she was technically an adult now. She knew by come time next spring she would go into heat for the first time.

She wrinkled her nose at the thought. She recalled the times her sister had gone into heat and the brutes in their pack followed her like wild dogs wanting to mount her every time she swished her tail. Mizuki made a note to isolate herself when that time comes. She would only mate with someone she absolutely loved, if she found love. How could she find someone to love when she didn’t even talk? No one but her brother had ever understood her single word sentences or wordless objections and statements.

She was a mute. Without actually being mute.

Mizuki found herself at the front of a rather large and perfectly carved out cave. Obviously human made. There was a slight twitch in her eye. It was so perfect it made her impulsive behavior act up. How could she unperfect rock? She tried to point out the imperfections in it as she walked inside the cavern. The scents of other wolves filled her nostrils and she wrinkled her nose. However one scent rained the slightest bit familiar. ‘That alpha guy.’ Hope shinned in her eyes as he tail wagged slightly.

Walking into the cave she could hear the voices of the wolves. Just as she walked in she caught the tail end of the conversation. Apparently that alpha guy was going off to explore the dens some and said whoever wanted to come could. Did she count? She doubted it he probably meant pack members and she wasn’t really a pack member yet. Trotting up to Exodus’ side she smiled up at him and wagged her tail. Although she barely knew him, she had a feeling he could be trusted. He might look scary but he didn’t feel scary.</sub>

[mikko]

Mikko truely disliked lying to Exodus, after all, he was being so kind to her. She knew that when she returned she'd be happy here. She almost felt like a fool for wishing to see other lands. So what if she was best suited for desert lands. It would be good to see a change, she'd spent most of her pup life in a desert, maybe it would be good to have a permanent change of scenory. At least she wouldn't have to deal with any more sand storms, well, unless they reached here. But she got the sense that they were rare. She'd never really hated sandstorms, but they had always been annoying. She'd always loved venturing out in the world, and sandstorms had always put that on hold. But being in Salen would stop that, and Mikko was certain she'd enjoy it here.

Mikko's tail lowered as Exodus grunted and moved away from her, she didn't want this. She did not wish Exodus to become unsettled. But she had to follow Taurus and protect him. During this time, sandstorms were rather common, and she couldn't allow Taurus to face such an unknown territory alone. It was hard to travel on sand, and you had to know what to look out for, otherwise you could end up in certain situations. You had to choose carefully what plants to get water from, and certain prey was not safe to eat. If she let Taurus go unaccompanied, then he might never return.

As Exodus turned his head towards her, Mikko recoiled slightly at his look. Maybe it would have been best if she hadn't of said anything about joining the pack. Maybe it would just have been easier to leave and come back announcing that Salen was the best place for her. Holding back a whine, Mikko looked back at Exodus, awaiting his reply. She knew that when she returned things could be somewhat awkward. But she didn't care, she'd feel worse if news of Taurus death reached Salen and she hadn't done anything.

But what escaped Exodus' lips surprised Mikko. He was allowing her to go? Standing up straight, Mikko wagged her tail ever so slightly, and a look of gratitude spread across her face. "Thank you Exodus." She replied softly. She understood his terms completly, and would abide by them fully. They were fair and just, and she understood that once she returned, she'd be an official member of the pack, and she couldn't just run off whenever she felt like it. They were a unity, a family, and she couldn't put them at risk. "I shall never ask this of you again, I promise."

Turning, she heard Exodus' last words to her and nodded her head. "I shall make sure that my meeting with my brother is short." With that, Mikko ran out of the mines. Sniffing the ground, she found a fresh scent belonging to Taurus. She knew where he was heading, but she wanted to follow the same path, at least that way she'd find him easily. Picking up his trail, she took one last look at the mines and headed off to find Taurus.

--Exit Mikko--

[/size]

[crise]

Crise was feeling a little overwhelmed, to say the least. From what the others had told her, her name was Crise, she was in the Salen territory, and the alpha named Exodus thought she'd passed out because she was hungry. That was a new theory. Then again, she wasn't exactly sure why she had blacked out not long ago so she figured she might as well roll with the punches and enjoy the free meal while it was offered.

Silently she rose to snatch a decent piece of meat before retreating to one side of the mines. Apparently there was some very important information being discussed amoung the packmembers, and she wasn't quite sure if it was a good idea for her to participate or not. The white male, Taurus, had gone bounding from the mines on some sort of mission, and the odd looking striped female seemed to be in an aweful hurry to leave as well. As for Crise herself, she had absolutely no clue what was going on and knew even less about her own self.

Quietly she slowly gnawed at the meat she'd ripped from the deer. She really was hungry, and the feeling of the tender strips as they slipped down her throat and sank into her stomach felt like heaven. Something told her that hunger wasn't exactly the reason she'd passed out though. She had the vague recollection that she'd spent many days on a much emptier stomach than the one she'd currently just filled. The memories were hazy though, and she could not yet piece together her past.

When Exodus decided that he'd be exploring as well, panic sunk into the shattered mind of the Mexican femora. If he left too, then she would be all alone, with very little information concerning the most recent events. She quickly scarffed down the remainder of the meat as he'd glanced at her, inviting her along. Scampering to her paws she nodded frantically and scurried to his side, almost colliding with a femme who'd suddenly just entered the dens. Confused for a moment, she tried to shake the feeling off with a shake of her pelt. She'd be spending most of the next few hours confused if she didn't stick close to someone who possibly knew something about her. Hopefully this Exodus could give her some answers.

"Um, mister Exodus sir?" she questioned timidly as she trailed after him down the right hand path. "Can you, um... possibly tell me what happened before I, uh, what I assume can only be descirbed as collapsed and blacked out? I'm pretty sure it wasn't related to hunger. At the moment I honestly don't remember anything clearly from before I woke up again..."

Her eyes were hopefull as she gazed up at the much larger male, tail swaying back and forth in anticipation. In all truth, she was dying to find out any information the black brute knew about her. If she was lucky it would jog her memory and she'd once again know who she was. Of course, if she regained too many memories she'd be purposely trying to make herself black out again. She didn't know that though. Poor Crise just wanted to establish some sort of sense of self, and the best way to do that was to ask questions, even if the one who could possibly give her some answers was one of the most intimidating looking wolves she'd ever seen. That she could remember anyways, heh heh heh.

[silver]

A slightly familiar scent wavered into the nose of the black marked one. Just as he turned around to look at the new wolf, a figure appeared beside him. Giving a soft, startled yelp and jumping to the side, Exodus snarled. His silver optics flashed dangerously. As soon as it happened, it was over. The alpha quite down and peered down at Mizuki sternly. “Ah, I wondered what you had gotten off to, femme.” He spoke in his deep voice that resounded down in the distant tunnels of the mines. “Don’t sneak up on other.” He chastised with a grumble. “You never told me your name, either. If you’d still like to join Salen, you’ll have to talk to me at some point, you know.” Exodus mentioned softly. His silver eyes focused on her and studied her for a moment. She was young, just barely two years if that. She, like Crise, was a Mexican wolf. Exodus’ nose twitched.


"Um, mister Exodus sir? Can you, um... possibly tell me what happened before I, uh, what I assume can only be described as collapsed and blacked out? I'm pretty sure it wasn't related to hunger. At the moment I honestly don't remember anything clearly from before I woke up again..."

[/I]

At this voice, Exodus’ focus was then turned upon Crise. “Just Exodus or sir is fine, Crise.” The brute said with a slight sigh. No use wasting one’s breath on extra, unneeded words. Taking a moment to collect his thoughts, Exodus paused and blinked several times at Crise before finally answering. No doubt that kept her on the tips of her paws. “Well… You and I were hunting deer. That one to be exact.” He gestured to the carcass that would need to be thrown out soon. It was high time to hunt again. It seemed like they sure did hunt a lot and yet only ate such little portions of the deer. Sighing, her shook his marked head and then fluffed out his fur.

Exodus sat back upon his black shaggy haunches to scratch at a persistent flea on his side. When his claws failed, the brute took to biting. That did the trick. Looking back at Crise and Mizuki, Exodus had s tuff of fur between his teeth and stuck upon his nose. Suddenly, the large black brute gave a forcefully loud sneeze. As the echo died down, he blinked. “Excuse me.” He muttered unhappily. It was then that he happened to notice the rather drastic personality change that Crise had gone through since blacking out. “So you… don’t remember anything prior to waking up now, hmm?” He asked carefully while slowly getting up and peering over at her with a curious expression. That was quite unusually. Perhaps she hit her head. Yes, that could be the explanation.

“Well, while hunting, you finally caught the deer’s neck. You brought it down easily enough, but when I got to your side, the deer was dead and you were unconscious. If it was not hunger that caused your black out, then perhaps you hit your head. You may have even gotten too much of an adrenaline rush. Has this happened before?” Exodus asked and then scowled. If she didn’t remember what happened only a couple of hours ago, was there anyway she remembered things from days or even years ago? Oh boy. What was he getting into? A female that was apparently mute, a female that randomly blacks out, a female that is quite the looker, a female that seems to disappear for long periods at a time, and a male who’s mind was so hard to read. Yep. Some pack, eh.

Smiling to himself, Exodus spared a small chuckle. He wouldn’t change it for the world. This was his pack. These were his pack members. They were his family.

A soft tingling in his forehead caused the proud sensation filling his heart to turn cold and suspicious. Silver eyes narrowed while the fur along his spine rose in spikes. The feeling he got wasn’t a very good one. “Ah, someone’s here.” Exodus growled creating a dramatic effect. “Instead of exploring, how about we take a small hike outside. I’d greatly appreciate it if you both would follow me.” He growled. Somehow, the tone of his voice told the two that the statement was not a request. Padding out, Exodus took a swift gait but ensured that the others could keep pace with him.[/blockquote][/size]

[crise]

"Um... sir, right. Okay mister sir Exodus sir. If you insist, um... sir." The words tumbled from Crise's mouth with little thought. If he expected her to ever say anything short, sweet, and to the point then he was in for a real treat. The Mexican femora was always way to long winded for her own good, especially when her amnesia was at its freshest. Why she always added unnecessary words was unknown. It wouldn't be a very far fetched theory to accuse her of liking the sound of her own voice a bit too much though. Crise was a talker who rarely ever enjoyed long periods of silence.

At the sound of the black brute's sneeze, her head tilted to one side as a crooked smile crossed her maw. "Bless you," she mumbled out, trying to hold in a giggle. Seeing the alpha with a tuff of fur on his snout had been rather funny. Luckily, she did manage to check her laughter. Of course, that didn't stop the slightly amused sway in her tail as she took innocent pleasure from simple, common actions.

...Innocence. Something clicked in her memory, a flashback of sorts. It was neither very long nor very clear. It was a memory though, and it was enough to cause her brow to crease in thought. She felt as if she and Exodus had had a conversation concerning innocence. She couldn't remember the specifics, or even the location. She knew the topic though. Funny thing was, the Crise that had had that conversation was very different from the one standing in the dens. That Crise had lost her innocence long ago. This one was currently more innocent than a newborn pup.

When her memory was questioned, the female simply nodded her head. She was slowly getting back bits and pieces of things, but nothing was coherrant enough for her to make any sense of her past. She had no trigger, and until one was found she would be as lost as a butterfly in a fishbowl. Her auds were perked, tuning in to every word the fell from the alpha's maw. He gave a rather detailed account of her last few conscious minutes, and her brow furrowed even further. His words had provided said trigger, and now memories were flooding back and assulting her mind.

"I remember the hunt," she murmered quietly, letting the memory take her over. She seemed a bit distant as she continued to speak, her eyes glazing over as they focused on absolutely nothing at all. "I remember the hunt, the chase. I remember the deer. The adrennaline rush. The increased heartrate. Heartrate... Heartbeat... Heart! That's it! My heart. Oh dear... My heart... She paused, trailing off. She knew exactly what had happened. Most of the memories of her past were still hidden, but she could now recall the last few hours to some extent. She still couldn't, or maybe wouldn't, recall the conversation by the lake. She remember the hunt and everything after it quite clearly however, and she also recalled the reason for why she often blacks out. Lucikly, none of her harshest of memories had returned, so she would remain in high spirits for a while longer.

By the time Crise was ready to actually answer Exodus's question, he was already talking about tresspassers. Her expression twisted in confusion. And then, almost as quickly it erupted into a beautiful smile. Strangers meant more company and the Mexican fae absolutely loved company of any sort. "Um, if you don't mind mister sir Exodus, sir, I'll explain what I can after our little recon mission. It's not nearly as urgent, and will take more time than you should spare right now."

She practically beamed at him, tail wagging excitedly as she waited for him to lead the way. He seemed to accept her words for now and stepped towards the den's exit. Crise fell into step a few paces behind him, curious as to meet the strangers who did now howl. All in good time she would tell the alpha her story, in bits and pieces as she recalled them. For now, however, she would follow behind him and see what else she could recall from a change in landscape.