Beside a Snowy Sea (Joining Thread)

[Deleted]

A black tundra wolf walked along the shore of a beach, her silver underside seemingly matching with the sand beneath her. Her reddish-brown paws had the small grains of sand between her fine furs. She turned her golden gaze onto the azure waters crashing upon the shore, stopping to stare for awhile.

"The ocean..." She sighed, running her tongue over her sharp teeth. "How free it is..." Images of her former pack ran through her head and she suddenly felt regretful. She shook her head furiously. "NO! I will NOT go back to them! They're the reason I left!"

She continued walking along the beach, disgust twisted onto her face. This wolf's name was Spirit and she had belonged to a pack living far in the north. That changed, however, when her heart was broken, shattered into thousands of pieces. Since that incident a year ago, Spirit has been traveling as a loner, remaining closer to the colder territories as she preferred them. The warmer climates were nice as well, but not a place she wanted to live.

Spirit came to the end of the beach, spotting a gaping hole in the side of a mountain. It was wide and dark, grabbing her interest. She kicked herself into a sprint and made way to the cave, halting at the entrance. She extended her neck and sniffed at the air, moist, black nose twitching. She stepped forward and entered the cavern, deciding it was best to rest from the blistering winds for awhile.

She sauntered over to a wall in the cavern and rested against it, sinking to the floor tiredly. She rested her head on her paws and gaped her jaws in a large yawn. Her mouth snapped shut and a content smile broke out over her maw. Slowly, her mind drifted into the darkness of sleep. She prayed, however, that no one would attack her if they found her.

[seadragoness]

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[bg=000000][atrb=background,http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff153/Lumarinam/kastiel-background.png] Kastiel found himself in what was once more a new and unexplored part of his new territory. It seemed a vast land, strangely so for the few wolves that had decided to make there home here. Under Torio’s gentle lead it made for a welcoming home, a place to live and thrive in what was so far harmony. The pack was still new however, there paws still fresh against the unmarked earth. Kastiel was making it his mission to scout every corner, to turn every leaf and chase out any danger with fang and claws. As of yet it seemed very few to no other predators had made there home here. Instead it was to his great pride that prey flourished and safety was seemingly secured. The steady rhythm of his paws faulted as he moved from steady ground to gritty sand. He took to a form of prancing, each paw held high as he moved purposely across the uneven surface. Moving quickly across such terrain proved to be inconvenient at best, but more important then ever as the scent of a stranger caught his attention. Sharp eyes sinking into the cave before him as he approached, tail low behind him, paws slow and silent. The scent was definitely of a wolf – a female, unless he was mistaken. One may say that this would prove therefore to be no threat – but Kastiel was not so naive. Almost slinking now towards the entrance, eyes glowing as they cast into the shadows of the cave to identify the stranger that took sanctuary there. Her head on her paws, and her steady breathing gave way the truth of her current state – she slept. She looked peaceful like this, a complete stranger to his eyes, a young female wolf in a strange and unknown territory. Something akin to sadness sank into his heart, and he knew it was to Dust, his lost sister, that his mind drifted. Unwilling to let her memory crumple his judgment, he shook his head free of the serenity that had settled there and let out a soft sound akin to a bark to wake her. “Stranger, to trespass here. What is your purpose?” He let a moment pass between his bark before he spoke the words, to give her time to waken – if the sound was to cause such an action – so that her mind could free itself of cobwebs and his words could settle.

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Spirit was trapped in an unforgiving dream, a nightmare more or less, reliving when her pack chased after her, reliving when she had her heart broken. She knew she was seemingly calm and motionless in her sleep, as she always did when she had the nightmares, but it was more of a subconscious thought, drifting by her mind as if nothing else mattered. The substance of her dream had reoccurred before, and still haunted her. They were not bad dreams, they only reminded her of what she left behind.

Her mindset was broken through when a sharp noise caused her dream to come to a screeching halt. Everything in her mind went black and she was floating in nothingness for a moment. The sleep was heavy on her eyelids as she attempted to open them, feeling as though they were weighed down by large stones. Her senses were slow to react and it took several moments for them to become fully aware of her surroundings once again, allowing her to finally realize that someone had spoken to her.

Spirit was a little startled, although feeling no alarm at all. In fact, she was calm as she looked up and blinked the sticky substance from her eyes to clear her vision, only to find a strange wolf right in front of her. Her yellow eyes flashed, though she found herself oddly at ease. If the male wanted to attack her, then he would have done so. Instead, he woke her up to ask her his inquiry. Slowly, it processed in her mind and she deliberated on answering.

The tundra wolf stretched her muscles and arched her back as she crawled into a standing position to face the male. She was completely awake now, having rested well from such a short nap, though she could have used more. She was exhausted and it could be seen by the way she simply slept in the open as she did. She sighed, yawning once more, then turned toward him, intent on answering his question.

"I mean no harm. I was only tired. I needed the sleep." She paused a moment, then continued. "My name is Spirit. If it is your wish for me to not be here, then I will leave." However, she did not move. She waited patiently for an order or a reply, to be told to leave or to strike up a conversation. She was unsure of which was to come, but she would leave it at the wolf before her to decide. After all, she was not one to intrude. One other wolf didn't think so, which was the reason she bared the scar across her left eye.

[seadragoness]

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[bg=000000][atrb=background,http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff153/Lumarinam/kastiel-background.png] Kastiel stood patient as the stranger came slowly to, arching her back, jumping the sleep from her eyes, ect, ect. Her actions where slow and gentle, apposed to one frightened or rushed. In his mind this could only come down to two things, a complete confidence in her own abilities to defend herself, or a naive trust that a complete stranger would mean her no harm – especially when he had clearly stated she was trespassing. Once coming to, it seemed she needed a few moments more, even after this. The words he had spoken where still settling, the cobwebs yet to be brushed from the recently awoken mind. IN that moment he felt... anger towards her, misplaced anger, but it was there all the same. She seemed almost slow and too trusting before his eyes, the same child-like innocence Dust had held – still held. Still held. The anger was for the reminder of his little, lost sister. For how easy it would have been for a wolf with a more evil demeanour to strike her down where she stood. Maybe it shouldn’t have been surprising that the moment the anger was recognised it turned to an almost brother-like protectiveness over her. he stopped seeing her as a threat, and began to see her as another, sister wolf. He had been a loner for too long, maybe the nature inside of him that seeks pack life was fighting his cautious life. Whatever, the delay for his mind to make these connections had given the other wolf time to catch up and speak her own mind. She left it to him if he was to escort her off the land or allow her to stay. As of yet it had been undefined if Kastiel held the right permissions to accept this wolf into the fold of Torio’s pack. All the same, he knew the pack was searching for members, it was just beginning and needed the numbers to support itself. To add to this, he didn’t wish to send this young she-wolf back out into the cold, where she seemed far to trusting to be left on her own. Maybe he didn’t have Dust around to look after – it did him good to look after others, filled the place in his heart that ached for his little sister. “Spirit... this is Airila pack territory you tread on. Staying isn’t quite a matter of a social visit, not like this anyway. If you where at the border seeking to know your neighbours I would understand, but you have walked into our territory as through non the wiser. What is your purpose here?” He spoke softer then he normally did, enquiry apposed to suspicion circled in his strange eyes.

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[Deleted]

His soft voice caused some suspicion to spark in her chest and she watched the stranger, feeling as though something was misplaced in their conversation. If she was trespassing on a pack's territory, then wouldn't she have been chased out already? The wolves she had known previously would have killed her for coming onto their lands. That was her reason for traveling along those borders when she passed by those lands. These lands, however, she must not have sensed any markers on and went over the borders without realizing they belonged to someone else. She must have been more tired than she thought.

Spirit was confident in her abilities to escape a situation that could put her in harm's way. She was raised to fight and defend herself, not to mention her pack. With that thought, she found an answer to the stranger's question. Honestly, it was not an answer that she took too much of a liking to herself. She flattened her ears ad looked away with disdain, almost growling at herself. It was an answer she had been searching for for a year, since she left, was chased out for trying to leave.

Hesitantly, she looked back to the wolf, eyes hardening. She rose her head, despite the anguish she felt. "I...don't have a purpose anymore." She murmured, allowing the words to sink into her mind, to soak in so she could face the reality of her own life. An angered smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, showing her teeth slightly. "I had a purpose. I had a great purpose once, but it's long gone now."

Spirit growled to herself and proceeded to walk to the edge of the cave, sitting on her haunches at the opening. Her fur was bristled angrily and her tail refused to remain in one place as it lashed back and forth. She was angry more with herself than with the pack she once had. At the moment, it didn't matter to her whether or not this wolf killed her. Then, it came to her. The wolf said she was trespassing on pack territory. She had a feeling the opportunity was there for her to seize.

Spirit turned her head slightly to meet the wolf's gaze. "How many wolves reside in this pack of yours? Is there enough room for one more?" Her voice was quiet, for she feared rejection. After what happened to her, she didn't want to be turned down again. She didn't want to be chased out or forced to leave. She awaited his answer, wondering if he was the one with the authority, the one she was supposed to ask.

[seadragoness]

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[bg=000000][atrb=background,http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff153/Lumarinam/kastiel-background.png] Kastiel’s quite voice seemed to hold a different effect then one he had expected. Was it just his imagination, or was it almost hostility he could scent seething from her fur? She raised her head now, and he could see her yellow eyes, the spark of there light glowing against her dark coat. He could see something in her eyes and for a moment he struggled to identify it. Was it resentment, anger, Anguish? Some strong emotion seethed behind those lids, and his heart ached to know what troubled her. She was already drawn cracks in the resemblance to his sister. His sister knew no anguish, no pain. She knew hardship, and yet she did not – there had always been something wrong with his sisters mind, enough so that any other wolf might have killed her for her weakness, to put her from her misery. Enough of his sister, she was a constant thought stalking the back of his mind, ever-present and pressing against him. There was a moments wait between her first sentence, that one that hold him what he had seen in her was anguish, maybe even blame – but weather it was a blame towards her own actions or that of another he couldn’t tell. When she spoke this time it was through something akin to a grimace, pulling her lips back in an effort of a grim smile, teeth protrude between he gaps of her stretch lips. He didn’t take it as a growl, no such sound emitted from her throat and there wasn’t a threatening hostility in her stance. What ever purpose once was, she believed it to be lost now. A growl was made now, and she stalked for – towards him. He couldn’t help it, a snarl would rip between his mussel and the fur upon his back would rise, his paws itching against the earth. He was ready to move, to fight or defend. She sat instead upon her hunches, fur bristling with an unspoken anger. What ever was going through her mind, it was not near pleasant, and he assumed it as her past –what ever had caused her to be this bitter creature. She moved her head, a subtle tilt of her shaggy coat, and her eyes fell upon him. He meet her gaze unblinking, un-judging. Her voice spoke through the cold, crisp air once more. It was not without the faint eco of the cave, and her breath so close, a little closer and he might have felt it against the soft, short fur of his cheek. He had sat at the entrance to greet the stranger, and now less of a stranger as she was, she had moved forward, towards him. A place here? This is what she wanted? The urge that was akin to a brother-like protectiveness seemed to sharpen inside of him, he couldn’t ignore or deny it. What ever ailed this young creature, he new he could not abandon her to the fates – as cruel as they where. “Spirit...” He murmured her name softly, and the moment it slipped past his guard he knew he would not send her away. He was not even entirely sure he had the permissions to accept her, but he was a beta – and he knew Torio would hold no grudged against him, when members was a key factor in the rising of this pack. “My name is Kastiel, I am the beta to this pack, and out leader is called Torio. We are a new pack, and as of yet our numbers are few. We are strong however, and kind. We will not send you from here if you wish to stay. Until you run across our Alpha, and verify this statement – yes, my dear, you are welcome to this pack.” He hoped he had done the right thing here, but he knew he would not have left her to the cold. He would look out for her, as once he had for his sister, he would let no harm befall her.

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She drank in the ocean scents wafting in from just outside the cave and listened carefully to Kastiel's words, taking them in with sheer happiness. On impulse, her tail began waving back and forth on the cave floor, moving small stones and dust with it. She was overly excited, having a great feeling well up inside her chest. She was unsure what caused it, though. Either being accepted or how he handled the situation. She was not at all fazed by his earlier growl. It was normal, especially since she was the one who advanced toward him with a scowl on her face. It must have made him somehow think she was attacking him. It was understandable.

There was a slight tinge of guilt in her stomach and she flattened her ears sadly. "Forgive me... There's a lot wrong with me right now. It's been a year and I'm still not coping too well with my situation." She paused to draw in and release a shaky breath, turning her golden gaze out upon the ocean. It calmed her. "Thank you, Kastiel. No one has been so kind to a grouch like me in a long time. I appreciate it." She paused, a beautiful smile breaking out on her face, her eyes sparkling. "Isn't the ocean wonderful? It's so free and vast. Certainly makes me wonder what's out there."

Spirit felt at ease for the first time in a long time. Though she missed her old pack, though they chased her out as she left, she had the most wonderful idea. She wanted to cast them aside, push away all of the memories of those who hurt her, and leave them behind to eat her dust. She was ready to make new memories with her new pack, with Kastiel and Torio and whoever else resided in Airila. She was very excited and was barely able to contain herself, desperately anxious to serve her new family.

She caught herself on that though, turning to look at the Beta again. "Before I forget, what is there you have for me to do in this pack? My talents stretch wide, so I can do whatever it is you need me to do, Kastiel." Spirit awaited his answer once again, liking this wolf more and more by the second. He was good company and, if the others in the pack were like him, the tundra wolf had a great feeling she would get along with everyone just fine.

[seadragoness]

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[bg=000000][atrb=background,http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff153/Lumarinam/kastiel-background.png] With his words, he could see in her eyes and her actions, the effect they held over her. The despair inside of her was washed away with rolling waves, her tail brushing against the fur, and in that moment she looked so alive Would his heart always ache with memories of Dust? Would every joy in others be a reminder of what he had once seen in her eyes? Would he never be free of the guilt that infolded him in his icy gasp, wrapping in his clothes of regret. Once more, she had succeeded in casting reminders of his sister inside his mind, and as happy as he was for the change in her demeanour the reminders kept him sober and his face well gentle, it was incapable of sharing in her joy. Was it his sober expression that pulled a hole within her moment? For the pleasure vanished from her mussel, and her ears pressed dully against her head. He would understand her actions when she opened her mussel and spoke her words. She asked for forgiveness, explaining that there was a lot wrong with her at the moments, lack of coping abilities. At least with Dust, she was too far gone in the mind to fully understand hardship, and her mind was incapable of sadness. He sorely missed her aggravating ability to look at the bright side of even the most daring situations. He lost her eyes to the ocean, she took a breath to calm herself, and he realised he was seeing a great deal of the pain that surrounded her heart. He could feel his own breaking, no kind and gentle fae like this should have to deal with such sadness. The span of her attention to remain on one thought quickly became apparent as she jumped from her highs to her lows and back again before him. She commented on the ocean, her eyes breaking out in delight and a delightful smile encircling her lips. “She loved the ocean too...” It whispered past his walls before he even felt his mussel move. Shocked, surprised to find his walls where no longer even there, the male felt naked before her. He never meant to give away his secrets, and the anguish in his own words would be all too painfully clear to her. He regretted the words already, and he had never meant for them to be spoken. The wolf’s attention turned once more to the pack he – they – resided in. she wanted to know what her job in the pack would be, where she might be able to put herself to use. Kastiel honestly held no answer for her. “You will have to ask Toiro that one. I am unsure how he wishes the ranks to be places” He admitted softly, moving forward so that he was beside Spirit he sat, and his eyes trailed out across the vast expanse of blue. He held no guard now, and if she wished to attack him he would be unprepared. In all his time as a loner his walls had not taken in for account the abilities others would hold in reaching his heart. He was too loving for his own good, and he could not hold hostility towards this gentle wolf, Spirit. His... friend? He warmed at the idea of friendship, Toiro being his only one in this world.

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Spirit was happy when he sat beside her, feeling as though he finally trusted her. It was good, seeing as she never had any intention of hurting him in the first place. It was not in her heart to do so, especially since he did not attack her when he saw her intruding upon his pack's territory. Well, it was her territory now as well, made possible because of the wolf she was accompanied by. Even though she had no rank, she was more than willing to wait for Torio and learn her place. She wanted nothing more than that.

However, it was obvious to her that he knew pain, sorrow, and heartbreak. She could see it in his eyes and in his expression, no matter how subtle he was trying to be, how emotionless he attempted to appear. It didn't matter to her, because she could see it. The female knew heartbreak all too well, and she could relate to losses. Her gaze was soft as she watching him, curious and somber at the same time. She knew her question could be unwelcome, but she couldn't stop it from escaping past her lips.

"You know pain, too?" She asked quietly, turning her eyes to her paws. "I can see it in your eyes, Kastiel, but only because I know it as well. I loved someone for a very long time, but he shattered my heart and walked all over it. I was devastated...and that's why I left that pack." She was unsure why she was sharing her past with a wolf she had only just become acquainted with, but, again, she couldn't help herself. He was too kind for her to care. "I left a lot behind that day...but I'm sure you aren't wanting to hear this."

She felt a small chuckle roll past her gums, laughing at herself, at what she believed to be her own insanity. She shook her head at her folly and smiled, content. She looked back at the wolf, hoping her melancholy would not scare him away. "After that, acceptance became something I sought. It's strange to receive it now, even after a year of being alone. That's why I thank you for it. You've no idea how much it means to me." Spirit was comfortable around this wolf. Kastiel made her feel like she belonged, like she had a place in the world again.

[seadragoness]

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[bg=000000][atrb=background,http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff153/Lumarinam/kastiel-background.png] And so they sat in silence, a pair of almost complete strangers. He no longer held onto his steady walls, they had crumbled with a breath as through so weak the slightest breeze would have caused them to tremble. His shoulders sagged, as through in defeat. What ever power this fae held over him, what ever it was that threw away everything he had attempt to build himself into, he did not fight it. She broke the silence however, her soft voice broke through the despair that inevitably took over the free space in his mind. Of course, this new face of Kastiel would not – could not – be permanent. But maybe it did him good, to look out across the sea and be... himself, for the first time in his life. Without worrying over Dust, without wondering if she was okay, and what the future would bring him and her both. She shared with him a piece of her past, spilling secrets that maybe she herself was only just coming to terms with, let alone had the chance to tell another. He knew something of trust, Kastiel, and he knew no power in this world could ever cause him to break the trust she placed in him in that moment. But having told him, she seemed to shuffle in some way to defensive, she did not emphasise her pain, if anything she attempted to belittle it, by wondering if Kastiel even wanted to hear at all. He knew then that it was time to speak, and moving his eyes from the sea they rested on her, and his voice was thick with compassion (but in no sense pity) and a deep, profound friendship. “Of course I want to hear it. It matters to you, and therefore it matters to me. Don’t doubt that, my friend” They where friends, he had realised this already, he had let down his guard and she had crept into his heart. He would look out for her, no one would ever hurt her again – he would see to that. “As for this pain you say you see inside of me... I have never loved, not in the way you are saying. I had... have, I have a sister. She was sick. Is, is sick in the mind and so her thoughts have never been right. We where parted by accident months back, now. Maybe she has never been good at caring for herself, but I know she survived and is out there somewhere. If I didn’t think that I would have nothing left” And there it was, his burden, his pain. She thanked him then for the acceptance he had given her into the pack, but there was nothing to thank there – even if he was not Beta, he would have found a way to convince Toiro, he could not leave her to the world, not now, and not then. “I’m only glad that I could help you” He murmured, an almost bland polite response – or so it would normally be, but in kastiel’s voice it came through with meaning. He truly was glad he could help her.

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[Deleted]

Friend. A word like that made the young wolf think, ponder about what friends she could have made remaining, heartbroken, in her last pack. She was unsure of what the fates wanted for her, unable to comprehend where her life needed to go and what it was that she needed to do. Though, she would remain with the pack she was brought into for now and ignore fate until it really caught her attention. She was living for the moment, too happy in her own mind to care at all about what fate and destiny had in store for her.

She listened intently to his story, surprised that he was sharing it with her at all, and never broke the gaze she held with him. He lost his sister, he lost family. In a way, she had too, but not in the way he had experienced it. Spirit left her family, never caring if they hated her or missed her when she did. All she was thinking about at the time was getting away from the one thing that had caused her so much pain. She couldn't tolerate the male's presence anymore, so she left. She ran away.

Spirit was not sure she was ashamed of her actions, for if she hadn't, she wouldn't be where she was right now. She was happy with the decision, no matter how much she craved to see her mother again. "I suppose...life isn't always fair. We lose and we win, but not always at what we want. Life is like the ocean: too big for us to understand." She looked at said object as she spoke, realizing she had delved into a more zen-like mode. She was in her state of peace and depth, speaking only in such ways.

Again, she laughed at herself. "Sometimes I think I'm insane, but I was always told that the best characters are." Spirit was weird, there was no doubt, because she knew that she was. Her attitude tended to be all over the place, up and down and everywhere else it could go. Her tail curled around her legs and she sighed. "I'm all too anxious to meet the alpha. Torio, was it? May we go?" She paused. "I must seem much to excited."

In truth, she was. It was in her nature to feel that way. Besides, it had been a long time since she had socialized with wolves on friendly terms. Authority was another thing, however, but she was sure she could handle the Alpha, just as she had befriended the Beta. She stood and stretched once again, stepping out onto the sand. The wind was cold, as always, and it continued to flatten her fur.

[seadragoness]

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[bg=000000][atrb=background,http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff153/Lumarinam/kastiel-background.png] Kastiel felt too weary in that moment, it made him feel old, and he realised with another slight break in his heart that he had never really had the chance to live at all. Ever since he was old enough to catch prey for them both, Dust had been under his supervision and in his care. Every decision he had made then after, was for the sake of his sister. In a way it was as through he had been a father too early, and with the responsibilities of a child had never gotten the chance to live his life. But worse, she was a child that had never grown up, not mentally, not well enough to care for herself. Oh... how could she still be out there, how could she have survived, after he had failed her so? Spirit’s words sounded wise, and they dragged him from the pit of his torn soul he had dragged his sorry hide towards. There was only so much despair he could take, so he stood, he shook out his coat as through this could cast away his worries, and looked at his new friend. “Insane? He murmured softly, tilting his head as a half smile made its way towards his mussel “The way sanity’s judged, I don’t think any of us have a shred of it left” He joked softly as she noted how eager she was to meet his alpha. She wanted to know her place within the pack and ensure the Alpha agreed to her joining, which was fair enough. “Alright then, Spirit, lets go meet the Alpha” He encouraged her, nodding his head for her to stand. He would speak for her when they approached Torio, surely the Alpha, who wanted more members in the pack, would have no reservations for letting this wolf freely join the pack. He trusted his leader to know what was right. Maybe he was young, but it was no doubt that he was a good hearted wolf who would do his best for this pack. Kastiel trusted and respected him, that was why he knew this pack was just the place he wanted to make a home for Dust in. Kastiel then proceeded to raised his head and howl, the message in his howl was clear; Torio, my alpha. Please may you come, or let me know where I may find you?

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Spirit struggled against the overwhelming urge to run out ahead of Kastiel and find the alpha on her own, but she settled on exiting the cave and trotting happily through the sand. She approached the shore and began sauntering into the water, not too far, however. It flattened the reddish-brown fur on her paws, though it cleaned the sand from between her furs. She stepped out of the water and shook her paws dry, scattering small droplets of the salty liquid onto the parched dirt.

She sat down farther from the ocean and stared off in the direction she had come from, scanning the area for any other wolf that could come their way or possibly even her new alpha. She was definitely excited to meet him, anxious and ready to learn her place in this pack. She listened to Kastiel as he howled into the sky, calling out to his leader, summoning him or asking him to give his location. Spirit began thinking, realizing she would need to seem somewhat presentable when she did meet Torio. She knew she would. First impressions were very important, and she was aware of it.

Spirit craned her head backwards to get a look at her fur and was almost disgusted by how much she had let it go wild. It was ragged, even clumped in places, and she knew that wouldn't make her look the greatest in front of others. She snorted at herself and stuck out her pale pink tongue, proceeding to groom her fur. She had to gnaw a few of the clumps free from her pelt and, soon enough, her fur was shining and clean. She stood and shook herself, loosening her coat, then walked back over to where Kastiel was.

She gave a sheepish grin. "I assumed I shouldn't look like a menace in front of the alpha. My fur itself can look that way." She was careful as she sat down again, as to not destroy her newly cleaned fur. Spirit waited patiently beside the Beta, almost quivering with excitement.

[Toiro]

Toiro’s ears flicked forwards, straining to catch Kastiel’s howl. He rose from his nice patch in the sun and stretched, preparing his muscles for the journey.
“Time to go” he said to no one in particular “I will miss this land, but I’ll return soon, with new knowledge that will help Airila. The pack will be strong” Toiro nodded to himself. Yes, the pack would be strong. He would make Keyara proud.

He set off at a brisk trot, heading down towards the beach. Excitement was beginning to bubble up inside him; excitement at the journey he and Kastiel were about to embark on. It was about more than just meeting the alphas to tell them that Airila had been established, it was about learning how other alphas lead their packs and what made a pack run smoothly and effectively. He would gain experience from this trip, would come back wiser. Perhaps he would even recruit a few more members along the way.

Toiro smiled as a gentle breeze ruffled his fur. He was in one of his unusual good moods; everything was going to plan. With his head raised, he drew in a deep breath and smelt the distinctive scent of the sea. Breaking into a relaxed lope, he passed through the last stretch of forest and emerged onto the beach. Sand scattered beneath his paws as he made his way over towards the wolves waiting patiently on the shore.

His pace slowed to a walk as he neared the two figures. One he recognised as his trusted friend and advisor, Kastiel, the other was a complete stranger to him. Their journey looked as if it would have to wait. A new wolf meant a possible new member and he couldn’t just ignore that. Their quest would have to be dealt with later.

“Kastiel” He nodded a greeting to his beta before turning to face the newcomer. “Greetings. I am Toiro, alpha of the Airila pack. May I ask who you are?”


((OOC: 333 words! =D))

[Deleted]

Spirit's golden eyes continued to scan the beach, drifting over the sand carefully, as to not miss a single detail. Nothing would happen without her aware of it, at least she wouldn't let it. Her neck craned when she smelled something on the light breeze ruffling through their fur. A new scent, one of a wolf she didn't know. Granted, Kastiel was the only wolf she had come to know since leaving her old pack behind. Any other wolf she had come to encounter she had gotten into a territorial dispute with even though she meant to only pass through. That was her original plan when stepping onto these lands, then Kastiel found her.

The tundra wolf quivered noticeably with excitement when the scent she detected became a figure in the distance, scattering the sand as he (she was assuming) began heading this way. In their direction. Spirit was beyond excited at this point, though the only physical attribute of it was her vigorously wagging tail. She was pushing the sand back and forth repeatedly, getting it between the furs of her black and silver coat. She noticed this and lifted her tail, shaking it once to rid it of the sand. She curled it around her feet and settled with that. She bent her neck and licked her chest a few more times, flattening the fur that laid there. It had begun to stick up because of her excitement.

The wolf approached, nodding to Kastiel and looking at her. He introduced himself as the alpha of Airila, then asked of her name. All too eagerly, she replied, "My name is Spirit. I'm interested in joining your pack." This was it. The moment of truth. She was aware the beta could accept members, but the final judgement usually was left to the alpha. Spirit was anxious to learn her place.