Waiting in the Snow (joining)

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The cold wind whirled around Firefly as she moved into a clearing, away from the immediate protection of the massive trees of the Xayar Forest. Even through her thick white and grey fur, she could feel the cold. She shivered a little, but not so much from the cold, but rather from the anticipation of what she was about to do. Anxiety knotted her stomach as she stepped lightly through the snow.

She had spent all her life staying away from the pack. But with her mother now gone, she knew she had to do this. She had to make contact. And hope that they would accept her into their group. But what if they did not? What if they chose to punish her for having lived on their territory all this time? Her ears lowered as her heart dropped. Was this the best thing to do?

The large flake snow fell and began to lay on her back. She shook it off, just as she tried to shake the dark mood from her mind. All her life she has wanted the opportunity to at least meet these other wolves. These wolves that she had heard and seen in the distance, but who her mother had hid her from. Mother was gone now, and Firefly was all alone, and she did not want to stay alone.

With a heavy sigh, she sat in the snow. She lifted her head and she howled. It was a frightfully lonely sound, full of the fear and longing of a young wolf. She was anxious to meet the pack and be accepted, yet fearful of being denied access to their group, or perhaps even worse. She stopped howling, and listened. It seemed she could hear her own howl echoing around her, gradually dissipating to silence. Ears twitched as she strained to hear any response. Nothing. She howled again, longer and louder this time. When she finally stopped she had to pant from the exertion of it. Peering around through the snow and into the trees, waiting to see the emergence of another wolf, or hear a responding howl. Firefly waited.

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[atrb=background,http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/6300/alumid.png] Another howl had sliced its way through her peaceful existence, this one stuck out for the extreme loneliness that was radiating from the canine. It nearly brought a whimper to emit Aludra's own muzzle; yet, she stifled such a sound. Rather, the femme emitted her own short song in return, announcing to the newcomer that she was on her way. It seemed that Airila's popularity had been increasing lately, the shaman was ecstatic about such an occurrence. After her few run-ins with danger, the Arctic creature was more than pleased to welcome more canines into Shyia. They would be a large family that could look out for each other, none would truly be too far from help. A soft smile curled up her lips at the mere thought, the others would be safe. As long as a spy from Descai was not accepted and there were no traitors, then they could live in sweet joyous harmony. Lithe ivory frame moved throughout the trees, brilliant green optics darting about in search of the one who had summoned her. Certainly she was not the Alpha or even the Beta, but Toiro had trusted her even before such feelings grew between them. He had extended her a certain authority to accept pack members, possessing such a task still made Aludra a bit weak in the knees. She was just a simple shaman, a canine eager to learn everything possible about the world. Her skills seemed to end there, she was clumsy and hardly able to hunt even enough to supply for herself. Airila seemed to love and find value within her graceful existence, they were quite the blessing to say the least. Her travel was a rather short distance, much to the female's satisfaction. It took little time for the silhouette of the foreign female to settle into view. A slight wag overcame her tail as she proceeded with her approach. Firefly appeared so despondent in the way she was seated, there was an aura of complete vacancy that shrouded this mysterious female. 'I can sense that it is just her, I cannot imagine that this creature is planning to attack us,' she had fallen for it again. A canine appeared innocent and the shaman gave her the benefit of the doubt, merely assuming that little danger could lurk around the corner. Her instincts were growing stronger with age, Aludra was starting to trust her initial judgment more than before - but that did not mean she would always be right. Figurine stopped its forward motion, "Greetings, foreigner. You have called?" Her words were melodic and soothing as they escaped into the frigid air surrounding them. The ivory female was rather small for being of the Arctic breed and looked rather ill equipped to fight. Of course this was one of her reasonings for being excessively paranoid about running into strangers. She was simply unable to adequately defend herself; yet, this new creature seemed to be of little threat to Aludra's well being. Tilting her head to the side, the female studied the background of the situation. It was an action that she simply could not resist, she could not always be convinced that someone was not lurking within the darkness. Her attention was distanced from Firefly for merely a moment before the other female received it again. "I am Aludra, the shaman of Airila," her crania nodded slightly in a greeting towards Firefly.

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Listening intently, Firefly sat and waited as the snow fell around her, clinging to her pelt. Then, she heard it. A short howl from somewhere relatively close by. Her ear twitched, and she started to peer around frantically, seeking out the one who had responded to her call.

This is what she wanted, but she hoped that this time it was a pack member who she encountered, not a rogue male intent on inflicting harm upon her.

Then, coming into view was an Artic wolf. A female with the most unusual shade of green eyes she had ever seen. This other wolf, a female she thought, made her way closer to her. Her greeting was melodic, and she watched as her eyes scanned the trees around them, seeking out possible danger. Firefly respected her for that.

"Yes, I called," Firefly started quietly. She stood and shook off the snow. "I am Firefly. I was raised around here, but my mother always kept me hidden. She's dead now, and I'm hoping I can find a place to belong." She was almost too afraid to mention seeking a pack, as though that were too much to wish for.

"It is nice to meet you, Aludra. You are the shaman of the Airila Pack?" She tried to think what was the most appropriate thing to say that might make her sound the most appealing to this wolf. Perhaps she would have some sway with the Alpha. "My mother taught me much about the plants and their uses in the woods."She felt her chest hurting and she tried to calm herself. She almost felt close to crying in despair. She so badly wanted a place to feel safe and needed.

Taking a tentative step forward, she made sure to keep her head lowered. "I would be willing to help in any ways possible. Would you present me to who is necesaary to be accepted within the Airila?" There, she had said it. Relief filled her as she uttered the words. She looked emploringly at this other female.

Note from Staff: Please be sure to bold your speech and italicize your thoughts.

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[atrb=background,http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/6300/alumid.png] The ivory femme could not resist the happiness that surrounded her, even if newcomers did tend to make her rather weary. Regardless, this stranger did not seem to be threatening in the slightest. The shaman had quite the opposite opinion actually. Firefly came off as friendly and very eager to aid those of Airila in any way she could. Aludra had yet to inquire about what skills this other canine possessed, but she was already fairly certain that the newcomer would make a grand addition to their family. The security that the Arctic female felt was nearly surreal, perhaps Descai would stay away from Shyia. She knew that it would be quite some time before she trekked back in that direction. A frigid frost still settled into her bones at the thought of those monsters; yet, it depressed her at the same time. Somewhere within their hearts kindness still lived, at least the shaman liked to believe so. A pang of sorrow swept through the Arctic, family had always been extremely valued by her. Even so, she had been abandoned - left to die! Her old pack had not even howled for her poor soul. When they disappeared, they never came back. Emerald eyes softened towards Firefly, sadness apparent within her gaze. "I am sorry to hear about your mother. It is quite a difficult life without a family," the femme knew that from experience. Life had been especially difficult with her clumsy paws, she could barely even hunt for herself; fighting was most certainly out of the question. What Aludra lacked in physical abilities she made up for with her mind, which had been her saving grace a few times. Audits quivered eagerly, 'she knows of medicine as well?' A thump of happiness reverberated from her heart throughout her entire lithe figurine. Thus far, she had been the only one with seemingly any medicinal knowledge at all. Firefly at least would know the herbs from Shyia, which could prove to be quite beneficial. Cocking her crania to one side with interest the femme spoke once more, "Do you hold knowledge of plants from other territories or only Shyia - and it is a pleasure to meet you as well, Firefly." Anxiety began etching into her bloodstream, when excitement came about the female often felt as if she appeared to be a fool. The last thing she needed was a potential family member to believe her ignorant. A bit of embarrassment flooded over her white pelt; the Arctic certainly was a whirlwind of emotions when it came to social encounters. It rarely even crossed the female's mind that when she introduced herself as a shaman, many interpreted that to believe she did not hold the authority to accept new members. Alas, her love had trusted her with his pack and his family. He granted her the power to welcome loners into these lands, for them to become a member of Airila. "I have the authority to make such a decision," her words came out quiet, almost nervously from her trembling lips. Aludra's melodic aura still lingered around her even with such apparent discomfort. It was nothing that Firefly had inflicted upon her, but a curse that she was attempting to cope with on her own. A simple flaw, nothing more than that. Her tail wiggled a few times behind her, as if the female was attempting to make up for her social awkwardness. Aludra truly was a good wolf at heart, even if her communication skills tended to be sub par. The female had come quite a long way since her acceptance within Airila, Cherie was happily to blame for that. The Apennine femme was her closest friend and an extremely warmhearted canine. Something about the huntress' bubbly personality made it impossible not to feel comfortable chatting with her. Often, Aludra found herself wishing that she could communicate that freely with others, especially when it came to loners.

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Firefly listened intently to the female Artic wolf, who said her name was Aludra. Her heart beats decreased their rapid pounding as she listened to her soothing voice. This wolf was a shaman, and had the authority to accept her into the pack. Excitement grew within her. She peered into her green eyes, and felt that she could examine her soul.

When she had mentioned her knowledge of plants, Aludra seemed to be pleased, and perhaps excited herself. Firefly smiled faintly. “My mother taught me about many plants. I’ve only worked with the ones from Shyia, but I think I remember things about plants beyond this land, and could find them and use them, if necessary.” It was no exaggeration meant to inflate her credentials in any way, but simply the truth. She hoped that her knowledge of flora would aid her in acquiring a new family. She longed to be a useful part of something larger than herself, and to especially not be alone any more.

“I would be honored to be accepted into your pack,” she said softly. She did not want to seem overly excited, but she was so close to being part of a pack. Part of her was mournful to be going against her mother’s teachings of living in secret and alone, but when her mother had been alive, she had not been entirely alone. “Will you accept me?” She moved closer to the female, and lowered herself before her. “I would be more than pleased to aid you in any ways I can.” She glanced imploringly up at Aludra.

The snow continued to fall around them as they spoke. There was a breeze that tasseled the tree branches and sent some of the laden snow falling in clumps to the ground, to collect again on the outstretched limbs. Otherwise, the woods was quiet. Firefly waited patiently for her judgment, hoping that this female would soon be a pack mate rather than a stranger.

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[atrb=background,http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/6300/alumid.png] The female tilted her delicate head to the side as she inquisitively listened to what the newcomer, Firefly, was saying. 'She certainly seems kind enough,' the female's thoughts brought a quiver of a smile upon her features. The willingness of other's to help was always beneficial, especially during winter. Aludra was beginning to learn that she could not possibly be in every territory at one time in order to gather all of her favorite herbs, 'and Descai,' even the sound of the evil pack's name frightened her mind. Shivers radiated up and down her spinal column; one day the femme would have to go back to Acerbus, she would forever dread that moment. After a moment she averted her optics from Firefly, clearing her mind of the terrible thoughts that had begun to dance about. The grin grew upon her features and an excited glimmer played within her emerald optics. Aludra had found an opportunity to educate someone else and it brought about an almost childlike joy in her heart. If there was one thing that the Arctic female adored, it was teaching another. There was something about it that brought about a total comfort to the shaman's soul. Eyes absorbed the vast expanse of sky above before slowly lowering themselves, tearing away from what guided them. Settling her visible attention back upon Firefly, Aludra began to gather her thoughts in order to formulate sentences. Her mind tended to wander when she became overly excited, it embarrassed her sometimes - but at least her thick pelt his the red tint overwhelming her skin. "Knowledge about Shyia plants is useful," the female nodded her crania quickly as if attempting to reinforce such a thought through physical actions as well. Certainly, if Firefly wanted to learn more about medicine they could travel together or she could gather herbs from Shyia while the shaman wandered to another territory for other medicines. Her tail flickered happily as more possibilities began to arise within her mind. 'I do believe she would make a good addition to Airila,' her own musical tone resonated around her skull. Aludra had to become hesitant after the brutal attack she had lived through. The wound upon her shoulder still ached on occasion, it had yet to completely heal. Some days it became stiff enough to make walking difficult, worry had eased itself on that subject though. The shaman had determined that most of her movement would be regained - even in the poorest healing condition. Having someone to aid her in gathering would be helpful as well; after all, dear Averice was far too young to wander off on her own. The Arctic female would simply worry too much about the pup and Averice would break down if she felt Aludra was never to return. With a soft sigh, more out of nervousness than anything else, the shaman began to speak. "Airila has a place for you Firefly," the female shyly cast a glittering gaze up towards the other female's eyes. "Welcome to the ranks," the female's voice ended on quite a soft note. She was beginning to show her introverted side accidentally, it had the tendency to show it's face at the absolute worst times. Even so, her tail continued to wiggle lowly between her legs - offering up a sign of happiness to having another new pack mate.

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Firefly nearly cried when Aludra spoke the words: Airila has a place for you Firefly. Welcome to the ranks.

“Thank you,” Firefly breathed. It was barely above a whisper. She was so overwhelmed with emotions. She no longer would be alone. At long last, she would be a part of something. She would contribute her knowledge of flora, and for that, she would have companions to care for, and to care for her. It was almost too good to be true. She clamped her brown eyes shut for a moment, to stay the tears she felt forming. “Thank you so much, Aludra. You cannot imagine how incredibly happy you have made me.” She smiled a little.

She noticed that Aludra’s voice had become a little different, perhaps distant, but that her tail wagged ever so slightly. At least the other female appeared pleased with her decision.

Firefly took a few steps closer to her new pack mate, the Shaman of Airila. Little butterflies felt like they were dancing within her, and her smile widened. It would be incredible to be able to put the knowledge passed on to her from her mother to use, and the prospect of learning more from Aludra, and helping her was thrilling.

Glancing around them, Firefly watched the snow fall. It was so beautiful. She was mesmerized a moment by the twinkling that drifted casually on the breeze. Perhaps it was made even more beautiful in knowing that she would no longer have to travel through these woods utterly alone, but that there would be someone to return to.

She cocked her head. “Do I follow you now?” Firefly asked. She tried not to look as embarrassed as she felt. “I do not know what to do now. It was always just mother and I. I do not know what to do within a pack. Will you introduce me to the others within the pack?” She was worried that she was saying too much. She lowered her head. “What would you have me to do?”

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[atrb=background,http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/6300/alumid.png] Aludra could not resist the grin unbearably tugging at her lips; therefore, she succumbed to the happiness she had caused within Firefly. It reminded her very much of the day several months ago where she too had gained acceptance into Airila. That was when her life had begun coming together, now even her sweetest dreams paled in comparison to reality. Gradually the pace of her wagging tail increased it's speed. The sound of the subordinate's thanks caressed her ears, furthering Aludra to believe that she had made a beneficial pack decision by accepting the lone femme. More of the shaman's worries began to seep away from her slender ivory frame, dissipating into the ground beneath their paws. Vibrant eyes latched to the other female's for a moment, she was sharing the happiness within. "I am glad you are pleased to join our family," musical words flowed lightly from the ivory creature's chest, slipping throughout the air. Muzzle turned upwards slightly, the shaman took a few silent moments to observe the sky above. It was a moment for her to remember her lonely past and appreciate the present. A bright future was even laid before her. Never did the Shaman believe that there would be one who loved her, but she had found such a brute here. The very same one that had captured her own heart many moons ago. She had a rank, a family, a lover and a friend - such perfection had always seemed so distant to the Arctic. When joining Airila she had never imagined the new home would bring her such undying joy. 'And now I get to bring the same euphoria to another,' the words in her mind brought about a content sigh from her muzzle. Life had become a piece of heaven. She doubted that the femme wanted to hear about her own silly acceptance story, so her muzzle remained silent until her head had cleared. Toiro would never vacate her crania, but the memories had relinquished their eager hold upon her; once again she was granted access back into the real world. The one where Firefly was standing before her, newly accepted into these lands. The new member took a few careful steps closer to Aludra, who simply smiled reassuringly and brought herself closer as well. They were family now and Firefly deserved to be treated in a welcoming mannerism. After all, the Arctic did not want the other canine to eventually leave them. Airila was the pack that Aludra intended to die a member of, Shyia is where she would spend the rest of her days. "Are you familiar with all the territories of Shyia?" the shaman believed that this would be the best place to begin. If Firefly knew the flora of the terrain well, then she more than likely would not need a complete tour. Even if she requested one, Aludra would not deny her such a privilege. After all, it would merely allow them to get to know each other a little better. There was a chance that Firefly could become another one of her dearest friends, especially if they both had medicinal interests. Cherie would not be replaced by any means, the two simply had different tasks to perform within the pack. One was a huntress and the other a doctor, both could tend to be rather busy. "I can take you to the dens now if you would not like a tour, it is all up to you though. We should run into one of the others along the way," wistfully the femme hoped they would cross paths with Toiro. She desperately wanted to see the brute and introduce him to their newest pack mate. The gentle snow kissed her ivory pelt and lightly clung to it. Winter and mating season were in full swing now, only one of which the femme had a opinion of. The beautiful simplicity that the frosty months brought about would always put her busy mind at ease. There was something particularly beautiful about walking through the woods, trees barren of their leaves. Only the bare minimum survived through the harsh temperatures. New life would be brought about again in spring, both for the land and the creatures upon them. Springtime was when all would bud again and those with a mate would likely have bouncing puppies everywhere. Even such beauty in creation could not distract her love for what lay underneath. Emerald optics refocused and landed upon Firefly once more.

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Firefly noted with pleasure that Aludra genuinely appeared to be pleased with her joining the pack. It was such a relief for her, to not have to be alone any longer, to say in hiding, away from everyone else. Deep down she knew she had probably seen Aludra, and the others, as well, from a distance. But now they were family. A warmth grew within her. A smile came to her muzzle and her tail wagged, even as Aludra’s did. And though the female appeared to be momentarily lost in her own thoughts and memories for a moment, her green eyes soon turned to her.

“I am familiar with Shyia, but a tour from someone as knowledgeable as you would be very welcome, if you have the time.” Firefly wanted to meet the others of the pack, but she was also very afraid to do so. What if they did not like her? What if they did not want her there? At the moment, she was too thrilled by Aludra’s acceptance to let her own doubts dampen her mood. “Perhaps we will run into some of the others while we explore.” The prospect of meeting a member at a time was more appealing than being bombarded with names and faces, especially since she had spent her entire life with just her mother as companionship. While she was eager to be a part of the pack, and prove her worth, she was also a little leery of them as well. And besides, she really wanted to get to know Aludra better. Perhaps they would become friends. She hoped so, as she had never really had one before.

“Are there any supplies that the pack is presently in need of? Perhaps we could gather what we can while you show me around.” She moved in beside the Artic female, waiting for her to take the lead. “But if you need to return to the dens, I understand,” she added, not wanting Aludra to feel pressured. Inside she was telling herself to calm down, that learning to be a good pack member would take time. She wanted Aludra to like her, and so she was trying to calm herself so as to not overwhelm her with too much enthusiasm.

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[atrb=background,http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/6300/alumid.png] A wider grin inched its way across her ivory features. The Arctic remembered quite well when she could not give a good tour of the lands. Certainly she knew them well enough to gather, but now there was another sort of bond between them. The femme was tied down to the planet, eager to absorb all possible knowledge. Something about Shyia had a tendency to be quite alluring, distracting the lithe creature from distancing herself from it. Of course, having the worst luck ever could aid in the ivory canine's decision. Descai had not been nearly as eager to aid her as Shyia was- it was just one more reason to love Airila. Everything about her home was divine, she hoped to never leave. Upon gaining acceptance, the Arctic had opted to further her knowledge. The more she knew, the more assistance her family would receive in times of need. That was a focal point within her mind on a regular basis, what could she utilize in order to expand her mind today. Knowledge was one thing that never could fail; only a lack of such learning would hurt a creature. She studied the planet they all lived upon for her own interest but transformed her education into something beautifully helpful. 'Perhaps Castien would not have lived without me,' the thought alone made the shy creature's eyes dart back to her paws. It truly was a miracle that their Lead Warrior had survived such a vicious attack; however, Aludra would not take complete credit for his awakening. After all, if the brute had not been such a strong fighter, then she surely never could have aided him in recovering. Perhaps whatever guided her from the vast expanse of sky had resurrected him, for the brute was surely near death. Regardless, the shaman was thankful that Castien had survived - no matter what the reason was for his recovery. She softly raised her emerald optics back to Firefly. Despite being young, there was a certain wisdom that the shaman brought about with her. By no means was the Arctic still a child; yet, she hardly seemed the appropriate age to hold such experiences and knowledge. Perhaps her soul had been born thousands of years before this body. Such a feat would seem to be the only explanation for her nature. In her heart she knew this was a good decision, to say the least, already the prior paranoia and tension was dissipating. It bled from her white figurine and left not a drop of crimson behind to taint her pure soul. This canine before her would be no trouble, Aludra knew this. Perhaps it could be unwise to trust your intuition so wholly; however, the excitement and innocence that seemed to radiate from Firefly was sincere. The other female's eyes held no visible signs of malice or ulterior motives. This was another truly genuine canine, one who belonged within Airila. A flush rushed to the ivory wolf's features, 'did she just compliment my knowledge?' a blush was bringing flecks of crimson to the surface of her skin and she was quite thankful that her new pack mate could not see it. Her thick pelt aided in masking her embarrassment at receiving a compliment; of course it made her heart swell a bit. Few seemed to hold much interest in what she had to offer, when it came to learning about it anyway. It was reassuring to know that she was not the only one interested in nature's medicine. The shaman looked forward to exchanging facts with this new wolf, perhaps another friendship could be established. "I do not mind giving you a more official tour," a wider smile began to overtake her features. Aludra longed to not be so smiley all the time alongside her quiet ways; yet, her joy was overwhelming the small body it was contained in. It was simply overflowing regardless of how she attempted to contain it. Her crania nodded itself quickly in agreement, surely the Arctic wanted to introduce the new femme to the others. Specifically Toiro, he was their Alpha after all - not to mention the shaman constantly longed to be within his presence. The female turned herself around in a circle, mind racing with the exciting possibilities. Her tail still held a steady rhythm behind her. Eyes were swimming across the terrain, 'Shyia is so beautiful, where do I take her first?' Cascading options were caressing her gray matter; however, she was unsure what direction to take first. Gathering was a good idea, true she had a bountiful supply of the herbs within Shyia; however, it would prove useful to see what knowledge Firefly held and give them some bonding time. If they were going to remain within the same pack for the rest of their lives, it was best that they get to know each other. "That sounds like a grand idea, I do not have to go back to the dens. When we do eventually get back there, I must show you the storage area for supplies." For a few seconds her tail waggled faster.

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While she had been standing listening to Aludra, snow had been silently collecting on her white and grey pelt. With the excitement of a pup, Firefly shook if off and bound a few feet in the snow. She was simply so happy to be part of Airila, and to have Aludra as a pack mate, and perhaps a friend.

When Aludra agreed to take her on a tour of Shyia, she was relieved. That would provide them a wonderful opportunity to learn more about each other, and for Firefly to learn about the pack without meeting them all at once. She was afraid that encountering so many wolves at once could be overwhelming for her. As thrilled as she was to be part of a pack, the idea was still very new to her, and she wanted to gradually get used to the idea, and learn what her role would be within it.

Watching the Artic wolves tail wag only excited Frirefly more. She smiled broadly and leapt in the snow. Then stood panting and looking sheepishly back at Aludra. She hoped she had not just made a fool of herself, but she was happier than she ever remembered being. “You have made me so happy,” she admitted. “I’ve never known what it was like to have others to look forward to seeing, and who will look forward to seeing me. There was always just mother and I, and we were usually always together.” She wandered back over to Aludra’s side.

“Who else is in our pack?” It was a simple enough question, but speaking those simple words was a profound change in her life. She wanted to learn all she could so that when she finally did get to meet them in person, it would be like she already knew them, at least a little. “Do you think they will be happy that you accepted me into the pack?”

Still catching her breath from her playful antics, she regarding Aludra, and peered deep within her green eyes. Even though only having just met, she trusted her completely.