standing on the edge [open/joining?]

[Deleted]

say it's all up in the stars

He stood alone and quiet at the water’s edge, watching the waves as they came rolling in and crashed lightly against the shore. It was midday and the sun was almost directly above him, warming his pelt and coaxing him to take a quick swim. Galaxy considered it for a moment – a nice swim would cool him off and do him some good probably – but he was immediately hit by the visions from his nightmares and decided against it. While he knew it was ridiculous to worry about suddenly drowning surrounded by the lifeless bodies of humans, he couldn’t bring himself to wade further in. He instead backed several yards away from the water and settled down on the dry sand.

This was where he had awoken several months ago devoid of most of the memories of his past. He hadn’t had any interest of ever returning - just looking at it reminded him of the fear he had felt when he awoke and of the nightmares starting. However, something had coaxed him back. He settled on closing his eyes, as it seemed no matter where he looked he was filled with negative feelings and memories.

Galaxy hadn’t wandered the lands beyond The Occasus long, maybe a month at the most. He found that the plains of I’queyer were much more relaxing and had a higher abundance of food. There was shelter from the sun and the elements when he needed it, and best of all there seemed to be more animals around him. He couldn’t figure out for the life of him why he had felt a need to return here of all places. He was so comfortable across the water where there was grass and wildlife and he didn’t feel so alone and lost anymore. Well, okay, he still felt alone and that wasn’t bound to change any time soon. The mysterious wolf from his travels hadn’t shown up and he had a strong feeling his family was definitely not here. Deep in his heart he knew that he had come here from a far place, though he could not remember where exactly. With the exception of his nightmares, which he wasn’t sure were real or not, Galaxy was certain there was nothing that would restore the lost pieces of his memory. It was time to find a way to instead leave his past behind him and start anew. He figured returning to The Occasus was maybe the first part of that recovery. He had to learn to let go of the bad feelings immediately in front of him before he could let go of the rest.

He reluctantly opened his eyes, fearing the unknown but understanding that he needed to do it. If he was ever going to learn to push his fear aside he needed to start now. He glanced up at a bird flying overhead, then looked back out into the waves. He stood slowly and began taking careful steps back toward the water. Though fear coursed through his body, he remained relaxed on the outside. An approaching wolf would never realize he was panicking internally and that was exactly how he wanted it. He waded gradually into the water until the soft waves barely grazed his belly, and then hesitated and glanced back toward the shore. Part of him told him that this was far enough, while another part urged him further into the blue. He was stuck in the middle of these competing interests and didn’t feel like anything would budge him from this spot, save another animal coming and knocking him in one direction or the other.

Tagged: open | Word Count: 606

[Deleted]

The Occasus held bittersweet memories to the muscular russet male. This was where he had met Aries and Ryala was formed. It seemed to be an eternity ago that he had been the Beta, simply stepping up to hold the remnants of a family together. The blind femme was a haunting spirit inside of his gray matter; he hardly believed that she had ever existed in the first place. In a dark place of him, Rasalas longed to be making her up, then the pain wouldn't have been real. If Aries and his sisters had never left, then he would not be as distraught about Aowyn's disappearance. Alas, the red brute was upset about all four of the females being gone. What had he done to deserve such ill fate? Giving a slight shake to his multi-colored pelt, he proceeded on a brisk walk throughout the original territory. Few of the pack members had opted to roam this terrain, but at least a few had ventured back out. His heart yearned for the land to heal, but it was dangerous to only stay here. Pievunt-An had erupted twice, there was nothing stopping it from erupting a third time or fourth. Tassos needed a location to flee to in the event of another emergency - Xisyn.

The muscular creature moved himself forward with confidence and authority. Truthfully, the Alpha felt like his world was beginning to spiral out of control again, desperately he was clinging to the last strings of his mental stability. Internally he cried for things to turn back around, to become what they had when he had renamed Ryala and claimed the southern territory. 'All good things must end,' he let out a low, nearly silent growl to himself. It was beginning to annoy him just how life would set him up for pure failure. Things were turning out phenomenally, so he let himself trust again - only for her to vanish. Hackles raised for a moment at the recollection of the shaman mentioning that a lone brute had attempted to attack her. Rasalas set himself out to find such a male, no one else would be disappearing from the pack. At least, the Alpha hoped not. He seemed to be the only canine with any sort of skill in fighting and he was set on using that to defend his family. The rays of light danced across his multi-hued pelt and created a strange glow when they flickered against his golden eyes. Rasalas was growing more depressed and distant from the others, but he prayed that they had not noticed the change.

Thirst began to nip at his throat, encouraging the brute towards the river. It surely was much more beautiful again now that the ash had cleared out of it for the most part. The eruption had shattered The Occasus' beauty, which broke a piece of his heart. The red male would never forget standing near Calandra at the base of the volcano, both of them absorbing the beautiful flora that had sprouted about the base. For as many ugly memories that he held of this territory, the brute had just as many positive ones. That was what he needed to do, set his focus to what was good and pray that the bad just stopped destroying his faith. Aries leaving had proven to benefit him in ways he had never even believed possible. Tassos was an incredible pack, they cared for each other and wanted the best for the family. That was more important than his personal issues. Besides, other than his individual family struggles and his lack of a romantic relationship - he was doing great. His closest friend was now his Beta and had earned his trust to the utmost extent. At least there was someone aiding him now, prior to Scout gaining another rank, Rasalas' life had been chaotic with keeping the pack functioning.

With a mind snared in thought, it took the Alpha longer than normal to detect that something was not quite right. Pausing his motion for a few seconds, nostrils flared to intake the air surrounding him. An unfamiliar scent of a male was what greeted his senses. Lips rolled back into an angry sneer for a second before relaxing. If this was the brute who was terrorizing Tassos, then they were in for some bad news. Carefully the brute attempted to trick his appearance in appearing calm and in control of the situation. Truthfully, the Alpha knew that the loner male was likely to be significantly more aware of his presence than Rasalas had been. Shaking his crania a few times, the russet male propelled himself forward yet again. He was confident, or struggling to be, not only for the pack but himself as well. Too many things had gone on for him to risk losing the others. His heart ached enough at the simple thought that poor Vixen had been in danger and the culprit was likely nearby. Little did the Alpha know that the shaman had lied to him about being attacked in order to mask her embarrassment.

Golden optics settled upon the canine in the water, a strange sense of nervousness consumed the Alpha. For the first time in months he felt weary of greeting a loner. Those days had been quite horrid, Rasalas had bent the truth ever so slightly to convince Isis, Anubis and Calandra to join Ryala. Perhaps he would always wonder if they would call him out one day; he hoped not, nothing bad had happened to them after all. For a few minutes the muscular male watched the other brute, studying him lightly in case he ended up being a threat. When it seemed that his presence had went unnoticed, he walked to the water's edge. Mentally his mind was shaking with the colliding and contradicting thoughts inside. Such a scenario could turn out too many different ways, it was almost impossible to know the outcome. Rasalas found this more unsettling than anything. 'I could overpower him should he want to fight,' the Alpha had grown quite strong in the past several months. Until Scout became Beta, he had run himself into the ground to be everything that the pack could need. That was all the russet one had wanted, happiness for his family and security as well.

"Salutations," his tone was confident; yet, it showed that there was a slight distrust. It was perfectly logical though, Galaxy had wandered into a pack's territory even if he did not know. Another studious gaze swam over the loner before the Alpha raked the terrain surrounding them. He was not about to be more caught off guard by some other creatures lurking in the distance. Even his nostrils sharply inhaled the scents, ensuring that this was not some foul trap. "Are you aware that this is pack territory?" The question sounded non threatening and rather concerned, this was one of his few strong points when it came to loners. Rage was locked tighty away, but the Alpha strived to come off as approachable to those that resided in his family. Additionally, there was no benefit of getting into a fight for absolutely no reason. If Galaxy remained upon his good side, then there was no reason for physical confrontation.

[Deleted]

say it's all up in the stars

This was certainly a peculiar situation. On the one hand, he felt the desire to move forward, to take the leap of faith and swim. On the other, he feared for his life. Two competing interests battled in his head and had him so distracted that he failed to notice the presence of another wolf nearby. Galaxy was far too focused on ensuring his own safety and survival in this torturous water. Why oh why did he have to harbor such a deep fear of something that would otherwise be harmless? He had been the victim of an unfortunate situation - an extremely unfortunate situation - but the real problem was that he had never had any other experiences with water. Nothing positive or ordinary, only horror.

A deep male voice woke him from his stupor. It startled him so much that his lanky legs nearly gave out and forced him to face-plant into the water he was currently debating over. Once he gained his footing, Galaxy turned toward the source of the disturbance and found a regal looking fellow standing before him. He eased out of the water to come before the brute, greeting him with a pleasant nod. His head cocked to the side in confusion as the male spoke again. Pack lands? He sniffed the air carefully and a feeling of sheer embarrassment overcame him. He was indeed on pack lands, completely unaware. Galaxy hadn't experience enough of other wolves to know how to handle this situation... At least, if he had, he didn't remember it.

I apologize, sir... I had no idea I was on pack lands, and I have no idea what I'm supposed to do now. Honesty was, of course, the best policy. I don't recall that I have any experience with these sorts of things. Are you the... alpha? Is that the term? And now honesty was just humiliating. He flushed, certain that this male would probably just kill him rather than putting up with him being so ridiculous. Sorry, he said hastily, hoping to save himself.

Galaxy knew little to nothing about pack life. He hadn't been part of a pack as a child, as his parents had been loners. He figured he had never been in or encountered a pack at any other time in his life, judging by the events that he did remember. Normally he was stoic and emotionless, but he figured that was something he needed to put aside in this situation. There was no way he could know what to expect from this encounter, so he needed to play it safe.

Tagged: Rasalas, open | Word Count: 434

[Deleted]

Muscles tensed lightly beneath the Alpha's russet pelt, proving that the situation was putting him on edge. After all, his shaman had spoken of a lone brute that had attacked her. This male could be exactly who he was looking for, or it could be a coincidence. Rasalas had yet to determine which way his mind was going to swing in regards to the stray. Truthfully, he wanted to give the other am opportunity; yet, the other section of his brain did not want to risk it. After all, lady Aowyn may have been abducted by this creature. His only love had been yanked from beneath his very paws and it was not sitting lightly with him. The femme not only held a special place in his heart but was a skilled huntress as well - he wanted her back. Now. Audits flicked in a somewhat demanding mannerism, he wanted his questions answered. But there was no one to give the red brute such relief. Amber orbs swept across the terrain, raping the land for the view of any other strangers. A dark part of his soul was worried that Tassos was no longer safe.

Attention drifted back towards Galaxy, eyes lightly scanning the opposing male for any signs of danger. Silently he listened to the other canine, mind racing with intrigue and paranoia. The surprise that greeted Rasalas brought a slight grin upon his muzzle, it made him feel somewhat important - even though the Alpha should be important constantly. He had never viewed himself as higher or of more importance than the other wolves, on the contrary they were all of equal worth and value. Carefully the Alpha nodded his head, but his gaze never lifted from the loner. He was not attempting to make the other uncomfortable, rather just holding a steadfast guard. This loner was not going to run away and not hide somewhere within Xisyn; Rasalas was certain of that. "Indeed, I am Rasalas the Alpha of these lands. What do you call yourself?" His question proved to be partial interest and partial demand. His tail twitched behind him and claws flexed themselves deep into the terrain beneath his paws. Impatience was nipping at him, making him want to simply shake whatever answers out of Galaxy that he could. 'Keep calm, I do not wish to cause any unnecessary violence.' the brute inhaled and exhaled deeply, attempting to soothe his racing brain.

Tassos was the red one's pride and joy, this was the family that had been brought together by fate. Certainly it could not be anything else, the world simply raised him up only to drop him down once again. The Alpha believed he had finally found love, someone who would one day be his Alphess - that had proved to merely be a let down. Aowyn had ended up the same as all the other femmes that he had held dear to his heart, she was gone. A growl longed to rip it's way from his throat; yet somehow the male restrained himself. There were more important things at hand than his own personal struggles, the loner needed dealt with. It took a moment consideration before Rasalas could bring himself to speak again, the time was spent attempting to collect his thoughts. He needed to get himself back on track, by now he had encountered numerous loners and handled each situation fairly well, or so he liked to believe. "What reasons do you have for being here? Are you alone?" His own anxiety finally was peeking through, allowing the other canine slight insight upon his worries. It made sense for an Alpha to be concerned about the safety of his pack though, especially when some foreign male had stumbled upon the territory.

OoC| Sorry for the wait and that it is short. I am attempting to catch up.

[Deleted]

say it's all up in the stars

The nervousness he felt was difficult to quell, but he managed. The brute before him was just so tense, he looked prepared to strike out at any moment. Galaxy felt that he had valid reasons to fear for his life, but a part of him would have been relieved if this male killed him. He struggled daily against the desire to give up on life. Without memories, without his family, how much was it worth? In Galaxy's honest opinion, not much. But still something drove him to survive. Perhaps it was his encounter with that strange wolf after he washed up on the shore of the Occassus, or maybe it was the possibility that his sister still lived out there somewhere - he couldn't be certain, but something kept him alive.

The russet male spoke finally after a moment that felt like hours. Galaxy gave himself a mental pat on the back for knowing the right term for Rasalas's title. He only wished he could remember why he knew. Nice to meet you, Rasalas, Alpha. My name is Galaxy. He nodded in kind acknowledgment. Do these lands of your have a name? he asked curiously. Galaxy wasn't sure if packs were named or not, but something deep down told him that they typically were. He continued to eye the brute nervously, concerned with the way his muscles continued to flew as though he was preparing to pounce.

Another long period silence enveloped them, causing Galaxy's mind to again wander. He wondered what packs might be like. Before everything happened he and his family had been entirely alone. He wasn't even sure his parents knew much about packs. From what he gathered, his type were typically loners. Would he find others of his kind here? That was yet to be determined. He hadn't even considered joining this pack, and no offer had been extended, but for some reason the thought had found its way into his mind. He shook it off, alerted by the Alpha's voice once again.

This was the area I washed up in when I arrived on these lands many months ago. I was just sort of... wandering and reminiscing I guess. He cringed at the male's second question. The answer pained him to give. His voice became quiet, and he averted his gaze to the sky. Yes, I am alone.


ooc;; No worries about any of that! I like the length - easier for me to read and reply to in my busy schedule xD

Tagged: Rasalas, open | Word Count: 393

[Deleted]

His amber eyes remained stiffly upon Galaxy, watching closely for any sign of threat. But, none had come thus far. It almost startled the stressed Alpha, he had certainly expected that this wolf was the one that had attacked poor Vixen - and maybe he was. The back of his mind had a twinge of doubt within it, telling Rasalas that for no justified reason this wolf was innocent. Perhaps the canine was even friendly, he knew not why he felt so convinced, but he did. Shifting his muscular frame slightly, the Alpha permitted a momentary wandering of his gaze. His home was beautiful, Aries had chosen a beautiful land to start Ryala upon. Even if her memory caused him agonizing amounts of pain and anger, the male was still slightly thankful for her. Tassos would not have existed if it were not for Ryala's fall, in a strange way she had forced him to better himself for the survival of the others. It had been many moons sense he had watched the sleeping Mexican femme with mesmerized optics; now he was alone. His sisters were gone just like Aries, a deep part of his heart always wanting them to return to him. Maybe they would still care for him, it could all be some sick misunderstanding.

With a gentle grin as the other male's words caught his ears, the Alpha spoke, "The pack here is known as Tassos. We reign over both Xisyn and The Occasus." There was much pride in his words, as if this was his prodigy. In a strange way it was, after all Ryala had been down to essentially two wolves at one point. Tassos held many more wolves than that, the violent change within his life had nearly made him sick. Rasalas would not be forgetting where he came from, the struggles he encountered prior to his family disappearing. A shudder dared to race up his spinal column and it took all of his self control to prevent it from becoming visible. He feared appearing psychotic and unable to control himself for that merely left opportunity for another to take control of his pack. This family belonged to him and he would not allow anyone to take them from him. Without these wolves he truly was nothing, hardly even able to be called alive. 'Focus,' he mentally snarled at himself, agitated with the way his mind continued bouncing from one subject to another. The red male hated to admit weakness, but perhaps he was, maybe that was why he reflected excessively upon the past. He simply was not strong enough to move forward.

A flash of red rage flashed before his orbs, his short fuse struggling not to break. The anger was not towards the loner, but himself. After all, he was the root of all these problems; no one else seemed to have demons like this. Everyone had somewhere that they belonged, but his soul felt forgotten, lost. He felt just as lost as Galaxy likely had when he washed up on foreign shores. There was no one who saw the blackened state of his heart, no own that truly knew and cared for him. In a way, the male's words reached out at the Alpha, making him feel slightly less forsaken. Rasalas still needed to maintain a guard, but he metaphorically felt for the other brute. The lonesome words kissed his audits gently. Some of the red one's tension began to fade into nothingness, finding Galaxy less and less of a threat. His mind recalled his forlorn travels upon Anikira after his family passed on. A pain shot through his chest at the mere recollection, strange how a simple memory could evoke such a physical response. "The ocean has claimed many lives, you are lucky to have survived." His words were distant, slight evidence that he was distracted by his inner workings.

Wandering. Lost. Reminiscing. Those feelings he knew very well, too well. They were too close for comfort to his heart, always lurking just beyond the surface. "I know how you feel, the world can be a cold and lonesome place at times." Words drifted into silence that hung thick in the air for a few seconds. Time ticked by slowly, days becoming eternities. "For being alone you appear to have done very well in caring for yourself, that is a skill to be proud of. Few can live and thrive without others." Rasalas felt concerned that his words were not making sense, that perhaps he was rambling too much. Perhaps this loner only cared about his life alone and simply did not want to be slaughtered by a short tempered Alpha. Remembering Severus, the red wolf's mind received a new idea. This Galaxy canine could simply be lost, separate from his pack? "Are you from a separate pack? My apologies for all of the questions, there have been some dangerous loners roaming these parts lately." Rasalas' voice remained politely authoritative, but hinted with genuine concern for the other canine. If Galaxy was no danger to Tassos, then he had no reason to wish harm upon him.