A Step Forward

[Lady Flix]

An eerie and strange silence hung over the trees as the sun slowly started it’s journey above the horizon, the bright colors of the sunrise casting an awkward and contradictory canvas of color over the shadowed forest below as if in an attempt to chase away the dark and the cold with the promise of light and Spring. Yet the winter still desperately clung to the lands below, even as it’s white powder and shimmering ice began to melt and the world began to thaw, a thin fog hovered about a foot above the ground. The ghostly fingers of winter were losing their grip, though their last attempts to hold on filled the area with the thin, gray vapor as the forest began to awaken from what seemed like ages of hibernation. That is, if anyone could really call this place a forest. Yes, there were trees, though they were spread a bit further apart than the average definition of the word because of the slopes and outcropping cliffs that defined the mountainous region.

Most creatures here had either hidden away from the cold for the entire winter season, or had traveled elsewhere in search of warmer weather for the time. However, there were those few, the strong and the powerful, that were much too stubborn to be chased away by the pathetic threat of the cold. One of these creatures was the wolf. Unlike most other species that fell upon hard times and grew thin and weak in the winter, the wolf typically thrived. Their bodies were built for the harsh weather, for the deep snow, for the bitter cold temperatures. It would take much more than a cold winter in the mountains to frighten off such proud and powerful creatures.

As the hidden, weaker creatures began to emerge from their shelters and re-enter the world, the noise that slowly spread around the area caused a slight and gentle stirring of the low-hanging branches of a thick and healthy-looking pine tree. The night before, when the hand of winter had managed to tighten it’s grip on the ending season for a collection of hours in the darkness, a young wolf had crawled her way beneath the sheltering pine for not only comfort from the cold mountain winds, but also for concealment from prying eyes. It had taken her only a short while to fall asleep, and as the sun finally escaped the boundaries of the horizon and began to cast shorter and shorter shadows throughout the forest, a small multicolored face poked it’s way out from the shelter of the needled branches.

A high-pitched squeaky yawn escaped her jaws as she stretched lazily, blinking several times to adjust her eyes to the new lighting as she made her way out into the open. The fog was lifting slightly, though it still stubbornly impaired her view of the forest ahead of her as she shook her fur and made her way along the path she had been following the night before. It felt like she had been travelling for years now, up and over the mountains, through valleys, across rivers and even skirting a few packs here and there. Occasionally she would stop and survey the groupings of wolves, though she had yet to run upon a pack that suited her properly. Most were either far to small to benefit her, or far to large to be worth her effort.

The night before today, however, she had found different results. This land had caught her attention somehow, and though she would have liked to stick around and investigate further, the cold and the darkness of night had forced her to abandon the borders and seek a place for shelter and sleep until the light returned. Now that it had, she began the half-hour long journey back to the edge of the pack’s territory. Though she could see where she was going with some effort, the fog around her was a bit of an inconvenience, and there were multiple times that she paused and thought about clearing the way for herself with her abilities. She could manipulate the air around her and easily blow away the thin vapor that surrounded her, but she thought better of it. Should the pack here not be friendly, the cover of the fog might prove to be useful. Plus, her ability was harnessed through her Chi, therefore it would take a bit out of her strength in order to perform such a task.

Yes, the spring months were some of the best months for her ability, but with her intentions of meeting a portion of the pack upon the border that morning, she needed all the strength she could get if something went wrong. So for now, she dealt with the inconvenience accordingly and moved forward, finally reaching the border and coming to a stop. The scent markings here were fairly fresh, though she was unsure of what particular day and time they had been re-marked. After inhaling deeply for a few moments, she lifted her chin, her nose pointed to the air as she exhaled in the form of a long, melodious howl, a song unique to her just as any other wolf’s howl would be to them. It was simple and to the point, seeking an audience with the territory’s owner and ending on a lower note than it had started. Then she lowered her chin and sat down slowly, her ears perked and her tail curled around her paws to get herself comfortable as she settled in to wait
.

[Alpha Marthinick]

Ages. Ages since anyone had dared to howl in both the snow and the mountains. And who so dared? The cliffs would suddenly drop into the canyon on the other side, and souls would be sold for the warmth that Kaura always had. Always. And it was among the snow, the cold, and the sound that a white body awoke from void. Life, sensed he, and already the pull of it beconed him to his feet.

Thus when Marthinick lifted his head from snow he rested in lamely, he met the call with renewed fire, the ash blown off, a spark procured. He did not smile yet, as the unsure tend to wear the facade of the stoic. Relieveing himself of the ground that held his proud almost-feline frame, he did not bother to stretch but weave himself through the pines--the only trees in Kaura that only resided on the Border--that held him captive these years in solitary isolation. The Torpor began to wore off him, as this happened, the trot quickening upon the cold dirty white beneath his paws as he began to make his way toward the sound.

Fate put me closer to you that you might know, noisy thing, he mused darkly. He blinked and felt an odd sensation... was it.. warmth? How Cliche. Spring was indeed beginning but the frozen sheets of Ice and snow would have to melt, which meant flooding... which meant mosquitoes... which meant itching... which meant it was a Good season to be Void. Pestilance was hardly tolerated by Marthinick, and the thought of it displeased him nearly immeasurably, as with any measure of emotion. A quick Spasm of his coat and his mind once again cleared.

As he padded onward however, he noticed that a Fog lay between him and the sound. He slowled to a stop, a smile upon his maw. Mist? What illusion is this? He wanted to lick the grey, fall into it and let it surround him. Surely his prey of Call would be within it's grasp. Surely. The Pull was very clear. He let himself breathe before taking a step inside, letting his white form attempt to assimilate within the haze, and as he walked, slowly, ears erect atop his head to listen to the musings of breathe and heart, he howled. It started as a low growl, a maccabre of a war howl, low and rumbling, and rose it only to sharp note, an odd twinge in the air. Oh yes, He hoped his prey was close. Letting his howl end without the fall of the note, he inhaled through his nose, mouth open, tasting the pheremones of Spring and Femme. "Ah, dancing upon the tip of my air, are we?" it was a hushed memorium, and he let the words sit within him unsure of what he meant, suddenly excited to taste company, and even more humbled--indeed humbled--to see its sillouette.

Pressing inward though not oppressively, he gazed upon a patient female, burnt with browns, black. He would think up a nickname for her soon enough, he mused. He knew not how close he could get without provoking her but stopped ahead of her, lunging distance away. "Alpha Marthinick of Kaura." he stated lowly, having forgotten the power of his own name, "Please, Speak, Summoning Serenader, of your purpose." Murky eyes gazed on observantly, a snake of a smile upon his maw as his head remained high as if to tease her with the exposure of his jugular.

[Lady Flix]

As the young female sat, waiting for a reply to her howl or the presence of another, her form remained relaxed, but ever-alert. A lone wolf that was fool enough to let their guard down – especially at the border of another’s territory – was deserving of whatever gruesome fate awaited them should their intended audience be hostile. She, however, hardly ever let her walls fall, never allowed anyone to catch her in an idle moment. She was not one to take unnecessary risks, especially if her life was at stake. She was not an idiot. She knew that these borders were claimed by a male wolf, likely larger than herself, and more powerful. That much was obvious simply from the scent markings at the border. His abilities she knew little of, but it was very rare for a female wolf to be capable of overpowering a male, as they were – typically – smaller than their masculine counterparts.

Should the encounter go south, her training would likely only allow her to escape with her life, in all reality. Should he intend to harm her, she would be able to defend herself successfully enough to be able to flee, but probably with at least a few minor injuries. She was aware of the risks involved in her approach and her announcement of her presence, though obviously from her actions thus far, she was willing to take such risks for a new home. But her hope that the meeting would go well did not, however, prove to make her any less intent on studying her surroundings carefully. She was ready for anything, and even though her body appeared relaxed, she could easily defend herself from any angle should the need arise.

She sat for what felt like hours, but was likely a little less than one. Of course a wolf could not traverse an entire territory in an hour, so his arrival, though not noticed before his announcement, was not a surprise to her. The deep, masculine voice caused her ears to prick curiously, her eyes scanning the fog slowly in search of the source of the words. She said nothing at first, but instead allowed him to speak further, carefully committing the name and ranking to memory as he approached and stopped not too far off. He was larger than herself – not surprising – and where her coat was a mixture of browns, blacks, and reds, his fur was mostly pale and light. From what she could see in the fog, there was dark coloring along his back, though with a sigh, she gave up on her analysis through the vapor that hovered around them.

After his introduction, she tilted her head, closing her eyes for a mere moment and using a small portion of her Chi to cast a soft breeze through the area surrounding them, parting the fog between them and revealing her full and complete form to him as well as his to her. Though she remained sitting as he came close and watched her carefully, her head did lower slightly in respect to his rank. “Flix. I am here seeking to join your pack.” She said softly, her voice sweet and naturally smooth as it had always been. “I have trained in both hunting and fighting and consider myself capable of providing and defending a territory and pack. I am also gifted with the ability to manipulate Air, which I have strenuously trained with as well.” She said, stating her abilities plainly and simply and then growing silent once more, her tail still wrapped neatly around her paws and her head held carefully lower than his while she waited for his reply.

[Alpha Marthinick]

Marthinick listened to the lady's voice, the sultry silken flavor of it all, like mother's milk across his cold tongue. He lapped it up with a smile curling across his maw, yellowed teeth gleaming against the snowlight and mist. Her skills and name stated Marthinick sized up the female. Indeed, Slender as she was, she had to have some sort of endurance to climb these mountains. Now that of her magic... he wondered if he could believe. He felt the air of such an elemental, but he could never be sure if it wasn't the heat of a Firey soul, or one of the life-pursuing elementals of Caimath. Ugh. His lips fell back over his teeth, smile dwindling but not disappearing.

He inhaled quickly, raising to his feet, wondering if she'd become suddenly defensive. "Well, come on then." he turned around and began trotting away from her before glancing back at her, "I suppose you'll do as a Lady of Kaura in my court." He did not wonder whether she was truly interested in the rank, for she had stated her purpose and her skills and had not displayed the disrespect of someone who wanted to mistreat her. "Let's get down to business, Shall we, Lady Flix?"

He began to trot, leading away from her and where she had sat, unbeknownst if she was going to keep up or not. "Our territories lay on the other side of this mountain range. Its Arid (to put it delicately), but an ideal place for Air and Fire Elementals--Such As Yourself?" The tinge of a question left his lips and his eyebrows furrowed for only a moment. If this was some rouge water user or earth user... the damage would be minimal. It would be fun. The macabre humor rose again only to tease him. "What question have you, Flix?--What you don't Ask I'll inform you of anyway, but get to what you are most curious about." He had no love of dawdling. Stagnation was a horror to him and he half imagined her asking all the usual questions. She'd want his history, she'd want to know what she was eating, She'd like to have a den to sleep at. The thoughts upset him slightly. If she had ever worried about those, She would not have been able to survive her time as a loner... but perhaps habit would indeed win her over. Marthinick reserved himself to pretend not to care.

He brought back the image of her, nearly hidden in the mist, clever, foolish girl. She was rigid and this would be a way to afford her the respect. "Hope I'm not being too abrupt?" and a smile laced upon his black bottom lip, coiling like that or a snake as he padded onward through the lessening density of general foliage. Truly, he hoped he had been. To test her daily, to keep her on her toes and ready for any rouge, he had to get her outside her comfort zone.

[Lady Flix]

Before she knew it he had turned away from her and was heading off into the territory with a “come on then” and an “I suppose you’ll do” in response to her words. She could not help but frown slightly at the terminology he used, but she let it slide, especially since he was now her new alpha and all. Respect had always been something that she had held in high accord, and disrespecting this new leader now would simply be nothing other than stupidity. So instead of saying anything, she pushed herself forwards to follow, her eyes carefully watching his form and her own body careful to keep its distance as well as to retain at least a slightly submissive and respectful posture. However, within moments, he was talking once more, explaining the typical climate of the region as well as telling her that the wolves of the pack were of both fire and air. At least they were supposed to be, anyways.

She was grateful that she was not of the water or earth elements, as her abilities would be much more difficult to harness and use in this type of climate. But, even as the thoughts went through her head, she had little time to think over what could have or might have been. No, he was demanding her attention once more with a question, asking her in turn if she had any specific questions for him. Her eyes moved to his face as he looked back at her, her head turning slightly and her ears perking only a bit as she studied him curiously. This must be the point where a wolf would typically ask him about himself and about the land in regards to dens and food. Well, his thoughts were correct. If she was not able to decipher the type of food source around here as well as the quantity of the prey, she would not have survived this long on her own. She was easily able to determine what type of hunting there was on her own, so she left that question to be answered later on when she had some time to herself.

As for him, she was interested in him, yes, but she cared little for probing into the personal business of others. Should he wish to discuss his past with her, she would listen respectfully, but she had absolutely no desire to question him about it. His ranking here and the way he carried himself were enough for her to know that he was capable, and so far, that was all that mattered to her. He was her leader, and though she found him rather attractive and charming in his own way, she kept her thoughts to herself. She also had little concern for a den, as she would typically – like any true wolf would – sleep outside all year round. Sure, there would be shelters that she would enter depending on the weather, though she saw the only real necessity for a den to be when a female was giving birth and raising young pups. Up until then, it was simply a hassle and a nuisance.

Finally, as he said that he hoped that he was not being too abrupt. That sentiment almost made her laugh, but she contained herself enough to shake her head slightly. She had no doubt in her mind that he wanted the exact opposite, that he was the type of wolf that wanted to keep her on edge and uncomfortable in order to make her stronger. This did not surprise her, and instead of indulging his desire, she brushed it off and let herself behave as if she were comfortable, yet still alert and aware of not only him and herself, but also their surroundings. “I only have one question, really.” She said softly, flicking her ear and letting the tip of her tail twitch slightly. “What of the rest of the pack?” She asked, unsure of the numbers or the abilities of her fellow pack mates. She had been able to ascertain very little from the other side of the borders, so for now, she would rely on the pack leader to inform her – at least until she could research the subject on her own later on.

[Alpha Marthinick]

((OOC: Oh Goodness! I apologize for this long of a Delay!))

Ah, he sighed mentally. Yes, he liked her. She followed him with little question, even managed to put up with him. Oh, but she'd have to do more than put up with him for a little bit. She would have to do it...forever, really, if she stayed. But this was completely up to her. Technically he was running a charity pack; technically he was making sure that wolves opposite of Caimath had a place to belong. He pushed the whims from his mind as they walked and he talked and the she-wolf just paced beside him and listen. Truth be told, he was amused by her, but not in the way most dogs slyly grinned and chuckled. Not like most of the two-faced rats that slid glances at the fae's rump. Disgusting. No, he was amused by her aloof charm. But no matter, no matter; he mentally scoffed.

It was the sole question that caught him off guard. She was sharp. He liked sharp. And his answer might drive her away. He slowed his padding pawsteps and looked at her squarely. It was done in a manner rather unlike him. Serious. Ha. There was hardly a serious bone in his body, so he let his muscles do the work. "Flix, first allow me to say that you do not need to curve your frame submissively; you have already proven yourself to me." Indeed, he had thought to promote her just for being able to deal with him this long, for he knew he was the cad some faes adored. but where twas the sensibility, the pride, that let him take pleasure in his flaws? Nay, it was a kind of arrogance, and he wouldn't allow anyone to expect from themselves what he could expect from himself.

"Currently, There are only two members of Kaura and they are right here on this mountain." He let the words sink in a moment. "If you wish to stay, by all means, it is lonely but safe company. If you wish to leave, I will not hold it against you, and you are welcome to return, for I know the neutral lands and Caimath will not extend the same courtesy. What you are getting yourself into is a gamble." He turned his body away and very slowly began forward, "Still, I cannot prevent you from following me if you need a piece of land for the night... or ask other questions." Or, he could, he truly could have, but where was the sense in that?

[Lady Flix]

She let herself relax as he spoke and told her she did not need to submit, words that she was more than happy to oblige. For now she walked silently with him, following him back into the lands that he owned that were made up - no surprise to her - of not very many. She sent him a curious look as he said he would not be surprised if she left, and she could not help but laugh softly. "I have no intention of leaving." She said softly, shrugging slightly and continuing to follow him as he moved forward. She was not afraid, nor was she uncomfortable here, she just had a lot to get used to.

She knew nothing about the lands, though she knew that would come with time and exploration. The wolf she walked with now she knew very little of, but she was also not known for her conversational skills. She was never a fan of small-talk, nor was she any good at it. Her preferred way of getting to know someone was to study them, their behaviors, their reactions, and their habits. That would also only come with time. So for now, she did not have much else to say. But it seemed he was looking for her to ask questions, things she was not very good at expressing. Not to mention she preferred to experience as opposed to talking about things.

Finally she sighed softly, shaking her head slowly. "You know, I pride myself in loyalty. It would be a shame if a wolf were to enter lands and seek acceptance, receive it, and then turn on their new leader." She said softly, looking at the trees as they passed and smiling slightly as the wind rustled the leaves lightly. Her ability, her new home, she was already starting to be more comfortable here. Yes, there were still things to get used to, but she would manage. All she needed was some time.

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