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Post by krynn on Dec 2, 2009 21:35:09 GMT -7
Tarak's breathing became steadier as he regained consciousness, his dreams fading out until he could no longer remember what they had been about, only the feeling of happiness and contentment lingered in his waking thoughts. Slowly cracking an eye open, he saw evidence of a fresh snowfall overnight. Tarak had chosen to sleep out on the snow instead of the accumulated warmth of the den. His thick pelt had kept him warm all night and the outer hairs of his coat prevented the snow from melting. He yawned, showing off all his sharpened white teeth, as his warm breath smoked in the chill air.
Raising himself off the ground, Tarak shook vigorously, a cloud of soft snow showering off of him. His black pelt stood out against the white glare of the snow. Dawn had just broke and the first rays of the sun where hitting the trees and blankets of snow making the crystals sparkle. The snow clearing around him lay undisturbed and Tarak took a tentative step forward disliking the messy prints he was leaving behind him. Tarak liked sleeping outside the den, so he was always the first one to see the fresh blankets of snow untouched each morning.
Tarak walked the perimeter of the den site and then travelled farther into the forest. Scenting the air and ground he sought after any small animals that were out on the snow. Tarak spotted a few trails, which he could tell even without his nose to remind him that it was rabbit. The deer and bigger ungulates would sense a wolf den this close.
Heading back to the den site to see if anyone else was awake, Tarak spotted two ravens in the lower branches of an evergreen tree. They stared at him, which gave him a slight feeling of unease. Tarak barred his teeth and growled at them as he drew closer. The two ravens flew off the branches and cawed in there deep throaty voices which sounded like they were mocking him.
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Post by Kismet on Dec 3, 2009 0:49:11 GMT -7
The icy-eyed Alpha stared at her Beta, her black pelt obscured by the white snow that casually fell from the branches above. This she-wolf had little emotion, and one simple look at her face would prove it. Her ears stood straight up, mouth shut and locked firmly. Her almost lifeless eyes stayed in place, as well did her body. She look similar to a stone statue, frozen in the high snow around her feet. Though she was good at what she did. She had held strong in her position as Alpha for almost a year now and no one really ever dared to revoke her. One of the reasons was because they had no need to. She kept her pack well fed and healthy, kept order even in the most catastrophic of times, and even though she had no love to share she always kept her pack at the forefront of her mind. Her only concern was their well-being.
Her ear twitched, the dark statue coming to life, and she tilted her head to the side in slight confusion. "Ravens." she said slowly, her voice flowing like the softest of velvet, though there was an icy, deadly edge to the sound. "Why bother them?" she asked. Her almost white eyes twitched up to the sky at the fleeting birds before returning to her Beta. Though she didn't understand him at times, she trusted him with everything she could. There was a reason he was second in command.
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Post by krynn on Dec 3, 2009 16:55:56 GMT -7
Tarak heard Ebony before he saw her, and changed directions to head her way. His big paws kept him from sinking into the deep snow. He shrugged at her question, "Who knows... They were irritating me." He said in a casual voice. He wasn't to sure himself about what had just happened.
Tarak stopped and stood a few feet away from Ebony, they looked alike, two black wolves with startling blue eyes. Tarak had joined the pack a few months back after being a loner for over a year. He was enjoying the pack life again, and felt protective of his new family. Tarak didn't know much about the other packs surrounding this one, but he did know that no matter the conflict he would kill to defend them.
"How are relations going with the Lakota and Amithyst packs? The boarders have been clean lately, no sings of trespassing or movement from either of them." Tarak asked.
"I have not been in this land long enough to know a harsh winter, but prey might become scarce soon or later for the other packs, if not our own."
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Post by Kismet on Dec 3, 2009 20:46:17 GMT -7
The Alpha's expression did not change, though as she spoke a spark of life seemed to blaze within her blue orbs. "The other Alphas are very honorable and trustworthy. They would not stray into our territory without reason. I am not concerned about their hunting methods either. They would not steal from us." she said, her silken voice ringing with certainty. "Though prey indeed will grow scarce, our pack is strong. The ones that are too weak sometimes don't make it, but sometimes you can't keep them all alive. Though it's something we all must live with. Not everyone survives the biting cold of winter." This was certainly the most she had spoken for a very long time. The Alphess was usually a person of limited words, though if you got her going she would certainly not be stopped. She was also very opinionated and was not easily swayed.
"Though I doubt the worst of our problems will be because of the shortage of prey.." she said, trailing off for a moment. "I'm sure you can feel it like a second skin atop your pelt. To me it's like a whisper that is sometimes carried in the wind, almost to quiet to hear." The Femme stopped, starring out into space for a moment. "Nothing seems right, and the trees no longer speak freely, as if afraid of who will hear..." Ebony blinked and her face seemed to soften, for just a small second. "Enjoy the peace while you can, Tarak." His name floated from her mouth like white water trickling down a stream. "Because I'm afraid that it will all soon be gone."
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Post by krynn on Dec 4, 2009 23:07:53 GMT -7
Tarak nodded his head, accepting his Alpha's words. If she trusted the other packs with such certainty, so would he. Unfortunately, it was a reality of their existence that not all wolves lived through the winter months, but Mother Nature had her reasons. Ebony told of uncertain times ahead, but not from prey or other packs. Tarak had felt this also, an uneasy silence settled on the forest. He thought about the ravens again, maybe he should have talked to them. The Ravens were cunning creatures, never willing to give up anything without reward, but they knew a lot of the forest and the dealings of other animals.
"I have felt it to Ebony, an unsettling feeling of unease within the forest." He laid back his ears, and said "Maybe I will talk with the Ravens when they come back. I have to admit, I have never held any love for them, but they do prove their worth. Sometimes." He said the last mockingly, remembering an incident a while back.
Tarak looked longingly at the direction of the den site and spoke with a softer voice. "I will cherish these good times, never doubt that. I have seen to much madness to let peaceful times slip past unnoticed." He took in Ebony's tone and speech into mind and really realized how sincere she was. His strong alpha who often spoke only what was necessary when needed had opened up a bit.
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Post by Kismet on Dec 5, 2009 1:45:51 GMT -7
TheAlpha nodded, blinking her sapphire orbs and twitching snow from her ears. "Do as you wish, and talk to the birds. Though I myself resent their riddles and cryptic words. You may have to persuade them, as they are often very..." Ebony paused to think of the right word to describe the feathered rats. "...conflicting."
She looked to the rising sun through the trees, though the light would not be warm enough to melt the snow, just the sight was enough to bring hope into the most tormented. But Ebony knew better than to be uplifted; it was just a mirage of peace. The Alpha turned her head back to her Beta, her expression cold. "Do not let your guard down, Tarak. It would be a pity if I had to replace you." Ebony was extremely straight forward and to the point. It would be a pity to lose such a great Beta, but she also had no attachment to the male. She would feel no grief if he were to die, only disappointment. It was a sad thing, but it was the way she was; she did not hate, but she also did not love.
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Post by krynn on Dec 5, 2009 14:28:21 GMT -7
Tarak let out a dark laugh, "You wont be able to get rid of me that easily Ebony, but yes I will always watch my back."
Tarak swished his tail and turned his head to the side. "I think I will go now to the river and see if I can find some small prey to bring back." Tarak hand't eaten in a few days, but he was not particulary hungery after eating the white tail the pack had brought down; but he wanted a snack.
ps: sorry! Its just a small one :/
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Post by Kismet on Dec 5, 2009 19:23:32 GMT -7
[[No problemo.]] "Very well," Ebony said, standing from her spot and shaking her fur. freeing her pelt from white splotches of snow. "I will patrol the border." She gave Tarak one last fleeting glance before adding; "Be in the Dagwood by noon. I'm assembling a large hunt and we will need our most skilled." And with that last bit of knowledge the Alphess turned and left. Though, where she would have usually blended in with the foliage, her black pelt clashed against the white and her form stood out like a soar thumb, another reason why the Femme disliked winter.
As she returned to the barrows, Ebony announced that all who were able to were meet in the forest that afternoon to hunt. The weather was getting worse and prey was growing scarce, so they would need to stock up on fat and muscle while they could.
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