The Calm Before the Storm

[Riuk]

Small paws quietly padded against the stone ground, the sound echoing out from inside the grand cavern. A tan colored she-wolf appeared from the darkness, lips turned up into a grin as she gazed around the clearing. No longer was the ground covered with a thick sheet of snow. It was now green and orange and brown... earthy colors. It was Autumn. It was fall. It had been nearly a year since the four wolves had valiantly taken down the evil tyrant, Ebony. All had been well since then.

Riuk continued down the rocks and stone, limping down until she reached the forest floor. She had gained a permanent limp and gimp leg last year, due to a fight she had with a demon named Blunt. She had won, but was injured badly. Her body was never the same, and she never ran as fast as she once did. But Riuk, being the upbeat and happy wolf that she was, wouldn't let it get to her. She held her head high as she walked about with that odd gait, as if there was nothing wrong with her.

She found herself a nice soft patch of grass, and sat down with a grunt. She slowly lowered herself into a laying position. She had found a nice spot in the sun, and she allowed it's rays to warm her fur, which tousled slightly with the small breeze.

[Orchid]

"Well, you look like you're feeling better, dear," Smiling, Orchid and silently come up as if out of no where, some what like a ghost. She could remember the last time she had seen this small female, all mangled up, poor thing she had thought. She had laid her self right next to Riuk, enjoying the fall that had finally come along. She enjoyed the peace among these pack lands that had lasted for what seemed a year. But there was this feeling...a feeling that this peace, this harmony, would not last long.

Orchid, now being the new alpha of this small pack, did not like this feeling. It only meant that there was going to be violence, and she did not like that one bit. She couldn't, didn't want to think of these wolves that were now her family, to be in another vicious fight for survival and ending up the way they had once more. The female shook her head, twitching her ear and layed her head down, her mind somewhat trailing off else where. Her brown eyes staring off into the distance, gazing upon the trees that she had known the Deviants she had just met months ago, were plotting something.

[Riuk]

Riuk's ear twitched as she heard the voice and approach of her Alpha, Orchid. She gave the femme a toothy grin, and her tail thumped along the ground, portraying her delight.

"Hello, Orchid!" she greeted, "Yes, I'm feeling very well. How are you?" With that question, the female plated herself next to Riuk in the grass. The Beta gave the Alpha a lick on the muzzle. Riuk seemed to be oblivious of the dark shadow that Orchid seemed to feel. Like always, she was joyful and happy. Perhaps that was why she was Beta still. That, and because she was mated with Ruedi, the Beta Male.

"I very much envy your coat, Orchid. The color is so unique!" Riuk commented randomly, though, she had always let the Alpha know that she wished to steal her pelt. Jokingly, of course.

[Orchid]

After having spacing off to what seemed like a minute, but what was really a few seconds hearing Riuks reply, Orchid once again faced Riuk, a smile on her face, happy to hear that she 's been feeling much better. "Hmm hmm, well you look like you're feeling better too! I've been alright, just not soo sure if that's really true or not. I--" She stopped herself before she made this fine day horrid. She chuckled at Riuks comment about her red coat that had been fused with blach and whites. "Why thank you kindly, Riuk, I love your colors too. Very beautiful. I can see why Ruedi adores you so much. Would you like to trade coats?" Orchid smiled and laughed a little at her little joke. She'd give anything to have a gray pelt or even a black one, just to mix it up a bit, but she was happy the way she was.

[Riuk]

Riuk let out a wolf-like giggle. She leaned over to lay on her side, and, looking like a restless pup, rubbed herself into the grass below. If a wolf could blush, Riuk would have done so. "Oh, I doubt it's because of my pelt. My colors are so ordinary. There are many other wolves that look like me. However, you are different! It's very interesting." She stopped her wiggling, stopping in a position with her legs up in the air, the top of her head laying flat against the grass.

"Speaking of Reudi, have you seen him?" she asked, curious.

[Orchid]

The maned wolf chuckled once more as the silly wolf rolled onto her back, rubbing her small head amongst the soft ground, leaving her feet in the air. It was nice to see her feeling well, as if none of the horrors had ever happened. She enjoyed listening to her comments, and appreciated the fact that she looked at her as an interesting looking wolf. "Well there areothers whom look exactly like me, also" she gave a quick smile.

Not too far behind, Ruedi came running something flailing in his mouth. Perhaps food? That's exactly what it was, but nothing too special, only a hare. Orchid stood, shaking her short mane. "Speak of the devil, here he is now" replied Orchid to Riuk. Ruedi slowed his pace as he approached his mate and alpha, dropping his catch between the two. "Hello Riuk," seeing her had put a smile on his face, he gave her a quick lick on the muzzle, "how are you both today? I brought some food if you're hungry." Ruedi layed next to his loving mate whom was still in her puppy -like position, he gave a wolfish laugh, pushing his torso off the ground and flopped onto her stomach, but carefully, he wasn't sure whether or not she were still sore. He wagged his tail playfully, his ears pulling back as if he were inviting play.

Orchid smiled happily as the two pup like adults played and shook once more. "Thank you Ruedi, but I am fine. I think I'll leave you two love-birds alone for a bit." And with that, she gave a quick stretch, her legs extending has her top half and bent down while her rump went up, turning out to be an enjoyable stretch, she walked away silently soon after.

[Riuk]

Riuk turned her head toward Ruedi when he approached. She beamed, showing of her white teeth. Her tail wagged beneath her, parting the grass. After he greeted her and set down his catch, he lay down beside her.

"Hello, Ruedi." she snipped, giving him a lick on the chin. And then he glomped her. She snickered, playfully nipping at his nose in returning. "I am perfectly fine." she said in reply to his question. Her bum leg didn't seem to bum her attitude. Orchid excused herself, and Riuk let out a doggy chuckle. "Okay, Orchid! I'll see you later for the coat swapping!" she teased, pressing a paw into Ruedi's face

[Ruedi]

Ruedi nipped and pawed playfully at Riuks face, is tail wagging almost furiously with happiness and yet excitment to see his mate. He then gave a grunt as she placed a paw on his face, in which he let out a small howl-like yawn as he parted his jaws, licking his maw as he jumped up and landed on his forelegs, his end in the air. The gray males eyes flickered with joy as he then fell to the side and rolled over onto his back and wriggled around. His pink tongue lolled out of his mouth as he panted, now on his side, and he stared at Riuk with delight.

"Why on earth would you want to swap your coat? It's beautiful" asked Ruedi in slight confusion, but there was a bit of wolf-like laughter in his voice.