...as the hickory wind blows {complete}

[Mosh]

The winds that came surfacing across the ravine smashed into the black passageways of Haokah’s nose. It struck with such force she was taken back in her pace, ears flattened as her eyes slimmed to protect her glassy emerald visionaries from possible damage. It’s a blessing, haokah thought, that it’s instinctual to do certain things to protect from harm or to continue to survive. For example breathing, the flow of blood and the moving of her ears and protection of her eyes from the wind. It’s simply too much to concentrate on, imagine thinking of how to move the blood in your body, the muscles and your breathing all at once. You wouldn't have time to think or sleep.

Her slim body was now aching with the tension of her travels. She had come from the lands of her father, mother and siblings. A land unknown to the inhabitants of this moon island. Its better that way though, she left to get away. Shes not running away but to start a life of her own, not one decided by family or no life at all.

She pressed on as the gusts died down into a land covered by sparse timberland and vast fields for swaying blades of grasses. The assorted colors a norther light effect upon the backs of her eyes.

Haokah could feel eyes and could smells the scents of a thriving pack all over, male and female. Now is where she had to be concerned and justly was. Eyes flicking back and forth. She stopped, one final paw gracing the grasses and pressing into the moist morning dirt. Cold and loose between her toes. Her head moved in a swooping motion down and than up toward the heavens spotted with clouds. From her high toned voice box came a lullaby of tones that flowed from one note smoothly to the next. Her howl long, smooth and calm.

Lowering her head slowly she perked her ears and remained alert in wait for acceptance from the leaders or if perhaps some other pack member nearby had heard her call and became curious. Either or, she awaited for what was to come.

[Kaziph]

Cloud grinned at her leader upon her release, with her two best friends no less, and turned to find Lorkan and Surulian both. Her tassel wavered in the air enthusiastically; it was not ranked, but rather it simply showed her pleasure in life. Come, let's go and meet this newcomer, she rumbled. No one had been set in charge, and there were no ranks between them established, so the white she-wolf bounded out of the clearing with - once again - a head start.

She found it amusing that it was her always leaping forward, Lorkan always bumbling behind her, and Surulian always gently holding them back from pouncing too far into trouble. They made a good team.

The white fem ran along the forest pathways that were slowly becoming more and more familiar to her. She inhaled the sweet scent of spring, growing all around them, and dodged through the new flowers underfoot as she made her way toward the markers. She didn't know where exactly this loner was, but the call had sounded from the western side of their territory.

It was not too long before the trio of wolves would come upon the stranger, and as Cloud approached first she slowed her pace. She wasn't one to be aggressive normally, but there were soon to be cubs in the pack and her mothering instincts were strong. Her voice called out after she had caught sight of the loner, signaling to her companions, and she stopped after coming to stand within twenty meters of the light colored fem.

Greetings, she called out even as her eyes were tracing the outline of the fem, looking for strengths and weaknesses. What do you wish of this clan that you would summon us here? Cloud wasn't a leader by nature, but her tongue was gilded.

[Amanda]

Lorkan, indeed, was keeping true to his nature, placing himself in the middle of their little group as they ran to greet the loner. as he raced along the familiar forest paths he would occasionally bark out a direction or catch up and offer a gentle nudge to guide Cloud in the right direction before he fell back to make sure surulian wasn't falling too far behind, lost in thought as he always seemed to be.

Coming upon the loner he noted that she was female and seemed healthy enough. He, like his mother, was not one to be hostile towards loners. He viewed everyone as a potential companion. His voice was kind as he addressed her, his cerulean orbs gentle and welcoming.

Hello stranger. My name is Lorkan. who might you be?

He left it up to cloud as to whether or not she wished to divulge her name, and his attention was divided as he looked behind him, searching for surulian's dark trailing form.

[Saosin]

[bgcolor=000000]

And now my bitter hands cradle broken glass
Of what was everything
All the pictures have all been washed in black, tattooed everything
All the love gone bad turned my world to black
Tattooed all I see, all that I am, all I'll be

How very well his comrades knew him, how well they expected the actions that came as naturally to him as butter to bread. In their body language he could see with those two saffron eyes, portals to a broken soul and restless mind, that they had anticipated his coming up the rear, hanging back from the limelight, drifting like a ghost at their heels. And he would not betray their expectations, for he lingered just far enough back to keep up with the traveling party, and yet keep an inspired viewpoint of the drama unfolding before them. He was unsure as to the outcome of this first time duty of protecting the borders, but he had the utmost confidence in either wolf he traveled with. For their hearts and minds were off this forest, and they would protect it with their very lives. Words had already begun lifting into the air, directed at this solitary female who awaited such a party. In her eyes danced the desire that he two had come calling with, so very many nights ago. Loneliness carried about her essence like a shawl, for she smelt of lonesome travels and solitary eventides. Her posture was not threatening, and she had had the patience to remain here until met, they could accredit her to that. And yet he gazed deeper into her eyes as he moved up alongside his companions, searching for those intricate fibers of the soul that lay just below the flesh, and was mirrored in the eye.

[Mosh]

The timberline before her began to stir with life so patiently sought for, larger than a small foraging rodent of sorts and yet smaller than a predator to a solitary wolf, like a bear perhaps. The tree line seemed to give their presence in a sway and echo of pads hitting beaten ground. The mirror like ivory female that breached the tree line had done nothing to conceal her approach, first quickly from behind two rows of trees and then out a path invisible to Haokahs awareness. The pale female slowed as the sun graced across her muzzle but before or could truly reach a comfortable distance from Haokah she spoke with words or sincere diplomacy. Haokah could only assume she was not a leader of the pack for she showed no signs of that rank, only of a hidden yet strong passion for protection and business that Haokah could not decipher from simple, not quite hostile words. Haokah did notice the female’s attention to detail and Haokah hoping to perhaps show this obvious situated pack member that she was young, healthy and capable female in case the thoughts this foreign female have are towards some sort of challenge. Haokah had no problem showing that she can hold her own ground, no matter what the outcome might seem. Before Haokah could give the female a response to the females liking, another came straggling behind her.


This second was young indeed, perhaps not much younger than Haokah herself but looks can be deceiving. This second one was much friendlier as if he was naive to the possibilities that Haokah could have harm as her intention, or domination. Even though her motives were good he was aloof to the possibilities, he seemed more excited than anything to be in this situation, to see someone new and be a part of what Haokah could only assume an ordered group for if their curiosity had been struck they would come in singles, not in what seemed a trio. This Lorkan, of male gender had a particular eye behind him. A part of him was waiting for something more and there he came. Much unlike the two she was faced with.


He was of the darkest hue nature can stain a lupine with and he unlike the second is surly older than Haokah and notably wiser. Haokah isn’t good at looking into the soul of another but he was mirrored to her attempts to see his persona or even any feelings he might bear, be them good or bad. The trio seemed to be comfortable with each other and yet they were alike in the simplest and fewest ways possible. This assumed final member of the welcome party had said nothing, she has interest for him the most. There is wisdom there to be heard, something Haokah desires in her heart. She would trade her youth for wisdom of this world any day. Haokahs gaze remained on him; perhaps he might notice her intrigue, perhaps not. Haokahs eyes shifted away from the third unspoken male and rested back to the female who was the first to arrive and Haokah supposed the first to receive a reply. It seemed she wanted it that badly anyways.


“Greetings to you as well, the answer to the question you desire is simple with innocent intentions. I am looking for a home to settle in, somewhere I won’t feel so distant, something fresh and seeing as it is spring it only seemed appropriate that fate would have it be here in this land of yours that I simply ask of acceptance into your home, your family and one day your hearts as a friend.”


She gave the best little smirk she could, one innocent but warm. Looking directly into the females eyes she had given her words openly with security and her own sincerity. Her words had drifted just loud enough all three of them could hear her, and soft enough she didn’t make them feel is she was trying to be more powerful or more than any of them for she was not. She was lust a stranger from a strange land looking for homage in another strange home. She let her eyes momentarily slip from her gaze with the first female to the first male that had approach. Her simple smirk rose into somewhat of a silly but very friendly smile as she spoke to him momentarily. He had been so open, why shouldn’t Haokah show him the same respect and manners he had.


“Hello to you stranger, or I suppose I should call you by your name Lorkan. I am Haokah. Did you know that chickens are small and good to eat?”


She only was jesting with the younger male but it had seemed amusing to her and perhaps he would take the same way, either that or he would be completely confused. She only could wait these next moments and watch from the corner or her eye to see how he would take her words. Her gaze crossed over the dark male once again but again she could pull nothing from looks or glances that said much about him. She finally rested her eyes upon the one who had taken it upon herself to lead and if that’s what she wanted, if that’s what she desired let’s see if that what’s suited to her, if that’s what she could handle. Haokah calmly awaited the white female’s reaction and her response. She purposely didn’t give the third a response for he hadn’t given her one, she did not show it. It was only in her thoughts. Anyways Haokah wanted to speak with him alone; it would be the only time he might open up even a little. Perhaps show something that he can’t show in front of others, even if he is close to them in one way or another. She waited from all of them, keeping watch to all of them.

[Kaziph]

The pale fem eyed the stranger for a moment after her reasons for calling were given. They were passable, certainly, but Cloud's mothering instincts itched irately at the idea of bringing a newer face near Larka's precious young ones. It would kill Cloud if something were to happen to any little ones because of a fault on her part, but there was certainly no reason to suspect foul play.

She turned to face Lorkan and Surulian as they too arrived, and her tassel wavered at the sight of both of them happily. Her attention was then turned back to the stranger, Haokah. Welcome then, friend. We shall have to take you to our leaders, fair Larka and her mate, Atka, if you wish to be given acceptance here.

Her muzzle tilted sideways at Haokah's comment about something called... chickens. Strange, this fem. Yet humor was in Cloud's bright blue eyes as she looked to the younger male to see his reaction. She wasn't about to simply lead the newcomer into the pack lands yet, though, not until Lorkan and Surulian had agreed with her general assessment.

[Amanda]

Lorkan, ever the playful creature, tilted his crania so far to the side in confusion at the strange word Chicken that he looked quite comical.

Chi-what? Chicken? what the heck is that?

he shook his crania in wonder and turned to surulian, as if secretly conversing with him, though he was just playing and nipped the older on his dark auds, eternally trying to get him to lighten up a bit.

Turning back to Haokah he shrugged his shoulders.

What Cloud says goes in my eyes. Welcome, Haokah, to our escort party. Although it is up to Mother whether or not you actually get to stay here.

waving his plume happily he growled gently at Cloud, trying to get her to chase him, so they all could run back to his mother.

[Saosin]

[bgcolor=000000]

And now my bitter hands cradle broken glass
Of what was everything
All the pictures have all been washed in black, tattooed everything
All the love gone bad turned my world to black
Tattooed all I see, all that I am, all I'll be

Intensity beat within the mind of the raven hued wolf, bouncing like elastic through the casing of his skull. He had been an alpha too long, lead the Cold Creek pack for far too many moons, not to remember the building of adrenaline that came with confrontations, especially the meeting of a loner lingering upon the borders of a domain. Of course this... was not then. And sometimes he had to remind himself that that place, that piece of him was truly dead, and this was here and now, this was not his pack, but he was a piece of it. Perhaps that lent to his often lingering, haunting the backdrop, as if a sponge devouring the essence of the world around him. His perception was keen in such situations; he had lived them far too often not to pay close attention to even the finest of details. A flick of the lobe, the upturning of the lips at the corners of a mouth gone dry, perchance the hardly noticeably flicker in tail carriage. Ahh these were but a few tests of time and character, and though Surulian devoured the being before him slowly, painstakingly, his eyes but cast upon her in a single sweeping motion before he had decided.

In his mind, and in his soul, the second being far more intuitive than the first, spoke leagues of reassurances that said this wolf was not a threat to the clan of Ravilin, nor the soon to be born pups of Larka and Atka. This foreign female seemed to have a sense of humor about her, though there was knowledge in her eyes that overcame what he preserved to be only a few years of age. Perhaps her soul was old as was his, or perhaps she had merely lived both a long and short life at once, it happens he knew, for life is never easy upon the tenderhearted for long. These thoughts were kindled by Lorkan’s flamboyant actions and playful nature. And as he danced in Surulian's gaze, the dark male could not help but envy him. For though life had already begun to send his way, haunting shadows that would plague him, he retained this youth, this naivety, and he sincerely hoped that that would carry him through life on the wings of a dove. His gaze then swept to Cloud, her stance basked in authority even if she did not realize this herself. It fit her, he thought, and she was beautiful in her sureness. He knew she would always be a bright light within any dark night, for it was in this way that she shown most vibrant. To her he nodded his agreement of entrance, he found no threat here.

Slowly his head twisted back to this loner, Haokah, for he had not missed the lingering of her eyes on him, and found his senses intrigued by her gaze. Surely she did not know what an offer of friendship would bring to such a broken entity as he. For the darkness that clung to his heart was all consuming, and it sought to wrap its greedy claws into any flesh that came in contact with it. He knew... oh how he knew, the pain of those claws, ever present, ever reminding him of all he had lost. Those that stood beside him were the closest to him now, and though a disjointed trio they may make, with all their differences in hand, they had each other to lean upon. Surulian’s secrets though were his own burden to bear, and he had not weighed it upon the minds of his fellow companions. No wolf should bear such memories, nor did he seek to gain pity from them either. And though they looked upon him in wonder at the weight he seemed to perpetually carry, his grief was yet unexplained. Forever he would search for a way to erase his past, forget the pain of loss and love, but as of yet the crusade was futile. He had lived forever in a moment and died a thousand times and yet here he stood, a lost soul traversing dimensions, forever bound to the earth and its realities.

“I am sure Larka and Atka will be pleased to find another strong wolf to strengthen our song. Haokah, I am sure you will like it here if you stay… this is a beautiful forest after all. Perhaps you can tell us of these chickens...”

His words did not touch upon his inner struggles nor the entity that defied him in the least. They were but words after all, to a foreign wolf who he knew little of. If she wished to know him, befriend him, perhaps she would seek him out. He would welcome such things of course, for it was his way. Not many sought to dance with the shadows beneath the moonlight, but there were some…

[Mosh]

Haokah had simply waited with attention to the fair fem who even after her words were spoken choose still to keep her name to herself, Haokah could only assume that the female did this on purpose and perhaps Haokah could speak with the ivory female, later on in time, personally or find out her name through another of the pack for as far as Haokah could tell, her response was adequate for now. It was the leaders of this pack whom Haokah had come to meet and ask of their acceptance. They obviously ran a fair home here with what appeared loyal subjects for lack of a better word. The alphas had their respect and Haokah knew that they must have earned that one way or another, violence was not on the list. Patience or love, maybe even virtue but not a stern hand fell upon these individuals. This female did have a quirk to Haokahs words on the chickens, on those devilish yet delicious little creatures. Also here was the white females’ name, Cloud.

These wolves have obviously not traveled to lands where the two legged creature lives with their meals in cages and their loud barks that came from cold metal sticks. Next to speak was the young Lorkan and so young he was but in such an innocent way, Haokah could only be touched at heart for what she knew little about. Family is only something Haokah knew on one level, having her own family that are not parents or siblings is foreign and actually a faint bit frightening. It’s an unknown that not like traveling. It’s not like facing something stronger than yourself, it’s something greater then Haokah wished to think of now.

His comical look was amusing and made a grin come across her face. Haokah’s teeth showed through for the first time. They are healthy strong teeth that had only the slightest creeping of color coming down from her gums. Her smile was most likely not the most charming or the most eye catching but Haokah knew any fault anyone could say she had or that she thought she had, Haokah made it up in her personality and her smarts. No one could bring her down. Her emerald eyes fixed on the youngster and replied to him in a tone that floated with laughter that lowered as she continued to speak.

“A chicken like I said is a small little bird that cannot fly. They have feathers like birds and come in lots of colors like wolves do. The best thing about them is you can find them in cages just waiting for you to eat up, One yummy piece at a time.”

The young Lorkan seemed so anxious to push a button that would get his friends to do something her wanted. He was the son of the leaders, showing something new now to Haokah. Haokah could tell that these leaders had been here for some time now, enough to produce offspring that appear able to hunt. He was defiantly a playful youngster at that, diffidently still young, so very young. Now her attention turned to the male again, he diffidently was one to catch her attention, not in any sort of attraction that could be considered sexual or anything of that nature, only an interest to the mind, to the curiosity. His words soothing and calm but they did not open to what was truly inside of him. Obviously what lay in his past was enough to hide away in some corner, more easy to bear that way.

“I appreciate your confidence in me sir. I also do plan to stay as long as this Larka and Atka are also willing to accept me. To be honest I feel it is time to settle for me now, if it is temporary or permanent, only time will reveal its plan to me.”

Her words strictly directed to him without hesitation to show him that she wasn’t hiding anything for if anyone could see within another in this group. He would be the one. Haokah kept folded in her mind the plan to meet with him after all of the politics were out of the way.

“I am ready to meet with your leaders when you are ready to lead the way, along the way if you have any further questions about the chickens or I feel free to ask away.”

Haokah felt she might be pushing it but if anyone had any problems with that they were welcome to speak up if that’s their meaning, if that’s their intention.

[Kaziph]

Cloud grinned at her companions, glad that they too had found no fault in this loner. She paced forth and touched Haokah's muzzle with her own nose, blue eyes sparkling from their ivory mask in welcome. She was a friendly wolf, seeing the kindness first in others before their faults. Maybe this fem was a new friend, and her tassel wavered behind her at the thought.

Come then, she yipped suddenly, backing up and bounding off a few paces back, deeper into the forest. Her eyes fells upon Lorkan, not looking to him for leadership, but still seeing his response. Let's return to your mother and Atka. The cubs are surely here by now. Her frame quivered excitedly, for Cloud dearly loved cubs. One day she would bare her own.

The white wolfess then turned and darted off, leading the way once more. She wasn't a leader by nature, but her swift paws and happy gaits always found her at the front of the group, racing Lorkan. Her limbs stretched and retracted, easing her through the woodlands she was coming to know very well. Thoughts of her friend, Larka, and the alpha brute flickered through her mind, wondering how all faired.

[Mosh]

[bgcolor=020401]

Haokah had been patiently awaiting some response in return to her answers or perhaps her actions but as on some sort of queue Cloud moved first, always first to action with short but meaningful actions and words. Why always first, perhaps no one moved at her pace and so knew it, maybe she simply reacted. The more Haokah had time to be in her presences the more Haokah could see the demeanor of this Cloud even though she was not always even mannered, always changing from a standing tall, slightly aggressive with only a hint of authority in her own way and melting away like a calm winter thaw in the spring to become what she truly is within and underneath any persona she puts on. Haokah was thinking of this when cloud began to move and seamlessly without any reason or rhyme she visually confirmed with her pack mates and moved forward towards Haokah. The surprise on Haokahs facade must have been evident for when the cool dark nose of Cloud to Haokahs own uncommonly long muzzle she couldn’t help but step back slightly, her tail popping up with a slight curl to its form but not a spiraling curl, please don’t mistake. It passed so quickly yet to Haokah it seemed so long, contact with another wolf was something nearly unknown to Haokah. It has been years since even a simple gesture like that has crossed between her and another, back then it was a good bye to the only lupine she could even have called a companion or friend.

She spoke no words though she was not in shock; she simply was surprised above any vocalizations. Her eyes fixed onto cloud now. A open reexamination of this fellow future pack mate whose gender is similar to Haokahs and who’s mirror like color and uniquely toned eyes were so much a similarity on the outside but within they had miles of distance from one another. They traveled very separate paths in other words, seeking separate things and having had different experiences. Would they get along in an open friendly manner? Only time would reveal its plan. Cloud surly made the impression that’s either her idea or her hope, so quickly though. She truly knew nothing of Haokah, yet she could be said to already trust Haokah with no real reason to do so, no experiences or proof that Haokah could even be trusted except for a few words. Haokah could not change this even though she felt differently, it’s just the way Cloud was and no, of course Haokah would not carelessly hurt another for either self gain or out of unreasonable random spite. It’s just not like Haokah.

As quickly as it happened it was over, Cloud had her attention to the young Lorkan, what a sweet innocent soul he is now. He knows nothing of the real world, of pain, or disappointment, not even loss or the feeling of sheer loneliness. Loneliness like you are the only sparkling diamond of a star in a sky where all the other stars fade away from you until they no longer share their space with you, and you are left alone to wander and wonder of greater things with yourself to the grasses, the trees or even the sun and the moon. Your only companions when all other fear you, you fear them or the languages you speak are from such a foreign dialect you can’t even understand a single word.

This is where the true surprise came though, Cloud spoke of Lorkans relation to the pack leaders and they had cubs. Haokah is not good with cubs nor did she expect something like this. She was expecting leaders that could accept her into their pack without being distracted. There are two of them but this was not what Haokah was expecting or even could guess. As her mind filled with questions she slowly answered which ones she could with what knowledge she had. It was summer now, the tail of spring fading from all consciousness like the early chill or a dewy spring morning. It would be an appropriate time for them to be here, perhaps this could explain Clouds demeanor when they first met. It must surely be exciting for little Lorkan though. Brothers and sisters to deal with, Haokah wished him the best of luck as her picturesque facade turned from a blank surprise into a warming smile towards the dear Lorkan before he went bounding off behind Cloud towards where Haokah assumed to be the den or simply where the pack met, perhaps just where the alphas would be.

Haokah felt what anxiety she had unknowingly gained from the presence of so many, after so long of having no company, regress from her form and she was able to give a soft warm expressionist sign of relief with the exhale. Her bright emerald eyes hidden behind curtains for a moment before opening once more upon the second male and third of the welcoming party, the only that remained. Perhaps this was their moment to speak with one another for a short time; perhaps he might even express his name even though truly a name is not what makes a lupine who he or she truly is. She let her eyes wander across him for a moment before casually in a more relaxed state she began to speak soft words, spoken without fear or how they might fall or the reactions, Just openly questioning.

“Would you lead the way for me? I am not familiar with these lands and perhaps we can talk. You seem to have a demeanor that I would like to get to know you better if that’s something you would enjoy as well.”

Her eyes met with his and she openly waited to see what his response would be. Her breath was calm and even with the neutral winds.

[Saosin]

[bgcolor=000000]

And now my bitter hands cradle broken glass
Of what was everything
All the pictures have all been washed in black, tattooed everything
All the love gone bad turned my world to black
Tattooed all I see, all that I am, all I'll be




Strange how quickly time seemed to pass, like moments encpasuled within the pitter patter of each single raindrop as they fell in curtains within the violence of a summer storm. Only yesterday Reykjavik and Cold Creek, his pack and family, had been so very real to him. And now that seemed like a saga of lore books nearly forgotten when replaced with memories born anew. Ahh but those years could not truly be forgotten, not when their signature storyline held such pinnacle events that they molded and shaped the raven lupine that stood here now. He had pulled the curtains closed however, seeking solace in the newness of the season for the high doses of pheromones which congested the winter months were passed and the rebirth of the island come spring had worn from its brilliant emerald garment to a much more earthen tone.

They had yet to meet the alpha pair’s litter of pups but had known that they had indeed arrived. And since no sounding call had been given in distress, Surulian knew that all had to be well with the new family. It struck a hallow cord within Surulian’s soul when he acknowledged that even having held the position of alpha for so long back home, he had never known the happiness of birth and fatherhood. Then again, he had never had a mate long enough for such things to occur. And truly when he envisioned those hazy veiled years, he could not really see Torn as being the mothering type anyhow. Though if she would have bore his cubs at his request he knew not. She was but a phantom now, as was Silver Mist, a haunting miasma of regret and loss.

Shaking himself from the reverie, he twisted his gaze to rest solely upon this new wolf who had been granted entrance at their disposal and as his two comrades raced ahead and the silence surrounded them, her words became exemplary in his consciousness, drawing every bit of his intent. His stance stirred the loose topsoil beneath his paws as he regarded her, locking upon those eyes that shown with curiosity and genuine goodwill. Did those eyes possess a friend, a comrade, another soul to share himself with below this canvas of constellations spanning out over there head? HE hoped so, somewhere deep inside he yearned for such things. He carried so much weight within him; sometimes he had to recall what it was like to breathe, to live…

“It would be my pleasure to show you to our leaders Haokah… you can call me Surulian, if you like.”

He hesitated slightly at her questioning, glancing at the pathway ahead of them through the brush and then back to her, his gaze warmed and eyes soft.

“I would enjoy that immensely … perhaps we can share a little of one another amongst us. I too… would like to come to know you better.”

[Mosh]

[bgcolor=020401]

Haokah never had a doubt about the wisdom of Surulian, and being able to have a moment and focus only on him helped to make things clearer. Amongst a young wolf and a particularly similar looking female he seemed so much more distant and abstruse behind a fog that clouded many things about him from his thought to his intentions, like they were simply written on a wall, no real correlation from what’s at the surface to what’s underneath. He only now like her was able to rest their attention fully onto one another. Haokah felt comfortable enough to be relaxed with such a small company. Travels will take the desire to have familiarity of being close to others, living within a community where there are rules and certain ways of working together that Haokah had lost to the stars and the solitary wind. Haokah came here for a few reasons and understands what it entails but in an instance like this she begins to feel lost again. She pretty much went on instinct from when she arrived to now but a barrier was melting and she was to become part of this, no turning back for the most part. Haokah simply isn’t one to not go through with a decision she makes, no matter the decision.

When he first spoke he still had that instinct of something, it was natural to him, and this feeling was something Haokah couldn’t seem to put her paw on. It had to do with his past, she was sure of this. He gave a feeling on being presentable, his words kind and with objective like a leader would be. Haokah couldn’t know this but she thought it altogether without judgment. Nothing in the past really mattered to Haokah; she was all about the here and now. The present towards the future based on the occurrences of the past. He seemed to move on his toes like he was not quite at ease but she didn’t get a uncomfortable vibe from him so she took that blankly but his reaction to her question was what truly took her attention. She felt she might have asked something wrong or perhaps in a weird way. He just looked towards the path ahead of them and softened. Haokah did the same and looked ahead and to him yet things remained calm in him even though his answer which proved to be the most comforting.

Haokah looked towards the ground now to hide the sense of acceptance she felt from him. She didn’t need or want these things. They simply weren’t essential or of any value or advantage before, opening up takes more than it seems. Her eyes wandered up and she hoped this would continue to something different and bigger than simply a conversation, perhaps a friendship and see where things go on. She wasn’t objectionable to Surulian from first impressions.

“Well I suppose we should be on our way.”

She turned her shoulders towards the path he glanced towards and how confusing trying to learn these woods would be. In the end she would do fine, just now it seems daunting. Her paws lifting lightly on somewhat stilt like legs, they were longer than most and her body would seem like a twig if it weren’t for the remaining winter coat that she was still losing. Here head swiveled back towards surulian and she kept a slow pace, eyes resting upon his facade.

“Why don’t we begin with how did you come to these lands?”

A small smile crossing her face, friendly and open.

[Saosin]

[bgcolor=000000]

And now my bitter hands cradle broken glass
Of what was everything
All the pictures have all been washed in black, tattooed everything
All the love gone bad turned my world to black
Tattooed all I see, all that I am, all I'll be




Funny how Surulian could recall the past in an instant, not a vague watercolor screen of pastel colors and fleeting words, but a deeply intricate portrait of fine details and exquisite color. And though those ghosts had been suppressed time and time again, buried and seemingly forgotten, tossed like rubbish into the wind, here they lie, scattered upon the surface of a soul who could never truly let it go. His heart began to accelerate at the thought of describing the things that pulled his inner strings, his breath becoming shallow, though his pace did not slow as he strode alongside this unknown female. But then he realized that the torture he was already enduring was unneeded, for Haokah had not asked him of his dark storms… no she had merely asked of what brought him here, and that was perhaps the least pain imprinted of him of all. Tests of the body, no matter how rigorous, never seemed to faze him half as much other tribulations. And so he shook himself, perhaps visibly so and turned to her, his wide, soul searching eyes seeking hers out, caressing the vibrancy there, and moments later began, realizing he had not recounted these events prior to now… to anyone, not even himself since arriving.

“Well… I am not a wolf of this island; there is none of my blood here. I came from an island very far from here; in what I can only guess is the far north. I was not born there either… but let us leave that story for another day. Suffice to say that that place, Reykjavik it was called, was my home. It was very different from here, it was bathed nearly year round in perpetual ice and snow, and except in the very lowest of valleys, it remained cold and unforgiving. I was the alpha there, of the only pack of wolves on the entire island filled with vast herds of horses. In my last few months there… silence had consumed the entirety of our existance, the cold had become somehow colder… the temperatures dropped to unspeakable digits. It would seem an ice age had overcome us and everyone… everyone just seemed to melt away…”

And there he had begun... begun to tell her his pain, even though he had not meant to. And yet how could he convey why he had left his home, if she was not given the reasons for it? And so he would continue, lightly, for it would not be long before they were upon the alphas. Perhaps after she was accepted they might be able to find a comfortable place amongst the shaded groves to talk further though, without worry of formalities. And so he began again.

“My family, my pack disappeared one by one, swallowed up by the hollowness of that place, lost to death or despair, I know naught, they simply vanished. And so it would come that while searching for any signs of life, half starved, perhaps half mad, through the blinding of the blizzards, I came upon some sort of wreckage along the beach that had been swallowed by the drifting ice. Some sort of vessel from another world, apart from our own. It seemed buoyant upon the frigid water, yet anchored down in place by the burg that had claimed it. The top was mostly broken and splintered but within remained intact. It was not overly large but there was plenty of room for me to crawl inside and use it as a wind break. I fell asleep within the comforts of its nest and when I awoke the world seemed off kilter and unsteady… I crawled out from the cubby I had hidden within to find that the ice had broken under the weight of the waves and I was set adrift into the unknown. Days… weeks I drifted…. Past massive icebergs, into temperate waters that melted the snow and ice that had built within the hull. It was from this that I could drink and from the objects which I tore at within my prison where I found nourishment. It was only in this way that I was able to sustain my life… just barely, before the vessel began taking in water not far off the coast of this place. And when it succumb to the fathomless depths I swam… with all the strength left in me, I swam. And eventually washed up upon these shores, far south of here. I remained there for a time, gaining back strength and weight for I was nothing but a skeleton with fur… and when the time was right... when I could no longer avoid the desire within me for companionship… I sought them out, the pack wolves of this forest, and have been here ever since.”