Into the woods [aw]

Augustus · 02-01-2012, 06:02 PM

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OOC Never fear, Auggie's here! xD

Word Count → 787

The first light had not even graced the world when the black and white hued Epsilon rose to greet the day. He was careful, as always, not to disturb his pack mates as they slumbered and soon exited the yawning mouth of the communal den. He inhaled a deep gust of the chilly winter air and saw immediately to his duty. Strolling in an easy gate towards the west he stopped himself at a brisk stream and drank deeply to build his reserve. When he was finished his belly was swollen with water and he was licking the straying drops from his black lips. He was off in a moment, a flash of black and white headed for the borders as he did every morning. It gave him a sense of purpose to do so, made him feel that he was a valuable member to his new pack, and family. He would defend them from any danger that came to call, no matter how great or small the threat, he was the one to deal with it. It was one of his duties now, no longer just an idle pastime.

When the scent barrier reached his nostrils he lowered his head and trotted along the line, careful to note where the scent was faintest. When he found a patch of dwindling strength he would pause and spray a couple drops until his scent rang clear, a warning to all. This was his task, as the task of his superiors, and he would see it done. His eyes often strayed to the land beyond, to ensure that there were no wolves or other, less welcome entities seeking to enter without permission, or wishing for an audience with the wolves within. There were none that he could see to stop his progress until he reached the woods. A fresh scent was scattered amongst the foliage, leading him on a wandering path towards the border, and beyond.

It was an aimless course, but recent. Whoever had been here they must have been chasing something or someone. He saw no hint of a hunt, no scattered fur or carcass and he traveled on, more urgently than before. His paws soon led him to his quarry and he heard voices, one familiar, and one hardly more than a squeak. There was another scent here, which he soon realized as Terra, recognition shown in his yellow and green flecked gaze and he caught her in his sights, but there was something else. Amongst her usual aroma was a sweet, inviting smell, and he took a greater whiff, feeling something stir within him. He froze, it wasn’t until he spotted the small reddish pup cowering not a foot from him that he snapped out of it.

He shook his head violently and sniffed at the little creature, thankful that he hadn’t stumbled into her. Her scent sang of New Dawn, and he realized that this must have been the pup that the pack Delta, Deuce, had taken in. What was she doing out here? And how could Deuce have let her out of her sight? He was a little annoyed that it was now up to him to recover the whelp and return her to the den. He was an Epsilon, now, a warrior, and defender of the pack, a master of the hunt. Deuce should have taken better care of her. But he found he could not blame the old woman. He remembered how unruly he had been when he had been this young, but still, this was not his job, and he would have to recount this occurrence to Deuce, and pray it did not happen again.

He eyed Terra a moment, then, before returning to Holly. This reunion could wait, he needed to see to the whelp. He came up slowly behind the pup to stand over her. His eyes observed her carefully, noting whether or not she was injured. She wasn’t and a feeling of relief washed over him. “Whelp.” He called out to her in his low, gruff voice. “You should not be here.” He did not mean to appear so frightening, but the pup was in need of discipline, and unfortunately, he was the only one here that could do so.

When he saw Terra move to reach for the pup an instinctive growl rumbled low in his throat, and he raised his tail, though lowered his head over the pup.“Leave her to me.” He cautioned, oblivious to any bond of friendship at this point. He could not permit Terra to cross the border, for he still had superiors to answer to and they would not be pleased if he let a coyote mix into their midst.

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