Hello and welcome to 'Souls! I'm Libri

        
He should have been asleep, but eyes had opened and unconsciousness had kept its distance. Perhaps Bris was right; anything that could help him rest better was worth trying out in order to escape the exhaustion that seemed to bury itself deeper within him every morning when he opened his eyes. Sleep could not be forced, so instead the male padded on towards the borders, knowing well that there were creatures stalking the night as well as the day. The night was the time for the wolf’s song, but those old traditions seemed less popular. Now, he was too young to know this for certain, but books told of wolves singing to the sky as darkness flourished and the pale moon rose.

        
He quickly found the stranger’s scent on the borders and patiently trotted on until he found the creature painted almost invisible had it not been for the pale light from above. It was most peculiar to find an unknown scent wandering so close to the borders this hour, but the young male would of course give her a chance to explain herself. Purple orbs sought hers, yet the smile that so often accompanied the Dahlian leader was nowhere to be seen. ”What kind of wolf stalks a pack’s borders in the middle of the night?” There was no growl in his voice, but it was firm and straight to the point. It was fortunate that he had been in the right place at the right time.

Nice to meet you! I'm sure you'll fit in with this crazy bunch we have here And your posts are very good! My replies sometimes end up a bit short because I try not to be slow! (but I usually end up being slow anyway, sighsighq_q)

        
She was wise to rethink her pose as he closed in on her. For a moment it seemed she planned on playing on a proud appearance. The pack wolf’s white tipped tail rose with superiority; the change in his body a natural reaction to the other canine’s swift hint of arrogance. It mattered little whether or not he was the leader of a wolf pack when met with a daring behaviour on the borders. Even an Omega, the pack’s scapegoat, stood higher than unranked wolves close to their lands. The male’s golden ears took in the female’s words, and he listened. It was rather unusual to seek out other packs in the middle of the night for these purposes, but Conor was not about to get unreasonable either. He had been nearby and awake, so he could not condemn her for anything.

        
Her purpose was clear now, at least. ”This is Dahlia de Mai, and we are currently open to new members, if that’s what you mean,” the male said softly, only to hear her ask about his position within the pack. Ears flickered back towards the young male’s skull. The woman before him went straight to her points, he would give her that. Conor Soul was the one that had risen to take responsibility when no one else did. The crown had been stolen from the crazed Haku. The young wolf had not seen his father since he was overthrown. The evil still lurked out there. Somewhere. ”I am but a mere wolf of this pack,” his answer sounded, and the black female was no wiser.

        
Any member could greet a stranger by the borders. Conor appreciated the different perspective that could be brought to him by another member when facing the choice of whether or not to let a lost soul find sanctuary within these lands. ”If you seek acceptance into this Dahlia, I can be of assistance. I’m Conor Soul. May I ask your name and why you chose this pack?” There, a small, genuine smile was brought to his young face. He was intrigued, of course, and was rather curious about the dark lady with the blue eyes.

Sorry for the quality of this post <.<

        
His responses remained peaceful as they always were. Perhaps another wolf would have an instinctual grudge manifest as result for a few careless flaws in the female’s posture and act, but Conor liked to follow his own, loose rules for these things. He met a rich variety of individuals by the pack’s borders, and while their manners shifted as the weather so often did, they usually possessed a kind heart and a genuine desire for a place to call home. Who was he to refuse them that? He was merely the protector; holding the pack’s interest in his hands and so few of these souls wanted to infest the lands with cruel intentions. Her blooming smile was all he needed, and so nothing in his gentle posture was forced. He never was the kind to boss around and wear a crown.

        
”It is a pleasure meeting you, Layla,” the man replied in that same soft voice. It was unusual to receive questions about the pack so early in the process, but it was pleasant to see the lonely soul interested in more than the mere promise of a home. Dahlia was not for everyone, and so it was not uncommon for those pledging their alliances to the pack to abandon those promises and the lands. ”We do not enforce any specific lifestyle on our members,” he answered truthfully. Dahlia had the best of both worlds, and so the forms of its members varied. ”Our hierarchy follows the basics of a wolf pack, but a member is permitted to adjust their responsibilities as they please in their everyday life.” He found that he was uncertain of what she had meant. ”Dahlia consists of luperci and non-shifters, so our members choose the form they are most comfortable with, naturally.”

--

        
The male listened patiently as the woman elaborated, and then nodded as she finished and brought forth the point that he had failed to see. His previous reply would already have touched the answer of this question, then. ”We are not human,” he said, stating the obvious. Even so it seemed this was becoming more of a trend. ” Yet within Dahlia lies Wolfville, a human city cornered by rich nature. Our territory holds both worlds, and thus we adapt to our surroundings and our preferences.” While the yearling was standing on four paws in front of the woman, his desired form was that of the two legged luperci. He attended the little herb garden, read books alone or for the children. Most things he did, he did while shifted. With a few exceptions such as patrolling and travelling. ”Does this answer satisfy you, Layla?” he asked; lips remaining gently curved with that quiet, friendly smile.

If you want, we can continue this a little bit if you want them to get to know each other a bit better on the way back to wolfville Welcome to Dahlia de Mai btw! I'll get you titled up asap, but feel free to post freely from now on!

        
The male was surprised when change came to her body, muscles bending and bones cracking. In all honesty, he had never truly stood and watched a canine shift into another form. Not to say he had not been present as it had happened, but the way this was brought on caused him to pay attention. It was just the two of them in this quiet, shadowed world of night. Ears flicked back towards his skull in silent thought. He was not surprised at her luperci genes—the majority of the population possessed it. Alexey was the only wolf born without the ability that he had known of until recently. While it had not been directly proven, he believed one of the newer Dahlians was a non-shifter. The male could not imagine such a thing. While the quadruped form was their true form, it was wonderful to be able to become something more.

        
”Intuition tells me you will like our city,” he commented with a little grin. Perhaps she would settle nearby the Victorian house where the leader and the masses of children currently resided. It was always cosy to have nearby neighbours. Their different forms were no longer ideal in this situation, but Conor did not have any issues with his pride. She was allowed to hold whatever form she wished for. So far he had answered her questions honestly, but he had yet to learn much about this female at all. Usually things were done more thorough, but this was not really a good time to do it. He was tired and his exhausted body required sleep. Perhaps he could obtain more information on the walk back to the town and his home. ”Very well, welcome to Dahlia de Mai.”

        
There was a moment of soft hesitation before his mind settled. Shifting into another form burned a lot of energy, so perhaps this could help sleep come swifter when he reached the house. His body, accustomed to its ability, went through the transformation swiftly, and soon the male too stood up on two legs by the dark woman’s side. The quiet smile was back again and he turned slightly, gesticulating for her to follow as he started to walk back towards the heart of the pack land. ”You will start with the subordinate rank as everyone else, but I’m certain you will have no troubles finding something that suits you.” He did not adore a strict hierarchy—a rank did not prove an individual’s worth. He liked to think that they were all the same. He was no better than an omega, all things considered. ”I’m the alpha of this pack, and if you need anything, let me know. I live in Wolfville, so you will more often than not find me there.”

I don't mind at all. I like this thread!

        
The happiness blooming in her dark face caused the male’s smiling expression to widen as well. This was what this was all about; to be able to give happiness to others. He wished happiness for his members, wished for them to find a home where they could live a life well worth living. He hoped the woman would grow as fond of this place as he was. He had been born here, son of the pack’s second in command. In truth, the young Soul male hoped that he would live the rest of his days here. The demon had been exiled and he knew that at one point his father would have to answer to someone. He would not be able to run from justice forever. Dahlia was a place of peace now, and even in the blackened ruins where the flames had eaten the lands, there was green mending the coal wounds.

        
Naturally, the male stiffened as the female made yet another unexpected move. She embraced him, wrapped her arms around his caramel coated form. For a moment he was touched by this impulsive act of happiness. Her voice sounded gentle in his sensitive ears, and he relaxed slightly; serenity returning to his features. Her fur hid the blush from his lavender gaze, but her audible response to her own bravery was granted a sly grin from the male. ”That’s okay.” She did not strike him as the average wolf. In fact, much about this meeting was strange, but she seemed to be a soft and sincere soul, and he adored her for that.

        
She seemed a touch surprised at his rank, but he did not ponder why that was. To him, his position was not all that. Some considered the leader to be an individual of power and importance, but he liked to see it from a different perspective. He was merely here to serve Dahlia de Mai to the best of his ability. Nothing more. Her next question was not unexpected, at least. Did she wonder about his extreme youth? The woman was older than he was, and he knew that in this position, his age was not favourable. Yet he did his best. No one could expect more, really. ”Three months, give or take,” he answered truthfully, thinking back at the end of the war. There had been so much tragedy in these lands back then. Already it seemed another lifetime.

        
It was not a happy tale, but perhaps it was best that she heard this from him anyway. ”My father was the Alpha before me. He was.. a cruel, broken wolf with little good left in him. He brought war and death to our lands, and someone had to stop him.” The young Soul male had not really investigated the consequences of his rebellious act until he had suddenly stood left with Dahlia’s invisible crown resting on his head. Haku Soul had been forcefully demoted and thrown out, and the soul to replace him was his own son. Lavender eyes sought out her sky blue orbs, and he found that the losses that the pack had experienced back then still filled his soul with sorrow.

”What about you, Layla? What is your story?” He wanted to know this woman.

It's pretty

        
It was not hard to detect the reaction in the woman as he told his little tale. It was a fitting response, because it had been nothing less but a nightmare to most of the members. Cruel souls had been drawn to his father’s command, and the pack had known strength in numbers and sacrifices as the war rolled on and stained both lands crimson with blood. Such a waste. All those lives sacrificed—and for what? Conor continued to fail to see his father’s point of view in this matter. Some men just want to see the world burn, and he thought his sire was one of them. No one knew the full story, but it was Haku Soul that had started the conflict—started both the wars that went under the names the Dahlian wars. It disgraced the pack’s name, but the hour before sunset was always the darkest one. Change had come to Dahlia, and Haku could no longer use the pack to carry out his cruel acts for him.

        
Yet, once, Conor believed that Haku too had been a man—not always the cruel monster. ”My father had a darkness in him. It swallowed him in the end, I think.” Only true evil could do what Haku Soul had done. The thought of his blue eyed sire brought forth a bitter taste. It was a small wonder that Conor and his brother had not turned out worse. The young alpha strived to be all that his father was not. ”Several of us, in fact,” the male answered with tragedy apparent in his serene tones. ”So many lost their lives in this pointless war and another was lost when my father was confronted with his crimes. Because of me, a good Dahlian died that day.” He remembered how Haku’s fangs and claws had torn at the member. Eyes closed for a moment and the horrid scene replayed in his mind. He hoped that Semyon had not given up his life for nothing. To wallow in guilt did no good either way, and so Conor liked to think that the sacrifice had led to something better. Haku was gone and would never come back.

        
She spoke about her life in short sentences, but her words filled him in with the basics. It explained that she was most comfortable with her bipedal form. Other packs put more weight on the two legged form, but Dahlia cherished both. He hoped this could be a place for her to find peace. ”Perhaps it was time,” he agreed, looking at her as they wandered deeper into the shadowed lands of Dahlia. ”I was born in these lands. With time I hope you will be able to see this place as I do.” Right now this was a foreign world to the woman. Some chose not to open their eyes to see what the lands had to offer. He hoped the dark woman could create a life here. Then again, they were all different and people sometimes left in pursuit of something better. Dahlia was all Conor had to offer, but for some souls, this was enough.

Feel free to start as many open threads as you'd like. Mark them with AW(all welcome) to announce that it is open for all, and people will join it.

        
His smile turned dreamy as she asked him to elaborate. "I see home," he said simply. It was a word that held so much meaning to him. Despite living here most of his life, it was not until recently that he had truly understood what one should feel like. While the young wolf, as many others, had a silent wish to see the rest of the world and its wonders, he knew that he would not get up and leave this place for as long as he lived. Not while his family and his loved ones remained here and filled his soul with contentment. For some a pack and a place to belong to held little meaning when all came to all, but not here. He had everything he wanted. Right here. The memory of Alexey did no longer burn as much as it once had. She had left him with an empty void seeking to corrupt his vulnerable heart, but it was filling up. The white Stormbringer living here with him was helping him move on. But of course, the heart always asked for more.

        
He turned to the woman, wondering if she would one day understand what he meant with that simple word of explanation. "Dahlia holds everything dear to my heart. As long as I remain here, I am content with life," he continued, trying to explain a feeling plain as it was complicated. He moved on, bringing on a new subject. "Many of our members have found accommodation in the city. There are plenty of empty houses to choose from." It would be great to gain another nearby neighbor. Conor preferred knowing his fellow pack members, but it was Layla's choice whether or not she wanted to live in the wilderness or not. The lands were rich and large, so there was enough space to settle wherever she desired.

And I guess we're done with this thread

        
He continued to smile, for there was no reason to remove it in this female’s presence. She hoped that she was right—hoped that the rest of Dahlia felt the same way about their home as he did. War was ugly, but peace was here now. Gabriel had kept his word and there had been no more conflict after Haku’s departure from these lands. Of course, Conor was only one wolf and it was impossible to have full overview. He did not know about Bris and Hybrid. He believed everyone was safe and sound. He nodded to the blue eyed woman by his side, believing that she would fit in here and feel like home soon.

        
He was certain that a gal like her would find many friends here. Many were relatively new in these lands, and most of the members were seeking to know the pack’s members. ”You will,” the leader reassured the Subordinate. The city rose up before them and they were here. ”We’re here and this is where I leave you, Layla.” It was time for her to pick and choose and time for him to return to the house to catch a few precious hours of sleep before another day started. ”I’ll see you around,” he said, granting her a last genuine smile before he turned and returned home.