Located waaaay far away from the territory line of the pack in the Serena Reserve outside of the Aniwaya Packlands, so as to not cause any trespassing issues. Dated September 20, 2010

It was quiet in the forest, or it would have been to a human if they were still around to walk through them. In reality, the forest was alive with activity. The birds sang to each other, flittering from branch to branch as they greeted each other. An owl hooted angrily as a bird got too close and woke him up, rustling up huge gusts of leaves as it took off to find a quieter tree to sleep in. Deer grazed on low hanging branches and small patches of moss growing on the ground. Rabbits hopped along, munching on whatever they could find. It was peaceful to any who passed through here, though even more so for the white wolf currently taking his first steps through this strange new land.

The going had been slow because he had gotten tired of running into trees and rocks, surprise dives into ponds, and the dreaded thorn bushes. It had been days, months even, but still he knew he must keep going. One paw in front of the other, leading him past unseen and unknown landmarks and strange new lands. Traveling for miles in a world of darkness, permanent to his eyes but not to his heart. His ears constantly swiveled, his whiskers twitched, his nose wrinkled, all giving him constant information about his surroundings. He had learned these things not long ago, but all ready they were ingrained in him as deep as instinct, a survival instinct given to only those who were as he was...blind.

As he stepped over a particularly pointed stone, he remembered what she had said to him that fateful day so long ago. "Go north, Kemo, and you will find what you are seeking." That was the last thing he had heard from the one who had saved his life. The one wolf he trusted outside of himself, for he had no idea what had happened to his family. He stopped for a moment, sitting back on his haunches to take in the surroundings around him. The world has changed, it seems. He thought to himself as he listened to the sounds of the forest. That was a blessing the bear had given him along with his blindness. The world to him was an ever changing infinity, no longer confined to what images his eyes gave to his mind. The world could look any way he wanted, be any time he wanted, any where he wanted. He chuckled at that, though he felt sorrow for all those who couldn't share his perception of the world. "Fate is cruel, though mine must be a curse." He stood and shook out his fur, setting out to continue on his journey again, not realizing he had arrived at his destination just after the pointed stone.

OOC:

The forest seemed to welcome him openly, despite him being a complete stranger in this land. He knew animals were usually afraid of his kind, but as far as he could tell they didn't seem to hasten themselves much, though he did hear something move in a tree up ahead. Could that mean there were more wolves nearby? Perhaps living here so long the animals were used to their presence? The thought excited him, tail wagging slightly but knowing there was still the possibility this pack would be hostile, turning him away from their lands or worse, causing him harm or death.

He dismissed that last thought, knowing there was only a small chance that it would happen to him. There's just as much a chance that they will be friendly. Maybe they'll accept me with open- He stopped suddenly as a slight breeze picked up, bringing along with it to his sensitive nose a scent, different from the usual scents of the forest around him. He stared around blindly, sniffing gently at the air, ears swiveling all over the place to try and pinpoint where this scent had come from. Could it be hostile? Part of the pack near here? This was one of those times that he cursed his blindness, his pup like excitement at the prospect of meeting a new pack making him forget the most crucial part of traveling, checking for scent markers so he wouldn't accidentally trespass on another's packlands. He was convinced that was what he had done.

"Is someone there? I did not mean to cross into your territory, I merely seek the land known as Nova Scotia. Please don't be offended that I passed into your territory unannounced, if you want I will turn back and find a different route to the north." After several seconds with no response from the stranger, his ears drooped slightly as he turned to head back. He doubted he would be able to find another route to the north, but maybe if he followed his scent back to where he was before, he would get lucky and be back on his way. It was a shame, he had thought he had found a home at last, but he knew he shouldn't get his hopes up. Back on the journey again, I suppose.

OOC

As he followed his scent back the way he had come, a thought suddenly occurred to him. Why had the stranger not said a word to him? Not even so much as a snuff or a growl in his direction. He supposed he had really gotten lucky this time. Maybe that stranger was Alpha of the pack in this area and decided to let me be. They knew I made a mistake and because of my injury they decided to just let me go on my way. It looks like that wouldn't be the end of it, however.

"Wait!" It came out of nowhere and caused him to jump a little. The trees rustled above him and he stopped just as he realized something was directly in front of him, based on how close the sound of breathing was, along with a rapidly beating heart. It was that same scent that filled his nostrils now, and he could tell this was a wolf, one he had never met before. The odd thing was, the wolf's scent brought a strange but slight sensation of deja vu. He could feel the wolf staring at him.

"This is Nova Scotia, stranger. You are near the AniWaya territory lines, not over. Be not afraid." His ears perked up as she said the words, his body language relaxed slightly, for he could feel the soothing in her words. I don't recognize the sound of her voice, so what was up with the deja vu? He took just a moment to commit her scent to memory before he finally spoke. "A pleasure to meet you Miss." He bowed his head to her.

"My name is Kemo and as I said I am seeking the lands of Nova Scotia. You say I have found them, and I am near the AniWaya territories? It is good that I have not passed over the territory line, for that would have been a grave mistake. As for what I am seeking...for right now I would like to find a nice out of the way area to den in. I was told to travel here for information on my pack and my mother and father. It's quite a long story and I don't wish to take any time from you. I'm sure you have important pack duties that I am keeping you from, but may I ask you a favor? Would you help me find a place that I can call my own, for now? It would be a great help."

All the while he was talking, he had a strange feeling that she was staring at him, though he supposed who wouldn't stare at a blind wolf who was still so young and still alive?

OOC

"Ralla...what a beautiful name, if you don't mind me saying so." He smiled. "In correction then, a pleasure to meet you, Ralla." He listened to the way her heart seemed to change beats every so often, faster, then slower, as if she was under a lot of stress at the moment, or she was excited perhaps. He almost didn't catch what she had said, then it hit him like a ton of bricks. His mouth fell open slightly as he stared at her, trying to pass off what he had heard as foolish hope.

"Pardon me, but did you just offer me a place in your home? You would take a stranger whom you have just met into your home without so much as an insult in my direction? I have to say there have been none in this world kinder than you, but I can't put that much responsibility on you. I know you mean well, but I'm sure the Alphas wouldn't be too happy with you letting a stranger onto their lands, let alone live among them. I think it would be best for me to stay out here in the neutral lands. I have no problem with sleeping under the stars, though that is kind of a moot point." He laughed. "I will however, follow you to your Great Fire and will help you collect firewood in return for your kindness. I thank you kindly, Ralla, for all that you have offered me."

He smiled again as he finished speaking, reminding himself that if worst comes to worst, he could dig a den somewhere around here. He was sure the Alphas wouldn't mind as long as he made it away from the territory lines and kept himself out of their way. The excitement of meeting a new pack had once again resurfaced at that point and, forgetting that he was blind merely for a moment as puppies could do, he turned and smacked the side of his head against a low hanging branch. He shook his head slightly, slightly embarrassed, then realized what he was doing. "Would you do me the honor of leading me? As you can see I have trouble in new places where I don't know where everything is at, and firewood doesn't make much noise for me to find it."

OOC: I didn't know Kemo meant friend...I guess you do learn something new everyday And yes, I love the awesome back and forth posts reverberated...that sounds so cool

As he heard her say it, it reverberated through his mind. "Loneliness is... a cruel thing for me." Oh how he could understand that. After his injury, the only other wolf he had known had been Aunty, the one who saved his life and sent him here. He had no idea what happened to his mother and father or his pack, and Aunty had simply disappeared after she had told him where to go. So ever since the day he had left Aunty behind, he had been alone, left with only his own thoughts and the familiar darkness to keep him company.

He now knew that he trusted this wolfess, his first new friend in a brand new chapter of his life. "You are very welcome Ralla and I am glad to help. It is the least I can do for all that you have offered me." His ears perked up at the sound of her trying to stifle a laugh, but he showed no sign that he had noticed. He waited for her as she, jumped up into a tree? That's what it had sounded like to him. He had heard of wolves climbing trees before, but she seemed to almost jump up into them. How tall were these trees?

A loud thump, much too loud for a wolf to make, followed by her saying "Come on.", interrupted his thoughts and he started after her, stopping only to pick up a long stick he had felt on the ground with his paw, half carrying, half dragging it along behind him with his teeth as he listened to the odd sounds her gait made. It was strange. She only makes two beats for every step. I wonder why that is? This is very strange indeed. He knew she was a wolf as her scent had that identifying wolfy scent mixed in with her own unique scent, but what wolf walks with such a strange gait? Her words were a gentle buzz in his ears until she asked the question which caused him to stop, dropping the stick with a clatter, rooted to the spot with his head tilted to the side in a confused but curious way.

"A luperci? What is that?"

OOC: Indeed

Kemo listened carefully, fully aware that she had used the word "we" instead of "they". So she was a luperci then, but what was it? Some kind of Wolf hybrid? He had heard of stories passed through the pack in the days before his injury about wolves that walked on their hind legs, their forepaws changed to be able to lift and carry objects without using their teeth. They were huge powerful creatures, stuff of legend, and Kemo had merely passed it off as myth. Could it be possible that he was wrong?

"We are able to shift from a normal wolf form to a two-legged form. I'm told the Long Gones also walked on two legs, but I've never seen them. My father used to tell me that you were born being able to do it, or you could learn." That settled it. The stories were true and he was in the presence of one at this moment, though she didn't seem like a bloodthirsty monster to him. "I'm actually in luperci form right now." So that explained the odd sounds her steps made, and the tree climbing ability, as well as the fact that her words seemed to be coming from slightly above him, rather than directly in front of him.

He heard her walking toward him, his ears dropping back a bit as he wasn't sure what she was going to do, but he relaxed as he heard a stick clattering on the ground then her steps walking away from him. I don't think I need to be afraid. She seems like a nice wolfess to me, and she has offered me a place to stay, food, and company. There's something odd about her as well, I feel as if it's the right thing to do to trust her. With that last thought, he shook all thoughts of fear and doubt from his mind as he followed her along, listening to the wonderfully unique sound her steps made. He was sorry that he could never see a Luperci form with his own eyes, but his imagination made up for that as he heard her jump up into a tree then that loud thump again. As she started walking again, this time with a strange noise to accompany her steps, he followed once again without hesitation. "I trust you, Ralla." He said with a smile. Then something she had said earlier had hit him. "Who were the Long Gones? Were they another pack somewhere near here?" There were no stories about them that he had heard.

OOC:

Kemo smiled as she thanked him for trusting her, standing still as she slipped something over his head to rest o his shoulder. It was hanging securely on his neck, but did not choke him. The object was covered with her scent, but he could pick up others as well, strange scents he had never smelled before. He tried to figure out exactly what this was hanging on his neck, but was stopped as he heard her telling the story of the Long Gones. He jumped the first time he heard something thunk against a log, but listened intently to her story, sitting down carefully so as not to disturb the contents of the thing on his shoulder. And again a memory came back to him, straight from the now apparently truthful gossip line.

"Man had been a subject of great evil within my pack's stories. Creatures who walked on their hind legs, with forepaws that could manipulate tools with much greater dexterity than Luperci, and build massive structures in the sky. They viewed all animals as prey, using their loud piercing weapons to kill without mercy any animal who got in their way. The only animals who stood a chance were the ones who stayed far away from them, birds, wolves, bears, and the animals who befriended them. Supposedly there were stories of wolves befriending humans thousands of years ago, but I had thought that impossible judging from the evil these creatures performed." Once again he was proven wrong, however.

All the while he heard the steady clunk...clunk...clunk along with her panting. Such a strange way she goes about her life. She carries a bag on her back filled with strange objects which clank and clunk with each step I take, climbs trees, and is she going to build a fire? He had nearly had a heart attack the first time Aunty had made a fire within the cave. All he could smell was smoke and felt heat building up around him, with her acting as if nothing was wrong! He had run from the cave, only returning once she had found him hiding under a pile of leaves he had fallen into. She explained to him that there was nothing to be afraid of, the fire wasn't one you found in the wilderness, raging uncontrollably. Slowly he had gotten used to the fire until he no longer panicked whenever she lit one.

Building huts? Maybe that is her words for digging a den. She did say there were no open caves around here. His ears perked as he heard her grunting slightly with the heavy weight of something which he only recognized as wood as it made that characteristic hollow thunk, then he heard her say "I've got all the wood I need for today. I'll take you to AniWaya."

He stood up, once again making sure the contents of whatever was on his back were safe from harm. "I want to let you know in the future when you need help digging your den, I would be glad to help with that. I'm ready to go to AniWaya when you are. I hope they won't mind me coming into their lands." He smiled, padding forward to indicate he would be right behind her. "Anything I can do to help with that heavy burden you are carrying?"

OOC: I have no problem with singing, as long as the singer has a good voice XD I'm sure Ralla's voice is soothing so I will think of that when she sings By the way I won't get into Kemo's hunting ability just yet, that's for another time

He nodded as she politely turned down his offer of help, not knowing what she meant by carrier but not wanting to ask for fear of annoying her with all his questions. Sometimes though, he just couldn't help himself.

"Your den, excuse me, hut, is up in a tree? That's amazing! How tall is this tree? Must be quite tall to allow several wolves to build huts in it. Are all the others luperci too? Or are you the only one?' A whole pack of luperci's? He felt as though this was a dream. "I must be dreaming. Meeting a wolfess who is as kind as you, finding out luperci's were actually real, being invited back to your packlands so openly, then going to meet a whole pack of luperci's? Such events could only take place in a dream...unless my wildest dreams have come true." He pondered on that for a moment, walking in silence as he followed her.

As he walked along, listening to the sounds of the forest around him, he suddenly heard a sound he had only heard when he was but a young pup. Is she, humming? Indeed she was, a soothing sound that made him feel everything was going to be just fine.

It had been a long walk so far, though Kemo didn't mind. Walking with company was a rather enjoyable experience, much better than traveling alone like he had done to get here. Sticking close to the unique sounds her paws made, it was easy to stay on the path and he had no fear of running into anything. The knock on the head from the branch still made itself evident and he remembered to be extra careful to stay near the luperci in front of him.

His paw hit something and he realized it was another stick like the one he had found earlier. He stopped momentarily to pick it up in his teeth, dragging it along with him a little hurriedly to catch up, not knowing he had arrived in the village until the scent had hit him. Here it was, the scent marker that marked the territory line of the AniWaya pack, and he was now crossing it. He dragged the large stick through the imaginary territory line, following carefully close to Ralla before her footsteps stopped and the loud crashing noise of wood against wood could only be assumed that she had dumped the stack of firewood onto a bigger stack. He carefully dragged his own contribution toward where the sound came from, as well as the heavy scent of trees and freshly cut wood, and carefully placed the stick on the pile as best as he could.

"I would be glad to help. All you have to do is tell me what needs to be done and I will get started to the best of my ability. You have all ready given me so much, it is only fair that I help you in any way I can in return."

It was then that he realized that he was hungry, forgetting that he needed to hunt in the excitement of meeting a new friend. "Before we go can you wait right here for just a few minutes? I have something I need to do before I see your Chief. I won't be long, and then I will help you with whatever you need done." He listened carefully, then ran off outside the village, marking its scent in his memory.

After several minutes he returned. He was carrying two rabbits in his muzzle, one a particularly plump looking one and the other still quite a bit over its normal size. These had been easy pickings for a normal wolf, though he had to go about it a slightly different way. He followed her scent from where they had walked through earlier, stopping just as he heard her impatient humming.

He placed the rabbits down in front of him, smiling apologetically. "Sorry, hunting while blind is a bit different than hunting normally. This rabbit is for you, as a token of good faith, and the other fat one is a gift for your Chief, to let him know that I mean no harm to him or his people, as is customary in my pack." One of the first things he learned, in fact.

OOC: Good thing he was back within a few minutes, not sure what would have happened if it had been longer

Kemo's ears laid back against his head as he realized he had worried her so much. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you. I should have realized it was a bad idea to run off on my own around here. It won't happen again." He had never heard of another pack beside his own that had such a custom, though he had only known his own pack anyways, so he supposed it was entirely possible. He tilted his head slightly at the deer remark, but dismissed the idea, knowing it was not really his place to ask about the AniWaya traditions. His ears perked up as he heard her walking again, following closely behind her. He was about to answer her question concerning the raw meat, but he didn't have to as a loud grumbling noise suddenly issued from his stomach. He nodded with a smile, as if that answered her question.

The scents and sounds of the village were spectacular to Kemo, having never been in a village before. Scents of cooking meat and fire smoke wafted through the air, dozens of different scents he could only guess belonged to the other pack members were everywhere, though he wouldn't be able to commit them to memory yet because he didn't know who each belonged to. The scents of several different kinds of wildflowers were everywhere as well as the foresty scent of trees and freshly cut wood. All of these scents combined to form a fantastic banquet specially made for him and he dug in enthusiastically, sniffing every inch of the air and ground that he could, being careful to stay near the sound of his companions footsteps. The village was quiet, but to him it was alive with stories to be told, secrets to be shared to only those it considers worthy.

He heard the footsteps stop and listened to her carefully, remembering his mistake he had made earlier. "It might be a bit hard for me to watch them, but I will try my best. He barked a laugh, reaching down to sniff around for the rabbits, making sure he picked the one that wasn't for the Chief. Listening to her splash some water on what he could only assume was the ceremonial stone ground, he felt around with his paw until he was sure he wasn't on the stone but rather on the ground beside it, then laid down carefully and dug into his meal, enjoying the freshly killed rabbit meat. "I have tried cooked meat before. Aunty made it for me once, but I prefer raw meat. It just doesn't taste the same to me when it's been burned like that, all though it does smell good." He smiled, blood dripping from his muzzle onto the ground in front of him.

OOC: Love pirates of the caribbean and that song

It was peaceful as he listened to steady swish swish she made while cleaning the stone. He ate his rabbit happily, enjoying the meal because he knew it was the last one before he would have to earn the privilege to hunt in these lands. His ears perked up when he heard her speak again in a slightly far off tone, as if she was reliving memories of her past. Her story enchanted him, kick starting his imagination.

He could imagine thunderous waves smashing against the boat, Ralla bracing herself against them, rain pouring in torrents all over as lighting smashed over a huge creature. Despite all this chaos, a song could clearly be heard, and it was this song that he treasured most. He ate the rabbit absent-mindedly, totally absorbed into the story she had spun so well. He stared for a moment.

"That story was amazing! You really went through that? That sounds like quite an adventure. You know, Aunty used to tell me stories similar to those to help pass the time and to help me sleep after my injury. She told them just like you too, I felt like I was really there experiencing everything that was happening. She always had a new one too." He paused for a moment, sniffing around the rabbit's corpse to make sure he had left nothing to waste. "There was one story that she used to tell me all the time. She would tell me a new one, then would come back to this one, knowing it was my favorite. Each time she told it, she would stop at a certain point, but the next time she told it, she would get farther and farther into the story. No matter how much I begged she wouldn't continue until the next day. I could tell you it sometime if you want, it's really a good story. Sometimes she would tell it as if she had experienced it herself, and it would always make me wonder."

He trailed off in thought for a moment, remembering all those times that he tried to beg her to tell him what happened next, but she always waved him off, telling him it was important that he learn.

"She used to make those strange clunking sounds you made in the forest earlier too, just before it was time for the evening hunt. She told me she was tending the fire, but I never understood what she meant by that. What about the Great Fire? Do you tend it?"