Let me know if I got this right, yeah? I read it that the territory was marked, so it smelled claimed... Hope it's ok, I can change it

Word Count → 612

Several days of hard travel would typically wear a wolf down, make him question his motives for leaving the sanctity of a pack. For those unaccustomed to a hard, lonesome life, living without the constant solace of packmates was undesirable at best, impossible at worst. Especially in the winter, when the nights were cold and drafty - a lack of warm bodies to snuggle with was especially unappealing. Food was plentiful, as prey was slow and fat with the laziness of winter, but catching enough to sustain a wolf by oneself was no easy task. Plus, wolves were social creatures. They liked living with others of their own kind.

Shandom Nightslayer, however, was not one of those wolves.

Certainly, he was a little chilly. It also might have been nice to have someone with him on this long journey north through the crunching snow, if only for the pleasure of conversation. But it felt good to leave the strangeness of the Court behind. Shandom was immensely relieved that he would not have to continue to put up a false image of himself; that was, after all, what he'd been doing, day in and day out, in the Court of Miracles. Now, he felt no urge to shift into the form that was so unnatural to him. He didn't even want to adopt the larger Secui form that existed halfway between normal and surreal. No, he was fine with these four paws. He was raised as such, and he would absolutely stay that way.

It was colder the further north he went, but Shandom had no problem with that. His thick white fur was built for harsh winters, and he felt at home in them. The half blind male had no problems on his journey, and though he'd considered stopping at the borders of other packs to get a feel for what it was like this far North, he decided against it. Part of him wondered if he were leaving this land entirely, but he'd decided to follow his instincts and let the wolf within dictate where he went. Shandom noticed the further north he went, the more wild it became; why had he decided to venture so far south? He found himself grinning like an idiot more and more as he grew comfortable on his own. The life of a loner was certainly more appealing.

Several days into his journey, the male came across a new scent, something unfamiliar and reeked of being claimed. The white male followed it vaguely, curious as to who or what lived here - was it a pack? He wasn't sure, and didn't feel like angering anyone by exploring further. But as he wandered, Shandom caught the scent of a wolf - definitely female - and chose to follow it, wandering along a craggly rock and snow ridge. It was loose, and the male wasn't surprised when it gave way beneath him. But, accustomed as he was to such oddities, Shandom leaped nimbly away, unconcerned by the falling snow. It was only then that he noticed the source of the scent, a young white and red female. By the looks of her, she was very young, but he did not feel like being rude and trespassing upon what appeared to be her land without at least letting her know he was there. Hello, miss! Shandom barked, his ears flattened against his head and body crouched. If the land smelled like her, it was hers. He wasn't going to treat her differently just because she looked young. Still, though his stance was submissive, Shandom kept an easy and relaxed smile on his face. I hope I'm not intruding!

Don't feel like you have to match my ridiculous length right now - I don't know where this is coming from

Word Count → 646

Shandom's first thought as he adopted the submissive pose was that this was actually slightly weird. It wasn't that he minded - he didn't, this was someone else's territory that he was intruding upon - but it was more so that he'd never really had much of an opportunity to submit. For his entire youth, the male was the wolf everyone submitted to, and adopting a dominant stance had been his natural course of action. Then again, the life he was referring to was one that had long been lost. It had been two, almost three, years since Shandom held a high rank in any pack, and he did not go around sharing his heritage. It could easily be construed as a threat, and the male did not want that to become a possibility. In his day, he had been a leader. But so much time had passed, so many years had changed him, that the alabaster male had no problem submitting to the young female before him. If she wanted to have her own territory, and perhaps lead, Shandom had no problem with that.

She seemed calm and neutral enough, though perhaps a little nervous. Her stance was dominant, and Shandom crouched a little lower and dipped his white head before her. The scarred man lifted his eyes to her, one dark and one milky, and hoped his face would not cause her duress. I do come in peace, miss Shandom said, his deep baritone voice equally calm and serene. I am a wanderer of these lands, as I left my pack several days ago. I came across your scent, and mean you and whomever you are with no harm. He tended to preface a lot of things like that, by assuring the wolves he was around that he was not the bully his intimidating face indicated him to be.

The unfamiliar female asked what brought him here, and that elicited a small chuckle from the white man. I'm just trying to get back to myself, Miss the male chortled. He was rather at ease, though the woman was clearly the dominant one in the situation. His instincts guided him; Shandom liked that. This was so much more normal than the absurd walking of wolves in the Court. Hell, while hew as there he didn't even know how to show proper respect, nor to whom he should show it. The Alphas - if they could even be considered Alphas - barely held himself as such. He remembered the first time he met Ayita, the King's mate, and she hadn't conducted herself much like an Alpha female. Shandom could not help but wonder if she wasn't an Alphess, but merely a concubine. At least, that's what she would have been in Etienne. I lived in a pack in the South for several moons, but It was not for me - I have long been a wanderer, and I am most comfortable on my four paws, though I have the ability to shift.

A brief realization dawned on him, and Shandom was suddenly a little embarrassed. Forgive me. I have been rude. My name is Shandom Nightslayer, Miss. May I ask yours? It had been a long time since the male were part of any normal pack, and he could not remember whether or not it was appropriate to ask the leader their name. His most distinct memory of a pack border encounter when he was the leader was when he came across the wretched Jax Dy'Nix. If he could take one thing back, it would be that decision - the unfortunate choice to allow that idiotic golden male into his territory. Jax had, really, ruined everything. If Shandom had turned him away like he did so many other strange wolves, the chances were overwhelming that he and Lea would be raising another litter of puppies right now.

Don't feel bad! I made you wait as well. D: And, uh, I'm sorry for this monster of a post....

Word Count → 1,093

Shandom lifted himself off the ground ever so slightly, keeping his stance obviously submissive. It wasn't natural for him - it never would be, blood cannot be changed - but his natural instincts were as strong in him as any other wolf; he had not been raised as a human, like many of the wolves in this region, and would respect the bonds of territorial claim. This girl, though tremendously young, also had an air of leadership about her, and Shandom suspected no falsehoods from her. He had no desire to challenge her, or make her uncomfortable; as he'd thought before, a wolf in its own land was to be respected if the stranger had no adequate territorial claim. It made the white male internally shudder to think, though, what Linquilea would do if she saw land claimed by someone so young. Youth was the partner of inexperience, he'd found, in many situations, and Shandom wondered if she had a mate, perhaps one more experienced, with her. He could not imagine, though, that she was old enough to bear pups. Perhaps he was off on the whole age thing, but this oddly colored girl seemed awfully young for someone with such aspirations. Gyek hadn't let him make any decisions until he was at least three moons past his yearling birthday.

He recognized and understood her words, and a peaceful and wistful smile grew across his black lips. Yes, indeed they have, Shandom murmured. When I came to settle in these lands several moons ago, I did not anticipate the culture shock I would experience. It was... For a moment, he searched his mind for the right word. He did not wish to come across as a malcontent - he wasn't, never had been - but the only words that adequately represented how he felt about these strange packs suffered from negative connotations. Shandom decided to settle for a calmer word, one that did not quite reflect how he truly felt but would get the point across. It was a surprise, to say the least. The Qi'Vaex man was baring more about himself than he normally would; this wolf, with her natural actions, made him feel at ease, and he appreciated that. Part of him wondered, mostly due to her coloring, whether or not his biological mother had been like her. Young, but a leader - Shandom could understand that. It was the story of his ancestors. I do not know you, Miss, but I am happy you have found your hope here. It is a wonderful thing to be able to follow your instincts, and something I so rarely see. Plus, this is a beautiful piece of land. It reminds me of where I grew up. Shandom's honesty was obvious and palpable in the crisp winter air; he did not wish this girl any harm, and she gave him renewed hope.

The pack she was from rang a bell in his head; Shandom realized it was one close to Cour des Miracles. He hadn't had much interaction with him, but the wintry male could assume it was much like the strange Court. He dipped his head sympathetically while his mind puzzled how she could have realized her identity so quickly in life. Shandom knew that when he was her age, he was busy pining after the beautiful Linquilea - though not much hand changed - and disregarding all thoughts of leadership, though he knew it was his eventual birthright. I stayed in Cour des Miracles, though it was never my home. I come from far to the West, from a pack that could not be more difficult from the Court if it tried.

His words had seemed to calm her slightly, and Shandom was glad that she did not perceive him as a threat. Her cool nose met his, and they greeted as he had been raised to do, not the strange handshaking business. It was hard, but Shandom knew the appropriate greeting and how to execute it. When she nosed him, he flicked his tongue briefly out of his mouth and licked under her chin; he hoped she would accept this form of submission as adequate, and reduce her fear of him. It is a pleasure, Titania, Shandom murmured, his voice low, matching his flicked back ears and lower tail. He began to nose around her, familiarizing himself with her scent. It was slightly familiar - he'd been around d'Arte enough to know it - though that familiarity was quickly fading. She also smelled of mate-hood, though this did not surprise him. However he was surprised when she moved to his neck, and while he permitted the briefest of moments for her to familiarize himself with him and understand he was completely harmless, Shandom did not feel comfortable with her that close to his neck for too long. While he might submit to the female while on her territory, he had not accepted her as his leader. He stepped back, still submissive, and hoped she would understand.

When she asked him why he left Cour des Miracles, the white male let out a bit of a choked laugh. His easy smile was slightly sad this time, and the older male turned his gaze towards what he thought was the West. I am not a native of these lands, Miss Titania Shandom sighed. As I said before, I am from far away from here, but have wandered for many seasons. I came across Cour des Miracles when I first arrived, and chose it because I thought they looked harmless - and they are. But I am not born to this two legged life, nor do I have any desire to be anything more than I am - a wolf. The canines of the Court walk on two legs and forget who they are. I tried to be like them - I spent many days on two legs, and lived inside a strange human building for a time - but who I am, who I was born to be, is a wolf like my ancestors. Shandom grinned sheepishly, his mismatched eyes meeting hers for a moment before darting back away. Plus, I prefer the mountains. I came North to find them again.

He glanced around the land again for a moment, surveying it. You claimed this as your own, am I right? Shandom inquired, curious about the new pack that might be coming. If this female was true to herself, and true to the wolfish instincts she'd displayed, he would be very interested in anything she led.

That sounds great! Sorry for the babbling, again.

Word Count → 840

If Shandom were more bold, or perhaps better acquainted with the pale fae, he would have asked her how, at such a young age, she felt the confidence to leave home and start her own pack. He could not imagine it was easy, to willingly leave one's family to create an entirely new life. The male was convinced that, if not for the horrible actions between Linquilea and himself, he would have stayed in Etienne forever. These lands reminded him of home in such a striking way, although he could not be sure whether or not it was the landscape or the four legged girl before him. Shandom struggled with the particular word he would use to describe her - woman or girl. In comparison to him, this wolf a child; she had not seen what he had seen, as the expanse of her life was not long enough to have permitted it. Then again, he could not profess to know her, though he was now rather acquainted with her scent. From there, he'd deduced that she was absolutely less than a year. Such a young female would have to be exceptional to start her own pack, and Shandom did not doubt she was special. Plus, any girl from these lands who could separate herself from what she'd been taught, and then go so far as to return to her natural instincts, must have something exceptional about her.

He listened quietly as she spoke, revealing a much more expansive knowledge of the area than he could claim. Shandom wasn't surprised - he was not from here, and she was born among these bizarre wolves. Then again, could he even call them wolves? The male was deep in thought as she spoke about the strangeness of the Court of Miracles, instead nodding and smiling sadly as he related to what she told him. She mentioned a name, and Shandom did not recognize it; that was not particularly surprising. He never made himself particularly well known in Cour des Miracles, although that was against his natural instincts. Shandom, though he might not ever want to be in charge of a pack again, was not one to be entirely useless. If he found a pack again - if he, perhaps, stayed in this land with this potentially upcoming pack - the pale male would certainly try and make more of a name for himself. Still, it would be rude not to respond, even if he were entirely lost in his own considerations. I cannot say I did, Miss Titania. I was not there long enough to make many friends. A bashful smile accompanied his statement. He hoped she did not find his polite titles strange; it was a sign of respect in Etienne, and it was naturally ingrained into the foreign wolf.

When Titania confirmed she and Zalen - he assumed this was her mate, and the Alpha Male of these lands - Shandom widened his smile and wagged his tail, though he was careful to keep it respectfully low. I am very glad to hear that, Miss, he smiled. I hope you do not find this disrespectful, as I certainly don't mean it as such, but you are remarkably wise for your youth. When I was your age, I doubt I could have reached such mature conclusions, nor left my family to find an entirely different life. He was quiet for a moment, and then shook his head. It did not do to dwell on the past. Your pack sounds unique, at least for these lands. I wandered for several days before settling on the Court to call a new home, and I did not see any packs that lived like our ancestors, as we were meant to do. So many of them act as humans - I do not understand the appeal. We aren't humans, and why would we want to be? I do not know many stories of them - I am better acquainted with the legends of our own race - but from what I know... Shandom trailed off, shuddering slightly. They were not something to idolize. I may be able to shift on to two legs, but I prefer my four paws..

She proposed looking at the lands, and Shandom liked the idea. He smiled and wagged his tail eagerly before nodding at her. At this point, he was no longer crouching as obviously; it would be uncomfortable to crawl along these mountainous lands. However, his tail was appropriately low, and his ears were flicked backwards against his white-furred skull. The male walked with his head awkwardly inclined to his good side, so as to further appreciate the beautiful mountain lands. It was not home - the mountains there were a little bigger - but it was more natural than Cour des Miracles. Shandom doubted he would be living in a hotel here. The pair trotted over the lands, Shandom slightly behind Titania, letting her lead him. It is lovely here, he said quietly. It reminds me of home.