Character Name: Nocht

Character Birthdate (including year): May 2003

Wolf or Luperci: Luperci

Your e-mail: xfaolx@gmail.com

A secondary form of contact: (MSN) xfaolx@gmail.com (Almost never on.)

How did you learn/hear about 'Souls?: Old school, baby. Played here nigh on four years ago and then wandered off into the ether.

Apologies, therefore, if I'm out of practice.

The sky was the same no matter where you were, but for her part, Nocht felt relatively happier with four paws back on flat land. Or land at

all. Relative to wanting to commit mutiny just so she could 'turn this boat around and go straight back home', of course. The four paws part

also being a turn of phrase she reflected, as she ambled inland upright, in her werewolf form. She considered the merits of being a

landlubber as her eyes, a nondescript blue, sought patterns in the slate grey clouds above her head, glancing only momentarily before her as

she moved to make sure the path was clear. Despite her apparent preoccupation she listened alertly for the sounds of approaching wildlife,

Lupine or otherwise, as her delicate nose translated and matched smells to images in the back of her mind. The scents of trees, only slightly

different in appearance to her untrained eye from those of her homeland, assaulted her with their massively different smell. It was,

depending on which way one looked at it, either an assault on the senses or a cornucopia of new discoveries just waiting to be had. Nocht was

finding herself caught somewhere betwixt and between. Excited and cautious, keeping to herself out of a sense of self perservation in this

alien land, so like home in some ways and so unlike it in others.

Finally, her nose caught the scent she had been aimlessly searching for for the past two days and a night, since her boat had disgorged its

crew upon the beach, its belly smashed to bits. (She had observed wryly, after the fact, that they weren't much good at landings yet. They'd

need more practice. Her comment had most certainly not not been recieved in the spirit intended.) The whiff of pack borders hit her

like a shock in her distraction and she stopped in her tracks. She approached further, taking more care now and once she judged she was near

enough, but still at a safe distance threw her head back and announced herself with a low howl. She had designs on announcing herself, but not announcing herself too much. She fiddled with the sliver of carved, curved bone placed in the hole through her septum as she waited for a

response, berating herself as to whether she should have howled louder or quieter.

She grinned as Deirdre told her that everyone had to start somewhere. The simple fact that she's started so far away and journeyed so long to join a pack practically on the other side of the world amused her. But obviously, she had a pretty shit sense of humour. Nocht was okay with that. She nodded again slightly, listening animatedly as the white wolf assured her of forthcoming good cheer and asked her what she could offer to her new pack. And at the question concerning her piercing her hand came up to her face, hyperaware of the ivory through her septum and slightly embarrassed even though she tried not to show it. She brushed one of the points with her finger, making sure it was still where it was supposed to be. She shrugged and smiled as she began to talk. "Naw, I don't mind you askin'. Me nose is pierced. That means I have a hole through it and then the jewellery," She flipped the pincer through her nose demonstratively, up and then down again. "goes through the hole and then sits in place." Nocht gave another one shouldered shrug, self consciously, tipping her head to the side slightly and grinning in self depreciation. "It's like a comin' of age thing where I come from." She added, feeling like she should explain.

She then decided to stop nattering on about her piercing and pay attention to the important part of the question; her skills. "Uhm, I can fish. And pierce to some degree." She pointed at her nose. "But I still have a lot to learn." She wracked her brain for what other useful things she could do, nibbling at the inside of her cheeks. "I can sail and read a fair bit and I'm fairly good when it comes to building or most stuff to do with me hands, although I'm not sure how useful the last bit'll be." She nodded, signalling the end of her list. "I was never formally apprenticed at home, but I try to pitch in and lend a hand with what I can." Although she did fail to mention her rather short attention span when it came to the aforementioned lending a hand. She had settled down a fair bit though over the last few months, Nocht reflected, which was the reason for her setting out in the first place. The confines of the boat while tempers grew frayed had necessitated it, even though she had still caused more than a few disagreements. But as time had passed she had settled down more and learned the ropes of life on the high seas. She hadn't stepped off the boat the same wolf who stepped on, even though she didn't even fully recognise her own growth yet. Which wasn't to say that she didn't still have a long way to go, however.

Thanks very much. =) It's nice to be back.

Nocht nodded, raising her hand to rub at her nose absently, a nervous gesture, as the white wolf threw back her head and let loose a howl. It was wonderful that they liked fish, because she personally had had more than her fill of it months ago, but she enjoyed the actual act of fishing. She found it oddly therapeutic, waiting for a bite. Curiously unlike her current situation. She hated waiting, hated being put on the spot in situations like this. She inevitably found herself analysing and dissecting everything she said or did after the fact, berating herself for one thing or another. She smoothed the fur over her belly as she waited for the alpha to approach. She didn't consider herself nervous, of course, she thought as she bit her lip gently, perhaps just anxious, or justifiably worked up about the whole thing.

She dipped her head respectfully as the male approached, trying to prevent any more nervous gestures, although she could feel the angle of her ears against her skull, veering nearer to terrified than merely respectful. She took in his half shifted state and the bulk of his frame as he approached, inspecting him briefly as he gave Deirdre a quick nuzzle. She liked the look of him, she decided, but she could still feel a near imperceptible tremble in her bones as he spoke. However, her voice was firm and unwavering, if her tone was respectful and somewhat shy, as she replied. "Greetings." She said in kind. "I'm Nocht. I've," She faltered for a moment, glancing at Deirdre, unsure if it was her place to explain, but not wanting to appear an idiot, continued. "I'm looking for a pack for the, the time being. If you'd have me." She felt hopeful, even despite the colony of butterflies that had taken up residence in her stomach.

Slight edit for my own inability to calculate my character's age. Sorry, it was bugging me.

Nocht felt touched by the alpha's words, the slight softening of his stance towards her and the depth of conviction in his tone. She was slightly taken aback for a moment as she considered this. At home, in her own pack, they were of course family, a number of them blood relations with one another. But they were also intellectuals, flighty and occasioanlly eccentric, scouring Eireanntalamh, as they had dubbed it, for books and the remnants of the cultures that had conquered those lands before them. While there was a close knit core group there were also numerous visitors and travellers who settled briefly while on their way elsewhere or even for a number of seasons, landing a hand or paw while they could before moving on again. Her childhood had been a landscape of constantly changing faces, playmates and caregivers who soon disappeared from her view and so her mind. Some stayed, though few and far between and they had built a loose web of friends and family as each year another litter was born and they grew ever larger. Even her parents weren't always there as she and her siblings grew, wandering off into one adventure or another as they were left in the care of the pack, and as they grew they were encouraged to strike out on their own and explore and learn. That was how Nocht had originally ended up on a boat bringing her to only the Gods knew where, setting off on her own adventure. The crew on the boat had almost perfunctory relationships with each other for the most part, with a few of them forming close bonds. Nocht had admired the captain and enjoyed his company, but he was a grizzled old sea dog and while he never rebuffed her, he was distant.

This, here, was an honest to god opportunity to find a family away from her own, an offer not to be taken lightly. She already felt a slight affection for Deirdre and a rapidly growing respect for Phoenix. It would be all too easy to say yes without accepting the ramifications of her decision. If she said yes she was promising them to offer them her all, to treat them as kin. And somehow, Nocht felt reassured that she could do that. She nodded at the alpha, still nervous in his presence, but nowhere near as terrified as she had found herself. "I say yes. I'd be honoured, honestly." She paused for a moment to weigh her words before adding. "I can't promise I'll stay for ever either, but I'll plant my flag with Storm. And leaving would never be a decision I would take lightly. Not with all you've just offered me."

Also, she'd probably have to build a new boat to get home. She was still only four and a half though. She had plenty of time to decide to leave. For all she knew, she might never want to return. But for now she knew where she wanted to stay.

She could feel a growing affection towards Deirdre already as she offered to show her around Storm and introduce her to her mate. She was open and kind and enthusiastic; always good things to have in a friend. She smiled shyly at the female’s offer, waiting for the alpha’s verdict. She wasn’t sure if she could handle anymore stress after this.

Nocht felt a weight lift at Phoenix's words of acceptance and smiled in return. She then grinned at Deirdre, feeling excitement start to bubble in her stomach now that the nasty interview part of everything was over. She'd never met a coyote anyway, she thought when Phoenix warned her about them, but she was suddenly glad she hadn't run into them while she was on the beach. It hadn't occurred to her at the time to be as cautious as she should have been, obviously. At the mention of the squirrels she turned to grin curiously at the white wolf. "Aye, so care to explain about the squirrels?" She asked as Phoenix turned to leave. She had developed a taste for them at home, where they were abundant prey, but she was sure she could wean herself off them.