Hoshit.. this was longer than I intended by FAR. I PROMISE that the next reply won't be nearly as long!!!
WC: 1641~




Slender paws left shallow impressions in the snow that Ghita trod over, only one set being left behind. To one who was unfamiliar with the ways of the Luperci, this would appear as an abnormal occurrence, but there were none in the area (that Ghita knew of) who hadn't grown up around the common ability to shift, let alone those who were unable to shift themselves. The Italian fae had once been one of these few wolves; Her pack back in her beloved Italia not one to shift, choosing to ignore the gift as if it was a curse.


But things were different in Canada. Under the patient tutelage of her mate (at the time they were no more than friends), Ghita had found her optime form that had been lying beneath all this time; a form she now used almost as frequently as her Lupus form. A stark contrast to her ebony male defender, she rarely entered her Secui form, saving it for the tougher battles and hunts. The woman loved the feel as she moved through her homeland, shifting her weight from one paw to the other as if moving through butter, her forepaws now equipped with fingers, their use amplified tenfold.


Almost feeling an obligation to her family in Crimson Dreams, Ghita had stuck fairly close to her new territory, returning every two nights (if not every night) before her pups were born. Ever since Aro and Sophia entered the world, however, the fae had seen a lot of the inside of the Manor, a stark change to the wolfess who was used to sleeping beneath the ethereal blanket of the celestials.


Cabin fever had crept up on Ghita; unexpected and brooding, it took hold around her heart, allowing her ears to sag and giving her usually bright turquoises a dull glaze to them, as if her mind was elsewhere. She was a rogue at heart, nothing close to the norm of her new pack. If her native language wasn't enough to separate her, Ghita's piercings were more than enough to define her, the final straw announced in the fae's need to constantly roam, seeking out a change of pace and scenery. Everyone else seemed to be perfectly content to reside in the same lands day in and day out, some never leaving the small area of Halifax from the moment they were born until the moment they died. Simply, Ghita would die like that.


Giving fair warning to Savina and Jazper along with her children, Ghita had set off, deciding to retreat from Crimson Dreams for two nights and three days. In preparation, she had pored over maps (with the help of Jazper, who knew how to read), learning the landforms that defined the territories of the various packs. She had limited knowledge of others, that was true enough. The one wolf who wasn't in Crimson Dreams that she knew was Anslem De Le Poer, who was a member of the currently-warring Inferni pack. Even though Ghita was more than happy to take on a fight, Jazper's expression when she told him this remained burned into her mind, a stark warning against going anywhere near their territory alone, or at all. Arachnea's Revenge was most definitely out of the question, the slip of land lying right between Inferni and Dahlia de Mai, the warring packs of this time.


It didn't mean that Ghita wasn't going to consider visiting Anslem. After all, it had been a while since they had seen each other. In her Secui form, she could easily push 60 miles an hour, only needing to journey for an hour before Inferni's territory was met. There should be enough neutral territory for Ghita to slip through, the woman able to be there and back within a day if she needed to. So that was always an option for tomorrow.


But today, the dust-coloured wolfess had quietly slipped into the territory of Serena Reserve, the forests calling to her ever since the fae had arrived. The instant that her paws hit the snow inside the territory caused her whole body to release it's tension, the stress rolling off of her like the rain that threw itself from charcoal clouds. Starting off at a silent jog, the woman had possessed no initial sense of direction, only stopping her euphoric course when the rank scent of deer entered her nostrils.


Unlike her hunting companion (who was still unknown at this time), Ghita possessed nothing in the way of weapons that would aid her in the hunt. And, as a hopeful courser for Crimson Dreams, the fae was expected to do just that - hunt for her pack and track the herds that ran through both her and the surrounding territories. Ivories exposed to gently gum her lip ring, Ghita's turquoise optics grew concerned almost, with a flicker of annoyance as her planning hadn't necessarily proven to be the best. No matter - the fae wasn't known for her good decisions - more likely her lack thereof, or her rashness.


Stretching down so her hands touched the snow beneath her, skin stretched taut over bones and muscles, the ragged line of her spine was accented, winding down her body until it slowly tapered into a tail, shorter and feathered with the same fur that lined the rest of her body. Clearing her clouded mind, Ghita began to feel her limbs shrink and then contort, the muscles growing into newer locations. The fae's hair, dust brown in hue had begun to thicken into a mane, the length shrinking and hair growing around her neck and shoulders. One would expect a painful crack, a howl of pain as knees simultaneously crept down her legs, the shape of them completely changing into one that was both thicker and more animal-like than her previous form.


The usually slender frame she possessed almost doubled in size as Ghita shrunk, her Secui form demanding a heavier presence than the one she had to offer. The last things to change were the fae's beloved fingers, mutating into claws and toes as the transformation was finally complete. She instantly felt the benefits of this form course through her, the brute strength she could offer apparent to anyone who chose to look. Compared to a Lupus, she would be massive, a giant among her fellows, but compared to another Secui, she'd look quite small, however impossible that seemed.


During the time it took the fae to shift, the herd had crept up towards her, it's scent growing stronger as the animals began to approach. The fae took a moment to think back to the last hunt she had attempted, only a few days ago in fact. Cringing with the embarrassment that had caused, Ghita began to move in the direction of the pack, save for the part where she veered off sharply to the right. Even though the wanna-be courser had made a vital error last time, that wasn't to say that Ghita couldn't learn from where she had erred. The plan had already began to bubble in her mind; She would take a moment to let the herd travel by her, where she would choose her target. Likely, the animal would be lame, hurt, or young - never sick. A sick prey meant the sickness could spread to the wolves who ate it, that was something that Ghita kept in her mind constantly.


However, nothing prepared her for the sight that greeted her as she watched the pack go by. Rather, it was the scent that threw her off as she waited, crouched behind a barren bush with multiple branches, all too glad to poke into her ribs and face. The scent of another wolf, that much she knew, but of a mysterious new pack sang to her senses, her hackles raising minutely as the discomfort grew. Ghita certainly wasn't territorial, this being neutral grounds she stood on, but she had no idea how friendly her companion would be.


The white wolf was almost unnoticeable among the snow, at least from where Ghita crouched. The Optime male had, upon closer inspection, a dappling of black along his back, and a pair of blue eyes that rivaled hers in intensity. (Of course, she wasn't at an angle to notice the band of blue stretched under his eyes, but if she had, the marking would certainly be something to ask about. Finally rising to her paws just as the male stretched ahead of her by ten meters or so, the femme took to her own silent path, walking parallel to her companion until something a shadow caught her attention. One that certainly wasn't canine.


Ghita's experience with Nova Scotia's fauna had nothing to do with a creature that mimicked the one that was flanking the male close to her, but the feline looked similar to the cougars that she had seen from time to time. Analytical optics searched the puma for anything familiar or resembling a threat, but she could find nothing that spoke to her of this. In fact, it almost seemed as if she was working alongside him, something that Ghita could not wrap her mind around.


Finally unable to dabble in inactivity any longer, the fae found herself crossing her paws, gradually shortening the distance between the two canines until there was barely any cover to conceal her. A low rumble of a tone was birthed to the air, quiet enough to not disturb the herd that the odd threesome were stalking, but loud enough for the male and his puma to give ear to. "I mean not to frighten, but there is cougar is just a small ways away from you."

Well, Ghita muse has committed suicide, so I'm sure this one will be, like, the midget version of my previous post. Which might not be a bad thing.. XD
WC: 639~
WoD: Quietus: Something that serves to suppress or quiet.




The odd threesome; Werewolf, halfling and feline all padded, the pairs of canine optics never making contact as they moved through the forest, the tranquility severed by the tension that rippled through the wolves. Neither knew, at this point, whether or not the companion was friendly, and the female was clearly at the disadvantage. She had seen the weapon before, knew what the deadly-looking barb could do if it lodged into her body, disregarding distance between them. Ghita couldn't help wondering, if the male chose to loose an arrow towards her, and if Ghita became slow in reacting, if even her niece Cambria (who was a healing prodigy in the proud aunt's eyes) could bring the injury to be tamed.


Making no attempt to show either dominance or submission, her tail hanging precisely level with the rest of her spine, the feathered fur draping like a curtain, halfway to reaching the ivory curtain beneath. Her turquoise optics flew between the eyes of the feline and her canine protege, Ghita's mind spinning as she tried to grapple with just how one of her species could not sense the threat mere feet away, or not care that the feline was there, or, impossibly, be at peace with it's presence and accept it. To Ghita, a cougar or a puma was a clear threat, a competition for prey, and impossible to ignore for this long.


Blinking in surprise as the bow was drawn taut, Ghita felt a flutter fear just above her stomach, her lips quivering as her first instinct was to draw them up and present herself as a threat not to be messed with. Without pups and mate at home to worry about, Ghita might have become more of a threat before she knew that the other was hostile, the rash aspect of her being more dominant than the more rational side. But the one thing that remained was her stubbornness, the need to linger and finish what she had begun - the hunt.


For an instant, the two pairs of optics locked onto one another, transferring the intensity of their personalities between them as Ghita analyzed. If she would be forced to flee from the hostile character, turning her back on the deadly arrow would surely become her downfall, no matter how dishonorable it was to shoot a fleeing foe. Her lips remained raised, baring the tips of her teeth only as the situation unraveled itself at her paws. As the bow dropped, so did her lips, and a bit of her guard, her slender paws never ceasing in the movement with the herd. As Nayati's jowls creased in a smile, it was unreturned by Ghita, but not for lack of friendship; Ghita simply wasn't the type to smile after a stand-off of sorts.


Nothing could have prepared Ghita for the response the male gave her. He spoke in an unnatural tone, the foreign timber paling in comparison to the words that gave Ghita quietus. She blinked, attempting to make sense of what he said. Turquoise optics clouded in confusion, her cranium tilting as she feigned distraction. She had heard of a tribe, AniWaya, that associated themselves with other animals, but the Italian fae was as foreign to this idea as she first was to Canada. "I'm afraid I don't comprehend. Guide? None I know have an animal that follows them, none in my pack."


Still wary of the large cat that followed the hunting companion, Ghita kept her distance from the pair, face still screwed in a confused mask as she padded along. A question burned on the tip of her tongue, wondering if the male would allow her to join the hunt along with him. "You wouldn't be inclined to let me join the hunt, by chance?"

Once again, so sorry this took a while! And by the way, when I launch into religious views for Ghita's past, I don't have anything resembling a clue what I'm talking about, so feel free to whack me with a fish if I'm wrong. >w<
WC: 569~
WoD: N/A




Her heart still maintaining its quickened pace from the standoff, the woman forced herself to relax, a concept that even in theory one takes as illogical. Impressed by the 'foreigner' standing in front of her, the fae was still daunted by the weapon that she saw in his hands, but impacted more by the fact that he lowered his bow as she lowered her own lips. Surely if the standoff came to a violent climax, her own fangs would be useless in the fight; Nayati had the clear advantage.


All that Ghita could do to attempt at a meager comprehension was blink, trying to force the information into her thick skull. Ghita didn't have the faintest clue what a spiritual journey consisted of, and only recently learned of it's actual use. About to say that the only things she found useful were hunting and providing for her pack, the fae held her tongue, remembering some etiquette that had been drilled into her.


What her companion said next shocked Ghita, perhaps because she had never been a spiritual person. Her pack's religious views had never been specified; to the fae, it never made a huge difference in the everyday life she led. With the nomads, she kept their views apart from her idea of her family of nomads, Ghita never really gaining enough interest to study their religion or the fact that there might be something watching her that she could not see. "A watching Spirit?" She repeated, much like a child in a preschool lesson. If Nayati believed that every wolf had a Guide, and they simply needed to open their eyes & mind, Ghita certainly wouldn't be a prime candidate for such an experience. She knew what she knew; the grass beneath her paws, how it felt to run under the stars and sleep with the forest blanketing her pelt; there was nothing that Ghita could imagine of another world. "I've not heard views like that... interest, though. "


Perhaps her interest and curiosity had been piqued by the ivory stranger. Perhaps she would be willing simply to sit and listen to her companion explain about the Guides and what they did & meant, but in another time, another place, another meeting. There was something else that occupied her attention, in the form of unharvested meat, a herd that two wolves had targeted now.


A simple smile was the only thing needed to communicate Ghita's appreciation at Nayati's words. The division of prey might be another matter to handle entirely, however, in this moment, there were only two wolves, siblings in species, who pursued a common interest and necessity. Nodding at the introduction, Ghita's smile flickered to her normal neutrality, the woman not one to beam like a clown as she put it. "I'm Ghita. Nice meet you both." It seemed as if it would be an insult not to address the huntress that lurked around them, and so the fae avoided the potential pitfall with what she hoped seemed like grace.


Shifting her weight from side to side, Ghita became well aware of the task ahead of them, and the tiny nuances that the odd trio would have to work out. Fearing that clearing her throat would cause too much noise, the fae swallowed slowly before giving voice to the next concern. "Perhaps you have been tracking this herd for longer than I. Have you selected a prey?"

Posting machine continues 2 chug. Btw, I don't know what Cambria's dove means to her, just running with a sudden idea. XD
WC: 817~




Ghita couldn't help herself but become enthralled with what came from Nayati's mouth, a culture and religion so different from hers that it seemed from another world entirely. Growing up, religion had never been the centrepiece of their family, and she hadn't spent much time thinking about her own beliefs at all. Ghita had been one more inclined for action, for going after the deer instead of praying that it would fall into your lap. But the large predator was beside her hunting companion, the beast appearing in no way threatening, or as if it wished her harm. Her world consisted of her family, all Luperci, and the dove that Cambria had picked up somewhere - and that was that.



And then, suddenly, something clicked. Something that she hadn't seen before, hadn't deemed important enough to register in the midst of the messes her young children could make, but the key had turned in the lock and opened the door. Her face was made of glass, mask suddenly dropped as the fae puzzled out the facts that had arisen. Wasn't Cambria's mentor of the Aniwayaan pack? And they obviously had spirit guides... "Can those not born to you have a spirit Guide as well?"
If she was correct about this, then there would definitely be something more to discuss with Cambria the next time she saw the young girl.



She had to admit, and later would to her mate; she was quite shocked when the great puma herself stepped forward and extended Ghita the same courtesy she had offered the feline. Speaking to the pair as if they were one entity, or only to Nayati simply didn't feel right, as if she was leaving someone out of the conversation simply because of the difference in species, the language barrier. Of course, the Italian fae knew the feeling first hand, and was willing to gamble with the perception of her sanity if Onawa did not understand her; She'd rather that than ignore the female simply because of their different ancestors. Silently, she watched the exchange between Nayati and Onawa, ears deafened to the language of Guides, but the gist of it was soon established as her companion told his end of the tale, and she nodded once, unsure of what else she could do.



It was rare that she took the more submissive role in hunting; Trying her best to become her pack's Courser meant that she spent a lot of time doing just that, hunting down prey for her packmates, and naturally, she had gained experience in the field. (Haha, I love puns.) But this time around, it was different - she was the guest on another's hunt, and a rare courtesy had been extended to her to join them. So, content, she let Nayati decide, making up her mind to learn all she could from the odd partnership the two undertook. Following Nayati's steady gaze, her own turquoises lighted on the particular buck, critical eyes quickly determining what made him move so slowly, and was halfway through calculating where to take him down... the legs would be a good preliminary target, and maybe a heavy enough fall would make the elder disinclined to rise again... when Nayati's voice cut through her thoughts once more.



Settling into the frame of mind, Ghita steadily realized that her companion didn't share the same tools she did, and therefore her own methods wouldn't work. Taking a moment to visualize the scenario that played out in her mind, everything worked smoothly until her imagined-self leapt for the deer's throat, and found the arrow meant for their prey's lodged in her own back. A small shiver running down her spine, she was about to voice her concerns before he seemingly read her mind, causing the woman to blink a few times before rising to her paws. "Alright. After you hit with arrow, I can finish, perhaps?" The last thing that she wanted was to seem dominant, or intrusive, but she highly doubted that even a well-placed arrow would bring a terrified buck down so easily.



Spurring her muscles forward, a flick of her tail was the only sign she gave to Nayati to show that she was off, waiting with baited breath. The foliage covered her for a brief time before it fell away, letting her pelt take over the attempt at camouflage. Optics trained on the one buck they had selected and feeling much like a young pup in the role she had been cast in, Ghita's swift gait soon took over, letting her paws thud heavily on the ground to allow the surrounding mammals to hear. Startled, the easily obeyed their plan and ran, Ghita in hot pursuit of the elderly buck. Even if Nayati wasn't as strong with his arrows as he claimed to be, the fae was fairly confident that she knew how to take this one down.

Sorry this took so long to get to... I kinda missed the reply you put up. ^^; Ghita's so proud. XD
WC: 580~




Chewing lightly on the piercings that stuck out from her ebony lip, Ghita flicked her ears, the silver flashing in the light as it went. "I see... that makes some sense." The fae had never been an expert at reading body language, but Onawa's pose seemed friendly, or at the very least not a threat, so Ghita could turn her full focus towards the issue at hand. The realm of the spiritual had seemed cut off to the fae for a long time now, the woman relying on the five senses she had to experience the world around her. But the possibility of the existence of something more didn't seem all to impossible to her - there were some things that seemed almost inexplicable no matter how hard she tried.


Knowing next to nothing about how the bow and arrow worked, the contraption held a mild interest to the fae, almost as if it could be something she'd like to learn someday. But the fae recognized the prickling on her shoulders, the resurfacing need to move and to be put to use; this was the time that she tended to go stir-crazy. As the pair of wolves plotted their attack plan, ivory toes danced upon the ground, fairies in their grace and delicacy. The nod was all she needed, not seeking permission but an agreement - teamwork, one of Ghita's weaknesses, would have to prevail here if either party hoped to bring a prize back for their respective pack.


She could almost feed off of the sudden energy of the hunt - the frantic scatter of hooves upon the terre beneath them, this was the soundtrack to Ghita's life - what made her heart sing as time flew on - what kept Ghita going even in the harder times. A whizzing sound was the only warning the wolfess had, the arrow flying inches above her ears, before she noticed the spurt of crimson only a few feet away. The stream of blood caused the buck to stagger, the shaft lodged deep in the front leg. Recognizing that Nayati's role was drawing to a close, Ghita's door was opening, the seconds flying by faster than she could run.


Muscles that had remained stagnant for too long bunched together, the fae gathering her legs beneath her before leaping, foreclaws the first to reach their prey. Sailing through the air, Ghita used her forepaws to steady herself, bring her body and teeth around in the right position before she could sink her jowls to steal the life away. The moment her incisors met the buck's neck, there were a few moments of equilibrium - both mammals fighting an equal battle. Ghita's balance on the buck was tenuous, but with every second that ran by, another ounce of fight was leaving. Finally relinquishing, the buck tumbled over, the effort of dislodging the huntress and fighting too much for him to bear.


Crashing gracefully to the ground, the fae rolled, moving with the deer until his body lay sprawled, the life having left the prey completely. Releasing the slender neck, she let it fall to the ground with a muted thud, the rest of his herd having long since departed. Having landed in a crouched position, her tail lay parallel to the rest of her body, a faint smile ghosting her lips. Straightening up, she cast a satisfied gaze to her hunting partner, the final coup de grace that declared the hunt over. "That went well...eh?"

I think this'd be a good place to end, if you want to reply one last time (since Ghita doesn't have a clue how to divide up the meat)! <33 Thanks for the thread!
Crippled auntie demands that she track Cambria down, btw. <3

WC: 500~




The kill had been relatively quick, their choice in prey obviously a good one in terms of strength and size. The buck that now lay between the two was relatively large, enough for each party to take half and still call it a successful hunt. Ghita's flanks only heaved slightly, the ribs protruding then sinking away as the air returned to the fae's lungs, the crimson blood trapped within veins running laps around her frame. Hearing two sets of paws approaching, the fae had forgotten about Nayati's companion momentarily, ears flicking up in surprise until the two frames were recognized.



Relaxing the muscles that had mysteriously become tensed, the two shared a smile, and something more; It was rare that two wolves from different packs could work so well together, in tandem and excellent rhythm with an excellent result. Certainly a unique experience for both, the day's events were something that Ghita would mull over and try to apply to her own pack, discussing the tactic with her sister.


Watching the male as he retrieved the arrow, the action startled her at first. But it was only natural - a commodity such as arrows were rare and valuable, something Ghita grew to appreciate as the arrow was cleaned off and returned to the quiver. Working with the only tools she had - her claws and teeth - those were always on her body and, in essence, taken for granted at times. If either wolf suddenly lost the ability to use their tools, the effect would be the same across the board - they would become less effective, but to an extent. If Nayati lost his bow, he would still be able to fight with tooth and claw, albeit less effectively (since the bow was his obvious weapon of choice), but all the same, he wouldn't be defenseless.


But if Ghita's weapons were jeopardized, the fae would become as useless as a newborn pup. Without her claws and teeth, Ghita was nothing - she didn't know anything about the bow or the sword - everything relied on her own body's abilities. A common fear that plagued her was being restrained, physically unable to move or fight. For the long-time nomad, such a life was unimaginable save for her nightmares.


Dragged back to the present where safety and success reigned, the fae nodded, the current issue at hand - or paw. "That'd be wise - we both have a ways to travel before returning home, I guess?" In reality, Ghita didn't know where Aniwaya's 'home base' was, but the distance was still considerable even to the Dreamers' Manor. It wasn't necessarily late in the day, but not overly early either - and Ghita really wanted to be there to hear her childrens' 'exciting' days, as she did most nights. Stepping back, she let the gesture speak for itself - Nayati was free to take his half first. "And with you - I've never worked with an archer before.", she said, eyes sparkling.