ooc text. Here we go, my very first post

Augustus, weary from travel, carefully picked his way through the rough, once populous terrain. The ruins proved a daunting task as he weaved through piles of rock and debris. He clambered clumsily over these obstacles until his tongue began to hang from his jowls and he was in need of rest. He made his way towards a clear patch of grass, then slowly, steadily lowered his haunches to the ground. The skin of his back legs felt tight, but it was healing. The gashes were no longer open, and the bleeding had stopped long ago. The gashes across his face, however, were a much different story.

It has been near a month since his father left those marks, but long days of travel through strange territories, and tiresome hunts had caused them to reopen whenever they tried to scab. They tore four long marks from below his left eye towards his muzzle. The stinging was the least of his worries as he twisted suddenly to bite at his pelt. The winter months were coming, causing his fur to shed erratically. Lumps of fur came out in his teeth and he spat them with disgust. His body sprouted patches of these all over, giving him an unkempt and disheveled look.

He growled in annoyance, now itching with his hind legs. An idea began to take root in his mind and he turned his head to look cautiously about. He looked right, then left, seeing nothing, he determined that the coast was clear. However, he didn’t pause to scent. He rolled over in the grass and began to rub his back. His tongue lolled happily as his paws hung in the air. When he was done he rolled over to his belly, his muzzle pulled back in a grin of satisfaction.

He breathed in the sea air, watching the scenery with growing intrigue. His nose twitched as another scent finally caught his attention. His smile quickly faded and he rose to a stand. His ears and body lowered and he crept carefully on all fours towards the scent, stopping a safe distance away. He lifted his head, seeing but a glimpse of a small, tawny figure before ducking his head swiftly down. He would not call out to them, nor dare he go closer. He was far too weary, and it was far too soon. His last interaction had not been a pleasant one.

OOC: He's really not a lack-wit, but he sounds like one with his one-word answers, lol He's just all 'grr' right now.

A moment passed before Augustus raised his head for another look, but the figure had vanished. He rose to a sudden stand and peered warily about. He inclined his head skyward to scent the breeze. The wind was not in his favor and the scent he'd detected before escaped him. His ears twitched this way and that, and he spun his head, looking up, now looking down. He stiffened, fur beginning to bristle. His tail rose slightly.

The scents of this place had shown no signs that the land was claimed so Augustus did not bother adjusting his posture. He remained at a height, his tail slightly raised, and his fur, or what remained of it puffed up along his neck and spine. He even chanced a slight snarl. He displayed rows of pearly razor-edged teeth. His ears lay back. The grasses stirred about him faintly and he widened his stance, not knowing what, or whom to expect.

He growled low in his throat, a warning growl. He had not fed in near a week, and hoped the sound would scare off any imminent threat, unwilling to waste what energy he had left. Finally his eyes locked upon the tawny figure as it approached him. His snarl faded, but for the presence of his canines. His ears rose and one twitched as the other announced themselves. She was smaller and much slighter than he, and he allowed himself a surge of confidence. He stood some-what taller. Her tone was mild and sympathetic, even anxious. Did she fear him? He relaxed his expression, but maintained his stance.

"Augustus..." he rumbled. He watched her, fixing her in his green and yellow stare. He bristled again slightly,"Help?" As if in reply, the gashes in his face surged with a sudden twinge of pain brought on by a passing breeze. He winced and looked downwards. His face grew hot. He didn't quite know what to think and kept his responses brief. The prospect of a place to stay got his attention. It would be nice to sleep under the cover of shelter, at least for the night. The female was willing enough, but he wasn't sure if he should trust her. She had a strange scent, and that would only serve to make him more and more suspicious. He debated internally for a moment. After a long pause,"Where?" was all he said.

OOC

He shook himself, wresting free some loose hairs which cascaded to the ground. He bore himself in a sullen slouch, glancing darkly every once in a while at the female. His nostrils twitched, filling with her scent. There is was again, that strange smell. He contemplated her descent. She didn’t smell like a wolf, not fully. There was coyote, he was sure. Her slight stature and facial features gave that away readily, but there was something else. He no longer turned his head in her direction, instead he began to look at her out the corner of his eye. He wondered, why? Why would any creature readily help another, especially a loner like himself?

He was determined to reveal as little about himself as possible. The only sign that he was listening was the way his ears twitched at the sound of her voice. He nodded shortly. There was worry in the female’s eyes, he saw it whenever he chanced to look at her. He caught a glimpse of her paws inching closer and rose his eyes to her immediately. His lips drew back revealing his pale fangs. His tail stiffened. He walked slowly and deliberately away from her, but would not turn his back. Another canine would only help you if something was in it for them, and he refused to think of what exactly she was seeking to gain. Or at least this was what he believed.

“Show me,” he said indicating with his muzzle vaguely. It gave him solace when she mentioned that it would only shelter one, and it was too far from her usual haunts. He would prefer his own company to a stranger’s. But, something in him was grateful for her assistance. It was hard being on his own for the first time. He had underestimated just what it was to be in a pack. Hunting was a much more daunting task, he remembered spending hours chasing the same prey, and it was smaller by far. He longed for the taste of larger prey, but knew it may very well be a while until he got his wish.

He paused a moment, before looking in her direction. “Terra?” The name was hard to choke out, but he thought she would prefer it to ‘girl,’ or ‘you.’“Where will I find water?” This was probably the first sentence he’d uttered to her. He was beginning to like the sound of his own voice due to the fact he hadn’t spoken to anyone in a while. It made his voice sound husky and gruff, a distortion from the norm, but at least he was speaking now…somewhat. He turned his face away and began to sniff at the air, but only the bitter sea, and the Terra’s unusual scent filled his nostrils.

ooc

As she started on her way towards their destination Augustus gave himself another shake before following her. He lingered a few feet behind. He was walking, but his longer stride allowed him to keep pace, although he deliberately kept his distance. His haunches hardly bothered him anymore, but the whispers of their presence tend to make the skin feel stretched in a way. The chilly wind cut at his open wounds making his eyes water. He blinked it away and stopped for a few seconds to rub at the marks with his paw. The thin cuts glistened wetly. They didn’t usually bother him this much, the cold tended to make them numb, but the sea breeze was a biting force. He began to question his reasons for coming here in the first place. He was no doubt intrigued by the looming fortress, and rubble of the vanquished human society.

It wasn’t only that, he refused to acknowledge the other reason that brought him here. He’d never seen an ocean before. It filled him with wonder, looking out over the ever stirring waters. It was beautiful. If ever asked he would surely deny it. Thinking it over he regretted it. Sight-seeing should have been the last thing on his mind. He reprimanded himself internally. He snapped himself from his thoughts. In his meandering he’d let his eyes wander over Terra’s slim frame. He adjusted his gaze until spotting a patch of overgrown foliage. It was another moment until he picked out the entrance.

He glanced at it, nosing his head inward. He gave a couple sniffs, until he decided it was safe. It was a secluded spot, ensuring that visitors would be few, if there were any at all. His thoughts shifted to the female. Well, there’d be at least one. He lowered himself to a crouch and squeezed himself through. Once inside he had to crawl on his belly to reach it’s back wall. He could feel the ceiling looming all too closely overhead and realized he would not be able to stand fully, but still, it was better than nothing, and nothing was the only thing he had.

Satisfied, he turned his attention to her form lingering outside. His eyes glowed eerily in the darkness. He did not look her directly in the eye, instead he mumbled a reluctant “thank you,” to the dirt. That over and done with he wriggled on his belly up and out of the dim reaches of the den. He gazed in the direction of the hill, offering a short nod before he slipped into an idle trot.

ooc

He lumbered clumsily down the hillside, stopping as he saw the female take a drink. He waited for her to leave before dropping his muzzle to the cool waters. It made his wounds sting, but the pain soon ebbed away as the cold numbed them. He took a long swallow. It eased his hungry belly for the present time and he was beginning to feel more relaxed. He lifted his head from the glassy surface and headed back to the small den.

He squeezed himself in for a second time, grumbling irritably. It would take some time to get used to the tight fit. It was warm, however, which made up for it's small size. His body heat quickly spread throughout the den. He hated this time of year, and couldn't wait until his double winter coat finally grew in. The shedding was nearly unbearable. He just couldn't stop itching.

He curled up in the darkness, lowering his head to his forepaws. He rested his eyes a moment, and before he knew it he had drifted off to sleep. He slept deeply, until the sound of her voice jolted him awake. He opened his eyes unwillingly, his heart still racing from the sudden interruption. When he finally realized that she did not have the food with her he sighed and rose to a reluctant stand.

He nosed the air, sniffing for it's whereabouts until he sensed it's muffled and aged aroma. His heart sank again as he realized it wasn't fresh either. He took a short breath inward and made his way to the carcass, food was food. He found it after a couple moments time and dug in hungrily. He tore savagely at the dead flesh, having to exert more effort than usual on the account that the meat was much tougher. He tore it in strips and gulped it down piece by piece, barely pausing to swallow.

When he had gorged himself on the meal he looked around awkwardly. He'd said a simple 'thank you,' once before, and did not feel the need to say it again. Instead he sat in silence, licking his muzzle, and reclining to his haunches.

Augustus turned his head suddenly as she came near him. His yellow and green gaze regarded her with curiosity, no longer as wary. Her body was tensed, he saw, and he felt a tinge of remorse. It would seem that the long journey here had made him wilder than he ought to be. His facial expression cooled, and his body relaxed. When he came to realize her intentions he lowered his muzzle for her, and submitted to her warm tongue. He winced every once in a while when she brushed over the deeper, more sensitive flesh, but otherwise remained calm. He whined softly when those moments arose, but let her work.

When she finished with his wounds and moved onto his fur, he laid himself down and spread out to make it easier for her. The pain in his face was eased to a great extent and only pricked him faintly. When she finished he rose and shook himself to let the hairs fall from him. He was feeling much better and the itching had stopped. He looked much less of a mess, and far healthier with his bloated belly, and even pelt. By the time his winter coat grew in he would be looking much more like his usual self, large, and dignified. Maybe then he would be feeling better emotionally as well, but he wasn’t quite sure. His former pack had left different kinds of marks as well, and these were not so easily seen.

For the moment, he was at ease and felt the need to express his gratitude more fully. He was regretting the way he behaved, more so because of her unrelenting desire to help, even despite how he was treating her. He brought himself closer to her, slowly, so she would not expect an attack. When he reached a comfortable distance, not too far, not too near her he looked into her eyes and said, “I- I want to apologize…” It was hard to say the words, but he was determined to make up for his actions. She’d been more than kind to him, and did not deserve his reproach, no matter what she smelled like. The fact still bothered him, regardless, but he didn’t let it show. She was more than she appeared, that much he knew, but nothing more.

“It was wrong the way I treated you, and I am sorry.” His voice was sounding better as well, although it was still rough, the waters and food had moistened his vocals. He looked bashfully to the ground, apologizing was a very hard thing to do. A short moment passed as he sat and wound his tail about him. He lifted his gaze to hers again. “What you did for me….I am very grateful, but…I can’t help but wonder…Why? Why help me? You could have left at any moment, just gotten up and gone, but you stayed, even when I was frightening you. You gave me more than I ever would have expected from a stranger.” He paused. “Terra?” He questioned quietly, invoking her name in the hopes that it would reveal his sincerity.

ooc: The slightly condensed version...:/

Augustus was relieved to be forgiven. He bowed his head slightly, offering the slightest hint of a smile. The ends of his lips pulled upward for a brief moment before retreating back to their normal line. He let his eyes wander about. The castle ruins no longer seemed as ominous as they had before, and the water near them was playing a gentle melody. He held himself higher, but not in dominance. He didn’t feel like slouching anymore. She was smaller, but her actions said nothing about his size. She must not be afraid. Any reason for her to be had vanished, and he felt happy in the knowledge that things would no longer be so tense between them. He did not reprimand his initial conduct, however, it was fitting for an injured wolf not wishing to be troubled. If he’d come across someone with darker intentions, they would, mostly likely have been turned away. His father had taught him something after all.


“Still…Thank you.” He said again firmly. He wouldn’t let it’s meaning fade, and he did mean it. He got up and circled the ground a couple times before settling himself down in the grass. It was getting cooler, but he didn’t mind remaining out for a little while longer. If he got up now, it would undoubtedly be seen as rude, and he didn’t want to give her that impression. His black rimmed ears twitched as she spoke. He felt himself tense a little. He studied her for a moment, wondering how he should begin, and if he should begin at all. He sighed softly and rose to his feet. This was not a conversation for laying down.

He licked his lips and looked idly to the ground, the memories too fresh to be said whilst looking her in the eyes. “I wasn’t always a loner…I was in a pack before, my father’s pack. We lived far off from here, Yukon, I’ve heard it called, but we thought of it by other names. For most of us, though, it was just ‘home.’ I thought the same thing for a while… He paused a short moment, his eyes darkening. There weren’t as many…Luperci settlements there, and we rarely saw or heard of them. Game was plentiful for us, but it was colder- colder than here. My mother was from the Arctic, there, there are no Luperci. It was good for her…My father hated them, he told us to hate them, too. He said that they practiced black magic, and sacrificed non-Luperci, to their gods. Then, one day, when I was young- hardly out of the den, my brother was snatched by the Luperci. I won’t forget that day. My father took me aside and said to me “Son, remember this day…Remember what they took from you.” And, like a good son, I remembered. His tone had became darker now, hints of anger ebbed out in a low growl. He drew in a breath and cleared his throat.

Time passed, and I started to grow up. My father hardly bothered with me, my mother came to me only occasionally. The pack, and the land itself were my teachers. They taught me how to hunt, how to hide, and how to fend for myself. I’d often wander alone through our territory. I was doing so when one night I heard my father’s howl. He was calling us to a meeting. I came as quickly as I could, curious. I was the last to arrive, as if it had been planned… His brows furrowed and he continued in an increasingly angrier voice.

My father pointed me out, and everyone parted before me, like I was something wicked. He was talking nonsense. I don’t quite remember what he was saying, it was all a blur. But all of sudden they started snarling and growling at me. I saw my father coming towards me and he slashed me across the face, saying to me “You are no son of mine,” Then…they were chasing me. The faster ones bit at my flanks, but I hardly felt it. They stopped just beyond the borders, but I kept running. Before I knew it…I was here..He refused to look at her, unsure how she would react, instead he sat in silence, waiting anxiously.

ooc

Hate them? he questioned, brow furrowing slightly. I did…yes, but…now I’m not so sure. He was no longer bothered or wary anymore and he easily poured out his soul to her. She’d helped him, and provided him with company. He began to remember what it was like to have a conversation, what it was to be near someone else. Whatever my father was saying about me must have been a lie. I don’t remember doing anything to deserve what happened…Was his talk about the Luperci a lie as well?He questioned out loud, not necessarily needing an answer, it was more to himself- an internal conflict shared with the world around him. But…then I think about my brother…What could have happened to him if not murder. Or was he simply lying about ‘who’ murdered him?

He looked away, lost in thought, when she spoke his head snapped back. He bristled suddenly. I had no idea…the only thought I had was ‘run.’ And these Luperci…Do they? He stopped himself before his hundreds of questions had the chance to break away from him in an overwhelming flood. I thought I smelled something. He flicked his black misted tail. I can’t go back.He said firmly. I won’t go back. He felt her nuzzle him, and lowered his eyes, his face growing heated. He hadn’t expected that. I suppose so, he replied, his voice suddenly quiet.

He looked awkwardly away, his gaze fixed downwards. His ears twitched. It may not be a pleasant one, he warned, regaining his normal tone. I know where I’ve been, but I don’t quite know where I’m going. He let his voice trail away and began to settle down in the grass. He let the conversation fade into silence, tucking his nose into his tail. He watched her tug at the tough flesh, thinking to himself what sort of encounters awaited him. He would be better next time, he was determined to be.

When she backed up he lifted his head to gaze quizzically at her, raising a brow. His eyes slightly narrowed. What? He asked, confused. He looked around them, seeing nothing, then looked at her again, growing suddenly anxious. There was something strange about the way she was looking at him. Was it something I said?

OOC And to wrap us up

He nodded slightly, his brows still furrowed. She was acting strangely, had he upset her? He flattened his ears and his eyes drifted to the ground. Yeah, no problem… he said distantly. His ears turned towards her. Just like us? he repeated, contemplating. We’ll see, he added soon after. He undoubtedly would. He began to yawn absently, lips parting over his pearly canines. He shook his head and his eyes began to droop. He rose to his paws, stretching and hunching his shoulders. He rolled his head around, loosening his muscles. He looked her over again out the corner of his eye. He wasn’t sure he’d call for her again, regardless he replied, sure… Still, he might one day find himself alone, and long for a companion. Then, maybe then, he’d call for her, but he needed time. This was a strange new territory and he’d have to spend his days getting accustomed to it, and healing. That was the most important part. He had many wounds both outside and in.

He watched her as she became smaller and smaller until she was just an outline on the horizon. He turned away slowly and began to walk towards the small den. The sunset accompanied him and he gazed at it absently, before crouching and squeezing himself through the tight opening. In the darkness he curled himself into a tight ball and hid his face with his tail. For the first time he slept wholly untroubled and content.