Friends become Strangers and Strangers become Friends.

Set around Ames de la Mort
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Strange just how despite all the semi bad memories in which he were to associate with being up here in the northern territories and yet Ares still could not quite bring himself to wander any further away than what he had already. Well, so far it were probably asking a bit too much of himself to even consider going any further than what he had already, that and now that he seemed to have effectively all the time in the world he were going to use it to more fully explore the lands that he would call home for a while.

And the fact that now there were little need for him to be returning in order to avoid causing any worry to anyone for his extended absence though just a little sad to think about at the same time it somehow also felt good to know that aside from the now constant company of his horse Arte there wasn't anyone around who would be concerned about his wandering habits.

Not that the large grey male had allowed himself to dwell upon such matters anymore nowadays, after all what was the point of that? If the past could have been changed so that to whatever degree life were normal then it would no doubt have been done long ago, but now the future was the one and only thing he were going to be focusing on from now on. Especially when life could just as easily throw just about anything at anyone at any time, all that anyone could simply do was prepare just enough to deal with it.

And today on the top of Ares list was to make some attempt at catching the damned goat that had been eluding him for much of the day, it had not helped that he had made the poor choice to allow Arte to - albeit at a satisfactory distance - follow after him. Some good idea that had turned out to be, if it had not been bad enough that despite the male wolf's attempt to avoid being detected the goat had kept managing to almost guess or otherwise figure out just where he were going to be even before Ares himself knew.
So there had only been one thing for it and Arte had proven himself useful for something other than just company and one to carry the belongings of the grey males.

Well, long story short the horse had proved a good distraction from one direction while Ares had come from the other even if it had made the goat somewhat suspicious. But it had worked well enough and proved to also be a good opportunity for a bit of target practice and it hyad been a surprisingly clean kill despite the extra effort made to catch it, but that didn't matter it were always nice for a challange and now that Ares had moved to retrieve his prize and ensured his companion were happy before tending to the fallen goat. Though it were of a satisfactory size there were plenty to keep his appetite at bay and who knew - once he had cleaned it up maybe he could trade some for something useful. He would just have to see how that turned out.

Avinalora

• Word Count: [780]
• Date: March
• Time: Day
• Form: Optime (Avi) Secui (Storm)

Sorry for the wait! Long reply, ramble is strong

A small shape walked through the snow. Behind her was a massive beast.

The woman was small, extremely small. She didn't look like she weighed much with her skinny frame. She almost seemed like a fox Luperci even though that didn't exist. Her long, bushy tail and the long ears and muzzle given to her by her jackal breeding added to the look. By those who didn't know of the rare species, she would seem like a very small coyote, but her non-tapering muzzle showed her true heritage.

Her fur was a silvery-snow color that blended in with the winter. A dark grey saddle ran down her back that marked her as a jackal. The saddle had black hairs here and there. She had black hair that was tied back in a pony tail. Her tail had a white tip that didn't stand out very well because of her pale coloration. Her eyes were green, but were two different shades. Both were forest colors but the left was lighter than the right.

Due to her desert-adapted fur, she wore a lot of clothing. A moss-green anorak covered her body and went a bit past her hips. It was oversized, but her sister had managed to alter it so the sleeves would at least fit. Under the anorak was a simple long-sleeved shirt that was only worn for extra protection. She also wore a pair of leggings that covered her long legs. A scarf was wrapped around her neck and a moon-shaped wooden pendant also hung from it. A satchel hung from her shoulder.

Behind her was a wolf, a massive one. He was built like a tank with broad shoulders and muscle covering his frame. He also had long fur that only added to his size, especially since he was in his halfling form. His fur was a stormy grey that stood out in the white scene. The smoke was only cut through by scars. Claw marks covered his eye, an x-shaped scar sat on his chest, another x-shaped scar lay on his shoulder, and a scar that vaguely looked like an H was on his haunch. There were bandages dotting his frame but they were small. His eyes were amber, but held a gentle gaze.

Avinalora had never been here before. But it was close to Anathema so she decided to explore this new place. Stormblade had elected to come with her after learning that it was a new and unexplored place for her. The vixen didn't mind the company and after those attacks, she wouldn't mind backup in case there were any more Anatheman haters.

"So this is east?" The warrior rumbled. He saw evidence of fire, the naked trees and burned wood. The fire was probably some time ago since life was coming back to this forest. What had happened here?

"It might look nicer in the spring." The fox maiden said with a shrug. She didn't see the remains of fire. She saw what seemed to be trees that had no leaves, but she atributed that to winter rather than fire. She could smell the faint scent of ash but that was all.

"Can't you see that there was a fire here?" The Irishman didn't know that the medic was almost blind. He noticed that she seemed to point out scent or sound, but he guessed because of her large ears and having been a healer.

"I'm nearly blind." The silver lady deadpanned. She realized that she didn't tell the wolf about her lack of sight. She didn't tell many people about it and she had forgotten about telling her own patient.

"How so?" The storm giant asked. His head cocked and he stopped in his tracks.

"Blind in the left, you're still a bit blurred on the right." The jackal medic replied after she stopped and turned around to face the male. She was only a yard away from him but his features were blurry to her.

"I didn't think you were...blind." The wolf said as he started walking. He didn't know if "blind" was an appropriate word for the healer.

"Thanks." The silver belle said before she detected a presence close to them. She smelled a male wolf and his horse, there was a scent that was faint but clung to him. The scent of the sea, Midnight Shores. She didn't recognize the scent but she knew that she was in the presence of a Midnighter. She began walking towards the scent until she could barely make out a blue. The amber-eyed beast followed her.

"Never thought I'd see another former Midnighter." The monochrome fox said at a volume loud enough to be heard.

"Somebody make me feel alive and shatter me!

Template by Kitty and Aso, image by Unsplash.com

So deeply engrossed within his work that despite his mostly paying attention to all that were around him Ares did indeed for a time fail to truly acknowledge what were truly going on around him aside from the movement made by his equine companion and the scent of blood that filled his nose it were a wonder that Ares actually managed to register anything that would be otherwise considered noteworthy. Thankfully though despite his brief lapse of attention to his general surroundings it didn't mean he were entirely ineffective in this area.

It had merely been as he had finished up with his work - for now at least - did Ares gaze lift after having wiped the worst of the blood that had to some small degree soaked his hands towards where Arte were somewhat contentedly munching upon what available greenery he were able to find even if were clear that the stallion was somewhat uncomfortable with the scent of blood. "Sorry Arte, won't be that bad for long hopefully." Maybe that was just him being optimistic for the horse's sake but unlike his companion it were not as if he could go on forever with existing upon any edible plants that he could find that he could tolerate.

But this was to be something that were to be pushed aside as almost simultaneously both horse and wolf's ear's perked up at first the potential sound and scent of not just one but two others approaching, then the voice of one - the female - addressing him. Though it were clear that the pair were a part of some pack it were just that he could not be overly certain which, but such a detail mattered little to the grey male because as soon as he took note of just what were said and the sight of the pair. It were only then did Ares slowly stand up, all the while olive eyes were fixed upon the small female and her large halfling companion of course the male he did not know but a faint flicker of recognition formed upon his otherwise confused features.

"Avinlora? That is you isn't it? It's been a while." he responded, equal measures filled with friendliness filling him along with continued caution because although it were nice to see something of a friendly face he ensured that he were restrained enough to keep his distance to avoid any potential problems with the other male that accompanied her.

 

I think I may have made an assumption somewhere.

Word Count → 216

Avinalora remembered the scent. She had scented him at the pack hunt in Midnight Shores. Her sister had met him before in Charlottetown back in her old pack. Adrian said that his name was Arte. She didn't know the guy personally, but an ex-packmate was an ex-packmate. The vixen pushed a small smile on her face as he said her name and nodded. She didn't know how he knew her name, but she was a bit surprised. Did another Midnighter tell him?

"Ares, nice to see you again." The fox maiden replied as she stepped away from Stormblade. The former Midnighter seemed a bit cautious, but who wouldn't when there was a big wolf that was a stranger. The beast sat down and watched the two curiously. He didn't know who this man was, but if the jackal medic knew him, then he could be trusted.

"So, what have you been up to?" The monochrome fox asked. She didn't add the part about Midnight Shores' disbandment since she didn't know how he had been affected by it. He smelled like a loner, but who knew what he had been up to. She would be open to him about her involvement with Anathema, she would never hide her affiliation to what everyone thought was a "dark pack".

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OOC; And i'm sorry too, meant to effectively say the same about my previous post with Ares knowing Avinalora by name. bad self, try avoid doing that
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Ares could not rightly recall as to where, how and who he had heard or taken note of the white female's name from; but to know that he had at the very least correctly named her rather than potentially faace any form of embarressment from having gotten it wrong. Though there was that hope that had this been the case then one of the pair would hopefully correct him shoulld Ares have been wrong, but the fact this hadn't happened made all the difference.

This of course naturally led to the grey male to further relax just a little more before eyes continued to drift between the pair before him until finally settling upon the pale maiden - well if there was no need for him to be overly concerned with the other male then what were the point of continuing to observe him? After all it were somewhat clear that the pair were close in some way - how close it were none of his business, given the circumstances why would it be? "As it is to see you again. Glad that you have found yourself another home." he offered somewhat kindly with a ghost of a smile briefly forming upon his maw. But it were her query in regards to himself that got him briefly remaining quiet before shrugging in a slightly dismissive manner.

"Since things went to hell you mean? Better recently, had some . . . . issues but am still in one piece." Of course he were not exactly going to go into too much detail and potentially bore Avinalora but then her nose would no doubt tell her of other details of his existance between when last they may have encountered each other within their previous home and now. [/b]"But what of you? Found yourself a new home, glad you have."[/b] And this was certainly something in which the knight male truly meant, regardless of what his opinion may hvae once been as a pack wolf now as a loner in his mind any views he had of any of the other packs had to be adjusted.