171 words 935 characters
Fara stood outside the borders of Anathema, watching it as if something was going to happen. It had been her goal to join the ranks of this pack, after 6 months of travel she had finally arrived. She had arrived home. Though she had not been accepted yet it was definitely home.
She smelt the air; it smelled of packed dirt and many different scents from various wolves. She wondered how they would react when they found out she was not a Luperci. The various thoughts of what might happen raced through her head, but that didn’t matter right now. She needed to signal to them that she was here; she needed to let them know she was home.
Fara lifted her head and howled like shed never howled before. She hadn’t howled in a while. It felt good, it lifted her spirit. Fara lowered her head respectfully as hundreds of reply howls came from beyond the borders. It was like music to her ears, because she was… Home.
His heart was heavy, dragging him down to the very lowest tunnels in Anathema. It had been three days since the incident that had torn his world apart, three days since his children had been miscarried. And it wasnt getting any easier. Teddy had tried running away from Anathema, even for just a little bit. But the pull to come home had been strong, which had surprised him. The rest of the pack knew about the miscarriage by now- if Demi's scream of pain hadnt alerted them to something gone wrong, the pair burying their half-formed children outside the dens was a good indicator too. Still, nobody had come to say anything to them about it and the black male felt anger in his guts about that. It was his fault- he didnt know a lot about his pack and he knew this was one of the reasons others didnt approach him. But they could have asked Demi if she was okay, at the very least. The male had retreated in on his mind, talking only to Demi really. But this was his pack, or his and Naniko's. There was no way he was going to drop out, no way he was going to let it fall under. He would just have to occupy himself.
A howl rang clear through the air and Teddy got to his paws. Greeting new members was an acceptable way to pass his time, at least for the moment. He shifted down into his lupus form, a form rarely used by the warrior. But he didnt exactly fancy having his sorrow so clealy plastered over his face- his lupus form was easier to conceal things in. He moved quickly and easily towards the origin of the howl, keen blue eyes spotting a white lupus form close to the borders. And the wind told him it was a lone female, come for acceptance. Theodore slowed to a trot, black face searching the female for any signs that she was threatening in any way. A fierce protectiveness had risen from this recent event that Theodore was going to act on. However, he managed to stop and give a soft nod of his head.
"You have reached Anathema's borders. I am Theodore Stone, how may I help?"
Feeling much more like a secretary than a guardian of the pack, the male waited for a response with blue eyes turned towards her own.
Her eyes lit up as she saw the lone black wolf emerged from behind the border. She studied him closely, his wonderful blue eyes staring back at hers. There was a faint saddness about him that almost seemed to linger in the air where ever he went. But what really puzzled her was why he was not in his optime form. Most Luperci Favoured being in her optime form, or maybe he was like her. Maybe he wasn't a luperci either.
"My name is Fara , and I'm attempting to join your pack if you may,"fara replied after being asked her business. Golden eyes stared back at the anathema leader, the pitch black alpha seemed to looking deep into her. Something beyond her skill or appearance, it gave her a cold feeling to be studied like this. She hoped he found what he was looking for, and that he was pleased if he did.
She seemed excited to see him, although in his current state it took everything in him not to sneer at her. It wasnt her fault that Demi got sick and he certainly had no right to take it out on her. Despite his want to lash out and hurt, Naniko would have his head if he were cruel to a joining member. So he managaed a half smile instead while her own eyes looked into his. She didnt seem to shy away from him as most did and it was something of an ego boost for the male. Still, she wouldnt want to show weakness at the borders anyway, even if she didnt want to look him in the eye. He saw submission in her posture, so her eye contact was not considered rude or challenging. She spoke and Teddy's black ears flashed forward. Blunt and easy to understand, the female would probably do well with an attitude like that. Teddy nodded softly.
"Where have you come from Fara?"
He asked, knowing it was common practise to ask these questions. Who are you, where have you come from, of what use are you to Anathema. He would get all this information from her, and then he would accept her and show her on her merry way, perhaps to the cave system where she would chose a den. It was a simple and easy process, one which was doing well at taking the males mind off of things.
Fara answered bluntly while still trying to act respectful as the male asked common questions she expected to be asked. She answered with things like "an arctic wolf", or " from up North," her harsh tone made it clear that she had a lot on her mind. The male seemed not to mind, although most would take it to be disrespect.
"This may be kind of random but are you a luperci," she lowered her head in shame at the silly question. Of course he was what kind of question is that. Or he probably was, there was something menacing yet mellow about him that told her different. She could feel it she knew she wasn’t the only one out there, she wasn’t that different. At least she thought she wasn’t!
Theodore wasnt too sure if he liked the slight attitude he got from her, but he also couldnt decide whether he was making it up or not. He knew he was very sensitive right now, perhaps a little too sensitve. So as she mumbled about being from up north, the male let it go. It didnt look like she was an axe murderer or anything like this. If she wanted to be vague about where she'd come from, so be it. Teddy nodded softly and was about to continue his usual line of questioning when she asked a question of her own. He gave a scowl, just a soft change of expression that he wasnt aware of. He kept constant eye contact with her as he concentrated, feeling the shift in muscles, bones cracking, lengthening, growing. And soon enough, he stood tall over her. "I hope this answers your question, Fara" He answered her, although there was something about her question that made him think that she wasnt a Luperci. It mattered little to him whether she was on two legs or four and went back to his questioning. He wasnt exactly in the best of moods, that was certain.
"Why do you wish to join Anathema, Fara? And what skills do you possess that mean you will be an asset to our pack?"
He asked easily and quickly. He'd already made up his mind to accept her, he just wanted to get back to Demi to make sure she was okay. But he'd answered her howl and he would not show impatience. Despite the weakening of his personality, he was still whole heartedly a disciplined warrior. He waited for the females answer, arms crossed over his chest in a non-threatening but awkward way.
[html]
<style>
.naniko .ooc {font-style:italic; }
.naniko p {padding:2px 0px; margin:0px; text-indent:35px;}
.naniko b {color:#FFFFFF; letter-spacing:-.2px; text-shadow:#000000 2px 2px 2px; }
.naniko {background-color:#1e252b; background-image:url( http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v26/K ... naniko.png); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:2px solid #FFFFFF; font-family:georgia, serif; font-size:11px; line-height:12px; color:#141b21; width:375px; text-align:justify; }
.naniko-border {width:379px; border:1px solid #000000; margin:0 auto;}
.naniko .inner {margin:10px 10px 190px 10px; padding:10px; background-image:url( http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v26/K ... nikobg.png); border:1px solid #000000; border-radius:20px;-moz-border-radius:20px; -webkit-border-radius:20px;}
</style>
She approached the pair at a quick pace, jogging along in her Optime form. Naniko kept to this form most of the time anyway, and had no trouble being restricted to it while pregnant. She was already in her preferred form and standing on two legs, so why downgrade and shift down onto four anyway? Naniko stood alongside Theodore, looking down at the newcomer curiously. Her co-leader had some business to attend to back at the caves, and she bid him farewell as he took his leave and began to head back to their home.
"Well, wolf? What skills do you possess that would be useful to Anathema?" She repeated the question, staring down at Fara. "I'd want to know what you'd be able to help the pack with in the future, if you stick around." She explained. Many canines came and went....she wanted a pack member who was devoted to Anathema.
Table by Jenny! [/html]
Fara stood silently as the male called Theodore left seemingly awkward. As the leader of the pack approached dominantly, immediately Fara lowered her head and ears even farther.
"I am quite a good fighter if it interests you," replied Fara modestly trying to get rid of her dominant sounding voice.
She hadn't been near other wolves for quite a while, her voice used to be quiet and not easy to hear. But in her time alone the dominance had crept slowly back into her voice and it wasn't easy for her to show respect.
While waiting for a response Fara rolled onto her back letting her belly become vulnerable. She as trying as hard as she could to keep the anger from her past events come into her behavior and voice right now. Fara couldn't tell whether or not the female was getting it, if she didn't it would affect her future in more ways than one!
[html]
<style>
.naniko .ooc {font-style:italic; }
.naniko p {padding:2px 0px; margin:0px; text-indent:35px;}
.naniko b {color:#FFFFFF; letter-spacing:-.2px; text-shadow:#000000 2px 2px 2px; }
.naniko {background-color:#1e252b; background-image:url( http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v26/K ... naniko.png); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:2px solid #FFFFFF; font-family:georgia, serif; font-size:11px; line-height:12px; color:#141b21; width:375px; text-align:justify; }
.naniko-border {width:379px; border:1px solid #000000; margin:0 auto;}
.naniko .inner {margin:10px 10px 190px 10px; padding:10px; background-image:url( http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v26/K ... nikobg.png); border:1px solid #000000; border-radius:20px;-moz-border-radius:20px; -webkit-border-radius:20px;}
</style>
Sorry for the wait on this; I was on absence and I thought you had lost interest ^^ One more post from you accepting the blood-sharing ceremony and we'll be done!
Naniko was a busy wolf, as the leader of the pack. She would have to show this female around a bit and let her know where she could stay. She would also need to help her pick out a den and show her where the food storage and other areas were. The leader nodded when Fara mentioned being able to fight...that was a useful trait indeed. She felt that Fara would fit in well, more than likely. The canines in Anathema weren't the friendliest at times, but they took care of their own when it came down to it. She expected that they would welcome this newcomer as they had all the others, in their own ways.
"Well..I wish to accept you into the pack. However, we must make you a formal member by having you go through the ceremony that all un-related Anathemans go through. The blood-sharing ceremony known as Agares." Naniko said. she pulled her dagger from her belt. "If you accept this...then give me your paw so that we might share blood and become true family." The female said. She hoped that the other would choose to go through with the ceremony and that she would be accepted quickly so that she could go back to what she had been doing previously.
Table by Jenny! [/html]
Fara listened to the words she had been waiting to here for so long. It almost seemed like eternity, although it had only been about ten minutes. Fara silently stretched out her paw for the female to slit, she closed her eyes waiting for the final moment when it would all go down.
As she waited she wasn't scared of the bloodshed but of how she would fit in. when it was over she peeked on eye open unable to contain her excitement. To her surprise Naniko was still taking out her dagger. She had thought it would have been shorter than that.
[html]
<style>
.naniko .ooc {font-style:italic; }
.naniko p {padding:2px 0px; margin:0px; text-indent:35px;}
.naniko b {color:#FFFFFF; letter-spacing:-.2px; text-shadow:#000000 2px 2px 2px; }
.naniko {background-color:#1e252b; background-image:url( http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v26/K ... naniko.png); background-position:bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; border:2px solid #FFFFFF; font-family:georgia, serif; font-size:11px; line-height:12px; color:#141b21; width:375px; text-align:justify; }
.naniko-border {width:379px; border:1px solid #000000; margin:0 auto;}
.naniko .inner {margin:10px 10px 190px 10px; padding:10px; background-image:url( http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v26/K ... nikobg.png); border:1px solid #000000; border-radius:20px;-moz-border-radius:20px; -webkit-border-radius:20px;}
</style>
As a note, it's also important to try and make posts that are AT LEAST 200 words. :] 200 words is the board-wide standard, and it helps to give others something to go off of. If you're not sure about how many words are in your post, Microsoft Word has a word counter under the "review" tab, and here's a link to an online word counter that you could use. Thanks, and welcome to the pack!
The female seemed willing enough. The wolves of Anathema would welcome another into their ranks as a Zepar, an unproven one. "You will be ranked as a Zepar until you've proven that you're going to be sticking around for the long haul. Many canines come and go...but I hope that you will remain and will do your duties to Anathema" Naniko said. She took Fara's paw, making a slice across one of her paw pads before doing the same to one of her own. She pressed the two together as she had with many wolves in the past, joining blood with her and officially welcoming her into the pack.
"Welcome. If you follow me, I can show you to our denning area. Once you pick one out, let me know which it is and I'll mark it off on the map. We have quite a few that are open, as some of our members left to go and form a pack of their own to the West...so you'll have many options to choose from." The Angela advised. She replaced her dagger in its sheath, pressing against the cut on her hand to make it stop bleeding. "But anyway...welcome to your new home. Follow me." She looked back at Fara before beginning to walk, heading toward their cave home.
Table by Jenny! [/html]
Yeah sorry about how short that one was i kinda got stuck on that one -_-'
Fara winced as the female cut her's and her own paw, then she pressed their paws together. bonding them eternally, Fara liked the feeling of having a home. It was a feeling she hadn't felt in a long time, her mind suddenly was at ease. As if she had been searching for that one thing that would bring her stress level down. The blood dripped down Fara's paw, she licked it gently until it stopped bleeding. The titanium cuff on her front left paw jingled against her fore paw, she nudged farther up her leg to tighten its grip on her leg.
Fara's heart sank as she heard that she would be ranked as a Zepar, but she would go as hard as she could until she got out of this rank.She wouldn't give up now, she had to have a home, but not just live there she had to contribute somehow. If fighting was how she could contribute then so be it, she would use it to the best of her abilities.
Fara followed the large female towards the denning area, this was her favorite part, where she would find her home and live for the rest of her life... hopefully
|
