Far Flung Flotsam

Caspa Al-Fateh · 08-03-2011, 05:11 AM

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wc: 443

Geography wasn't Caspa's strong point. In her mind, the world was a linked chain of familiar places, with lots of blurry white space in between. The longest thread of all stretched back to her birthplace, that far off settlement of high fences and tall trees, but the thread that linked her to that place was long and frail and indistinct, as if buried in a snow drift, which was a vague impression left over from the midwinter land she'd travelled to get to 'Souls. Then there was the mountains, the forest, and the Court. And that was everything.

But now, as if unrolling a brand new ball of string behind her, Caspa was venturing far to the north. She was well aware that her reclusive behaviour left her out of the loop in terms of pack events - though she was starting to wonder if it was simply that her packmates were living a similarly quiet life - but she had not escaped the rumours of changes in the nearby territories. It all seemed so vague to her. The only other pack she knew much about was the one beyond the woods, Krystalle's Cercatori something, and the whispers did not concern this particular group. So the stoic willowy wolf-dog had taken it into her own paws, feeling a desperate need to get a grasp on this political world she had blundered into, and was leaving the beach to her back, letting her jerking-heron stride move her surprisingly quickly cross-country, only stopping to scavenge for carrion where she scented it out and felt like chasing birds away, like an unnervingly animated scarecrow.

When dense forest started to offer glimpse of granite cliffs, she faced the mountain that had been both her saviour and her imprisonment as she breached the impenetrable ice-pass and could not find her way back. To her mind, the mountain was the limits of the land and she had no idea about passage to the west. As far as she could tell, she was as far as she could go, and there was no sign of a foreign settlement. The woods were still thick but now there were more stones and cliffsides, as the elevation rapidly began to increase. She found a pile of boulders with a strange white rock atop and stepped lightly up them, resting a foot on the pinnacle and observing quite a large portion of the not-too-distant Halcyon range. There seemed no point in going further; she should be getting back. It would take more than a night and a day, if she stopped to rest or scout further.

Denver Mathis · 08-04-2011, 08:11 PM

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WC: 380

Though often bored, Denver had found himself exceptionally so today, and had felt the unshakable urge to move. For nearly a month and a half now, he'd stayed only in Salsola. Surely his scent was strong, but he refused to roll in dirt or plant in an attempt to disguise it; he especially would not swim to get rid of it. And so the dog had shed his usual thick clothing in favor of thinner, more breathable fabric (although still very stylish and well tailored) and set out at a steady pace to navigate the forest and cross that vague, well-blended and natural border line.

Denver had still not bothered to learn the names of all of Salsola's landmarks, and so hardly realized how quickly he traveled. The pale mutt had started his journey at a quaint jogging pace, but several hours later his body began to tire. As the thistle kingdom grew farther away from him and the mountain range gained size, Denver slowed. He didn't want to abandon the place yet, that he knew; he only needed a breath outside of the occasionally musky ruins. But the day wore on and he surely should have been resting or turning back by now. Annoyingly, his stomach grumbled and he heaved to a stop, tired but with little desire to hunt for himself. With a sigh, he turned eastward, moving in slow steps to regain lost energy.

Eventually, he would find something to eat and retreat home after what would be a very self-satisfying day; but for now, he would wait out the hungry churning and cramping of his organs. Pale eyes rolled over the scenery, wild and searching for anything to distract him from his discomfort. Suddenly, they narrowed, and Denver took a deep, nasal breath of the air coming down from that mountain. Did he know that scent? Doggishly, his head tilted and he moved forward, sniffing and eying the willowy, black-and-white shape that lingered ahead, hidden from his view by a line of trees. The Associate moved quickly around the inconveniently placed conifers and centered his vision again in that direction.

"Caspa!" he called through a cupped hand, voice projecting quite far on the open face of the mountain. "'Ey! Is that you?"

Caspa Al-Fateh · 08-06-2011, 05:41 PM

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If she had been one of the true believers, from a pack-cult amalgam entrenched in belief in eternal loyalty - much like her birth pack, in fact - Caspa would have thought it too much of a coincidence, for the two pale-coated dogs to run into each other out here at the mountain's foot. She could not believe in loyalty to home above all, as a girl who had uprooted herself like a daisy early on in life. She did believe in honesty and faith, though, and maybe a deeper part of her was hurt too, at the sight of Denver emerging from the trees, because he was one of the few to show some kind of acceptance towards her in the Court, and he had hardly hung around long enough to exchange first names. Here he was, a familiar face in an unfamiliar wilderness, but Caspa was aware she barely knew him really, and also that he had a new home now. The taint of it was all over him. "Denver? What are you doing lurking in those trees?" she answered shortly, eyes narrow. "Come and explain yourself." Hands on hips, she shook back her summer-loose hair in order to give him the full force of her well-meant glare. He was not to be permitted to know she was, in fact, rather pleased to see him.

Denver Mathis · 08-06-2011, 09:05 PM

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WC: ---

The pale woman spoke his name, and he grinned, then managed an out-of-breath chuckle when she suggested he had been lurking. With a shake of his head, he jogged the distance between them, stopping before her and leaning over his knees, panting. "I ain't lurkin', Caspa," he breathed, ice-blue eyes seeking her charcoal ones as he straightened and took several deeper breaths to calm his speeding heart rate. The Associate had gotten lazy in Salsola; he needed to be more active. "I was just out joggin', honest," he explained as he regained his breath. "Why, what're you doin' all alone out here near this big ol' mountain? You on a mission from the Kingdom or somethin'?" Although he may have been serious, a wide grin curled his black-lined lips.

Denver hadn't even considered that she might have known of Salsola and came now to seek it out. He assumed her loyalty had remained; she had seemed content enough in Cours des Miracles, and despite his quick disinterest with the place, perhaps she belonged better than he.

Caspa Al-Fateh · 08-07-2011, 07:17 PM

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It looked to Caspa as if this new pack was whipping Denver into shape; she hadn't noted his liking for recreational exercise previously. She never did much more than walk - her version of running was a stiff-legged trot that used barely any energy, but was as slow as a kneeless moose might theoretically be. She was still determined to get stronger, though, especially her limbs and jaw, and her head tilted very slightly at him as he panted, wondering how she could discover more about his new environment. Before she could say anything he got in first with his question, to which Caspa answered "No, I'm not on business. Just walking. It's said there are changes going on up this way. I imagine you know something about that." He was one himself, wasn't he? Changing scenery, moving home changing himself, for the better, it seemed. Good for him. Her eyes dripped disapproval, but then they always did.

Denver Mathis · 08-09-2011, 09:09 AM

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weird vacationpost! WC: --

Denver had caught his breath by now, and his pale eyes steadied on Caspa. She did not look much different than she had in the so-called Kingdom, but nonetheless she held his attention. The strange girl had always intrigued him; they weren't exactly friends, but they were far from enemies. If Denver could have managed to have a friend, she may have been one of his first choices.

She asked about changes, and his brown-tinted eyebrows raised slightly. What did she know of Salsola? Did she know anything? As quickly as they'd gone up, his brows furrowed and tilted his head in a curious manner, mimicking her own posture. It was a far walk from Cours des Miracles; he wondered whether she really had more purpose than just a simple walk? "Changes, eh... ? What kinda changes're you talkin' 'bout?" His voice was sly, hinting that he did know something of what she wanted to know. The dog was aware of how his odd new home worked, and knew that he should be as silent as he could about the place. But Caspa was different, and if she wanted to join them, he could certainly be sure she was found useful. After all, he knew her to be a fairly smart girl; they'd escaped together from the ravenous horse-beast back in the Kingdom, after all.

Caspa Al-Fateh · 08-26-2011, 05:32 AM

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She would not have considered Denver a friend, but an acquaintance. She didn't trust him; he was there one day, gone the next. He'd never let on much about himself, and most of what she did remember of his conversation was cocksure and complaining. But he was entirely appealing, even so, with his lopsided ears and his beautiful clothes, and she supposed moving home wasn't necessarily such a serious betrayal. Although, her loyalty to the Court was absolute and would have taken quite some pressure to break. Unlike Denver, who had never really bothered with the place, as far as she could tell. He was certainly being more citizenlike with his new home, though, his words fobbing her off without a direct answer. It was irritating. "The out with the old, in with the new kind of changes," she answered. "You live around here now, don't you?" Let him try and wriggle out of that one.

Denver Mathis · 08-29-2011, 09:56 PM

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WC: ---

Denver's eyes narrowed at her briefly before his expression broke into a grin. Caspa's tone was friendly, but he could tell she did not want to play his games. With a chuckle, he waved his hand, the other resting heavily on a hip. "That I do, Caspa," he admitted with a smile, almost abashedly, pale eyes flashing to catch her smoky ones. If the willowy fae wanted information, she would need to provide some as well. "You still livin' in Cours?" A simple enough exchange, he assumed. A smirk twitched on his lips; she could have it her way, but he would always still have it his way, too.

"What's new over there?" Though he cared little now for the pseudo-kingdom, he would do well here to remember their exchange, whatever the word. Denver's mind lingered on thought of Caspa-- her face was one of the few that he'd cared to remember there, and icy eyes soaked up her presence hungrily. It had been some time since he'd been around a lovely gentle face like hers. Maggie's looks suited him well, but by nature he found Caspa's doggish appearance more appealing. With several slow blinks, Denver eventually turned his focus away from her, feeling no loss of dignity for his languid.

Caspa Al-Fateh · 08-30-2011, 01:06 PM

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It was like getting water from a stone. "Mmm hm," was her impatient answer to his question even as he spoke the next part, "Absolutely nothing. The pups are a little bit bigger and the grass is growing a little bit taller and the poppy heads are drying out." The Cercatori caravan was about to arrive at her home of course, but Caspa had no idea about that. She just hoped she'd given him enough of an answer - deliberately somewhat of an overkill - that he would be absolutely compelled to return the favour. "What about your pack - what's new about it, apart from everything? What is it like?" Her question was fired fast, directly; she wanted to quash all his fripperies and game playing. If she was going to put up with the acquaintanceship of this fellow mutt for much longer, he would have to stop trying her patience.

Denver Mathis · 08-30-2011, 01:41 PM

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WC: ---

Haha, I so love Caspa. And I love threading with yooou! <3 Weirdpost!

Denver had run her thin, and she gave him quick, but complete answers that he could not contest. He grinned, squinting eyes staring at her, nearly impressed. Caspa was skilled at cutting off his game; his talking games would not work with her any longer. With her good word from Cours and the question that followed, he sniffed. "Well," he said, unsure of how to start, "it's... different." How should he describe the Thistle Kingdom? In all of it's glory, it was truly an unwelcoming bit of land with a cluster of stone walls at it's center in various stages of decay. "Salsola's real secretive... real unfriendly to strangers, you see" he admitted, "but they have power." Blue eyes glinted with greed as they flickered towards his new home; it could be his, one day, he thought. "It's nothin' like Cours."

Caspa Al-Fateh · 08-31-2011, 11:45 AM

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<3 <3 Hehe, these two are funny.

It was strange - before, Denver had been open, brash almost, as if he didn't care much for anything or anyone. Now, he was choosing his words with great deliberation. Apparently, this new place was unfriendly to strangers. Seemed he'd been taking lessons. She wasn't going to be intimidated by his inference to power, either. "You mean it is a large rabble as opposed to a small rabble." Not that the Court was a small rabble, but with its open doors, and its quick turnover, and large area where you could go a while without seeing anybody because of how spread out they all were - apart from in the hotel, where congregations were more likely - it felt a little like it sometimes, and she knew Denver had disapproved. Probably his promotion had not come quickly enough for him, and for some reason he had been luckier with the new pack - that was her guess, though she had no idea if she was really right or wrong. It could be that it was entirely new, starting from scratch - that might have given him opportunities for higher ranking. She was scrutinising him searchingly as she speculated, remembering all this was only guesswork, but trying to decide what was the best question to ask next. She was determined to get the news she had come all this way for, and it was just a bonus that the donor was Denver. She'd picked her question. "How long has Salsola been around?"

Denver Mathis · 09-03-2011, 06:31 PM

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this post is straaaange <3

He laughed, "I guess you could say that..." The Thistle Kingdom was much improved from the sparsely inhabited, less-than-regal Dog Kingdom, and he would certainly not call it a "rabble", but he knew that there was much growth yet to come from the place. He had invested his life here, sworn an oath of sorts, it seemed; Denver knew should he ever desert his new home, he would be sorely punished, should he be caught. Denver feared he could not match the skill of Salsola's warriors and spies. They would find him, he knew.

The Associate cleared his throat. She questioned him, and he screwed up his face in thought. "I'm not so sure, Caspa; gotta be at least a couple months," he reasoned; this land had certainly not been cultivated when he'd first set foot here, not long before he'd joined Cours. "They weren't together when I was up around here last time." The white dog saw little harm in revealing this information, and so he gave it freely. "You lookin' to join up?" he asked, grinning. She would be a useful resource, that was true. Just how strong were her ties to the dog kingdom, he wondered silently. He doubted she would agree, but found the idea pleasantly amusing nonetheless.

Caspa Al-Fateh · 09-20-2011, 12:25 PM

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Seemed the pack held its information as close to its chest as Denver had begun to do. He seemed more affable now, though, at least admitting what she'd suspected about the recent birth of the pack. She wondered what it would mean for the surrounding wolves, whether it was a blessing or to be regretted that Salsola had made its home so distant from the Court. His question took her aback, and she realised what he was asking her. She was a promoter of loyalty, of course, she always had been. What had the Court given her, though? What was it there that held her? Her greatest gift since coming to these lands had been the meeting with the outsider, Alae, who had shown her the key to her deepest mind. There were pleasant companions in the Court, but none she felt she could entirely rely upon. She felt a little shaken, realising her ties were not as solid as she had thought. But she could not agree to what he asked. The promise of more to come still held her, and she mistrusted this new, slyer Denver and the new scent all about him. "I see no point fluttering from place to place with little need, like a confused butterfly," came her traditionally sharp answer. "More likely that you will return to the court with me now, your mind changed as to your allegiance in a matter of minutes."

Denver Mathis · 09-21-2011, 08:27 PM

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"No, Caspa, I'm not goin' back... I know y'miss me, but I'm not a butterfly anymore," he said through a grin. Denver was not afraid to admit that his loyalties in the past had been loose and fickle. Now, though, his mind had been set, though only time would tell whether or not his choice was ultimately the best. Salsola had so far proven to be a comfortable home; he'd been treated well, though he couldn't be quite sure what anyone thought of him, save for his partner Maggie. So far, she had been his closest ally in the Thistle Kingdom. Despite being little more than a rank with hardly even a face, he was pleased with his decision.

Running his fingers through his short ivory hair, Denver took a deep breath of the mountain air. "Mm," the dog breathed, pausing a moment in brief appreciation for his surroundings, "sure is nice out today." Pale eyes stared around at the forested scene from the elevated ledge; the valley beside the mountain was immense, and the Associate wondered if it would one day belong to Salsola, too. "Guess you picked the right day for a walk," he commented with another grin. The mutt was glad to be in touch with his willowy acquaintance again; like the women of Salsola, he was attracted to her strangeness. In spite of her questioning, he was content.

Caspa Al-Fateh · 10-04-2011, 01:45 PM

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"I suppose that means you picked right as well," she returned archly. Despite sounding crabby, Caspa did like these small-talk style banter sessions she had with Denver. His utter lack of seeming to care what she said or thought made him easy to talk to. She didn't think she'd had a single other encounter with anybody that had gone smoothly, as yet. These lands were hard - or were they just hard on her? At least they weren't dangerous, full of threat and hardship as Samira had been. "You got a long walk back? Maybe I'll come and look round this Salsola some time." She left the casual suggestion hanging, watching keenly for his reaction. There was still some mystery here she could not put her finger on, and it puzzled her. She wanted to know what this new-founded pack was like, and what the power was that Denver's voice hinted at. Probably, though, he was just playing for admiration and to pique her interest.

Denver Mathis · 10-05-2011, 10:16 PM

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"Hope so," Denver grunted, rolling his head about his shoulders as a hand rubbed idly at his neck. The wolf-dog was tired of moving around, and despite having learned much in his traveling, he'd been ready to settle into a real home for a while. If the Thistle Kingdom could prove itself, he would be satisfied; but if it crumbled, it would be just like everything else. Something about their King and his company made Denver certain that it would succeed, though, and he tried to push that minor worry aside.

"Uhm," he mumbled, gaze darting for a moment towards his pack, "I dunno, Caspa; I can't just be bringin' strangers around now... Not 'till I'm out of this low rank, at least." He grumbled, uncomfortable with the fact that he had little power in the Kingdom yet. If Denver wanted to show Caspa around, would he be able to? As a lowly Associate, he thought better than to invite her back just then, despite being more than willing to spend more time with the long-haired woman. "I don't wanna get in trouble, and I don't want you in trouble neither, that's all." Surely this would arouse more suspicion and curiosity from her, but he could field those questions as they came, if they came.

Caspa Al-Fateh · 10-12-2011, 10:58 AM

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OOC: Ahhhh! I KNOW I replied to this! But it's gone! Maybe I dreamed it O.O Sorry bout that.

More and more she was reminded of her birth pack, Samira. She had grown used to the ways of these parts, but still sometimes it felt somewhat odd, to smell strange canines on the furs of others in her pack - or to find traces of outsiders within the borders, but to know it was legitimate. In the settlement of Samira, everybody was either a potential member or an enemy. A visitor was unheard of. And it seemed that Salsola was something of a regression to these tactics. Coupled with a discrimination of hierarchy, with one rule for the rulers, and one for those lower down like Denver - another thing he didn't sound too happy about, but she supposed he approved really; he just thought he should be higher up. Typical.

Still, for some indescribable reason, she feared for him. Nothing about Salsola sounded like good news, and she had an inkling she didn't know the half of it. Perhaps it was her suspicious personality, but he had been just a little too slippery for her liking. Caspa would never know where these protective instincts came from, but she could never shake them off: almost anybody would do to worry herself over, excepting anybody who had earned her hatred. And she did worry about Denver, for some reason. She turned away, not wanting him to see the concern in her eyes, deeply shadowed as it was, and gazed into the distance, letting her eyes pick over the parts of mountain range that showed, and the feathery evergreens that littered the surroundings. "At least, we should meet again and exchange news, perhaps in a month, or two," came her suggestion, couched in casual tones. "It is good for us mutts to stick together, considering. And I would be interested to know how things are going for this new Salsola pack. I can bring you news from the West, of course." He could take it or leave it, she supposed.

Denver Mathis · 10-17-2011, 05:18 PM

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Wrap up after your post and new thread soon? :O I love threading with you. ; ; sorry this post is derp.

Whatever strange fondness Caspa felt for Denver, he must have felt the same for her. Though he didn't often express his emotions in the best ways, he most certainly did not want to cause harm to his old Cours acquaintance. Caspa had been one of the few people he'd valued there; her wits and their banter made their conversations fun, and easy. He did not expect any dark antics from her, so he was able to speak freely. He didn't often become comfortable with people, but with her he didn't mind. She was pleasant company, and he would welcome her around anytime. "Yeah, yeah," he said eagerly, nodding. "O'course we can do that. Should give me enough time to get up in the ranks..." he muttered, considering the fact again as his eyes scanned the horizon towards his home.

The mutt wouldn't deny the exchange of information, and in fact welcomed it. Perhaps her relayed information would be useful one day. He could never be too prepared for the future, after all. He predicted that Salsola would thrive, but what if it didn't? Denver tried not to think about it, realizing that the day had begun to creep on and perhaps by now he should be getting back to Salsolan land anyways. He still knew far too little about their coyote neighbors besides their wild and unpredictable violence, and he did not want to get mixed up in that when darkness fell. It was still early evening, but he didn't want to have to run back, too. "Guess I should be gettin' back... Don't wanna stay out here too long in case the 'yotes come out or somethin'. Can you get back alright from here?" Denver may have been greatly selfish, but there was still some caring left in him. As much as he didn't want to be ambushed, he didn't want it for Caspa, either.

Caspa Al-Fateh · 10-21-2011, 04:26 PM

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Good plan :] We can have it as soon as she's finished being all warlike!

He agreed to her spur-of-the-moment scheme, and this was a relief, even if the next second he admitted he was only eager because it would give him a chance to display his new higher rank. That he would, of course, have by then. In his opinion. Although she frowned on his self-importance, she hoped he was right, for his sake. What a disappointment if his latest move turned out to be another flop - she had warmed to his cocksure attitude, if only because it was amusing, and did not particularly want to see him crushed by repeated failure. She supposed it was only a suave pretension of good manners that sparked his final remark, and not genuine concern, but it was still a nice gesture. She chose to look insulted. "I will be fine. Until next moon, then," thrown over a shoulder as she turned and made her swift way back into the thick evergreen trees, blocking him from view within seconds, not that she looked back to notice.

Denver Mathis · 10-21-2011, 05:35 PM

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sounds good! whenever is fine, just PM me or whatevs :]

He wouldn't deny that he was a little let down at Caspa's quick departure. She was reassuring, at least; he knew that she was a clever woman who knew enough about the world. The mutt still hoped that she would bring him good news at their next meeting. He raised a hand in a brief wave as she disappeared behind the thick brush, frowning after her and rubbing the back of his head. She was just an odd girl. But he liked it. With a shrug and a half-chuckle, he rubbed at his arms as a breeze rolled across. It was getting chilly as the sun grew lower in the sky, and he took off hurriedly towards the Thistle Kingdom.

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