[html] For Trent, near Wolf's Peak
The clearing was probably too large, the cover of the trees too far to be of great use to him. But it was all he could find, and the sun would be falling in short time. Alder had been in search of horses, free roaming that he could perhaps capture rather then trade another pack for. His attempt had failed, and he was left without the protect of his packlands for another night. The male had stayed far from the east, away from Inferni and from trouble. His hunting trip there had caused him to be fearful of pack lands besides his own, and Crimson Dreams of course. He would rather hunt a horse then give up a fur for a half trained mount.
His arms carried sticks, thin kindling that would hopefully keep the winter cold from his core. Hawthorn grazed at the edge of the clearing, pushing his large nose through the layer of snow to the still chewable grass beneath it. The world was mild, compared to the feet of snow they had been standing in this time a year ago. He snapped the sticks, arranging them neatly with a hum in his throat. The rider and mount had scouted the land around them, and found no recent sign of another beast. The result would be them spending the night under the small mountainous hill.
In his saddle bag the large Luperci reach for the flint that would start his fire. Beside it lay dried meat, and a small knife. His stomach grumbled for the food, but he was disciplined. His stomach would lead him to a better meal the next day. One he could bring back to the Court. He settled on trying to start the fire, taking his mind off his hunger.
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so long ago 
[html] In an attempt to find Halifax city, figuring it couldn't be all that hard, Trent had gotten himself utterly lost. He knew he had to be somewhere across the water he had seen when he stood on Drifter Bay, but where exactly that was, Trent had no idea. Unfortunately, the lands he'd seen from across the sea had been rather large, and so he could be about anywhere. He hadn't seen a city yet, though. And damn it, he was hungry.
Trent walked through the snow in his lupus form and only too well recalled the embarrassing meet-up he'd had with that male, when he had first changed. And he'd been handsome too, damn it. Not that it mattered overly much, he supposed, since he wasn't supposed to be considering whether anyone was handsome at all. Trent wasn't so sure what he was supposed to do anymore, these days. He felt like he needed to look for a pack, at least, and maybe the damn hunger'd stop for a little bit. Maybe a mate, someone who'd be good for him and he'd be good for her, expressing his masculinity and... well, all that stuff. Even now, he was not truly free from the grasp that his parents had had on him, still abiding to their rules and the values they'd taught him.
Large, coyote-like ears perked upward as he heard sounds in the difference. When he first saw the large horse sniffing through the snow, looking for strands of grass, he pitied that it wasn't a rabbit, saw nothing but a large block of potential pain if he'd attack it.
Second time he looked though, it was beginning to look more and more like a huge walking steak... Trent flattened his ears and looked around, but he didn't notice Alder from his position in the trees; the horse blocked his view.
Trent knew it was madness to try and take on the animal all by himself, but damn it, he was hungry. Ears flattened and rose in uncertainty, twitched back and forth. He took a deep breath, hoping that the horse wouldn't be startled by his dallying about (it might've noticed him there by now) and started to skulk to the animal's side, still in his lupus form, trying to figure out if it had any visible weaknesses or wounds.
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[html] eee!
Alder looked at the timber, crouching low so that he could blow encouraging gasps of oxygen towards the little flames. They fought to live and feed on the bits of wood he had broken for them. He watched, and smiled as they jumped and whispered a crack or two. Blue eyes stayed on them, moving the sticks slightly in the hopes of giving them more air to breath.
The Marshal did not notice the movement in the wood; it being blocked by the massive shire horse.
Hawthorn however, was a keen beast. His nose rustled through the snow, delighted when he found the grass beneath it sweet and still with a bit of flavor. He snuffled, chewing with great amusement. Until he heard something. It was there again, for he ignored the thought the first time. An ear swiveled to take in the soft sounds of the wood. Alder moved like a bull, cracking twigs and caring little of the sanctity of silence. But the stallion was used to that. Yet, what he heard was not his friend.
It was too close for the black and white marked horse to ignore. His head rose, tail flapping behind him and jaw chewing the strands of grass he held in his mouth. And eye looking out into the dim lit forest. Ears turned forward, interest peaked as he saw that they were not the only ones traveling below the small mountain. The wolf's stance was not one that he was familiar with, being used to the two legged creatures rather then the four. But, as a friendly beast 'Thorn waved his head up and down and gave out a nicker in the hopes of making a new friend.
It wasn't until he heard the noise of the horse that Alder noticed that there was anything amiss. Standing at alarm he spoke to the horse in low–speech – as was natural – a wondering question about what he was looking at.
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[html] When he saw the horse turn to him, Trent knew that any hopes of taking it were over. Besides, it looked like a healthy beast. How on earth was he going to grab it all alone, anyway? The horse made a sound at him, and Trent was unsure whether or not to respond. All was lost now, anyway, and he was forced to face hunger the rest of the day, he feared, if not more than that.
It was then that another luperci appeared and stood beside the horse, talking to it. Trent quickly ducked down into the foliage as he watched the optime, what appeared to be, talk to the horse. He was confused by this action, not sure what to make of it, not sure why the wolf would talk to the horse, nor why the horse would accept the wolf so close. It just didn't seem natural at all, and Trent tried to remain hidden as he tried to figure it out.
Unfortunately, Trent was a horrible tracker and stalker, and on top of that had little control yet about his forms. He could feel the urge to shift come forth when he saw the optime stand by the horse, and he wanted to suppress it to avoid looking like a moron in front of yet another, but could not.
With a groan Trent fell to the ground and curled himself up as he started to transform from his lupus to his optime form. It wasn't as bad as his first time, but definitely not very good either. He shook as he transformed, as his bones changed and cracked and his paws grew into fingers. It took quite some time before he changed, although Trent himself only vaguely registered the change. He could not suppress screaming as he lay on the ground and shifted.
While his body changed, Trent forced himself to open his eyes to check whether or not he was being watched.
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The horse did not look away, staring out into the wood, but he did nicker the sound Alder knew to be wolf. His brown creased. The fired was burning well, and he stepped away to reach the edge of the clearing and looked beyond his companion. It was getting darker by the passing moment, and there was a small fear that a monstrous creature had stumbled across their camp.
They had picked the wrong place, a cave would have been a better hiding place. Their scent would not be able to be carried with the wind. But he knew that Hawthorn wouldn't have been able to hit inside... This meeting was their fate.
Alder spoke, calling out to whom ever was out there. Hello?? A question lingering on in the dim light. There was a stirring on the ground, Alder moved towards it, unsure but still curious. Who goes there? Another call, blue eyes searching the snow and leaves. It was a male, his scent clear as day, but he looked curled in pain. The Courtier's demeanor changed in an instant. The male hurried towards the seemingly injured creature, who look up at him with weakened gray eyes. Are you okay? Another question, the only one that he hoped the stranger would give him an answer to. Alder frowned, lowered himself to the ground and looked him over with inexperienced gaze. He was no healer, but he would try is best.
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i left it open whether he actually falls into alder, so that's up to you. xD
[html] Trent was in no state to answer the other male's questions, curled on the ground as he was and screaming in pain. He wondered if his cries had distressed the other, but he had no way of telling him that he was 'only' shifting. It didn't feel very 'only' to him, but most of his pain and agony came forth from the fact that Trent hadn't really wanted to shift. He had been in control of his body most of his life, and to be completely out of control and unable to change a thing about it was agonizing to him now. He just wanted to be able to decide what he wanted to do, not what his body urged him to. It was like being a boy all over again.
Obviously he wasn't very okay, but he had no way of telling the other male that he wasn't. Trent opened his mouth to try and tell the other male, but only choked, exerted gasps came out every time he tried to say a word, and so he ended up giving up talking, for now.
The change took another ten or so minutes, in which Trent did not much but clench his own sides, curled up, as he changed and his mane extended down his back and to the sides of his face. When the change was completed, he looked up at the other male, still breathing in tired gasps, with his energy drained. S-sorry, he spluttered, not sure what else to say. Sorry that you had to see that pathetic display of weakness.
Then Trent tried to push himself to his hind legs, something that he wasn't yet very accustomed to do. He was still weak from the change, something that cost him a lot of energy because he was so unused to doing it. As soon as he pushed himself off the ground, to his hind legs, Trent saw nothing but black spots and felt himself lose balance. Trent toppled over in the other male's direction, and unless he had good reflexes was most likely to crash right into the other luperci.
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[html] slight pp, please let me know if it should be changed!
Alder wish he knew what he could do for the stranger. He crouched beside him, a deep frown on his face and eyes set with concern. He could not remember when he changed with such pain. he felt it hadn't been since the very first time. Was this his very first time? He wondered in silence. Alder wanted to give a comforting hand, somehow ease the pain. Even though he was a stranger, Alder held a great sense of compassion for him. As he did with any beast that was hurt.
He seemed to be finished, and even spoke a shattered word of apology. Alder shook his head, Don't say that, friend. his tone was soft. Though his voice was deep, there was a unexpected kindness that tended to hide in Alder's words. The Marshal stood, giving the other male some room to breath and stand. He did, but it was sort lived. The tawny male tumbled forward and the tall masked male step forward to help catch his fall.
Arms reach forward, and thick legs braced for the weight of the coyote-wolf. Alder grunted slightly, but the other was not too heavy for him. He felt a jolt of surprise with the sudden contact, it was an unfamiliar spring of warmth that filtered into his limbs. I have you. He said quietly, shifting his body so that one arm warped around the other male's back and Alder reached to grasp his arm so that it could rest over his own shoulders. Lets sit by the fire. He suggested, knowing that it could take some time before the strength would return to his legs. The big male was powerful enough for bother of them, and easily helped the other move towards the flames.
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Totally fine! Feel free to pp him sitting down by the fire or something in your next post if you want 
[html] The touch was uncomfortable for Trent, despite the needy state he was in, when the other luperci caught him. Somehow, the touch of another male felt so wrong to him, because there was usually some kind of spark that wasn't supposed to be there. The comfortable warmth that he felt when he was caught and supported in the other's arms made Trent want to wriggle away, but he hadn't the strength to object. Trent already saw black spots, and he knew that if he'd do anything rash like jerk away, he'd most likely faint. He looked like a big enough idiot without doing anything silly like moving away as though the other luperci had cooties, or fainting.
Instead of objecting like he wanted to, Trent meekly nodded and allowed himself to be guided to the fire by the other luperci. He felt rather guilty now that he'd been stalking the horse, even though it had been a fool's quest to try and bring an animal that size down anyway. He couldn't help but feel bad about it, though.
Fire was a strange concept to Trent; at least, in the form of voluntary fire. What... How did you make that? Even though he had witnessed wildfires, Trent had never felt the dangerous touch of fire close enough to fear it; he was enticed by it, rather, and it seemed like something out of a fairytale for a wolf to be able to create fire with its own paws. Trent had always thought that it was gods that did things like create fire.
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Alder had made it clear to the other male that his intention was friendly, and non threatening. He thought nothing of helping the other male over to the warmth of the fire, nothing abnormal or uncomfortable. The male was glad he had found the coy-wolf –not having understood that he was trying to stalk Hawthorn– and could help. The rust and gray creature allowed Alder to help him closer to the fire, and he kept his eyes on the male as he sat, unsure if he would fall or not. Alder sat beside him, carefully observing to make sure he did not weaver too close to the flames.
There was a question, a voice he had not heard yet from the nameless boy. It was light headed as before, but likely far closer to his normal tone then the pain-filled one Alder had experienced before. The fire? he rolled the question through his mind. It was a normal fixture in the tree named male's life, simple to create one the technique was mastered. After a moment he reached for the instrument that he had used. With some flint, it creates a spark to start the flame. He showed the other canine, still watching him to make sure he was not about to faint.
He did not want to ask aloud what had caused this male's unsettling shift. But it lingered in the back of his every thought. Alder remembered something that may help, and quickly retrieved the dried meat that he kept with him during his scouting beyond the pack lands. Something in your stomach might help. A soft smile accented the gesture, hoping that he would take the extra little bit of help Alder could happily give. I'm Alder, by the way.
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[html] As he was sat down, Trent still felt light in the head, but well enough not to faint. The calm movements had certainly helped him feel better, and the coywolf breathed out a sigh of relief as his head cleared a little once they were sat down. He wondered if it would always stay like this; if shifting would always remain a difficult, painful process.
His question was answered, and Trent looked at the 'flint' that the wolf mentioned. It didn't make much sense to Trent, and still sounded much like magic from a fairytale. He could see the flame right in front of him, however, so however unlikely the story sounded, it had to be true. At least Trent reckoned he was lucky to have run into a male as friendly as this one. When he was offered food, Trent was taken aback, not sure where he had deserved the friendliness from. Are you sure..? I mean, food in winter... It was worth as much as shiny treasures in summer, Trent reckoned. To give such a treasure away to a complete stranger would require an extraordinarily kind heart; unlike any that Trent had seen.
Trent did not take the food right away, and instead cast Alder an inquisitive glance. Would it be offered again despite his objection, however, Trent would gladly take the dried meat; he was a lot more hungry than he dared admit. When the name was offered, the coywolf managed a weak smile and introduced, I'm Trent.
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Of course. Alder replied, moving his hand and the jerky closer to his new friend. He liked him, Alder's intuition was a bit naive but he thought that this stranger wasn't much to be afraid of. Perhaps it was his mother that had taught him to look for the good in others, and gave him the ability to read the genuineness one had. And he always jumped at the opportunity to help someone else.
His name was spoken, and Alder responded with a wider smile. He was making a friend, Trent. After the run in with the Inferni coyote, his own half brother, Alder wasn't sure if he would ever find another friendly face. Trent seemed nervous, perhaps reserved and shy. But Alder wasn't about to push him even further beyond his comfort level. Its rabbit. It's all I can really hunt. He said with a bit of a laugh, looking towards the fire and pushing the sticks around with a makeshift fire poker. It wasn't then that he noticed that the large horse had come uncharacteristically close to the fire, very interested in the new canine that had joined their small camp. And this is Hawthorn. He added, a hand raised to gesture towards the horse.
Alder tried not to study him, and only glanced up briefly. There was that unspoken awkwardness, questions that were rolling around in his mind wanted to be asked. But his curiosity was not greater then his respect for the other male's privacy and his dignity... Feeling any better? Though he couldn't help himself from asking that sort of question. His features were hopeful, a soft smile playing with his lips. Eyes looked softly, not pressing or invasive. If he didn't wish to answer, Alder would understand.
He could also see the coy-wolf standing, saying his short goodbye and walking away to avoid his questions and wondering nature. Alder hoped he wouldn't, happy to have someone to talk to in the evening darkness and in winter's chill. The masked male found that he did not have many friends, even his pack mates were aloof at times.
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[html] Even though it felt like he was stealing treasure from Alder, Trent took the dried meat when the offer was confirmed. He felt blessed to have met someone as friendly as Alder, knowing he could've done a lot worse. Trent sniffed the meat briefly, since he hadn't often seen meat in this dried state, but not too long; his stomach was rumbling, and so Trent hungrily ate the meat after inspecting it only briefly.
Hunting rabbits was a rather tedious process, in Trent's experience, and so he admired his new acquaintance for having the possibility to hunt them so well. He smiled briefly and spoke between bites. Hunting rabbits is a good skill to have. They can be fast. Trent had always been better at aiding in group hunts than hunting small game, since he could rely on others then, but it proved his life in the wilderness to be terrible. He managed, but every scrap of prey he gathered took so much energy he was constantly worrying not to spend too much of his energy. This whole shifting business did not help in the least.
When the horse was introduced, Trent sheepishly smiled at the tall horse. He didn't disclose that he had been hunting for it; it seemed not only a foolish notion to hunt for such a tall and healthy creature alone, but also disrespectful. The last thing Trent wanted was to insult his so far generous new acquaintance. He tried to think of something good to say, but he wasn't sure whether he was supposed to say 'Nice to meet you' to the horse, or address Alder instead with something like 'It's beautiful'. He ended up not speaking at all since he couldn't think of what to say and simply continued to nibble on the meat. A few strands of his long, cinnamon mane fell across his eyes, and he liked them there. Made him feel safe, somehow.
When Alder asked if he felt better, Trent nodded. He finished the dried meat, and having something in his stomach did make him feel better. The food really helped. Thank you, again... Trent trailed off there, uncertain what to say next. Ah... Are you from around here? He smiled uneasily, eyes darting towards Alder briefly before averting again, towards the enticing fire. It wasn't that the fire lured him, though, but mostly that his instincts told him to avoid eye contact with the other male.
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The compliment was not anticipated, and it caused the shy wolf to merely smile as the heat from a fur-hidden blush washed over his face. Only the insides of his ears grew redder, and he would be lucky if Trent did not notice that small change. A Thanks came awkwardly from his throat, but he could not stop it where in other situations he would have just remained very silent.
Alder was one that could fine happiness and contentment in silence. In his puphood he had more willing spoken to the small creatures around him, such as birds and even insects at times. Of course they did not answer back, either not understanding his higher speech or just wishing not to recognize an annoying puppy. He had come to enjoy the quiet, not so much finding it lonely rather then another sort of companion. Yet he was happy to answer the others question, glad that there was an opening to begin a true conversation. He had found it hard to do that very thing.
South of here. My pack is Cour des Miracles, settled along the southern shore... We're pretty friendly. He added the last bit awkwardly. He had already noted that Trent was a lone wolf, no pack was written in the lines of his scent. Hints of other wolfs could be caught, but it was not what Alder wore. At times he smelled of bother the Court and the Dreamers, for he visited his mother often in her pack lands. Are you on your way to visit a pack? AniWaya perhaps? They are just west of here. Alder knew not why he had asked that question nor why he had even brought up AniWaya. He cleared his throat, and looked back at the fire as a dark furred hand rose to touch his neck. He held the sun pendant that hung there, feeling rather silly.
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[html] Trent noticed the awkwardness considering the compliment, but thought little of it. The other was probably just humble. He didn't notice Alder's reddening ears, but it wouldn't have made much of a difference to him.
The information about packs was much desired, since Trent still had no clue about the general lay of the lands. It sounded like complete newcomers were rare here, since Alder assumed he must've been on his way somewhere, to a pack perhaps. He wondered if Alder had been on his way to said pack, AniWaya, since he mentioned it, and he was here too, after all.
No... No. I don't know much about the packs in this area yet... I uh, I'm still looking into which to join. But I've only smelled their borders, haven't seen many up close. Every time he chickened out and, if most wolves walked around like Alder did, then perhaps it was a good thing he had. Trent still had little control over his forms, after all, and he didn't want to make a complete fool of himself by having an incident like today at borders, or displease the locals if he was in the wrong form.
Hesitantly he asked, Is... Everyone is like this here, aren't they?
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Alder watched his speckled face. They were interesting markings, unlike anything the male had seen. Reddish in hue, the dotted his face under his eyes and onto his cheeks. They gave the other male a certain look, something that caught Alder's eye and made him smile automatically. But he knew it was odd to simply smile when he looked at another creature, and tried to keep it from happening. Instead he focused on the voice, and his explanation.
Trent was a loner, drifting in the hopes of being caught up in the tangles of a pack. Alder didn't know what it was like to be without a home. To be without that protection had to be frightening, and to be without a central place to call home was unsettling. Alder had not met many loners, who knew better then to come too deep into the pack's lands which Alder normally resided. But out in the open he had not come to harm, or met a lone wolf seeking the blood of one that held the allegiance of a pack. He had met a friend, one that sought out knowledge about the clans and packs that claimed its landscape.
But the question was not involving the packs itself, but something much more vague. Alder thought it over a moment, like this... Alder was unsure exactly what he meant. A rider? A pack wolf? Tall and largely built as Alder was? After a long moment Alder asked, Luperci? The tree-named male did not know many uninfected wolves, if any. Perhaps he had come across some, and not known it. You were not born with it? He asked, again. His tone was not judgmental, accusing or astonished. Simply wondering, and soft with sensitivity.
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[html] The way Alder smiled at him was a bit unsettling, but Trent only caught his expression briefly a couple of times anyway. The rest of the time he was looking away, at the fire, submissive like his instincts told him. Trent wanted to be respectful, and the only way he knew how to be was to be submissive. The fact that Alder looked at him made him feel more self-conscious and made him want to look away more.
No more information about the packs followed. Maybe Alder's pack wasn't really looking for newcomers, then, he wondered. He didn't start advertising for his pack, after all. Or maybe he was just a lowly subordinate and didn't know, or care perhaps, whether they had new members. Trent did not yet ask, though, and he figured he might ask later what sort of packs Alder could suggest. All of the names he mentioned were most likely the friendly sort of packs, luckily.
In regards of his question, Trent didn't realise that he had been so vague until Alder questioned what he was talking about. Yes, he hastily confirmed. At Alder's question, Trent merely shook his head. Unfortunately, it didn't really answer his question, but since Alder seemed surprised that he wasn't born with it, perhaps he had been right all along.
So, ah, I guess that's a yes? I've seen a lot of - uh - luperci. He tilted his head, and was curious whether Alder was born a luperci, but did not ask. It seemed like the answer was very likely to be 'yes', anyway.
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[html] lol, Alder is trying so hard. he just wants Trent to be his friend!! lol XD
From what Alder could gather in the brief time he sat beside Trent, he was someone that kept to himself. It was a generalized assumption, and a quick assessment. But he watched the fire; he hardly glanced at Hawthorn and only looked at Alder himself every so often. It was disheartening, but the male could not be overpowered by a feeling of defeat yet. Trent had gone through something hard, which was obvious. He had accepted Alder’s help and had not run away yet. The masked male could not give up quite just yet.
So when Trent spoke with less words then before Alder knew he needed to try even harder and eagerly responded. Most are Luperci, yes. Though there are still some without it. I have always been this way, but I remember when I first began to change... It was really hard, you really need to practice. Alder spoke, the you was a generalization. Everyone needed to practice in order to be good at anything. Alder put another branch on the fire, and then warmed his hands against the growing flame.
It wasn’t long after that I moved to Cour des Miracles. My brother lives there too, so I stayed with him and his family for a while. I learned to work with the horses there, and became their Marshal. I wouldn’t have been able to do that without… being like this. He gave a crooked smile, but only glance at the cinnamon hued male, figuring he would only look his gray eyes away once again.
He poked at the fire, studying it. I can help the pack, in my own way… I now live in my own cabin, with my own space. He gave a small laugh, Haven’s three children had cluttered the cabin up quite a bit. He was glad to give them their space back when he moved. The whole pack doesn’t live with one another. Everyone has their responsibilities, but their own lives as well. He felt the need to explain a bit, and glanced at Trent for a bit longer then before.
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He's cute! xD <3
[html] It was weird for Trent to suddenly be in this world where everyone was like this. He knew that he had to have gotten the ring in his ear some way, but honestly, he hadn't wanted to think about it. Now he realised that that unfortunate encounter might've been what had made him this way... Oh, he was being punished. How he regretted that outburst of gay now, the encounter with the other male, how he regretted that he was not normal, like his parents wished for him to be. How he wished to be.
He swallowed, wondering if it was truly that encounter that had made him to be this way. Curiously, but not without an edge of fear, he asked, How does one become one? I mean, why did this happen to me? He could guess the answer, but maybe he didn't want to know. No matter how much he did not want to know, though, he knew that he needed to know. If Alder even knew the answer, anyway.
Then Alder moved back to the subject of packs, which made Trent feel a bit more at ease. At the mention of working with horses, Trent glanced back at Hawthorne from the corner of his eyes, and felt guilt churn at him again. He'd wanted to eat this male's horse, and now he was here, eating his food. Trent finished the last of the dried meat, glad that the evidence of his misconduct was now more or less gone.
Oh, I see. It was sort of like that at my old home, too. Except that even though he had his own place and his own responsibilities, it was still his parents that had set those upon him and that checked if he fulfilled them. Hence "sort of". I ah, I'm sort of looking for a pack. Hadn't he he already shared this tidbit of news? But I don't know anything about them, and I'm fearful they may be wary of strangers at their borders... In other words; I'm a coward.
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[html] he's going to win Trent over! I just know it 
Alder looked over and watched Trent’s face as he asked about the virus. He was generally nervous, that the Marshal could read clearly. But when he spoke the question there was something a bit deeper hidden behind the fur that covered his eyes. Even in his tone, Alder could hear the hints of hesitation and even…unhappiness. The Lieutenant rarely spoke as much as he had been in a single conversation, though this felt a bit different for the things that Trent needed to hear were not just casual small talk. Alder only got into conversations such as this with his mother, the only one he felt comfortable enough with.
He didn’t know the science of it, their biology was spoken not written and so he could only tell Trent what he himself had been told. I was born with it, others are bitten… Some think it’s in the blood, others say… any sort of… fluid. he said with obvious hesitation. The other question he could not answer. He didn’t know why it had happened to Trent, and not until now Alder had never met someone who thought that being as Alder had been born was something negative. Yes it hurt at first, but as Alder had explained with practice it was as natural as breathing. Easily influenced by other’s emotions Alder began to feel the same shame and insecurity that Trent did. He didn’t like the feeling.
It brought him comfort to return to the topic of the pack, and he thought that perhaps if Trent saw that the Optime form could bring him convenience and a new sense of life, he wouldn’t find it something to be unhappy about. The Court was the perfect place for that, with all the horses that he could learn to ride – for that was Alder first thought the majority of the time – as well as the crafting he could learn. But Trent could come to know those things in Alder' s good friend Anann’s pack. As well as in Crimson Dreams. The meek, quiet pack lands of the Dreams might suit the coywolf’s demeanor best. It would be up to Trent in the end…
As long as you show respect, and call for a member to escort you… They are friendly. In this region they are, at least. AniWaya, has had a change of leadership recently. This Summer my pack as well as my mothers pack, Crimson Dreams, went to war with them because of their old leader. Thankfully there is peace between us now. Alder thought a moment, figuring their location and then continued. Crimson Dreams is about straight south of here, if you say you know Anu’s son Alder… you shouldn’t have a problem. Alder gave a small smile, but didn’t reach for a glance at the male. After the other’s weary looks away, Alder knew better. Another, east, is Casa di Cavalieri. They are warriors, and train others to fight… for good causes. He added.
Then there is the Court, you can always just call for me. And I can show you around. He smiled once more, a crooked thing that hung on his lips hopefully. He watched the fire, glancing up only to see that Hawthorn had lingered close again. Dozing where he stood.
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[html] Alder's words seemed a little awkward towards the end, as he spoke of fluids. Trent could see why, considering the way he'd - well, most likely - caught this virus. He was most certainly not born with it, since he doubted that the first change happened at the age of two normally. Trent scratched his cheek with his hand, one of the newfound advantages of this new shape. He seemed to consider the words a moment, while nodding slowly and absent in the mind, thinking of the moment that he had changed into a luperci. It could only really be one thing, since he hadn't been in any scuffles. His pristine fur and skin were a testimony to that.
Trent was relieved to find out that most packs were friendly as long as due respect was shown. He smiled uncertainly and nodded at Alder's kind words. He tried to remember all of their names; AniWaya, Crimson Dreams - which sounded violent - and Casa something, a name that was too long and difficult for Trent to remember. Then there was Alder's Court, Court something, but Trent had forgotten the rest of it too. It sounded like anyone'd know what he meant if he would ask for "the court", though, and Trent most certainly hoped that this would prove to be a truth.
I will visit, Trent promised. I ah... I need a home, anyway. Winter is harsh. He did not bring up how foolish he'd been to leave his home in fall, not expecting to be away for more than a couple of weeks before he'd run into some sort of paradise where he could live the rest of his days out in peace. As an afterthought, he added, Do you know where a grey with black uhm, head furred male lives? I met him a bit further up north, he seemed nice. He idly mentioned the male, as though it was just someone passing through, with no real interest hidden behind.
Awkwardly so, his words carrying an air of obvious social uncertainty and unawareness of proper etiquette, Trent changed the subject. Do you uh, have a mate? Are there many eligible females in the Court? He cleared his throat, feeling kind of dumb for asking the question and hoping that he was not overstepping any boundaries by doing so. All he was trying to do was fit in, the way he'd been taught. For all the running away he'd done in fear of telling his parents the truth, he was still living in pretty much the same world, now. Except without a family name to uphold. [/html]
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