[j] welcome to the planet

Pia Hayes · 04-02-2012, 08:21 AM

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Her mottled grey fur was tipped with sparkling dew when Pia Hayes woke from her deep slumber. Bland brown eyes fluttered open slowly, and she stretched her forelegs out on the horse blanket. The warmth of the filly’s body was not there, but a quick glance showed that the strawberry roan had only wandered off far enough for a morning graze. She smiled and yawned, her tongue curling, before stumbling up onto all fours and shaking her coat out.

They had traveled far in their search for her father, finally crossing the isthmus into the region of Nova Scotia where she’d heard he would be. They’d journeyed through the mountains even, skirting a dominant pack territory, seeking a more welcoming place to rest. Pia was tired, but she would never say so aloud for fear of Poppy somehow understanding and getting discouraged. She really just wanted to find Father and be done with it, but despite the rich spring vegetation and prey of the area, she knew she’d be at a loss without better directions and perhaps a pack to shelter with.

After padding around on the blanket to inspect her things, the young woman began to shift shape. She liked to sleep and hunt in lupus form, but it would be difficult to lead Poppy over the mountains like that. Instead, she rose in optime then began to dress, pulling on her cargo pants—when had they gotten so weighed down with pebbles?—and reaching behind her back to tie the black and white threads of her dark corset. She put a paw on her stomach, made sure she could breathe while the corset supported her and gave her shape, and chirped for the roan to come away from her grazing.

“Let’s see what’s this way, Poppy!” Pia quipped, fussing for a while over the filly’s hackamore and saddle. She gripped the reins in her hand and led her from their grassy hill into rockier territory and beyond. She wanted to walk the earth herself, be equal with her horse for a while, and best yet be able to stoop and grab a pretty feather here and there. She smiled softly and put a lovely little blue one in Poppy’s pale chestnut mane.

It was not very long before a unique sight caught Pia’s eye. She blinked and broke into a grin, looping the reins around a low branch and venturing toward the pile of lovely rocks and fresh flowers. Her paw reached out to grab one when she caught the scent of a pack there. “Knew it was too good to be true,” she whispered, shoving her hands in her pockets and frowning delicately. It was lovely, though; whichever pack this was, they knew how to decorate their borders. Maybe she could call someone and ask where they got such pretty stones…

Or maybe she could ask something else altogether. Her ears lowered, and one hand came up to play anxiously with her braid. Did she dare try to join a pack so soon? Wasn’t that better than nearly starving herself in unfamiliar territory? Maybe this one would be safe, and the mountains were indeed so pretty—so maybe she could give it a shot…

Pia let up a musical call, sounding almost like a songbird, and backed up away from the borders until she leaned against Poppy’s white-dusted red back.

563

Hello thar! <333

X'yrin Exultare · 04-02-2012, 09:12 AM

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ooc:

A soft breeze compelled the woman to rise from the lush blades of the fragrant valley and lift her muzzle to taste the delectable Spring upon her tongue. It was a delicacy that only Nature compose and gift to her earthbound children starved during the winter of her affections. It was taste that no child of the earth should be without, and by the will of the ancestors, the Nomad was content to indulge so long as the Great Mother was willing.

And upon these winds were the companion owls aloft, savoring the winds by a different means but indulging just as profusely none the less. She witnessed the warming sight of a master and apprentice gliding along the winds, the great owl teaching the aspiring fledging how to coast and cut through the wind with her growing wings. There was some sentience in these movements guided by what the great owl had learned from the autumn wolf below, but predominantly, there was instinct in these maneuvers that the woman could not teach. He was teaching the young owl to be as she was and use her wings to achieve the very reaches he soared upon daily. It was inspiring, truly. And the longer she watched from her bed of flora, the more she longed for those days with her Shepard.

Yet as the winds invoked this lovely memory, they too brought a melodious song from the borders. Her ears danced excitedly to the distant song and was lured into fully standing and taking stride toward the land’s welcoming border. Her escorts remained high within their azure road, surveying what transpired below with eyes keen and waiting for a signal for their descend. But there was none that they saw, only the weaving form of an autumn leaf on the wind bounding through the high grass toward a more level plain. She captured the scent before her eyes caught sight of both wolf and equine waiting patiently at the stone drawn line. She raised her voice in greeting to their distant forms til her purposeful stride drew her closer to better see and welcome them properly. Humbly, the female lowered her flower and feather accented head. “Goodday to you,” she uttered softly. Comfortably she seated herself down on her haunches. “I am X’yrin, an Exultare of the distant Nomads and High Shepard to this pack. These lands you near are claimed for Ichika no Ho-en.” And as the woman lifted her head, she smiled. “Welcome. May I ask who you are?”

421 words.

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Pia Hayes · 04-02-2012, 09:32 AM

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The young woman was nervous and shy after her call, a rare state for the normally outgoing two-year-old. She would have been more comfortable greeting an old curmudgeon on neutral ground, but now she was all too aware that she’d never really interacted with a pack wolf so near their territory before. Despite her optimism toward the world, she was well aware that not all wolves were friendly. She believed all wolves could turn friendly, but that didn’t mean she would waltz up to the borders brazenly and expect that they wouldn’t reprimand her somehow.

All she could do was wait, toying with her braid.

A wolfish call, carrying the power of the ancestors and of an alpha, reached her ears after a little while. She swallowed and exchanged a glance with the filly, which was antsy for other reasons. The young mare’s happy energy made her smile at last as she turned back toward the smooth stones marked with spring’s first flowers. A golden form was loping toward them, and while its head was inclined in greeting, there was no mistaking the dominance of it.

Pia quickly tucked her ears and tail, demonstrating submission as she was used to doing anyway. It was always easier to approach someone modestly, even if you were pouncing on them in play; she didn’t want to step on any toes ever. Restless fingers relinquished the plaited end of her hair, and she tossed it back over her shoulder as she stepped a little bit closer.

The russet-maned she-wolf introduced herself as X’yrin, High Shepard of Ichika no Ho-en, and asked for her name in turn.

“Pia,” the mottled girl chirped out; her voice was naturally soft, but it was full of life. Her posture mimicked these qualities, submissive and humble but bursting at the seams with energy. “Pia Hayes.”

She smiled suddenly, her brown eyes darting from the lovely trinkets tangled in the woman’s hair to the beauty of the land around them. This was perfect, this had to be a sign of some sort. She didn’t even know if she believed in signs, but this would be one if they were true. Smothering an exclamation of mirth, she grabbed her tail to keep it from sweeping boisterously behind her and dipped her head a little lower than before.

“I looked for my father, and he’s somewhere else, but I didn’t wanna travel no more without a place. A place to be, I mean, I mean a pack. And I saw how pretty all the stones are and the flowers, and I know this is it. Well, it’s silly, but I just know this place is good.”

Her speech was clumsy as always, a squeak here and there betraying her excitement, but the woman was not sheepish about it in the least, not even acknowledging it. She only smiled and folded her pale hands neatly before her, finishing softly.

“Can I ask you about Ichika, X’yrin?” Pia wondered, speaking the woman’s name as if they’d known each other for ages. “Just so I know, you know? If this could be my family until I find Father, even after I find Father.”

528

She's different than I initially thought but I'm already in love! Big Grin

X'yrin Exultare · 04-02-2012, 10:06 PM

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ooc: I'm so glad she's working out for you!

It brought a smile to her face to see such boundless energy within a single form just neared the point of bursting. It reminded her of the pup-like exuberance she dealt with everyday and the warmth she felt by its natural radiance. To feel such light that was not lost upon a body delicately aged was endearing, a blessing to behold and to be shared. The Shepard could not withhold her humorous whimpers as the young woman reach around to keep her excited tail in check. The girl’s show of humility had earned her a warm regard in the eye of the Exultare and it was enough to compel her lush tail to sway freely with just as excited energy.

“It is a pleasure Pia,” again the woman dipped her head then drew her ears forward as the molten girl explained her circumstances. And then her heart softened as she talked of the borderline and how its welcoming presence had done its part to intrigue and bring a positive light upon the pack that resided beyond it. “It is not silly,” X’yrin offered softly. “I came to these borders not long ago and was drawn by the welcoming aura it emanated. I was a Wanderer, searching along where the Endless Path would take me, as my people call it. And then I felt the presence of these lands, and looked upon the kind face of my prior leader and believed this was where my path had meant to take me. And here I stay.”

Though while this experience was her own, she was eager to know what this young female would make of hers upon these borders, and when asked of Ichika, she was more than willing to comply. “We are a small family, but we thrive and work to help each other by whatever means we are able. Because of this, we do not strive for violence with others and we are only weak in number, but not strength. We are a capable home and we work to keep it, and whatever strength is leant to the prevalence of this family, we accept. We do not judge, we are not biased, and we believe that even those that have wronged but seek redemption and worth another chance to better their lives. Ichika can be a home to you, if you are willing to open your heart to it.”

399 words.

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Pia Hayes · 04-02-2012, 10:21 PM

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The russet-gold woman seemed to approve of her submission, even if it was accompanied by a show of childishness that the girl-at-heart didn’t even acknowledge. When she spoke, it was in quiet but warm tones as she offered her own story about how she’d come across the mountain pack. The story of a wanderer walking an Endless Path intrigued her, and she played at reimagining it as herself—padding tirelessly, singing one of her little tunes, coming at last to the colored stones and a welcoming face. Her young bones felt weary at the thought: a relieved weariness, the feeling that came when one sank into their nest after a long and enjoyable day.

Pia did not respond to the story verbally, but her smile was far-off as she daydreamed about it, and she came back to the present again with a deep nod that indicated her understanding. Her excitement only grew as she empathized heavily with the High Shepard, and she was happy to prick her ears to hear more about the mountain family.

“Oh,” the mottled grey girl murmured, her bland brown eyes growing emotional as X’yrin finished her summary. “Oh, it’s perfect. I always say them can get better, if you work at it, you can earn it. Everyone has a second chance, everyone does.” She brought her folded hands close to her muzzle, resting her lips against her pale fingers. It was too good to be true, but it was true.

She was almost overwhelmed, but she went on in an unfaltering tone: “I would open my heart to Ichika. I want to be part of the family, and help it grow, and do all I can to keep it strong.”

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X'yrin Exultare · 04-03-2012, 09:22 AM

Welcome and congratulations! You are now free to begin posting as a pack member, even if your joiner thread is not yet completed.

Your first task as a member of Ichika no Ho-en is to create a thread within the InH subforum performing the as directed by the Ichikan who accepted your character. This thread must be within the Ichika no Ho-en subforum and must have at least one other InH member within it. Feel free to create an all-welcome thread, and refer to the link given above or to the leaders in PM if you have any questions! Smile

Of course, there's plenty more to do, too!:

Look through the Ichika territories for interesting environments and scenarios to create threads in.
Your character has been titled as a Dai-In, but if your activity is consistently good, they can be promoted up into the Specialized tier of ranks, where your character will have a job that is theirs and theirs alone for the entire pack. Take some time and look through the and get a feel for where your character might fit for when that time comes!

Glance through the pack game and get a feel for what you can post about that will earn your points towards things like icons, titles, player-drawn art and more!
If you haven't yet, take some time to thoroughly read through Ichika no Ho-en's and policies pages so you may get a better feel of how the pack works and what you may or may not want to aim for with your character.

Please don't hesitate to PM the with any questions or concerns you have at any time! If you would like to request posting tables, avatars or signatures made for you, you can politely do so in the Talents subforum. If you're feeling lost or confused about the game, don't hesitate to post a question in , or to seek out a Mentor! We're really happy to have you with us, and hope you'll enjoy Ichika no Ho-en!

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