There ain't nothing but a blue sky now.
#1
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Her steps were slow, uncertain. There was something present within her dark gaze that wasn't easily identified, something that she unsuccessfully tried to obliterate. She couldn't allow herself to show weakness. She couldn't allow herself to show fear. It went against everything she stood for. Her nostrils quivered, drawing in the scent of the border. Her pace slowed to a near crawl before she finally lowered herself onto her stomach and placed her head between her paws.


She knew she should howl or give some sort of indication that she was awaiting the audience of the leader, but she did nothing of the sort. She wanted to make sure she was presentable or in the very least, somewhat clean. It wouldn't do to have a dirty pelt and try to ask for acceptance into their ranks, would it? After giving herself the once-over, she rose to her paws and looked around, lifting her head just long enough to allow a howl to escape past her ebony lips. Now would come the hard part. She had to wait and hope she didn't get turned away. That would blow, wouldn't it?


In the meantime, she decided to play it safe. She kept her head low and her tail tucked in. The only indication that the cream-colored girl wasn't a statue was the steady rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. Her ears were perked, straining for any indication that somebody was approaching. She almost felt like a young pup, waiting the return of her mother. It brought back memories that she'd rather leave buried in a place where they'd never have the chance to resurface again. Shaking the disturbing thought away, she mentally prepared herself for what was to come.
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#2
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OOC: ###

Traveling across the borders Tharin took careful note of the traffic. There had been a couple loners who had reached the borders and turned away, but that was all. There was no sign of the intruder that had broken into the pack with Amy's scent on his body, or any sign of where Adonia could be. He wanted to hunt her down with everything that he had, but he knew the folly of that action. He was forced to wait for someone else to join him at his side before he would be able to leave the pack to help Adonia come home.


A howl reached him, his ear perking up at the sound. It was a questing sound, that of a joiner. If it was one, it was good news. It had been a while since the pack had something to celebrate. Swiftly he ran towards the sound. The scent of a female reached him before she appeared in his vision. She seemed healthy enough with the normal wear of travel. The pale female came into sight, Tharin changing his pace to a lope. His tail arched high above him as he came down to the submissive female. You've reached New Dawn. What do you seek?


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#3
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No amount of mental preparation could prepare her, she found. Of course, like most things, she learned the hard way. "Greetings." She said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. How did she go about this? She knew the basic acceptable social procedures but to actually get her lips to form the words that would answer his question...that was the hard part. She thought for a few moments, trying to think of a way to answer him without seeming...well, odd.


Oh, what if she had waited too long already? What if she had already screwed it up? "I hope to gain a place within New Dawn, sir." Surprisingly, she sounded stronger than she felt, granted her voice was still the same soft tone that it had been when that first word had slipped past her lips. She had enough sense not to say anything more, unless he asked for more. Briefly, she found herself wondering if an ability to project herself was a requirement.


By canine standards, she was only a year old. It wasn't like she made a practice of joining packs. If anything, up until recently, she had opted to avoid packs at all costs. Four months on her own had been miserable had been miserable at best and her only saving grace was that she knew how to fend for herself. Loneliness had taken hold nearly a month ago and now, she found herself caving into that desire to be part of a pack system once more, even though her very first experience had gone terribly wrong. Not even she was too prideful to refuse what came so naturally, the urges that drove her to do such things. If this didn't pan out, she'd just keep trying.
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#4
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OOC: ###

Tharin looked over her body. There was no lingering pack scent on her. She must have traveled a fair distance from where she'd been born, or had been living by herself for a while. She was a year of age, old enough to go on her own, but it still struck him as unusual for there to be no pack scent if she had done so. The softness of her voice didn't bother him, just seeing it as part of her submission. Silence hung in the air, Tharin continuing to let his eyes run over her. There were no obvious wounds, just some dirt and the usual thinness. She was properly submissive, even if she was waiting a while to speak.


His tail wagged behind him at her words. He couldn't yet accept her, but he was happy to hear that she was seeking a home with his pack. This is a pack that avoids the ways of two leggers. Life here follows the natural path that a pack follows. What skills could you offer us? Tharin didn't think he'd be able to accept her if she was going to offer a skill such as crafting, or trading. While those were valued skills in two legger packs, it wasn't that way here.


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#5
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She had to think about his query. What skills did she have? "Well, I can hunt and fish. The latter is rather iffy, I'll admit. Um.." She paused, racking her tired brain for something more. Of all the things, this was one of the hardest questions for her to answer.


Her ears twitched lightly. "Should the need arise, I can watch after pups but beyond that, mister, there's not much I could offer." The truth sounded disheartening, even to her own ears. Something he said puzzled her. "Two legger?" She queried softly, tilting her head curiously. She had heard of beings that had been in two legs but had never encountered them, let alone hear a term to describe them.


Her thoughts drifted during the silence that followed. She hadn't ever learned to fight offensively but defensively was something she could manage, although she wasn't going to make herself sound more pathetic than she already had. She had never really had a need or a want to fight. She had avoided other loners and pack territories for that reason. Most of her successful hunts had been because she was at the right place, at the right time, and just so happened to be faster than her prey. "Um..f-forgive my outburst, sir." She couldn't get the apology out fast enough after realizing she had spoken out of turn...and just done it again.
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#6
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OOC: ###

She was very nervous. Tharin watched her closely as she spoke, describing her skills. She lacked any believability through the wavering in her voice. She could very well have those skills, but how could he tell when she sounded so doubtful of it herself? Her offer to watch pups seemed a little strange with her youth, but in his opinion almost anyone would be better at watching pups than himself. Thinking about it with care Tharin thought about the various members the pack did have. She was young, so would be able to learn and adjust to the pack's ways. She had already proven that she could care for herself, so with some work Tharin believed she could become a strong asset to the pack.


He looked over at her with slight surprise. He was used to others knowing what the two leggers were. It had been a while since he'd seen someone as ignorant of their existence as he had been before arriving. Two leggers. Canines that can walk on two legs. It's rather strange. Tharin ignored the apology, finding it rather groveling. Your abilities do appear that they would be able to aid the pack. What's your name? I'm Tharin, the pack's beta.


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#7
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She listened to the sounds around her, trying to find something to distract herself from the growing flutter of nervousness. "Sarai." She said quietly, training her dark gaze on a small bug that was making a slow progression through the grass. Such small things often made her ponder. Larger mammals only seemed to worry about survival, where as smaller things like parasites and bugs lived on a continuous cycle that was only interrupted by death or an unpredictable shift in the ecosystem. She didn't know if she should envy the bugs or pity them. Perhaps, it should be a mixture of both.


Their lives were simple yet they experienced no emotion, no sense of belonging, or even a family-like system to fall back on when everything seemed to be going wrong. Coming out of her thoughts, she realized she didn't know what else to say and didn't dare speak up again. Hadn't she embarrassed herself enough as it was? If nothing else, she had a sense of self-preservation and though she was as shaky as a leaf, it was only because this was all so new to her. A lot of what she had learned was through observation and after practicing it until it was drilled into her head, she still lacked confidence around those that not only held rank over her own but also age was a factor as well. Where she had come from, your elders were respected because everybody beneath them was too fearful to do anything against them. Acting cocky around them or doing anything that could be misconstrued as disrespect was punishable by death or banishment, depending on the severity, which was a large part of the reason she was walking on eggshells.


She knew that rules differed from pack to pack. Some preferred backbone, some preferred them spineless, and some preferred them to bend to their will with just enough of a backbone to be able to make decisions on their own. A loner she had once come into contact with had spoken of it and had called it...free agency. Once she got used to things, she didn't act like such a frightened mouse. She had, however, absorbed everything that he had told her thus far. Perhaps, when she got the chance, she would investigate it further then again, she might even find it just to simply not bother. If she was accepted into the pack, and that was a big if, he had already told her that their customs were frowned upon so why would she bother putting the effort into learning about something she'd never put into practice?


OOC: She's a sweetheart~...just a tad naive and helluva uncertain. I'm still toying with her and molding her into the greatness that I have in mind for her. C;
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#8
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OOC: ###

The offered name was simple enough. Tharin nodded his head and stepped forwards, nuzzling against her. Welcome to New Dawn. His scent intermingled with hers, marking Sarai as a new member of the pack. Satisfied he turned and crossed over the borders, pausing to glance behind him and signal for her to follow. The den site is in the center of the pack. She could choose to sleep in a separate area, or join the rest of the pack in that area.


He walked back into the pack, lifting his head and howling. It was to tell the others of the new member, letting them know they could come and greet her if they wished to. He was certain that the various pack members would be glad of the new member. Her shyness wouldn't last long in this group. Not with the general affectionate nature of the members. Even the gruffest members held close bonds with the rest of the pack. He trotted through proudly, happy to be the one to bring her in.


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#9
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Rest now, traveler, for you are home.

Your brothers and sisters welcome you to New Dawn!

Congratulations! You no longer stray from the path and have returned to life as a true wolf. You do not have to face this world alone, and now may rely on the wisdom of your pack to guide you.

If you have any questions or concerns you may always seek your alphas' guidance by contacting Nat (Zalen Damaichu). Feel free to start posting in your new home immediately, or if you would like to plan a thread you may poke your muzzle around in Thread Requests or Open Threads!

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#10
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Still feeling as uncertain as could be, she followed him, hesitating only when her paw first lifted over the invisible border. She shook off her remaining insecurities, following him slowly. She was sore but wasn't complaining. At least, she had found a place to call home. She didn't know if it'd last but in that moment, she wasn't up to caring if it did or not. The scent that now wreathed her was unfamiliar to her, despite the fact she had been inhaling it for however long she had been by the border. She had lost track of time, which wasn't uncommon for her.


She was still fairly submissive, only lifting her head enough to watch where she was going. Her thoughts drifted toward the time she had spent as a loner, often managing to filch some scraps from the remains of somebody else's kill before the buzzards carried it away. On rare occasions, she would manage to get something that was living and rarer still, when she was desperate enough, she fished. It hadn't been particularly easy, but she had survived. That counted for something, didn't it? She wanted to ask the beta questions but kept her mouth clamped tighter than a clam. She wasn't particularly up for pressing her luck or his patience.


The only thing on her mind, besides the questions that buzzed around incessantly in her brain, was the mixture of exhaustion and hunger that suddenly overcame her. She knew she had to meet the others and a small part of her dreaded it. How would she fare with an entire pack if she had fumbled over herself like an idiot with just one wolf present? She slid quietly onto her haunches and looked around curiously, trying to get a feel for her new surroundings. If her father could see her now, he would laugh at her and ponder aloud how she could call herself a wolf when she had the courage of a rabbit. From there, her siblings would try to cheer her up and her mother would chastise her father for being so senseless.


If she closed her eyes and concentrated hard enough, she could feel the brush of her mother's fur and the way her brother's canines had sank into the scruff of her neck as he demanded that he play with her. Those had been happier times and truth be told, she missed them. Now, she was beginning a new chapter. It was frightening and exhilarating. She still hadn't figured out what she was going to do or if she could even do anything. The most she could hope for was that she learned quickly. It shouldn't be too hard, as long as she paid attention, right?
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#11
She followed close behind him, her head still low. Tharin wasn't sure how much she even saw of her new home as they headed in. A few members of the pack lifted their heads as they passed through, Tharin grinning at them. His voice rumbled out gently, letting Sarai's name roll out. Plenty of the members would know about her before they saw her. In the den area he took a seat, looking over the pale female. You can choose your den now. Lucia entered the clearing, her lean form delicate as she walked through.

Tharin perked up, tail wagging at her presence. The young wolf trotted over, exchanging licks with Tharin before she stared over at Sarai. Tharin gave the name of the pale wolf before laying down, watching Lucia trot over. As fitting of Kiara's daughter she smelled at the newcomer, investigating her thoroughly with her nose while still helding respect for the newcomer. He wasn't too worried about this, sure that she would get over her timidness around someone just as submissive as herself, if more cheerful and relaxed.
#12
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Her automatic response was for her shoulders to stiffen and her spine to become rigid. Ever so slowly, her posture relaxed and her nostrils quivered as she took in the other's she-wolf's scent. Once upon a time, she would have been quick to play but a part of her wondered if that was even socially acceptable. A lot of her experiences came from when she was nothing but a pup, reliant on her parents and siblings. "Actually, I was thinking...maybe I could sleep outside? At least until I get my bearings and get to know everybody." Her soft voice sounded hopeful as she did what she could to respectfully avoid eye contact.


She wondered how some could stand it, avoiding eye contact contact and not knowing what was going through somebody's mind. Growing up, she had always found it to be easier to make up for social fumbles when she was able to see their reaction to something she said or did. Sleep was the only thing on her mind, aside from the fact she was getting the once-over from a fellow she-wolf. Another problem she had was the amount of questions that ran rampant through her mind. After meeting some of her new packmates and getting a nap, perhaps she'd find somebody to help her understand things a bit more. "When will I begin my education, sir?" She queried, figuring that with her apparent lack of experience, she'd be paired with somebody that would better prepare her for her new life, especially considering she was young enough to still be molded into what they expected of her.
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#13
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OOC: Hope you don't mind me jumping in. Welcome to the pack! / +370




Ciara heard Tharin’s call of a new pack member and was very excited. After all the hardships the pack had gone through, they could use a new sister. She was in the den she and Augustus shared when she heard the call, resting after a few hours of patrolling in the chilled air. Her mate was nowhere to be seen, likely patrolling as well, but she assumed he’d come to meet the new pack member as well.

Pulling herself from the den the golden beauty ran for the communal pack den. Her calico coat sifted in the wind, the golden hairs pushing out from beneath the black guard hairs to shin in the sunlight. Her large paws pounded on the earth beneath her, propelling her forward. Exhiliration ran through her as she made various mental notes. The girl had never been close to the female members of the pack, oddly enough. Soran was an exception and she was getting to know Kiara, but this time around, Ciara vowed that she would be a good teacher and sister to this new wolf.

As she crested the hill and came into view of the den, she took in the sight of the new sister. Sarai was one of a growing population of arctic wolves in the pack. She didn’t have the same two-tone colouring her mate had, but looked very much like Kiara. It was obvious that she was young, but that was a good thing. Maybe Ciara could be useful and teach her things.

Approaching the pair, Ciara took on the posture befitting her rank. She had a dominant pose and stiff steps, but her tail was a few inches lower than Tharin’s and as she got closer she bumped her nose beneath his chin in a respectful greeting. Then her brown eyes turned onto the newcomer and she moved closer still, thoroughly sniffing Sarai and then rubbing her own scent into the submissive wolf’s coat.

Welcome to New Dawn, Sarai, she said, knowing the name from Tharin’s call. I am Ciara, one of the Epsilons here. I defend the pack and hunt for us. If you ever want lessons on either of those things, don’t hesitate. I would be more than happy to help you hone your skills.

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