Post by Akante on Feb 1, 2012 0:01:31 GMT -5
Beckzilla said:
She waded gently through the murky waters, leaving ripples behind her. The water just touched her belly here, but her steps were sure-footed and gentle on the soft ground under the water. Green orbs in her head flashed as she paused and looked around. The sun was about to rise, so right now it was still relatively dark. Her nose twitched, picking up the scents of the pack she was seeking for. She turned her head to her right, then set off again, tail dragging behind her through the streams. It was a vaguely ghostly aura the female presented as she waded along - it was the pale grey fur, probably, as well as the somewhat certain precision of her movements and the half-light of the early morning that was so deceptive.
Eyes blinked, muzzle wrinkling as she took in the smells around her.
Fairah had been the leader of a pack in the marshes named Duninch. But a challenge had come, of course, and she had borne pups shortly beforehand and had been in no fit state to fight. She had trusted her pack members to fight the battle. It had been a mistake - none in the pack had been as competent at fighting as the Queen. And so she had left the pack with her pups, which she had raised well in neutral grounds. When they were old enough, she told them of her plans to join a new pack, and they went their separate ways. However, she didn't wander off immediately and join just any old pack. Fairah was far more intelligent than that.
El Dorado was a new pack which had reached her ears. And it interested her. See, she didn't want to join a pack which had been established for a long time. Because old packs meant filled ranks. However, a newer pack would likely still have high positions to fill. And Fairah, well, she was ambitious. And although she didn't want to start a new pack to be leader, she wouldn't mind a high rank.
In fact, she didn't much fancy having to kiss everyone's ass. A couple of asses, that would be fine. But she wanted to have a decent position so she didn't need to grovel. El Dorado was new enough to have spaces to fill. Fairah was, regardless of what had happened to Duninch, an impressive wolf, and there was no denying that. She was tall, muscled, obviously strong, had a skilled way with words and had good looks which she could easily use to her advantage (and had done in the past). And she was clever.
Very clever.
She moved out of the water, shaking her fur out as the sun rose fully over the marshes. The moisture droplets that flew from her fur caught the light so it appeared sparks of fire glistened from her coat. Licking her chops, she padded carefully towards El Dorado's border. Stopping nearby, she sniffed the air carefully and a tiny smile flickered over her maw for a moment. This was the place.
Having never been the acceptee before, she wasn't sure whether to bark or howl or just sit and wait.
Fairah decided to wait, standing silently and gazing into the territory.
Mama said:
[hope no one minds me grabbing this]
The horse tossed her mane, stomping through the marshes in an elaborate pace. Little Deerscream was off somewhere else, making a shelter in the trees. Creek Dancer had her own problems, though. The mare wasn't satisified with being on the same level as Shark. She thirsted to be recongnized for the beautiful tonnage of muscle and bone she was. She would not be denied her respect.
So, she would recruit her members in as well. This Rita would soon like her more than her own kind. Or, that was what Creek tought.
Speaking of chances to prove herself better than Shark, here came a little lady now. The dun mare cantered down toward the water, stopping before the unknown female to raise one dangerous hoof. "Sup? You're on the border of El Dorado. Are you looking to join or are you interested in something else?"
The question was rather straight forward and Creek Dancer would absolutely no problem pushing this one wolf around if she turned out to be bad news. Still, she looked promising enough. Still couldn't top a horse (okay, the her human companion was more important, but Creek Dancer was full of herself) in rarity and importance, but who knew? She may turn out later to be something the pack could really use.
Though, for now Creek was more intent on making sure she wasn't mute. She doubted this Rita boss could use a mute wolf.
Beckzilla said:
It didn't take long.
This made perfect sense, of course. A new group would be very eager to recruit many new members as quickly as possible. That was how she had felt when she started Duninch. She had accepted everyone. It had, in hindsight, been a foolish motion. But luckily, everyone she had accepted had been true and loyal to her and to their pack. It had been intruders who had caused all the problems, and the death of one of her most beloved followers. She had, naturally, avenged her dead friend, but that would never bring her back. But her thoughts were wandering. Regardless, accepting quickly to build up a strong pack was essential.
And so the vibrations she felt through the pads of her paws came swiftly, and weren't unexpected. However, the creature that greeted her was. It was a horse. Fairah had encountered very few horses in her time, and hadn't expected to find one in the marshes. Wouldn't marshy land be difficult for a horse to walk on? Wouldn't the hooves sink into the muddy ground?
But Fairah was trained to have an impartial look about her, and so surprise didn't cross her face, she just raised her eyebrows slightly and nodded her head to the horse as she approached at some speed. The horse stopped, lifting one hoof in a somewhat threatening manner. Well, if this pony was looking to frighten someone, she'd chosen the wrong wolf. But that was irrelevant. Her tail flicked slightly and she gazed upwards at the horse with those unblinking green eyes, ears pricking towards her inquisitively.
"Sup? You're on the border of El Dorado. Are you looking to join or are you interested in something else?"
She cleared her throat calmly before speaking. "Good morning. I wish to join the ranks of El Dorado. My name is Fairah." Here, she paused, wondering whether to continue speaking. But something stopped her. The horse seemed full of her own importance. Asking questions would probably suit the pony well. So she would remain quiet now, allowing the horse what she desired.
Didn't everyone want to feel important?
Mama said:
She spoke fancy, eloquent and so refined. Creek Dancer wanted to bash her face in and say that El Dorado didn't have time to deal with priss-pots, but she doubted that would be a good way to react to anyone at the border. So, she did the next best thing.
She decided she was going to let this wolf in no matter what just so she could introduce her to Shark so the wolf would feel oddly irritated by the grammically correct wolf, too. Nothing ticked Creek Dancer off more than thinking anything even thought it was better than her, whether the statement was true or not.
"Mm-hm. But, what've you got that we need?" She lifted one large hoof, encompassing too much ground to simply sink in to the mud. She wasn't some tiny hot blooded pleasure riding animal--she was endurance in equine flesh.
Creek Dancer could already think of a number of things that this wolf might be good at. Diplomacy, spying... anything that involved words really. Or, at least Creek hoped so. It would suck if she turned out to be a fancy talker and that's all.
Beckzilla said:
This was an acceptance unlike any Fairah had held.
She had always opened by stating her name and immediately telling the new-comer who they were dealing with - the Queen of Duninch. Then she would launch into questioning and testing. This horse didn't seem concerned with any of that.
And Fairah didn't know how the horse was reacting to her. It seemed that the wolf wasn't the only one with a good poker face. But two could play the indifferent game, so Fairah waited. She had expected the horse to give her name too, so they could at least speak openly (to an extent) with each other. And maybe state her rank, so she knew whether she was dealing with a commoner or a high-ranked deputy of some sorts. But neither of these pieces of information came. Instead it was another question.
"Mm-hm. But, what've you got that we need?"
One hoof raised, in perhaps another threat. Ears flicked, unphased. Let the equine threaten her. She doubted the horse would kill her - the pack needed members. And she could taking a kick, heck, she would fight back if that was what the horse wanted. She did similar things at her acceptances. There were tests. She would tell the acceptee to stand still while she took a chunk out of their shoulder or something. She even told one male to win his place in the pack by mating with her.
She could handle a fight.
But back to the question. "I have muscle and fangs. I've seen my fair share of battles, and could fight for the pack. But I'm also quiet and swift. I could spy. Or I could act as some form of assassin," she reasoned. It was this consideration of her skills which reminded her that she would not be the boss here. But she didn't mind being told what to do. There, she had said what she would be suited to. "I can bring strength and cunning. But regardless of what I am good at, I am versatile. I will fill whichever ranks require filling."
And then silence would come again as she waited for the next question.
Mama said:
Blabber mouth did exactly what Creek Dancer hoped she would do. Honesty--good trait around pack members. Creek Dancer finally let out a geniune smile, shifting her weight to only three hooves ever so lazily. This wolf would do nicely.
"Alright. That's good--'cause we're in needa fillin'." She rocked her weigh back right. That was it. Nothing too complex. Creek Dancer just wanted her name and what her talents were. She was pretty sure the female could back up the fighting thing, she looked like a decent or better built wolf. She was more than certain she could be a spy; if she turned out to be hiding in the open, though, Creek would personally crush her skull in.
The horse turned around, walking back into the packlands. "Come along. You've got people to meet." She tossed a glance over her shoulder, mostly for effect. "If you meet a male by the name of Shark, bite his ear, m'kay?" The words were teasing. If the female actually did it, she was stupid.
But, for today, Creek wouldn't tell the wolf her name. She could figure it out later.
[done?]