Sweet Breath

[Skyfire]

Skyfire had been along for two long months now, her pack dead and those who werent were missing. Most likely sold to humans that would break them. Her heart pounded agaisnt her chest as the smell of fresh water hit her nostrals. Her tired feet quickly moved to carry her frame towards the water. Her breath quickening as her lungs began to feel on fire. Her eyes focused straight ahead, towards her destination. She whimpered lightly with a short exhale.

She quickly picked up pace as the sound of water hit her ears. She skidded to a quick stop near the water's edge. She whimpered happily then lowered her head to gulp up the sweet, cool water. She walked forward slightly so that her front paws slushed into the cool water. She stopped after her back paws were in the water as well. After drinking her fill she lifted her head up to gaze around, water dripping steadily from her maw. She quickly shook her pelt and ridded herself of the water from her maw with a few quick licks.

She walked slowly out of the water and then laid down into the soft emerald grass near the bank. She took in a few deep breaths, her heart finally calming down letting her lungs calm their breathing into slow deep breaths. She smiled softly and laid down on her side resting, her eyes shuting softly but her dark ears still listened to the world with intent.

[Diacus]

Paws pounded against the ground in a steady beat like the heart of the creature that led them. It drove him on to keep running, keep pushing his body farther. This training exercise had come from loneliness. Long, tiresome, torturous, just like his long run. He had been running for a while, and he was deciding to end it once his muscles began to burn to much. He couldn’t push himself too hard in an unknown land. It would be better to do that in the territory, but with no members he would not be guaranteed food for the next day if he trained to exhaustion.
Slowing to a trot, his sore paws came in contact with the ground and shooting pain through Diacus’ shoulders. But it had been a good run, and that’s all that mattered. Once again, luck favored him as he came to a spring. It’s fresh water brought in a sweet air into his pounding lungs and his tongue lolled in thirst.

Walking to the pool, Diacus’ saw a wolf nearby and nodded to her. Greeting after a drink. His voice already sounded like a 9 year olds, and accompanied with a parched throat would make him sound dead. He lapped up the water with craving and thankfulness. Good Run. Good Water. The water tasted as good as it had smelt when it kissed the wolf’s dehydrated form. After a long drink, Diacus turned to the wolf with a smile that was moist from saliva and water.
“Hi!” He gave a throaty, yet friendly greeting to her as he walked toward her. He got quite close, close enough to show he was friendly to all, even those who could be a bit choicey on how close strangers could get. He then added the basics, name, title, and home once he stood. “I’m Diacus, Alpha of the Kaika Akegata. What’s your name?”

[Skyfire]

Foot steps. Her body shifted to lay on her stomach and her head lifted to gaze towars the oncoming wolf. She watched as she was greeted then he began to drink. Her mucsels tensed slightly, unsure. Her body was ready to leap into a full on run if need be, but as he approached her, getting to close for a first meeting, she stared at him. He introduced himself, in a kind manner and a soft smile pulled at her blackened lips. She pushed herself up to sit and nodded gently as he finished his introduction. An Alpha? Oh the joy that filled her now.

I am Skyfire, a lonesom fea in search for a new place to call home, she admitted in a sweet tone. Her eyes wandered over him then around the surroundings before her eyes once again met his. It was obvious in her voice that a 'new' home ment a different one, as in she had another one before but no longer lived there.

[Diacus]

The smile encouraged Diacus that this was a amiable wolf and one to speak to. Seemed luck was favoring Diacus a lot since his entrance here. Pack lands, good game, and a possible member? How wonderful.
“I can give you a new home if you are interested.” He sat one his haunches, comfortable that he may ease a quick flight if this wolf proved to be bipolar. But so far she was nothing like that. Daicus licked a bit of dripping water off his chin and continued his usually business.
“It’s called the Kaika Akegata, for Blooming Dawn. Symbolizing a bright shining new light to come over once shady lives. ” Their eyes locking, Diacus took another moment to study her. By her saying new home, he supposed her old home wasn’t the best thing and made her become a loner. He had the same history, but his eyes were bright with good nature while lacking depth to them. “A lush forest with abundant game. It is really a new life.” He decided to give her time to speak for he knew his self infomercial was sometimes draining on other, but he could really go on about his home that he was willing to share.

[Skyfire]

She listened to him and her smile grew sweetly, You would offer me a home? she asked in a kind yet slightly confused voice. I'd like that... she saif softly as she pushed her maw towards him and gently licked under his chin. It was affectionate but not a mate kind of thins, more of respect.

She sat straight again and smiled. It sounds like a lovily place, your home... she said sweetly.

[Diacus]

Ooc: Your last post is a bit short; it should have at least 150 words. Try to continue with the thoughts in your last posts.

Diacus acknowledged the lick with an approving nod. A lot of wolves didn’t use any contact sign of submission nowadays. It seemed everyone was afraid to be touched. When did the world become so distant? This wolf seemed to understand a few pack customs, but he still needed a bit more information for him to settle on a rank. The pack was slowly filling up, and the ranks would as well. New members were getting the break of being allowed a chance of Delta before the first pack meeting. How generous, but Diacus felt the tests would prove as they got the pack on it’s paws.
“I’m offering an opportunity to become Delta in my pack. There are three employments you can choose. Hunter, Scout, or Defender. You can choose one of those, and I will tell you what you need to do to become one. If for any reason you do not find yourself fit at the moment-” he paused and looked her over. His faded smile almost gave him the appearance of looking over an object, but he merely studied his potential pack member. “-you will remain as a New Member until the first pack meeting.” Why if she should choose the latter choice would puzzle him, but another addition to the pack is nice.

[Skyfire]

ooc: My Apologies.

Hunter, she stated sweetly before adding in. Or possibly Scout. I am a skilled tracker, so either would be fine... she nodded gently her eyes scanned the area before back towards him. Which ever you decide best suits me; of course... she smiled sweetly her eyes swept towards the water that glistened smoothly. The sound still sweet in her ears before her eyes once again came to the brute, her future Alpha. Or so she hoped. For once, she wasn’t always checking over her shoulder to make sure that anyone was going to attack, though her ears still twitched with every noise. She was very relaxed within his presence weather it be trust or relief that she was finally with another light and possibly to be once again within the safety of a pack.

She lifted her left paw then placed it back down, she wasnt anxious it was just that her feet were tired from her long journey to this haven. She let a soft breath escape from between half opened jaws before they shut softly once again.

[Diacus]

Diacus sighed agitatedly as he thought. By looking at the females she could be at any rank and do any at the same moderate level. It would be a toss up if Diacus was impatient, but he wasn’t. If this wolf didn’t then she wouldn’t like his next words.
“A Scout and a Hunter must know how to stalk. One to get information and report back to me or to position one’s self to make an appropriate kill. This test will take place at any time when I’m not knowledgeable of it.” He paused to see any reaction from her after saying such words. How would he judge her if he didn’t know she was there? That would be the plus if she was able to do that. “The task is: to be unseen. You will stalk me at any time you wish and, depending on how well you do, I will pick a rank for you. He wondered how she would react to being in an aggressive role against the alpha in her first task. How would it make pack members feel to go against their alpha? Empowered or impressed? Diacus had very good skills in all spectrums and would be hard to beat. He would be able to tell when and where the wolf was, but he’d act surprised when the calculated leap from hiding was executed. Then he’d give a long list of problems, compliments, and then the score. It would be a fun task.

He looked at her lift her left paw and let out a gentle sigh. A bit lethargic? Both ranks required duration and longevity, but he understood rest was a good thing. As he had done after his run.
“For now I’d like to figure out why you look so tired? Been wandering long?” Diacus relaxed fully now and let a pleasant sigh escape him. He was content and a little chat was well desired.

[Skyfire]

She listened to him and at first nodded ehr head untill she realised she'd be taking on the Alpha's abilities. She stared at him blankly but decided not to argue, though she disaproved of it internally. She let a soft smile play her lips but didnt seem to effected by his way of deciding. It was a good and effective way none-the-less. Then his question came through her ears and echoed slowly within them.

Very long... she said softly, You see, my pack was attacked by humans some months ago and I havent really stopped for long since. she said looking away then back towards him. You see up untill the attack I had never been seperated from my pack, and never been alone. I prefer packlife...more safety, especially in this land with so many darks around. was it that aparent in her voice taht she ahd never honestly had to deal with dark wolves in her older home. She shook her pelt and smiled gently, pretending as if the pain that ached in her heart didnt exsist.

[Diacus]

He was a wanderer for a while himself, but he would not bring up the matter because of the reason why he left. Now would not be the time to pause and reflect of a life lost. Not now in front of a new pack member. He focused on listening to Skyfire, and the memories never came. He was grateful, and he eased from his slight tension of a loner’s life. The word “humans” was something that gave him a puzzled look however. They attacked her pack so they must be some sort of malignance. Diacus could only conclude that much.
As she went on he nodded at her statement of preferring pack life to the loner’s. A loner is just that: alone, and he would be lonely and unsafe by himself. Though Diacus kept himself from being picked off by natures test, he had been declining mentally because of the loss of his mate. The only reason he came out of his sadness was the hope for the future. Kaika Akegata. His Blooming Dawn.

After he let his mind wander briefly to that wolfess he had loved, he turned back to Skyfire with questions in his head.
“What are humans and darks? I’ve never heard of them before.” Forget all the thoughts relating to the wolf, just got straight to the point? Information exchanging was what any conversation was and that was all Diacus was inclined to do. Talking about pasts, histories, and abstract concepts were hard to explain. He knew and understood them, but explaining something like hope was strange. In his head hope was a long trek. On the outside hope was… a long trek was… what they were and without meaning. Now back to these human and dark creatures? What were there?

[Skyfire]

She tilted her head slightly at his question and nodded breifly as she tried to figure out how to explain the terms properly, without becoming misleading. She fell silent for several moments as she gazed towards the clutter of trees around the area, then when she was ready her eyes lifted back towards Diacus.

Humans...well...they are these two legged hairless beings. My mother told me of them, like a myth in a story...before I saw them for myself. They were horrible creatures. With thunder sticks that killed us one by one...They are huge, half as tall as any of these trees here... she looked away as she explained that they had thunder sticks, the death of many loved ones filling her mind. She sighed and looked foward, not looking towards him any more. She pushed the thoughts away and along with them the urge to morn. So her explination of such beings, humans, was off by a long shot; though, in the cummotion that happened she wouldnt have been able to tell the difference. They were like gods, all powerful and cruel...able to kill a wolf with a strike of thunder and eyes that seemed determined to rid them of their lives.

She shuddered.

Darks. Now how to explain this simply? Dark wolves, she began in her sweet tone, though it now lacked the excitment that it had held, are wolves that have a blood thirst, that fight and kill for fun or spite. Neither respecting others or giving them a chance to speak...they are cruel and heartless...or so Iam led to believe. Her words where calm as her eyes drifted back towards him, her emotion was uncertain and mixed with sevral unreadable feelings. Her eyes traced his, They lurk in the shadows, some would say, and attack the purehearted without warning... she glanced around then went back to tracing his eyes with her own.

[Diacus]

This human creature must have been a curious thing to Diacus. Skyfire thought a bit before speaking to him, and yet the answer was still unclear. He could never visualize objects so they were just malignant thunder, chaos bringers. Hopefully he wouldn’t have to tell one if they came to these lands. He was already having enough to deal with.
Diacus saw the look in her eyes upon recollection of the humans. He really shouldn’t have asked since she had hesitated a bit when she first began speaking of them. He could only imagine what those creatures did. Could they be worse than the wolves at Maldecor who Diacus could now pinpoint as dark wolves?

Blood thirst. Fighting and Killing for sport. No respect. No fairness. Cruelty. Heartlessness. Lurking in the shadows and ambushing poor wolves. The Maldecor were darks. All of them, but Diacus could already conclude that wolves weren’t born dark. If it were that darks bred with darks and created darks then Diacus would have been a dark. But he wasn’t. However, he remembered his timid father who had only joined the pack because he didn’t want to leave his brother. What could he have been? He mixed into the fold at times, his father was saddened at times by all that went on. Diacus had been told of the story of how his mother had been insulted to breed with him. That he was too strange for her tastes. And the random insults she would give him when her pups failed to look strong in the pack. His weak genetics she would say with… not so nice and more demeaning words to a male. His father wasn’t dark. What was he called?
“What’s a wolf who only acts like a dark, but is really… a good wolf on the inside? What would he be called?”

[Skyfire]

She lifted her head slightly, listening to his words. Her head tilted slightly to the side and her eyes became glued to his. “What’s a wolf who only acts like a dark, but is really… a good wolf on the inside? What would he be called?” his words echoed within her head as the wheels turned to try and comprehend his words clearly. Figuring she had clearly taken in each of his words she nodded gently and went to speak.

A wolf who acts dark, but is good on the inside? Well that wolf would mostlikely be called a dark, but he would technically be a light...if he had done any good deeds within his past. She didnt say 'he' in an asumption but more in a way so that she wouldnt have to repeat the wolf or that wolf over ang over again. She paused then looked away then back, I guess it would truely matter on why he acted dark to begin with...and what made him good on the inside...

[Diacus]

Diacus knew his father was a good wolf. He was just blending into the only group of wolves that allowed him a home. Though these words of a wolf being good, light, or dark confused him. Why were there such labels? If you saw a “dark” wolf, you know to stay clear. If you heard the name of a good wolf, you’d spread a good word about them. What was the point with the labels? They weren’t ranks or titles. They were redundant.
Diacus let the conversation die as he thought the use of these labels were a waste of breath. A good wolf was a wolf that did good deeds. A dark one was one who had a tendency to do bad or had some sort of twisted behavioral issues. That’s all they were. Some twisted wolves with horrible paths. He had heard chunks of Eculei’s past, and he pitied the alpha.

“So what good deeds have you done?” She definitely didn’t act like a dark wolf so she must have classified herself as a good wolf. But that meant that she had done good deeds, yes? Diacus smirked at his timid little challenge of character as he eyed her with a glint in his eye. “What makes you a good wolf on the inside?” He wondered what her answer would be because from what he had been told, the wolves that went with these labels with horribly impressionable that they could group wolves on something as superfluous as behavior.