Mount Fare

[Zyro]

MOUNT FARE
Location: West     Hazard: Low     Size: Large

Mount Fare is a pleasant and safe area for the pack to roam. The slope is a slow incline dotted with plenty of small caves and the trees are well-rooted giants that often make it a favorite area for pups to explore. The den is nearby, so this is also a good area to also catch a few small prey to feed the pack wolves. Since this is the safest path to cross the valley, most loners will be found here.

[Zyro]

Zyro Mezzi

If there is one thing that Zyro, the local pack Royal, should be known for, it's his reckless optimism. Even as the sky crawled across the valley with it's threatening hues of gray and coal, the large male sat peacefully on a sturdy rock, looking out across an area of the mountain side that had slightly less trees. His tail swished lazily from side to side and the only sound besides the rustle of leaves was his breath, creating a tranquil soundtrack that did little to calm his excited nerves.

Zyro had planted his bum on this rock for the past hour or so because he had a feeling. A good one, but still a feeling. Like something was just around the corner that would come and shake up his world a little. He recognized the feeling from when he had previously discovered his current pack mates, inviting them to join him in his residence inside the Valley. It had been successful, and though they are small in number it was undeniable that Zyro's mood had lifted ever since he had company. He had fallen in love with the Valley long before he found them, and it was always his dream to show others it's magic, so the thought of even more new members created some sort of involuntary yip to escape his throat. Zyro stood and shook out his thick pelt before slightly tilting his cranium back, letting out a more purposeful and loud noise in the form of a low howl. He hoped the sound would alert his current companions to his location, and also potentially catch the attention of any other canine passing through.

With a small smile, Zyro sat back on his haunches once more, pleased with himself, and starting humming lowly. He wanted to make some noise so that anyone who was curious enough to follow his sounds could easily find him. Perhaps it was a bit reckless, with the chance of it attracting hostiles, but he wasn't too concerned. Not only did he have confidence that between himself and his current pack that they could handle unfriendly trespassers, but he also trusted the nature of the Valley and Graywood Forest. Anyone passing through may find it a bit hard to navigate and survive in, so those who might be normally strong enough to put up a real fight will most likely be slightly weaker. Zyro didn't take pleasure in the fact that the good, kind souls may struggle, but he had to admit that it would bring him great joy to be the one to help build them back up. To show them the way of the Valley and all it had to offer. Sure, storms, like the one coming in closer by the second, were harsh and intimidating, but at the end of the day Zyro wouldn't trade his land for anything, and would live out all his days on this rock at the base of this mountain if he could.

The Royal could feel the sensation of excitement growing in his stomach, causing his feet to shuffle and ears. Hopefully his pack mates would be here soon, as he was sure they wouldn't want to miss this.

---
Addressed & Mentioned: The pack
Notes: Sorry for the novel, but let's get this ball rollin' ;))

[Guest]

Rikki stopped in his tracks as the voice of his Royal rang in his ears. His dark amber optic scanned the area surrounding him. Trees surrounded him with shrubs dotting the leaf-littered floor. Rikki took a few steps forward, his decision still wavering on which way he should go. With a breath of confidence, he began to trot on towards Mount Fare. The only sound in which could be heard was the rustle of the autumn leaves as a gentle breeze rocked them from their homes. As Rikki trotted on, he searched the forest floor for items that could be of use to him. Plants were becoming scarce which meant very few idealistic items were going to be stocked if any injuries came about. As he put one paw in front of the other, the path he was following got slightly steeper. Rikki suddenly found himself in a clearing of some sorts. Boulders and caves dotted the landscape around him. Mount Fare.

Perched upon a boulder sat Zyro, a pack royal. Rikki himself, was a mage of the pack. He healed wounds that his pack mates gathered from simple things like thorns to fights with trespassers. With his head tilted upward, he gazed at the royal with his one eye. ``Greetings Zyro.`` His rough voice rang upward. His head tilted slightly down in a dip of his head. Rikki's gaze never left the royal as he thought of the day he had been discovered by this great wolf. The mage flicked his tail slightly, ridding his mind of the memory. He was here now. He was not alone anymore.

- - - - -

Kind of short but that's all I got right now.

[Zwei]

Zwei

Tail swishing rapidly behind her and ears pinned back, Zwei's nerves were through the roof as she wandered through the most un-navigable place she'd seen in weeks. On the surface it had seemed peaceful, something to pass through easily and continue on, but not only was she proven wrong, but the sky was only getting darker and her stomach rumbled restlessly.

Zwei could only continue to wander, finding herself going in circles or somewhere new entirely without any idea of where to go. The soft sounds of the area, which might've calmed her in any other occasion, only stressed her out now. She half expected to be ambushed at any second by another wolf, but she wasn't in any form to fight normally much less on an empty stomach.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when a loud howl broke the quiet ambiance of the trees around her, looking around in alarm and crouching instinctively as her heart leaped out of her chest. There must be a pack here, and she was a trespasser, which prior memories and almost healed wounds screamed was a bad idea.

Zwei, against her best judgement, began to move quickly, following paths she'd didn't recognize in hopes that it might lead out of here to some semblance of safety and peace before her heart quit on her. She wouldn't of blamed it though, this was her worst case scenario and the scar gracing her shoulder ached at the thought of it's outcome.

Zwei's heart nearly stopped when she turned on another path and immediately saw a wolf sitting on a rock looking in her direction. Had she blended in, she might've stood a chance at hiding but she was as out of place as a winter rabbit in the dead of spring. She begged her frozen legs to move as she noticed another wolf below him, absolutely outnumbering her, but it seemed that luck wasn't in her favor.

[Vorocia]

Vorocia

A low rumble of thunder crackled across the sky. The storm was still miles away, but Vorocia couldn't help it; she cringed at the noise. Dark, heavy clouds had chased her all afternoon, and a tempestuous breeze had sprung up in the last hour, nipping at her fur. The young she-wolf had been hoping to at least make it through the day before the storm broke, but that was beginning to look less and less likely. As Vorocia slowed to a halt, her paws throbbing from the quick pace she'd been at for hours, the she-wolf felt dread rising in her chest. She wasn't afraid of the storm - she was afraid of the pack that she'd stumbled upon.

Vorocia had been travelling for months now with no real purpose. Ever since she left her homeland, she'd been nomadic. She'd traversed stretches of mountains and narrow, winding valleys; labyrinthine cave systems and dense forests. It was the only thing that made her feel distracted, less focused on her bitterness and the slightest tinge of hurt that still pricked her heart when she thought of the family she'd left behind. The pain of sore paws, a hungry belly - those were things she could focus on, things she could actually fix. Her inner emotions were less susceptible to being repaired, and, as a result, much more bothersome. Vorocia did her best to push them away, and not settling down was the optimal solution for that.

A few days ago however, she'd stumbled into a bowl-shaped valley, surrounded on either side by a ring of vicious-looking mountains. Vorocia wasn't quite sure how she'd managed to get in, but she hadn't found a way out. The mountains were jagged and harsh, and there was no way she'd be able to cross them before Winter struck in a few months. There were no passageways that she could find and the valley had only lead her in circles. Vorocia had been annoyed at first, but eventually she'd picked up on the smell of wolves - nearby wolves. At first she'd been resigned to ignore them but she'd slowly realized she was in the lands of a pack. Since then, a constant anxiety had flickered like a flame in her chest. What if they found her? What if they attacked? Vorocia was vicious enough in her own right, but she was scrawny and weak at the best of times. Combine that with her currently underfed body and lack of combatant practice and she might as well be roadkill.

Of course, the storm posed an entirely different set of problems. If Vorocia could keep moving at all times she was relatively confident the pack would never catch her trail, but she couldn't keep moving in a storm. She'd have to find shelter eventually. The thought made her squirm in discomfort. She shuffled her usually-white paws, now muddy brown from being caked in leaves and other forest debris. Her heart fluttered again as another thunderclap split the skies, this one louder. Raising her muzzle to the sky, Vorocia made to inhale the nearby scents of the forest when a nearby howl hit her ears.

The she-wolf froze, her muscles instantly tensing. Where had that come from? It was nearby, that was for certain. A part of her screamed to flee, flee, flee, but a different part of her rooted Vorocia to the spot. She inhaled deeply and was instantly hit by the smells of the pack. The strongest was the scent of a male wolf, dominant and territorial - he must have been the one who howled. Vorocia shuffled in place, unsure of what to do. Her nervousness had magnified tenfold, and instinct screamed at her to turn tail and run...but the smarter, rational part of her had a different idea. You need shelter, Vorocia. You need food. A pack can give you that.

Uncertainty made her limbs heavy. It was true that she hadn't had a full belly in weeks, and that she'd had to stay on constant tiptoes in fear of stumbling upon some predator that she couldnt outrun or outmanevuer. A pack would offer security, not just from the storm. Vorocia had no desire to be around other wolves but...survival before emotions, Vorocia. She supposed checking them out wouldn't be the worst idea. Creeping forward, belly to the ground, Vorocia followed the sound of the howls until she slithered into the bushes surrounding a clearing.

There were two males that she could see - one with a thick, brown pelt and another with a wicked patchwork of scars. Both looked calm, collected, but on alert. Vorocia instantly picked out the brown male as the one who'd howled. The way he held himself suggested he was some sort of leader. Another scent assaulted her nose and Vorocia cast her eyes over to an approaching female. She seemed just as anxious as Vorocia felt - she wondered if the female was a loner like her, seeking shelter from the storm. A maelstrom of emotion whirled through Vorocia's head, but she forced herself to stay still and watch the loner female encounter the pack. She'd see how the pack wolves reacted before she made a move of her own.

[Zyro]

Zyro Mezzi

Zyro smelled his packmate Rikki before he saw him, but was not waiting long before he caught sight of the other male. His modest smile slowly turned into a grin as his companion gave him a simple greeting. Rikki was a talented Mage, and though his appearance was a bit more gruesome than most, Zyro knew him to be a reserved yet respectable individual, and his presence had a visible effect on the Royal's posture. Feeling the coils in his muscles relax, Zee gave a small nod before giving his reply, "Do you feel that, Rikki?"

He knew it wasn't a proper greeting, but Zyro rarely had a concern for what was considered acceptable conversational etiquette. Right now, he simply wanted to share the excited feeling with the members of his group. "I felt much the same when I met yo-"

The leader's speech was interrupted when a flash of snowy white flickered into view, and on reflex Zyro jumped down from his perch on relatively clumbsy paws so he was nearer to Rikki. He felt his tail flick upwards as the smell of the female hit his nose, an unfamiliar cocktail of something minty and something sweet, but with one glance at the stranger he immediately diffused the defensive posture. She didn't cross him as the type to try and attack the pair of pack wolves, so with a mental pat on the back for himself and a pleased glance at Rikki, Zyro stepped forward as smoothly as a big oaf like himself could manage.

"'Ello, miss," he began easily, flashing a genuine smile in her direction in attempt to sooth some of the tension he could feel crackling in the air, "I assume you heard my call of sorts. Sorry if I scared you out of your skin." He shook out his fur before turning his cranium to glance at Rikki, making a small gesture for the male to come stand by him. "My name is Zyro Mezzi, and I am the Royal, or dominant, of this valley. And this is my companion Rikki. May I ask for your name, miss?" he tried conversationally, keeping his stance loose and friendly. Only a few seconds into meeting her and Zyro was already assessing her appearance as subtly as he could, checking to see what rank she may be fit for and just how large of a feast he would offer her if he could convince the stranger to join.

Perhaps he was jumping the gun a bit, but in Zyro's eyes this white-hued lass was the embodiment of the excited feeling he had been harboring for some time now, and his endless optimism gave him all the hope he needed to transform into master-recruiter mode. He even ignored the other female's scent that slowly drifted to his nostrils for her sake, purposefully keeping his eyes off of the nearby shrub he could sense her in. Trusting his own judgement, Zyro decided that leaving her be for now and making an example of his own welcoming attitude would be the best way to get these two strangers to join his pack, or at least so he hoped.

---
Addressed & Mentioned: Rikki, Zwei, Vorocia
Notes: Rambly and weird, but hopefully I'll settle into Zyro's character soon enough.

[Guest]

The mage was startled by the royals quick movement. In moments, Zyro was on the ground with him. His questions still fluttering in the air. Rikki watched his dominant carefully as he moved to a female who he had yet to even notice. With the gesture he was given, he moved silently to the larger males side. He scanned the female with his amber optic looking for any signs of injury. The female was scrawny and looked severely frightened by their appearance. A bent, broken looking tail swung in the rear of the silver female. As well, a large scar ran down her shoulder, parting the fur. She looked like she was in shambles.

Rikki, completely oblivious to what his pack mate had been saying up until he heard his own name, simply dipped his head in greetings to the female, a slight kind smile appeared on his muzzle. His shaggy tail worked slightly back and forth as silence hit the air. Only the rattle of the leaves above as the wind grew slightly. He stood there, peace filling his whole body. Yet, an aching memory filled his mind as he gazed at the female.

- - - -
Not my best work but again, its all I got right now.

[Zwei]

Zwei

Seconds passed like minutes as Zwei waited to be noticed by the two powerful male wolves in front of her. They could easily catch her if she ran, and it was only a matter of time until her presence made itself known through the scents of the area, which they seemed to know much more intimately than her. She jumped back as the reddish wolf cut off mid-sentence and leaped in her direction, her fight or flight response enveloping her every molecule.

Though it gradually calmed as the leader, who she had assumed would be aggressive toward outsiders, greeted her with a smile, introducing himself and the other as though she wasn't a trespasser on his territory. All her nerves wanted to distrust these wolf, but a feeble hope of friendship took root in her chest as she chanced an honest answer. "N-nice to m-meet you...I'm Z-Zwei", she stammered out as she walked a little closer then took a small bow, imitating Rikki's greeting out of respect.

Maybe this pack wasn't like the other's she found, unfriendly and hostile to all outsiders. In those, none had greeted her, much less showed anything but harshness at her presence. It could've been the lack of food for the past few days, or her heightened state of danger, but it was the closest thing to a home that she'd stumbled onto since she'd lost hers.

[Vorocia]

Vorocia

Vorocia watched through slitted eyes as the dominant approached the loner female. Much to her surprise, he didn't react with anger or shock or even suspicion- in fact, a genuine smile stretched his muzzle as he introduced himself as Zyro and the other male as Rikki. Vorocia stiffened slightly, wondering if this was some kind of act to get the female to let her guard down, but as the seconds ticked by laboriously, nothing happened. The white female was clearly nervous but she returned the greetings of the pack wolves and some of her anxiety seemed to melt away in the face of their friendliness. Vorocia was the opposite- her anxiety only mounted. Now that she'd seen that they were welcoming, she had no reason not to turn tail and flee. Another rumble of thunder reminded her of the urgency of the situation, as if Mother Nature itself were telling her to get up and approach the pack. Fine.

Detaching herself from the ground, Vorocia took a minute to dislodge the leaves and dirt clinging to her pelt before stepping out of the brush. It didn't help much- she was already filthy from weeks of travel. Regardless, the black-and-white she-wolf stepped into plain view. For a moment she shuffled awkwardly, unsure of what to do or say, but then snapped back to her senses. She didn't want any wolf, no matter how perceptive they may be, to see how out of place she felt. Taking another deep breath to calm her nerves, Vorocia puffed up her chest and took another step forward. "Hello," She said stiffly, eyes flitting between the scarred Rikki and Zyro. "I overheard you speaking with Zwei. I'd like to seek shelter from the storm."

Her words were cold, clipped, and shining with discomfort in a way that Vorocia couldn't conceal. As she waited for a reply, her anxiety mounted even further and Vorocia couldn't help it- she began to pick at her claws in an attempt to distract herself from her feeling of trapped desperation.

[Renegade]

Renegade had been traveling for what seemed like forever, well, it had been two years since the nomadic male rally interacted with his own species for a moderate amount of time. Ren was known to slink through territories, sometimes even meet the pack, but never stay. No, packs were in no way this renegade's forte. As the brown and tawny accented male traveling through this new land, his silvery eyes glanced up, only to see gusts of wind shake the trees' canopies above him. Clouds of smoky gray danced across the sky and blocked all specks of sun that existed. It was clear a storm as brewing, and that oddly excited the vagabond. Rain was one of the few things he truly enjoyed in the world, it was calming and peaceful. Storm, so destructive, yet brought life to nearly everything it touched.

As the male weaved his way through this seemingly endless territory, he was slightly surprised to have not run into any wolves yet. An outsider in claimed land is often easily pinpointed. Then it hit him, this pack wasn't large. Other scents weren't far off, yet they didn't blend like a pack should. Dispersals were still being greatly accepted at this time, the birth of a new pack. Renegade trotted at an easy pace, his storm-gray eyes clearly reflecting his surroundings. Renegade had to catch a growl in his throat as a loud howl echoed past him, potentially a leader summoning his pack. 'Great.' His mind hissed as he rolled his eyes. Packs weren't exactly Ren's favorite thing, especially pack leaders.

The loner male growled as he lowered his head and continued his travels. Trying to find his way out of this maze of a land. He son found himself upon a small boulder like structure, looking around and leaping to another pile of sturdy rocks - until he realized how close he had come to the howls origin. All the scents seemed so much stronger, with a deep huff, Renegade shook out his pelt 'Might as well get it over with.' His inner words groaned, stepping off of his formation, the confident male strolled towards the sound of voices.

Renegade kept his head high and his tail aligned with his spine, he was proud of who he is and where he came from. His persona was riddled with confidence. The oddly colored male made himself known, seating himself a bit of a ways off from the group. His eyes resembled the clouded sky, and reflected the alpha male like a mirror. Ren found  himself staring at the owner of the lands he wandered through. "Hello, the name's Renegade. And yourself?"  Ren's voice was deep, clearly masculine, and unaffected by the possible circumstances of ambush. His left borw rose as his iris orbited the group and he eyed each character that was near. Antoher male and two females. And interesting ragtag group indeed.

Short but here you go ~

[Johannes]

Johannes was not the type of wolf who rushed things. He liked to take his time and stop to smell the roses. And maybe admire some interesting caves. And maybe accidentally take a quick nap. He certainly didn't mean to lag so far behind the rest of the pack, but he had yet been able to travel to Mount Fare and there was just so much to see there! He was immensely grateful for Zyro's offer to join the pack not too long ago, and the Brunt was eager to get out and see what the land had to offer.

As the current situation sat, Johannes was dozing happily under a large tree, somewhere between the lands of wakefulness and sleep, when the deep rumble of approaching thunder roused him. The Brunt blinked lazily, casting his gaze skyward to see dark clouds looming not far off. A storm seemed to be on the way. A rather nasty one at that.

Rising to his paws, Johannes shook out his pelt and yawned. Gracious, how long had he been laying there? It took a him a moment to come back to his senses fully, and as he did he remembered his reason for being out on the slopes. The rest of the pack was here! How could he have forgotten? He hoped the Royal and the Mage weren't too inconvenienced by his tardiness.  

As quickly as his large form would allow, the Brunt took off in the direction of Zyro and Rikki's scents. He followed their trail while probably tripping over every single exposed root in the way. For a wolf so versed in combat, he couldn't understand his own inability to climb a simple slope.

Eventually, after a little while hiking, Johannes began to hear voices. Some sounded fairly familiar, but then there were new tones joining in and Johannes' heart skipped a beat. He picked up his pace and not long after arrived at a small area where he could see Zyro and Rikki confronting a group of three -three!- unfamiliar wolves. Johannes quickly scooted up next to the Mage and looked at the new faces with delight. They appeared to be two females and a male, all of different colors and sizes, and he wondered if they had been traveling together or if fate had simply drawn all three into this place at the same time. Either way, he considered it a nice surprise to see them.

He had missed most of what they were saying, but there seemed to be little hostility in the air, so chances were that he might be welcoming some new packmates. The thought had him giddier than a pup going hunting for the first time, and he smiled broadly as he waited for a chance to speak to them. Johannes' tail swished merrily from side to side, and he glanced up at Zyro to see if the Royal would speak.

___
This is all over the place, but it's fricken done. I am going to go die now.
Mentioned: Everyone

[Zyro]

Zyro Mezzi

After a beat of silence, the smaller female before him stuttered a greeting and her name, though Zyro was unaffected by her nerves. It was to be expected, as he had just called his ranks to his side and was now confronting her with unclear motives, but he kept trying to calm her by keeping his tail swishing behind him lightly and the ever-present smile on his face relaxed. "Well, Zwei, the pleasure is all mine. Welcome to Graywood," and with a small "oof" he sat back on his haunches, settling in to give his recruitment speech, but was surprised by the voice of the wolfess who was previously hidden in the bushes.

The gangly female shuffled for a moment before taking a more brave stance, giving a short greeting before inquiring rather straight-forwardly about the impending storm. In Zyro's excitement about Zwei, his mind had temporarily forgot about the ominous swarm of grey clouds closing in on his territory. He turned his his head upwards, the goldish underside of his throat rustling in the wind as a clap of thunder sounded from nearby. He nodded to himself and turned to greet the yet to be named female before, for a third time, being cut off.

In his distracted state of taking in the impending weather, he failed to hear a new male approach the group. The interestingly colored male sat down a bit further away, and Zyro quirked an eyebrow at the confident nature of the self-proclaimed Renegade. Zyro tried his best to ignore the small piece of his brain whispering threat in the back of his head, and instead settled for smirking slightly, finding the humor in this whole situation. He remained silent for a moment as the familiar form of Johannes, another of his pack members, joined Rikki and Zyro on this odd 3-on-3 conversation. He chuckled lightly and looked at his packmate, deciding to give him a bit of grief before addressing the strangers once more. "Sorry for cutting your nap short, Johannes," he grinned, then gave a small apologetic glance towards Zwei as he was about to repeat the whole introduction process over again. Of all the newcomers, she seemed to be the most outwardly nervous.

"Greetings, Renegade," he began, giving a slightly stiff nod at the male he figured was the most threatening, "My name is Zyro, and these are my companions, Rikki and Johannes. We form the pack that resides in this valley." He tried to keep the introduction as short as possible, and turned his body so he was addressing the whole group at once. "Well, nothing like this has ever happened before..." he chuckled, shaking his head lightly in hopes the others would catch onto his good spirits, "Three lone wolves in once day. I hope the valley has been good to all of you so far, but as pointed out there is a rather wicked storm coming our way. Normally I would give you all a more formal greeting, but to answer your request," he turned to face the unnamed female, "You are more than welcome to stay with my pack until the storm passes. And I also extend the offer to you too, Renegade and Zwei. I'm sure my  members can confirm that Graywood gets some nasty storms, and I would hate to have either of you be injured if it can be prevented."

Finishing his small speech, he shot a thoughtful look at Rikki and Johannes before continuing, "In fact, if any of you are seeking a reliable source of shelter and food, I am sure you would be welcome to join The Graywood Alliance, my pack, more permanently. As you can see, we could use the numbers," he finished with his brow raised, letting another roll of thunder finish off his blurb. He was interested to see these strange wolves reactions.

---
Addressed & Mentioned: Rikki, Johannes, Vorocia, Zwei, Renegade
Notes: Wrote a novel oops

[Guest]

Rikki was slightly taken aback by the presence of yet another female. He stepped slightly back behind Zyro as he looked the new female, known as Vorocia. She was much scrawnier than Zwei and looked even more worn out. He looked from one female to the other as he compared the two. They were evenly matched if they decided to attack though Rikki kept his calm and watch Zyro.

Yet again, Rikki was slightly taken aback by the new presence. A male this time. A male with confidence it seemed. He once again skimmed the newcomer. He was much larger than himself and carried some bulk. He looked much like a threat. His head swiveled around to see the heavy shape of Johannes. The mage dipped his head slightly in greetings to the Brunt. With two much larger males at his side, he felt slightly at ease and sat down next to the royal. His eyes flew to the sky where grey, thick clouds were beginning to gather. A storm was brewing. A horrendous one to be exact. His ears pricked as the clap of thunder sounded off in a short distance away. The trees rattled slightly as the wind picked up once more.

Rikki trained his ears on Zyro's words. Yet, he didn't care for them very much though when his name was voiced once more, he dipped his head respectfully to the three wolves. His eye roamed slightly and ended at the female Zwei. He gazed at the female feeling an odd sense of deja vu.

- - - -
I feel this is a bit better than before but I don't know.

[Zwei]

Zwei

Zwei was going to utter a 'thank you' until another female approaching caught her attention. At the entry of more wolves, Zwei shifted closer to Zyro before sitting down and studying them carefully, curling her tail around her as best it could. The female's inquiry had reminded her about the storm, forgotten about in her worry about meeting the others. Another male approached, seeming less enthusiastic about the situation and stating his intentions gruffly without hesitation, much more reminiscent of more hostile wolves she'd met in her travels.

The third member of Zyro's pack seemed to join then, however saying nothing and seeming to wait for Zyro. She looked around at everyone gathered, locking eyes with Rikki briefly and giving him a slightly nervous smile before turning her attention to Zyro as he spoke again. He was not only offering shelter but membership into his pack? Zwei was nearly dumbfolded, and perhaps it was the offer of food or the possibility of making a new home but she was certain that it was something she wanted.

"I'll join y-you!" She blurted out without thinking, lowing her ears slightly in embarrassment before continuing, quieter, "If you'll have me."  

[Renegade]

Renegade sat alone, watching the group of four that stood before him. The silver eyed male knit his brows together as he noted the dominant male strike a stare at the nomad. A small half smirk appeared, 'Typical. Feeling threatened as always.' Before any words were exchanged, another canines emerged from the thicket. Another male, part of the pack by the looks of it. Renegade dipped his head in greeting to the slightly drowsy male beside the other pack mates.

Renegade cleared his throat after the dominant introduced himself as Zyro as well as offering a place for them to stay. The outcast stood up and walked between the two females a few feet in front of him, forming a bit of a jagged line, facing the leader stiffly. Renegade couldn't help the way he held himself, he was born and raised into confidence. To never back down form ever a pack if he believed they were in the wrong. With a clear voice, his words rang out towards the alpha male and his companions. "I just want you to know, Zyro, I'm no threat to you or your followers. As long as you never give me a reason to be." Renegade walked a bit closer, his tail hung lower, but still a bit firmly out.

A sly grin was on the tawny hued maw of the dispersal, "Shelter would be helpful, however I'll have to think about the possibility of joining, Zyro." Renegade's voice was just, and unbiased. No threat was held in it, however it was strong and adamant. The brown and golden male looked up to the sky again, eyes still mimicking the cloudy storm gray color. The four year old male looked over his shoulder to the two females behind him, their names were mostly unsure. He recalled Zyro calling one of them Zwei, but one had no name. It was unclear which one it was though. As for the males, Zyro called them Rikki and Joannes.

Renegade observed his potential pack deeply, picking them apart as if they were prey and needed their weakness. The nomad awaited for the alpha to lead the way to safety.

[Vorocia]

Vorocia

As Vorocia waited for a response, yet another lone wolf wandered into the clearing. This one was a large male who, compared to herself and Zwei, did not seem nervous in the slightest. He introduced himself without preamble. Vorocia felt her fur rise a bit in trepidation- she half expected Zyro to snap at the new male for strutting around like he owned the place. At least, that's what would have happened in her old pack. Zyro did not seemed fazed, however, and greeted the male as warmly as he had the others. Out of the corner of her eye Vorocia spotted another male wander in, this one a pack wolf- Zyro made a teasing remark and called him Johannes.

Snapping her attention away from all the newcomers, Vorocia listened as Zyro began speaking. She was still nervous, still felt like bugs were crawling around on her skin and still fighting her inner battle between wanting to run and wanting to be rational. Despite this, relief flooded through her when Zyro offered her and the others shelter from the storm if they so wished it. At least she wouldn't have to worry about that. She could go find a nice corner, curl up, and sleep it all out. Vorocia dipped her head stiffly as a show of gratitude and was turning to do just that when the offer of joining the pack met her ears. She froze, paralyzed with surprise.

She'd picked up on Zyro's forthcoming nature, but she hadn't expected this. Were these wolves seriously this welcoming? Once more, anxiety threatened to overwhelm her. It had been so long since she'd been a part of a pack...but that voice in her head started up again. As much as you want to pretend you can survive on your own, you can't Vorocia. A flare of anger rose up in her at the thought, but Vorocia knew it was true. She was already on the brink of starvation and what happened the next time a storm like this came along? She couldn't hop from pack to pack looking for temporary shelter forever. Besides, she'd already had enough close calls with hostile wolves and other angry predators. She'd never have to worry about that again with other wolves watching her back.

As she contemplated, Zwei blurted out her acceptance. Vorocia looked over at the small she-wolf, her face impassive. She never would have admitted it, but Vorocia envied how easy the decision seemed to be for Zwei. She wished she could banish the uncertainty that clouded her head, as heavy as the storm clouds that hung over them. Realizing that Zyro would be waiting for an answer, Vorocia slowly raised her head to look at the leader. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, then opened it again. You have to do what's best for you, like it or not.

"Okay," She answered. Something akin to dread rose inside her, but there was also relief at having made a decision. "I mean- yes. I'll join."

[Zyro]

Zyro Mezzi

Zyro remained patiently still as he watched for the reactions to his offer. He could feel Rikki shuffle behind him a bit, and out of protective habit, glanced back to make sure all was well. He knew Rikki, though, and though the male was quiet by nature, Zyro trusted him to speak up if there was a problem.

The first to accept his offer was Zwei, as Zyro had mentally predicted based on her less defensive nature compared to the other two strangers. He flashed her a pleased grin but did not have the chance to respond before the male, Renegade, was stepping forward. Zyro watched him curiously but was surprised at what the male had to say. Did he really come off as if he was threatened? Sure, there was that ugly nagging in the back of his head, but Zyro made a mental note to keep himself more neutral around the male until he was sure that he could be trusted. It was in Zyro's instincts to welcome all with open arms, but now he wasn't so sure of himself.

"A threat? Am I really that transparent?" Zyro only half-joked, but kept his voice and posture the same as to not hint at the stress this statement had caused him. "I kid, Renegade. I didn't mean to come off as unwelcoming." Or whatever, Zyro added childishly in his thoughts.

It was then that the unnamed female also accepted his offer of joining, but now he felt a bit more self-conscious of his openness. He decided to loosen the reins a bit, so maybe he would come off as less suffocating. "I would be happy to have all three of you, and I am honored that you both," he in turn glanced at the females, "are willing to join our ranks. If any of you decide the pack is not for you and wish to part ways once the storm passes, I would be happy to send you on your way with full stomachs and directions to get out of the valley. My apologies if any of you felt pressured..." an involuntary glance toward Renegade.

"Now, we should get moving soon. The den is not too far from here, and I believe we have some food there as well," he glanced at Rikki and Johannes to correct him if he was wrong, and stood up carefully, shaking the dirt and sticks out of his thick pelt. "But first Miss," he directed his speech to the anxious looking female, "I never caught your name." And with that, his easy smile had returned. Just the thought of traveling back to the den had him feeling more comfortable in his own skin.

---
Addressed & Mentioned: Rikki, Zwei, Renegade, Vorocia
Notes: Zyro/Renegade tension hell yaaas

[Guest]

A small smile spread across his muzzle at the fast replies they had gotten. His tail swished back and forth on the ground, stiring the dirt up. The smile soon faded as another set of thunder claps even closer to home. Rikki stood as Zyro did, still partly behind the male. He was not one for fights and would never be able to stand up to the male Renegade. Rikki shook his thick, shaggy pelt and glanced at Zyro.

Rikki shook his head in agreement to the royal's statement. The mage stared at the unnamed female, waiting for a reply though, he couldn't help his gaze from traveling once more to Zwei. Where have I seen her? The question rang in his head each time he gazed at the female. He knew he had met her once before but when? Where?

- - - -
My posts are so short compared to yours. I feel kind of bad about it.

[Vorocia]

Vorocia

A thrill ran through Vorocia as she and Zwei were accepted into the pack. It felt so strange, so unfamiliar that she was a part of them now, that these wolves were her packmates- in fact, it hadn't really registered with her at all. She was still too relieved at the promise of being sheltered from the storm and getting a good meal to think about the long term implications of the decision she'd just made. Vorocia looked uneasily around the clearing, around her new territory, before her eyes locked onto Renegade. He had neither accepted nor denied the offer of joining, but he was staring around at every wolf in the clearing, as if analyzing them for any weakness. Vorocia's eyes narrowed as she stared at the male- perhaps it was just the cockiness with which he spoke, but he made her fur bristle with discomfort. It didn't help that he was significantly bigger and stronger than her.

Vorocia snapped back to the present as Zyro addressed her. She realized with a tinge of embarrassment that she hadn't actually given her name. The leaders voice was warm, genial, and a sudden wave of suspicion rose in the young she-wolf. She didn't understand how he and the rest of the pack could be so welcoming. Other than swelling their ranks, they had to have some ulterior motive- that was just how the world worked. There was no way Zyro was being so kind out of the goodness of his heart. Either way, that didn't really change things. No matter what they wanted, Vorocia needed the pack, at least for now.

"You didn't catch it because I didn't offer it," She said, voice clipped and clinical. Perhaps it was a little too early to be displaying her standoffish nature, but Vorocia couldn't help it. Her insecurity in what exactly the pack wanted from her and the others manifested in coldness. "It's Vorocia."

[Johannes]

Johannes offered a hearty laugh at Zyro's jest, glad to know his absence was not taken badly. He really hadn't meant to doze off, but he had been so comfortable, and the breeze had been just right...

When the Royal proceeded introduced him and Rikki, Johannes smiled and dipped his large head. The smile on Johannes's features only grew when he realized Zyro was asking the three newcomers to join their pack. By the time they were finished replying that they would, he was beaming form ear to ear.

"Isn't this fantastic?" He whispered to Rikki, the excitement clear in his tone. He kept his eyes focused on the trio, wondering what they were like. Were they as happy to be joining as he had been?

The male, Renegade, appeared to be just as his name suggested, but Johannes wanted to think it was just due to him being unfamiliar with everyone. The male was certain he would liven up once he got settled in. He was still a large wolf, and Johannes idly wondered what it would be like to spar against him. Now that would be a challenge...

As for the females, he had caught the name of one, Zwei, and the other had later introduced herself as Vorocia. Both seemed rather apprehensive, but once again Johannes was sure they would relax after some time with the pack. Unlike their male counterpart, they seemed much thinner and nimbler. Perfect for chasing down prey, He thought, and he knew already, for the sake of his dignity, not to challenge them to a race.

While the wolves around him continued their conversation, Johannes cast his eyes upward once more to look at the storm. It wouldn't be long now before it hit, he was glad they were getting out of there. On a mountain during a storm didn't sound like too fun a place to spend the afternoon. The safety offered at lower altitudes was far more inviting, and Johannes shifted, ready to get going. When they returned to the den, he would, take the chance to properly greet the newcomers, but for now he settled with a cheerful, "Welcome!"

___
Mentioned/ Addressed: All y'all
Notes: *Quietly sings 'We are Family'*

[Zwei]

Zwei

Zwei couldn't help but feel more nervous when the large male known as Renegade stepped between her and Zyro, despite his insistence that he wouldn't hurt them. He reminded her of the unfriendly packs she'd come across, territories chased painfully out of, and her scar ached just to look at him. She only hoped that he wouldn't cause any trouble for the pack and that her fears weren't warranted.

It was then the other female agreed to join and Zwei was surprised how the thought of more wolves in the pack made her heart jump happily, looking toward Zyro as he began talking again, though she found it hard to sway her excitement. After being with one person her whole life, she'd never had a pack and the last few moths of wandering alone had left her more lonely than she would admit. Not only could she get a home here, but another family, another life.

She snapped out of her thoughts as Zyro began to talk about the storm and heading towards the den, and the idea of food made it hard to sit still. Standing up and shaking the dirt off her tail, Zwei let a small smile grace her face, eagerly waiting.

[Renegade]

Renegade stood a few feet off from the trio of pack males. Silver-bullet eyes switching between them, they were unusual. Oddly accepting form the previous packs he'd come across, however, then again, the females were the first to arrive on scene prior to Ren's appearance. His eyes fell onto the females, his orbs showed softness - care, even. He wouldn't let any type of harm come to the females or any other dispersal that stepped foot into the land. That was the whole point of him being, well him.
Renegade allowed his stuff tail to fall and relax, with a steady short sway accompanying it. The muscles in his frame relaxed, yet of course, his head was still held high. He recalled Zyro's words of reply - Threat. A word Renegade often involuntarily gave himself to many.

His attention fell back onto the black and white female behind him, being asked her name. The petite damsel snapped in response, a spit like poison. Ren's brows rose by the sudden spurt. Yet he knew it was also involuntary. Dispersal soften had colder personalities due to their survival alone. However, Vorocia was the name she decided to give. Odd, one he's never heard before.

Renegade stepped a bit closer to the trio, watching them shift under the storm clouds, it was clear they wished to seek shelter soon. "Thank you for being so welcoming. I didn't mean to say you looked threatened, I just know my confidence can send a negative message." Ren's voice was still rather neutral. Awaiting for the trio to rise up and lead the way to their shelter, the storm was nearly here, and it looked rather powerful.

[Zyro]

Zyro Mezzi

Zyro kept his watchful gaze trained on the female as she snapped out that her name was Vorocia. He refrained from letting her annoyance faze him, though, and tucked away the hurt bit of his ego so he could tend to it later when he had  moment alone with his thoughts. On the outside he simply smiled and welcomed one of his newest pack members. "Vorocia. Lovely, and it's a pleasure," he nodded a bit, ears flicking back when he heard Johannes give a cheery welcome. Glancing over at the males he was already acquainted with, he gave them a look of excitement, as they weren't his only companions any longer.

Zyro glanced once more up at the sky and then back at Renegade, catching the look of care he gave the two females. A small tension in his back released slightly as he concluded that perhaps he was being confrontational only so the females wouldn't have to. That, on top of the reassurance he gave Zyro, made the Royal feel at ease once again. He tucked away this bit of information for later musings.

"It's no problem, Renegade," he replied, letting his earlier discomfort roll off his shoulders and walking slowly towards the thickened treeline to his left, "I think it's safe to assume tensions are a bit high for all of us. Three loners is an odd occurrence in itself, and I know my offer to join our ranks seemed a bit rash, but I know how difficult being alone can be. Not to mention that I'm growing bored of those two old farts," he pulled a playful face in the direction of Rikki and Johannes, poking fun once more to try and lift his own spirits for the impending stress of three newbies and a storm.

He took a few steps closer to the edge of the clearing, heading in the direction of the den site. They needed to get to the sturdy shelter of it and get off the slopes before the rain made and appearance. Being on a slippery mountain side was not a good idea, no matter how pleasant Mount Fare is. "If all of you are ready, I'd like to show you to our den. It's a safe spot to wait out a storm, and I think we may have a few rabbits or something for our travelers," Zyro called over his shoulder, then disappeared into the brush without waiting for answers.

- To the Den/Main Territory -

---
Addressed & Mentioned: Rikki, Johannes, Vorocia, Renegade, Zwei
Notes: Everyone make their last posts here and then I will post at the densite to start us off in that area

[Zwei]

Zwei

The darkening sky around them rumbled angrily, Zwei's fur unconsciously bristling at the harsh sounds as she observed the wolves waiting around her. Zyro responded to Vorocia, ignoring the sharpness of her answer, and then seemed to study Renegade before answering him with the same calmness he'd held throughout. He was one of the kindest males she'd ever met, showing such tolerance to lone wolves on his territory without asking anything in return. Even Renegade seem to show some care toward others, casting her and Vorocia a soft look she hadn't missed.

She couldn't help but be reminded of Willow when she thought of what Zyro was offering her, a new life in a new place with people around her. Even though her heart still hurt to think of Willow's loss, the loss of the one who'd given her life, she couldn't give up on her future.

Coming back to attention as Zyro was speaking to Renegade, Zwei tapped her paws impatiently as he explained himself briefly, remembering how unpleasant the last six months had been and only reaffirming her decision to stay. She moved closer as he prepared to lead them, hesitating only slightly when he left before following close behind, stomach rumbling in anticipation of food and shelter.

[Renegade]

While following the slightly known path and using faded scents, he managed to find the area he met those... those pack wolves. Renegade growled and his muzzle wrinkled as he thought of the mistake. Entering a land instead of simply going around it, faster yet also time wasting. The slightly aggravated male padded around, his paw pads molding new indentations to the damp soil. As the shaggy looking male walked, time to time his paw would unpleasantly slid in the mud on the step trails. Growls radiated from Renegade, his tail flicked in annoyance as he dug his talons in and leapt from the traction-less ground to a dampened rock.

A small, coy smile took over his face. For a moment, he coiled up and rested on the stone structure. His tail tip fanning up and down as his mind raced about the situation. Renegade decided  - it was time to leave this land, to leave and never enter another as long as he lived. Packs are what killed his family, disgraceful. As Ren rose to his paws, he began to leap rock to rock down the slanted area, back to the  boarder and far away.

When the male was about half way down, the rock he leapt to shifted and fell loose. After the powerful storm, the sturdy dirt holding the boulder in place eroded enough for Ren's weight to trigger its undoing. The large rock tumbled, and Renegade along with it. Before the masculine knew it, he was ling on his side at the bottom of the hill side. A yelp came from him as deep snarls and curses at the rock followed.

Pushing himself to get up, Ren managed to stand, yet held his right hind leg up from the ground. Avoiding any and all pressure on it. He limped away from the small rock slide and onto a patch of grass - there he lied down and continued to get lightly pelted by rain drops. A deep huffing breath exited him, his body shock from slight pain shock. With his nerves being sensitive, even the wind seemed to make his body rack with with unappealing quivers. Low growls came from him, Ren's nomadic instincts kicked in - in his mind, he was injured which meant he was vulnerable. With is eyes and ears alert, the smallest rustle in the bushes would make his head rise and his teeth show. He was alone and injured.

[Sponsored content]