Forth, through the snow. (acceptance)

[Akree]

Snow covered the land, white snow that covered the earth. Clouds were seen overhead, gray clouds, the gray of dust. The trees had lost their leaves, the jagged branches seemed to groan under the weight of the snow. Small animals creeped silently, following this new face among a world of white. They followed the paw prints leading to a timber wolf. This wolf seemed tired, but willing to go on. The paw print sunk deeply into the snow marking her direction clearly.

Uin struggled to keep walking, dragging her paws through the cold snow. To tired, to hungry to care where she was headed, not conscious that she had crossed another pack's territory. Her breath came in hard gasps. Where was she? she asked herself as she lifted her head, the scent, the atmosphere felt different from the place she was before. Had she finally crossed into another packs territory, where maybe, just maybe she could be accepted. She looked behind her and knew that she was right the terrain was somewhat different. She changed her gaze forward as a sly smile formed on her lips. She had wanted to be accepted into another pack, she wanted to move away from her family, to see something new. Her adventurous nature made her feel excited and she would have showed it, but the feeling was numbed by her tiredness.

She wished to get a better view of the land, but was denied by her weakening body. She had walked for so long her legs seemed to move on their own, she chuckled at this. She lifted her head to the sky, but no light seemed to appear. The air seemed to sigh, as cold wind blew past her fur. She searched the horizon and walked toward a tree. She sat down beneath the tree and yawned silently. She looked lazily at the horizon feeling sleepy, it felt so peaceful, it was hard to believe that these lands were at war with one another. She lowered her head and smiled slightly to her own tiredness.

If she was lucky maybe a friendly wolf would allow her to the pack and be glad to welcome her. She hummed in a wolfish manner, if she was lucky, maybe she would be lucky.

[nightblood]

Ever vigilant, the crimson eyes of Arnlan's largest Sentry swerved and turned in their sockets, one doing the job for both. Her ears rotated and flicked at each sound made by the tiniest creatures. Paw pads picked up the smallest vibrations through the snow. Fangs and claws stood at the ready, poised to defend the territory until they were worn and broken. There were a few things off with this wolf, however. A slash on her left pupil made it clear of her blindness in that eye and she walked with a predominant limp in her left hind leg. But NightBlood still walked proudly as she marched along the border of Arnlan.

Truth be told, NightBlood was getting a little tired by now. She had just recently found a new den and was looking forward to a nice, long nap. The Sentry slowed to a stop and gave a loud yawn. Her eyelids drooped a little bit, but she decided to finish the lap around the territory before bedding down for the night.

She pressed forward, her paw steps coming heavier as she lumbered over the snow covered land. The wind gently ruffled her fur as it brought the scents of the land to her nose. Her eyes were suddenly wide open. Among the scents of Sofika, Karolek, Crow, Mortil, Mordecai, RavenShard, Pollux, Orion,Phineas, Ziro, and numerous other Arnlanians whom she had yet to meet, there was a new wolf smell. It was clear that this one didn't belong to Arnlan. The territory-scent wasn't on it. A growl erupted in Night's throat. Intruder.

As if on que, Blood abandoned her march and started at a vicious lope toward the source of the scent, still growling. It wasn't too long before she could make out the form of a wolfess in the distance. The gait of the stranger made it clear that she was tired as well, but even more so than NightBlood. Perhaps she didn't even notice that she had crossed the border. But that, to Blood, was no excuse unless she couldn't smell or see the marks she and Crow had made.

Blood quickened her pace and leaped over a log and into the path of the unknown female, sliding and coming to a stop in front of her, facing her with her fangs bared and her head lowered defensively. She lifted her tail and pressed her ears forward to show her rank, but not too high in case one of the Alphas showed up.

"State your name and business here, Intruder. You've crossed the border a while ago."

[Akree]

Uin searched lazily the horizon, she breathed deeply. She was in no position to run away, much less to fight, in a matter of minutes she could fall in a lifeless heap. She shuddered at the thought, she only hoped she would be accepted and if not, she gulped at the thought. In the distance she could hear footsteps, her ears perked up, a wolf. She shook her head, was she wrong? As she opened them again the large wolf was already several yards away, she held her breath.

"State your name and business here, Intruder. You've crossed the border a while ago."

The wolf stood menacingly, fangs bared and clearly showing its rank. She swallowed hard and lifted her gaze to meet the wolf's eyes. She had to be careful, not to falter and not to oppose the pack wolf. She took a deep breath.

"I mean no harm. I only wish to find a pack that will accept me"

She held her breath, not daring to say anything else, not daring to even move. The earth seemed to hold its breath as if waiting for the other wolf's answer. At that moment she doubted, what if this wolf chose to get rid of her. She rid herself of the thought, Arnlan, she thought to herself. The dreadful thought seemed to creep back. She turned those thoughts away and turned to to what was happening now.

[nightblood]

"I mean no harm. I only wish to find a pack that will accept me."

Night gave a low snort as she raised her head. She was not impressed by this she-wolf. At least, not yet. She moved toward the smaller female and began to circle her, trying to find anything about her that could be useful to the pack. She was light, perhaps a good runner. She would make for a good messenger if her memory proved satisfactory. Other then that, nothing really stood out to her.

"You wish to be accepted into a pack that moves in the shadows, that lingers in the darkness and lives in the black abyss of the land? If this disturbs you, then walk away."

A sly smile formed on her lips as she said this. NightBlood always loved to see how loners would react to her exaggerations. They certainly seemed to give Arlan a sense of foreboding. Even though Arnlan was mysterious, it wasn't as violent as she made it seem.

The Sentry came to a stop in front of the younger wolfess and sat down. She hadn't run at the sight of her, so she really didn't expect her to walk out now.

"What can you offer to the pack? We're not a charity, taking in the sick and injured all the time. We expect our wolves to work as best as they can."

[Akree]

Uin listened carefully to the wolf, listened carefully for anything at all, she didn't care if it was of importance or not, she didn't show what she was feeling at the moment since she herself was not sure of that. She steadied her breath as the sentry walked around her, but not dared to move. As the wolf spoke she gave her total attention to the wolf, still she remained in the same position she was before, sitting in the cold snow under a crooked tree.

"You wish to be accepted into a pack that moves in the shadows, that lingers in the darkness and lives in the black abyss of the land? If this disturbs you, then walk away."

Uin wanted to smile at the wolf's reply, but said nothing, just a short, but notable pause before answering the wolf. She moved her tail over her front paws and said in the most respectful voice she could.

"No, it does not disturb me"

Uin watched the wolf sit in front of her. She was preparing herself for a question and there it was, a question that she herself wasn't sure of, but still listened and answered nonetheless.

"What can you offer to the pack? We're not a charity, taking in the sick and injured all the time. We expect our wolves to work as best as they can."

"Of course I don't expect to do nothing, I will do my best to earn my place in a pack" Uin replied in a low, but assuring voice. "I may not look like much and I doubt I can do all that much either, but I did get here without stopping for rest or food"she paused "And I am a good runner"

Her reply impressed even herself, she was glad she never did raise her voice or seemed to insult those whom she didn't know. As still as ever she hoped for the wolf not to consider itself insulted.

[nightblood]

NightBlood watched as the female covered her front paws with her tail, almost exactly like she had done at her first acceptance. She tilted her head at the action as she recalled her own recruitment. She had to admit, she hadn't been this respectful to Sofika when she first met her. She cursed herself for it, but did not dwell on it for too long. That was the past. Nothing could change it.

"Of course I don't expect to do nothing, I will do my best to earn my place in a pack. I may not look like much and I doubt I can do all that much either, but I did get here without stopping for rest or food," she paused, "and I am a good runner."

Blood nodded when the younger wolfess confirmed her thoughts. She would almost definitely be ranked as a messenger, or at least a Sentry if her memory proved faulty.

"You have good endurance and speed. One can tell by the way you walk so quickly even when tired."

The Sentry tapped her tail on the ground, trying to think of anything she might have left out. Arnlan could always use more wolves. Better for Arnlan to have them than Sallin, especially one as healthy as this. A moment passed before she came to a conclusion. This female didn't look or smell dangerous. Even if she proved to be a spy, Night would wager that Umbra could use an an easy fight. She looked down and the brown female.

"You've forgotten to tell me your name," she pointed out.

[Akree]

Uin sat silently as the wolf thought of what to say. Her tiredness didn't bothered her anymore, she in fact felt much better than she did before, even the cold wind didn't bother her anymore. She felt a little more confident to prove herself.

"You have good endurance and speed. One can tell by the way you walk so quickly even when tired."

Uin nodded at this, she already had hoped for an answer like that, after all it only took a little look at her to notice she was light and quick on her paws. She watched as the sentry taped her tail on the ground. She knew to well that the sentry was lost in its own thoughts, but at the same time not forgetting about her. The sentry opened its jaws to speak and she paid her total attention to its words.

"You've forgotten to tell me your name"

Uin quickly steadied herself to answer.

"Uin, my name is Uin"she paused and said again "I'm sorry for not answering before" she quickly pointed out remembering the sentry's first words.

[nightblood]

"It's quite alright, Uin. Everyone forgets. But you'd do well to remember that my name is NightBlood and that the Alpha's names are Karolek and Sofika."

Perhaps they would have a new Sentry soon, Blood thought to herself as she stood up, keeping her eyes on the new member. Giver her one last observation, NightBlood walked past the brown wolfess and headed toward the border.

"Welcome to Arnlan. Feel free to explore, but please take note of the borders."

With that, she started at a run back to the point that she had abandoned her patrol. If Uin had anymore questions, they would have to wait until she was done with her patrol and preferably after a long nap. Perhaps she would find another Arnlanian to ask any further inquiries to. Pollux would be a good wolf to run into for knowledge if she was in a good mood.

[Akree]

"It's quite alright, Uin. Everyone forgets. But you'd do well to remember that my name is NightBlood and that the Alpha's names are Karolek and Sofika."

Uin nodded and smiled at Nightblood. She stood up and watched Nightblood closely.

"Welcome to Arnlan. Feel free to explore, but please take note of the borders."

Uin smiled once more as the sentry left in what was like a mix of relief and excitement, she had just been accepted to a pack and not just any pack, she had been accepted to Arnlan.