Tracking a Legend {Sofika}

[nightblood]

Wide paws pounded the snow covered ground as a young wolf made his way across the land. ShadeBlood'd mood was lifted when he again caught the scent of his target. He had by passed months of tracking once again. Now he was within weeks of catching up to her.

NightBlood's scent was familiar to him, having first caught it in an abandoned den over two months ago. That was the day he set off to find her. The journey proved difficult, dodging vicious loners and human hunters, but somehow he managed to get this far.

Valiria had never been good to Shade. He was hated and feared for his likeness of NightBlood, the Attacker. He was often abused and neglected. His scars were proof of this. Malnutrition had caused his stunted growth. Three feet high may have been average for normal wolves, but it was tiny by Valirian standards.

ShadeBlood halted at a pack border. NightBlood had gone on into the territory. The young wolf tilted his head in confusion. The legends had all ended in one of three different ways. One was that NightBlood had started her own pack far away. Another told of her assassination of both Alphas of a far away pack and her rise of power within that territory. Still another had told that she had joined and took command of a traveling band of assassins and thieves. All three conclusions were also convinced that she was plotting revenge on Valiria for her bannishment. ShadeBlood had been raised on thoes stories and knew them well.

All things considered, Shade knew that he would never be allowed to continue his journey allive unless he got permission from the Alphas of this land to cross the territory unharmed. Keeping this in mind, he lifted his head and howled. "Allphaas... Annyonne?" It was a talent of his to mourph his howls into words. This made it clear to the listener as to what or who he needed. He sat down in the snow and waited.

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NightBlood jolted in her sleep and woke up to a strange sort of howl. It was not nessesarily directed at her and she had already tried her hand at boarder patrol. She'd be no good as tired as she was anyway. No one would need a half-asleep subordinate as back up for a border guard.

Blinking, she cringed at the harsh light being emmited from the cave entrance. It was passed mid-day. Too tired to get up, she turned away from the light and tucked her tail around her nose. She thought she had sighted Snow, the Arnlan pup somewhere within the cave. Content that he was there, she closed her eyes once more and fell asleep.

[Sofika]

Snowfall amount was decreasing slowly, but yet the branches still ached with the weight of that that had fallen a few weeks back. Nothing melted here, not in this season at least. Occasionally, one would here one of the trees arms snapping under the pressure then to be hidden under the lump of snow that fell atop of it. Just as one of said branches was about to collapse, a dark she wolf found herself diving forward out of harms way. Of course, she had saw everything coming but yet still chose to proceed under it. Smirking, she padded on wards in her slow, gentle pace.

There was no need to hurry. Everything in the land was in order. No trouble as far as she was aware. And she aware. Trotting to a stop, she raised her head and sniffed around, and then dipped her maw to the ground and she sniffed a bit more here and there. Glancing about her, she lifted her head and continued on. Her fur bounced about on her slender body. Fine prints from her paws remained where she walked. Everything seemed fine. Then she heard someone, calling to them. To Sofika. To Karolek. Snorting a little, she made a bee line for the source of this howl.

As she made her way to the one at the border, the black wolf passed the cavern in which Nightblood slept. However she did not stop to acknowledge this and upped her pace so that she may get there before one anyone else did. Sofika doubted their appearance anyway. Everyone had practically vanished these past days. Leaping over a shallow bush, Sofika observed her surroundings, her ears swayed in assessment to the sounds about her. That howl still echoed faintly, and she dived into the shadows in pursuit of it. It was then that a scar ridden figure appeared within sight.

" I'll assume that it was you who called to wolves of this land. Your doing... what exactly in my territory? "

She wasn't about to mess around here, yet she felt strangely generous this evening. Maybe it was the lack of seeing another wolf in a while that made her feel this way... yet that should make her angry, knowing that her wolves where either avoiding her, or where to lazy to get out their dens in the dusk. Her face was not exactly readable for her eyes were covered by her fur and she spoke in a slightly monotonous voice. Maybe the male could guess though, that she was slightly happier now she had something to take up her time.

[nightblood]

ShadeBlood had been half-expecting a troop of ravenous wolves to come forward from the shadows and attack him. He relaxed only a little when only one slender shadow showed herself. 'My territory...' she said. This was the Alpha female. Clearly not NightBlood. By the legends he knew her to be a huge, brute-like female. The one who stood before him was only a few inches taller than him and seemed to be kinder than he had expected.

After chocking back his surprise, he inclined his head a little and raised it back up, keeping a warry eye on the shadows behind her should there be a sneak attack, but he doubted it greatly. "It was I who called. I was hoping-" he trailed off. Could the legends have travled here as well? Would the prospect of tracking such a dangerous wolf thru her territory cause this Alpha female to deny him? Pondering an idea, Shade decided to procede with it.

"Could you tell me if a female named NightBlood came thru here?" It was blunt, yes, but should the female deny him entry it wasn't as if he couldn't round the border and find out where she continued her journy. A few more days of walking would not deter him from his quest.

Looking back up at the female he noticed for the first time the tuft of long fur on her head. This made a majority of her face unreadable, but he would be able to guess if she recalled the name. In his last few months in Valiria he had gotten quite good at interpreting intentions from facial expressions. It was the only way he could dodge hits and blows aimed for him. If he could decifer those kinds of looks, then surely he would be able to detect memories.

[Sofika]

Sofika was not about to take any risks. Oh no. If this wolf was looking for the Nightblood that she had accepted, then what was he seeking her for? To hurt her perhaps? Assassinate her? She guessed the female had a rough past, it was readable in her attitude and the way she carrier herself. Giving the male a low growl she moved a two paw steps close to him and looked at his scarred body. Wasn't very convincing for an assasin.

" A wolf name of Nightblood you seek. Why do you do so? "

She'd see what he was really up to now. She could tell if someone was lying due to experience. Pack members, trespassers... they had lied to her many times before. Wrinkling her nose she eyed the male cautiously now. Now she wasn't feeling quite so generous for Sofika wasn't about to say oh yes I've seen a Nightblood let me lead you to her den. She was intrigued why he'd be looking for her.

Yet looking closer she could see some form of resemblance to her Nightblood under his torn skin. Maybe he was genuinly looking for a long lost sister? Sofika considered all the different areas and possibilites but still voted for protecting Nightblood from any potentail harm that may befall he from this male. She always put the pack before her.

[nightblood]

ShadeBlood considered her question for a moment. Could he risk telling the truth? By her reaction and her sudden protective mannor, he knew she had seen her. Perhaps they were packmates? By her original statement of 'My territory', did that mean she was simply a pack member? Or could she be co-Alphas with NightBlood? This was all very confusing to him. The legends had clung to the idea that the Attacker was now leading her own pack. Could they be wrong? They were, after all, only legends...

ShadeBlood took another moment before he answered her. It was clear to him that this wolfess knew his target in some way, and would probably fight for her safety. Guessing that she thought he meant NightBlood harm, he decided to go with the short version of the story. "My name is ShadeBlood. Night is my cousin." he said, "I've been tracking her for a long time now. I wish to join her pack."

He sat down, puntuating his determination. He could not be swayed. ShadeBlood was intent on finding his cousin. She was the only one who had the possibility of understanding his pain. Although... she had simply been banished instead of beaten. It didn't matter, he told himself, she still hates Valiria too.

[Sofika]

What was it that he was contemplating? He had a look about his face that made her all the more intrigued. Cousin. But was he cousins to the same Nightblood she had in her pack? Looking him over the similarity between the two was noteable. Nightblood's pack? Nightblood lead no pack, she was a member of this pack. Would that disappoint poor Shadeblood to know that she was not the Alpha of this territory? She growled at the idea of the female overthrowing her at one point and she suddenly became very weary of her.

Would Nightblood try to take over Arnlan?

Now she was hiring this... cousin of hers to assist. Even if the idea had been taken the wrong way it had to be considered because it seemed suddenly possible and Sofika was not up for taking unecessary risks. Karolek would not be amused with the idea either. Certainly not. " A wolf name of Nightblood has come through here. But she does not rule the lands or the pack that resides here. I do. I am her Alpha Sofika. "

[nightblood]

"Her Alpha.." she had said. NightBlood was here. Had it not been for the sudden growl the black leader had emmited, Shade would have jumped for joy. She had been insulted by his use of grammer. By saying "NightBlood's pack", he had only meant the pack she belonged to or was in at the time. No matter, peace would be established in time. He lowered his ears and nodded. "By your authoritive nature, I know you are Alpha," he said appologeticly.

His journey was complete, but an obstical was in the way of victory. This obstical's name was Sofika, and she deffinatly presented a problem. He had to gain admittence into this pack, whatever the cost. If NightBlood had simply joined and not taken over, she must have liked this Alpha. ShadeBlood was slightly scared of her, but perhaps that would pass in time as well.

"May I be permitted to see my cousin?"

[Sofika]

" Good. " was her immediate reply to his apology. Sofika was still very suspicious of this male and by her own actions probably made things very tense. She done that quite alot with unfamiliar wolves. One could never be too careful these days because time did not feel safe anymore. She was expecting something that is meant to be unexpected to occur and this male coming up on the border saying what he had had not made her feel very reassured.

Although he seemed genuine now that she had observed him and talked to him. She was quick to judge, Sofika, but all he wanted was to see Nightblood for whatever reason she knew, just knew, not to press upon. He would be allowed to see his cousin but on one condition. He was to live and serve in the pack of Arnlan. He could never leave the territory. She would know if he did. Sofika always knew. " Shadeblood. You are permitted to see your cousin but let me warn you. Once you step into those shadows over there, you will never be permitted to leave. You will become one of the pack and I will be watching. "

[nightblood]

ShadeBlood stood up and smiled. He was finally going to see his cousin. Sofika's warning had no effect on him. He was honored to be in the same pack as NightBlood. "I'd expect nothing less from an Alpha," he said quite bluntly. The fact that this black wolf half trusted him made him like her a bit more.

The obstical that had been Sofika was, for the moment, over come. Though he doubted he would have much trouble with her in the future, he could not predict what would happen durring his stay in this territory. He would be with NightBlood. That's all he cared about. He wagged his tail once, took a step forward, and stopped. "After you then?"