To the Main land [ Private, Olonai ]

[Sofika]

The forest of Arnlan was dark. The light that penetrated the thick clouds failed to filter between the branches of the black trees. Shadows consumed the most part of the forest. A dark figure weaved between these dark patches, leaping easily over ditches, diving swiftly beneath low hanging branches. On the maw of this character, was two neon spots which radiated brilliantly in the darkness. The eyes of colours unknown where hidden behind a veil of fur that hung from her forehead, and the rest of her body was consumed within the same lying darkness that was of the Arnlan Forest. The slender female was ahead of another wolf; a male. She expected him to be close to her tail.

" Faster Olonai. " grunted the female.

Only moments before had the Alphess vanished into the shadows, leading the new wolfs way to the main lands of Arnlan. Sofika had recently accepted Olonai in the pack, and now she was showing him the hard route back to the main lands. Not that she done this very often, but she was testing the wolf, to see if he could keep up with her set pace, that was not the optimum rate in which she could move. Her precise movements gave her the ability to turn so sharply and yet so easily. This brought a smile to her ebony features, as she circled around the wolf. Dark leaves, mostly that of the dark brown shade, littered the snow covered land. Despite the early spring, the snow had not melted in these parts, and so remained relatively thick. Small paw prints were gently pressed into that snow of white, only to be whisked away by a flick of the female's tail.

" Surely you can run faster than that. " like her brother, she spoke with no tone of question. It was more of a, statement.

Glancing over her shoulder, Sofika watched Olonai, and then she veered around suddenly and ran back at the wolf. Her head was held low to her chest; her tail was erect because there was no snow on these parts, and so her trails did not require to be swept from existence. No expression was of her maw, despite thoughts otherwise. Wrinkling her nose, Sofika stopped by the side of the path on which he ran. Her halt was so sudden, that her body pivoted almost, on the spot, with moist leaves and dirt splattering into the air from her mitts. The Alphess than stopped, breathing gently, and awaited for Olonai to stop.

[olonai]

Olonai followed swiftly after the alphess. Despite his bulk, he was lithe enough to follow the fast-footed femme whilst she brushed herself out of existence and he, seemingly, ran alone. Despite her dodging about bends and other objects, Olonai managed well enough to follow needing only to brush a few more branches and other things away. Though he was not the most immense brute, when Olonai ran with determination, he was a great locomotive which refused to be derailed until reached his destination. Anything in the way until then would be bowled over without hesitation. To say he was one-track minded would hardly be an exaggeration.

Spying Sofika swerve again away from their path, Olonai followed seeing himself circled as Sofika's gate increased momentarily before she stopped. Still pursuing her with absolute fervor and newly-burning devotion, he ran up beside her, stopping only when she commanded it to be so. At the sudden halt, Olonai dug into the earth to prevent making the alphess filthy from the mud and dead leaves swirling about their paws as they both abruptly ceased to move.

His breath was not terribly heavy, but he had exerted himself and hoped that he might strengthen himself and not comet to shame in front of the alphess by wheezing away a day that she needed to him to run harder. "Forgive me, I can run faster." He stated determinedly. Despite the fact that he was new to the pack, he was absolutely loyal to those he felt connected to and would prove himself endlessly for them if Olonai discerned it as something more than a petty trick. What Sofika would have him do next Olonai knew not but was ready for.

[Sofika]

A smirk rolled on her lips as the male stopped suddenly and apologised for his running. Of course she pushed him a little too hard there, running off to suddenly and expecting him to keep up with her speed and frame. Indeed, it would be difficult to see her in the darkness that she blended so well within. Licking her salivating lips, Sofika turned and walked away a few steps, sniffing at the air. Her erect tail wavered slightly in the air, and she considered something new for Olonai. But, it was too soon for Sofika to expect so much from him, and she wandered back infront of him.

" It is quite alright. "

Glancing here and there, Sofika was suddenly very cautious, and she moved with such gentleness that the forest foliage on the ground was undisturbed when her petite black mitts stepped upon them. A break was needed, but Sofika was intent on pressing on wards to the mainlands. However their route was not so simple. What Olonai did not know, was that she had not moved to wards the main land. In fact, she had moved away from it, more to the left than straight ahead. Secretly, she was showing him the lands, allowing him to get to know his surroundings whilst he rested.

No was the time to move again. Nodding her head in signal to him, Sofika pushed off quickly from her mitts, diving over a high wall of thick nettle bushes. In the lands of Arnlan, there were only some bushes like this, and most were frosted with melting snow that dripped onto the land, soaking it more. In the sky behind the tree tops, rain was falling gently but the sky was obscured due to the thick black branches that hung over head. Soon though, they'd arrive in a clearing, and they would rest there when they arrived. Arnlan was a wide territory, and there was much for Olonai to see. Personally, Sofika was enjoying this, showing him the ropes, but she did not noticeably show the content she was feeling.

" Well? " she called back to him.

[olonai]

Olonai breathed in heavily, releasing the taken air gradually as he inhaled his surroundings and gathered fresh scents mixed with the familiar. He had never been this deep into Arnlan before, but knew they were still far away from anything that he couldn't have spied from where he had stood. All the same, he was enjoying himself. It was exhilarating to have the alphess herself be his guide while he hurtled through thick foliage and shadowed underbrush into an unknown he must swiftly become acquainted with. If everyday were like this, Olo would be satisfied for the rest of his life.

He was surprised by Sofika's forgiveness. Despite her lack of tone, there was an endearing quality to her plain and firm way of speech. It intrigued Olonai to no end and wished that he could speak so elegantly and simply without warbling and wavering. However, he was young and full of emotion and strength which was not yet restrained and held as accountable as every muscle fiber in Sofika's being. Perhaps, one day, Olonai could be a fifth of what Sofika was today.

Before she spoke, Olonai realized it was time to go again, but was still too slow to move his paws before she called after him again. Without considering the landscape, Olonai barreled after her almost forgetting he must leap high over the thistles and thorns to prevent unnecessary damage to his person. Long limbs hurling him over with what grace was possible in an unanticipated leap, Olonai was after Sofika again and ready to be guided once more. This wasn't a tour of leisure, but training for life; a life which Olonai was beyond thrilled to continue.

"I come, m'lady."

[Sofika]

Darkness, it was everywhere. It never seemed to leave these lands of Arnlan. Around every tree, in front of her maw, it was there, looming, freely because there was no light to filter through and pierce it. Arnlan was a cold, quiet place. Keeping to itself, eating its own game; for now at the least. A smirk was upon the she wolfs mitts, as the landing of Olonai over the bramble bush echoed in her ears. Such a hard connection to the ground it seemed, and his calling of his follow was lost in the speed in which she ran. But she heard it. A quiet murmur, a whisper, fell from her lips, falling behind her and into the lands. It's faint echo seemed to stir the trees, and a breeze fell about the place. Coincidence? Maybe.

The long stretch of hillside terrain was littered with dark tree foliage. Trees and leaves the shade of dark brown and black were upon the marshy land, mixing with the mud and snow that remained patched around the area. The cold splash of the water cascaded past the female's side, but it did not touch her legs. Repellent it would seem, was she, that somehow no water nor mud nor leave nor seed clung to her plush dark coat. That fur, plushy as it was, bounced along on her lithe frame, as hr legs trundled the Alphess across the land, leading the new wolf to were she thought on departing from him. Near to the main land they were headed now, because the she wolf grew bored of this run. Yes, he would be left to make his short route to the main land, that she called it, and Sofika would depart into the shadows, with her all seeing eye upon him and the wolves of the land.

Before them, a faint light seemed to shine, however it was relatively dim. It was the clearing in which Sofika was intended to rest and possibly depart, however these thoughts could were not dependable ones. And so those who read it would be reading possible lies, and possible truths. No wolf, with the exception of Karolek, knew of her thoughts. Never openly did she express ideas nor feeling, nor expression. Sofika kept to her own controlled self, speaking only to those whom she wished to. Like many of the wolves here, bouncy young males like the one straggling behind her, would soon become mute, withdrawn almost, from every outsider, or every stranger. Soon enough, they would soon be expressionless, and so those hopes and dreams of Olonai, may one day be fulfilled. Or not.

" We are almost there. "

Soft, yet it remained without expression. That was her Sofika. Mute, like the shadows, she did not stop to glance nor investigate whether or not he was still behind her. She knew he was there. His presence was obvious. The breathing was heavy in her ears. Her senses were acute, but none knew of them. She could hear everything, see everything.

[olonai]

Olonai begrudged himself the pathetic landing over the bushes, but commended himself all the same for vaulting so swiftly without preparation. He had no doubt that Sofika knew these lands well and could navigate with or without the eyes she kept hidden from view. All the same, Olonai was determined to learn these woods also and every crack and crag of the earthen floor and tree bark. If he were to protect this land, he must know it and know it well. For now, Olonai toured like a passerby with little intention to come about again, but Olonai would. However, time pressed against him and moved him forward once more.

Long legs guiding him along as he ambled along the slopes that stippled the place of Arnlan, Olonai found himself moving amiably through the dark hues of the forest. Though the umbers and charcoals were varying and difficult to discern with little light, Olo was adjusting. However, with the darkness and removal of light, Olonai heard only silence and the breath passing over his tongue. Where were the birds? Where was the wind that whistled through the bows of the canopy? Was the wind only in his head? For a moment only, anxiety altered Olonai's expression of near-ecstasy. After all, he was running with the alphess after his acceptance into a dream. A most dismal dream, but one he had ran after and would continue to run after at this rate.

As the trees broke overhead, Olonai knew that the alphess was before him; her ebony pelt a pleasant luster even in the absence of sunlight. Even in blackness, there was a softness and buoyancy not achieved with white -- not even white snow. Olonai acknowledged her statement gratefully. He was not tired or anxious any longer, but it thrilled him to be drawing nearer to the heart of Arnlan. A heart's dwelling that he felt he could feel thrum and pound with life as every moment passed by. His own heartbeat began to synchronize with this rhythm only felt by his soul, but the wonders it did.

Solemnity. Devoutness. Silence. The heartbeat demanded of Olonai's mind and rebuked him for his unchained enthusiasm. One must be excited quietly and hold back anything but claws and fangs when the need called. Speak when spoken to which meant one would not typically speak. Yes, the heart of Arnlan was a like a cemetery where regard was everything and respect meant not a single utterance. One must walk away from the heart to speak for they were in the sepulcher of wordless monks. These were religious deeds they embarked on daily and, tasks need not speak to the workers, nor the workers speak of the task.

This is home. Olonai thought behind stony eyes of copper. His joy hadn't dwindled though it had chilled in a moment. This was where his life began and would end.

[Sofika]

Things were to be done and they lingered in the mysterious mind that was of Sofika. At one point, the run must end. That ending was near. Duties had been put upon hold whilst she accepted this wolf, and so she confirmed her thoughts that, she should lead her way to wards them. Certain that the wolf, whom she predicted to already be adjusting to the complete darkness that was of her lands, would find his way fine, Sofika would leave in the clearing only several bounding steps ahead. Another whisper was cast into the wind streams in which she created with her elegantly lithe body, and it was to call upon Olonai to draw by her side. She would explain to him her intentions.

Ditches, branches, logs and boulders were strewn across the darkened land, the mute land. They posed as obstacles for those who wished them to be so. A graceful push over a snow frosted boulder here, a dive beneath a low branch there, and she was fine, slowing down now, so that Olonai was by her side, with him being slightly behind than she. Cast over her shoulder was a glance to see him, and that cold, expressionless feature in which she wore often was on her maw. Gently trotting to a slow halt, approaching carefully now the clearing in the forest, Sofika waited on the subordinate to catch her up.

" We are here, and it is now that I must depart to attend matters of my concern. " she spoke blankly, and pointed her maw now to the opening in the trees.

It was there that he should go, and then set forth on finding his own bearing of the land. Not all was yet known to Olonai, despite if he thought it was so. No. There was much for him to do, much to see and register in his mind, that she had mastered all too long ago. Clicking her tongue in her sealed lips, she halted him by swerving slowly in front of him. A nod was of her maw as she turned, flicking her tail into the air, and strode to the gap in the trees. There, she turned a right angle almost exactly, and walked to the darkness.

" Through here is where you should go, and set forth to establish your bearing of the lands. "

With that, the female suddenly disappeared into the foliage hastily, if not so noticeably. Leaving behind Olonai, she considered it a good idea. From the short time in which she had spent with him, Sofika believed that he would be fine on his own, and soon he would find those other straggling newcomers, and then friendships would occur. That was obviously, something she did not mind nor linger her thoughts on, but one should choose wisely whom they give their trust to. For a wolf such as she, trust was rarely given, and so when it was, it was to be cherished. Perhaps Olonai would soon become worthy of her trust. Only time would tell and careful observation would decide.

[olonai]

Olonai followed over the edge of the hill and back down into the gully below. The land rippled as the muscles and strength of the pack did with might. It was intriguing to see how the landscape had formed itself to suit the pack rather than the other way around. No wonder Arnlan was here. The land was truly under their dominion.

At the gesture of the alphess, Olonai followed behind obediently, always silent and perpetually looking and listen for his next cue. Sofika was quiet most of the time, but said a great deal without a word. Olonai could understand that speech as much or more than when one's lips actually verbalized thought. Still, Sofika was shrouded in an aura of mystery which Olonai had no desire to pierce. He was afraid to pierce it and see what vicious and aged thoughts might lurk within.

She spoke, and Olonai felt uncertainty waver in him again. Sofika was leaving him. His guide up until this point was unleashing him into the wilds of Arnlan that he had not yet trespassed. Eyes flickering towards her, he merely flicked his ears to show he understood what it was she commanded of him. What it was she wanted surprised him not. This was the way it was so often with the new meat of the pack. After you taunt them into submission, you lead them through trial after trial and then desert them. One becomes numb to work after a while, but only when it was provided. now, Olonai must work alone.

"I shall go, m'lady." he said, bowing his head slightly as he passed by where she had indicated. It was just another step into the levels of darkness though it was filled with hope and anticipation. What would wait for him in the corridors of the forest Olonai couldn't guess, but it mattered not. He was accepted and in the main land.