I Lean Against the Wind.

[wicked]

Pretend that I am weightless.

The soft waves of the oceans depths caressed the soft white sand of Scatterstone beach on this calm morning. A light breeze still hung on the air, and many creatures, namely the seagulls, had emerged to take advantage of the excellent maritime weather.

But gulls weren't the only creatures that these most welcome conditions had drawn out. Piper, a young she-wolf, had woken bright an early at sunrise to enjoy the weather the spring rains had brought to Scatterstone. Not having any allegiance to any one pack, Piper relished her freedom, and treasured it as her number one priority. The black and beige fae inhaled deeply, the sea salt tingling her nostrils and drawing a soft smile to the fae's black lips.

And in this moment, I am happy....

Sea could be seen sitting atop a large rock that protruded from the seashore out into the water. Ears sticking at a perpendicular angle to her skull, listening to the calls of the sea gulls and the murmuring winds that ruffled her fur. Her tail curled neatly about her lean haunches, Piper had her eyes closed, as if simply cherishing this moment of true freedom. Lids finally snapping open revealed two brilliant orbs of a warm deep brown hue, that possessed small fleck of gold here and there with the iris.

Piper's smile widened as she watched the waves batter the rock she was sitting on, and the shoreline, constantly shaping and eroding the land at it's will. The hair on her head and neck, tipped in a neon-blue colored dye, raised up and down in the winds and reminded Piper of some exotic bird she had seen while wandering through the nearby port.

As her gaze wandered across the sand of the beach, Piper wondered what other animal life had emerged to greet this beautiful morn'.

[smartie]

Not too far, hidden behind a cluster of bushes, lay a creature upon her scar stricken back. That creature, was in fact a wolf, a white, female wolf, who had recently attempted to become on of the wolves of the mysterious Arnlan pack. Licking her lips, she sniffed the salty air and sneezed, however her eyes remained shut. Her paws hung limply in the air, and with a fore mitt, she scratched at her chest and sighed. The feeling that was upon her was that of relaxation. The day before had been dark, and had set an agitated mood upon her. Shifting about, the great wolf stirred...

The ways that lapped the soft sand on which she had walked many a times before swayed in her ears that perked on her head. She thought she could hear the faint breathing of another. Opening her blue eyes, she stared until her vision focused from blurred to clear. Then, she blinked, and rolled gently to her side. A yawn was of her powerful jaws; they parted wide, revealing sharp fangs tinted with a very light shade of pink. That was from the many fights and hunts that she had participated in over the years. One could tell from a glance, that she had been in the most brutal of battles; scars were raked across her face, back, and limbs. Not the prettiest of sights.

Slowly, she rose, shaking herself to rid her plush pelt of sand and leaves from the bushes and trees that hung above her in shelter. I wonder if I was imagining that breathing sound... she pondered, kneading the ground with her toes. Maybe someone was watching me, then saw me stir and scampered for it... Oh well... she shrugged and emerged lazily from the bushes. It was then that the sight of another caught her attention, waking her almost immediately. Shine crouched low to the ground, her stomach brushing the earth, and peered out to the one on the rock. Who... is that? thought the white one, and remained where she was to further observe them. Only after carefully monitoring them, would she approach.

[sarhea]

Her blue eyes scanned the landscape before her. A cool, salty breeze rolled gently over the calm sea before her, blowing strands of gray fur into her eyes. The large, white wolf-dog watched as the gulls scurried around on the white beach searching for their morning's breakfast.

I'm back to the water's edge, Shanda thought to herself. Why must she be back to the water. Of all the places she could have found herself, on a beach was not one of them. Water meant greater chances of running into other animals, or humans.

The sea unconsciously brought her to this place. She was weary from travel, and hungry. She normally found it easy to find rest and food in the vicinity of water. Shanda scanned the waters; the morning sun had slipped above the horizon, sending it's golden rays across the sky, highlighting the crests of the gentle rolling waves. A movement caught her attention from the corner of her eye, and Shanda threw a cautious glance in the direction of a large group of rocks on the water's edge. She could not smell anything yet-she was upwind of whatever was there.

Shanda hesitated, her black ears slightly back. Not yet, please not yet, she thought. She had just begun to enjoy the pleasant morning.

There was movement on the rock again...just as she feared-another dog....and she was upwind in broad daylight...there was nowhere to hide and she knew for sure her scent had to have been detected by now.

Shanda considered turning in her tracks and running, but she was tired and hungry, and tired of being afraid of anything that moved. She would run into other dogs or wolves sooner or later. Maybe this time would turn out better....not all encounters had to turn out badly....

Shanda sighed and slowly continued to cautiously make her way down the beach....

((I hope you don't mind if I join...this is my very first ever RP post, and seemed a good opportunity to try out my writing abilities!))

[wicked]

The wind. The brisk wind that battered the shore of Scatterstone on this particular morn had served another purpose besides warning one that Spring was upon the land. The first scent that had traveled to the large female was that of a peculiar nature. A hybrid?.. the she wolf thought to herself in question, trying to analyze the scent that arrived on the back of the frigid wind.

Piper, who now sat comfortably on the crag that jutted out into the ferocity of the sea, turned her attention back to the shoreline, for the scent had traveled to her from a close vicinity. Her black and tan maw lifted to the grey skies and sniffed the breeze lightly, trying to locate the source of the hybrid scent, when another aroma reached her nose, grown sensitive due to thousands of years of evolutionary tactics. The second scent that arrived to greet the great fae was that of another wolf, a female, much like herself. Piper was surprised, she had not seen or encountered another canine since she and Wicked had parted ways a few moons ago, Piper had wondered what kind of mischief her comrade had been causing without her.

I wish you were here...

Bringing herself back to the present matters at hand, Piper's nose again took a sniff at the breeze to try and locate either one of her two fellows nearby. Her senses directed her to the bushes nearby, "Hello?-" She was distracted mid-sentence by the approach of the hybrid as she made her way down the shoreline. Piper's gaze turned to the black and white female, her ears swiveled in uncertainty, she had never encountered a mix of this kind before and the whole sudden-ness of it all amused Piper. Then again, it really didn't take too much for Piper to be amused.

[smartie]

The sudden movement of rising then immediately falling again had hurt the hind legs of Shine and she winced as a searing pain shot through them. A muffled growl emitted from beneath her breath and she placed her forehead upon the soft sandy earth. She remained still, hidden from view, but with her eyes shut, and her teeth clench. Momentarily, this pain lasted, and she resisted the temptation to buck her head back and snarl a sound that would attract attention to her location. As the pain was beginning to wear off, the other character appeared on the scene, a hybrid of some sort. Slowly. she lifted her head and peered between a gap in the bushes. Her eyes were narrowed and she deeply exhaled as the pain was relieved.

Hmm... That's not... a pure wolf... muttered the female, slinking back wards into the shadows, behind the foliage. There she lay on the soft bedding that she had gathered the previous evening. Sand was strewn across it, because she had had to drag herself over it in fear of the pain returning. Damn, where did that painful sensation come from? she growled mentally, and rested her head on the ground. And who is that on the rock, and who is that approaching the one on the rock? she questioned, however no answers came to her, because she knew none from this land. Then, the image of that Arnlan wolf crept into mind and she shut her eyes, remembering the tension that had fallen upon the others arrival. She was odd... snorted the white one.

As she remained there, the other became more aware of the two presences that had since arrived, Shine, and the hybrid. The battle scarred female watched with slight amusement through spaced between the small delicate of the bush. Now, she would not emerge, not at the time being at least; but she would. Licking her lips, she shifted around to become comfortable, and observe any actions that were to follow with the approach of the white and blackish one. I'll see how they react to each other... determine if it will be safe or not for me to make an appearance before them. nodded Shine with a smirk. She'd bide her time in the safety of her makeshift home...

[sarhea]

The morning sun partially blinded Shanda's view of the creature on the rocks. She knew it was some kind of dog, and it made her very nervous that she could not see it well, nor could she smell it. So far from what she could tell, she had not been detected....

As she drew closer, the sun's rays were not affecting her vision as much, and Shanda noticed that the creature was a large female wolf, larger than she was. Shanda's heart seemed to stop briefly as she watched the female's nose taste the breeze and the black and tan head turned towards her.

Shanda stopped in her tracks. I must appear brave and strong! she told herself, when in reality, she was terrified. She'd not had pleasant dealings with wolves in her last few encounters. As much as she'd tried to hide her fear, her cowardice had shown through and she'd been ridiculed and driven away.

Shanda hated not being able to decipher the female's scent....she could not smell fear or anger. Shanda hesitated, and then adjusted her posture from that of an evasive one to one that she hoped was confident and non-threatening.

The black and tan female wolf seemed to be somewhat distracted, and then Shanda heard her speak.
Hello?-

Shanda was unsure who the female was talking to. She appeared to be looking for someone else, though Shanda could see or smell nothing else but the morning salt breeze and the seagulls.

The female's gaze fell back to her. She appeared to be somewhat curious, and that eased Shanda's nerves ever so slightly. She didn't want to be rude and risk offending this wolf.

"He-Hello..." She stammered. Shanda wanted to die...so much for brave. But it was too late. She lowered her head in embarrassment, looking up to see what the other's reaction would be. She prepared herself too turn and bolt in the opposite direction if the need arised....

[wicked]

The soft indents in the white sand that had been the traces of Piper's shoreline visit had all but been washed away or blown away by the calming breeze. Her soft brown oculars turned to gaze upon the wolf-dog in curiosity. As the female, laden with a pelt of contrasting ebony and ivory, came forth, Piper read her emotions through her body language.

The hybrid was absolutely terrified. Piper almost let out a small chuckle at the realization, but kept silent, her gaze never leaving the female before her. Timid little half-breed ain't she?, this is exactly how Wicked would've responded to this confrontation. It was quite strange to think that even when Piper's dearest counterpart was not around, she still seemed to be there in presence. Piper, much gentler than her comrade, took a much nicer approach to the fae that ventured forth. She readjusted her posture to one that showed confidence in herself and her own strength, but also showed a sense of welcoming.

Piper was about to announce her greeting when the hybrid spoke first....Piper wasn't sure that 'spoke' was quite the word for what had sounded from the hybrid's maw, much more like 'stammered.' A smile crept upon the lips of the she-wolf and she let out a slight chuckle from her creased maw. "I'm sorry, please forgive my rudeness, for I did not mean to laugh at you. But please, there is no need to be that fearful of me, now is there?" Piper asked the quivering fae before her with a warm smile emblazoned across her face, her tall ears coked in question, and the blue tips of her ruff standing up in inquisitiveness.

[sarhea]

Shanda waited in tense anticipation for the she-wolf's reaction to her cowardly greeting. Time seemed to stand still, and seconds seemed more like hours. Memories of a similar circumstance just a few days ago flooded her memories...and they were not pleasant. She was too tired and weak from hunger to attempt another dodging escape from unfriendly creatures.

The she-wolf's gaze seemed more curious now, and her posture was friendly, yet Shanda couldn't stop herself from trembling; fear and hunger made her legs feel weak.

Shanda couldn't take the pressure much longer when the she-wolf let a chuckle slip from her maw, and then she spoke. "I'm sorry, please forgive my rudeness, for I did not mean to laugh at you. But please, there is no need to be that fearful of me, now is there?

Shanda felt ridiculous as she let a nervous sigh of relief escape her maw. Her eyes met the gaze of the she-wolf, who now wore a welcoming smile.

Shanda lowered her head in respect. She had no idea if she'd wandered in any pack's territory or what role this wolf played in these lands, she was just very grateful that her fears had been unnecessary.

Shanda allowed a nervous chuckle of her own to escape her maw. "Years of travel through unfriendly lands can cause one to become a little over cautious and fearful. Please forgive me if I have trespassed on your lands. I do not mean to cause any trouble, and will soon be on my way," Shanda replied in respect. An uncontrollable rumble erupted from her empty stomach, and Shanda hoped that the she-wolf had not heard that.

[sorry this is so lame. I don't know how many times my poor overstressed mind tried tried to come up with a decent reply. i think i hit the backspace key more than any other....I'll do better next time!]

[wicked]

Piper's warm smile softened when she heard the fae before her let out a sigh of relief. Poor thing, I thought she was about to die in shock right in front of me... Piper thought jokingly, her soft brown eyes gazed down at the wolf-dog in inquisitiveness.

As the wolf-dog bowed her head, Piper inclined her own delicately featured head in mutual respect between the hybrid and the wolf. Looking back at the black and white fae, she let out a small laugh and spoke nervously, 'Years of travel through unfriendly lands can cause one to become a little over cautious and fearful. Please forgive me if I have trespassed on your lands. I do not mean to cause any trouble, and will soon be on my way.' Piper smiled warmly and nodded in understanding of the hybrid's hardships.

"Aye, the unwelcoming mannerisms of others can make one quite wary of making further acquaintances," Piper spoke, her voice melodious as it sounded across the beach and wavered over the soft waves of the sea. "But do not fear.." she continued, "For these lands do not belong to me, nor anyone else as far as I know," she informed her. Piper's eyes scanned the horizon and checked back at the shrubbery from whence she had scented the approach of another of her kind.

Still finding no more sign of the other wolf, she turned back to the hybrid, remembering she had yet to know the frightened female's name. "Oh! Please forgive my poor manners, for I have yet to introduce myself. The name's Piper," she spoke with a jovial tone in her voice, "Ah yes, piper's the name and joking's my game," she added from dramatic cliche.

[sarhea]

(sorry so late responding...this weekend's been very crazy-when the hubby's home, I have little freetime...and been car shopping all weekend! I'll post tomorrow-promise )

[wicked]

(Alright, take your time)

[sarhea]

Shanda felt the cold of fear being overtaken with the warming rays of the rising sun and the friendly smile of the she-wolf. If it were not for her terrible growing hungar, the day was taking the appearance of turning out rather pleasant.

"But do not fear..For these lands do not belong to me, nor anyone else as far as I know,"

The she-wolf's voice sounded so pleasnt and friendly. The knowlege she'd just proclaimed brought a wave of relief to Shanda that she had not felt in such a long time. The wolf before her was of no threat, and maybe could prove to be helpful in this new land.

Shanda's confidence was growing stronger, and she felt she could trust the stranger enough to open up a little more and introduce herself, when the she-wolf spoke first.

Oh! Please forgive my poor manners, for I have yet to introduce myself. The name's Piper. Ah yes, piper's the name and joking's my game,"

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Piper. My name is Shanda."

The breeze brought with it a faint hint of another scent-another wolf nearby.....it must be what the one called Piper had been distracted by...but she did not seemed worried...Shanda wouldn't worry herself with the new scent unless the need arose....

[sorry for replying so late....I'll make no excuses.....we can continue if you want, but if not, it alright...just let me know-it's up to you-]

[wicked]

(Sorry its taken me so long to get back to this, I'll post tomorrow I promise!!!)