The Return

[michelle]

The wind curled and twisted through the trees, making the branches sway in the chilly air. Below them, a figure draped in shades of sable ran with ease through the snow. He stood out starkly against the blanket of white, while two spots of bright green seemed to nearly glow against the fur of his muzzle. Karolek had no trouble navigating through the dim forest, in spite of the ebony fur that curtained his eyes. He knew every nook and cranny of his home, every gnarled tree and mossy boulder.

And it was so good to be back! The alpha sucked in a deep breath, releasing it with a sigh. Now, where was that sister of his? Surely she had noticed his absence—they were virtually inseparable, but Karolek couldn’t help but disappear on an adventure now and then. Sofika seemed so adjusted to running and ruling a pack, but her brother wanted enough adrenaline rushes to leave him perpetually dizzy. Karolek knew he should have talked to her before he’d gone, but where was the fun in that?

After all, spur of the moment choices were the spice of his life. Moving like a wraith through the woods, he broke through the treeline to pause on the crest of a knoll. His paws sunk partway into the frozen white, but he took not notice of this—he had long been accustomed to the weather and climate of his homeland. Gazing across the land from this high ground, he grinned. Now, Karolek knew, was the time to announce his return. To his sister and fellow alpha, and to his pack.

Throwing his head back, sound exploded from his open maw. The howl surged out into the blue sky, swelling with volume, and with his love for his home and his people, and his only family, Sofika. It cascaded back down from the clouds, dwindling into silence once more as the wind brushed away the last notes. Dropping his gaze down again with satisfaction, Karolek stood and waited, a dark stain of a sentinel. Yes, there was no place like home. Maybe he would have the chance to catch up on the latest news and events, if Sofika didn't murder him first.

[Sofika]

Sofika stood, upon a high boulder that overlooked the whole land. Her figure was like a shadow standing upon the rock with darkness wisping from her lithe self. With a gaze was fixed upon the horizon where thunder rumbled away, the alpha observed. Then it averted down unto the canvas of trees, where the leaves grew dark, black like her pelt almost. Things where running efficiently throughout the pack- good. Just as she knew they would. Then Karolek's howl broke out from nowhere, sending some birds fluttering into the air with fright. So he had decided to return did he?

Arnlan had been lonely without him being there alongside of her to lighten the load and cheer her up. Many of the new pack members had yet to meet him, with most of them eager to see their alpha male. Sighing, she swiftly descended from the height on which she had situated herself for most of the day, and sauntered down through the shadows of the woods below. Sofika weaved between the trees with elegant ease in the darkness. Unlike Karolek, she preferred to keep herself concealed within the shadows.

As she trudged across the land, muck and chilling water splashing up by her sides, Karolek's mighty self quickly came into her view. The alphess came to a steady trot and stop, giving her brother a very stern look. Nothing could hold him back when he got that feeling of running off. He liked to worry her, add to her stress of running the pack... but she could not help but smirk, and greet her sibling with the touch of her nose, a lick on the cheek. Sofika flicked her tail and circled him quickly, to make sure he was uninjured.

" What time do you call this Karolek? Countless days have gone by without a sound from you! Where have you been? " she demanded, smacking a paw onto the ground. Her tone had that hint of seriousness in it, and no doubt he had expected those exact words to spout from her mouth. Sighing, she dipped her head and shook it slightly. What was she going to do with him? Tie him up in his den, block the entrance and have it guarded so he wouldn't disappear? Even that could not hold him back...

[michelle]

Karolek immediately noticed his sister as she made her appearance, though he had sensed her coming long before she revealed herself. Just one look at her face and he groaned, rolling his eyes. Nonetheless, he couldn’t suppress another grin as she greeted him with a brush of her nose and the slide of her tongue across his cheek, and he landed a returned brotherly lick on her nose, wet and sloppy because he knew she hated that. Sofika then proceeded to circle him with a keen gaze, making sure that he hadn’t returned with one less limb or a new set of scars or something. The juvenile male resisted making faces at her, feeling like a bug under a microscope.

With anyone else he would have done so without hesitation, but he didn’t want to add insult to injury with someone like his sister. Sofika might lock him up in some stuffy den somewhere to rot away until he apologized. Karolek snapped to attention when she stamped her foot, and bit his lip to keep from sblack personing. “Where have I been? To hell and back, and then once more just for kicks.” His tail swayed back and forth with his amusement, and if his eyes could be seen, they would be alight with his personal self-assured brand of mischief. Then Karolek switched track in the conversation completely, continuing.

“So Sofika, did I miss anything—or just the same old routine? Please tell me you introduced some new material or fresh meat to the pack, or do I need to go stir up the water?” He kept a straight face as he said, wondering whether she really had done anything new with governing the pack, or if they had gained any new members. If they had, he would have to familiarize himself with them, Karolek-style.

Yet another wicked grin spread across his features as he contemplated methods of scaring the wits out of the newcomers. Not enough to drive them away, just enough to show them who the “other” alpha was. Aside from frightening small children, Karolek actually did look forward to reintegrating himself into pack life. Though every now and then he was compelled to get a rush, he needed the pack, Sofika included especially, more than they could know. Waiting with that lazy, arrogant smile on his face, he simply gazed with a cocky expression back at his twin.

[Sofika]

At least he came back as cocky and bright as before. She would have been most upset if her brother came other than what he was now. Sofika failed to imagine him any different. Her nose was still dribbling from his saliva and it irritated her like expected. Sofika had yet to wipe it because she was so intent on getting answers from her brother.

Ha, she knew Karolek would offer to go and 'stir the water' as he had so put it. It seemed that he was looking for reasons to leave the pack and go do his own thing. Then again, he would see her as a spoil sport for being so serious about everything, wanting to ensure that everyone was alright and that things were going efficiently.

Perhaps that was why she was so frustrated lately. She was the one needing a break now but yet could not seem to leave her duties behind for one day just to relieve herself. The alpha was very committed to the pack and its members, and would miss it dearly if she claimed a break. But wasn't that running from my responsibilities, she fretted mentally.

" At the moment, there has been no new material introduced since your departure. I had closed the borders. But ranks I have given. One to Ecclesiastes, you remember him? You were the one who accepted him. He has proven to be very handy when it comes to hunting, and so he is a hunter. " Sofika thought back to the task in which she had given Lucian and Akisame and Ecclesiastes for a moment before continuing.

" And dear Crow, whom we had taken in when she was young. I have granted her the rank of sentry due to all of the work she has put into the pack. Border patrol, hunting and looking after the injured. Bright young wolf despite her lacking of speech. " Crow, yes Sofika was fond of her. The alpha recollected some memories from when Crow was just a pup. Looking at her now, she was all grown up and had matured alot since then.

" Other than that, the pack are eager to meet you. Most new folk have yet to come by you. Perhaps you should consider introducing yourself sometime soon? " Sofika smirked. All the members knew who she was, and that she had blue neon spots. How would they react to Karolek, the complete opposite of her? And what of his spots? Would they think that it was Sofika, just a change of colour? Well, whatever their reaction, she was almost sure that her sibling would have fun with them.

[axsca]

[ Hope you don't mind the intrusion. ]

<sub>He obeyed the howl. He had been wandering for quite some time now. Seemed too long in retrospect as he could barely remember the number of days before his last encounter with the silent one. This had been anticipated, wanted, hoped for...patience was a virtue.

He wove noiselessly in the black of the trees, his camouflage could almost compare to the Alphas if not for their long history in these lands. He was but a novice. His thoughts bustled with countless queries, situations, disasters. He had trouble submitting due to his younger brother.. the snot. He wondered how the encounter would mill over, he hoped he would behave.

He halted behind a tree a few hundred yards away from the two, they had a peculiar smell.. a peculiar aura, as expected. Both ears perked as he overheard the last excerpts of their conversation. Sofika's voice no doubt. Ecclesiastes? No wonder he had met them both before. And Crow... was that the silent female? He questioned this as he pondered briefly on the prospect of when to reveal himself, although there was a chance they had already sensed him. He wouldn't be surprised.

If the latter was correct he didn't want to seem like a spy, so he had to make the choice to move now. He quietly moved into the opening, tail straining to be held at ankle-level, ears set back, though he couldn't help but keep his sightless gaze up and forward as he stared into the blackness, toward the scent of the two.</sub>[/font][/color]

"I heard your call, Alpha, Alphess, though please do excuse my intrusion nevertheless. My name is Dante, no doubt you've heard of me by now. I was welcomed by the one known as 'Crow' I suppose, although I haven't had an official entry into your pack lands. Is there anything I must do to gain true acceptance into your home, as one of your own?"

_{He kept his visage straight, and made as little movement as possible. His tone was genuine as was their auras. He silently awaited their reply.}[/font][/color]

[michelle]

(( I know I'm taking forever with this, bear with me. I'm fairly preoccupied studying for a big Physics test tomorrow, and another big Algebra test on Friday. I'll post as soon as I can. ))

[smartie]

(( No pressure Michelle, good luck with the tests: D ))