Entrance into the Main Lands

[lucian666]

Lucian silently made his way to what was refered to as the "Main Lands". His thick coat was douced and hung shaggily at his frame. Although he lost some of his overall size; he did not seem to shrink to much given that he was quite muscularily built.

As he strolled to the area he took in his surroundings and what was going on around him. The weather did not seem to bother him; infact he ejoyed the chill of the rain with the small stings of crisp wind. He had thick fur and a tough hide, or so he thought; and beleived that mother nature could not keep him from doing his duty with pleasure.

That was one thing that Lucian held high in his reguards, honesty and loyalty. He was raised to be a genuine soldier. His elder tought him to respect others, sense when someone is lying and to know to steer clear from being disloyal. Lucian was never unfaithful to what ever he strongly belived in. And currently it was his quest for acceptance into a place where he would feel at home and feel comfortable with the others around him. In his early days of travel, he went to many towns and the others there brought out the bad side to him. Most if not all were lying between their teeth and would stab each other in the back just to see what would happen. He found this to be quite upsetting and unmoral. Instead of making matters worse he would wonder a few miles to the next town and see if he would be able to fit in there with the others; and each time it would be the same. He would feel out of place and highly enraged by the actions of the others.

He had finally found a place where others think as he does and holds to the old morals as he was tought. An actual society of Canines. This pleased the black timberwolf as he sniffed near a large tree by the opening and slowly and and silently laid his body just below the tree's lowest branch. This cloaked his fur somewhat, the dark shadow of the tree to begin with blended with his black fur and the small patches in which, if there were sun, would speckle him with bright light to camoflague his white markings.

"i wonder how they will require me to prove myself worthy."
He thought to himself as he laid his head down upon his paws, glancing out over the meadow but keeping his ears behind him to hear anyone who wonders to close to him and his new home. He had yet to get a sense of what his new lands particularily smelt like as well as the others of the pack; but as he laid there his nostrils filled with many scents. The falling rain had risen many of the hidden scents of the are and its inhabitants. He could quickly pick up Lady Sofika's scent due to their earlier encounter.

He laid there silently breathing shallow breaths as not to be heard. He was motionless like a stone as not to be seen. His lime green eyes were slowly pacing over the landscape as he waited for his alphess to arive back at the Main Lands.

[michelle]

Soundless movements could be seen between the towering trunks of the forest, if you looked quickly enough. But even if you had, you would have seen only a shadow, if that and not simply a flicker of motion. Yet, those who had lived in Arnlan long recognized that small appearance for what it was—their alpha, Karolek. How he moved so swiftly and sinuously, and how he blended into the shadows seamlessly no one had ever been able to figure out. Doubtless, no one ever would. Karolek did not lightly approach the wolves of his own pack, and only just recently had begun accepting new members into the pack. He would have preferred keeping the borders closed—it was hard to judge the mettle of the newcomers most of the time, and judging wrong just once could spell disaster for the entire pack. Karolek had not allowed anyone in that could be a threat to Arnlan just yet, and he never would. Unfortunately, some of the new recruits (well, at least one) had been made sentries.

This meant that they had the authority to allow foreigners in, and Karolek wasn’t entirely sure their judgment would always be sound. There was no use in dwelling over it—Arnlan had guarded it’s secrets for longer than anyone could remember, and Karolek had been there to make sure of that. Even with these barrages of recruits pouring in, he would see to it personally that the pack went on as before, and no one interfered or held them back. Wolves allowed in that shouldn’t be here were easily dealt with, with a swift strike to the throat. However, they did need more numbers in their ranks, and they could use some fresh blood strengthening the pack. Sofika had even told him of a new recruit that showed particular promise, and he had come to judge this for himself as well. He flowed forward like smoke, making his way through the trees like the morning mist after especially rainy nights.

Even now, the rain pattered over the leaves of the canopy, dripping drop by drop to the loam below. He breathed in deeply, momentarily allowing himself to revel in Arnlan’s weather. The rain was refreshing, the scent of the ozone, rain, and natural flora combined intoxicating. But he quickly came back to himself, refusing to blend back into the core of Arnlan and lose himself to the land when he had something he meant to do. There would be plenty of time to run through the woodlands after he had spoken with this newcomer. You see, this was why Karolek was not often seen—he spent much of his time moving through the forest, feeling the trees and the leaves, the loam and the woodland creatures, the weather and the wild. He became Arnlan for a time this way, essentially grasping for the spirit of the land and feeling the core draw him in. This is difficult to describe, but worded as well as possible.

Because of this, no challenger from outside Arnlan had ever dared challenge him for leadership—the forest would not accept any other but he and she, who could merge with the land so. Only that fool—Nightshade—had ever tried such a thing, and she had gotten what she deserved. She thought their encounter alone had settled the matter, but Arnlan had rejected her every footstep when she had trespassed. Lost in his thoughts, he had almost forgotten the scent trail that was leading him. Snapping back to the here and now, he located the recruit Sofika had spoken of. He was almost entirely black, with white markings here and there with a small mane of bright green fur falling about his eyes. Karolek flowed forward from among the shadows beneath the trees, feeling the rain run through his fur. His own eyes were hidden by his own black mane of fur, and what they looked like was a mystery next to nobody had solved.

He was large, pitch black, foreboding. And he was interested, interested indeed by this new initiate. When he spoke, his voice was quiet thunder, rumbling from his chest and spilling from his jaws. “I have heard of you from my sister, Sofika.” The thunder quieted, the rose again. “Well, now. What brought you here to Arnlan?” The sound faded away, reabsorbed by the silence.
He waited patiently, unseen eyes studying the wolf before him.

[lucian666]

The rain that had been drizzled across the landscape brought Lucian's heart almost to a stand still. He had never been in a place this calming and soothing. The ground beneath his pawpads was damp and started to feel like smooth velvet. He did not let his guard down as his eyes and ears continued to scan the area for anyone who might come with in range of him. As he did so the soft trickling of the raindrops upon the canopy and falling to the ground also soothed him. He almost seemed to be going into an active hibrination(so to speak). His breathing became increadibly shallow as to hear the light rolling of thunder from off in the distance.

He took a deep breath and inhaled the many new scents of his new clan's territory. He was separating the different scents of the dew soaked trees, the musk of the mud and grass combined, the light lingering scent of his alphess Sofika. His fur was starting to get brissled with small dew drops as the cool density of the rain filled the air in the silent and quiet forest.

For a few minutes Lucian had begun to day dream, or more so reminise of his youth. He was raised by an elderly white wolf. The wolf never told his name, but tought him everything he knew. He told him many stories of how there is a place for everyone. And that Lucian would know where his place was once he got there. When he was younger Lucian never really thought about that saying, and for months he had been traveling from land to land. And with each land came the feeling of displacement. Either the land was cold and cruel to him and his soul, the other creatures there wer not to his liking, or there was no one to be found and the lands were harsh and unforgiving. In a near by territory he had heard of the Arnlan territories and the mysteries that came with it. This intruigued Lucian and struck him in a place he had never been struck before, so he set off in search of the lands. He had finally came upon the lands where he felt as ease and tranquil. He felt at home at last.

Lucian heard a few birds chirp and a solem crow skreech its lonely call. His lime green eyes for a short moment glanced up to where the midnight bird was perched. Within that instant his ears picked up a very faint padding of something light footed; and as he turned his head to the source of the noise he was confronted by a large cameoflauged wolf.

He couldnt tell exactly what the other was thinking due to the long flowing black hair draped over his eyes. This was usually his way of interpreting the persona of a certain creature. He slowly made his way to his feet and lowered his head in due respect, for he picked up the strong scent that this other was indeed a very strong alpha. After failing in an attempt to see into the eyes of the other, he lowered his gaze and met the alpha's forelegs. He laid his ears loosly against his mane and his tail hung limp from the base of his back. His scent was not that of fear or sorrow, more respect. This Lucian held high in reguard. He always made sure to show respect to those who deserve it.

He listened intently to what the other had to say and could tell in the tone and manner he spoke these were truely his lands and that they co-existed with one another, not only did the alpha smell like one, he was also covered in the scent of the forest itself. Evident to Lucian that if he were to (by any chance) make a mistake, reguardless if this alpha was many many trails away, the forest would let this one know what was going on. He replied with a calm and low voice, nontheatning but intimidating none the less, this was just the way he was born.

"I have come in search of a place to call home. The few minutes i have been here i have enjoyed the most from the lands than i have ever anywhere else. I wish to join your pack."[b/] He raised his eyes slightly, but made sure not to offend the other black wolf. He continued in his calm voice. "i have had permission from your sister Sofika that i am permitted upon these lands, but i know as well that the concensus of both the alphas is needed. I am willing to prove myself to both of you if needed. I simply seek acceptance, and for this act i will give you my full and utter servitude as anything you desire."[b/]

He lowered his head almost all the way down to where his muzzle was skimming the earth. He had one paw tucked under him as he bowed to his elder. "And Lucian is my given name sire, if I may inquire your name?"[b/] He raised himself back up and stood confidently infront of the other. His fur damp and sticking together to reveal his rather muscular body.

[michelle]

Karolek watched silently as the wolf paid due respect, acknowledging his status. To the black wolf himself, status was nothing and everything. While it symbolized his connection with Arnlan, all that came with the average rank was meaningless to him. The black and white-marked wolf with the green fur around his eyes was somewhat different from the other wolves he had allowed past the borders of Arnlan, and he was pleased with Lucian’s reaction to his arrival. He didn’t grovel, but he didn’t bare his teeth either like some of the upstarts did. Just as expressionless as he usually was, he listened to what Lucian had to say.

Mulling this over thoughtfully, he began to walk slowly around the other wolf, studying him from all angles. It was hard to judge… many of the wolves that came here had something of the sort to say, but most of them had been simpering when they’d said it. His decision could’ve still swayed either way when Lucian bowed, naming himself and asking of Karolek the same. Karolek didn’t smile very often, but what might’ve been the ghost of one flickered across his features. His voice rose above the background noises of Arnlan, accompanying the sound of the rain as it pattered against the fallen leaves.

“You are a wolf of Arnlan, Lucian. I trust Sofika's judgment, moreso now that I've met you myself.” He paused, then added, “My name is Karolek. Here you stand on the edges of Arnlan’s heartland—and you’re welcome to live here with the rest of us, from both I and my sister.”

[jaksen]

Lucian took in the oncoming rain with a releived sigh. The rain had always given him a settling feeling. His fur started to glisten as the raindrops spattered upon his pelt, giving him a shimmering effect. He lowered his head slightly in acceptance and graditude.

As Karolek circled around him he watched the other as well, taking in his personality by his movements and gestures. He did not move his head along with him but ever so slightly motioning with his eyes and a sliver of movement of his head. He kept silent until the somewhat smaller male reappeared infront of him. Lucian prefered to speak with others, especially those of higher status, to speak face to face. For him , it simply ment more. As the other did as Lucian anticipated he spoke solemly and calmly with no expression to his voice other than total respect. " I thank you and your sister, mistress Sofika kindly for your gracious acceptance of me. I swear to serve you with all of my being and all of my might. I will risk my life for these lands and my superiors."

He ended this statement and standing more proudly and in a more army assembly mannor. He wanted to prove to Karolek that he was worth his word.