Silence of a Wolf

[nakomi]

If one had come across the particular forest that Fenris found himself in, they would wonder how such a lovely setting had found its way into the ominous forest that was Arnlan.
The soil was very fertile, and held much water, allowing the trees to drink and grow strong; however, there wasn't much sunlight, so the bark near the roots was brittle, allowing a creature to easily burrow into its heart, giving shelter. The leaves blocked out most of the sunlight, though there were some sun spotches from time to time.
Fenris, or Anthracite as some called him, took refuge here. He had found a small oasis on a steep, hidden hill, and slept under the shade of a lone birch tree. This way of life suited the timber wolf, who prefered to keep himself from the social lifestyle.
He yawned, white fangs clashing with grey-toned fur, and looked around, his blue eyes dazzling from the minute sunshine. Watching for any other signs of life, he stood and shook himself off, watching dirt fall onto the damp soil.
It's been raining again... he thought to himself, and smiled gratefully. New life.

[olonai]

Olonai looked around calmly. Someone was here. He wondered if he was invading my strolling so leisurely through the forest he now, finally, called home without a single doubt. Certainly, many of the great trunks of Arnlan were unfamiliar as of yet, but there was time a-plenty for him to discover every nook and cranny which might provide a morsel or shelter in times of the most terrible rains. For now, he could be at ease while the sun, surprisingly, shown above the great canopy of dark and forbidding trees. Although little of the light invaded amongst the broad and bountiful boughs, the small patches that danced golden on the loamy forest floor brought a smile to Olo's features.

Inhaling the air in all its pleasantries, he again found the scent of another Arnlan wolf not far off. It was vaguely familiar as all the old scents were; this wolf was no new-comer as he was into the inner circle, but must have dwelled here a long time, though not on the outskirts in the fashion Olonai had. Large paws leading him deftly across the spongy and absorbent ground he spied a patch of grey around the bend of a lone tree which he felt compelled to follow.

Male. He thought, coming around the bend and into full view, neither cowering apologetically or being overly bold by standing over the resting figure. Olonai doubted he was asleep but probably just relaxing. "Hello." He said, his voice deep and gentle as he watched the other with slight guilt. If Sofika was anything as she had been on his first real encounter with, she wouldn't approve of just lazing about, but perhaps this wolf had more than just the purpose of lying here. Olonai would find out.

[nakomi]

Hello.

The grey wolf's fur shivered, visibly, from the tip to his nose to the bottom of his tail. Slowly he turned to look at the one who spoke, a look of inquiry on his face.

Oh. For a moment there, I thought you were- ...Nevermind.

He smiled warmly, yet there was still a mixture of confusion and guilt on his face. He hadn't expected someone to come into this particular part of the forest, and even for that matter, another he hadn't met. He secretly hoped this other wouldn't tell Mother or Father, or, as he might know them, Sofika and Karoleck.
It's been a long time since someone new has entered Arnlan... Maybe, perhaps, I just haven't seen him before... thought he, standing. It was rude to talk to someone while laying down, even though he knew not this wolf, nor his rank. He inwardly shrugged. Common courtesy never hurts.

I don't believe I've seen your face before. Do you, perhaps, guard one of the distant borders? Or are you an entrant, a newcomer?

[olonai]

Olonai tilted his head slightly being both confused and, in the mildest sense, annoyed. Whenever anyone he had encountered would cut short their speech, he felt neglected or unwanted. After all, they were depriving you of a complete thought. Naturally, Olonai acknowledged that the comment might be better reserved for the one who was to hear it, but Olonai, nevertheless, always felt cut off when one could not even share an accidental sentence. Perhaps the other was waiting for someone and he had intruded.

"I apologize for my unspoken entry if you had chosen to seclude yourself. I know that often solitude and silence are cures for aches or mounding thoughts of discomfort." Olonai said, lowering his head slightly in apologetic reverence to this wolf of unknown rank. After all, waltzing in on another wasn't really right of a wolf to do and Olonai could have had his ear ripped off for insubordination amongst some. Thank the moon and star entities that this one was more gracious.

Considering the other inquiry, Olonai was uncertain how to answer but attempted all the same: "I am both new and old here. Though I have not been accepted until recently, I have patrolled your borders for the entirety of my life that I can recall. As an assigned border patrol, I haven't been, but I have kept unwanted things from entering this darkly beautiful place." Olonai stated, smiling slightly in return for the warmness that had been extended to him.

Olonai paused. Had they already begun a conversation in truth without any introductions. No wonder he couldn't truly respect or assess on what grounds he should stand with this other who had risen to speak with him. "I am Olonai. A mere subordinate as you might now realize. It is my honour to make your acquaintance and I apologize for the order of our speeches." He said, lowering his head again. Olonai was full of apologies.

[nakomi]

((Sorry I haven't replied... School stuff and all that annoying stuff. ^^)

The other wolf bowed his head as well, another symbol of understanding.

You do not need to be so apologetic; I am what you call a subordinate as well... Though I tend to act outside my duties. I hope to be general or something similar.

He eyes darted away for a moment, looking for anyone else; it was like second-nature, he had done it for so long.

I am Fenris. And do not fret; I merely come to this place when my shift is completed. Social stature is not something I usually bother with.

Spotting no sign of movement, he locked his gaze on the one introduced as Olonai. It was his turn to apologize.

Pardon my frankness. I have a tendency to express myself in odd ways.

The wolf had looked over the other, looking specifically at tail placement and facial expressions.

May I be so bold as to ask why you took it upon yourself to watch over our borders? You do realize you could have possibly be spotted, and turned over to Mother and Father as scum?

Lucky soul. He could have been dashed of his hopes and lived his life as a slave... At this, he relaxed a bit. This wolf had shown himself as no particular threat. I admire his bravery, at least.

[olonai]

Olonai smiled slightly, his lips parting on his powerful muzzle as he discovered kindness in the other Arnlan member. One would believe that amongst such dreary surroundings that all kindness might be swept away, but there was much more cheer in the wolves once they passed Sofika and Karolek. At least, that's what Olonai believed. However, he even thought there was a touch of amiable nature in them as well though he had only met Sofika.

"To apologize is only respect. One should always apologize when intruding should they not?" Olo said, blinking a few times and giving a few light laughs of consternation. Being alone, he had been apologizing to himself most of his life and to any other he crossed paths with. After all, he typically frightened them as he was relatively sized well against others and felt guilty for scaring most. Therefore, Olonai was always -at least mentally- apologizing for some ordeal or another. Perhaps not all believed that reverence and respect were as necessary as he believed them to be.

It was nice to meet another mere subordinate. Olonai felt more on level ground with the other in this sense. Although the ambitions of the other, overshadowed Olo whose only aspiration up until recently was to be part of Arnlan. "To be general of these lands would be an immense honour which I cannot yet fathom for myself. I should think if the position was ever given to you, that I'd gladly serve beneath you. A warrior would suit me well I think." Olo said, his generally friendly smile playing across his lips and reaching into his glistening, copper eyes. It was almost unnerving to see the two orbs shine so metallically, but this concerned Olonai little for now. After all, he had found someone to have a nice chat with. That is, if one was allowed to 'chat' in Arnlan.

Fenris. What a nice name. Powerful, like a god. Olo thought, still running the male's comments through his head. It always took a little time to process, but Olonai wanted to answer everything. "I like your name; it makes you strong. One seems to reflect their name and, you most certainly do. As for why I guarded the outskirts, I believe Arnlan was always my home in a sense. My mother and father, I believe they might have served here a long time ago, but for whatever reason I only recall being out there. As such, I remained there knowing Arnlan was deeper within and not daring to trespass, but keeping those who shouldn't more than I out." He shook his head. "I must seem a terribly great fool at not realizing the danger, but this place never felt dangerous." Olonai confessed. This was his home.

OOC|No worries on the school thing. It’s been hindering me also.

[nakomi]

"To apologize is only respect. One should always apologize when intruding should they not?"[/b]

Fenris merely nodded at this, a gentle smile across his face. Perhaps the world wasn't just a pile of snobs and backstabbers.

"To be general of these lands would be an immense honour which I cannot yet fathom for myself. I should think if the position was ever given to you, that I'd gladly serve beneath you. A warrior would suit me well I think."[/b]

As the other had given him a compliment, Fenris bowed his head.
I appreciate your kind words, and I shall return my own; If you would someday become a warrior, you should battle with honor. By the way you present yourself, I say you act as wise as any elder I've spoken with... Which is few, but you get the idea. Fight with honor and bravery, not shame and treachery.

He listened with a slight embarrassment at the comment of his name, and listened to what else the other had to say.
Never felt dangerous? Than you've never seen Sofika and Karolek on a rampage, or hunting, for that matter. He shook his head. They're so quick, they make rabbits and hawks look like molasses. All anyone can see of them when they're working together is the flash of blue and the occassional green. It makes you feel kind of sorry for the prey. And about the name...
He looked away for a moment, and looked down to the pattern on his paw, making it look like he was inspecting it. He then turned back to his new-found acquaintance and gave an apologetic grin.
Ask anyone or their brother that knows this land by every twig and stone, and they'll tell you that if someone calls me Fenris... He shook his head with distaste and continued, ...They'd tell you that you'd be a maimed wolf. But I like you. And besides, you're rather new... To the heart of the forest, at least... So I'll just tell you, Olonai, that I prefer to be called Anthracite. He gave the other another warm smile, showing no sign of anger. Nice to meet you.

[olonai]

Olonai smiled and nodded in affirmative. This wolf was filled with dignity and a sage-like manner which he respected tremendously. Although he threw flattery in his own direction of how he spoke, Olonai hardly felt any intelligence dwelling in his mind due to his inability to carry on anything of an intelligent conversation. He could speak of rank and serving, but that was what his goal in life was. A warrior served; Fenris had greater goals than Olonai did which set them apart, but it would not deter Olonai from speaking further.

"I would act no other way than with honour. Arnlan lives on honour despite the overcast of darkness." Olonai stated, sliding back on his haunches and looking thoughtful, brows furrowed slightly as he contemplated what Fenris had to say and feeling a tad discomforted by not knowing any better about Fenris' preferences of his name. Although Olonai couldn't fathom why he would despise such an honourific name. On the other hand, Fenris had more to say.

"I have never seen Karolek at all as my dwelling here has been short-lived. I would imagine with the prowess and ferocity with which Sofika carries on an average conversation, that such a thrill as to see them hunt would be tremendous, but only observed with swift eyes." Olonai grinned, thinking of the fine figure of Sofika blazing through the dark woods with her male counterpart. What a team they must truly make that they could lead together.

"Anthracite." He tested the name on his tongue, trying to decipher meaning in the contortion of syllables and sounds. It was quite an audition. "I cannot understand why you would alter your name, but I suppose no explanation is truly in order. If one does not like his name, let him choose one that fits him better, or let a name find him." Olonai said, smiling slightly with a question on the tip of his tongue. "I assume you are pack bred?"