Narrow Escape- Acceptance, Any!

[ayipuyi]

The stars danced in the sky, twinkling and sparkling like fireflies. At the center, though, was a large, silvery disk that lit up the forest. The moon had turned into a large orb like it did once a month. A faint breeze blew in Synl, the leaves rustling, the branches creaking in the night.

A lone owl was perched on top of a large tree, brown eyes scanning the trees down below. While the pack ruled the land, he ruled the sky above Synl, or at night he did. Not a rodent moved into the lands without him knowing. Not a leave stirred without him knowing.

But, on that clear night, something had moved into Synl without the owl's knowing. A small Papillon yearling by the name of Beau had wandered into the forests, his white pelt standing out in the darkness like a stain on a white carpet.

In a small voice, the youngster whispered, "Faye? You 'round here? Faye....!" He perked his huge ears and listened for a reply. There was none. A little louder, the toy dog called, "Faye!"

On his nightly flight, the owl had heard the Pap's call. At first glance, he saw the long ears and white body. Not having the best eyesight, the owl thought the dog to be a rabbit and swooped down. It didn't occur to the old owl that rabbits didn't really walk about in the night.

Beau looked up at the sound of beating wings. His brown eyes widened, and he froze. Big ears pinned flat against his head, he saw the eerie form of the owl swoop down in front of the moon, casting a large shadow. For a few seconds, the pup stood there petrified, but survival instincts soon kicked in.

Running like he'd never run before, the white toy dog sped through the thick woods, nimbly avoiding branches, and twigs as he raced away from the owl. He heard the sound of the owl soaring above the trees, and he stopped his run. Peering through the brances, he saw that the owl had vanished.

Beau dismissed the eerie feeling that was in the bottom of his stomach, and began walking, panting after the frightening run. He didn't see the pair of eyes that glittered on the tree top.

"Whew... Hey! Faye? You around?" he tried again between heavy breaths. "Is anyone there? Hellooooo?"

The night owl sprung again, talons aimed for the Pap's back. He silently swooped down on large wings. Talons would've gripped the brown fur... had he not hit the tree. With a resounding thud, the old owl had struck a tree, and landed on his back. He didn't stir, and his eyes gazed lifelessly up at the stars.

"Dang... They should change the phrase to 'Blind as an owl'." Beau chuckled, and padded off, head held high. His big brown eyes darted from the small trail ahead, to the sky.

Where was he? And, well, would he ever find the Synl pack? What if it had been a myth this whole time!? Beau was tired from his journey, so after much debate, he curled up next to a tree, his black nose hidden in his long feathering from his tail.

[zinly]

Two dimly glistening lanterns illuminated a shadowy corridor amongst the trees. Ah, how crisp and refreshing the autumnal air felt whispering through the shaggy coat as he moved through the darkness. He was always wandering, but found this to be a particularly charming place. There was no one here.

Flecks of green and gold flashed as Morimar turned his gaze skyward to the moon. The forest seemed effortlessly clean under the pale glow. A sigh wistfully escaped Morimar's maw as he looked at things more land-bound than the great orb in the sky. It was too depressing when seeing how freely it moved about day in and day out while he tarried here and there. He felt so lost.

Sniff...sniff... A dog was about. Morimar craned his fine neck and narrowed his eyes, leaving nothing to chance as he sought the owner of the scent. He thought he had found solitude and instead he had trespassed on more than just pack territory, but some other rascal had discovered this spot first. White! Morimar carefully approached the patchy white mound he spied nestled away from sight...at least the sight of those who were not looking carefully.

Peering down at the small creature, Morimar could hardly identify it as a dog save for its protruding snout. After all, it had such enormous ears and not the thick pelts often seen in the wild dogs around this part. Was it lost? He moved closer to breathe in the odor more clearly, but smelled neither fear nor anxiety. This dog was at peace despite the dangers of the night and his insubstantial size.

Morimar continued to investigate at an ever-closing distance, unaware that such intense inspection might rouse the small creature.

[ayipuyi]

Beau had dozed off. Dreaming of hunting owls, and his old home, he rolled over onto his back, eyes shut tightly. He wasn't aware of the large dog observing him as he slept. Yawning in his sleep, he shifted his position a bit (sleeping on a twig wasn't exactly the most comfortable thing in the world).

He didn't know he was talking in his sleep either. "Ugh... Baths? I hate baths... No, don't give me a bath... I don't wanna a bath- it makes me all wet... I dun like being wet!" He rolled over onto his side again, a loud snore erupting from his opened maw.

Perhaps he would've kept on the loud commotion, had he not rolled over again onto a sharp rock. Leaping up onto his feet, he yelped and groaned. At first, the Papillon didn't take note of the timber wolf cross standing above him.

"Dumb forest floor has to have a bunch of rocks on it." He licked the small cut with his tongue, but his eyes caught the sight of something bit and mean looking.

Glancing up at Morimar, he stopped licking, his eyes staring wide at the hybrid. Beau's tongue was sticking from his lips onto the sore spot on his shoulder. But, he snapped from his trance, stood, looking up at Morimar with a broad grin.

"Hiya, Mister, are you one of those Synl scouts?" The continental toy spaniel asked in excitement. "I'm looking for acceptance into Synl, y'see."

He didn't care if this guy was fifty feet taller than he was. Beau was too happy to have found someone to care. "Name's Beau. Not bow, like the froo-froo thing that you stick in a chick's hair, but B-E-A-U. Beau." He grinned at Morimar, his curled-over tail wagging.

[zinly]

He watched, slightly amused at the tidbit's antics while he snoozed so easily. Morimar couldn't understand it, but it was interesting all the same. Not to mention, it was astonishing that from such a small muzzle such enormous noises could be created. Then again, a flacon's screech could be heard a long way off and those didn't have jaws, just a beak.

Eyeing the Papillion as he tossed and turned, it was hard for Morimar not to laugh. After all, in such concealment no one would notice, but he never had the opportunity. Spying the rock just seconds before the Papillion rolled over it, Morimar sealed his lips knowing what would happen next.

The little creature was awake and absorbed in pain, but it wouldn't be long before he spied Morimar. After all, the brute was only inches away from the tiny thing. Watching, half-horrified, as the dog cleaned himself, Morimar has the uncontrollable desire to runaway or try scaring the little being, but could only muster enough wit to continue staring until it spoke. Wow, what a mouth! He was neither afraid nor concerned with the present situation. For the all this Beau knew, Morimar could have been prowling up to eat him. Apparently, Beau wasn't concerned with that idea at all. Synl? Brief images came to mind that made him think of his mother and another pack. No, Synl wasn't the right name at all.

Shaking his head to try and organize the excited dog's chatter in a more comprehendible fashion, Morimar found sense enough to reply: "No. I'm not a scout for any pack I'm just a wandered like yourself. Though I wonder, how could one so small run with a pack and why would you think you'd be accepted?" (Morimar lacks tact) Morimar knew little about packs except that they were typically rag-tag groups of rejects or wolves. He had never heard of a miniature pack that this little Beau fellow might fit into. Then again, he didn't really know what he was talking about.

Voice maintaining a low and gentle tone, Morimar pursued his thoughts with the Papillion. "Why would you think I'm a scout anyway? Does this oddly-constructed pack also seek out members from any domain?" So many questions that were dreadfully awkward to phrase. Morimar need to work on his social skills.

[ayipuyi]

Beau looked the mix up and down a bit. He seemed to be sort of bashful, and...Well...He didn't seem to be the most talkative guy on the block. However, the pap could care less. A friend! A big strong friend that could protect him from monster bears, or owls, or eagles!

He grinned broadly at the large mixbreed. His curly tail wagged so fast it was a mere blur. Big brown ears were perked as he listened to Morimar.

"No. I'm not a scout for any pack I'm just a wandered like yourself. Though I wonder, how could one so small run with a pack and why would you think you'd be accepted?"

WHAT!? SMALL!? HIM? Beau's brown eyes widened, and he raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "Sweet mother of oatmeal, dontcha know that size matters not in the wild?" He tossed his head up pridefully in the air. "I'm small, I could slip into enemy territory without being seen. I could spy on Synl's foes, give the alpha a heads up about attacks on the pack." He puffed his chest out in pride. "Sure, I might not be a warrior, but I am willing to help out in any way I can."

"Why would you think I'm a scout anyway? Does this oddly-constructed pack also seek out members from any domain?"

Still on the rant of his size, the pap was literally bouncing up and down as he spoke in frustration. Beau snorted, then added, "I might not be a giant like you, sir, but I am NOT small!" He glanced at Morimar, then asked, "Synl, as far as I'm concerned, let's in any sort of dad-gum dog into their pack. And since your trodding on Synl turf, I should expect you're a scout. But, since you're not, I'll continue my search, thank you kindly, sir!"

Beau marched right passed Mormar, but halted after a few paces. The sound of faint wing beats sent a chill up the toy dog's spine. "Unless you want to come with me?" He asked, glancing over his shoulder at the larger dog. "Synl could probably use a big ol' guard dog like yourself."

[zinly]

Again with the enthusiasm! What this little pap lacked in size, he certainly made up for it in spunk. It was hard for Morimar's typically stand-offish nature to withstand the beast without cracking a grin. After all, he was so ridiculously humorous.

Morimar knew little of packs and this Synl place intrigued him. Not only was it beautiful, but it sounded accepting from what Beau said. Then again, Morimar had seen no signs of a pack so perhaps what Beau knew was misleading. Or perhaps, they accepted beau because he knew he had talents unlike Morimar. Although he seemed a giant to the tiny, feisty tidbit, Morimar was only a little above average, nothing special at all.

Allowing Beau to go on his rampage about height and Synl, Morimar sized up the brown and white patch of fluff again while also taking in the surroundings a-new. It was still night, but there should be pack watchers about. It would be foolish to leave turf unprotected at night. Particularly if Beau knew what he was talking about. Who was Sallin anyway?

"Now see here Beau," he started trying to settle the Papillion. He didn't want to scare the little bloke off, but he was slightly overwhelmed with his vicious chattering. "I know nothing about what you're talking about. You make a good point that you'd be very well informed because of your stature, but you're white which doesn't help you blend." He shook his head. "That's beside the point. What I want to know is who's Sallin and where's Synl if in fact we are here? After all, if they want every bloomin' dog about then where are they? They don't show much for themselves if they aren't guarding their territory." Morimar commented following the smaller dog as he trailed off a bit. It was a slightly humorous sight seeing as how Morimar was twice his size, but following him like a pup since he had nowhere better to go. Perhaps this reaching out thing wasn't so bad after all.

[ayipuyi]

Beau hoped Morimar would come. He didn't want to brave the woods by himself. The thought of more owls and big mean animals sent a small shiver up his spine. However, the continental toy spaniel's bold posture remained, a spunky gleam in his big brown eyes.

"I know nothing about what you're talking about. You make a good point that you'd be very well informed because of your stature, but you're white which doesn't help you blend." The larger of the two had said. Puffing out his chest again, Beau whirled around to face Morimar. Maw gaping wide to resume his little rant, Beau was cut off. "That's beside the point. What I want to know is who's Sallin and where's Synl if in fact we are here? After all, if they want every bloomin' dog about then where are they? They don't show much for themselves if they aren't guarding their territory."

"I'm one brave dog, sir, I can stand getting a tad muddy to blend in with my surroundings. Besides, doesn't it snow in Sweden?" He raised his eyebrows, and continued. "Okay, so, a long time ago, this pack called Ra-something was lead by this alpha dude called... Well... I dunno what he was called, so we'll just call him Bob. Alrighty, so this chick called Nightshade was mated with Bob. But, Nightshade was secretly two-timing Bob, and miscarried Bob's litter. So... Nightshade was demoted to omega. Now, she got pretty mad, especially when some other dog chick called Kahvie took her spot. So, Nightshade like... Took over the pack, and renamed it Sallin. They're a bad bunch of bunnies, now. Hate dogs, wanna kill them all. But, anyways, Kahvie and the dogs from the pack fled, and started their own pack, Synl. Sallin and Synl are in a bit of a cold war, now."

Beau took a deep breath, and continued, 'But, Nightshade wants to take over Synl, 'cause she wants the land. Why? I dunno." The papillon then finished, "They probably don't show themselves because they're probably not big in numbers."

[zinly]

Morimar followed along happily. Even if he couldn't really understand why he was enjoying himself, the night was soothing and a part of him, a greater part of him, knew this to be his hour. For not the first time in his life, he wanted to beckon the pale moon nearer and all others nearby, but Morimar remained silent. He always did. A melancholy loneliness washed over him as he let the moment past, but naturally, Beau was back to fill the gap again.

Something about bunnies. A pack of bunnies? No, that couldn't have been what he said. After all, he was mentioning dogs too. It must have been some colloquial term that Morimar was not acquainted with. Oh how much this little chap could teach him despite his puny size. Again, Morimar was corrected that size truly wasn't everything. However, as Beau countered that he could get muddy and it snowed, he was compelled to remind the bit that only when snow was melting could there be both mud and snow which meant few times for him to be blending. Ah well, Morimar didn't blend either so he was in no position to talk further.

Continuing to follow along in what Morimar perceived to be an aimless path, he began to wonder something: "How do you know all this and not be a part of Sallin or Synl? Why, in fact, have you chosen Synl over Sallin? Did Sallin really do something wrong besides that one femme named Nightshade? After all, does not everyone make mistakes?" Morimar had no idea what he was talking about, poor chap.