Wandering of the Wolf [ Private ]

[smartie]

Dark clouds hung on the sky, ready to burst with water, which would fall as rain. The waves were large, and they crashed down upon Scatterstone beach mercilessly. Hiding in the shadows, with a rabbit in her jaws, was a female. A female wolf who had made her home in Scatterstone. Her pupils glanced around for the sight of another, hoping that there were no wolves stalking her, to steal her prey when she least expected it. Smartie then began to rip the fur form her freshly caught prey, so that she may get to the tender meat that was hidden beneath the bristly brown fur. Crunching and grunting were the sounds produced from this, not so tasty meal.

Living mainly on rabbit these past days, she was sick of the sight of them. However she had not seen any other beast roam the land, that would suffice her need for something new.What lay within the undergrowth of the forest that bordered the beach was a silver striped wolf. She had a soft pelt, that was a beautiful mixture of grey and white. Stripes streaked across this kept well fur of grey. The she wolf's Auburn pupils glimmered in the faint light that silhouetted through the gaps in the trees above. Her gaze rested on her kill, which had become a bloody mess of fur, skin and bone. Meat fell from her mouth as she chewed big chunks of tasteless meat, blood, dribbled down ones chin, as she messily ate away.

Now, she had enough. She spat out any meat that remained in her mouth, and she stood up, flicking her paw she smacked away the half chewed carcass, and she strolled swiftly out to the beach. The fine grains of sand felt good between her toes as she sauntered out freely. Then she dived to the ground, rolling in the sand, marking her turf. Then, she rolled to her side, and lay relaxed, shutting her eyes momentarily. Oh how the simple wolf loved the simple life. A life without the worries of a wolf pack and the state that it is in. Oh a life without having to put up with wolves who thought they dominated the planet. None of that for Smartie, that was for sure.

The grey female sighed, blowing away from of the sand by her nostrils. Her ears flickered as she opened her eyes. Scatterstone was such a lovely place to call home. No rules, no responsibilies... and certainly, no damn slave driving wolf to make her do anything. Simple. Simple little Smartie. but the urge to explore the land around the beach was a new feeling to her. It had been aroused by those animals on hind legs [ humans ] and their little territory to the east of the beach. She had gazed at them from a far away, and safe distance, watching how they went about their business. Fur less creatures, that bewildered the inquiring mind of Smartie. She could not help but feel the need to go see them closer now. Just a few more minutes left, and she may go, because now, she was considering it.

[michelle]

The silver timberwolf wasn’t the only one on the beach. A young gray and arctic wolf mix was splashing through the surf, apparently unbothered by the cold. Padding affably through the foam that had washed up onto the shore, she let her tongue hang from her mouth and her tail swing lightly around her legs, ignoring the occasional seashell that crunched under her paws. Shrike was an easygoing, mellow wolf that didn’t bother anyone that didn’t bother her, while at the same time having a thirst for adventure and willing to take almost any challenge that came her way. Ambling down the side of a beach, on the other hand, wasn’t daring or bold at all. But it was part of what she’d set out to do, as boring and mundane as it was.

The only source of anything that could perk her interest at all was a fast approaching sea squall, and even that looked like it wasn’t going to storm at all until she was gone, with her luck. Unlike some of the more timid wolves, Shrike enjoyed a good adrenaline rush and was rather fond of rain as well. Pausing for a moment to gaze up and down the length of the beach, she sighed and moved on. She was out here and away from Synl because after living there for a few months, she’d noticed the lack of knowledge about what was going on beyond the pack borders.

After speaking with Alphess Kahvie, she’d gained permission to become a sort of news reporter, gathering stories and political information from the different packs, villages, and ports. She’d been headed to Rakine Port when yet another storm had made her lose her way. This port was the first destination on her list because being a port, ships from all over the world would be coming in, bringing news with them. If anywhere, Rakine Port would hold the most information, or so she hoped. Now she was backtracking down the beach after losing the path, knowing if she followed the shoreline she’d eventually get there. And anyway, this trek was a great chance to go on a few adventures, something she craved but pack life, as important to her as it was, often lacked.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice the other wolf until she’d almost tripped over her, coming up behind the silvery form relaxing on the sand. Her pawsteps as silent as ever so there was no sudden silence when she paused, peering at the ivory-streaked figure from a cautious distance. She wasn’t on familiar grounds anymore, and while the wolf didn’t look particularly threatening, you could never know for sure. Shrike herself was an entirely different story, when it came to appearances. She was several rich shades of brown and cream, with a dab of black here and there with bright, chartreuse eyes, but physical appearances weren’t everything.

Almost on sight and certainly from conversation, she generally gave the impression of a I’ll-take-you-on, yet easygoing young wolf, a good friend and a formidable enemy at the same time. Once her temper was fired up, well, that was a different story. Today, however, she was ready to do something other than kick sand as she strolled, and an opportunity to meet someone new sounded like a good idea, for better or worse, to her bored ears. If the wolf was friendly, well that as undoubtedly a good thing, though a minor fight wouldn’t be entirely unwelcome either. Anything to break the mundane mood that had settled uncomfortably around her shoulders.

Summoning the courage that always seemed at hand for her, she trotted a few steps past the wolf so that she came into view, offering a nonchalant smile. Pausing and subconsciously assuming a casual, sociable stance, she let her tail sway back and forth for another moment before greeting who she know recognized as a female of a few years older than herself. “Hey there, stranger. Odd time to stop and rest when there’s a storm on the horizon, don’t you think?” Despite her words, her tone was as genial as her bearing. While humans relied more heavily on tone, wolves and dogs alike spoke even more so through body language than they did speech. Nonetheless, Shrike was looking forward to meeting a few humans for the first time when she reaches Rakine Port, though with this second storm threatening to blow her off course again, she could see no harm in dallying for a little small talk.

[smartie]

Interesting it would seem that a wolf would call a beach their home. Gazing into the horizon over the seemingly never ending stretch of water was such a relaxing thing to do. One would find themselves staring for so long, and that they had lost track of time. Instead of having the sun shining above one, they would then come to realise that it was infact night, and much time had passed. Smartie would have been known for this, if she was known at all. Living on her own for several years, she never had much contact with wolves. Especially on such a deserted place like this, that she had only recently made home, in a make shift den. It would appear to be tempting place to rest for a day, or spend an evening on, but to live one, was no doubt not a question that popped into the mind of any.

Well, it had come to Smartie, and so, here she was. Her chosen place of rest was near to the line of trees and vegetation that stretched along the border of the sand. Smartie had no recollection of that day, as she had been interested more in her own personal thoughts and questions. Would moving onto a place, such as Rakine Port (although the she wolf did not know this was the name given to the Port) really be a sensible idea? Now that she thought more of it, Smartie realised that perhaps, they creatures that walked on their hind legs were dangerous. To her, they seemed to be at a disadvantage. Ground and speed would surely be lost if one was only travelling on one set of limbs. Maybe they were harmless?

These were the few thoughts that clouded her mind. On her face was a picture of concentration and deep thought. Her eyes squinted at the sand in which her nose was pressed against. Subconsciously, she was swaying from side to side gently along with the wind that blew along the shores. Much to her dismay, she had not come across a decent meal on this day and evening. Her failure at seeking out any potentially tasty meal saddened the sensitive she wolf. Rabbits were not tasty at all. They were practically tasteless, especially seeing as that was all she had survived on for these past few days.

How any of this was relevant to the fact that another wolf was in her midst, she only knew. This was her long train of thought that had cost her early sightings of another. As the small paws of what appeared a female padded past her line of vision, Smartie could not help but jump, her body, shifting with shock. Her eyes blinked several times as she raised her head, looking around, following the other as she wolf smiled down at her. Her smile appeared to be welcoming and friendly. But one could not be to sure and weary of strange females. Especially ones that sauntered into the scene unannounced or undetected. Scolding herself for missing the distinctive scent as it wafted by her nostrils she lifted her maw to return the others smile, with a careful one of her own. How looks like that frightened Smartie. It was hard to tell whether one beast was being a genuinely kind wolf, giving a warm smile from one which was plotting some form of harassment or physical pain. Wearily, the she wolf rolled onto her side, watching the wolf with her ears folded upon her head.

To be sure, Smartie did not want to give this wolf any reason to attack her. She whimpered slightly, with her paws in the air as she rolled around on the ground, submitting to her. Smartie was not naturally a recessive wolf, but the appearance of the new one made Smartie feel scared by her intimidating shades of brown and black. With the new bitch appearing to be younger, no doubt she was having more energy and speed from this ageing wolf. Smartie had no clue about this other, despite Smartie being as nimble and swift as she was. Her movements went no doubt with exact precision, as many had seen her weaving around obstacles with apparent ease. Smartie, like said, was not normally so recessive and quick to submit. The unwise of wolves her age would want to dominate even the smallest and younger wolves. Smartie was smart.

" Hey there, stranger. Odd time to stop and rest when there’s a storm on the horizon, don’t you think?”

With these words spoken in kind, she immediately rolled onto her paws, rising now, so that their eyes met on level, and she stared hard into them, however with a reflection of her own relief. She merely nodded. Not normally would she interact with strangers, despite how kind and genuine they seemed. The other wolf had given Smartie no reason to respond to her, and so she stared, watching carefully.

[michelle]

Shrike was a little surprised when the female rolled onto her back in submission. Usually, older wolves would snarl for dominance when confronted with a younger and more inexperienced wolf. And besides, a Kerl rarely or never submitted to another wolf. This was because the roles of submissive and dominant roles came into play in pack life, like when the Alpha was putting a new, upstart of a wolf in their place. If you didn’t belong to a pack, who was to say which of you were more dominant? You weren’t part of a set hierarchy to begin with, so there would be no way to tell who was dominant unless they fought. And Shrike had no intention of doing that. Perhaps this she-wolf only wanted to make sure there wasn’t any trouble, and submitting was the easiest way to ensure that.

With an inward shrug, she watched placidly as the timberwolf stood. All she did was nod, staring firmly into her eyes. Her behavior was a little peculiar, but that was what was expected of Kerls. They often lost track of their social skills, got things confused, were over cautious or over aggressive. Some of them were inclined to stay silent rather than speak as well, because of how long they’d been alone. Shrike inwardly shuddered, knowing that she could never be a proper Kerl. She’d had her share of wandering alone, and she’d hated it. No one to joke with or talk to, run beside, howl together.

Shrike had felt as if she had slipped out of existence, because no one and nothing acknowledged her existence except the things she hunted, and even then they were killed and she began wondering if they really had run from her or she was imagining things again. Bringing herself back from her thoughts before the silence grew uncomfortable, she swayed her tail lightly again to show she certainly didn’t mean any harm, before letting her head tip to the side just the slightest bit at the other’s lack of speech. “Well, this is the beach, you know… your den must be pretty far from here.” Suddenly, a thought struck her. “That is… unless you live on the beach?”

[smartie]

Being a loner for most of her life, since leaving her mothers den when she came of age, life indeed became pretty lonely. It had not bothered her at first, and it did not bother her until now. Seeing another wolf in such a secluded area, were no beast had came to since she had set up home here made her look away, with sadness in her eyes. Her ears folded on her head and she whimpered quietly. A great feeling of loneliness and sadness welled up within Smartie, and she turned to look into the forest, at an angle which the other could not possibly see her eyes. Why did this wolf have to turn up? Everything was fine until now. Even if she seemed rather friendly, Smartie could not help but hate her for bringing these feelings up within her.

Perhaps it was because she had not expected to see any wolf here that had made her feel secure? Was it the thought that she would not have to have any unwanted confrontations with beasts who think they are all powerful? She did not know. Her thoughts were misty and she did not know what to think. She continued what would look like pathetic whimpering to another, although it no doubt seemed really sad to watch or hear. Especially if you were a stranger. For ever had she thought about life within a wolf pack. She thought of the goods things that could come out of having many companions and friends, but she thought of the bad things that were possible too.

Those bad things being, perhaps pack wars, were two wolf pack clashed with each other. Then you would have to fight for honour of your pack name. Smartie rarely fought, but when she did, she fought for the dignity and honour of herself. But was there honestly honour in whimpering and feeling sad about having no friends? Perhaps. But she felt that something had stabbed into her side and had been twisted, with the way she felt. Smartie sighed, and she looked round at the other she wolf. That happy grin. Her guess was that it was from being part of a wolf pack no doubt. Such a well kept she wolf she appeared to be. Lean, fit, unlike Smartie was, with the exception that Smartie was slowly being deprived of proper nourishment.

“Well, this is the beach, you know… your den must be pretty far from here.”

The silence had been killing her, and the she wolfs words of kind was soothing to Smartie, but now she felt stupid for being to pathetic. She nodded wearily as the she wolf spoke, and as she continued.

"That is… unless you live on the beach?"

Smartie nodded once more and stared into the other wolfs eyes. Seemingly she would be pleading to be left alone. But something longed inside her. She wanted to go with this wolf, wherever she may have planned on going. She wanted to see more than just this beach and its horizon, which did get boring to look at after staring at it for so long. Smartie did not want to be a member of a wolf pack though. She would rather be alone than have to put up with a slave driving wolf or tolerate disrespectful brutes and bitches. You should answer her, y'know. She might get angry or irritated for you just staring at her... she thought.

" Well... I... " Smartie was lost for words. Rarely had she spoken to other wolves. This emotional moment, Smartie willed it to go away. She hated this. Were had her confidence gone? She shook her head and thought hard. " I... live... in a makeshift den... and yes... I live here... on this stretch of land you call beach..." her voice was nothing but a quiet whimper. Her words were almost silent, a whisper. She stared to the females kind eyes, looking with her own sad eyes. Her longing for a friend was tugging at her heart, but then again, what was becoming of her? What was with this emo moment?