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 Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:35 am
 He really hated being idle. It always made him feel a little guilty, as if someone would catch him in the act and scold him as if he was nothing more than a naughty pup. And as far as that went, he acted much more like a lost, shy youngster than the full-grown adult Varg that he was. His whole body screamed out his uncertainties, from the slouched way he held himself to the way his eyes and ears moved to every sight and sound. Rahim also hated being alone, and he was very much alone now.
The Sikla wandered back and forth along one strip of earth, waiting for a packmate to appear. He hadn't seen hide or hair of anybody since that morning, which naturally increased his worry. Perhaps he was meant to be somewhere, but forgot? Though he couldn't recall any specific plans for that day. If there was something that terrified him even more than being alone, it was displeasing the others.
Growing tired of fretting, Rahim stopped mid-step and plopped right there on the ground, choosing to fret mentally instead for a while.
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 8:55 pm
 Tere yawned and stretched as she emerged from the den she had found and made her own in the pack lands. It was small, but cozy, and although she usually rested with other pack members, she had slept there alone the night before. Not out of any dislike towards her pack-mates, but more out of curiosity, for she had only recently found the den, alone and abandoned.
Shaking off the dust that had fallen from the den’s roof and settled on her fur, she padded around the territory, starting off the day with her usual rounds. Even though it had been confirmed through a collection of reports that the territory was, for the most part, undetected by both Man and other Varg, one could never be too careful, especially when it involved guarding a pack. And another report never hurt.
Along the way, she scented a male in the territory. Immediately, she was on the alert, but calmed when she realized it was a pack member, although he was not one she had acquainted with yet. She continued along the path, and soon caught sight of him – what was his name, again? Rahim? – sitting in the middle of the floor, doing… well, nothing, it seemed, and for a while, she wondered if she had fallen asleep that way.
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 12:16 pm
If there was one benefit of being an uneasy wolf, it was that his senses were always on overdrive, so when he thought he heard the sounds of approaching pawsteps, he scrambled to think of something to say. The stranger was coming down the path at a steady pace, so he knew they weren't about to get after him for sitting there. Comforted a little by the thought, his body seemed to thaw and loosen. Without getting up, Rahim turned to look at Tere.
He had probably seen her at least once around the pack lands, but he couldn't recall her name. Careful to avoid even the slightest eye contact at all times, he looked her over a bit. With her distinct blue markings and the feathers tied to her forelegs with red ribbon, Rahim was sure he would have remembered her if they had indeed talked before.
"Good morning," he said with a smile, picking himself up and keeping a polite distance away from the dominant female. Then he shut his mouth, wondering if it would be more proper to offer his assistance in... whatever Tere was doing, or if he should just continue to stay out of her way.
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 7:25 pm
Tere flicked her ears forward when she thought she saw movement from the male. From the way his body loosened, as if relieved, she would have guessed he really had fallen asleep, if not for the fact that his eyes were open, and he turned his head to look at her.
She tensed when he did so, assuming he was more aggressive and dominant than the other males because of his scarred figure – proof of the battles he’d probably been in – despite the fact that he held himself submissively enough, and would try to assert some authority over her. But it lasted for barely a second, for she calmed as soon as she noticed he was avoiding eye contact. Even if she didn’t dislike males as much as her alphas, it didn’t mean she would tolerate a lack of respect from them.
“Good morning,” she replied, her voice soft but strong, as she stopped a few feet away from him. She smiled at him reassuringly, and while she would have liked to get to know him better, she knew she couldn’t simply shirk her duties. So she turned away slightly, cocking her head towards the path she had to take. “Would you like to walk with me?”
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 10:51 am
The scars Rahim had were not from battles nor were a sign of toughness. Embarrassingly enough, many of them had been inflicted on him by would-be prey, or even worse, a clumsy tumble through the brush when he was younger. But some of them had also been put there by his mother and sisters, who had found some kind of enjoyment from hearing the runty male squeal. The scars tended to itch, too.
Tere's reply was kind enough, and so was her smile. He continued to stand as he was without moving too much, paying attention to the path she indicated. Even if he hadn't wanted something to do, Rahim knew that he couldn't say no to her question. It would seem too much like he was breaking Sophie's rules.
"Okay", he said with almost a touch of eagerness. With his head lowered a bit he looked up at her, ready to follow her instructions.
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Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 12:10 pm
Glad to hear Rahim was more than willing to come with her, Tere trotted off, flickering her tail as she did so to signal the male to follow. She kept a steady pace, ears pivoting, nose twitching, and eyes studying the territory, taking in all signs of change since the last time she passed by, for all the world appearing like the perfect example of Varg dutifully patrolling her pack’s borders. But in truth, she was nervous, for this was the first time she had been so close to a male that was part of the pack, and she was unsure as to how to act.
This was supposed to be a pack where males were thought lower than females, a pack founded by Sophie and Raya. But when she had shown aggression to an outsider male she considered disrespectful to the alphas before, they had silenced her, and even seemed pleased by the male. She had tried to watch her alphas interact with other males for future reference, but it was rude to stare, and she often looked away before learning anything, for fear of displeasing them for such trivial a matter. She was their beta, a position second to only the alphas themselves, so she was supposed to know what to do, and set an example for the others, wasn’t she? But here she was, at a loss on something as simple as how to treat a fellow pack-member.
She kept her inner turmoil hidden from her companion, offering him another smile instead. “Thank you for joining me,” she said. “Tell me, what do you think of the pack so far?”
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Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 12:41 pm
Rahim obeyed Tere's motion and followed behind her, always keeping a bit of a distance between him and the female. The scents lingering in the trees and brush told him that they were near the pack border, if not right on top of it. He had never been this close to it in case someone thought he was trying to run away. It was okay to be there with Tere of course, so he began to look and listen too. Four ears were always better than two.
If Tere was showing any nervousness, Rahim didn't notice. He was too focused on the task at hand, even though it was a simple one. He always felt better when he was doing something, no matter how challenging. So far it seemed clear. The only scents he picked up were from packmates, though he could only place a few scents to the Varg they belonged to.
"I... like living here," he replied, comfortable enough to speak freely. He had never dwelled in a place where there was enough food for everyone. Nobody picked on him either. So far he hadn't even been disciplined for anything. He may have been just a sikla, but if he could continue to live rather comfortably, he wouldn't want for a higher rank.
"I hope we can continue to expand and grow."
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Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:11 pm
Tere’s smile broadened when she heard the male’s response, and she nodded her head in agreement. “I’m glad to hear you enjoy the pack. I admit, at first I was worried you wouldn’t like it here, with the type of hierarchy we enforce,” she said.
She was surprised by how quickly she had accepted him into her confidence, but it wasn’t something she regretted. He didn’t seem like the type to go around back-stabbing others. In fact, he appeared to be more of a kind, honest Varg, and she was glad to have the moment to get to know him, and was pleased that he had chosen to join the pack.
“I hope for that, too,” she said, nosing down to nose a clump of grass. It held subtle scents of prey, and she noted it. The pack was in no need of food at the moment, and so patrolling was her top priority, but it never hurt to keep track of the Lera. The information may come in use in the future, after all.
“But if it’s Sophie and Raya who lead the way, I have no doubts that our hopes will soon become reality,” she said, very slightly emphasizing the “our” to show that she had already familiarized herself with him, and considered him a true member of the pack.
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Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 7:06 am
"Oh I really don't mind," Rahim said almost immediately after Tere spoke. Of course he was still a little worried that he might say something that might give someone the idea he didn't like his position in the pack, since the others seemed to think that he should. He was confused a little by that. Perhaps some of the other siklas hadn't been so accepting of their rank?
"I trust the Drappas." In fact he admired them. To him Sophie was the strength of the pack, someone who would treat you well as long as you respected her and the duties she gave you. And Raya was the heart; the sweet motherly wolf who treated just about everyone has her children, including himself.
As they walked he nosed the shrubs and leaves that they passed, pausing occasionally to sniff an interesting speck of earth, or a specific clump of grass. He began to catch the scent of prey after Tere had discovered the first trace, but he paid no mind to it for now, following her lead. He didn't mind this either... Tere seemed to accept him, and that was something he always wanted. To be accepted by others.
"It always helps to have trust in each other, too."
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Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:55 am
”It does,” Tere said, craning her head and actively pivoting her ears for signs of other Varg before moving on. “You need trust for a lot of things,” she murmured, her thoughts wandering for a moment towards Sophie, Raya, and the pack, and how they were all held together by bonds of trust and friendship.
Trust was such a fickle thing, able to offer both harm and protection, and at the same time, too. But of course, the result depended solely on the one who offered it, which was why some were so loathe to give it and why it was so prized. To have it was a responsibility, and she was glad the pack could shoulder it.
“Do you have any problems with the pack?” she asked, curious. She was always trying to help her Alphas, and in turn the pack, and what better way to do so than to ask what the members thought? They all had their own thoughts and opinions, which were helpful in their own way.
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Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:16 pm
"Yes, you do," he agreed quietly, nodding his lowered head. Trust was something Rahim tended to give out willingly. After all he had needed to be able to trust others since he was a pup, or else he would never have lived to see the next day. He was pretty hopeless by himself and it was proven time and again. It didn't seem to matter how hard he tried to be better, either. He always seemed to mess up and everyone ended up disappointed in him. So he trusted others right down to their unconscious instincts, no matter how much risk he potentially put himself in.
He flattened his ears further on his head, but tried to hide the self-pity that threatened to bubble up from deep within. "No, I do not have problems," he said, "With the pack I mean. We all eat well, don't we? We all have something to do, too." He thought for a moment. "But I wish I wasn't left alone so much."
Rahim listened to the nature around them for a moment, scenting the base of a tree and catching the trail of a squirrel. "How long have you been with the Drappas?" He asked, suddenly curious. Tere seemed to know her way around. Better than he did, anyways, so that must've meant she had been here longer than he had.
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Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 8:10 pm
Tere wagged her tail, glad that Rahim was facing no problems within the pack, but the happiness was short-lived once she heard the rest of his reply. She was troubled by it, as packs were supposed to be social, even packs where genders acted as barriers. If one was lonely in a pack, was it any different than being a Kerl?
And while she would have liked to tell him she would visit him often, she knew it was not a promise she could keep. There were other, more pressing matters to deal with on a daily basis, matters too important to disregard for the sake of one Varg. But the problem was, luckily, not one that required her presence to be solved. The purpose of their daily hunts together was to strengthen their bonds, and Sophie wouldn’t be cruel enough to leave her own pack members feeling distanced and isolated, even if she usually disliked males.
“We’ll try to change that soon,” she said, giving him a hopeful nudge. And by “we,” she meant the pack, of course. Loneliness could only be removed by companionship, after all.
“The Drappas?” she asked, ears flickering at the sudden change in conversation, but willing to answer his inquiry. “Well, I’ve been with Sophie ever since we were little. We were in different packs, but our packs were allies, and close, so we could meet each other often, regardless. Sometimes, I even thought they would join to make a single pack. But….” Here, she stopped, wondering how to go on. Her past included Sophie’s, too, and Sophie’s past wasn’t hers to tell.
“But there was a dispute,” she decided to say. “And Sophie left to make her own pack. I left to help her, and along the way, we met Raya. After that, we made the pack, and we’ve been getting members since,” she finished. She noticed her knowledge on Raya was short, almost nonexistent, compared to Sophie’s. It was something she was trying to change, despite her jealously and awkwardness towards the female. Evidently, she hadn’t made much progress as of yet.
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 4:57 pm
"Really? I mean, I don't want anyone to go out of their way or anything," Rahim said, hesitating a little. Tere didn't seem to mind that he was speaking up, but he feared that perhaps their conversation would be overheard, or maybe Tere would repeat it to someone who wouldn't approve. With a bit of a struggle he decided to concentrate on the task at hand, instead of worrying about things that could happen.
Continuing along, he stopped to nose a patch of herbs growing by the path. One of them carried a very strong but strange scent, which stung a little to breath in. He retreated from it quickly, hurrying to catch up with Tere.
So they had been friends for a long time. Rahim listened intently, wondering what kinds of things that they might have done when they were young. Were they the same now and they were back then? Or had they changed through the seasons, with every new experience? It was hard for him to imagine what their friendship and their packs would have been like, having nothing of his own to go on. Being a friendless Kerl when he was little, it felt like a completely different world to him.
"What caused the dispute? Did the allies turn on each other?" He tilted his head to the side like a curious pup.
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Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 8:10 pm
”Nonsense,” Tere said reassuringly. “One of the main purposes of a pack is so we won’t feel alone. If we can’t uphold that, we wouldn’t really be a pack at all.”
She watched him nose the herbs, an amused, but not unkind smile on her lips. She considered waiting for him but he seemed the type to feel guilty about it, so she instead slowed her pace by a fraction, re-checking the borders while she did so. The scent was still strong, the invisible lines around the territory clearly defined, and she was satisfied with this. Shifting her attention to Rahim upon his return while still keeping an eye and ear out, she continued.
“There was a disagreement, but not between the packs. It was just that neither Sophie nor I agreed with the ideals of her pack, so we left,” she said simply.
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Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 4:41 pm
Rahim found it a little bit sad that there was so many things in his environment he didn't yet understand. Though he had wandered the forest for what felt like an endless amount of time, he didn't seem to recognize or have words for many of the things he found. The names of other Lera weren't a problem, of course; they were learned by necessity on various hunts. But other things, like the names and traits of plants, still escaped him. He was just beginning to see how much he hadn't learned. Heck, he couldn't even catch the smallest rabbit for a meal.
"Alright, that is true..." Rahim said with a slight smile once he caught up. A pack wouldn't be a pack without unity. He walked quietly for a moment, gazing around at the plants he wished he had names for. Then a question started nagging at the back of his mind. It was something he had wondered about for a while. This could be an opportunity to ask about it. "This pack is different from others, isn't it?" He asked quietly, looking ahead and letting his eyes settle on Tere a moment longer than usual.
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