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 Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 4:10 pm
The fact of the matter was Omen's existence was no more or less "lucky" than that of any other wolf in her circumstances. Her brother would have told her most things in life were about perception; if only she had met him perhaps she wouldn't have felt like a pandemic affliction of sorts. She hadn't, and without any guidance to the contrary, she had spent her days in solemn solitude "knowing" it was for the best. All for the best.
Omen managed to be the most selfish and most selfless wolf this side of the forest. A title easily cultivated and sustained when you were your only competition. The area was quiet on days without birds and insects to fill the silent void. Days like this one. She had, of course, chosen the area specifically for the isolation it offered.
All for the best.
The rains had passed the day before and she harvested the drinking water it left behind. She felt lowly for quenching her thirst with a puddle -- the taste was that of dirt; absolutely disgusting. It was what she deserved, she reminded herself.
Just in case she'd forgotten, a small branch fell from the tree behind her, knocking her on the head. Omen had been standing and staring at her reflection for some time now. It wasn't as if she had walked up, wished for better than instantly been hit. But to her, it was still a sign.
She should be thankful to drink from the mud.
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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 4:32 pm
The passing of the rain was something to be thankful for. Soweto was not a large wolf by any means, and it was becoming something of a true burden to have to haul Wyatt's water-logged carcass from the shallow depths that stemmed from pooling water. Not that the white and black wolf was obese, he just happened to be of the body type where he weighed considerably more than he appeared to. Fat bones, he would assure her if she ever dared comment on it out loud.
Fat bones, not a fat wolf.
It was entirely sensical.
But his persistence in swimming despite any lack of skill, natural or unnatural, made him one of the most dedicated creatures she had ever encountered when it came to the task of unknowingly trying to kill themselves. He really couldn't have been more of an achiever in this pursuit unless he ate rocks and sat at the bottom of a river. Which in truth would have resulted in a pretty similar sight to what occurred whenever a puddle seemed deep enough.
The break in miserable weather was indeed a blessing, and the she wolf tried her best to pick up on the scents in the winds and guide herself and her current companion. It was up to her to get them back Sisky after Wyatt had wandered off in pursuit of the storm clouds.
This obvious treading away from his much enjoyed rain carriers did not seem to bother the stream-lined male. He was far too easily distracted by the obvious lack of distractions, with so many things having been washed away in the rain.
"Where have all the good things gone?" He chirped while looking around for something to invest his focus in.
"It's just a mucky day, be glad you didn't get carried away too."
And indeed he was, because although he was sure it would be fun to be drawn away with everything else, he was certain that more adventure could always be found in groups of more than one.
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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:02 pm
Omen had looked up to many moons between then and the time she had seen another wolf. The hunting on this slab of land was poor, given there was little to hunt. The lack of a reputable water source aside from puddles and leaves made it all the more unappealing. Just to make sure it stayed by all accounts repugnant, she tore apart any flowers and chased off what avian life she could. (Some birds were just too stubborn and it wasn't like she could fly up and catch them.)
What was left of her destruction was a banal, nearly useless territory. If it were to be interesting, it would ironically be because it was not interesting; an observant eye had no trouble discerning signs of foul play that went beyond nature itself. Someone had rampaged through. Someone who was still there. Curious was this tidbit for not many would dedicate themselves to further destroying a place that already had so little going for it. Why protect what no one wanted to steal?
Omen expected anyone who did dare cross into her desolate home to turn tail and go. Unless they were struck blind or stupid, and she'd have a hard time accepting there was any wolf who possessed ignorance so profound they'd want to be here. (Nevermind she was there. She was different; cursed.)
Yes, yes. For many moons and many suns she had not encountered a wolf, much less two wolves in a day. Much much less two wolves in a day that were together. A pang of jealousy haunted her, rising from the pit of her stomach and squeezing her heart. Omen would not be silenced by this envy, though, and approached the two strangers from the far right side.
"You can't be here," she informed them. Her voice was not aggressive, but certainly was foreboding. "This land is cursed."
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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 7:24 pm
What truly desolate place it was. The unwelcoming nature of it all left the brown female on edge. Such degrees of roughness were unnatural. And rough it was, for there was nothing smoothed or forgiving about a single mark they passed. Tension lit up in Soweto and wove through to the moist pads of her feet. It skipped Wyatt.
With his black nose poking into silken mud or up and through the long-dead roots he was finding delight in something so mold-able. Which is exactly what he saw it to be. For after all, if something could become this way it was surely as a result of some other force. And that which can be destroyed can always be created anew.
The possibilities were endless, and set up within him a simply delighted joy which emanated up to the tips of his ears as they swiveled to and fro.
But at hearing someone they both nearly jumped of fright. Wyatt recovered first, being the type to take pleasure in such things. Soweto regarded this bright new figure with a certain level of caution, but her posture lacked any sign of ill will.
"Curs-"
"Excuse us, we didn't mean to intrude." she quickly cut off her counterpart. There was no such thing as curses, Soweto lacked any superstitious beliefs. Everything could be explained within reason. Still, it was better to not unsettle wolves you didn't know.
"Are these your lands? We're only passing through."
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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 7:51 pm
"Are these your lands? We're only passing through."
Omen's eyes had been slinking from one side to the other, simulating the swaying motion of a snake that couldn't decide which target to strike. But as it was often said, looks can be deceiving, and not a single strand of fur on her hide cried out for bloodshed. Fighting amongst wolves was a thing she thought about very little and feared even less.
Anyone who had it in them to start a fight had it in them to win a fight when their opponent was Omen. Her carelessness in approaching strangers came from experience, or lack there of. Since the very beginning she had been taught violence was not a way of solving things. Through actions, not words, she learned this. Her pack could have slaughtered a helpless pup, but instead they sent her away.
Omen, too, would just send them away.
"That's..." The question was unnerving. Her? Own land? Like an alpha? "...No, it isn't mine, but there are wolves here." A lie. A poorly told lie. The look on her face was more pained than she meant it to be. Omen did not care for lying, nor did she realize her expression could be mistaken for one of fear. To a stranger her behavior pointed to an abused omega warning others rather than a lying lone wolf that had assigned herself this life.
Who would jump to that conclusion? Utterly foolish it was.
"There are mean wolves here. You need to leave."
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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 8:44 pm
Of all the things that could have been said to successfully deter this particular traveling duo, a story of mean wolves was one of the least effective. The only thing that could have been even worse would have been if Omen had simply burst in to tears and claimed to have seen a puppy hating flower crusher that wanted nothing more than to make her feel bad about herself. Yes, that was probably the only worse thing she could have said. But mean wolves worked just well enough.
Wyatt's mouth dropped open in an exaggerated gasp--all his reactions were exaggerated. He took things very personally, and very profoundly, particularly if they had a negative connotation. Mean wolves, so obviously harassing and emotionally wounding this very female. Right before his eyes. He could just see it now. This orange she wolf being treated in all sorts of rotten ways, while large and obscurely colored wolves laughed and rolled in the background.
It was downright dreadful.
Even Soweto had pangs of regret come over her as she listened to this she-wolf and saw what she had taken as fear come over the wolfess' face. Leaving her here wouldn't be right.
"Are you....are you in some sort of danger, miss?" She didn't quite know what to say, she hadn't even caught her name.
Thankfully Wyatt was never at a loss for words when it counted most. "Then you need to leave too! Ohh goodness, we need to all leave quickly, quick NewFriend, we should be quick like many quick things!" Exciting himself into a pant he began to glance nervously in every direction before dropping into a crouching position, to best avoid detection, and crawling slowly on his paws towards this new female.
"We need to all leave, quick, Friend." He turned his utterly frightened eyes on her and used what he hoped was his most beseeching voice with a bit of a whine.
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