[MAIN] Azure Wilds

First topic message reminder :


1. Keep it clean, PG-13 rated.

2. Do not exclude anyone from what is happening.

3. Anyone can post here.

4. Keep character plots in plot topics.

5. Have fun!

6. Use your imagination of what the area looks like!

Amatullah gently rested her frame against the ground while letting the duo finish their examination; her legs all buckled underneath her while letting the wounded limp out. The female called Fell was sure to ease her spirit before they checked on her, and Ama simply smiled as a reply. The ivory brute was a warrior of sort; Fell took it upon herself to introduce him, so Amatullah assumed it was the lady that held authority in these parts.
"I feel it shift around when I move, but it usually aches at all times regardless." The she-wolf replied to Artemis while shifting her leg ever so slightly. "The pain is at the top.. like it snaps in place, then pops out. I don't know how else to explain it."

Fell watched in awe as Amatullah moved her leg in the most...interesting way. "Whoa..." it slipped out before she could catch herself. Fell knew she should be polite. The uniquely colored female had obviously had a life full of challenges. "Does it keep you from any skills?" She asked. "Like hunting or perhaps walking and running." She was truly trying to be curious, not rude. She hoped Ama would see that.

Oddey moved through the dense forest at a slow pace, towering spruce trees cascading marvelous ebony shadows along the soft earth that caressed the male's large pads. Shoulder-height shrubbery brushed against his charcoal tinted fur, small leaves and branches taking residence upon his flanks as Oddey weaved between the vegetation. The light breeze comforted the light-hearted being, bringing the overwhelming fragrance of soil and the woodlands to his inky nostrils.
Inhaling it's content, Oddey eased to a halt, right fore-limb held mid air as the underlying aroma of others wolves overwhelmed that of the forest. A grin, that of excitement, spread across his muzzle before he began to tract the others, the speed of his gait increasing the closer he found himself.
As he broke past a small cluster of flora, the lean male paused upon the sight of the trio, slightly stunned by the number. Oddey, quickly composing his shocked reaction, eased an inviting smile to the group, icy blue eyes curiously observing them before he spoke.
"Hello!" He announced, voice bright and full of enthusiasm as he awaited to be noticed by the fellow wolves.

Fell waited for a response from the female. She glanced at Artmeis and could see he was in question of her condition as well. Of course, no one anticipated the events that unfolded next. Fells ears perked and her head rose to full height as a Male wolf casually joined their group, greeting her as he paused before them. Fell realized then that this must have been what had caused the she wolf to feel wary. She smiled at him. "Hello there." She took note of his charcoal fur. "You are quite casual for a stranger." She grinned.

Easing back onto his rump, Oddey brought his tail to rest upon his large pads, assuming a relaxed posture.
"Well, approaching anyone with a negative mind set never gets you anywhere." He spoke his reason, voice of a mellow octave and sweet charm.
Tufted audits flicked upon his head attentively as he brought his gaze towards the one who spoke, taking in her uniquely patterned coat as the ebony base faded to pale gray accents, white patches speckling the high points of her anterior surface. A pair of deep blue eyes held his own, full of untold stories in which Oddey was eager to learn.
Shifting to the second wolf, a stark difference between him and the she wolf was obvious. Ivory coloring encompassed his slim build, contrast to the large build of the damsel, and a stoic expression upon his face struck curiosity in the Timber wolf. The lack of communication from the candid made Oddey weary of his presence, but did not deter his enthusiasm.
His nose quivered with excitement as he tasted his next words, thinking before he spoke.
"I do hope I'm not intruding, I just can't help myself around new wolves." He added with a light chuckle, a lop-sided grin spreading over his maw as he returned his gaze to the primary wolf.

Fell sat down after the stranger did. She wanted to make sure no quarrels were needed right now. She had more things to think about, like how they were going to reach the open meadows below the cliffs. Amatullah was injured and Fell didn't know the limits of her strength or weaknesses. At the same time, she was a bit more curious about the new stranger as well. Artemis took it upon himself to explain the situation and himself. Fell followed suit. "My name is Fell Alarista, the Arch of this group. " she wondered briefly if she would need to explain her rank meaning again.

He watched each wolf as they spoke, offering them a slight nod of greeting as they presented their names. He found the group calming, that of which was uncommon, at least to the travelling wolf. Oddey had met many others through his years of solitude, sharing experiences and knowledge with those who exchanged theirs, but only a small amount did. Most he encountered would bare sharp ivories and release dangerous snarls from the depths of their chests, warding off the sociable male in mere seconds. Returning his attention to the trio before him, he spoke with excitement and utmost glee.
"Name's Oddey!" He returned the favor of offering his name, descending his pale gray speckled head towards the earth in a formal greeting. "It really is a pleasure to meet such peaceful wolves, at least for now." Oddey continued with an airy laugh, the distal end of his tail flicking absently along his fore-paws.
His gaze drifted to the third member of the group, taking a moment to observe their thin, almost underweight build, his bright blue eyes narrowing as they fixated on the odd angle a limb laid.
Lifting his attention from the other, his gaze settled on the one named Fell, ears swiveling forward as she used the foreign term.
"Arch?" He inquired, tilting his head slightly to the left. "Haven't heard of that term before." He clarified.

Fell wagged her tail a bit as she replied. "Welcome, Oddey. Pleasure to meet you." She liked him already. He seemed to match her upbeat personality in his own way. He seemed to be almost completely fearless. Course, she frowned when he asked about her rank. Fells parent really had a unique way of doing things. She had thought these wolves would have at least heard of the rank. She sighed. "I'm am the leader of the group, in other words." She replied, keeping her gentle tone the best she could. "What brings you all the way out here?" She asked. If he was looking for a home too, she wondered what his skills could possibly be. He looked thin, but not so much muscular. Perhaps a Seeker...she would need to test him.

"Leader, huh?" He replied with a curious tone, shifting his weight between his forelimbs as he chose his next words. "Been a while since I've met a group. Most wolves seem to be on their own more then choosing to be with others, not that I'm complaining." He rambled, getting caught in his own mind before returning his focus to the question at hand.
"I tend to travel quite a bit, never staying in one area for too long. I've just recently entered these forests out of boredom, and I guess I got lucky and met you folk." Oddey answered, long and sizable tail beginning to thump along the earth as he grew comfortable around the group. "Ever since I was a pup I've been wandering these lands, exploring and learning from those I meet along the way." He spoke, offering the others a brie insight to his past, humming as he thought back to his younger years.
"How about you guys? You live in these parts?" Oddey then asked, flicking his eyes between both Artemis and Fell.

Fell wondered where Oddey had been and what he had seen when he mentioned he traveled a lot. Her curiosity grew about him, but concern as well. Fell wanted members who would stick around, not ditch when they're bored. Still, she answered his question with the same upbeat tone as he did. "I have traveled a bit myself, not as far as crossing the river." She remembered seeing it when they looked out over the land.

The slim wolf gave a brief nod in acknowledgement of Fell's response, the thick fur surrounding his neck shifting with the movement.
"You said y'all were a group, right?" Oddey reiterated, contorting his frame as he brought a hind limb to scratch at his left ear. "You looking for some more members by chance? I've been on the look for some permanent company." He inquired lightly, dancing over his words carefully in hopes of proving his worth.
His gaze shifted between each member of the party, unsure how his advances would end. "I'm sure I've got some skills that are useful to you, if needed of course." Oddey added quickly, allowing an inviting grin to sit upon his muzzle.

Fell smiled at the grey Male "we could use more company." She replied. "What do you offer?" She looked at him with a small challenge before she herlard Amatullah speak. "I see..." If she knew medicine, that would prove useful. She knew just how she could earn her keep. "Can you help me with this?" She raised her injured paw from the duel she had with Artemis. It didn't sting so much and blood had already caked over the broken skin.

Oddey pondered over the question for a moment, tail thumping the earth as he placed his thoughts in order.
"Well, I guess you could say I'm a jack of all trades, for the most part. I have some knowledge on basic medicinal treatments, heightened tracking skills, defensive fighting tactics and I'm quite the hunter if you ask me." He listed for the group, grinning as he allowed a breathy laugh to follow. "I might not look like much, but I promise that my willingness to learn out shines my lack of talent." He added briefly, a sense of unease beginning to grow beneath his skin.
Oddey truly enjoyed the group so far, and it was about time he attempted to find a permanent residence. The small flare of hope that burst in his chest was muddled by the pinching feeling of worry.
Was he enough?

Fell found the Male to be quite fascinating. "Interesting..." she circled him before settling down on her haunches. "How about we put your skills to the test?" She flicked her tail in the direction of Amatullah. "See if you can find a suitable meat for her. A hare will do." She smiled, knowing it was the perfect task for a wolf who claims so many talents. "If you need, Artemis may go with you." She added after a thought of other wolves out there who may not of been friendly.

((Joachim is on the other side of the caribou herd. Not the north but to the east. So he hasn't caught wind of the other wolves yet)).

There were wolves about. The faint scent was the main reason he lingered in this forest. When they came back he was going to join them.

Something ached, lonesomeness briefly sucking the air from his lungs. Joachim viciously shoved aside the emotion. He didn't need company because he was lonely, only because it would be easier to survive the winter as part of a group. He padded along, feeling pine needles against his paws as his pale orange eyes took in the sight before him. What pack would take in a loner? What pack would risk wasting resources on a possible liability? No sane pack. That was why he was going to prove that he wasn't a liability. Then they'd have to accept him.

Joachim stepped forward, entering the open. His paws passed from needled floor to shrubby grassland. A few of the hoofed beasts snorted as they saw him but he didn't stop his approach.

This is stupid. A little voice buzzed in his head, pleading for caution. What wolf could take down such prey on their own?

"No wolf." Joachim agreed, keeping his posture firm and his eyes on the goal. "That's why it'll be so much more impressive when I do it and leave the carcass as a gift for when the wolves return." With that flawed reasoning he broke into a sprint, closing the distance between him and the prey.

...They didn't run. Hooves struck the ground and they snorted at him. Joachim's sprint turned into a shuffle to the side as he realized. "You guys are a lot bigger than you looked." He skirted around, dodging a hoof as he tried to spook one of the little caribous. "Come on, run!" His voice ended in a sharp bark.

More antlered heads turned his way, which wasn't what was supposed to happen at all. There was a menace in the steps they took towards him.  "No, I meant the other way not towards--gah!"

He fled, the sound of thunder adding a desperate sort of speed to his legs. Into the edge of the forest he was chased, dashing along  the lower wall of a cliff that overlooked the fields. He dared a glance back, the large caribou were fast but slowed up by the obstacles posed by the roots. He could outmanuever them. Maybe.

Then he caught the scent of wolf. "Oh dang it." He swore between ragged breaths, dodging to the side and scraping his shoulder against a tree as one of the caribou tried to shove their antlers in his face. "This was not how it was supposed to go at all."

((Are the caribous too aggressive? I know they don't tend to, but they might think that one little wolf would be easy to get rid of)).

(Nope, not unless they're in mating or breeding season. But they feel less intimidated with a single wolf chasing them.)

Her orders given, Fell sat there a moment and looked at Amatullah briefly before she decided to head back to the cliffs for a moment of sunshine. "I'll be right back." She said to the injured female before heading to the cliff. There, she soaked in the sunlight and looked out over the land with growing interest to explore. As she searched the land for a path to the den she had seen before, she noticed a wolf and caribou moving at a quickened pace. Fells ears rose, alert. "You must be foolish...." she said in shock as she watched the chase. She snorted. "My, the tables seem to have turned on nature itself." She mused to herself. But she couldn't let him suffer. The lady turned after spotting a path not far from her current location and bolted for the edge of the forest. She had begun to hear the chase up ahead as she retraced her steps down the slope Artemis and she had taken before. Then she saw them, coming right at her. The female maneuvered herself so that she took a few paces into the trees and ran diagonal to the chase through trees and bushes. She would need to be careful with this move. She caught up and barked at the doe making it flee, but a bull continued the chase and Fell had to whirl about to avoid being trampled. She caught up with the Male and ran at his side. "One down, one to go." She panted to him.

He zigged, he zagged. But these prey were persistent. Joachim figured it was a matter of pride for the male and the female was peeved that he had barked at her young. It would probably be best if he never tried to do anything like this again.

Between the wind rushing past his ears and the sound of hooves, he didn't catch the bark that sent the female scurrying back to the herd. Joachim was unaware another player had joined until the lady's grey form matched his pace.

He didn't have the breath for a greeting so instead met her words with a sheepish dip of his head.

The bull came on behind them. But a new confidence was filling the young wolf. He wasn't going to die alone and trampled by an herbivore. He was going to survive this and...since his hunt had failed so spectacularly, he had to find some new way to impress this lady enough for her to welcome him.

The middle of a flight is a terrible time to make a plans. An opportunity to get around the bull presented itself and Joachim moved to take it even as he hadn't fully formed the idea of what he would do after. He dodged to the right, under the boughs of a pine, and darted in a new direction.

The bull's kick to the tree sent a flurry of needles raining down.

There were enough obstacles about that Joachim didn't have to race off right away. Instead, he dashed from nook to cranny. Avoiding hooves and antlers. Laughter ticked his throat as he detected the caribou's frustration.

"You gotta be faster than that-" His words cut off as he ducked a hoof.

Fell danced to the side as the Male took lead, the bull raging towards him. Fell hadn't seen such behaviour from a prey animal. The movements sort of remained her of a predator- more hocus pocus of Vanora. Fell sighed, but she pranced about, dodging a back hoof just as the stranger teased the bull. "Do you even know what your doing?" She asked, snapping her jaws at the bulls flank before dancing away as the bull whirled to face her. With just the two of them, this could take a while. She wondered how long she had before her injury kicked up again.

He held back an outraged retort at the dubiousness in the lady's tone. They didn't even know each other and already she was doubting his skills. Snapping at her wasn't going to make his abilities more apparent though so instead Joachim chuffed. "I know what to do when they're acting normal."

This one was acting more like a predator than prey. Maybe his running from it had woken some instinct that now drove it after them. So, Joachim considered, perhaps he should change his tactics and treat it like a fellow predator instead of flailing about in confusion.

His pale orange eyes narrowed and as he wove between trees he watched for an opening. The female knew what she was about, scoring hits on the beast's backside and leading it in circles. Joachim wanted to land a hit that would make it decide that these growly furbottles weren't worth the trouble. End this all quickly because the adrenaline wouldn't be enough to keep him running for much longer.

He chose to dash in during one of the caribou's turns, attacking the exposed side. His teeth skidded along the ribs, not breaking flesh until he reached the softer under belly and held on. For a few seconds at least. He wasn't large enough for his weight to hamper the bull. It jarred him loose with a simple bucking maneuver.

He scrambled out from under and again got behind the beast. A back hoof knifed towards his head, too quick to dodge. Between the excitement and fatigue Joachim didn't really feel pain, just realized absently that the tip of his left ear was simply gone and there was the smell of blood on the air.

There was also, now that he came to notice, the smell of more wolves about. The caribou noticed too, tossed its head and eyed the trees like a whole pack might launch out from the boughs. There was more caution in its movements now; two wolves weren't a match for it, but how many more were there?

((Caribou doesn't have to go if you don't want, I figured we might not need to drag it out.

(Not this one, no. Only because a bull realistically wouldn't be a match for two wolves.)

"Welcome to Vanora." The large female laughed as she dodged the hooves of the animal before it trampled her. Fell realized then as she circled the animal in a canter that it seemed a bit spooked. "Rush it!" She yelled. Then she made a quick forward movement, baking in warning, snarling. She hoped it would drive the animal back into instinct, fleeing.

"Is that what you call this place?" He didn't get the chance to follow through with any more questions as her command had him charging towards the uneasy herbivore. The bull snorted, stood his ground for just an instant longer. Joachim added his own voice to the mix, growling and showing some teeth.

The caribou backed slowly, head arched and giving the pair of wolves a disdainful look. He wasn't fleeing, that expression seemed to say. They simply weren't worth his time.

Joachim watched, heart pounding and breathing so heavy that his sides felt like bursting. The caribou slipped through the trees and out of sight. The wolf's attention shifted, gaze flicking up at an awkward angle as he tried to spy the damage done to his ear. "That didn't go quite as expected." He admitted lamely. "But next time will be better."

It wasn't bleeding badly, there wasn't much blood supply to the ears anyway. He'd have to find a river to wash it off in before it clumped in his fur; this time of year, he shuddered, it was going to be cold.

"I'm Joa." He turned to the lady, remembering his manners. "Thank you for the assist."

Fell fell back on her haunches once the prey left and panted just as the stranger addressed her. She glanced at him, slightly annoyed that he would try something so ridiculous. "My name is Fell Alarista," she replied, then moved towards the Male and started to circle him. "What possessed you to try something so foolish?" She asked, stopping in front of him. "You could have gotten yourself killed." She narrowed her eyes at him as the stupidity of his actions settled comfortably into her thoughts. 'Child' she thought to herself.