Stumbling onto a secluded Paradise

[Saidin]

Travelling through the mountains had definitely been one of her better ideas, Marika had to admit. Nostrils flared as she inhaled deeply, enjoying the teasing scents of prey and pine, and the quiet splashing of the river she was resting by. She hadn't detected any territorial markings by the break in the mountain range that had given her entry to this lovely haven, but just in case she was working out a story for any wolves who challenged her. Something along the lines of leaving her starving pack, yes, and the alphas unable to admit they needed to move on, find new hunting grounds; half-crazed with hunger yet too stubborn to allow any wolf to go– yes, that ought to do quite nicely.
Marika lazily began to roll onto her side when the crackling of leaves stopped her. Distaste distorted her expression momentarily as she violently shook herself, ridding her coat of the bits of leaf and dirt. Looking around, she padded over to a series of rocks beside the stream, selecting a large flat one to lay on. With a satisfied sigh she stretched out on the heated surface, soaking in as much warm sunlight as her white coat would allow her to.

[Silent Guardian]

Padding softly through the bushes and trees, a wolf slowly emerged from the shadows that the trees' canopy provided. Stepping out onto a patch of sunlight that managed to reach the forest floor, his maw rose to the sky. The taunting scent of prey made his nose tingle as he took in a deep intake of crisp air. His amber eyes flickered about as his ears swirled about on his head like miniature satellites, straining to hear the noises that surrounded his person. Tired as he was, he wasn't in the best of moods to admire the scenery. The important thing was, he had finally found a place that look suitable enough. After years of traveling from one place to another, it mildly surprised him that he didn't encounter any territorial markings around here. Taking a spot at the base of a tree, he lowered himself and stretched his paws out in front of himself. He had to admit, it wasn't the most comforting of places, but he's had worse. It didn't take long for his tired eyes to flutter shut, and his breathing to even out. Perhaps it was exhaustion, or perhaps he was losing his touch, but he wasn't aware of the other wolf lingering about nearby. Having had known this, he more than likely would have moved on. However, for now, he lay blissfully asleep.

[Saidin]

Lifting her head to better follow the intruding wolf's passage, Marika wore a 'this-better-be-good' look as she waited for the other to notice her presence. To her surprise, he merely made a cursury glance around the area before settling down a short distance away. Did that mean he knew this place well and was comfortable here, or was he just exhausted? It didn't really seem to be the former... Intrigued, she settled down again, allowing alert hackles to lay flat since he didn't appear interested in bothering anyone. Still, knowing quite well that appearances could be misleading, Marika kept herself from dozing off, her dark eyes remaining fixed on the other.

[Silent Guardian]

Cracking open an eye, his vision unfocused into smudges of brown and green. Blinking a few more times, he was able to see clearly, yet noticed a green figure sitting innocently on his nose. His eyes crossed in an attempt to confirm his thoughts. Getting a good glimpse at the small creature, he resisted rolling his eyes. A grasshopper, he mused. Batting it away with a large paw, he rose to a sitting position and glanced about wearily. He was thankful he hadn't been disturbed during that short nap of his. He knew it wasn't a smart choice to walk into an unknown terrain and crash down without first securing the area. He had been reckless, yes. It was then, did he finally catch the scent. The scent of another wolf. He rose to a stand, shook off stray particles of dirt and twigs, and glanced around. Not too far away, he was able to make out it's outline. He watched the wolf silently, observing it with calculating eyes.

[Saidin]

Ah, so he, too, was reluctant to make the first move? Marika rose and lazily shook herself, stretching slowly to reveal an almost too-lean frame of flesh and muscle before leaping lightly off her rock to the ground. Well, if she did have to react first, might as well have a little fun and go all-out. Padding toward the male, she adopted an even greater air of self-assurance and assertiveness than that which she normally carried. "I don't believe I've seen you around here," she accused with all the manner of a territorial wolf protecting that which rightfully belonged to it. "Just decided to wander in, get a little rest-" her gaze flicked to the base of the tree where he'd napped. "-maybe snatch a meal or two?" Ears forward, tail raised and curled, she looked and sounded the part of an affronted alphess... she hoped. If he didn't believe her or, worse, did belong to a pack that lived here, she was in for a rough time. Still, either way it would provide a nice challenge.

[Silent Guardian]

If wolves had eyebrows, his surely would have risen. With his raven tail flicking back and forth behind him softly, ears twitching every now and then as he listened her words and the sounds surrounding them, he appeared a tad more calmer than he probably was. Stretching lazily, he kept his amber eyes trained on the female before him, taking his time in responding. Alas, he answered. "Oh? Perhaps I was," Venturing out further, although he knew he was walking on risky waters, he hadn't encountered a wolf for quite a while now so he was merely having a bit of fun. With steady steps he walked toward her, leaving just enough space to keep personal boundaries in tact. Looking her over, only mildly interested, his head tilted to the side. "Hope I wasn't bothering you..." Yet again, an imaginary eyebrow were raised.

[Saidin]

She blinked, but carefully hid her confusion. Was he just being cautious, feeling her out, or was he toying with her as well? Marika resisted the urge to swell her chest out further- it could only lead him to the conclusion that she was uncertain of her position, which would strengthen his. Instead she allowed her body to relax fractionally, hackles lowering slightly, appearing more at-ease while internally remaining just as alert and watchful as before. "Only if you intended to eat and run," she replied, the sharp edge leaving her voice. "I'd hate to find someone who thought they could come and hunt these lands... uninvited." Her voice dipped briefly on the final word, warningly, while her eyes narrowed. Returning tone and expression to normal, she said, "I am Marika. You would be...?" Her gaze settled expectantly on him, her calculated attitude that of a wolf who was used to being obeyed.

[Silent Guardian]

Watching her carefully, he sighed internally. By the way she was acting, it sounded like she might actually belong to the pack that resides here. Well, that is, if one such existed. Either that, or she's one confident wolf. Eyeing her wearily, trying to detect a flaw or clue of misguidance, after a few moments, he finally settled with a careless shrug and his tail continued it's lazy movements behind him. "My name is of no real importance," he replied, seeming to ignore all the dominate signals she was sending. That, or the years were finally catching up to him and took toll on his perceptiveness. His eyes adverted to the trees, watching them stretch on for what seemed like miles, forever even, before letting his gaze return to her face. "I am but merely surprised to have not encountered any territorial markings. Is your pack truly that careless to have not marked their own territory?" Lowering his head the slightest, his ears twitched as he watched her intently, his eyes narrowing a fraction of an inch. "Or is it perhaps because these lands are yet to be claimed?" Keeping that same expression for a few moments longer, it changed suddenly, along with his mood. "My name is Botan. It'd do good to address me as such," he added, obviously either forgetting his earlier statement or changed his mind somewhere along the way of his rambling. Walking around her, he took steady steps forward, although with slight reluctance. "However, if my staying here truly effects you, then I shall take my leave."

[Saidin]

"Yes, I suppose the lack of markings is a bit of an oversight," Marika answered, thinking quickly. "I- we just decided that, as out of the way and hard to find as this place is, scent markings were a bit unnecessary. They might even have done more harm than good, if the wind blew just right and carried a vague odor with it down the mountains. We're not exactly looking for competition up here... though the occasional loner is welcome," she added pointedly, turning only her head to continue watching him.
Was it just her, or were his moods and attention drifting and changing as abruptly as a fickle breeze? She examined him again while trying not to appear to do so. Was there something wrong with him, or... what? With that thick black coat she was finding it a little difficult to discern his age, but he couldn't be that old. Not enough to chalk up his absentmindedness to senility. Deciding that, however hard she tried, she couldn't keep up this charade forever– it would certainly collapse the instant he asked her where anything or anyone was– she asked casually in a tone meant to be regarded as idle teasing, "Well, Botan, if these lands were 'yet to be claimed,' what would your intentions be?"

[Silent Guardian]

Botan didn't catch her little mishap, much too focused on that around him than on the wolf before him. Not the smartest of choices, perhaps. However, the way she rambled, he grew rather bored. He wasn't usually like this, though. So...distracted and impatient. He had a serious personality. However, he sometimes had those days...
Hearing her last sentence, he turned ever so slightly, so his back wasn't facing her any longer. He gave her a long stare, contemplating whether or not he should entrust such information on a wolf that was but a mere stranger to him. Sighing softly, he came to a decision. "I suppose you have a right to know, considering your pack resides here, correct?" He didn't wait long for a reply before continuing, with slight hesitance. "In truth, I was but merely passing through." He glanced around wearily before setting his gaze back on her face. "I have no intention of staying." Even as the back of his mind was yelling and cursing at him to stay put, he turned as if to continued on. Though half of him wanted her to stop him, the other half slightly doubted she would. With nothing else to say, he took a step forward.

[Saidin]

Her head tilted sideways as she stared at him, ears attentive. "You can't be serious." Marika contended, surprised. "'Just passing through?' 'No intention of staying?' And just what, may I ask, is wrong with this place? Everything you could possibly want is here." Well, all right, she couldn't know that with absolute certainty given how little she'd actually seen of the valley, but come on! She had definitely seen enough to sway herself. "At any rate, you can't have been here for /that/ long," if he had, he'd probably know there was no preexisting pack. "Why so eager to go? Got someplace better to be?" Her tone and expression clearly broadcasted her contemptuous disbelief.

[Kaia]

Light broke through the foliage above in a cracked pattern. Peace seemed to settle upon the land surrounding two traveling wolves, prey and predator living together save for the hunt. The gray wolves were showcasing different obvious attitudes. One, playful and alert. Sniffing and pushing anything that caught her mauve eyes. The other did not share this enthusiasm, he simply trudged behind as if half awake.
"I scent wolves," came Kaia's soft voice. She lifted her maw to the trees, taking in deep breaths of forest and, yes, definitely wolves.
The brute frowned, slowing to a stop. "Then I believe we should change our route. Could be trouble."
"What it could be," she retorted to her stubborn brother, "is a pack for us. You know we need one."
At this, Orion seemed even more annoyed. "Stop being an ignorant little fox! Get out of that dream of yours, not every pack wants more wolves. You go then, I'm leaving. I don't need a pack, I'd rather live alone."
Kaia simply walked over and sat in front of him. She was very used to his behavior, rarely did he show compassion or even interest in anything. "You know I'd never leave you alone."
He scowled. "Why don't we just go back to our previous pack? It's been a while, maybe our so-called parents are dead and they don't hate us any more." He lowered his voice to a mumble. "Or maybe we could just kill them."
Kaia shook her head. "Let's keep moving, I'm tired and don't want to sleep in the forest again." Neither responded to this, though continued working their way through the brush. Finally they broke through to a clearing, and soon noticed the presence of something Orion loathed and Kaia expected, wolves.

[Dusk]

A fairly large brute padded softly into the thick earth of a unknown terratory, his pelt glowed a soft color of silver and gold as the suns light hit him, as he stoped abruphly, thinking he should howl to ask for permission to enter, as he has with many others. But this one was different, he thought to himself, he lifted his muzzle to the heavens as the scents of other wolfs flared to his nose.
A small smile spreads across his face, as he scents the air. "Finally, I may be able to find either a pack or some company' he says to himself, his vice as smooth as velvet and a sweet as honey, also with a slight english accent. He steps further into the terratory, his deep yet soft yet deep chocolate eyes dart through the surrounding with every sound and new scent brought to him.
"Now where could my dear sister be" he then said to himself again, shaking his head as he thought of his sister as she wandered off with out him.
His paws picked up speed, and ran through the water, then stopped feeling refreshed. Little rainbows flew of his coat as he shook the water off. Then he turned to lap up so cool refreshing water.

[Kaia]

Two of the opposing wolves seemed to be occupied, and being new to the land which surrounded her Kaia had made a previous descision to not bother anyone. It would not do her well to wander around without a plan, or story.
"This seems like a kind enough area to relax," Kaia thought out loud. She pondered on if these strange wolves themselves belonged to a pack or not. "We shan't talk to these two, however I believe I scent another wolf... One who is alone. Perhaps we can find something out about this land from them?"
Silence covered the fae and her surrounding, and she realized she was alone. "Orion?" Her voice became worried. He was no where in sight, and his scent, usually not very strong anyway, had vanished.
It wasn't the first time nor she expected the last that her brother wandered away without warning. Without a doubt, it was due to the wolves. Perhaps to another the idea of leaving his sister alone in the strange area would seem cold, though Kaia was far used to it. Still, she felt worried. For him.
Thirst getting the better of her, she prowled slowly forward out of the forest coverage. The water looked so good, she just had to taste it. Kaia's eyes flicked upwards, and she spotted a rather drenched wolf quite near to her.

[Dusk]

The fairly large brute shifted his weight as he lapped up the cool, refreshing water, he so lifted his had very slightly to see his own reflection, shaking his head in discust. "Why must I look like her?" Dusk questioned himself aloud, his voice still as smooth as velvet but lsicked with sarrow. 'If hadnt looked like my mother, falther would have let me stay, but I guess shouldn't dread on the past" he sighed changing his tone, away from saddness.
Dusk lifted his head from the mirror water, as his soft chocolate colored eyes settled on a wolf that had appeared near him, which starttled him as he took a step back. The scent of the wolf flared at his nose, and he relaxed 'alone' he reasured himself' this wolf is alone, as you are'
But his couldnt seem to lift his eyes away from the wolf that just came into his sight.