Contemplation and Serenity

[Zel]

The wind stirred the grasses and blew it around in gentle rolling waves. Even though it was summer the night's temperture dropped down and the chilled wind was biting to ones ears and nose. Though dispite the occasional annoyance of the breeze, the stars shown in all their glory. The only thing missing was the land sending off firefly to dance and shed their own light to the world. It was serene and yet it would keep a wolf awake with it's ethreal mysteries. The moon shown in her own radiance, bathing the grasses in her silvery glow.

Gabriel stared out into the middle of the lands. He was tempted to go running and leaping through the thick fronds and grasses. Though he held his need. He was not a puppy and he would not bound and play like one . . . ok so he would if and ONLY if puppies were present in this case they were not. So instead he padded out onto the knoll. His large body was not hidden by the grasses. In fact he towered over them. His large paws left a slight trail through the grasses though he tried to tread quietly. Gabriel was still loner wolf. Ok so he'd like to join these lands but he did not know the laws of the lands. He sat on the grass and pondered.

Pack ettiquate sometimes allowed for a lone wolf seeking pack membership on to the lands, as long as they did not take any prey from the lands. And he had not. Even the dead carcuss of the elk he saw he did not touch it. Though, if Gabriel was not mistaken, these lands were the lands of Warriors, they might see his big body and entrance as bravery, or he could be getting himself killed. One of the two. It did not matter.

He came to the middle of the Knoll and in an impressive display flopped his body to the ground and rolled. Everywhere he marked or made dirt he let the pack scent that he was not a threat. If they saw him like that then they may but he hoped to prove to them that he was a prospect to the pack. He liked to fight and he liked hard work whatever they wanted to give to him he would do it. He was a hardworking warrior and felt no fear. He would protect them and their pups. He grinned a wolfish grine and rolled in the grass a bit before looking up to the skies and the creasent moon. It was all beautiful and he rolled over on to his stomach to look up at it all. The moon danced in his eyes and he lowered his ears, basking in her glow.

His shoulders just poked out from the grasses and he lowered his head on to his paws. He was tired of walking, tired of scavaging for scraps, and tired of fighting every lone wolf that came his way. Gabriel huffed and began to relax into the grass, his furred body keeping himself warm from the on coming winds. To an on looker he's grayed back looked like a stone and him being still as he was, a wolf walking by with the wind blowing towards Gabriel, they would never know he was anything but a rock. Gabriel relished the thought of that and closed his eyes, he'd been running for a week now, it was rest time and this seemed to be a perfect place to take a cat nap. Though he kept his large furred ears errect, listening out for any odd noise . . . or wolf howls.

[Madey(Hatter)]

A nice cool breeze russtled her fur as she sat happily on a tree stump. Her tail waggin as she expressed her mood in it. A smile were easily detected at the corners of her maw. She has never been this happy for a while. She has had a happy life, but even she had her not so good pasts. She lifted her narrowd muzzle towards the sky and breathed in the natrual air. When she did she did scent another presence not too far off the border. A low happy bark came from her maw as she leapt off the stump.

Her tail was high over her head still wagging wildly behind her, she wasn't much of a pup, but she still lked acting like one at times. Her tongue lolled out of the corner of her maw as she ran towards the smell. She couldn't wait to see who it was. When she saw a bird on the floor trying to fly she skidded to a stop and padded over towards the little bird. Her smile turned into a faint frown. She nuged the bird which turned out to be a baby blue bird.

when it didn't do anything, but chirp and flap its wings she sighed in disapoitment. She picked the bird up with gentle teeth and continued to padd towards the scent of the wolf. She then stopped when she noticed a large leaf. She smiled widley and set the bird gently in the center of the leaf and this time picked the two corners of the leaf so it carried the bird comfortably. She then saw the dead elk carcass and shook her dome. She haulted infront of it and rose her colord eyes towards the brute.

A warm smile spread across her maw once again and she continued to pad towards the brute. When she got to him she dipped her dome towarsd him in greeting. "shewo" She tried to say with the leaf still in the capture of her maw. Her tail wagging behind her, she didn't look mean, violent, sad, drepressed, or rude type at all.

[Zel]

He heard the light steps of the female before she approached him. His ears pricked and heard the muffled voice, as if she was carrying something in her teeth. Easy as to not startle the wolf he rose. When he stood it was like a giant among wolves but he kept his head low incase it was the Alphess, though this female did not smell like the other scents around the terra. A breeze pulled her scent to his nose and he relaxed and turned his golden eyes towards her. "Shewo? Is that even a word?"

His voice rummbled pleasantly though he was still suspicious. Never take any wolf for granted for they could attack you when your guard was down. He saw that this wolf though, she looked happy to see somebeast on the terra. He took that as an alright. Though he turned fully putting his head, and teeth, towards her incase she did try anything funny. This female was all white with a green eye and a white eye. Odd colorings on a wolf. He could not help but notice. Though the demenor that she carried she seemed more like a puppy than anything else. "Hello, to you too, if I was a lesser brute I would take that bird for a midnight snack."

Birds were atrocious to eat. He could not. Gabriel hated to pick out all the feathers. Still it was odd to see a wolf carry a baby bird. When instincts tell the wolf to eat it. Even Gaberiel felt a rummble in his half empty stomach. That bird would make a great snack. Still . . . he was not a lesser brute and would let the female in front of him have it. Then he relaxed, and plopped his rump into the grass. On the hill he looked even bigger, though he kept his face pleasant enough, with a torn ear and scarred muzzle. Could not help he was a warrior, could not help his size, though he did get a good check out from the female in front of him. She was cute, but he sensed she was young and still had much to learn. Especially if she was running up to strangers.

[Madey(Hatter)]

When the brute came into view she seemed to smile. She sometimes did act like a puppy when it came to games and everything, her tail calmed down and was now swaying back and forth. the brute infront of her seemed very large, and he seemed part of the pack. Well, she heard he registerd to this pack. Her facial expression was thoughtful as her green and blue eyes skanned the brute from the tip of his auds to the end of his talons. He seemed like a warrioir and a good one at that. When he first smoke and it sounded like a joke. She gave a roll of her eyes. She set the leaf witht he bird on the ground. "No, it could be." She said with faint humore in her tone.

He could tell his suspicion through his eyes. she rose a brow and said with a calm smile. "Trust me, I am not the fighting type. I'm the story teller of the pack." Her lyrics were like bells. Very beautiful and cheerful. She was three years old at the moment now. Her white fur was also very beaituful, it was at medium length, it was also very soft and look very clean. Then the brutes lyrics cought her attention to him. She dipped her head still smiling. "I'm Akilla, by the way." She said pleasently then his last words made her lip twich in a faint frown, but it recoverd shortly. "But, you arn't a lesser brute, so that wouldn't matter, and anyway who would want to have an easy snack? it has a broken wing." She rolled her shoulderd in a slight shrug.

Her eyes then cought towards his scared muzzle and his torn ear. Her fearures then looked curious as she studied his scars again. She was thinking about asking him about it, but found that rude, and she didn't want to be rude. She was never the rude type, she liked to be nice and peacful, she couldn't fight. She doesn't know how, she would surly lose. And she wasn't walking up to a stranger, she heard he was going to be part of the pack. So she came to check it out. She never looked like a threat, and never will.

[Zel]

(Ooc: See it is confusing isn't it! I wish I knew if Gabe was alpha or not or if he's going to be or what lol, I mean starting off I wouldn't mind for plot purposes to have Gabe already be Val's mate. Or he could be beta, I'm just confused lol)

"I'm Akilla, by the way. But, you arn't a lesser brute, so that wouldn't matter, and anyway who would want to have an easy snack? it has a broken wing."

Gaberiel listened to the bell like words flow from her mouth. He scratched his ears nervously at her scruitinty of him. He hated to appear scary. He lightened his tones once assured that she wasn't a threat and gave a few wags of his tail, "they call me Gabriel Mcrae. I'm here to give the Njal pack another hard working wolf. I like to think that I'm a protector. Very much the fighting type, Akilla, Storyteller of Njal.," he said with a playful wink.

"Warrior I may be, but only to protect and serve this land. That is what I'm here for," his deep tenor rubbled gently and nobely as he spoke. No wolf could deny that he was the son of Alphas once. He carried the respect for those below and above him and had the protectors spirit. He watched as she looked him up and down. To the ragged ear that was split down the middle by a bear's claw, to the scar on his muzzle that was clawed savagely by an attacking wolf. Warrior indeed. He noted the curiosity in her eyes, Storytellers would love the tale of his family, though he'd wait until she asked. If she wanted the tale she would get it . . . maybe. Still he did not know this wolf well enough to tell his secrets or even to let the pack know of his tale just yet. Though he could give her that the ear was from the bear, that would be about as nonbelievable as it got, she might not question further.

"It's only prey," he gave a shrug of his own and looked at the little bundle of fluff, "though I'm kind hearted and these lands aren't my own until the Alphess let's me in whole heartedly. I can't take prey and I prefer to bring down large prey like the elk and deer. They make it worth the hunt. A helpless bird wouldn't bring much satisfaction; unless I was starved."

Kindhearted he maybe; he was still wolf and with wolf instincts. It was summer and the lands were plentiful in prey, come winter a bird would not be safe from any starving wolves jaws. Though he had to admit, he would love to have a hawk or eagle follow him. They were the birds that gave the warriors spirit and were hunters just as the wolves. He'd heard of wolves who conversed with birds and were given a bird to be partners. Still it was only what he'd heard. Turning from the bird his ears pricked and he listened to any other sounds, to make sure that they were safe here. Akilla mentioned she did not fight, since she was a part of the pack he was, he would make sure they were safe.

[Madey(Hatter)]

Akilla smiled brightly when he answerd. "Well, it is a pleasure meeting you Gaberiel. Well I do think you will make a good warrior." She said pleasently. Her voice positive and sure. Her tail still wagging behind her. Her tongue lolled out of the corner of her mouth making her look funny.

She dipped her dome towards him taking in his words. She didn't quite know how to respond to it so she didn't. She rememberd how she wanted to do more then giving advise and telling stories about the birds and other creatures. She gave a soundless sigh as she studied the brute carefully, she could easily tell in his eyes that he has been through a lot in the passed, things that could have been avoided, even though it was never his fault. She took another breath and lowerd her haunches in a sitting position, her tail still waging back and forth leaving dragging marks in the dirt.

When he spoke she listend to his lyrics a smile still across her maw. "I don't kill....I wait till one is dead then I will eat it, if it is healthy." She finished. "Though I can understand a brute like you has to take down a few animals here and there to survive, though I don't understand why you won't take a bite out of the elk carcass over there, you are part of the pack." She said with another pleasent smile.

When he fell silent so did she. She knew when wolves starve they will eat anything. Akilla is different though, even in that state she would never kill or hurt any animal on purpose. She rather take the dead onse, if food is scarce she will eat fruit. Berries were her favorite. She licked her chops at the thought of big jusy barries.

[Zel]

(Do you want to start with him being the beta now? My confusion is gone. So he's the beta male. I guess we could either just start over or keep going as he was beta all along or OOOOH idea!)

He closed his eyes and opened his mouth to speak again, somthing about how he was accepted as a pack member though he did not know what position was his. A thunderous howl cut him off and had him on his feet and in front of Akilla his head lowered and his teeth bared. Call him over jumpy but years of being a loner had instilled hard flight or fight instincts he could not get rid of. Though the moment he listened to the howl he heard his name in it. It was the alphess. He pricked his ears and raised his head. Listening as the wind then blew the message towards the pair of wolves, 'Gabriel, you are my choosen beta, Rayn you are my choosen betess. . . .'

It echoed one more time and his heart pounded in his chest and blood pumped into his ears making them throb. He never held a high pack position and raised his head higher than Akilla's in an instinctual awknowledgement of his rank. He closed his eyes and threw back his mighty head. His own howl thundered from his throat. Accepting his rank, accepting his duties to the pack, accepting the pack. His howl rose in a beautiful cry of power and could bring lesser beings to their knees and allow for other wolves to want to join in with their own howling. In fact in a beautiful chorus other members of the pack howled as well. In his howl he threw a message back to the alphess and the other wolves of the pack, 'I accept, M'lady, I accept, Njal, I am Gabriel, Warrior Beta of Njal.'

As the last chorus died down the symphony of calls ended and Gabriel turned to look at Akilla then he said with a grin, "So of course I'll be having some of that elk now."

He paused in his steps towards the elk and turned to look back at her a grin still on his handsome face, "forgive me if I startled you, I have been instilled with the flight or fight response when caught by suprise."

It was truth the words he spoke. He let her know it. He trusted this female as well. He approached the elk and tore off a piece as his stomach growled hungrily. It was not but a day old and still slightly fresh. The meat tasted heavenly as it slid down his throat. He gave a snarl and began to rip and tear into the dead animal. He was a hunter, a fighter, and a wolf. Now he was also beta, protector, and warrior. These lands underneath the alphas and him, they would be safe as they could be. He grabbed a bone from the elk. He padded a little ways away incase Akilla wanted to eat now or not, but he layed down with a small 'oof' and began to chew on his bone. Looking at Akilla then to see what she would do about him being becoming beta. Hopefully she liked it, he felt a liking towards all females, he had a soft spot so to speak. He wasn't a heart breaker but if they needed something to be done he'd volunteer. He'd even carry that little bird if she'd wanted him too. Such a gentleman.

[Madey(Hatter)]

When Akilla heard the howl she recognized it quickly. She didn’t jump or startle, but when she saw Gabriel leap into the air she giggled. When she knew he was listening and when the alpha’s howl was heard Akilla smiled and turned her dome back towards him. “Congratulations.” She said in a ecstatic tone, her tail wagging wildly behind her once again. “I know you think I am a pup, but I am three years old…” She then looked foolish. She hoped he didn’t think she was a pup though she already knew it probably already crossed his mind. “I just get excited with new members…” Her ears were flat to her dome, but not in a mean or challenging way, it was like ‘please forgive me’.

When his howl thundered in the air she leaped as if she had almost had a heart attach. But, when she knew what was going on she smiled and lifted her dome towards the sky and girly bell like howl came from her maw. Her tail still wagging her auds still pinned to her skull, but this time in glee. She loved to howl, she loved making noises for no reason, and when he howled she didn’t know why, but she wanted to join him, and so she did. When he stood taller, she made sure she stood lower than usual.

When he looked back at her smiling she gave him a wolfy grin. Her tail wagging seemed to slow down a bit though. When his lyrics filled her auds she nodded. “I thought you might!” She said in an excited tone. If he walked over there, she would fallow, but she would jump on the rock near the elk carcass so he can eat in peace.

Akilla nodded towards him when he spoke yet again. She nodded in response at first then her own lyrics flowed off her tongue. “No need to apologize, I jump easily.” She said softly, her voice still like beautiful chiming bells.

He continued to walk and when he did Akilla fallowed him and leaped on the large rock nearby. She lowered her haunches in a sitting position then spreaded her front legs forwards until her belly was against the rock in a laying position. Her auds seemed to prick once again and she closed her eyes thoughtfully as the wind blew a breeze at them, ruffling her white fur. She took a deep relaxing breath and opened her eyes once more seeing that he was enjoying his little elk. “Happy you finally got the appetite to eat it.” She seemed to joke. Tail still swaying behind her.

[Zel]

"I thought you were at least two and a couple of months. You're no pup," grinned still chewing thoughtfully on his bone. The wind ruffled his fur pleasantly and he thought for a second. "So Storyteller, we know our names and titles but where did you come from before Njal?"

He was curious, she was the storyteller, he wanted to hear a story. More like he wanted to start to get to know the wolves in his pack. They were both in relaxed positions and tonight was perfect for a good telling, especially while the stars shown brightly in the sky and twinkled pleasantly. While Gabriel waited for her to begin her tail he began to clean the pink blood from his pristine white fur. The grey on his back and face was dirty as well, but he prefered to clean himself till the white stood out brighter than the snow and the grey shimmered.

He found he was liking his company as well. He could definently see her as a friend. Good company can do that to a wolf. Though he was to be careful. He did not want her to get the wrong idea. He was not interested in taking a mate just after he was accepted into his postion. Maybe after staking out a claim on a den and catching a power nap, he was going to seek out the Alphess, and see what needed to be done in the terra. Maybe gather up a hunting party and go hunt for the pack. Stock up on some food and have a feast to celebrate the pack. Though for now he was going to clean himself of dirt and debries and see what happened in this little femmes past. Maybe even share some of his history.

[Akilla]

She seemed happy when he said she was no pup, because she really wasn't and she knew she acted like one when she got over excited. But, can you really blame her? Yea....Probably. When his question ented her ears she nodded. She then figured he did want a story, and since that was her job she decided to give him one. Her's to be exact...

" I was born an only pup, I know weird." She had to explain that part or he might have gotten lost. "Well, when I was almost a year old my parents took off for a hunting trip...I waited three days and there was no sign of them...I stayd at the den hunting little things and eating freshly killed things from other animals until I was two years old. Then I knew they weren't comming back. So I just took off like they did and after a weeks of travling I found myself in this land. Found a pack, and now I am three, having a rank as a story teller, and telling a briefe story of my life infront of a beta." She smirked.

She never really told much stories, though when an exciting one did come, she knew some of other wolves past...She could tell the story of Alue's past. Though she knew Alue wouldn't mind as long as they never brough it up to her, she knew that Alue would rather Akilla tell the story rather then herself. Akilla shook her head remembering Alue. her tail wagged behind her once again.

"I know my life story, isn't very interesting." Her lyrics her soft and belly like usual as it rolled off her tongue. She studied the brute waiting for his reply.

[Zel]

Gabriel listened with rapt attention. Though the tale was not really what he was expecting though then again he was not too keen on sharing his past. Also he could not relate to Akilla's parents leaving their only daughter. He could feel a slight rage at that. What kind of parents did that. Though he thought of his own and felt his hackles go back into place. Him and his soft spot for females. It was alright they were the life givers to the packs and should be protected. Still he knew not to under estimate them. Though this female mentioned before that she could not fight and he stood, his mass of his body rose regally.

"I know my life story, isn't very interesting."

He turned his head to the side and whined in sympathy. "I'm sorry, I could not imagine how hard it would be to be abandoned. My family stayed with me until their death."

It was true. They lived together, hunted together, and survived. That's all they could do. It had been three years since his family's passing, time to get over their deaths but speaking about them brought a warmth to his voice. Gabriel did not hear it. "Though I have a sister alive somewhere. I have not hear from her and her mate in a while, but we lost touch since I left the last pack I was with."

He stopped after he found himself staring at the feild around them. All his attention to the stars that shown happily and yet he felt an emptiness then, he did not let it show but he would love to have seen his sister again. He wondered what she would say if she found out he was the second highest ranking wolf in his pack? A tenderness came to his face and he looked at the moon in thought, it brought him some comfort maybe his own sister was looking at the moon this night too. The bright white rock looked as if she was smiling down on him, so maybe it might be so. Still he had to turn his attention to the three year old next to him. "Maybe I'll see her again before my passing," Gabe said it with a wolfish smile and then turned his attention to the moon and closed his eyes almost as if he was feeling the moons silvery touch.

[Madey(Hatter)]

She knew it wasn’t what he expected, she didn’t know how to tell her own story, she was never asked too. So it was bit of a challenge and she never like thinking about her parents again. Though that was where her mind went, she kept her smile across her maw. What else could she do. It was her past, she can’t do anything to change it. But, she can change what is happening now, life is too short and precious to dwell over the past and what could have been. She could die in any second, and she wouldn’t have any control over it. So, why spend any last moment thinking about the past? Yes, her parents left and never came back, but just because they didn’t come back. Doesn’t mean they wanted to. They might have abandoned her, but what if they were killed on the hunting trip?

When his lyrics filled her auds she turned her dome towards him, she rolled her shoulders in a shrug. “They might have abandoned me, but they could also have been killed on their trip. I don’t know, so I don’t dwell on it, it was the past.” She gave him a pleasant smile. She looked happy, and she felt happy.

When he told her about his sister her eyes were filled with hope. “Really? You have a sister?! What’s her name?” She asked tilting her head to the side, she loved hearing about other’s siblings, she knew it was weird, but since she had none. It made her curious about them. “I bet she will show up.” She said in a hopeful tone. Her tail wagged happily behind her.

She thought for a few moments, if she didn’t show up in a while, she would go out and find her herself. She wanted for him to be happy, it made her happy to see other in the same way, she nodded towards his comment. “I do think you will see her before then.” She said in her bright belly tone. Her tail still wagging behind her.

[Zel]

Ooc: I'm sorry it's not up to my usual par.

Hope; the she wolf beside him spoke of it and he felt her belief in it. Yes hope was there Gabriel hoped furiously that Jena was out there looking for him and he hoped Jen and her mate would come again. He grinned at her questions, his sister he could talk about her forever. "Her name is Jena, she has a mate by the calling of Arzan. Good couple they're perfect for each other. But being mates I felt as a tag a long and left to find a pack for myself. I left a message with an old pack I was never going to be anything in to tell her that I left. I don't know if they did or not. She used to visit me frequently but I was a traveller then so of course we eventually got seperated."

He shrugged. As much as he enjoyed speaking of his sister somethings were still painful. He'd rather not go into detail why he got lost in the first place. Why he eventually stopped going to his sister. It rested with the pretty fae Tulari. That year he lost his sister and yet found a potential mate. He hated the ocean now. He hated he was about to ask her to be his mate before the cold waters swept his feet out from under him and he lost her. All painful memories. All things he didn't want to think about. He needed to let the past go and live in the hear and now. He decided to let her comment after his spill about his sister but he turned his attention to the little bird.

"So how is a wolf going to be able to take care of such a thing in a wolf pack. I may be a gentle beast but I'm sure there are others that would find your friend a tasty snack," he said gently. As beta he knew there were wolves who lived by instinct and they liked to live by their insincts. They would think it nothing to eat the small ball of fluff. Especially when it was injured.

[Madey(Hatter)]

OOC- Sorry it took so long.


When he told her about his sister she smiled. She didn't really know what to say, his sister seemed nice and so did her mate, though she would never know what love felt like, well unless she found a brute that will love her. She sighed when he told her about everything, she kept her pleasent cheerful smile. "I am sorry to hear that you guyes were seperated. Though I think if your sister, really wanted to see you...She will be looking for you right now, and by the sounds of her and eveything, I beleive she is." She gave him a confident smile.

When his lyrics filled her auds again she turned towards him. "It will be quite easy actually, wolves don't visit me, and if they do it is rearly. So that is enough time to get this little guy's wing healed." She gave a roll of her shoulders in a shrugging way.

- Sorry I have no muse!!!