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Post by Maybe ♫ on Jul 4, 2008 13:45:48 GMT -5
Darthyn padded slowly into the clearing, trusting that Ashter, the newest pack member, was following closely behind. He heard her soft, rhythmic footfalls upon the turf behind him, crushing fallen leaves quietly. He smiled faintly to himself; the pack was growing larger by the day. It seemed as though nothing could stop them. But most weren't warriors yet, and Darthyn had been too busy to pay attention to them each individually. He hardly knew anything about them.
Vowing to spend more time with his pack members in order to trust them fully, he had invited Ashter, the pretty young dog that he had met earlier, to the Nesting Hollow to chat. He also suspected that she was tired, and this was the perfect place for a quick nap. Yawning idly, he sat by the entrance, waiting for the female to appear so he could lead her to her new nest.
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Post by angylz on Jul 4, 2008 14:08:31 GMT -5
The husky obediently followed Darthyn to the clearing. She kept her eyes on him, unusually and suddenly shy. Placing her paws gingerly, she tried to make as little noise as possible, although the crunching leaves wouldn't allow her to do so. She rolled her eyes at the noisy things, wishing she could just sweep them away with her tail that remained curled on her back.
Not only was she shy, Ashter was kind of nervous. What if the others are like her litter mates?? Rejecting and cold. As she approached the paused Darthyn, she couldn't help a small smile. He was so nice, she couldn't help but act out of character. |
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Post by Maybe ♫ on Jul 4, 2008 14:28:08 GMT -5
Darthyn dipped his head and set forward as a brisk pace, nodding in response to the stares of respectful awe that some of the members in their nests shot at him. He was used to it. Stealing a glance back at Ashter, he nodded encouragingly and motioned toward a comfortable-looking nest near the middle of the camp.
Laying down in an identical one right next to hers, he jerked his head toward the awaiting nest and smiled. As soon as she lay down, he broke the eerie silence.
"Welcome, Ashter, to our Nesting Hollow. Over there," he motioned with his muzzle toward a den covered in hanging moss and vines. "Is the nursery. It's where pups are born and raised. However," his tone became slightly dejected, "there aren't any females expecting or nursing pups. Hopefully we'll have some soon, or else the future of this pack will be rather bleak." He did not know why he was suddenly opening up to this female and sharing his deepest concerns with her, but she seemed to be listening intently and didn't seem to mind. Rolling his shoulders in a sort of shrug, he stared at her intently for a moment or two, locking his amber gaze with hers. He was thankful to be able to just talk to someone about his worries for his pack.
It was true that he was disappointed that there was no mating and pup-rearing being done yet, but he knew it was only a matter of time. There were many healthy males and females in his clan that could reproduce at almost any time. Clinging to that thought made Darthyn hopeful. Nevertheless, he wanted to find out whether each female was opposed to raising offspring.
Though he didn't quite know how to ease the topic into conversation, he bantered around the subject for a while, hoping she would catch his drift. Another thing that bothered the male was whether he should sire pups from more than one female, to get the pack started, or whether he should take a permanent mate. If he took a mate, she would only be able to have one litter a year, and that would slow growth drastically, but he did not desire the lonely life of a stud, impregnating a few females without taking a mate. However, there was the rare and slight chance that he would find a female willing and devoted enough to the well-being of the pack who would b alright with him siring other pups. But it was highly unlikely that he should be so fortunate.
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Post by angylz on Jul 5, 2008 7:53:47 GMT -5
Ashter quietly followed, looking at the nest, studying it. She caught the glances others had given the alpha as he lead her to the nests. She saw him settle into one, cautious about where she would lay. When Darthyn motioned for her to come and lie down in the one next to him, she obeyed.
As the leader spoke, looked around at the places he spoke of. She saw the nursery, it's floor moss covered and a warm smell emitting from it. Ashter took it in, but glanced at Darthyn at the word 'however'. She listened carefully as the last sentence slipped from his lips. Her eyes lowered as he finished, wondering what would happen if what the male feared would become reality.
"I hope that doesn't happen to such a strong pack. I'm sure there will be some this year or the next. " She reassured Darthyn, her tail uncurled as she tried to think of a possible way to cheer him up. The words to were quite difficult to think of though, it's not like she really wanted to mother pups anyways, it seemed like a hassle. But she also didn't want another pup to end up like her, bullied until she had no choice but to run. Debating if she would want pups or not, she heard the male shift a bit. Looking up from the ground, Ashter stared into his amber eyes with a mix of understanding and helplessness. I wish I could help in some way. |
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Post by Maybe ♫ on Jul 7, 2008 11:56:14 GMT -5
Watching the Husky settle in nicely, he smiled wearily. She seemed genuinely concerned with the pack's growth. In time, he could see her becoming one of his most trusted warriors. He nodded to her words, wanting to believe them with all of his heart.
"I wish I had as much confidence as you, Ash," he looked expectantly at her, wondering whether she was alright with the shortening of her name. "Thank you for listening to the woes of a young leader. Most would not be bothered." His voice held much gratitude as he stared at the Husky. He truely was thankful for her.
"I have asked one of my most trusted warriors to give pups to a few females." Realizing how horrible that sounded, he added hastily, "Of course, he is required to take care of them. Hunt for them, bring them water, make sure they are comfortable at all times. I trust he will do as he was asked." The steel-gray leader looked at her, trying to glean any sort of information from her face, but her expression remained unreadable.
"So, enough about my problems, what about you?" He nudged her shoulder lightly, encouraging her to speak, but not wanting to seem too over-friendly. "How did you come to be here, on the unforgiving streets?"
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Post by angylz on Jul 8, 2008 14:09:10 GMT -5
She continued listening, not minding him nicknaming her and nodding at his thanks. Ashter's expression lay unchanged as the young leader spoke. She was relaxed until the leader touched her, asking of her own fate on the streets. Her eyes became soft with anguish, though she considered her past not as bad as another's. It still hurt though.
"Well, I ran of course, I wasn't always born stray." She gave Darthyn a thoughtful look before continuing. "I ran from the shipment truck that was supposed to bring me to some cold place with lots of snow. There I would run for show and races until I died. I didn't want my life to end up like that." Ashter paused to reminisce on her escape.
"I didn't have any where else to go, I've fought many strays over land, defeated a few, but somehow felt rejected." Stopping to consider why she was suddenly open to him, she quickly apoligized. "I'm sorry for ranting like that." Ashter dipped her head in a bow. |
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Post by Maybe ♫ on Jul 9, 2008 17:07:54 GMT -5
The leader listened intently to her words, eying her curiously all the while. He had heard of dogs like that; dogs that were trained to pull sleds through the snow. He shuddered briefly at the thought of spending your life serving Twolegs.
"I don't blame you for leaving, Ashter." He nodded to her, his eyes reassuring and calm. "I could not live my life alongside those hideous Twolegs, either." He rolled his shoulders in a shrug, continuing to take in her words. When he was sure she had finished, he tilted his head.
"Oh, not at all. It was I who was ranting. You, afterall, didn't even ask about my problems." He smiled encouragingly, but was cut off as the hollow feeling within his abdomen caused his stomach to rumble. He had been so enthralled with her story that he didn't realize how hungry he was. An embarrassed look spread across his face as his belly growled like a Bulldog.
"It seems like the last time I ate was over a moon ago." He chuckled, but got up from his nest. "I'm off for a hunt." He began to pad away, toward the entrance of the camp, but he turned his head over his shoulder and met Ashter's gaze. "Just know, Ashter, that no matter your past, you are welcome here." He blinked at her happily, but the next moment he was gone. All that was left of the alpha was the gentle sway of the vines where he had pushed through the trees. Apart from that, it was as if he had never been there at all.
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Post by angylz on Jul 12, 2008 10:17:37 GMT -5
Ashter let out a quiet giggle upon hearing the alpha's raging stomach. She had fed before coming, so her hunger was not her biggest concern right now. She watched Darthyn leave, taking in his last words while a smile slowly appeared upon her lips. As soon as he had left, she got up as well, seeking to get to know the rest of the pack, her personality kicking in again, she reluctantly padded out of the nest |
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