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After a little bit longer talking to her mother, Laika found herself more relaxed. Seraphina gets to her paws, and bids her daughter farewell, before retreating to her den. Laika looks down to find pretty much all of her pack had retreated to their nests. Laika gets to her paws, glancing up at the moon. As Laika trots into her den, she finds her thoughts straying to the Terra Lupi Alpha, Ferox. She found herself missing his company. Laika sighs as she circles before laying down in the little makeshift bed. The one Flint use to sleep in, before he died, and the bedding was changed. It took a while for Laika to fall asleep, between all of her thoughts, but eventually she did slip into sleep. |
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The next day was a disaster. Ferox organized the patrols like usual, but there was much more resistance than usual, and wolves kept questioning his orders, often going off to do their own thing instead of what Ferox asked. By the time the morning patrols were done, Ferox was exhausted and stressed beyond anything he had ever felt before. Only one thing kept him going throughout the day: The knowledge that tonight, he'd be meeting with Laika again. That thought encouraged him. He knew he shouldn't be meeting with a wolf from another pack, and that if the others found out, he'd be in serious trouble, but he thought it was worth the risk to be able to talk to someone that understood what he was going through, and someone that he could understand as well. That night, once everyone was asleep. Ferox crept from his den and quietly made his way across the plains toward the Ignis Lupi border. As the grass of the plains gave way to patches of sandy ground, Ferox slowed and began walking along the border. The moon illuminated the entire area with a pale blue glow, providing enough light for Ferox to see where he was going. Once he found the place that he and Laika had conversed the night before, he sat down to wait for her arrival. |
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Laika resists the urge to bare her teeth, she had to stay calm and cool headed. "You'll go because I said!" The wolf, Bane, snarls,"Why should I? You haven't proven yourself to be worthy of giving orders. You weren't even here yesterday morning to sort patrols!" Laika calms the anger within, holding Bane's gaze. "Perhaps so, but the elders picked me as Alpha. My word is law." Bane bares his teeth and Laika allows her golden gaze to turn red, staring Bane down. Finally with great reluctant the wolf spun on his heels and stalked off to join his patrol. Laika sighs as she shakes her head, allowing her gaze to fade back to gold.
Laika had some more issues with sorting patrols and keeping order within her pack, but eventually everything got done. Patrols were sorted, food pile was stocked, territory was clear of enemies. Trainee's had had their training for the day, even Laika had taken her trainee out to do some hunting and some more fire practice. But Laika was itching to go meet Ferox, after all he was currently the only wolf who wouldn't give her troubles. But Laika waited until the pack had eaten and gone to bed before trotting out of camp under the cover of the night. Approaching the meeting spot, and as she approaches she spots Ferox waiting.
"Hey." |
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Ferox waited in silence, watching as the sky grew darker and stars began appearing, millions of twinkling lights in the sky. He held as still as he could, all his senses alert, ready to run if he needed too. Although he knew he was meeting a friend here, being so close to the Ignis Lupi border made him tense. In fact, the fact that he even had a friend among the Ignis Lupi wolves made him nervous; if his pack found out about this, he'd be as good as dead. He'd just have to be extremely careful from now on. Ferox' ears twitched as he heard what he thought might be pawsteps. He looked across the border and stiffened, seeing a wolf walking right in his direction. Was it Laika, or someone else? He heard the wolf call, and he relaxed visibly. "Hey, Laika," he greeted, standing up and dipping his head respectfully. When he looked back up, there was a small smile on his face. "You nearly gave me a panic attack," he said. Ferox sat back down and gave a sigh. "How have you been the last couple days?" he asked. |
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Laika chuffs in amusement,"Don't worry, I was careful with the final patrols." Laika settles down, this time laying down. "Not so well, ever since the night we first met, my packmates are getting more disrespectful." Laika sighs,"The moment I arrived after I left, my Beta's challenged me on where I was. This morning I had a wolf straight up refuse to go on patrol." Laika shakes her head,"Tomorrow night will be interesting, I've already chosen the wolves for the Great Pack Gathering, but I don't know if those wolves will go. Some wolves will probably go even if they aren't suppose to." Laika sighs as she shakes her head again. "How about you?" |
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Ferox sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry to hear that," he said quietly. "That must have been stressful. I know respect and loyalty have to be earned, but this seems over the top, even for a younger, newer Alpha." Ferox fell silent for a moment. "I keep forgetting about the Gathering," he said, managing a small smile. "I still haven't picked anyone, but I'll most likely bring my Beta pair, and maybe one or two others." I'll probably bring whoever's caused me the least stress the last few days, he decided in his head. He looked back at Laika, and his half-smile faded. "Things haven't been great within my pack, either," he admitted. "My wolves seem to have taken to ignoring my orders entirely, and I can't get them to listen to me." Ferox looked down and took a deep breath, letting out a slow, tense sigh. "I honestly don't know how much more of this I can take," he said quietly. |
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Laika chuffs slightly,"Tell me about it." Then she dips her head,"I'll take one of my Beta's, my healers, and a few others." Then the Alpha sits quietly as Ferox describes his issues. She understood as well, it was hard. "I don't know how much I can take either. But I will continue on, they cannot do it forever." Hopefully, Laika adds quietly to herself. Hopefully something would change over the Great Pack Gathering. Hopefully her packmates would realize she is fit for the position, and leave her alone. Laika was nervous for the Gathering. She had met the other two Alpha's before, and they were much older and much more experienced. |
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Ferox grimaced and shook his head lightly. "I don't know, they seem pretty determined not to accept me as their leader," he said, giving Laika a small smile. "But maybe you're right." Ferox gave a sigh and laid down in the sand. "I've never really liked the Gatherings," he said. "I went a couple times before I became the Alpha, and even then, I thought they were stressful." Ferox gave a rueful smile and shook his head. "Now they'll be much worse," he added. Ferox gave Laika a curious glance. "What do you think about the Gatherings?" he asked, tilting his head. "Have you ever been to one before, or will this be your first time?" |
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Laika dips her head in agreement, there was no telling with her packmates. Ignis Lupi wolves matched their fire very much with their fiery and stubborn temper. Laika flicks an ear,"I've been to every Gathering since I was a trainee. Well, most every Gathering." Laika lifts her shoulders in a shrug,"They're okay I suppose. It's more of a thing to just keep an eye on the other packs and make sure the other packs know your pack isn't weak. I use to love it, but now I've been so many times it's just kind of a whatever thing. Tomorrow night will be a very interesting one indeed however. After all, I don't remember the last time two Alpha's passed around the same time." |
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Ferox nodded. "Then you have more experience with the Gatherings than I do," he said. "I haven't yet attended one as an Alpha." Ferox gave a small smile at Laika's description of the gathering; it was extremely accurate. They weren't there to exchange pleasantries, it was mostly so they could size each other up and assert how well their packs were doing to keep the other leaders from invading. Ferox took a deep breath. "It certainly will be interesting," he agreed. "If only because the other two Alphas will be prodding at both of us for any sign of weakness." |
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Winter Month: 1 
Day 
Fog
