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Laika watches Ferox lay down, making no move, simply dipping her at Ferox's words. "Perhaps so, but we knew it was only a matter of time before Flint passed. He was an elderly wolf." That much was true, Flint had been an old wolf, and he had served his pack well. Laika sighs as she glances up, surprise flickering through her eyes. "It's almost dawn." Laika goes tense,"Oh, my pack is going to kill me." If Laika wasn't back by dawn then the patrols would have to be sorted by the Beta and she knew what kind of reaction that would cause. But Laika had to admit she was enjoying Ferox's presence, much more then she had been enjoying her packmates presence. Laika angles her ears backward, trying to figure out if the dawn patrol had come out yet. |
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Ferox looked up at the horizon and shot to his paws. "My pack is going to love this," he muttered, seeing the sky tinged with the pinkish-orange light of sunrise. Ferox glanced back at Laika and hesitated. Although their conversation had begun with some tension, he had enjoyed talking to someone who understood his problems, and he found himself wanting to help with hers as well. "I'd better go," he said, looking anxiously back into his territory. "I- I enjoyed talking with you," he added, feeling slightly surprised that he meant it. He hesitated a moment longer, then asked, "Do you maybe want to talk again sometime?" |
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Laika paces backward a few steps, before turning around staring at her territory. "Of course, it was joyous." She meant it even if she seemed distracted. Though Ferox caught her full attention with his question. Laika turns back around, surprise in her eyes. For a moment she has no reply, but then she dips her head. "Sure. How about every other night? Just to not stir any suspicion in our packs?" A loud demanding howl came from the camp and Laika shakes her head,"I'll see you Ferox." Without another word Laika takes off at a full blown run. Her packmates were going to kill her.
"Laika! Where have you been?" Laika shakes off Helios,"I've got to sort patrols." She hurries towards the gathered wolves, pushing through to see her Beta's already sorting. "--Indigo, and Comet. Take the northern border. Check for--" Khan notices Laika,"Ah! Alpha, welcome back." Laika could feel the curious and judging gazes as she joins her Beta's. Laika dips her head,"How many patrols have been sorted?" Nova replies,"We've sorted up to the afternoon." Laika nods, beginning to sort afternoon patrols, before ordering the trainee's to spend their time training with their mentors. |
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Ferox smiled and dipped his head. "I'll see you then!" he called after Laika as she ran back into her territory. Ferox didn't wait long before running back toward his camp as well; there wasn't much of a chance he could make it before anyone realized he was gone, but it was better not to be any later than he had too be. Ferox made it back just as the sun cleared the horizon. The rest of the pack was awake, and it looked as though the morning patrols had just been sent out. Ferox trotted over to his male Beta, Slate, and dipped his head lightly. "Good morning, Slate," he greeted. Slate stared at Ferox hard for a moment, then asked, "Where have you been? The patrols have already been sent out." Slate's words were not phrased very respectfully, and his tone was laced with criticism. Ferox ignored it, giving him an altered version of his encounter with Laika: "I was taking Granite on a brief patrol through the territory, and after I sent him home, I decided to check the border. I saw one of the Ignis Lupi wolves and warned them away from my territory." Ferox stressed the word 'my' slightly. Slate nodded. "That explains the scent of Ignis Lupi," he muttered. Ferox stared at him for a moment, but Slate seemed to accept his story. "You may be dismissed," Ferox said. Slate nodded and trotted away. |
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Once the wolves had dispersed then did her Beta's challenge her. "Where have you been?" Laika replies smoothly,"Checking the borders. After Flint and that lion encounter I figured I'd keep a close eye on the borders, make sure no other dangers come." Khan and Nova exchange a glance, but simply dip their head. They could find no fault in the story and it was not in their right to question their Alpha anymore, especially without proof. Laika flicks an ear as Khan continues,"Don't forget that the Great Pack Gathering is coming up in a few nights." Laika dips her head,"I'll keep an eye out for wolves who deserve to go."
Laika trots off to find her trainee, Eyre, the young wolf was laying outside the trainee's den. "Eyre, you ready for some training?" The young wolf perks up,"Yes Laika!" Laika beckons Eyre and the two make their way out of camp,"Let's work on your hunting. There's a rabbit, upwind. See if you can stalk it and kill it." Eyre dips her head as she drops into a crouch, slipping into the undergrowth after the rabbit. |
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Ferox and the other wolves milled about until the hunting patrol returned, bringing with them a large buck and several other pieces of smaller prey. Ferox didn't give the signal for the rest of the pack to come feed, though. They would wait until the border patrols returned before they began the morning meal. Ferox looked up as one of the elders, a twelve year old wolf by the name of Oak, approached. Ferox dipped his head respectfully. "Good morning, Elder," he said. Oak nodded, then said, "You've forgotten about the Gathering, haven't you?" Ferox gave a start as he realized Oak was right. "I'm afraid so," he said, looking down. "But's it's not for another few days, I'll pick a couple wolves to bring by then." Oak gave Ferox a small smile. "I hope so," he said, then turned to walk away. Soon, the border patrols returned, and Ferox gave a long, loud howl, summoning the pack for the morning meal. Everyone gathered around, and the pack began taking their shares, starting with the elders and working their way up the hierarchy until it was Ferox' turn. Ferox selected a rabbit and carried it to the edge of camp to eat. As wolves finished the meal, trainees and their instructors scattered to begin the day's training. Ferox watched them, giving a sad sigh before standing and walking to the nearest pair to supervise the training of the next generation of wolves. |
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Laika nods in approval as Erye returns with a large rabbit in her mouth,"Good job!" Eyre's eyes shine as she wags her tail,"Thank you!" Laika glances around,"Bury that, I think I smell an elk." Eyre dips her head as she begins to dig, before placing the rabbit down and covering it. Erye then marks it and the two trot along,"There." The two crouch down Laika circling around a different side. Erye was the first to launch herself forward, latching onto the elk's haunches. Laika gathers herself and launches herself forward, slamming into the side of the elk, and knocking it sideways. Laika then keeps the elk pinned, gesturing for Erye to take the kill.
"Alright, let's head back to camp with our haul. The elders will very happy." Erye's eyes shine as Laika follows behind her, hauling the elk. The two stopping to snag the rabbit before continuing on to the camp. Erye leads the way in her rabbit in her mouth. The two dropping the prey off and Laika dismisses Erye who goes bounding over to her friends, bragging about her kill. Laika chuckles as she shakes her head, hauling the elk over to the elders who were relaxing in the sun outside their den.
"Ah, Laika. How are you doing?" Laika drops the elk, dipping her head,"Flame, I'm doing well." Adara lifts her head,"How is being an Alpha?" Laika sighs as she swishes her tail,"Stressful, I'm always worried I'm going to mess up." Adara and Flame exchange a knowing glance,"Flint was the same way." Laika's eyes narrow slightly,"Really?" Adara chuckles as she nods,"Every Alpha starts out that way... Actually, every good Alpha starts out that way. Tyrant Alpha's, well..." Laika dips her head, it made her feel better to know that Flint had also been the same way. |
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As Ferox wandered around, supervising the training wolves that were still in camp, he found himself watching Slate and Granite practicing combat techniques. Slate was a good teacher, but Ferox felt that he was too stern with the young wolf. Ferox shook his head as Slate began reprimanding Granite for doing something wrong, but he didn't interfere. Slate might be a bit harsh, but he was undoubtedly a better instructor than Ferox. Ferox' ears perked up as he heard pawsteps behind him, and he turned to find Oak sitting down a short distance behind him. "Hello, Elder," he greeted. Oak watched Slate and Granite, and didn't look away as he asked, "Don't you think you should take another trainee?" Ferox hesitated. Normally, he would do whatever an elder suggested, but not this. "With respect, you know I can't," he said. "Not after what happened last time." Oak finally looked at Ferox, his gaze sympathetic. "I understand," he said. "But Rosemary had pups a few months ago, and they'll need mentors soon." Ferox shook his head. "It would be better if I didn't take one on as my trainee," he said. Oak shook his head sadly. "Very well," he said, standing up and padding away. As the day went on, Ferox organized a noon patrol and accompanied them to the Akvo Lupi border, where they encountered a patrol from within that territory. There was no fight, but there was certainly a lot of tension. That evening, Ferox organized another two patrols and accompanied one on a hunt. They returned with very little, just a couple prairie dogs and a very small doe. Once the pack was done with the meal, everyone but Ferox began socializing. Ferox had found that after he had become Alpha, not many of his old friends particularly wanted to talk with him, so he avoided them, instead retreating to his den for the night. |
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Laika took Erye out one more time to do some fighting moves, gently yet firmly coaching her through them. Laika also helped Erye with her fire and the young wolf was coming along well. In fact she reminded her of Helios with her fire, both fierce but yet controlled. Laika walks into camp behind Erye at sundown, the final patrol was leaving and the rest of the pack were laying and eating, talking amongst themselves. Laika looks around, sighing quietly to herself as she trots to the prey, picking a small piece of prey for herself after making sure everyone else had prey. Then the Alpha climbs up to her den, laying on the ledge over-looking camp.
Laika slowly eats, lost in her thoughts as she chewed. Her packmates looked so happy and content together and the young Alpha knew she would never get to conversate and hang out with them as she use to. After all she was now Alpha, her pack depended on her decisions. The wrong one could bring their life crashing down on them. Laika sigh as she finishes the prey off, going to groom herself. Eyes half closed as she grooms, silently wondering what had made her stand out to her elders to convince them that she was worthy to be the Ignis Lupi Alpha.
"You seem deep in thought."
Laika opens her eyes,"Mother." The elderly wolf settles down beside her daughter, over-looking the camp as well. "You aren't sharing tongues with the others." Laika looks down, shaking her head,"No... I needed time to think." Seraphina nods,"Because you feel you will never be able to share tongues with your packmates the same way again." Laika's head whips around to stare at her mother, who chuckles, a twinkle in her eyes. "Oh, Laika, rank wise you will never be the same. But you are still just a wolf, and you haven't changed. Wolves will always doubt a young Alpha, but you will prove yourself. And soon everything will return to normal. Be patient." |
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Ferox watched the sun set, trying his best to forget about all the stress that came with being an Alpha, and once the sun had disappeared beneath the horizon, Ferox stood with a sigh and retreated to his den. He laid down in the soft bed of sand near the back and rested his head on his paws to try and get some sleep. However, the next several hours were spent worrying about his wolves, the borders, the other packs... As he had every night since the elders chose him as the Alpha, Ferox found himself thinking about how Obsidian had once slept in this den. How could Ferox live up to his predecessor's reputation? Before he died, Obsidian was a great leader, and every wolf in the pack had loved and respected him! Ferox knew respect had to be earned, but the pack seemed determined not to give it to him. Ferox sighed and rolled over. His thoughts drifted to the Ignis Lupi Alpha, Laika. For the first time since he became Alpha, he found himself looking forward to something: their next meeting. He knew it was risky, but he had enjoyed their conversation the night before. Besides, it broke the monotony of his regular routine. With those thoughts in his mind, Ferox was finally able to drift off to sleep. |
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Fall 
Day Weather: 
Hurricane
