homecoming [Paint && Panix?]

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[/i][/u]lmira&&[/font][/color][/right][/size]

Almira had been in the valley for two days now. Maybe more. She wasn't quite sure. Time seemed to be flying by, but really within her she felt like her life was standing still. She was caught up in a certain moment that involved a certain wolf. Truthfully she didn't want her life to move on, she could stay in this moment forever. However a distant fear seemed to linger around her. She knew that Zach could leave whenever he wanted, and he'd told her that he wasn't sure to whether or not he could stay with her. She clenched her jaw and pushed the thoughts away for the time being. Now was not the time to let these worries and feelings surface.

No, she'd come here for one thing. Rejoin Falling Moon, and maybe, just maybe take up her previous position as Beta. She'd fought long and hard to achieve that position, and when it came to her absence abandoning her rank was something she'd come to regret. But now there was sure to be another Beta, one that wouldn't abandon the pack like she had done. Although she'd left them in their time of need, she felt like now was a good time to prove her loyalty to Falling Moon. She loved the pack. It truly was the only pack she'd actually been able to fit into, it was home to her. She sighed, anger at herself rising within her.

So many thoughts ran through her mind. Would Duke even remember her, or would he just accept her into the pack and forget her presence immediately. Almira always thought of herself as someone unforgettable. Somehow she managed to make her mark, prove herself. But had she been able to do it when she was in the Moon's pack?

A soft growl found it's way to her mouth and she allowed it to slip out. She'd had enough of this overthinking, worrying. It wasn't like her, and she wouldn't swallow her pride even now. She threw back her head releasing a howl to Duke and Zach. Zach had promised to come, and secretly she hoped he wouldn't back out now. This was something they were going to together. He'll be here, she told herself. Even if he refused to join the pack she wanted him to be here with her. Somehow he'd find a way to help comfort her.

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[zacharias]

When gravity no longer holds you to this earth,

♣

It was so bittersweet, the howl that met his ears. It managed to stop him in his tracks and turn his gaze to the sky, curtained in layer upon layer of dark clouds. The wind obediently picked up and carried an assortment of unfamiliar scents to the dark beast's nose. He turned his head into the breeze and let it tussle gentle with his fur. He drew one long breath and then exhaled it in a cloud of mist. He watched as the wind chased the mist away and cleared his silver vision once more. He blinked into the unknown, uncertain of where to place his next step. He knew Almira stood somewhere along the path in front of him, but so did the possibility of a pack. Just the concept of him joining a pack seemed so foreign to him that it could have been enough to turn him on his heel and slither back to the shadows.

He growled, still undecided. He had been so sure of what he wanted earlier, he wanted to be in a pack. He had asked Almira for exactly what he was about to face. Now that it was in his grasp, however, he was unsure. Was he willing to give up his freedom? Was he willing to forget his past and start out fresh? He suddenly turned around, turning his back on Almira and her pack. He began to run, further and further away from the source of the howl. He ran like a coward, like he always did.

He came to an abrupt halt, he did not take a breath nor did he move. He just stood, clenching his teeth. His chest felt like it was being ripped open and doused in acid. It was a pain unlike any physical pain, unlike anything he had experienced before. He let himself fall to his haunches in defeat. If he knew anything at this point, it was that no matter how hard he forced himself, he couldn't part himself from that seductive she-devil. His ears fell flat and he sighed: it was much like gravity; it was the one thing that held you to this god forsaken planet. And now she was like his gravity, the one thing holding him to his godforsaken life.

He wasted no time in turning back around and pursuing her. His paws beat the ground in a heavy rhythm; still carrying a slight limp after his ambush. He caught her in his sights and slowed to a silent walk. His distant expression didn't falter, there were no happy cries of glee or dramatic embraces but he could feel his inner turmoil easing. Seeing her made his decision final and her presence alone put an end to his mental conflict - he would stay and ask for acceptance into her pack.

He moved to her side, finding a place at her flank where he gently nuzzled her cheek. He felt like he didn't need to find words for her, the air was alive with emotion and buzzed with that spark that always seemed to fly when they were together. He reclined to his haunches and lowered his head respectfully as he waited for this so called 'Duke'.

She does.

[Paint]

Duke's walk was always more of a purposeful lumber, a stretching of muscles as if warming up for a fight. That's all anything was for Duke. A fight. And most of the time, he won. He stopped in his tracks momentarily when a vaguely familiar howl cast across his lands. Curiously, Duke tried to place the howl, but he wasn't one for remember names, faces or voices. Still, the familiarity was enough for him to pick up his pace as he turned in the direction of the howl and began towards it.

Another, more courteous Alpha, probably would've howled in return to say he was on his way. But in Duke's opinion, anticipation was one of the best weapons. So although he was a fair distance away, he took his sweet time. Eventually, of course, the scents from the... two wolves? Yes, two. One male, one female. One he recognised, one he didn't. The scents wafted across his path and he increased his pace just a little more, slowing down as they came into view.

He smirked slightly, the norm for him. What was the shewolf's name? He vaguely recognised her from a lifetime ago. Another valley, another pack, another subordinate. Flashes of a fight, which he hadn't actually been involved in, meandered into his senses. Beta? Beta.
"Ahh," he announced, as if that was recognition enough. No name came to his mind, but that would come later. "So you're back. Didn't die. That's good," he chuckled darkly. Then his eyes turned on the loner male, narrowing at his suspicious presence. "And you are?"

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On the surface Almira looked calm and ready, as if she didn't have care in the world. But on the inside her heart was in a frenzy. So many things whirled around the barriers of her mind. Would Zach come? Would Duke recognize her? She released an audible sigh and then lowered herself to her haunches. As much as she told herself to stop thinking about it, the thoughts refused to leave her mind. It wasn't new for her, she'd always been a heavy thinker. She thought too much, delved deeper into the things that wouldn't matter to other wolves. It was the same thing with her observations. She tended to notice thing that others wouldn't give a second glance.

She'd been so lost in her mind, that Zach's appearance caused her to jump. Just looking at him was enough to calm her worries. She leaned into him for a moment, enjoying the warmth that radiated from his body. She let the silence envelope them for a few more moments. "I wasn't sure you'd come," she told him, her words holding sly notes that would only be picked up by the ones who cared to listen. The sly tones were referring to how scared he was. She'd assumed he'd wimp out, remain in No Man's Land. She wouldn't blame for wanting to stay there. He was used to the loner life style. In a way it was like a home to him. And she refused to come between that. The only thing she'd suggested was to try it, see if it worked. And then just go from there.

Moments later she could make out the dark form of Duke. She felt as if she should be scared, but the fear didn't reach her heart. She'd interracted with Duke before, and she'd noticed that he was a bit nicer than what she'd expected him to. "Nice to know you care," she muttered with a roll of her eyes. Although the words were disrespectful, the corners of her lips were turned up, letting him know she was only fooling. "Incase you don't remember my name, it's Almira," she told him, answering the question that was directed to. She wasn't upset that he was unable to remember her name. It had been about a year, and just the fact that he had a slight memory of her was all she really cared about.

"We're here to join the pack," she told him, her head unconciously lifting to higher position. She was completely aware of the disrespect she was displaying to him, but it was her nature. She wanted Duke to know that she wasn't scared of him, and that he didn't have all the control. She glanced at Zach, wondering what he was thinking about all this. He still had time to back out, but secretly she hoped he wouldn't.

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[zacharias]

♣

One ear flicked to the side as the she-wolf spoke. He kept his eyes on the trees until she fell silent and then glanced at her in the corner of his eye. His lips twitched into a very small guilty smile. His jaws parted and drew a breath in order to speak but he held his breath as the footsteps of another disturbed the eerie quiet. His gaze turned back to the trees and his ears pressed forward curiously. Any wolf with half a brain could tell that Zach was slightly unsettled by the whole saga. But then any wolf who was an ultra-observant, over-reactive and always thinking - Almira for instance, damn her - would know that slightly unsettled was an understatement.

He shifted his weight again and peered into the shadow. He could see the silhouette of a beast advancing at a leisurely pace. The confidence and pride that radiated from him, as well as his pungent scent, all pointed to the conclusion that this was the big guy they all spoke about. Fuehrer of Falling Moon. Duke. Zach drew in a long breath before dipping his head an inch or so below where it would usually sit.

His silver eyes watched as the Alpha surveyed his missing beta with little interest or emotion. The corner’s of his lips twitched upward as the alpha merely passed her by with a dark chuckle and moved on to him with what seemed to be suspicion. Zach’s answer was quick and painless “The name is Zacharias,” He stated, offering his respects with another shallow nod “A friend, you could say.” He swapped his gaze to Almira before returning it to Duke. Duke seemed to be around Zach’s age, similar colouration and roughly the same size, although Duke was a little larger. Hell, you could even mistake them for kin if you were a little vague.

His ears flicked backward as Almira spoke again, an air of confidence suddenly surrounding her. Zach kept his head at the respectful level – he wouldn’t be so lucky if he tried to mimic her actions. He motioned in agreement as Almira mentioned joining him.

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Duke tilted his head very slightly to one side, a slightly disturbing smile spreading across his face. His white teeth flashed as he grinned knowingly at the two. He looked like a hard-worn loner, and Duke could only think of one reason such a loner would think of joining a pack- he was following Almira's lead.

"Hm, Almira," he responded to her name. He watched as her head lifted higher and his smile immediately dropped. He didn't quite raise his head in response, instead lumbering forwards and replying with a deep throaty snarl.

"I think you've been a loner a little too long, Almira. I don't care if it'd taken you two days, a year or a decade to get back to joining Falling Moon, until the day I die I demand absolute respect," he snarled, tank-like form still lumbering towards her before he stopped and faced Zacharias.

"This isn't a place for compassion, or wishful thinking. As the Moons we are all just as abrasive as each other, as Almira had just demonstrated," Duke swung his head back so his dark eyes were boring into Almira's again.

"I know you fought off a few other females for your place as Beta in my pack last time, but I doubt you'd fair so well against me," he turned and began to walk away. When he was a sufficient distance away, he laughed loudly. "Welcome back to hell, bitch."

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At her signs of disrespect she could see Duke's mood change almost in miliseconds. She didn't blame him. Any Alpha would act that way; it was expected, especially from him. Her muscles tensed as his bulky form moved towards her. Her heart pumped blood furiously through her awaiting veins in something that could only be known as adrenaline. She had to force back the snarl that was beginning to rip from her vocal chords, stretching so effortlessly towards her lips. A part of her was able to keep a firm grasp on why she'd come here. Then again, another part was itching for a fight. She wanted him to hit her so she'd have the opportunity to strike back. Even a pack wasn't worth missing a fight, especially if she hadn't started it. Her muscles were restless, eager to be used. But her brain kept her in her place, the skin on her hind legs twitching in anticipation of what was never to come.

It didn't take long for her to relax. She could feel her body loosen, but with much effort she decided to keep her head at a respectable level, maybe pushing the normal limit an inch or two. As his boring eyes refocused on Zach she felt a protective nature rise up inside of her. She wanted to shield him from Duke's spiteful words, but inside she knew that Zach could handle himself, and that Duke was only telling the truth. Maybe it was better that he'd given the warning instead of her. Maybe it'd give him an insight as to what this place would be like. This beautiful place that she called home. Her head turned as Duke placed his words upon her, the words that sounded more like a challenge than a threat. Her eyes remained on his. She'd done her part by keeping her head low, but there was only so much she could do when it came to submitting. Don't underestimate me, she thought with a sharp snarl that could only be heard within her head.

She watched his retreating back with anger, her ears pricking as his laugh and words flowed back towards the duo. She couldn't help but smile at them if only a bit. After all, that was probably as much of welcome as you'd ever get here. Her posture relaxed and anger began to disintigrate as she turned towards Zach. "That went well," she commented with a smug grin, curiously wondering how he was taking all of this. He would come to learn that this pack could be just as harsh as the world of loners. It's why she loved it so much. Also because it was easy to pick a fight here.

As she waited for his replies, her mind wandered back to the conversation that had just taken place. Beta, she thought. Well, that was certainly something that was on her list of priorities. Maybe after she settled down, she'd talk to Duke about regaining her position. She'd nearly killed herself in the last fight, before one of the alphas had to break it up and declare a winner. She was sure that battle could of went on for days. And she hoped to repeat again, reclaiming her rightful position.

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