Open;; You kick the blow

[Paint]

Now you gotta kick the guy.
You sat alone
Under billowing sky.
If I feel God judging me
Well I fell into the water
and now I'm free.

Rose was alone, having travelled as her father's emotional eyes and ears all day, she was glad to be. She loved her father, but having to feel enough emotion- or at least appear to be showing such emotion- for two beings instead of just one, it wore you down slightly.

It was coming onto night, twilight, and Rose could sense the forest growing quieter as it settled down to sleep. Some called this spooky light, when the sun had dipped beyond the horizon but there was still a little light on the earth. Rose almost snorted. There was nothing spooky about it, it was blissfully peaceful.

She sighed and lay down beside the lake, the sound of the waterfall thrumming gently through her senses as she placed her paws into the cool water. She did not think of Raiden, of how this was the same position she'd been in when they'd connected for the first time. She did not think of that at all.

She lay her head down, eyes on the waterfall in front of them. She wanted more packmembers. She wanted more wolves to come, to drive out the old memories so she could create new ones and thrive on those instead. Old memories held only pain in their splendour. She was very good at distracting herself, but new wolves helped so much.

[shadowspark]

Cautiously, Sylvia padded down to the lakeside. She had slipped away from the Dens, once again, to explore on her own. The pup had a habit of doing that. Flopping down onto the grass, Sylvia dangled her large paws in the water. The cool water felt nice on her sore pads. Sylvia was not used to walking so far, and so her paws got sore when she did venture out further than normal. Sylvia liked the twilight; her eyes were better that most, so the day was always bright, but twilight was perfect.

A sound from the other side of the lake startled Sylvia, and she shot to her feet. Laying on the grass, directly across from her, was an adult wolf. Not sure if the other was a Loner or one of the Moons pack, Sylvia crouched, flattened her ears, and curled her upper lip back in a defensive snarl. The adults of the Stars pack always said that she would get into trouble. But even if this wolf attacked her, she had some tricks up her sleeve that would surprise it.

[Paint]

Rose heard the arrival of the other wolf and looked up to watch the pup come to the lakeside. She waited for the pup to notice her, almost becoming bored when she thought she wouldn't- eventually though, the pup jumped up and growled at her. If Rose had not been so relaxed she would've laughed openly.

"Bit young to be wandering this far, eh?" she drawled lazily, still managing to make her voice soft and approachable within the drawl. She could scent the Stars' smell on the little opposing female, but she was not going to be unhospitable. Pups were impressionable; this was perhaps a new member for the Moons if she swung this the right way.

"Are you okay, little pup?" she asked, threading a motherly tone into her voice which made the term 'little pup' affectionate and not patronising. She was sure that later on, that motherly tone would kill her inside as she hadn't used it since her own pups-

She stopped the thought in it's tracks, and concentrated fiercely on the smaller female, her expression so calm and welcoming the turmoil beneath it would never be evident.

[shadowspark]

Surprised at the adult female's kind tone, Myra relaxed. Her ears flopped around as she tilted her head, watching the female for evidence of deceit. She sat and blinked at the other. 'What's your name?' She asked slowly.

Sylvia padded back to the edge of the lake, heading toward the waterfall this time. She put her paws back in the water. It seemed the this wolf was not going to attack, so the pup felt safe not running away just yet. However, her mussels were still tensed, ready to bolt, just in case.

[Paint]

Rose smiled dazzlingly, watching the pup with her big, dark eyes. She was very good at looking trusting and motherly when she wanted to. She watched the pup move back towards the water, the oversized ears flopping in relaxation. Perhaps she is not Moons material if she is that trusting, Rose mused, but there was no evidence of it upon her features. Still, she's quite sweet.

"Rose," she answered melodically, voice carrying over the water like a song. She smiled still. "What about yours?"

[shadowspark]

Sylvia was still suspious of the other, but she could project the image of being trusting very well. 'I am called Sylvia,' the pup said softly. She flicked her ears around, catching all the sounds. 'I'm going to get into trouble for this....' she mumbled, half to herself.

{Yes, I know it's too short. But I can't think of anything else to say. Sorry.}

[Paint]

ooc. I sent you a pm about length of posts, etc.

Rose watched the pup carefully, black lips spread across her face in a knowing smile. The pup seemed concerned about what her pack would say about her wandering so far; good sign, she seemed to have a head on her shoulders. So many pups did not become aware of their surroundings until they hit the one year mark.

"It's okay," she laughed, the laughter twinkling elegantly as usual. "Sylvia, you're with me, you're perfectly safe."

Rose wasn't sure why she was pushing this motherly act so much, but pups were so impressionable. If the Stars were doing their job correctly, any pups would've been taught to run for the hills when a Moons wolf was around. So, either the Stars were not teaching their pups well or the pup did not know she was a Moons wolf. It was an interesting situation, and Rose was contemplating how best to handle it. However, there was not a hint of conflict on her smooth, smiling expression.

[shadowspark]

{Yeah, I know. I got your message, and I will do my best to make my posts longer}

An eyebrow rose. 'Am I?' Sylvia asked. 'And, how do I know that I can trust you?' The pup wondered whether she should run. The adults of the Stars pack warned the pups to stay away from the wolves of the No Man's Land, but Sylvia tended to disregard the rules. Both the water, and the fact that many wolves frequented this spot, were messing with her senses, but she could smell the scent of the Moons pack.

'Are you of the Moons pack?' Sylvia asked bluntly. Strangely enough, the pup felt no fear. In fact, the dark-fured pup felt nothing at all. Just blankness.

{So, is this better?}

[Paint]

ooc. Yessss, you're getting better (:

Rose shifted very slightly, making herself more comfortable whilst listening to the pup's musings about Rose's pack. She looked up with her big dark eyes and smiled dazzlingly again. She was not going to scare this pup off.

"And what if I was?" she laughed slightly, smiling knowingly. "I know you are a Stars wolf, and a pup- very vulnerable. Yet I have not jumped up and attacked you, have I?"

She kept her stare even, and friendly, while looking at the pup.
"If you think I am a Moons wolf, why have you not run yet?" she questioned, genuinely curious.

[shadowspark]

Sylvia's large indigo eyes narrowed in anger. Her ears flattened. 'I will not be afraid of Moons wolves,' she snarled. 'Not like my mother...' she added silently.

'And you think, just because I am pup, that I am vulnerable?' Sylvia's tail lashed at the insult. She really wasn't sure what to make of Rose. Her wariness of the Moons wolf was punctuated by curiosity about her personality. Rose seemed....nice... but Sylvia's suspision had not been alleviated. 'Are the Moons pups so weak?' Sylvia could not resist. She was not vulnerable, and she would go to great lengths to prove it.

[maybe]

Lochnivar grumbled as he hoisted himself up, ears pressed firmly against his skull. Sleeping in a bed of lichen and ferns wasn't quite his idea of luxury, or even comfort for that matter, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and last night, Loch was desperately tired. And because of the clouded judgment that precedes impending slumber, the bracken seemed to be a perfect place for a little niddy nod.

Now, ten hours later, the large wolf was beginning to regret his decision. A muffled growl of frustration escaped his maw as he wriggled free of the ferns, shaking each paw free from the persistent fronds that clung tightly to them. As the canine stretched like a housecat, a yawn distorted hiss features for a brieif moment. As soon as his vision cleared and his mind began to function, Loch shook his fur and padded over to the clear blue lake that spanned out in front of him. Before he could sate his thirst, though, Loch's eyes could not help but wander to the massive waterfall looming dominantly over the pond. A slight smile broke his stone facade as he marveled at the wonders of nature, but disappeared once again as he plunged his snout into the cool blue liquid for a drink.

It was just then that he realized he wasn't alone. In the stupor of having just woken up, Loch had not noticed a pair of wolves (well, more like one and a half wolves) that occupied the clearing as well. One was a rather pretty female with a silverine coat and a muzzle the color of the night sky, and the other was a lovely little pup. Scenting the air, Lochnivar was able to tell that they were of rival packs, but of course, being new to the valley, he had no idea to which packs they belonged. The wolf found it odd that, although these two were obviously of different clans, this pup and this female seemed to be getting along just fine. He was curious now.

Head and tail held aloft, the massive brute of a wolf padded along the bank and stopped a few yards from the pair. His ears stood erect, his expression inquisitive as water dripped from his jowls.

"Evening ladies," he said half-jokingly, as it was quite obvious that the youngest one had quite a bit of time left before she could actually be considered a lady. His eyes wandered from one wolf to the other, from pup to adult, and a curious, crooked smile tugged at one side of his lips.

[Paint]

Rose had, of course, heard the sound of the approaching male. She'd turned around to watch him make his sleepy way towards the lake, raising a brow as she waited for him to notice them. 5... 4... 3... 2... There we go, Rose thought smugly, but her expression stayed quite sharp and, for now, very unfriendly.

It took one subtle inhale through her nose to realise that this wolf did not belong to either pack. Still, there was something about him which made her think Stars. Perhaps he had travelled from the valley before.

"Good evening," she greeted clearly, keeping her eyes on him. She felt like ignoring the pup now, the one who thought she was not vulnerable- that was just stupidity.

[maybe]

Loch let his eyes wash over the female, studying her intently this time instead of just noticing the obvious things such as the color of her fur and eyes. He noticed, then, that her deep-set eyes were the purest black he'd ever seen. Perhaps it was just a trick of the light, or rather, lack thereof, but still he marveled at the sinister beauty that glinted in each coal eye.

Taking a tentative step forward, he grunted in acknowledgment, not caring to agree whether or not it was a good evening at all. Any evening that he woke up with back pain was not a very pleasant one at all, he thought dryly, his ears twitching at the thought. Expecting the bonny female to turn her attention to her young counterpart, he waited to speak, but when her jet black orbs never left his own amber voids, he let a wry smirk play upon his muzzle. He was not afraid to keep eye contact with the domineering fae; were he in a pack, and, given enough time, he would easily be one of the most dominant wolves there. As it was, he regarded himself higher than most loners in Cadan Valley already, as he was easily the biggest he'd seen so far.

Although he had seen many a wolf in his few days in the Valley, this female was the fist one he bothered to acknowledge. After leaving Empyrean Valley, a few days later than the rest given his injuries, Loch realized that he remembered nothing of his time there. Was he just passing through, or had he lived in the lush valley for years before the 'quake? Shaking his head free of the thoughts, and sending a slight pang of pain into his temples, he said,

"I'm Lochnivar, Loch if you will. I'm new to the valley of Cadan, and I remember nothing of what happened in Empyrean Valley during the 'quake," he was, indeed, putting himself out there, but he needed some information. "Do you think you'd be so kind as to explain this valley for me? Who are the packs and their leaders? I know I can clearly sense two very strong opposing forces, but explain to me their motives, won't you?" He was grappling for information now, clawing for a hook, something to link him to his old life. Maybe, just maybe, her answers may provide some solace for the male, or, maybe they could at least provide him with enougb information to decide which pack to join.

[shadowspark]

Sylvia kept silent. In truth, she knew that she was indeed vulnerable, although any wolf that tried to attack her would get quite a surprise. She did have a few tricks, albeit most of them involved distracting the attacker until the pup could flee. As clumsy as Sylvia may have seemed when walking, once she sped up, her clumsiness would vanish and her true grace would emerge. She would not reveal any of this to a potential enemy, however.

Sylvia watched this male carefully. She had a natural aversion to all males; she was even rather wary of the ones in her own pack. She decided to wait and let Rose speak first. She would speak her own thoughts later, if the situation warranted it. For now, the slim pup was content to watch.

[Paint]

Rose snorted and stood up in one swift, graceful movement. She shifted her weight naturally to one side, keeping her narrowed dark eyes on him as he spoke, as if thoroughly unimpressed. Truth be told, she was thoroughly unimpressed. Then again, nothing much impressed Rose.

"And what am I, the messenger girl?" she said sharply, sarcastically. "I'll make it very simple for you, because I get the feeling you're too wrapped up in your own being to pay attention to anything too complicated."

She knew it was an icy thing to say, but she smirked anyway. See if the wolf had backbone. She glanced backwards at the pup, glinting a narrowed grin in her direction.
"The Stars are the good guys, Lochnivar," Rose turned her head in one snapped movement back so her eyes were on him. "The Moons are the smart guys. Stars are hope, and glory and all that other mushy stuff inbetween."

She walked forwards gently, making full use of her soft pale pelt rolling over her not-so-evident muscles, blinking her eyes up at him. She made her tone particularly seductive, smiling.

"The Moons are the dangerous ones," she whispered as she came closer. "We're the winners."