Taya Sings [open]

[[Midnight]]

These days, Taya was unwillingly to travel too far away from the dens of the pack. Because mothers would be giving birth to their pups, very soon. It was just instinct to know that, even though Taya herself had not ever had pups of her own. Of course, Taya's Omega ranking would not be needed anytime soon - for a little while, it would mainly be the responsibility of the fathers to feed their mates and protect their pups. Occaisionally a mother might need to go for a drink, and if the father wasn't around, Taya would happily volunteer. But most likely a mother would be too protective to leave the sides of her newborns for days.

Still, Taya waited. It was just a happy time of year. For wolves, winter was hardest, and Spring - Spring was what made the world go 'round. Taya was tossing pebbles down the sides of the clearing as she pondered this.

Taya was kind of itching for a hunt, but it was bad timing. Or was it? Caden was mateless, as well as others, right? Maybe they'd lead a hunt soon. And the mothers would have a food supply for a week. Beneficial for all.

It was getting close to nightime. The evening air was fresh and clear and starting to redden with an approaching sunset. Taya felt like singing and so lifted her head to begin crying a lonely song, hitting all of her highest notes with beauty, and accompanying them with low melancholy tones.

(I apologize for the quality of this post :>)

[Paint]

Approaching the clearing at a leisurely pace, Oberon shook his shaggy bronze fur out to relieve it of collecting dirt. The howl that Taya gave out hit him hard, as he hadn't been expecting to be so close, but his momentary surprise gave way to enjoyment. She had a lovely voice.

As he came upon the clearing, he waited for her howl to finish before dipping his head in greeting.

"Lovely," he commented, just speaking honestly. "If a little sad."

He understood the note of loneliness in her voice. She was a female in spring, after all, and as far as he was aware she wasn't having pups. He himself felt slightly similar, but he'd long since gotten over any bitterness he might've felt. He knew that when the right female came along, he would know, and he would join the great charade of starting a family just like the rest of them.

Still, she might just be lonely because, really, there weren't many wolves around. He vaguely wondered where they were, but knew that he didn't really mind either way. He was always on the edges of whatever was going on, feeling unimportant and completely content with that status. Taya, he was sure, was a little bit more involved with their pack than he was, but it wasn't exactly hard to be.

[[Midnight]]

This was a voice and scent that Taya was acquainted with. As she turned towards the male, who had just arrived on the scene, memories flooded her subconcious. This scene seemed so familiar, she couldn't help but got lost in reveries.

A smile warmed her face and she greeted Oberon quickly, glad to have company as usual. And his compliment sent a slight blush to her cheeks under he pale fur. As humble as Taya was, she never thought much of her singing but couldn't ever stop.

"Thank you, Oberon," she replied, dipping her head respectfully. In response to his latter comment, she smiled again, and joked, "I apologize if I broke your heart."
Her face betrayed her thoughts; such a thing was not possible with her kind of voice.

She was still standing on all fours like she was ready to howl some more. Her eyes, however, were focused on her pack mate, and they roved about his features before gazing at their surroundings.
"Funny, this is where we met," she commented. She wondered if he would've remembered the experience at all - or if he even remembered her. After their last conversation, Taya had viewed Oberon as a quiet, but kind, wolf. They had traded life stories one evening while using the pebble clearing to watch over the sleeping pack. Yes, she remembered it clearly. Taya thought it crazy how long ago that seemed.

[Paint]

Oberon's memory was not nearly as clear as Taya's, that much was obvious. He glanced around at the clearing that he had visited a hundred times, and back at Taya, searching her eyes. She was right, he realised, and a genuine smile spread across his face. He dipped his head in recognition.

"Why, m'lady, you're right," he put on a rather posh voice for this reply, the slightly humourous and theatrical side of him coming out. "It's almost as if we're part of the same pack and this is a common area!"

His last comment was not meant in a sarcastic way, and his kind smile remained as he said it. He hoped she wasn't one of these oversensitive females who took everything the wrong way. Wolves who didn't have a sense of humour... they would struggle in conversation with Oberon.

"And, just for the record, you did break my heart," he exclaimed with a dramatic sigh, flopping rather gracefully for a large male down onto his belly. His bronze legs stretched out in front of him and he glanced back at Taya. "You stopped singing, you see."

It was clearly an invitation for her to continue, if she wished. He closed his eyes to allow her a little privacy, for he realised that she hadn't left her howling stance quite yet. He was probably a little rude, for interrupting, but this was his way of making amends.

[[Midnight]]

She was a social butterfly, but she wasn't at all prepared for this comical, charming side of Oberon. She had never seen it before. As he lay back on the ground and pointed his attention back to her howling, she felt her confidence fading. A blush rose up to her cheeks. Was he being serious, or was he making fun of her? She honestly couldn't tell, and so she looked down at her paws with hesitation. Surely she wanted to keep singing, but after being complimented in such a charming way, she felt on the spot.

Well, his face didn't seem to be lying. He had that familiar kindness in his eyes that Taya recognized. He wasn't making fun of her at all, she realized.

Smiling shyly, she readied herself to howl once again, but once her muzzle was halfway into the sky, she stopped, blinking.
Her head fell back and she pointed her ears toward Oberon.
"How rude of me. Wouldn't rather join in then sit here watching me?"

She smiled, goodnaturedly, as she added, "You can show me what a heartbreaker you are."

[Paint]

Oberon, having his eyes closed, missed the flurry of emotion on Taya's face that he had accidentally caused. When she stopped to ask him, his eyes flickered open and he blinked to clear them of any fuzziness. A small smile spread over his face and he stretched out his paws, standing. Now that she had offered, it seemed rude to just sit there and make her uncomfortable. She was very clearly a 'pack wolf', but he did not look down on her at all for it. He almost admired this ability to share her moments with her packmembers without any hint of irritation or stubborn independence.

"Ah, don't make me laugh," he chuckled to her next comment, his little lopsided smile appearing as he trotted over a little closer to her and readied himself. Oddly, he felt as if he hadn't howled in a very long time, and more oddly still he felt as if he hadn't howled with someone in years.

"Ladies first," he dipped his head, and glanced at her, awaiting her howl so that he could join in. He felt a little out of practise, to be honest, but he kept his confidence up anyway.

[[Midnight]]

Wolves never howled in the same note, so Taya prepared herself to sing a note in a more feminine pitch, so Oberon could pick up where she started. She felt energized all of a sudden, to be howling with a fellow packmate, and all traces of her apprehension disappeared as she raised her head to the sky. She didn't think she'd ever heard Oberon's singing voice before, but she was certainly interested in hearing what it was like. Perhaps others nearby would hear and join in, as well. Though if it was left merely as a duet, Taya wouldn't mind one bit. Her silvery-white fur was ruffled by the wind as she began to sing.

It started out as a low pitch that quickly soared into a higher, lonely cry. Her eyes were closed and her ears pinned to her skull. She sung of happy summer days with pups romping around the meadows, and the splendid chase of caribou.

[Paint]

Oberon had decided to take a back seat, but wasn't quite ready for feeling so out-done by his fellow singer. Truly, there was a lot more soul in her voice than his. He matched her tone, weaving his own notes into there. Solitude he could understand, that was clear from his song. Happy memories of pack life were not quite as clear. He felt almost selfish, listening to Taya sing. She seemed so much more involved, more giving with pack ways.

He brought his song to an end, slowly, awaiting her and trying to predict her. But it seemed she wasn't quite as predictable as he'd first thought, and he found he stopped before she did. He glanced sidelong at her, waiting.

"An unworthy partner," he chuckled softly, beneath his breath.

[[Midnight]]

Taya thought otherwise. Oberon's singing voice was far from bad and the she-wolf found it easy to sing along with and delightfully complimentary. As her feminine voice trailed off into silence, it seemed the last of the sunset had diminished into a dark, starry sky. The moon was alone now, and bright with its stolen sunlight.

She looked over at Oberon, smiling wide.
"Wow! You're a great howling partner. That's good to know," she admitted with a chuckle. "It's kind of lame sometimes to sing by your lonesome, so thank you."

She sat back now on her rump and started relaxing under the starlight. Nobody was howling back from the distant mountains, so Taya would assume they were in their dens. She took a moment to stretch her back, reaching her paws far across the stone and arching her behind high into the air. When she finished, her attention was back fully on Oberon.

"So! Any pup-luck this season?" she asked with a hint of mischief sparkling in her eyes. It had only just occurred to her that Oberon might have been on his way to his own den, where perhaps a family was waiting.

[Paint]

Oberon shook his head, chuckling still more. He watched her stretch and relax, and slowly he sunk down onto his belly again. As the night settled upon them, he felt at peace, quietly absorbing the sounds of the surrounding land.

"No need to be kind," he grinned. "I don't howl often, strangely enough. I'm rather out of practise. But it was nice to join you. Reminded me of why we do that."

He closed his eyes momentarily, taking a deep breath, and sighing it out contentedly. Her next, slightly mischevious, question made his ears flick backwards and he laughed.

"No, I'm not going to be a father this year. Probably a very good thing."

Oberon had surpassed bitterness by this point, deciding that it was much easier to focus on the positives. Part of him felt as if he'd make a terrible father at the moment. He was not yet intergrated into pack life, comfortably, and needed to remove himself from his loner state of mind. How could he teach pups to be valuable pack members if he himself was still in training?

"And how about you?" he asked, although he'd guessed not. Firstly because she had no pups by her side, and it was rather late in spring now, and secondly because she did not look pregnant. However, Oberon was merely male, and his powers of observation could be failing him in some way.

[silverlight]

A strand of silvery fur seemed to be particularly brushed by the wind, as if it was leading him. He wasn't one to argue with it so he followed as if by fate. He had however only to scent a couple unfamiliar stars, but at least they were packmates. He decides to attempt to be 'somewhat' social and say at least a, 'hi,' or something. His audits rose atop his cranium as he heard what he realized was a conversation of voices.

Silver's attention seemed to be piqued and was intrigued as he continued towards the two he hadn't met yet. He stops a good ways off but still in earshot and gives a steady almost hollow chuff, a bit from fear. He maintains standing, just in case, and watches the two from the few feet away he was. The approaching darkness he hoped didn't bring a fight, that would have been a surprise.

[[Midnight]]

Taya found Oberon's humility rather "cutesy." It was strange how such a talented creature saw fit to downplay his own abilities. She, on the other hand, would give him the liberty of making her own judgement. On the other hand she did appreciate his kind, humble, humorous personality. She was usually turned off by all wolves with an idea of superiority. Taya herself was just a easygoing persona.

She gave her white paw a long lick as Oberon answered her question. For some reason, it didn't surprise her - Oberon did seem like the loner type. Though he was relatively talkative, she thought she picked up on some sort of trait similar to loneliness. But it could always just be her own intuition was leading her far astray.

Actually, with the passing of the season, Taya's lack of bitterness at being mateless seemed to go right along with Oberon's. She was over it; there was always the next several years to get a chance at pups, and she wouldn't worry herself over it any longer. Really, it made her feel all guilty to whine about it so much since she had such a tragedy-less life of traveling and adventure.

"Oh no, not me either," she agreed, with a smile on her face. "I suppose I do enjoy my freedom."
She gave her paw another lick. But her ear twitched and her nostrils widened as she picked up the scent of another, and her head turned instinctively. She saw Silver making his way towards them, only to stop a few feet away.

"Come join us," she greeted, wagging her tail in a greeting. She realized this was a wolf she really didn't know well, and immediately she was taken by the idea of making yet another new friend. Hopefully Oberon wouldn't mind; she looked over at him with almost a questioning face.

[Paint]

Oberon smiled at Taya, watching her lick her paw. Enjoyed her freedom, eh? For some reason, he wasn't so sure. She seemed like a very friendly, but not overbearing, pack animal. Of course, all wolves were supposedly pack animals. But Oberon often felt a little bit out of the 'loop' in the pack. Still, before he could ask her about this freedom of hers, he also noticed the sound of an approaching pack member.

Taya's friendly welcome made him grin lop-sidedly at her again, and he wondered at her questioning expression. He certainly didn't own the place, so he had no issue with it. Glancing back over at Silver, Oberon's bronze ears pricked up curiously. He didn't know this wolf, but there were a lot of wolves in this pack who Oberon had never met before. He certainly didn't mind it being that way.

Oberon found Taya to be almost infectiously warm in personality. He knew the Stars were always known for being the 'good guys', but she seemed genuinely to have no hidden agenda. Oberon knew that he would be on the frontline fighting if it came to it, but other than that, he really didn't care too much for the pack as a whole. His loner tendencies didn't ever really leave him in that way.

Pushing his self-analysis to the back of his mind again, he reminded himself to stop being so self-absorbed. He turned his brown eyes onto the new wolf and dipped his head briefly in greeting.
"Yes, come and join us, if you'd like," he re-iterated Taya's words, and shared his smile with the stranger too.

[silverlight]

The words penetrated his audits causing them to flick somewhat nervously towards them, 'I never approached another before,' he thought in panic. Their words scared him more than he thought they would, it almost seemed he would have rather had them say that they were going to try and hurt him. He wasn't used to even 'having' a conversation.

Silver's greenish orbs downcasted and he reacted quickly lifting his frame back up to a stand where he slowly treaded a little closer. He felt like a stranger and hoped they didn't see him as one. His tail raised a bit in happiness as he sat barely a foot closer to them. He was a bit anti-social and was not good at being 'the new guy.' He let his vocals give basic information but not much else, "I am Silver, Omega of the Stars." Being Omega wasn't a big accomplishment but he did want them to know he was a member either way.

[[Midnight]]

When Oberon didn't seem to mind the intrusion, Taya was put completely at ease. And perhaps their singing had drawn others after all. She watched as Silver contemplated his approach, making nervous movements as he did so. She blinked warmly at him, as if to make him a little more friendly. She wondered in the back of her mind, what made some wolves like Silver? Lacking in confidence. She could see his self-concious outlook like an open book. But she was determined either way that she would win over this near-stranger and make another friend.

"I'm Taya, another Omega," she replied, with a small wag of her tail. "Oberon and I were just having a good howl before you showed up. I don't suppose you thought our singing was superb?"

Her demeanor was casual as she took a moment to study Silver. He almost didn't seem like the type to be an Omega - his appearance almost looked to Taya as a Delta, with his handsome silver coat. But that was probably just her being slightly vain. Appearances meant nothing.