Journey to the West

The ghost raced after Blackice. Phantom was being a trail-hog. For when this male ran, he took up A LOT of room. He moved just like a rudder on a boat. Stirring him in every direction possible. He panted only every now and again and let his instincts take over his body from this moment on. Phantom was lost in his little world of being free. Able to run, race, and exercise. This brute was born to run,there wasnt any better purpose for him. He came to a sherring hault as BlackIce had, from the point where they had started. The quick run had hurt the male's still healing stomach. He grunted a few times and panted as he took a few more steps towards Ice and a tranger. Whom, he had never saw or meet. Phantom tilted his head to the right, almost in a ninety degree angle. His golden eyes blazed with interest. Another in the pack! Perhaps another future friend. The white brute slowly untilted his head but flicked each ear. Left to right. Right to left. Each ear was showing his interest in the new wolf. This was all taking place as he was heading towards both females.



Once reaching the faes. He stopped a mouse length away from Blackice.

"If I were not still dizzy perhaps i might swat you... I do believe this is the first formal time we've met, with the exception of my entrance."

"I think so too. My memory is a bit fuzzy after that tree hit me in the fire," Linnëa turned sideways as she spoke of the tree, showing her and the approaching male her burned and healed cut that was now a big, ugly, hairless scar. "What is your name? I'm Linnëa, for starters, one of the deltas. "

As she finished talking, the male came close enough to smell on the air, curiousity was evident on his expression. She flashed him a welcoming smile accompanied with a short "Hello" before returning her gaze to the female. Suddenly, a stinging sensation shot up one of her front paws, and Linnëa tensed and winced. Her paw rose from the ground so to inspect it, and she noticed one of her old burns now had a grass spur in it, and was bleeding small droplets. It was mainly the fact of it being a burn that it hurt so bad, and with one quick nibble she bit down on it and pulled it out. Afterwards she groomed her paw and gingerly put weight on it once again.

"I'd say I had a sand spur, but its more amusing to say 'the grass bit me'" She mused aloud, looking back up to the wolves before her.
(Writers block strikes again!)

|Eclipse nodded at the Alpha. She signed silently to herself, just come from miles away and when she finally finds a pack they have to move. She laid down silently as her paws ache a little.-"Well, I'll be ready when the time comes."-She said sternly laying her head on her paws looking up at the alpha.|

"I feel it does not matter who I was addressing and if you truly wished to know then that can be brought up some other time...But you have both confirmed what I had been wondering; if a pack used to call that smoldering bit of land home. As for whether I want to join... I can't give you an answer. It is something I'm yet unsure of."

Cinnamon was only half listening as the male spoke. His voice rumbled pleasently, sounding far deeper than his size suggested. She noted his careful look at both her and around at the territory, what was left of it. She sighed sadly "Yes, we called this land home untill only hours ago, when the fire ripped though it and destroyed everything, soon we should be moving on."

Then she smiled, noticing a female standing just behind him, though her heart sank slightly at the same time "Both you and your mate have plenty of time to make up you minds, but for now would you be willing to walk with me and meet the Alpha Female, She grinned "Besides, I would rather not be left behind when the exodus begins."

Turning away she looked back and finally remembered her basic manners "My name is Cinnamon, by the way."

"No, Mirage is not my mate. We're more along the lines of ... traveling companions, if you will."

Cinnamon nodded "My apologies for the mistake" As she led off she watched the male out the side of her eye. He seemed nervous, which was understandable, but also calculating and cold. Not unlike Gale actually.

As his eyes narrowed to scan the trees she smiled and spoke reassuringly "You needn't fear attack, the only wolves near here are in the pack, and none would attack another, or wolves they are escorting" She paused meeting his gaze full on "And if any tried to attack you or your friend, they'd have to get past me to do so."

"And if any tried to attack you or your friend, they'd have to get past me to do so."

Kira lifted her head from her paws as she heard Cinnamon's voice faintly, her head tilting to the side in interest. Who would she be so eager to protect? She licked her muzzle before getting to her paws quietly and taking a few paw steps away from her place beneath one of the few trees that were left. She stretched her paws in front of her before continuing to make her way towards the voices. She slowed as she neared them, smiling warmly as she spoke. "Hello Cinnamon" she said, looking to Mirage and Matteo then back to Cinnamon - searching for an explanation.

{lame... but we need to get going soon xD}

"Hello Cinnamon"

Cinnamon stopped as Kira appeared through the trees. She dropped her head slightly in a token of respect, before begeing to speak, sensing that the other female wanted an explanation.

"This is Mirage and her companion." She indicated each wolf with her head "They found me in the forest and I asked them to accompany me hear as the male admited they were not sure of joining, I thought meeting you and the others might decide them."

She stepped back, willing to allow the male to elaborate if he wished to.

Mirage shadowed Matteo as they progressed, one eye peeking from behind his tail as they moved along. When they came to a stop, she noticed the stare of the pack's alphess, and immediately sank to the ground with her ears pinned in an act of submission as well as fear. Not to mention definite shyness. Her eyes flicked about nonstop.

"Uh, it's nice to meet you all.. But I won't be joining. I don't do well in..." She said hesitantly, seeing all the pack scattered about her, "..crowds.." Her voice quieted to a hearable whisper as she laid flat on the ground behind Matteo and Cinnamon. She was horribly scared to be exposed like this, it felt as if everyone around her were clustering her and squeezing her, as if there was no escape. So she remained upon the grass, slightly hidden by the blades with two eyes peeking above. Her tail was somewhere between her legs and beneath her belly.

|Eclipse yawned lightly as her orbs rocketed around her. She scooted back more staying the shadows, like she like it. Her thoughts twirled in her head wondering where we are headed next, will everyone be going as well ? Her ears twitched watching the Alpha walked away to a small group of wolves. She began to listen to them out of boredom.|

Altair's paws were badly burned when he emerged from the forest. He was lucky to have even escaped the blaze with his life. When he had found Kira, he had quickly been ripped away from his mate's side by a falling tree. Kira hadn't noticed and continued onward and Altair hadn't given her any indication of their seperation. Rather, he looked for a new way out. One that would grant him the safest possible passage back to the Beta female. Luckily for him, another tree had fallen; extinguishing the fire that had been below it's trunk. With quick thinking, he had realized the only way to save his life was to head to the westward creek and swim across. Many times he had sworn to have heard Gale's howl in the heart of the fire but by then he was too far away to dare to return.

On the shore of the creek he did not hesitate to throw himself into the water and paddle across. He sought his pack out and when he found them, he found his mate. Rather than go to her in a busy time, Altair sat on the side with his pale amber eyes on her and only her. When she was not occupied, he would speak to her and share everything about why he left with her. For now, he was content to know that she was alive and well.

“If by chance you are referring to me and my ‘problems’ with Cinnamon you are sorely mistaken.” Crimson commented quietly before looking beyond Adena’s figure and into the open forest. The pack needed to move soon if they actually planned on leaving. “I have no problems with that female or with anyone else and I most certainly do not drag them around and involve others.” He began again as he picked up the previous topic again though this time with a slight hint of agitation in his voice. “Nonetheless though I do apologize for whatever ‘problems’ you can see that I can’t.” Crimson added while he found his calm composure again and prepared to move onto the next topic in the conversation.

“I like lying under tall pine trees…for they are by far my favorite type of tree. I also like listening to the rain during the hot summer days.” The male finished up just before he flicked his tail sideways.

(This was horrible...so sorry about that Adena and also sorry about making you wait forever! )

Adena scoffed, tilting her head back as she laughed quietly. "Sorely mistaken? I'm not that far off, am I Crimson?" she asked him, smirking. How blind could he get? Maybe he didn't see it as a problem. Anyone else probably would though - Cinnamon for sure. Adena just shook her head. It was probably better if she didn't lose her temper right now. The pack didn't need her getting angry at Crimson now with the move nearing, and there was no real reason for anger, anyway. She shrugged indifferently. She tried to keep any unpleasant words in, but Adena found herself speaking. "Alright, if you can't see a problem, then there is none," she said sourly, shaking her head at him. “But I don’t think Cinnamon would agree.” She glanced over her shoulder to see where Cinnamon had gone and saw her conversing with a few wolves, two of whom Adena didn’t recognize. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Who were they? That male didn’t look like he was interested in the pack for anything more than a game. And he had brought a friend along to play; a little female. How nice. Adena turned back around to Crimson. There were others over there; they would deal with him and the other loner.

Adena frowned at Crimson. She opened her mouth to apologize, but shut it again. He wouldn't care, would he? After all, he never seemed to get annoyed, so what would it matter to him? In fact, she hadn't seen him show any emotion since he came here. Or was it just her? She looked downwards as she listen to him talking about pine trees. She looked up at him. Was that emotion in his tone? Did she hear a little agitation in his voice? Was she mistaken or had Crimson let his guard down? One second it was there, the next it disappeared. Why was he like that? "Pine trees are nice," she said slowly. " I like the scent they give off. Very..." she paused, searching for the right word. "Very herbal and fresh," she finished, narrowing her eyes, wondering if Crimson could see the link. She carried on, “Listening to the rain can be very relaxing,” she said, looking around unhurriedly. “I also find it’s easy to hunt in, distorting the senses of prey and making it easier for us hunters,” she continued, tapping her tail on the ground rhythmically. Speaking of hunting, Adena realized she could do with a snack. A rabbit would fit her needs. But she was contented for the while, waiting to see how Crimson would react but doubting he would let any emotion show. If he didn't, then maybe she’d just stop annoying him – which was obviously what she was doing. “Sorry,” she said quickly, fixing Crimson with another of her frowns, brows furrowed.

OOC: It's fine. (:

Mirage peeked from her paws for a moment, just for a short reply. In a hushed voice, she allowed herself to say a few more words. "That sounds... " She said, for one seemingly lightening moment, before the last word came from her mouth that ruined the entire feeling. "..Scary, and crowded, and finding my paws? Are you going to bite off my paws and make me find them?" She was beyond reasoning at this point, as well as logic, her thoughts only focused on the prospect of being around so many different wolves she did not know.

Pressing flat into the grass, she hid her muzzle beneath her paws. Her eyes were closed tight as she tried to regain her thoughts, but to no avail, she was just too shy for this sort of place at the time.

"That sounds... "

Cinnamon held her breath hopefully as Mirage paused, only to let it out in a silent sigh moments later at the female's next words

"..Scary, and crowded, and finding my paws? Are you going to bite off my paws and make me find them?"

Noting how close to hysteria Mirage already was, so like a terrified pup, Cinnamon found her maternal side returning again. Carefuly she lay down next to the small female, alowing her to nestle up against her if she wished. Then gently, soothingly, she began to lick Mirage's ears, whispering to her as she did so.

"It's alright to be frightened little one... There are quite a few of us in one place at once, and we're all on edge because we've just lost everything familiar to us...But not one would harm you, I promise that." Gradually she stopped licking, still speaking in a soft voice and guesturing with a flicking ear that if might be better if Kira left for a while. "Mirage... You don't have to meet all of them at once, promise... I'll stay with you, help you, introduce you to the warmest, kindest wolves... I'll help you for as long as you want me to..."

She studied the wolf next to her, startled to see a resemblance to her kinwolf, Lena. Dropping her head down conspiritally low she whispered "So what do you think, fancy staying?"

The white brute's eyes glowed with softness at Blackice's words. She did feel the same way he does wit her. A smile peared over his face, allowing his long fangs to be shown. At that very instent, he knew that he'd give his life for her in a heart-beat. "I love you to Ice." His deep toned voice came out like velet. As soft as he could allow it to go. He knew that somewhere someone special was approving of Ice. And the someone special was his almost first mate. Of course, he would miss her as he always had. But now he had Ice with im. "Ice, a day without you, isnt a day at all...." He thought that he sounded a little corny right then and there, but it didnt matter. It was Blacice. His Ice now. He took in a few more breaths trying to take this all in at once. This was happening so fast and sudden. So? Phantom was in love and he didnt have a care in the world. "I hope the others will make an approval of this..." He tired to imagen the faces of the pack member when he and Ice were like this. The ghost like brute smiled more from the thought. "Im sure they will." He said aloud. Everything was perfect right now. All but for his lungs. He kept ignoring the pain as well as he could. "I'd rather be one of those guardians then nothing at all." Phantom still had the thought that he must prove himself worthy somehow to the Banishing Winds Pack. He slowly bent his head down towards his crush and licked her as softly as he possibly could on the cheek.