The Jazu Berries (open)

[poseidon]

The little deer ran by quickly. It was late at night, but Poseidon (or Pos, as his friends called him,) ran quickly. He spread his ginger-colored wings open and touched down again. It was a manuever he used to go faster.

The deer was afraid of Pos the Keiyou wolf. He turned his head to the right and looking across the lake, he saw a ledge. On that ledge was a wolf, staring into the sky. He was running too fast to tell who it was, and he looked back ahead. He pounced and the deer fell. Pos took the berries out of the deer's mouth and smiled. He had gotten the Jazu Berries.

[Bathsheba]

[atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=background,http://i37.tinypic.com/p60eo.png] The flat tundra lands had no ledges and Sheba certainly wasn’t on one. She was on her way from Trinket Lake, her loving mate, as always, close by. The green Empress looked triumphant, as if her imprisonment of Kelka was a good deed upon the world and made it a happier place. The Yagi female gave a heavy breath because she was already tired. Her hefty size, overweight by the standards of every other wolf—except herself, was tiring to lug around and she lumbered her steps through the slush that came with every summer. Though usually cold, the Tundra seemed to thaw only slightly in the summer months and sometimes feel as comfortable as a land that experienced the full range of seasons. But those days were rare. This was not one of those days. The blustery wind painted a cold-nipped blush on Sheba’s dark nose. She took Anthony’s skin and held it in her mouth, trying to block out the wind. Then, a deer flickered by. She stopped. Funny. They aren’t common here. And then, after the bounding deer, a flash of ginger. Huh? She turned her head snappishly to try to find the intruder, but when she saw what he was—simply a Keiyou, she smiled. His speed had inspired her and right then and there, she named a new rank. Messenger. Sheba padded heavily towards him and saw that he had collected some sort of berry from the deer. She walked with Anthony’s pelt in her mouth. She sat down and then set him down. She wasn’t far from the Keiyou, simply close enough to make her presence known. And a smile gleamed upon her face and danced a million words in that single gesture. She placed a possessive paw on Anthony—the skin of her mate whom died two years ago—to keep him safe. She raised her head. One horn was proud; the other, halved. Her form seemed both broken and majestic as she took that leaderlike posture. “My name is Bathsheba. Empress of the Balkamir Yikaxy Empire. And I ask: Was that treasure worth the show?” And she smiled, referring to the berries he collected and the fact that she had watched him do so.

[Cypress]

Cypress moves through the slushy tundra approaching what she gathered was a lake of sorts. She was still learning the area, her attention is quickly diverted as she sees a deer in the distance. Her green eyes narrow at the site....she had seen reindeer up here...but not the smaller deer. She had been given the job of a huntress for the pack...so she felt she must investigate every strange prey item that crossed the pack borders.

She had gotten used to the cold ground, her paws had hardened enough to take the ice and she had become acclimated enough to not have to have her soft fur bristled to keep the cold out . Today, however it was quite nippy out. She makes a line toward the deer, determined to tackle it and maybe kill it. She crouches low, preparing to attack when she is interrupted by a flash of amber. Another wolf?

She growls to herself, she wanted to make the kill not....wait. He didn't kill it? He just took something from it. Her tall, up swept horns glint in the pale sunlight. Her eyes twitch as she sees another approach the male wolf. She would look at them later...she wanted the foreign deer. Her small, brown body tightens in anticipation, she watches as the stunned deer struggles to get up...maybe she would have a chance to get a hold of it...

She runs in quickly and aims for the neck, her white fangs flash as she attempts to get her folly. However her ears catch a name in mid-attack. Bathsheba? Really? She hesitates and practically falls over herself. The deer panics and runs off, Cypress had missed her chance. She growls to herself, ears flattening. She hoped that the Empress did not see her botched attack...that would not be a good first impression.....

[forestiaxxforall]

[bg=1b1611] [atrb=width,500,true] The Winds were slightly picked up today. Mid summer. Slush on the ground. Which she despised of. It was annoying, dirty, and wet.She preferred cold weathers, glad the north never became so warm these days. Winds slightly picked up, bristling against her fur as her paws took steps into the snowy ground. Easily she could turn all this slush into ice, easier to walk on at that. Though she knew she couldn't. Her father only telling her to use her powers in battle if needed, or in battle against her own kind. She raised her muzzle into the atmosphere above her, testing the wind currents that blew around, maybe she could catch a scent of another species around. Though then, this dry, flat area looked pretty dead from where she stood. Teal eyes casted around the flat land before her. Wind casting large breezes over it. A sigh fell lightly from her lips before she continued on. Not to waste time. She couldn't. Legs carried her soon afterward up to a small push. Berries filling it. Though laid there a sickling small dear. Food? or just sick from the berries? Eyes watched down as she stood before it. A sigh fell lightly before she lowed her head, wondering if she should leave it, or freeze it, placing the dear away from its pain. She pulled away lightly, still wondering, before she tossed her head around, letting her eyes wonder around. Such a difficult decision. She could take the dear away and eat it, and make it turn its pain away like that, though then, to me that could be difficult. Eyes glanced back down to the small sick dear. A soft breathe of air blew upon it, not freezing it, just freezing it inside, letting its pain end there. A soft sigh released before she turned away and continued on. her head bowed low, feeling sorry for the small sick dear, though that was the best way for it. As well she wasn't hungry for any meat today, fruit she wanted, though yet, she knew she probably would find none here. Strangely though she felt a brush of wind past her. What was that? she curiously thought, her legs stopping instantly. Eyes casted around, the smell of berries and others around now filled the air. What was this? a hunt? a meeting? i could call, though would it be best to defend myself? =========================== Created by:: ForestiaXXForAll

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[poseidon]

"Hello Bathsheba, I am Poseidon. In response to your question, I'd say it was," he replied with a sly smile. He was exploding on the inside. He might have just found a pack. "So," he said casually, "Are you going to tell me something?" he asked, "I am curious, and am not trying to be rude. By the way, love your horns."

[Bathsheba]

[atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=background,http://i37.tinypic.com/p60eo.png] ((I didn’t want Sheba to be GOD-MODINGLY sensitive to the presence of other wolves, so she has detected her packmate (because well… she smells like a packmate) and did not yet notice the Fore.)) And when the Berry-hunting wolf made that statement, it put Sheba in a fit of rage. She snuggled her mate’s skin closer to her and tried to regain at least some sort of calm. But to no avail. She managed to look him with a fiery gaze despite the fact that he had told her that he meant no foul by his words. Still, a wolf had to watch his language around this place. She was the leader. A loner couldn’t just walk up and ask questions. Especially if the questions were towards her and especially after what she had done to Kelka. Sheba gave a sigh as she let off some steam. Her eyes glanced around and she realized that she wasn’t alone—which further put her on the spot. The female had lived alone with nothing but her mate’s skin as company for two years and the presence of three other strangers when she wasn’t in the best of moods started to make her anxious and slightly jumpy. Her eye twitched a bit, but she nuzzled into her mate’s pelt and found that it calmed her. After a few minutes, she finally addressed the other wolves. She decided to deal with the Keiyou last. Perhaps the fellow Yagi could put her at ease. Sheba turned to Cypress and noted that the female had the scent of the pack strongest on her. She hadn’t really met the female for that matter and was slightly suspicious that the female could be a member without her knowledge. But perhaps it was somebody that Kirra had recruited… “You are one of mine?” Sheba asked, her voice had a crackle in it, but was starting to get smoother the more she spoke. And would soon return it’s knifelike fineness in due time. She calmed herself and finally addressed the Keiyou, “You are too brash to be one of mine. You are a brute and a rude wolf.” She shrugged, and said in an off-hand way, “If you kill a wolf and say sorry, doesn’t change the fact you killed him. If you disrespect me or this land again, it doesn’t matter your intention. Doesn’t change the fact that you did it. Got that? If you want to learn to be a member of my pack, you’ve got to be willing to respect it. In fact, why don’t you tell me why you’re here. Trespasser!” And she leaned forward, her fire colored eyes gleaming dangerously. While her body was tattered and disused so that it was both ragged and fat, she still had her strength. Nothing could take that legendary strength! She smiled and her saber fangs gleamed in heavenlight. “I’ve nothing to say to you except that you better watch yourself. My pack is a strong one. Every member loyal. Every member taken care of.” She stood back. Despite her fire, she was intrigued to find if the wolf still had the courage to join her pack after her rather inhospitable display. However, such an action proved one thing greater than all things: that Sheba was a respectable leader and would not allow things to be run awry. At least. That was the impression she gave.

[Cypress]

Cypress' ears go back when she hears the male talking to Sheba. There was something about his attitude that bothered her. It reminded her of the over confident thugs in her old pack that had run her out. She comes close to Sheba, and notes that she was addressed first.

"I am one of yours....Bathsheba. Kirraley asked me to join on your behalf....I am Cypress, I am honored to meet you." She dips her head in respect, it took so much will power to say those things...she was getting better at social skills that was for sure. The poison of her last home was wearing off. She stops at a respectful distance, she could sense that Sheba was similar to her...it took a lot to get close....

Her green gaze turns to the male as she takes her place at Sheba's side. She hoped that her presence would somehow comfort Sheba even though they had just met. She angles her head slightly to she her horns properly to the male, warning him silently not to cross Sheba. Cypress had been accepted into this pack, and she felt indebted to it....so she would stand up for it.

[poseidon]

Pos looked at Cypress and backed off slightly. He understood her message. Then he looked to Sheba. "Please forgive me. I am sorry if I have offended you. I have been alone since my mother died last year. I didn't realize anybody else had gone through this, but I saw you carrying that skin, and realized you had. I have been looking for a pack since she died and when I found one, well, I haven't seen another wolf in so long. Could I please join your pack? I will be whatever position you want, and I will remain loyal and respectful to the pack. Please?" he finished, with that kind of look in his eye that said "I'm not lying".

[Bathsheba]

[atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=background,http://i37.tinypic.com/p60eo.png] Sheba smiled as her packmate demonstrated the proper respect. The large Empress dipped her own head, but it still seemed she radiated with power despite the gentle gesture. She nodded and decided right then and there, “You know what? You are the Captain of this pack.” She shrugged as she made the decision on nothing but a whim and turned her attention to the wolf before her. That Keiyou. That male. She took a step as she growled to him. “Are you retarded? Perhaps deaf?” her question was spat out rather than asked. She glared angrily at him as she repeated her precise words. The same thing she had said before, almost screaming it this time. “If you kill a wolf and say sorry, doesn’t change the fact you killed him. If you disrespect me or this land again, it doesn’t matter your intention. Doesn’t change the fact that had done it. If you want to learn to be a member of my pack, you’ve got to be willing to respect it.” She took Anthony into her mouth and pushed the pelt in the Keiyou’s face. “You see this? This is Anthony!” She spat the skin out, more focused on Pos rather than the fact that she still loved a dead wolf as if he were alive. He was alive… at least to her. And most members of the pack had the respect to let her deal with her grief in her own way because she was a rather proficient leader. She stomped a heavy paw on the ground. “I don’t care the circumstances that brought you into this pack. I only care that you are in it. And, because you aren’t even a wolf—more of a pathetic shadow of a wolf—I have to build you up until you can stand like a true member of the Balkamir Yikaxy Empire! We are a race of heroes, all us wolves in this Tundra. We are a glorious pack of wolves and we have to say, naïve Keiyou, that as of yet, you are not worthy to stand among us as equals. Are you willing to learn how to walk like a wolf?” She glared a mean eye to him, “I see this as piteous! I proclaim you a wolf of my pack, a prisoner until you learn to walk out of your own prison of ignorance!” --------------------- ((No worries, we can plot a situation in which your wolf gains a good rank, Pos. Also, note that she has told your wolf that he is in the pack. You can choose whether he likes that or not ^_^)

[Cypress]

Cypress was a little alarmed by the proclamation, yet ecstatic at the same time. She dips her head again to show her appreciation, "Thank you, Empress. I will hold it true." She remained where she was as Sheba confronted the keiyou male. She kept her eyes set hard on the male, reinforcing the Empress' words silently.

She watched as Sheba presented the pelt, it was the only time she took her eyes off Pos. Antony.... Cypress took careful note of the words that followed. They were important for her to know as well. Her nostrils caught the changing wind and the scent of another wolf had entered the area. However, she did not pull her gaze away from the conversation a second time. Her ears folded back on her head when Pos was proclaimed a member of the pack, yet they perked right back up when his rank was set. In her mind she was painting a picture of Sheba's personality, filing away important notes.

[forestiaxxforall]

[bg=1b1611] [atrb=width,500,true] Teal eyed looked ahead. A argument was all she could hear. A sigh left her lips as she pulled into a walk. Deciding to introduce while the Empress was still here. Ears laid flat back before flicking back up. Legs carrying me softly along the slushy snow under her. Eyes casted back to the wolves. One she knew from the other day. Ah Cyress that was who. A smile pulled to her lips though disappeared to the Empress words. It was true. Though she had no time for memories. Eyes locked onto the Empress, then to the male wolf. A very strange aroma she gathered from him, though then that was nothing new. Legs stopped a few feet from the wolves. A bow giving hoping not to interrupt anything. Empress of this northern-lands, i hope i am not interrupting anything. words split from her mouth as she closed my eyes, leaving her body and head bowed to the ground. Ears laid back as she should her respect. She did not want to offend neither the male who seemed to be having a lecture, though that was what it looked like to her, and her guesses on things like this, were okay, though sometimes not so good. Eyes re-opened after some time as she raised her head slightly up before letting out a breath of air, creating a clear heart of ice. She touched it with her nose and pushed it slightly toward the Empress. for you and your mate my Empress words spoke lightly, giving a gift to her and her mate. =========================== Created by:: ForestiaXXForAll Song:: Word Count::

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[poseidon]

Pos flicked his ears up and stared at Sheba with a fire in his eyes. He was not deaf or mentally retarded, he thought. He noticed the one who was just made Captain staring at him, examining him. He looked at Anthony's pelt, and realized there was something else, something that happened before. He noticed the cold wind blowing in, the various smells, the smell of the Jazu berries, the cold snow under his feet.

Pos thought for a minute. He wasn't sure to accept this fate, or leave and never come back. But he noticed everyone else, and realized this was what he was looking for all along, a pack. He bowed, and closed his eyes, speaking respectfully. "Yes, Empress." He lowered his head in shame. He had screwed up, big time. He had to prove himself.

[Bathsheba]

[atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,420,true][atrb=background,http://i37.tinypic.com/p60eo.png] Sheba pinned her ears backwards in a conflicted way as the Lupus made herself known. The Empress didn’t know how to respond yet. Her socially backwards personality was a liability for the pack’s growth, but it seemed that the Tundra’s pack still managed to be the fastest growing of the land. She lifted her head proudly after a pensive silence. The pregnant pause seemed to have rekindled a dying ember of her former charisma. She smiled softly, her bangs hiding her eyes until she shook them out of her eyes. She ignored Forestia for the moment. She needed to focus on taking care of the new Prisoner. “Cypress!” Sheba barked in a sharp order, “Bring the Prisoner to the pack’s dens. Even dirt has a place to rest.” Her heavy paws sank a bit in the soft mud as she leaned back to give a more leader-like stance. After her abrupt order, she turned her embery eyes to Forestia. “You’ve interrupted nothing, Lupus.” The Alphess smiled before her face straightened up and she said, “I hope that my accepting a sorry show of a wolf wouldn’t turn your interest from my pack. But I have a belief that every wolf is capable of being great. Even… that wolf. Which is why I accepted him into the pack. No wolf should go without opportunity.” The leader’s attention strayed, however, to her mate’s skin. After walking a few heavy steps to the old skin, she picked him up without a word about it and threw him over her shoulders so that he perched upon her spine. His love lingered still in that dried hide and Sheba could claim that she still felt his presence though his life was long ended. Without turning her eyes to the Lupus stranger, Sheba said, “I assume that’s why you came to this land. Nobody wanders into the Tundra without a reason. What other reason than my pack?” She smiled; her pride was evident. She loved her pack, and she would lead it as a leader should. She’d rise up with her pack. And she’d go down with them too.

[Cypress]

Cypress allowed her gaze to wander to the Lupus, she recognized her from a few days prior. She was going to speak, however the abrupt order made her attention snap back to Sheba and Pos. She straightened up, as if she had been slouching, then nods stiffly, "Yes Empress." Her voice was crisp and orderly, she was beginning to fit in, she liked this feeling.

She turned her head back to the male, "You. Come with me." Without a second glance she had turned about and started walking toward the dens. She paused only once, to give a cold gaze to the male, before she continued her walk.

[forestiaxxforall]

[bg=1b1611] [atrb=width,500,true] Eyes looked to the Empress. Ears listen to her words carefully. Closing her eyes softly she nodded and bowed her head once more. I have traveled far, though i am here to find a home, a place i can stay, and a place i can serve. Though because of i am, the north is the only place where i can stay, which i will be happy to serve you words spoke in reply. That was really her reason. North was the only place where she would be able to go, and help serve the wolves here. Ears pricked forward as her eyes looked to the one before. A slight nod of respect given before looking back to the Empress, raising my cranium at the same time. My tail hung low, showing respect to this vixen, as her father had taught her. The male, she still wanted to know what happened, though then that was none of her business, right now, all she needed was a home, a place to serve and help. =========================== Created by:: ForestiaXXForAll Song:: Word Count::

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