in over my head [joining request]

[anyu3]

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[atrb=background,http://i38.tinypic.com/2d15wfo.png] Sun. Wind. Sky. That is all there was as Ashmari soared through the cold, blue skies. Her white fur blended in with the soft blue color above, though she was still visible from the ground to one who might look. Below the white Keiyou could see the tundra. At this time of year it was warm enough to thaw the snow and some of the permafrost, so there was color in the land. Most of that color appeared to be dark greens and browns from where she was, and it looked damp. To gain closer inspection, Ash dove towards the ground, then pulled up just in time to skim over the ground. It was indeed a little boggy and she turned her nose up in digust. That would be unpleasant during summers. But one thing she remembered about her early childhood was enjoying the snow, and she was willing to wait for the cooler weather to refreeze the land and eventually bring snow. Ash's fur blended in well with the snow and she enjoyed being able to take advantage of that. Ash regained her original altitude and began a search for a good place to land. She found that place in the form of a large, open field that looked much like the rest of the tundra and began to glide gracefully down towards the ground. Flying was one of her aptitudes, and she landed just as gracefully, without a problem. Her paws urged her to take flight again as she landed in a boggy mess of plants, but she ignored the urge and took a few steps forward. On her way into the territory she had scented wolves and had chosen to land and take a look around. Perhaps she could stay her for a while, if the alpha was willing to let her. Her eyes surveyed the terrain around her, taking in the openness of the territory. This would be a good place to live, for her at least. Plenty of open space for flying and she would have a pack to support her as well. "Heh," she murmured to herself. "Let's see how impressive the alpha here is, shall we?" She raised her head and let out a powerful howl. Unhindered by trees and cliffs, it would easily carry across the entire territory and find it's way to the owner of the lands. That was the intention of such a howl. How different is was from the last howl that she had voiced, though. In the last year she hadn't howled even once, and her voice showed it. The howl itself was of no good quality, however strong that it was. Still, it did the job that it was meant for, and that was enough for Ashmari.

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[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 was comfortable in her den. The snowhills were thankfully dry thanks to the higher elevation. It seemed that a few feet of hill did wonders for the bogginess—making the earth comfortable to lie down in. She was sprawled lazily on her side, her horns on her side were oddly bent as she rolled her massive self to the other side. She gave a deep sigh. As her eyes looked to Anthony. His eyeless pelt stared unseeing into her soul, and she echoed a long-gone love with such passion. Only to be interrupted. A lone howl faintly resounded, carried well over the lands. Sheba groaned. She lay on her side for a while longer before rolling onto her feet. She gave a growl and slowly poked her muzzle out of the den. Her fur stuck up in everywhichway and the spines from her body were precariously set and oddly bent. Her heavy form almost tumbled out of the den and she took a few tentative steps before rushing back in the den and retrieving her Anthony. She kissed him before picking him up and setting him on her back. “Love you, love.” And she stopped before leaving the Snowhills—she was actually contemplating not going to the howl. However, she was a leader and knew that she would be ousted if her pack knew that she was shirking her duties. Her heavy, lumbering steps took her into the open Tundra, but it took her nearly ten minutes to even set foot in the Founding Fields. Soon, she grew tired. Her overweight body took its toll and she already breathed heavily in fevered exercise. Sheba stopped, shrugged her shoulders before sitting down. Anthony rolled off her back and Sheba growled before grabbing him and setting him before her. The muddied earth was so soft that she sank in the boggy soil. A long sigh escaped her before she rose her maw heavenward and she sang her own howl. Power filled the air in vicious victory. She knifed the air in great demand with her commanding voice. “I’m here! The Empress of the Balkamir Yikaxy Empire!” And she waited. Lazy. And the fire of leadership in her cinnabar eyes. Such a pity.

[anyu3]

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[atrb=background,http://i38.tinypic.com/2d15wfo.png] The wait was long enough. Ash settled down on some dry ground, folding her wings carefully on her side and yawning. While waiting, her front paws toyed with some of the greenery that had been exposed with the coming of summer. Well this is exciting, she thought with a roll of the eyes, always the critical mind. Why the hell did I come here in the midst of summer? Another yawn. The sight wasn't pretty, but Ashmari didn't care. What she looked at was a Yagi with two horns on her head, one broken, and a shaggy mane of hair. The wolf had horns elsewhere that were oddly shaped, at least in Ash's opinion, and it looked overweight too. Her paws were large and she limped a little. The wolf's coat was gray and green, dull compared to Ashmari's white, but a nice color just the same. On the creature's back was a pelt of a wolf, and Ashmari curiously wondered why this female had such a thing. As the rather disgusting wolf stopped and sat, she positioned the pelt in front of her. Ash didn't think a thing of it. It was odd, yes, but it didn't matter. So this is the leader of this pack? Pathetic! Thought Ashmari as the wolf howled. She did not think highly of this leader, but she would not show it. Her eyes hid her emotions well enough and, though she kept her proud composure, she dipped her head in respect to the leader. Empire? Empress? This is interesting! It seemed that Ash had come across a very interesting place here. This may be just the place for her to stay! "Sorry to have disturbed you," she said as politely as possible, though her own voice held a commanding and proud air. "I was passing over this land and I smelled a pack. I was curious, and..." Ash trailed off for a moment, wondering if it was truly a good decision to join this pack, and then dismissed her thoughts. She needed adventure to take her mind off of her travels and the events that were now more than a year gone. "...I've been searching for a place that will offer company and things to take my mind off of my past." She chose to tell the truth, not having any care about who knew what at the moment. "My name is Ashmari."

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[eastern]

Viking wouldn't have realized that he was on pack land's if he hadn't heard the howl. He ears perked forward with difficulty, trying to hear around the massive horns that block them.
"Damn!" He cursed, spitting at his feet. I hope this pack isn't anything like mine. He thought quickly, then gave a sadistic smile. If it is, then I ain't gonin' down without a fight.

Viking continued his path through another's land, not really worried about his safety. To tell the truth, he was looking for a fight. Another booming howl sounded and he knew the whereabouts of the Alphess...or Empress as she called herself. He pushed forward, eager to see who owned such dower lands.

The disappointment showed clearly upon Viking's face. His careful mask shattered for seconds, before he was able to regain his composure. Disgust replaced the weaker emotion quickly, and with the disgust came the anger. A Yagi in such a disgraceful state! His black lip rolled back over his teeth, and his eyes closed to slits. He worked hard to swallow his hate toward the female before showing himself. He had been so caught up with the ugly brute of a female, that he didn't notice the pretty little keiyou. She must be the one who howled before... He concluded. He suppressed a sigh, and made his way forward, his ears laid back with annoyance at the whole situation.

"Hello." He said, his voice monotone, as he looked between the ladies. "I didn't realize these lands where taken, I mean no harm." Lies. "My name is Viking." I've never seen such a fat wolf before, make less a fat Yagi! She has no pride!

Now that Viking was close enough he could see the pelt the Empress held before her. The thing smelled...stale. He was able to keep from lifting his lip in disgust. The only sign of his anger with the small twitch of his topaz eye.

[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 gave a rather blank stare as she quietly stood and replaced Anthony upon her back. She blinked a few times in silence before she cleared her throat. “Curious, are we?” She shrugged her shoulders again, more out of habit than anything. She just wanted to make sure that Anthony was still holding her with all his love. His dark paws strode her and his soulless face seemed trapped in an eternal grimace, torn from death. His twisted expression moved with each of her lumbered steps and every heavy motion. “It doesn’t really matter where you come from; it only matters that you are here.” Her cryptic words sounded out of place and then, she settled her mind. “I mean. If the only thing you want is a pack, this is the best choice.” But why was it growing so fast? The pack was dizzyingly growing. Members gained day by day, month by month. She was soon to expect that her mate had to return to liveliness. Every new member had her pressured more into being the form of a leader—if only to present herself in a light of leadership. And the stress of it was getting to her. Her only solace, her only safe haven in the dizzying growth of her own pack was her Anthony. And every time she clung closer to him, she melted her logic so that she believed, little by little, that death was a temporary thing. In Sheba’s eyes, Anthony had come back to life. And her words were showing the few slip-ups in her mind… if only the wolves could detect that she wasn’t trying to be philosophical, but was trying to be plain. If you took what she said and twisted it so that you saw it through the mouth of the leader, she sounded like a leader. Such a vile trick the gods play! And then, her eyes shifted from the Keiyou to the Yagi who had approached. Her eyes were distracted for only a moment as she resumed her attention to Ashmari. “In reality, you’ve disturbed nothing but my time.” And then she challenged, “Make it worthwhile.” Her words were sharp and commanding. And then, she turned to the other wolf. Her eyes looked over him before she identified him as a fellow Yagi. Immediately, she felt less on edge—as most Yagi feel when they see another of their own species. She had no idea of the hidden hate that Viking watched her with. Instead, he quietly stood and spoke a small piece of the Hippocratic Oath. ’…do no harm…’ It would do no hard to accept the Keiyou into the pack! In fact, Sheba was always able to fight despite she sorry appearance. She had no speed, but the exercise of lugging such a hefty weight around did have her gaining muscle underneath that layer of fat she had accumulated over the years. “You wish to do no harm? Are you saying you wish to enter this pack? If you wish it, say so. I am the Empress of this place… the Balkamir Yikaxy Empire… Bathsheba.” And at the utterance of her name, the overweight female seemed en-gloried by the words she spoke. She stood a little prouder. She seemed fiery. She seemed in control. But her mind… Slowly, slowly wisping. Crawling into the abyss like smoke.

[anyu3]

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[atrb=background,http://i38.tinypic.com/2d15wfo.png] Though she was trying to be respectful, showing respect to such a sorry looking alpha was one of the hardest things she had every done. In her head, she knew that it would be bad to insult or disrespect the alpha in any way, but there was that undying desire to do just that. And then, by some grace of some god, her outlet appeared. He was another Yagi, and it was clear in his voice, though it was only monotone, that he thought just as little of this alpha as she did. She wouldn't bring that up, but he was certainly someone that she could insult in place of the alpha. This new stranger had a coppery coat and looked strong enough. He definitely weighed more than she did, since she was a Keiyou and he was a Yagi, but that didn't mean a thing to her. Her brother had weighed more than she did too. His horse - there were two sets he noted - were nothing to boast about. She had seen better, certainly. They were better than the alpha's, though. As the male came closer, Ashmari shifted her weight into a strong defensive stance that had clearly been taught to her, instead of made up to her on the spot. She was a warrior, not some weakling little wolf that could fly. Her fur bristled slightly, in warning, and she lifted her lips just enough to show a few white teeth, and then she froze in that position, looking from the alpha to the stranger. Ashmari liked this stranger, in a way. He was probably thinking the same things that she was about the alpha, though she couldn't be certain. In her mind she wondered who would not think such things about this alpha. Still, her dislike and disappointment was diguised to the point where the alpha would not notice it, no matter how good an eye for feelings she had. Ashmari wanted to stay here, and if masking her true feelings helped, then she would do just that. She looked the alpha over once more, then turned her eyes to the new Yagi, Viking. "Hello there stranger," she said with a sarcastic voice. "If you don't mind waiting, the alphess and I were just having a quick conversation about my interest in joining. I want this settled quickly so that I know where I am staying tonight." She turned from the yagi, ignoring him. The sarcasm in her voice had made it clear that she thought herself better than him. She half hoped that it would provoke him into doing something. "Not to question you, but why is this pack the best choice? I like the open spaces, but I know nothing about the pack." She proposed the question to the alpha to test her. If the alpha could give a good response, perhaps Ashmari really would stay. If not...well, there was always time to leave now before she was sucked into this pack's life. And there were other packs to join. "Make it worth your time?" Ash repeated to reiterate the question. "Isn't it worth your time if your pack grows and becomes stronger than the others? In my experience alphas want power, and that power usually comes from strength in numbers." She looked at the alpha, keeping her head at a respectful height, though not at an entirely submissive height. "I can fight, I can hunt, I can track, and I am loyal. I am almost an all-purpose wolf, if you are looking for one like that. I do not care about rank. I simply want a place where I can stay, where I have the support of a pack, and where I can fly without hindrance. For those things, I offer all I can give in return." She guestured with her wings as if to show what she had to offer, but she wasn't sure if that was what the alpha wanted to hear from her. The speech finished, however, she fell silent and waited for an answer.

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[eastern]

Viking offered a coy smile. He features darkened as he looked upon Sheba. "My apologies" he said to the Empress, dipping his head. He was an impressive actor, he manged to keep form making it mocking, as he intended it to be. "I do wish to enter your pack, Empress. This land is suited to my liking." In other words, There are no spiders here.

Viking looked over at the Yagi who had fallen from grace, and the wheels in his head started to turn. It would be easy to take a pack from her. He was powerful, and at the height of his prime, and she...was not. She was deflated, and defeated. He had tasted power once before, and he wanted it again. And it looked like this time, it would be easier to take the crown for himself.

Viking shifted his eyes onto the keiyou, and smirked. "But of course, lady. You were here first, so I must wait my turn." He keep his voice light, and friendly, but his eye's flashed muderously. But he reframed from starting a fight, a deeper want had taken it's place.

He listened to Ash's questioning, and rolled his eyes. Women he thought, a bitter taste in his mouth. Making simple things overly complicated.

[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] Interesting. The thought of the other Yagi was the same as Sheba’s, yet lie opposite in meaning. He said interesting because he had weighed a new scheme in his mind. And Bathsheba’s own interesting was on account of the fact that this other Yagi seemed to drip from stale to amicable. She didn’t trust it, but then again, she attributed it to her fall from the social graces. She was hardly the wolf she was before. No longer with her complete set of horns. And her body was disgustingly overweight. Still, she somehow found herself I the position of Empress. It was all as if she rolled out of bed and fell on a packland and claimed it. The leadership responsibilities were actually taking quite the toll on her mind. She had hidden herself away with her only company being the disturbing hide she carried on her shoulders. She went from beautiful to monstrous. And now, Sheba stood before those two prospective members. She was afraid. But she was brave. The male had twisty words while the female seemed like fire. All were tiring to Sheba. She merely hung her head at a bitter angle and said, “Do you want to test me? My pack is the best because what wolves can survive the cruel tundra but the very best? Our pack has grown incredibly in member count since its founding as Late Spring crawled into Early Summer. Now it was Late Summer. The Empire was the largest pack. And Sheba led it like a leader should despite her slowly fading sanity. “If you wish to join, so be it. I’m not an Empress to force wolves to join my pack. Those who willingly join promise their loyalty when they do join. Those who do not jump at the chance miss out. So, go and do whatever. I’m going back to the dens. However, considering your skillset, I’m sure you’d have been a great member of this pack.” She turned her eyes to the fellow Yagi, “And you. You’re invited into my pack as well.” Her sharp voice then quieted. Sheba let out an exasperated sigh before turning around and heading toward the Snowhills. If they wanted in, they would follow. She wasn’t a dictator and her members weren’t slaves. However, this pack would be a bumpy ride…

[anyu3]

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[atrb=background,http://i38.tinypic.com/2d15wfo.png] Ashmari’s eyes flashed, but not murderously as male’s eyes had. Her eyes flashed with triumph, knowing that she had made some impact on the male with her words. It would be wonderful if she could provoke him in some way, but it would have to be done is such a way that would make her look good and the male look bad. Disgrace was always fun to bring on those who thought too highly of themselves. And this male definitely thought too highly of himself. ”Well aren’t we the gentleman,” Ashmari muttered softly, perhaps just loud enough for the male to hear, if he was paying any attention. She would have loved to push him further, but it was time to listen to the alpha of the pack if she wanted to join, and Ashmari’s head was turned towards the green-colored Yagi, ears pricked to catch every word. Of course Ashmari was not impressed by growth and size. If this alpha wanted to prove that this pack was worth anything, then she would have to show how powerful her pack was. Numbers meant nothing if a pack had no strength. But she was willing to take the answer that the alpha had given to her, for now. As the leader left, Ashmari began to slowly follow. There was no way she was going to pass up an opportunity to join this pack. She wanted a pack, and the land was perfect. She had to stay here. As she began to follow the alpha, Ashmari turned to look at the male. "Whatever you have planned for your life here," she murmured so only he could here, "expect me to interfere." She grinned at him, her eyes flashing with mischief. It had been so long since she’d had fun, and perhaps now she could find fun in interfering with this male’s life. Without another word, she turned from him and continued to follow the alpha to wherever these dens were. She would be a part of this pack, and she would help make it strong.

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[eastern]

Viking kept his face composed, as dark thoughts slithered through his brain. He made a noise that can only be described as an cackle as the Empress walked away leaving him with the winged-one. He wasn't worried with what she thought, Viking saw her as a little threat.

Ashmari's departing words echoed in his ears, and he reconsidered his first judgment. Perhaps it is best to watch out out that one. He thought, clenching his teeth in anger. It would be a lie on his part to say he wasn't alittle worried. He watched as the two females became smudges on the horizan. Viking viewed one with disgust...and the other, he wasn't sure. Ashmari was deserving of respect, for no one had dared to ever talk to him like that, and for that he also hated her.

"You have no idea what I plan to do." He whispered to the open air.

Viking grimaced, a sudden headache plagued his mind, and played with his thoughts. He hadn't been in a pack for more then two seconds and already he was stressed. He followed after the females, his eyes trained on the Empress, his mind plotting her downfall, and his upraising. His eyes went to the slim white wolf next to her, and he had to wonder if she would really be a problem.

At least there are no spiders.

[Artemis]

[ooc: I'll add y'all to the pack. Pack meeting this weekend, so keep your eyes peeled.]