If I Go Crazy... [Joining]

[kryptonite]

Kryptonite's P.O.V.

“Ugh.” She closes her eyes and swings her head. She shakes her body, puffing out the fur against the cold and sending a shower of little crystals onto the snowdrifts around. Wind pierced her pelt, and she wearily padded onward. The sky was well overcast, mirroring the blanket of snow beneath it. It was so cold. The pads on her paws were covered with frost and felt almost entirely frozen over from wandering so long in the blizzard. The she-wolf's black and red pelt was now a frosty gray and deep pink, in response to the blistering chill. Her bright green eyes were shielded from the wind and snow by her eyelids. She was heading on blindly. Great. Another flashback, another step forward.
---
“But, daddy, why can’t I go see mommy?” She jumped in front of him, but stumbled and rolled onto his paws. She sat up and he shook off his paws with disgust. Clearly he didn’t like her. He killed both her only two other siblings in front of her, but she was too young to understand that she should be afraid of him. She looked at him expectantly.

“Because! She hates you, and doesn’t even want to be near you!” he snarled. She cowered back, frightened at his tone. She saw nothing but hatred in his eyes as he turned to leave. She followed his black pelt at a distance, afraid for what may lay beneath that blanket of darkness. Too young, too young to be hated.
---
She barked. A loud, lonely, needy bark. It was so cold, and her muscles were getting stiff. One pawstep after another, getting slower and slower as time progressed. She risked opening her sensitive eyes to the storm and saw an overhanging cleft just ahead. Her muscles and bones screamed in protest as she darted the last distance to the rock. The stone under her paws was slick with frost as she scrambled to the back, farthest from the snow as possible. She tucked her paws under her body and wrapped her thick tail around the shivering body. She was definitely not used to this cold, and she doesn't think she ever will be.

She gazed around, her green eyes not denying the loneliness and fear. She was surrounded by white on every side, broken in few places by old twigs. There were no signs of life; not even pesky bugs that irritated her pelt. She sighed and lowered her head onto her paws, tucking her nose under her tail. But she still had hope. So she raised my head, and let out a final howl, filled with all her hope, loss and desperation. Then when she hadn't gotten a response, she drifted into a fitful sleep full of nightmares and flashbacks.

She woke up to her own whining and barking, and was panting hard. She was afraid, and couldn't even remember of what. She looked around in the darkness, hoping to find some sort of life.

(OOC: Maybe I did exaggerate on the temperature a little bit, but she's never been in the cold.)

(Modify: better?)

[Cy]

Please read my comment on your profile before posting any more. Sorry for the delay.

Also, could you please use 3rd person instead of 1st.

[Cypress]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true]

[atrb=background,http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac298/Wonderwhy_wolves/cypress-1.png] Cupresses hated that she had to wait for the spring blizzard to pass before she could go enjoy a soak in the mud baths at the geysers. She thought she had heard a how on the wind, but it had faded before she realized it was there. She was moving laboriously across the founding field. Her pelt was thick enough to keep her from being uncomfortable due to weather. However she was uncomfortable for other reasons. Her belly was swollen with new life. She had already determined that she was not having a pair of pups, but more this time around. She felt heavier, she ached more often. At times it felt like the little pups inside her already had horns upon their little heads and were trying to cut their way out of her womb. She took a moment to rest at the top of a hill. It also gave her a moment to survey her territory. Not too far off, she saw a dark mass amidst the fresh snow. Her fiery green eyes narrowed slightly before she lifted her body and moved down toward the seizing mass. She didn't like coming up on strangers in the night. However it seemed that she had no choice on this dark evening. "Who are you?" Her voice was stern and authoritative. Her poorly-docked tail raised up in dominance.

[kryptonite]

"Why hello. Thank the Goddess that someone found me. I do not know where I am, nor of any other living creature here. My name is Kryptonite. What is yours?" She shivered a little in the cold. She was ecstatic that there was another wolf around. But this wolf stood with authority, with sharp authority as if some highly-exalted ruler. She must've been the alpha of a pack, Kryptonite assumed. So she lowered her gaze as to not seem challenging; she respected this leader already.

She sat up and looked at this wolf's unusual horns. She must've been of one of those breeds that her mother used to tell her; Yagi, she thinks.

"I believe you're going to have wonderful pups." She smiled, hoping to please this leader. She stood up, shook off the snow, and fluffed out her fur. Why couldn't I think of this sooner, then I wouldn't be so cold! she thought to herself. She looked back at the she-wolf, eagerly awaiting a response.

She looks almost like my mother... she sighed. Without the horns of course, Kryptonite chuckled to herself.

[Cypress]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true]

[atrb=background,http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac298/Wonderwhy_wolves/cypress-1.png] Her lip curled slightly at the informal response. However as soon as the female checked herself, her lips returned to normal. She waited for her to finish before speaking herself. She did not want to run the risk of being interrupted with her hormones all over the place as it was. "You are in the Ivare Tundra. I am Cupressus, the Empress of the Balkamir Yikaxy Empire." She paused, looking over the female. A lupus. She didn't get many of those these days. Perhaps she could put this one to use if she wanted to stick around. She raised a brow at the compliment about her unborn pups. She almost bristled though, she felt like she was being patronized. One of them kicked her and brought her temper back down with the distraction. "Thank you." Was all she managed with a stiff tone. She at least hoped that these pups would have a happier and more well rounded childhood than her first litter. She was secretly worried that it would happen again, but she kept herself hopeful. Her mind wandered to her wayward daughter, she knew how much it killed her mate that Maggie was missing. She could not help but feel responsible, even though her stubborn yagi pride would not allow her to voice the concern. She shook her head, bring herself back to the situation at paw, "So you are lost? Do you need help finding your way or did you come seeking the Empire?" If this lupus wanted to join, she would have to toughen up a little. She could not help but think of herself when she first came here....when her pads were cracked and bleeding, when she was standing before an Empress shivering. The thought of her three years before made her express a little sympathy for the young female. "I can take you somewhere warm...if you like." She would not take the female back to the dens just yet. But she did know of a caved in fox hole that could act as a makeshift shelter if the lupus desired it.

[kryptonite]

"Why, yes Lady Cupressus, thank you greatly. You are a kind and noble Empress." She bowed gently, the warmth of not being alone flushed over her. She got immune to the cold quickly and didn't realize it until her fur settled along her spine again. What was strange was, her fur wasn't spiky or bristly; it was fine glossy black fur that shone when the sunlight hit it.

As she was thinking things over a chilling breeze swept through her coat; making goosebumps all over her. But she ignored it. If she was going to become part of this pack she needed to harden up and tough out the cold. At the moment, it wasn't such a big issue to the black-and-red she-wolf. She was just happy she wasn't forgotten and alone.

She wanted to start a conversation with Cypress, but nervousness held her back. Clearly this leader didn't approve of strangers, nor useless ones like her for that matter. But when it came to doing something, she would get it done with the best of effort; her goal is to make this leader proud, if she accepted her into the pack. She raised her head with determination, but not higher than this Yagi's. She did not want to start of on the wrong side of the den with her. But she could not stop herself when she said

"Can I ask how you came to be here?" She paused, and shut up in case she said the wrong thing.

[Cypress]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true]

[atrb=background,http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac298/Wonderwhy_wolves/cypress-1.png] She did not make a motion to move. She did not like that the female ignored her first questions. Yes, she knew the female wanted shelter, but that was the least of Cypress' concerns at the moment. She snorted, sending steam into the cool air. "Are you lost? Or do you want to join the pack?" She decided making it simpler would get a straighter answer. She did not like those that ignored her. She was also a little grouchy due to her pregnancy. Thoughts of getting to her mud bath were quickly evaporating. In combination with her trust issues, her current bad mood made her more cryptic in matters of her past. "I came to be here by walking on my own four paws." She sighed a little, the heaviness of her belly took more of a toll on her the closer she got to her whelping day. Her green eyes seemed to burn into the female. She was waiting to hear if she needed to run the intruder out or explain the hierarchy of the pack

[kryptonite]

She noticed the leader tense up, as if highly irritated with the black she-wolf. She paused, thought about what she did wrong and immediately apologized with a lowered gaze.

"My apologizes Lady Cypress. I did not catch your first questions. Yes I am lost, mostly by my own fault of running from my abusive father. And yes, I'd be honored to join your pack." She spoke quietly, hoping the words would please the grouchy leader. She moved a hindpaw out of nervousness. Clearly, this dominant female was very touchy and sensitive. Best to be quiet and shut up, like she's done most of her life.

Her father told her many times that her feelings didn't matter; that she was a useless runt and an ugly one at that; always putting her down, not knowing it was building a stronger outer wall around her heart and mind, hopefully broken down by the love of a pack. She hate her father; now that she was fully grown, her last goal was to kill him and the tyrant he is. She shook her head, trying to get rid of the hatred beginning to burn up and threaten to overwhelm her soul.

"That wasn't really what I mean by how you came to be here. What I meant to say was, how did you come to be an Empress?" She spoke quietly, not wanting to anger the swollen she-wolf anymore than she already has.

[Arkham]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][tr][td][atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/34fh89y.jpg] Fear Not Who I am. Fear What I am Going To Do To You. Arkham snorted angrily, shaking his form out as he tracked his mate. Ruby optics burned with such intensity, his rage clearly known of her disrespect. He hadn't cared when she was just weeks in. He knew how strong she was. But to go out and meet strangers, with only a few days to go, was unacceptable. What was she thinking? Had she been listening to him when he forbid her to leave the safety of the dens? After what seemed like hours, the brutes nose quivered, his eyes narrowing as he spotted the pair. Of course, there just had to be some pathetic trespasser, seeking refuge in his home. His inner loner was growing tired of all the sad stories they would spill to him when he greeted them. With an angry bark, Arkham announced his presence, and rushed straight to Cupressuses side, snout smelling and licking her round stomach before pitting himself between her and the trespasser. His anger was building, it squashing any hope for reasonable thinking. Right now, the strange bitch would have to wait. He wanted know why Cypress was always so hellbent on hurting him. Taking a deep breath, the male stared straight into her emerald orbs, his voice low and demanding. "What are you doing? Look at you. You are in no condition to go gallivanting around, bringing in the strays." He spat the insult at the Lupus. Oh great, another unfortunate soul that had their breed stacked against them. Arkham was beginning to wonder if his family were the only Yagi's left in this god forsaken snow hole.

[Cypress]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true]

[atrb=background,http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac298/Wonderwhy_wolves/cypress-1.png] There. That was the response she wanted. The lupus was catching on. Usually Cypress was nicer about newcomers coming in, but today she just wanted to relax and she was diverted from the first by the blizzard and now this female. Her ears flickered a little, abusive father? Interesting. Oddly familiar. Her family never physically abused her, unless you counted the shame that was the poorly docked tail upon the small yagi. But she knew what it meant to be ostracized because of her size and appearance. So there was a shred of sympathy that was beginning to develop. She gave the wanderers question some considerate thought. "Well." Her tone was softer now, "I overcame obstacles and made my own way in life. I pushed my past to the past and became stronger because of it." The long thin scar on her side seemed to gleam in the light. She looked as if she were going to speak again when an all to familiar bark forced her ears back. Oh no. Her mate came barreling in all muscle and gusto. She had always admired his strength, but today it seemed that he was not thinking. She had to hand it to him for at least checking on her. He loved her, but often had odd ways of showing it. His voice reverberated through her, if there was anything their unborn pups knew about their father, it was that his voice was powerful even at low key. She bristled and curled her lip as she stared defiantly at her beloved mate. His tone angered her, he was jumping to conclusions again. She growled in response, her motherly-soft tone from a few seconds earlier vanished as yagi tempers flared, "Gallivanting around?" She held his gaze. She was considerably smaller than he was. If Kryptonite had not figured out that Cypress was indeed a runt, then she would know it now. "I'll have you know, that I was headed to my mud bath. She just happened to be here. I did not go seeking. I was in the mood for a hot soak to ease my aching body." She was speaking in a low tone as well, growling through her teeth. In her eyes he should know how often the used the geyser fields for medicinal soaks and baths. "For all you know she could be useful. She is a lupus after all. Maybe she can control snow to make more dens. Or earth to root out foxes. Or hell, even fire to keep our children warm when winter comes back." She stepped around him, tilted her head slightly to aim her horns toward his. She didn't like being blocked from the female she was speaking to.

[kryptonite]

She looked between Cypress and this other wolf; clearly they were mates but he didn't have to snap like that. She held back a snarl but her neck fur began to bristle. You don't treat a birthing female like that, no matter how much she disrespects you. She barked angrily. She knew not to let her anger flare, but this was rediculous.

"Hey, you. Don't snap at her like that. She's already stressed out enough with the pups inside of her. Give her a break; a birthing bitch knows what's best for her pups. You've never given birth, your a male. You try doing what she's doing, carrying around tons of extra weight that isn't hers." Her temper flared; how dare this male disrespect his mate like this? You don't treat a female like that, ever. Even at a young age she was taught that; by her mother. It seems like this alpha-female took her mother's authority place. Now, she's going to stand up for her new mother figure.

Maybe she shouldn't have spoke. She knows she shouldn't have. But she looked up to cypress already and couldn't stand having a male snap at her, even if he did care about her. Her lips curled into a snarl as she couldn't hold it back any longer. Hot rage made her green eyes glow brighter, almost blinding.

Staring at a spot in front of the male, she willed her rage to build a fire, and at the thought a sparks shot from the area and burst into a small flame. She could make it bigger; she knew she could.

[Arkham]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][tr][td][atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/34fh89y.jpg] Fear Not Who I am. Fear What I am Going To Do To You. Arkham held his gaze firm upon Cypress, his anger slowly receding as she spoke. He suppressed a smile at her cocky stature. He should have learned long ago that she wasn't intimated by him. Not that that had been his intentions. His eyes narrowed as he followed her, that hidden smile surfacing as she leaned her horns toward him. With a wink, he growled a low laugh. "Now, now, fatty. We wouldn't want to do anything too silly, would we?" Alas, it seemed fate had other plans for his deep dwelling anger. A spark of brutal lightening erupted in the invisible lines of tension that suddenly leaped up between Arkham, and the mouthy female behind him. The green beast whirled to face her the moment her words shattered his reverie, snarling back at her immediately and not wasting any time trying to find the venom to counteract the over confident mutt. No it was on his tongue with the readiness of one whom had seen a confrontation coming, dripping swiftly and ready like a trained warrior and their weapon. The Emperor's jagged sneer turned up, tugging his lips sadistically and displaying the maddening fury that raged inside of him with the intensity of a brewing storm. But his mind was drawn elsewhere when she spoke, her apparent threat with the display of her powers clearly noted. And again the brute found his lips tugging even further into psycho shadows that seemed to dance along his face, even in the bright of day in this frozen wasteland. "Excuse me?" Arkham mused, the fur along his spine rippled, a sharp sail of green and silver that rose viciously along his nape and ruffled his face into straight pins of fur. A mocking smile turned into something devastating as jaws ripped open in a spray of saliva as Arkham made his authority yet clearer. "And who, the fuck are you?" Something flickered passed Arkham's ruby eyes, the usual blankness of his facade momentarily cracked. If anything, her stupid display of flames sealed her fate, she knew damn well his mate was right there. Lupuses and their powers, thinking they could do what they pleased. Cypresses words were more than enough to calm him, but the bitch had to open her fat mouth. "One thing you will learn here, mutt, is that insolence will not be tolerated." And like lighting the brute rushed forward and around his mate, jagged fangs snapping in an attempt to snare Kryptonites nape in their wake. If that failed however, the sheer force of his bulky frame connecting with hers would be enough to show the dog that Arkham had nothing left to say. With words that is.

[Cypress]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true]

[atrb=background,http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac298/Wonderwhy_wolves/cypress-1.png] A slight smile graced her maw as he seemed to calm down a little. It never took much short of a slap in the face to diffuse Arkham's anger toward Cypress. Sure they fought on occasion, but he had a right to be concerned for her well-being. As well as the safety of the pups. In the back of her mind Cypress knew that there was also a chance that the lupus could have been a threat. And Cypress was not at her peak to fend off aggressors. She was about to lean up to lick his face when the lupus shattered the surface of the waters. Cypress whipped her head around in disbelief that a loner would have the audacity to call out an alpha male. She could not help but snarl a little at the sheer disrespect. Her words meant nothing to the yagi pair. Cypress knew that Arkham did not disrespect her, she knew him better than anyone. Her brown and green pelt stayed flat, save for a slight puff at the back of her neck. She could not intervene at this point. Her snarl faded and she had a stern-motherly look on her face. Children needed to respect their elders, and their leaders. Especially if they wanted to join a pack. She did kick snow over the puttering fire to prevent the sad blaze from igniting the only tinder around, the wolves. One thing about the tundra, not much grass or wood to burn. It was mostly snow and moist moss and rocks. At least the lupus could conjure flame. Once she learned her place in the pack, that skill would come in handy. Her mind was focused on the betterment of the pack. It needed strong and well disciplined wolves to keep things united and functional. An orderless pack could not survive in such a harsh environment. She wondered if this female had ever been a part of a pack. Harsh past or not, one must still know the importance of hierarchy. She remained where she was as her mate hurled past her. She watched the interaction, knowing it would be over soon enough. All the lupus had to do was yield, submit and apologize to prevent further injury. Then they could carry out the business of initiation, once Arkham's anger quelled.

[kryptonite]

She looked at the couple and realize she had wronged. She regained posture and twisted away from this alpha's rough teeth, but not enough to out-do the blow that she had coming. The full force of this male knocked into her, knocked the wind out of her, knocked her mind out of control but she let her instincts take over. She fell to the ground in moments. She had play-fought many times with her mother; her mother was very strong, and she could push boulders four times her size uphill. And she never went easy on Kryptonite. She learned many skills form her mother that her father should have taught her from the start.

In joining this pack she hoped she would learn some skill in controlling her swift skills and maybe learning a few new tips in the process. She wanted to learn, and was willing to do anything to get there -lest the pain and suffering of others.

She took the force and used it's momentum to her advantage. The momentum carried her onward and she tucked in her paws to roll over once before pushing up and landing back on her paws. She was barely scathed, just snow stuck to her fur in clumps. She shook off, sending the white crystals everywhere. She turned back to both leaders, her posture stiff with confidence as she apologized, lowering her head.

"I apologize, my leaders. I was wrong in standing up. I thought i caught disrespect. But no, I only caught the sharpness of a stubborn couple. And to you, fearful leader, my name is the exotic gem of Kryptonite." She dipped her head and closed her eyes in apology. Once again, she screwed up. Just like she screws everything else up. She swears the only way they'll let her join the pack is out of pity, and it seems like there is no pity here. She turned to head off, where she couldn't screw up anyone else or anything else for that matter.

She needed the company of other wolves, but she decided it was better to be alone than to be with others and screw things up. Just like her father said, a useless runt from a useless bitch of a mother. Hidden tears threatened to well up in her eyes and only one bold one fell upon the snow.

[Arkham]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true][tr][td][atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/34fh89y.jpg] Fear Not Who I am. Fear What I am Going To Do To You. As Cypress had predicted, the lesson only went for roughly a minute. Arkham had just missed getting a hold of her nape, which surprised him. However she couldn't dodge the bulky mass that had charged her. No, without so much as a whimper, the female rolled a few feet away, standing up confidently as though she hadn't just be smacked around by the green train. Another tight snarl escaped his maw, his yellow fangs still very much on display. He was about to charge her again, lucky for her she breathed out an apology just in time. Not that this alone would have stopped him from going another round. No, it was sadness in her eyes. He had broken her. Her submission was awkward, savor a slight bow of her head. Her body was still far too confident for the likes of him. But, after her pathetic apology, no doubt Cypress would be upset if he pushed his point further. And although his own nape still lay bristled, his tongue lolled in a relaxing pant, his anger quickly subsiding as his point was made. "If you want to act like a child, you'll get treated like one." He growled softly, ignoring the mention of her name. He hadn't asked for it in the first place, it was just a mocking question, showing her that at this point, she was a nobody.