burn another page of the sun [joining]

[kismet]

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

[atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/2mze7p3.png] Being a canyon, the Ryell region was scorching hot under the August sun. There was likely to be no prey about- rodents would be fried alive if they tried to lounge in heat like this, and lizards weren't stupid enough to sunbathe on rocks when a wolf pack was so nearby. One lone lizard, tiny enough to fit on a wolf's paw, sat on a pebble and gazed at the canyon below intently. It was scarcely aware that a creature, black as night, was sneaking up behind it, inch by inch... The lizard was between two silvery jaws in a split second. The wolf had appeared almost out of nowhere, slinking along downwind of the unsuspecting prey. She was aware that a wolf pack lived here, though they were probably too busy basking in the desert sun to worry about a reptile smaller than a mouse being stolen beneath their noses. She raised her head with a doggish grin and licked her muzzle. Her raven-like wings folded neatly against her side; they had flared threateningly as she snatched her victim off the rock. Anyone who knew this wolf could tell that it was Kismet. Kismet shivered, despite the heat. Her dark fur trapped it easily and gave her a nausious feeling in the pit of her stomach. With a grunt of unease, she padded closer to the edge of the canyon. Where she stood, she could see everywhere and anywhere. The river at the bottom of the canyon was fast paced and warm today. The heat of the sun weakened the brittle rocks under her and sent pebbles falling to their deaths at the bottom of the cliff. This was the place Kismet wanted to call home. With a last hesitation and a small growl of indecision, Kismet parted her lips and started to sing to the sky. Her howl was carried far below her, into the canyon and alerting all the pack that she was there. Her cry spoke more than just plain words ever could. Hello! I come to join your pack! I want to join! The song ceased only after several moments of continuous lyrics. Finally, Kismet lowered her head and closed her mouth, panting for breath. She sighed deeply, the heat irritating her fur more than ever now. Wings folded neatly against her sides, she sat down and calmly waited. words - three hundred ninety six notes - my joining post for kissy. :]

[RHIANNON !]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,475,true]

[atrb=background,http://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad144/FallArrow/RHIANNONbg4.png] Screw the heat. Rhiannon was not built for scorching summer weather like this. Curled up deep in her cave, she was lying by the pool of water, trying to cool herself off as best she could. Thick fur and heat did not combine well. She was just glad for the lack of humidity, despite the water. Isealdyr, her daughter, swam clumsily in the water, dipping and diving about. The other pups were milling about, exploring and finding ways to amuse themselves. This was fine with Rhia. She hadn't spent too much time with Forte in a while, considering how busy the two of them had been, and it was wearing on her nerves a bit. The pack had grown substantially. Only a few months ago it had just been her, Forte and Kai. Now there were thirty six wolves, including her pups. That was fairly amazing. Due to this though, Rhiannon knew she needed to call a pack meeting. With new members joining everyday she needed to organize the groups better, and shift about ranks. Yawning, she flopped lazily on her side, closing her eyes for a moment. Her momentary bit of rest was interrupted by a young, squeaky voice and a blow to her chest. "Mummy, mummy, mummy! Mummy! Mummy! Muuuuummmmmy!" the little voice of Isealdyr rang through the alpha's ears and she groaned, opening her eyes. "Yes child?" Isy giggled, leaping back into the water and swimming away. Rhiannon growled a bit, rolling her eyes and pushing herself to her feet. She had just stood up when a voice echoed through the canyon, sending her ears into a vertical stance. Someone was seeking acceptance. Well then. Rhiannon shook her head, glancing about for Forte who was no where to be seen. Men... she thought, sighing and feeling the push back from her second soul. 'I take that personally, eh,' she heard the red panda soul, Caedmon speak to her. He had been much quieter lately, and it almost surprised her when she heard the other voice in her head. Snorting, she said nothing and proceeded to walk out of the cave. The pups would be cared for by the pack members, and really, they'd just be a burden if they came with her. Bouncing up the 'staircase' she finally reached the top, peering up at the loner who stood there. She was a keiyou, mostly black. Rhiannon gave her a once over before finally approaching her. Like always, her tail was held in a rather dominant position. She stopped, eyeing the female for a moment, before speaking. "Hello," she said - so formal - "My name is Rhiannon and I'm the alpha female of these lands. I'm sure you were well aware that there was a pack here, since you are looking to join," she paused for a moment, her ears flicking a bit. "This is Styrrstdar Cadre, and we are a strong pack. Though we welcome outsiders into our family, we are somewhat... selective. The way we choose is through a joining fight. Since well, only you and I are here, I assume the fight will be against me. I don't care who wins or loses, I just want to see your skill." Her tail flicked a bit, and she waited for a reaction.

[/color][/blockquote]

-------------------------------------

OOC ;; n/a

[/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[ator]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,400,true]

[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/bf2rdt.png] Soft pants broke from the parted muzzle of the adolescent Cael as he broke his awkwardly swaying, long lope across the uncomfortable dryness that was the canyon's top. Saliva, barely produced due to the heat and the lack of water that he had been suffering for the past few days, dripped from the long tongue that lulled from Ator's open maw. His head had dipped down, swaying back and forth just above the hot earth as he moved, testing and scenting the lingering marks of the pack that he had been skirting around for well over a month now. He had watched the pack grow almost relentlessly through this moon's cycle, and the sheer size of the pack had become a nearly obsessive fascination to the young Cael despite his clear reluctance to actually come forth. Pausing a few good meters from the canyon's edge and the game trail that led down to the caverns, Ator sidled beside a large rock structure. The sliver of shadow it provided at this hour was enough to hold the scrawny adolescent over from the heat for the time being. Sitting down abruptly on his haunches, Ator shook out the sliver of mane that had begun to grow along the scruff of his neck. His jaws popped open again, yawning widely before he stopped short, teeth clicking together as his dark nose swung up to test the dry breeze rolling from the west. His large ears flicked back abruptly before he rose back to his sore and dry feet. Peering around the rock silently, Ator's dark eyes locked upon the body of the pitch black and winged Keiyou. A slightly indignant huff shook the small Cael's narrow chest as his attention traced the she-wolf's actions the moment she snapped the unaware little lizard up between her teeth. A glimmer of jealousy burned within his chest, for that single morsel of a lizard was more than he alone had come by within the past day. In fact, he'd come to quite the predicament when he chose to close in on the pack's dens, for the river that had been his life-source over these past months had dropped right down into the middle of their most-frequented area. The salmon had moved on with the heat, and pickings were getting extremely slim for the unpracticed pup. Grumbling softly under his breath, Ator continued to watch from around the rock as the black Keiyou tipped her head back and sang out to the waiting pack below. A cringe rolled up the adolescent's shoulders and down his back, making him shiver once despite the agonizing heat of mid-day. It would be just his luck that she would summon the Alphas of this massive pack and he would be spotted. Always the pessimist in the face of company, Ator knew well that the Alpha spotting his lurking figure would spell disaster no matter which way you looked at it. Shuffling back just a step, the young Cael chose to just linger in the shadow of the rocky formation, watching on as the deep red Myou that was the Alpha female came forth and spoke her status to the black Keiyou. As he listened, Ator could do nothing but pray that the winds would not change on him, his small figure pressed to the rocks and his measly little tail tucked well between his skinny hind legs. OOC: Hope you guys don't mind me slipping him in to be discovered!

[/color][/td][/tr][tr][td][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[kismet]

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

[atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/2mze7p3.png] Kismet fought the urge to run and cringe in the shadows- though shadows were scarce on days like this, and the nearest ones were cast by rocks the size of pups- and forced herself to stand firm, inanely spreading out her back toes to take her mind off the wolves that would soon be arriving. Her pale, colorless eyes fell to her large forepaws. She flexed her toes and admired her fine claws, though she preferred to use her teeth. It took her a moment to notice that the wind had changed, blowing the scent of a milking mother towards her. Glancing up from her feet, Kismet viewed the new arrival. She was a bushy, red furred Keiyou without the wings, or so it appeared to Kismet at first glance. With another examining look, she could tell that the she-wolf coming towards her was not a Keiyou- Keiyou always, always had wings. Unless hers had been torn off? The odd markings around her eyes reminded Kismet of a squirrel she had seen from a distance wandering the edges of the forests. The newcomer could be a squirrel Myou? Or maybe an animal that Kismet hadn't yet seen before? A jungle animal or forest dweller? Kismet had spent most of her life in the canyons so she hadn't seen many animals of those habitats. By the bold way the she-wolf walked, it appeared she was dominant in her pack. An alphess. Kismet immediately lowered her head respectfully and lowered her tail, which had been lopsided across her back. Being a Keiyou, her tail was long with a lion-like tuft of fur on the end, and it draped across the ground when lowered. She also let her eyes fall to her paws again, but only for a moment, to show respect. This was the one she had come to see- the leader of the pack. Kismet perked her raven ears intently to listen to her superior's words. A fight- against the alpha? It confused her momentarily. She had to fight this large, strong alpha, and do well. As soon as the words of battle ceased from the leader's maw, Kismet raised her head as if struck by lightning and spread her legs in a defensive stance. The large paws she had admired minutes before were now clutching the canyon rock beneath her in a life or death cling. Have to keep my feet... have to keep my feet... The words rang like a chant through Kismet's mind. Her mother had once told her 'a laying wolf is a dead wolf'. Tensing her shoulders, flaring her bird-like wings and baring silver fangs, Kismet was ready to fight. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a flash of bright color that looked suspiciously like a Cael- but what would a Cael be doing out here? The wind change from earlier hadn't brought any extra scents to her keen nostrils, so Kismet let the thought fly out of her mind and focused entirely on the other wolf- Rhiannon, she had said her name was- and anticipate the attack. ooc: none words: five hundred one tags: rhiannon/open