Never Had A Home [joining]

[Hafalong Rambling]

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[atrb=background,http://oi53.tinypic.com/29e6usy.jpg] [scrolly:h(200),w(375),sy] "What are we doing HERE?! This place smells like a pack, I HATE hanging out with other wolfs. Tiatsu, why not go somewhere ELSE?!" The phantom moaning ran around in Tiatsu's head as he wandered through the plains. He had smelled the scent of a pack as he entered, but didn't care enough to go around. His wings ached from his long flight, and he wasn't in the mood to deal with the whining of the ghost he'd acquired just outside the territory. He had left his brother and his adopted "father" quite some time ago, and had only touched the earth once every few nights since. His head ached constantly with the cries of ghosts, and he was constantly having to work his mind to build a stronger shield against them. However, every so often, one would sneak through. The wolf he'd acquired this time was a truly gruesome sight. One side of his face was peeling from the bone, and he had a skeletal, lupine grin plastered forever on his transparent features. His voice was high and annoying, and it made Tiatsu's ears twitch in annoyance. In the back of his head, his mother's spirit snickered. Sighing deeply, Tiatsu plowed on. What he would give for a place to sleep! A warm den that he didn't have to fight or negotiate for! He wanted to put all of his wanderings behind him and find a home! However, he had often stopped to look at packs, and found his rebellious heart repulsed by the idea of bowing to another wolf. Submit! Roll over! Now beg and wag your tail, you cur! That was all he ever saw. He'd continued wandering because he loathed the placement system every pack seemed to implement. He was his own boss, screw everyone else!!! But still, that word (home! home!) pulled at him with a sense of longing that he didn't understand. He'd never had a home, save for the sky, and couldn't imagine what it would be like. "Hey! Buddy! Buuuddeeeee!!! Can't we get outta here! Let's start flyin' again! I like that! C'mon! Hey, are you listenin' to me!? Heeeeey!!!! The ghost whined on. Tiatsu trudged on. Was there any end to this hell? [/scrolly]

[magispar]

(OOC: Sorry, g2g and there is no time for me to grab table coding)

Magispar had only done this twice before, but her success with a joining member last time had led to her considering herself somewhat of a professional. And of course, it would be while she was strutting around preening herself that she would catch on the wind the scent of another wolf.
Of course, with her mind in the frame it was in, she instantly assumed it was a wolf looking to join, and sprinted off, fur rippling in the wind that pushed against her as she chased down the wandering scent. It seemed to be moving in a rather erratic pattern, like the wolf was just.... wandering.
Eventually Magi emerged from a clump of long grass and spotted him. She didn't recognise him as a wolf of any particular species, but he smelled male, and especially he smelled like a loner. Her spirits began to soar as she caught up with him. He was trudging along like he was bored, or fed up about something, and Magi had a sudden desire, fleeting and strong as a summer gale, to comfort him.
"Hey," she called out, hoping he would turn and she would get a glimpse of his face. "I'm Magispar, the Guide of the Philia Alliance, sanctuary to the equal and free. What's your name?"
She did not challenge him, or assert dominance, or ask him what his business was here; she had an instinctive liking of the wolf, feeling somehow, somewhere deep inside her where her love and hatred and friendship and anger came from, that they would be friends.

[Hafalong Rambling]

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[atrb=background,http://oi53.tinypic.com/29e6usy.jpg] [scrolly:h(200),w(375),sy] Aw shit... The ghost lupus moaned as Tiatsu turned his head to regard the newcomer. From the smell, she was one of the wolves of the pack. Probably coming to yell at him, or challenge him, or whatever the hell wolves did. He grimaced and steeled himself for a good scolding. "Hey!" The cry wasn't angry or forceful, which surprised the young necromancer to no end. In an instinctive response to the friendly tone, his tail began to wag lightly. He lifted his aching wings a bit in a sort of friendly wave. "Oh, er... hello?" he said. His voice was hoarse and awkward from many nights spent in silence, or screaming into the wind at the spirits in his head. His social skills were a little rough to. He suddenly noticed the way his fur stood up in clumps all across his body from the rough way he flew, twisting and spiraling. What a mess he must look! Magispar... Guide... Alliance... That bit went over his head a bit. Was she some sort of official? A "Guide" sounded pretty important. Was she (oh great spirits--!) some sort of pack leader? Tiatsu fought back a grimace. Just another higher up. Was she going to make him to tricks, just like all the others? However, the friendly tone nibbled at some part of his brain, and he answered her in a pleasant tone. "Umn... h-hello, Magispar," he half-mumbled, although his voice was light with a sort of happiness at the company, "I'm Tiatsu Keeper. Pleased to meet you." "Don't mumble like that!" his mother's sharp tone rapped the inside of his skull painfully. The hazy mirage of her spirit floated faintly around the body of the other wolf. "Even better, don't talk to 'er at all!" suggested the lupus. Tiatsu worked his mind, shoving down on the spirits, blocking them out for a few blessed moments of peace. "Umn... is there... something you need?" Tiatsu asked, taking in Magispar's appearance. She didn't look like she was out to get him, but who could really tell? Perhaps the mumblings of the spirits were beginning to get under his skin. He shuffled his wings and pushed the thought away. Company! That was nice. He'd enjoy himself! He hoped. [/scrolly]

[magispar]

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[atrb=background,http://i.imm.io/56Mq.jpeg] Magispar had already made up her mind she liked him; when most people stuttered like that she had to force herself not to look down on them, reminding herself with her constant mantra- all wolves are equal. But when he did it it was kind of cute. She grinned as he lifted his wings and greeted her. Yes, he was definitely cute. He looked a bit of a mess, but it was a dashing kind of a mess, not dirty or scruffy. "Tiatsu Keeper," she murmured as he said his name, then louder, "Can I call you Tiatsu? It'll take forever if we have to use each others' full names. You can call me Magi." Was there something she needed? She was unsure for a second, snatched away into contemplation of his movement as he shuffled his wings again, then she nodded confidently. "Oh, yes...." Now she was the nervous one; she liked this wolf, and didn't particularly want to chase him off, but the only way for her not to would be if he joined. "Well," she began, then hesitated, then carried on, making herself fake the confidence which she normally had and which had suddenly deserted her, "well, this is the territory of the Philia Alliance, the pack that treats all wolves as equal.... anybody is welcome to join our pack as an equal and friend, but those who do not, have to, uh, leave the territory," she finished, and now she shuffled her paws uncertainly. What's come over you, Magi? she asked herself. You suddenly decide that you're going to like and trust this wolf based on the fact that the way he shuffles his wings is cute, and now you don't want to chase him out or make him join? She shook her head and banished all such thoughts from her mind, and once again she was the cool, collected, polite young Guide. She hoped so, anyway; looking back to the wolf, her composure began to melt again. She sighed under her breath and awaited his answer, hoping she could get away before she started getting nervous and shy herself.

[Hafalong Rambling]

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[atrb=background,http://oi53.tinypic.com/29e6usy.jpg] [scrolly:h(200),w(375),sy] Tiatsu looked at Magispar with blank blue eyes. He'd been anticipating a friendly conversation. He liked her. She wasn't stuck up like the other pack representatives he'd met. However, she had launched into the same shpeel, just like all the others. However, something caught his mind. Equal. Equal! As in nobody giving him orders! The very idea tickled his soul, and he gave a small smile. "Equal, you say?" he said, tail waving a bit faster, as close to a wag as he'd come in the past month or so, "I, umn... well... that sounds pretty interesting." He shuffled his wings again, uncertain of how to go about this business of asking about packs. He had been a loner since birth, and was still a loner at heart. He didn't know what questions you were supposed to ask, or what you needed to do. Therefore, he stammered out the first question that came to mind, "T-that's like... everybody gets to be the same, right? I... I mean... nobody's being pushed around, 'cuz I don't... really like... that kinda pack...." he trailed off at the end, uncertain. Suddenly finding a deep fascination in his paws and stared hard at them, uncertain as to whether or not eye contact was allowed in this pack. He didn't want to get in any fights because he didn't know the rules of the land. [/scrolly]

[magispar]

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[atrb=background,http://i.imm.io/56Mq.jpeg] He looked at her with blue eyes. They were charming eyes, set in a face that she instinctively liked. She noticed that when she mentioned her favourite word- equal- a smile appeared on his face. She liked his smiles. They lit up his face. "Equal, you say?" he asked, his tail waving in the air in such a way that Magi found it hard not to chuckle. He was so endearing, and instinctively likeable. He kept stumbling over his words, telling her her pack sounded interesting. He was getting more promising by the moment, and as he shuffled his wings again she leaned forwards slightly, determined to convince him to join her in the pack she loved so much. "T-that's like... everybody gets to be the same, right? I... I mean... nobody's being pushed around, 'cuz I don't... really like... that kinda pack...." he trailed off, uncertainty evident in his charming voice. Then his paws seemed to become more interesting than Magispar, and she nodded understandingly, forgetting that he wouldn't be able to see since he was kind of staring at his paws. She gave them a quick glance. Nice paws, but nothing particularly worth staring at. They were definitely nice paws though. She "Of course," she said, finally finding her voice. "Nobody's allowed to be pushed around. We're all equal. The pack makes decisions together- we discuss things and straighten them out and if anybody's got concerns, as the Guide, I've got to answer them and help them, not tell them what to do. I have no more authority than anybody else, and I wouldn't want it any other way." She looked at him, willing him silently to raise his eyes and look at her. She did love his eyes; they were the prettiest shade of blue...

[Hafalong Rambling]

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[atrb=background,http://oi53.tinypic.com/29e6usy.jpg] [scrolly:h(200),w(375),sy] Every word that Magispar spoke made Tiatsu like the pack more and more. He had dreamed of a place like this almost every night during his time with his brother. Somewhere where they could live as a family, without being pushed around. He'd always wanted to find a place where Apollo's deafness wouldn't mean that he'd be looked down upon. However, he'd left Apollo behind, and it seemed he'd have to live in this wonderful, spectacular dream-pack alone. However, far from sad, Tiatsu raised his eyes, his tail whipping back and forth. His eyes glittered. "That's... that's the best thing I think I've heard in...." Tiatsu paused, trying to remember the last piece of good news he'd received. But since I'm already dead, I guess I can't eat you. Yeah, that sounded like the last piece of good news he'd had. "Well, that's the best thing I've heard..." Tiatsu finished up, "This... this isn't a scam or anything, is it? I mean, this isn't just some trick to gather up slaves or something?" As soon as it left his mouth, he regretted it, "Oh! I'm... I'm sorry, I guess I'm just... not used to hearing something so.... so incredible. I didn't mean..." Tiatsu's face reddened beneath his fur, and he promptly returned to staring at his paws. "Now you're screwed, buddy!" jeered the lupus, squeezing through the break in Tiatsu's concentration, "Messed up big time! You'll be lucky if you get outta here with yer pinfeathers still in place after that!" And things were going so well! Tiatsu lowered his head further, mentally beating himself up. He was so stupid, so stupid, so damn stupid!!! [/scrolly]

[magispar]

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[atrb=background,http://i.imm.io/56Mq.jpeg] This was exactly the kind of thing Magispar had dreamt of her whole life, making a pack, letting people like her, people who wouldn't take orders from any stuck-up alpha who thought the world of himself... letting them be happy, and have somewhere they could belong without being intimidated and bossed around. This was her dream, and her eyes shone with happiness as she saw it, as she saw it so often since she'd founded her pack. The Alliance was the best thing that had ever happened to her, and she was determined to keep it that way so it could be the same for other wolves, too. Tiatsu raised his eyes and Magi's breath caught in her throat as they glittered beautifully at her, his tail whipping back and forth. "That's... that's the best thing I think I've heard in...." came Tiatsu's voice. Magi felt slightly dizzy with happiness. "Well, that's the best thing I've heard.... this... this isn't a scam or anything, is it? I mean, this isn't just some trick to gather up slaves or something?" Magispar's new friend seemed to regret his words very quickly. "Oh! I'm..." he was trying to cover up his mistake now, "I'm sorry, I guess I'm just.... not used to hearing something so.... so incredible. I didn't mean..." Tiatsu Keeper was staring at his paws again now. Magi was annoyed at herself, she must be too intimidating or something. She licked her shoulder. Am I intimidating? She really hoped not. She liked Tiatsu. "It's OK," she said hurriedly, trying to get him to look up again. She wanted to get to know him, spend more time with those lovely blue eyes. "Lots of people who come here are suspicious." She flopped onto the ground (Hah! Now I'm definitely not intimidating!) and grinned at him. "I was like you, before. It was my dream for... a long time, to start my own pack and let people be equal. For a long time it seemed to good to be true, like I'd never manage it." The dark wolf unconsciously gave a smile so happy and satisfied and glorious that it was almost savage. "But I did. It's true." She stared up pleadingly at his face. "You have to believe me.... I..." she stopped herself just in time. Idiot! You can't fall for people as soon as you meet them! And the Guide of the Philia Alliance certainly cannot tell new members that after five minutes with them, she.... She didn't let herself think it. It wasn't possible. It was stupid. She was wrong. Right?

[Hafalong Rambling]

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[atrb=background,http://oi53.tinypic.com/29e6usy.jpg] [scrolly:h(200),w(375),sy] Tiatsu breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn't offended Magispar--! He looked back up, and was surprised to find her laying down. He instantly lay down as well, feeling somewhat awkward still standing. "You have to believe me...I.... I... what? Tiatsu half wondered. However, rather than ask, he offered a small smile. "It's... it's alright. I believe you. I'm just... paranoid, I guess." he said, "Umn.... I don't really know how to go about this, but, I guess I'll just be forward with you...." He took a deep breath, then said, all at once, "I-don't-really-know-the-formalities-of-this-but I.... but... I.... I'd love.... I'd love to join your pack!" The sudden urge to stare at his paws again came over the young wolf, but he fought it desperately. No! he thought, I'm going to look her in the eye, I'm not gonna be afraid! He raised his eyes, and looked into Magispar's. There was a brief moment- no more than a few seconds- where a sudden idea flickered through his mind. A way that sentence might have ended. Perhaps it was just pure fancy, but.... "You have to believe me... I...." Would that "I" have ended with...? Tiatsu shuffled his wings and lowered his head again. No! No! No! It was nothing, must've been nothing! He had been alone with the dead far too long, and he wasn't going to let it get to him! He quickly searched for something to fill to growing silence. "Ah..! If that's okay, of course!" he said hurriedly, "I mean, I don't want to force my way in when you don't have space..." [/scrolly]

[magispar]

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[atrb=background,http://i.imm.io/56Mq.jpeg] Magi felt pure happiness flow through her. She'd succeeded again, she'd got another wolf into her pack, and what was more she'd found one she liked. Of course there were plenty of people she liked, she was friends with Phoenix and Stone and had high hopes for reaching the same point with Faye and Evelyn. But, well, she didn't know, she wasn't exactly experienced with this kind of thing, but she thought she might like him in a.... different... way. But she didn't know, she'd never fallen in love before... She what? I did not just think that, Magi frowned at herself, then shook her head as though trying to shake some sanity into it. She realised she still hadn't given the wolf an answer. "Ah..! If that's okay, of course!" Tiatsu said hurriedly, "I mean, I don't want to force my way in when you don't have space..." "Yes! Of course!" she burst out. "I mean, we always have space, we're the Alliance, we're the sanctuary to everybody looking for a home..." She awkwardly licked herself, then glanced at him, eyes shining. "I'd love to have you in the pack. Of course we accept you."