An Old Friend Forlorn

[Tamra]

The ebony wolf padded boldly across the Balkar border, sense of pride, acceptance and place sliding all perfectly back into place. He turned his head, nodding postively to the one who followed him; a wolf similar to Tamra in all but colouring, who nervously nodded back. Returning his gaze to the front, his head held high, he released a warning howl, allowing any nearby stalkers to recognise both his voice and his presence.

As if on cue, a silver varg revealed himself from the shadows, eyes threatening running over the trailing wolf, who in turn growled. A hard look from Tamra made the growling cease, and the challenging silver relaxed.

"Frip!" he exclaimed, "Good to see you once more old friend!"

"Indeed it is sir. What brings you back here? If I may be so bold..." Tamra smiled, feeling at ease for the first time since leaving.

"I've come to speak to the First. Is he about?" Frip shrugged nonchantly.

"No idea sir, last we saw, he gone off to take care of an intruder on the eastern borders". Tamra nodded, pleased to hear the Balkar were still strong while under new leadership.

"Very well, we will wait till he returns". Frip nodded, disappearing into the brush once more, no doubt to continue his roaming patrol about the borders.

Tamra turned to the following wolf, a happy, relaxed smile upon his face.

"We'll relax here. Leohlic will find us". The other smiled apprehensively jumping slightly as a twig broke nearby.

[Tren]

As silver as the wolf in front was black, Tren followed nervously behind Tamra, careful not to fall to far behind.

Although he'd only recently learnt of the Balkar's existance, the combined effort of Tamra's prideful boasting of their expertise, and the unhappy meeting of a wolf belonging to the pack, Tren had quickly develloped a fearful respect of these creatures.

He started as Tamra threw back his head and howled, peering fearfully into the nearby brush, expecting any moment now a savage killer to leap from them, and tear his throat from his neck. After a moment, nothing happened, and Tren found himself breathing normally once more. Thus, when the one Tamra called Frip appeared, Tren nearly suffered a premature heartattack.

The casual conversation between the two up front seemed almost unreal to the bewildered Tren. That Tamra was so comfortable in such a place struck Trehn as odd, having known Tamra some years before in another land. Another shudder followed as he considered the reasoning behind the casual talk, a non too pleasant image conjured up in his mind.

The other left, saying something about Leohlic arriving soon. Tamra turned and smiled at him, sinking back on his haunches. Tren slowly followed suit, eyes wide as he stared, waiting for this Leohlic character to appear. Suddenly, Tren was glad Tamra was with him, for Tren had heard of this Leohlic fellow, and the rumours were not of the nice sort.

[Leohlic]

[glow=red,2,300]*The distant scent of a familiar wolf reached Leoh's dilating nasal and his head suddenly swung from the intruder's scent round to the West where it was brought on the wind.
He hesitated leaving the trail of the wolf for several minutes when he decided it best - for when would he be likely to see Tamra again? Zinc and Zyro or one of the other balkar would no doubt be on it's trail anyway.
With a deep growl he threw back his head and let his cry travel out across the land of the Balkar, letting it pass through the trees and over the sky...he sent out the message of his place and where he was...and to Tamra, that he was on his way.

Bounding off through the forest his small form travelled swiftly and dodged the thick undergrowth and trees with ease, he would be there soon enough..*[/glow]

[Tren]

Unable to remain in such an obvious state of relaxment, Tren rose to four paws, and began labouriously padding to and fro. This was wrong, he thought to himself, there could be no positive outcome be employing yet another killer to do the dirty work. He shook his head to himself, glancing sideways at Tamra.

It still concerned him how much this wolf had changed since last they met. The once playful youth, carefree in everything except Kera, was now a hardened beast, that seemed to hold a constant stone like aura that demonstrated just how cold a wolf could become.

He froze. Legs splayed, eyes wide with terryfying forbodeing. A long, ominous howl reached his ears, one that spoke of immense power and authority. It didn't take a genius to guess the First was on his way.

Sudden fear gripped him, the thought that Tren was indeed tresspassing on Balkar lands would lead to his gruesome death. Would Tamra's former status be enough to convince them that Tren was no threat? He sure hoped so...

[Tamra]

Tamra rested his head upon his paws, feeling wholly at ease with their present situation. He watched Tren stand and begin pacing, the doubtful thoughts evident on his expressive maw. He knew that Tren would not share his view on their current predicament, but Tamra was more accustomed to such thing, and therefore felt he knew how best to deal with them.

His eyes followed the idle, becalming stides, a humourless smile spreading across his maw. Suddenly, a howl echoed across the lands, a howl he'd come to recognise as a good leader, and true friend. He watched as Tren panicked, deciding whether he should flee these lands, or remain here, with Tamra. Tamra made the decision for him.

"If you run, you'll be branded a coward, and killed before you reach the borders". It was cold. It was callous. But it seemed to be just the thing.

[Leohlic]

[glow=red,2,300]*It took the crimson male little time to catch the stronger scent of Tamra and the guest that was by his side. Slowing his pace to a gentle lope he leapt onto a paw trodden path that was of frequent use now adays and made his way out into the open, nodding greatfully to Tamra and giving Tren a curious glance before halting in front of the couple.
Growling deeply he panted slightly and looked at them both with deep ember orbs. He was annoyed with the fact that he had to leave his chase on a kerl in his lands, but he was also glad to see his old friend again. But the wolf with him however had a strange emotion. He seemed greatly terrified of where he was, and Leohlic began to wonder why exactly he was here.
"Greetings Tamra. Sorry to make you wait. Hope you're well, you sure look in better condition than to the day you left us."
He looked at Tamra and grinned widely, resisting the urge to run up to the First and start yipping and biting him from delgith - for though his puppy nature was beginning to settle in at this point in time, he kept himself strong and disaplined.
But then he looked back to Tren, his smile fading and his brow furrowing into a frown. He growled deeply and spoke with a gruff, irrtated voice.
"Who's your friend?"[/glow]

[Tamra]

A rustle of leaves infront preceeded the emergence of the crimson varg, the barest sound now spooking Tamra's companion into a paniced frenzy. Tamra cast a stern glare in Tren's direction, expression telling him that now was no time to act like a coward.

Tamra's face lit up as Leo approached them, the sight of the youth in full glory with rank and leadership a sight for Tamra's ailing eyes. He grinned, forcing his tail to remain stationary, despite the urge to run to his old friend and accomplice and bark excitedly of the good old days.

"And greetings to you, Leohlic. Indeed, though the winter was not easy, I can safely say I found ample fodder to fill my belly." Time was a great healer of old wounds, he thought to himself. His grin grew wider, feeding off his friends enthusiasim from the reuninion.

"I hear you are still ever on the constant patrol. Young whipper snappers still giving our lads, I mean your lads a hard time?" Why did it hurt to correct himself? He bit his tongue to centre himself.

He watched as Leohlic's expression changed on closer inspection of Tren. Placing a paw forward in way of polite interception from any potential display, he lowered his head slightly.

"This varg is Tren, of the Northern lands. My pack brother."

[Leohlic]

[glow=red,2,300]*Leoh nodded to Tamra and then looked back again at Tren. The varg was very skittish and fearful. Why had Tamra brought him here? Surely not to just let the varg tag along and casually to introduce Leoh to his pack brother.
Yet again this did shock Leoh slightly. He had never met one of Tamra's family...and here was his brother - a smaller, pathetic form of the great previous First of the Balkar.
"You two are related?"
Leoh found it hard to believe, and with a twinge his lips curled into a snear as he sat back onto his haunches, wathcing the smaller male with mild amusement before nodding to Tamra's previous words.
"The Balkar are still as lazy as they were when you ruled over us friend. It seems that even with me they insist on making our pack look like scum - but not in a good way."
He chuckled and finally tore his gaze from Tren, ember orbs settling back onto the proud, larger form of Tamra. Oh how Leoh had missed his company. It would have been a great help if the male would have stayed behind...he could at least help to show some authority to the pathetic wolves that were his pack..*[/glow]

[Tamra]

A curious smile of amusement played across Tamra's ebony features, the reaction of Leohlic to Tamra's blood ties more comical than both would care to admit. As Leohlic's attention returned once more to the former First, Tamra nodded slowly.

"Though it pains me to admit it, we are indeed brothers, both in pack and in blood."

As Leo depicted the Balkar's current situation, Tamra found his heart filling with sadness for what the great pack had since become.

"It is a great shame that the name of Balkar no longer inspires such feirce pride in the hearts of the young. I have not seen it since Tratto's untimely demise, and I do not doubt it will ever return so strongly."

Was Tamra imagining things, or did he sense lonliness in the deep recesses of Leohlic's eyes? He shook his head to clear it of such notions

[Tren]

Tren found himself bridling at the way the two wolves spoke so carelessly of him. Though he was first to admit he was not the most couraegous of wolves, he would not be dubbed a coward, and so, despite his better judgement, found himself with both tail and head held high.

"If it pains you so much, Tamra, then why say it? Surely this wolf need not know the ties between us? Do not speak so ill of me when I say nothing."