The Visitor Hidden in the Mist (Mist and Ge-Rad)

[Krystal Zanguzen]

It was now the peak of the winter season. Ivory powdered ice covered the landscapes as far as the eye of any creature, even that of the majestic eagle, could gaze upon. High above stood the kingdom of Tor and Fernis, that of the magnificent heavens that could only be understood by the most intelligent of Lera as the home of the gods. Few clouds took up refuge for the time being, allowing Fenris, god of the sun, to bask the icy world in brilliance, and cause the very snow and ice to glisten and radiate. Hidden in this beauty of nature however, lay the constant raging war. For the gods Tor and Fenris, feuded with he who ruled darkness and conspired evil. He who formed the blood treaty with flying scavenger, and to this day brought fear in the wake of every chilled breeze that swept the terra. His name was spoken in wolflore as Wolfbane.

The wolves themselves feuded with the elements. Their very nature, the spirit of the wolf that commanded freedom, the untamed beast, willed every wolf to endure the harsh reality that plagued the world. They knew that sooner or later, Wolfbane’s tyranny would come to an end, and open up into a warm and peaceful time. No territory was spared, as the ice, snows and bitter winds stretched on, reaching even into the deepest reaches of Ge-Rad, where thick forests oaks were no match for the tempest of frost that ensnared all. This day would not be without its surprises however. A track of wolf prints lay fresh within one of the routs that weaved around Ge-Rad like veins in the body of life. A Ge-Radian braved the elements to perform her mission and purpose in the pack. To guard the land she called home, and the family who called her friend.

Black fore and back legs pressed into the blanket of snow, leaving a print three inches or so deep. Hot air exhaled by the she-varg, mystified instantly. Fresh powder hung on her bi-colored ebon and ivory pelt in several places. Krystal had romped around in the recently fallen snow for a bit, to try and cover up some of the black fur that stuck out in this wintry abyss. The current patrol showed nothing of interest, which was a good thing in the mind of the former Zanguzen. A quiet patrol gave the scout plenty of time to ponder over events of the past, and those yet to come. Krystal’s travels eventually led her to both a familiar yet unfamiliar place within the boarders of her home. She now stood before the frozen pond which bore the name of the departed Drappa of Ge-Rad. The ice glistened magnificently off of Fenris’ light, and the bi-colored fae had to turn her bi-hued optics away from such intense light.

The last time Krystal had been to this pond, there was much blood shed. A war between Ge-Rad, and an alliance of Sarnes and Balkar waged in this make shift battle ground. A war that ended in some what of a stalemate, with neither side gaining the long awaited victory, for that taste of sweet nectar would have to come another time. But for now, the memories of that battle still held a firm place in the mind of the former Zanguzen. But if one were to purge that horrible blood bath, this pond was actually quite serene, and one of the highlights of beauty that could be found only in the land of Ge-Rad. Fresh winds brought the scout out of her memories, and into the real world. A scent was dragged along flimsily by the frosty breeze. There was a sense of familiarity with this scent but the weather helped to mask as aroma, and now Krystal’s auds and optics were on the alert. Searching for this would be visitor, or possibly intruder.

[Mist]

Wolfbane's winter holds sway over the lands of Transylvania. The god of death and destruction finds pleasure in seeing all animals cowering for warmth, shrinking away from the bitter cold of his dominion. He is always defeated. Every spring his icy grip is loosened and it turns warm again. Even in the dead of winter there is hope, for to those who have the eyes to see realize that the snow protects from the cold and the evil intentions of Wolfbane. Thick blankets of snow cover the ground, insulating it and allowing the hybernating lera to sleep in peace without it turning into the god's sleep - of death. The air is never as cold when it snows, and the main danger then is exposure and wind. There is little danger of wind and less of dangerous exposure in the lands of Ge-Rad.

It is this protection, of the trees and the snow that allows the Deorian beta to wander through the unfamiliar lands of Ge-Rad without danger from the elements. The shadowy grey faemme has many things on her mind as she wades through the thick snow. She came to Ge-Rad seeking her mate, Chayton, and after a recent meeting with the Dragga, Draeg, that told of no knowledge of Chayton, she has to keep hope in her heart that he is still alive while staying strong enough to look after her young cubs. She agreed to stay a night before returning home, braving the elements and expansive territory in between Ge-Rad and her home of Deor.

Her wanderings take her to the shore of a small lake, or pond, and as her golden eyes fall on the frozen surface she shivers slightly. Knowledge of the blood spilled here carried even to the far lands of her home. Cwen's Pond. She knows that the name, honoring the fallen Drappa of Ge-Rad, sends echoes of grief through the land as Ge-Rad remembers Cwen. Mist lowers her head in respect for the Drappa, imagining how she must have been loved, and how she now must be missed. A faint sound, muffled by the snow comes to her, making her raise her head warily, ebon-tipped ears flicking toward the sound. The wind is blowing away from her, sending her scent in that direction and blocking that of the other... varg... from her. At least, she thinks it may be a varg. Without sight or scent, or more smell, there is no way to tell. Raising her head proudly the beta watches the area, all senses alert, waiting.

[Ayasha]

Returning to the pond, a thought that meant little to the black femme as she made her way through the terra she had come to call home in her years of living here. It was possible that because she had been born here that she felt a certain unbreakable connection. But it was today that she felt especially connected to one individual. Her sister Krystal who she had not seen in many moons. Well, the last she saw her was the day she and Kaemon had....become closer.

It was here she would hope to find Krystal, and perhaps they could catch up on the distance that had formed between them. A strange thing that Ayasha had begun to notice. She was losing the connection she had with so many vargs. Slowly, but surely. So today she hoped to end that pattern. She could only really blame herself for causing these rifts in between the relationships. But there was a reason for all of this. There always was a reason for these things. She supposed. Or rather she would prefer there to be a reason and quite frankly she didn't want to come up with anything else but the fact that there was a reason.

Shrugging her shoulders she cleared her mind and meandered through the meadows and trees on her way to the pond. Perhaps she would seem some other members of Ge-rad. She knew them all, they were her family after all.

[Krystal Zanguzen]

A feeling of foreboding lingered in chilled air that clung to the land of Ge-Rad. Krystal continued to wait out the moment. Ebon auds and bi-hued orbs scanned for any sign of movement. The wind was in favor of the Zanguzen, and it was clear that a non Ge-Radian scent hung in the air. “How could someone get passed me?” Krystal wondered, as she briefly pondered the patrol route she had taken. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and all looked to be calm and peaceful, at least until this very moment. Deciding that now was not the time to wonder about such things, a course of action needed to be taken. To the she-varg’s right side, lay a bush thick with the ivory snow. Without a second thought, the Ge-Radian scout ran toward the bush. Snow was kicked up and scattered by the wind as the initial dash rocketed the ebon and ivory fae towards the concealed foliage.

In mere seconds Krystal was concealed. Far enough away from the lake yet close enough to get a good view of her surroundings; the former Zanguzen waited and listened, hoping perhaps that this intruder would be revealed if she waited long enough. The visitor’s scent hung in the air like an exotic perfume, and seemed slightly familiar with each sniff of the air taken. However, there was a level of uncertainty that held firm. It was not too long ago that Krystal had driven out the Drappa of Sarnes from these lands, and it was a very real possibility that this stranger could have been scent by the fleeing Drappa to take revenge on Ge-Rad. If such was the case, Krystal was ready to fight and protect those that she loved and held dear. The former Zanguzen could feel her heart pumping faster, as the moment caused the fae to remain tense and ready for the worst scenario.

It was then that a passing breeze brought another scent in toe, as it had done before. Only this time, this scent was much more familiar. Krystal’s eyes widened in disbelief, as the image of the ebon guardian of the night, Ayasha, formed in her minds eye. Ayasha was more then just a pack mate or friend to Krystal. The ebon and ivory fae considered Draeg’s niece as the sister she had never had. As of late, differing patrol schedules and other factors had caused the tight sisterly bond shared between the two Ge-Radians to be strained and pulled almost to the breaking point. But at last, on this of all days, her scent had filled the air. This only complicated matters, for was it possible that Ayasha didn’t scent the intruder? A choice needed to be made. Too remain hidden for the hopes of surprising this possible enemy, or to warn her dear sister of the possible danger. Truth be told, Krystal wouldn’t have a chance to make that decision.

[Mist]

As she waits, keen eyes scanning the immediate area Mist frowns slightly, for the past moments there has been no other hint that there is another varg in the area. Perhaps the initial sound had just been a tree branch falling onto the thick blanket of snow below, or perhaps some incautious lera tripped over an unseen obstacle and made a noise. Whatever it was, there is no way of knowing by just waiting here. There is little likelihood of danger here, in Ge-Rad, the most prominent that some native varg might attack her before they notice her scent or she has a chance to identify herself as a friend and ally.

The beta hesitates only a moment, her lighter silver coat blending more easily into the grey and white shades of winter than she would after she loses the extra fur in the spring. Lifting her muzzle up to the skies she lets out a howl, telling any vargs in the area her purpose and permission to be there. Hopefully this will prevent any misunderstandings and will protect her from attack. In her current state with worry for Chayton lying semi-consciously in her mind and her weariness from swift travel, she does not want to take any chances. As the last sounds of her howl vanish into the wind she steps forward toward the last-heard sound.

Pausing frequently to listen and scent the whirling air Mist slowly but surely covers the ground toward the possible other varg. It is when she arrives near the place she notices another varg scent, but slightly distant, making it likely that if there was another varg in the first place, there are now two. Curiosity strikes up and the Deorian looks around, ebon-tipped ears at the alert. There are few vargs in this pack she knows or would even recognize. It is her belief that a meeting would most likely be fortuitous and that such a meeting would have the potential of strengthening pack bonds. If there is to be another battle with Deor and Ge-Rad fighting side by side it would be beneficial to know her allies by sight, instead of just by scent. As she muses over these things Mist has no idea that behind a nearby bush another varg lies hidden...

((OOC: Meh, my muse was rather unhelpful in this post, sorry!))

[Ayasha]

Coming to an abrupt halt the black femme scented the air. There were two vargs present. One of which was her sister Krystal and the other was one she didn't know. Cautiously she crept forward. Ayasha was in no mood for a battle and her mood at the moment was fairly amiable . Letting out a sigh she emerged into the open for all vargs to see. But it appeared that there was no one around. Suddenly she catches glimpse of a varg. One she notes that looks familar but she can't place a name to. She might have seen her in Ge-rad before. However she knows this varg to not be of Ge-radian blood.

Giving a small bow of the head Ayasha approaches. "Welcome." She sits down next to the varg. Feeling no need to try and be weary. "I've seen you once before I believe. I'm Ayasha." She wonders where her sister is hiding, or may be at the moment. For her scent is close but she can not see her sister anywhere. Cocking her head she lets out a bark. "I believe my sister to be around here. But I can not see her. What brings you to Ge-rad?"