A New Beginning(Dane and any other Sarnes member)

[Takhi]

A dark Varg padded in the shadows of the marsh, an ominous and gloomy surrounding with thick fog rising up from the muddy waters as if it were the maw of a wolf releasing its breath into the freezing air of winter. The heat scorched the air and made it humid and uncomfortable for a creature covered with thick fur. The quicksand-like liquid provided no comfort for it too was warm and made the task of walking through it almost unbearable. The only shade from the sun was provided by the scattered trees that stretched high above the flooded grounds with their branches sporting grand foliage that blocked Fenris’s harsh rays from piercing through and boiling the earth below.

The wandering wolf stepped into the water which was actually more like sludge. Its figure was nothing but a shapeless, gray shadow within the swirling mist. Like two odd colored fireflies glowing in the dark, the animal’s blue and green eyes shimmered, just two points of light shining through the white sheet. The wolf’s paws stayed firm on the swamp’s base, each limb propelling its body along, the water reaching its belly. This was a fae named Takhi. The Varg was making her way through the territory she would now hope to call, “home.” Even though she walked in these waters once before, the feeling of muck between each toe still irritated her, but she’d get use to it.

Now knowing where to step, Takhi glided out from the thickened parts of the swamp and made her way through the clear waters, though, there were very few patches that were clear and unmuddied. It got deeper and Takhi’s paws could no longer cling to the sandy bottom as the levels rose over her head. So she began to dogpaddle, the ripples following each of her movements. Land was not far off, only an elk-length away, though the mist concealed it from the wolf’s eyes. As she swam closer to the hidden patch of earth, Takhi saw a large figure, only another gray shadow to her orbs. As she neared it, it began to take form. It was just a moose. It was a bull with his large rack antlers still covered in velvet. When he spotted the wolf coming toward him, he bellowed and stomped his hooves as a warning. Takhi didn’t take it.

Aside from a couple kicks, the bull had no defenses and she wasn’t planning on attacking anyway. When the bull realized his threat had no effect on the predator, he reared and galloped off blindly into the invisible bog. Takhi took its place on the patch of land as she crawled up out of the water. It wasn’t dried dirt; instead it was muddy, the thick, chocolate sludge caking her paws. Her fur was soaked and covered in debris from the water. Takhi shook herself, the leaves, wood particles, and liquid scattering off and out of her fur. Before continuing her walk, she nestled down on the moist grass for a momentary rest.

[Dane]

To a Varg constantly overshadowed by the looming, gnarled trees, it would be difficult to define just when spring ended and summer began. The thick canopy of tangled branches more often than not prevented any trace of sunlight from penetrating through the canopy. In a select few locations in the marsh, however, the rays did stream down, illuminating the murky water and showing up like clear beams from the heavens above; seemingly a sign that the wolves who dwelled here had not been forgotten. The wolves of Sarnes knew better than to fall victim to such mockery; their whole existence revolved around being forsaken, outcast souls. Faint traces of light meant nothing to them, though Dane had to admit, it made the swamp look like a paradise compared to what it really was.

Compared to the other existing members of Sarnes, Dane was still 'new' to the ranks, though he was held in high regard by the Drappa, which was fine enough for him. "The Prince of Sarnes" had a catchy ring to it, for he had a nice ring to it, for he was the adopted son of Sarnes' queen, Shunke. He had lived here long enough that the mud between his paws no longer troubled him, the constant buzz and torment of mosquitoes had lost its charm, and constantly looking where you stepped had become second nature. He roamed the marsh now with an air of sensibility, and though he was still a novice compared to the elder members, he held his own formidably as a Neitan of Sarnes.

His creme colored legs moved mechanically beneath his well-muscled frame of grays and browns. From the nape of his neck to the tip of his tail ran a lack cape that blanketed the whole of his spine. the lighter parts of his body had been stained and darkened from the murk that he constantly trudged through. One could not expect to keep a clean appearance when they lived in a swamp. Bi-hued orbs scanned the landscape for anything out of place; a routine he had trained himself to do since he had found his niche within the pack. His left eye was an unnerving hue of amber, one that seemed only to scrutinize and give warning, while his right eye was a startling ice blue- a tint so bright that it seemed to almost glow in the the darkness.

Atop his head, his black ears swiveled, having caught the sound of a distressed Lera within the territory. The booming bellow of a male moose echoed through out the marsh, and his eyes squinted in confusion and disdain as he silently wondered what pack member would be foolish enough to try and take down a bull moose alone. He had heard no news of a pack hunt, and felt confident that he would not be left uninformed. Suddenly, the earth began to shake as a loud crashing reached his ears; the moose had fled but a few yards away from him and was tearing through the trees. Curiosity consumed his mind as he padded forward, back-tracking through the destructive path that the moose had carved. Through the trees he could see the relaxed form of an unfamiliar wolf, and immediately his hackles spiked and his lip curled back to reveal his fangs. Coming through the trees just behind the wolf, his voice was gruff as he spoke to her. "What business do you have in Sarnes without uttering so much as Tratto's Blessing?" He doubted that whatever excuse the stranger could think up would be enough to ease his nerves. He was not above chasing trespassers from the territory, and he would not hesitate to do so if needed.

[Shunké]

As the temperature steadily grew higher, the haze of the lands of Sarnes became increasingly thick as the dry hot air kissed the cooler marshy grounds. Locus that surrounded the area chirped with increasing annoyance, reminding all that dwelled her just exactly how hot it really was, as flies and nats would fly into the auds and ears of any lera they could find. It was bitter annoyance for sure, if one had perhaps just managed to venture to these parts of Transylvania. To the Putnar who ruled these swamps, the vargs- they were nothing but just another part of life.

Ebony paws squished carelessly upon the muddy terrain, as one of the vargs of the pack made her way slowly through the haze. That is, if one could recognize such a creature as a varg. This fae had rather thin lanky extremities, to accompany her thin skeletal frame. The outermost layer of her onyx coat was just about completely gone, with the exception of around her neck, leaving the short silky inner coat exposed to the elements. This layer had been caked in areas with dried mud, no doubt from the rough terrain the varg currently lived in. But it was her eyes that would catch the most attention- for they were her trade mark. The right was a vibrant gold colour, and the left was a bright maroon.
Even so, those who knew her would still agree that she looked better than she did just one winter ago. That was thanks to the esteem her “lover” had built for her, and the company of her adopted son Dane. Without them and indeed her other pack mates, she would probably still be sulking about her last encounter with her recently estranged brother.

For the time being, the Drappa’s disposition was quite calm, as her head hung low lazily upon her sick looking body. Audits flickered with sounds from inside the territory, her nose and oculars scavenging the area. She had picked up on the scent of another varg, which wasn’t at all unlikely due to the fact that there were a number of varg who did call this hell home. The Scent belonged to a known member, a mann named Dane. Shunké knew this scent by heart, since he was in fact her adopted son. It had been several moons since she had seen him- not that she had been away, but perhaps had missed him when exploring within the territory. With a new found inspiration, Shunké kicked her pace up a notch, becoming closer to Dane’s current position, only to pause when the sound of the cries from an adult moose had risen in the air. Shunké froze, surely he hadn’t tried to take on such a powerful animal by himself? Or perhaps, wasn’t he alone? With curiosity and anxiety burning in her heart, the Drappa quickened her pace even more, listening as something fell upon the ground. It wasn’t long now until the haze had thinned out, showing the disappearing tail end of the moose galloping away.

Hackles rose from the sound of a growl as the fae returned to walk, her oculars searching for Dane’s form. Luckily, she had spotted him- and surely he wasn’t alone. Shunké now had caught the scent from an unknown female, most likely the one who held Dane’s attention. Stepping closer, Shunké could now make out another ebon form, resting in the grass, drenched from the environment. Could this be?
“Dane,” Shunké said in a low voice to her son, now only a few tails length from him. “Thank you, my son. You will understand in a moment,” she whispered, now standing next to him. Acting in such a way meant that he cared enough about the pack to protect it, and he loyalties were as strong as ever.
Oculars upon the ebon she wolf, with her head held high Shunké now addressed the worn fae. “You there, you must be Tahki.” it wasn’t really a question, but rather a statement. Shunké had heard from two varg of the Nightmare Trio that a varg by the name of Tahki was quite qualified to join the ranks of Sarnes. Being as any member from the Trio held seniority, Shunké respected their judgment, and would welcome Tahki into the pack.

//sorry for the bla-ness, and since you have met EL and RF and I have only accepted you OOC, I'm just going to pretend they told Shunke about Tahki, unless anyone has any objections? Sorry for not posting in your other thread before ^^; //

[Takhi]

The galloping bull, hurling through the trees and shrubs of the swamp, did not bother her for a moment. With no intent of killing the animal and feeding from it, it did not pose as a failed hunt and its retreat no more upset her than a tad of mud between her toes. Takhi hoped for a slight groom to pick out the rest of debris in her coat, but her thoughts soon stopped her. She wondered if that moose was already being hunted by the wolves of Sarnes. If this assumption was true then Takhi just ruined her chances of being accepted into the pack. No doubt the leaders would be furious that a lone Varg just scared off what would have been their future meal. She began to look around, trying, straining, to see through the haunting fog and detect any wolves out in the distance.

There were none. There was no sight, sound, or smell of anything else aside from the stagnant waters and the echoed bellowing of the bull moose. No, there was no hunt being conducted. If there was then Sarnes wolves would be galloping out of the vapor like mystical ghosts and would be upon her with rage pulsing through them. As the irritating mosquitoes that buzzed in her ears, they too would surround and attack the wolf. Takhi’s chance to become a Sarnes wolf would wilt and die as the group would send her packing with bloody wounds and tail between her legs, if she was lucky to walk away with her life. Thankfully, there was still a chance.

When almost ready to rise and continue her quest to the core of the territory, a wolf appeared, its blurred figure approaching with fangs bared and a growl rumbling in its throat. Its presence startled her, jumping in shock for a second, then trying to seem calm and confident when truly, she was frightened. Even though Takhi could hold her own in a battle, the last thing to do was to start one with, hopefully, a future pack mate on Sarnes grounds. The wolf was a mann, muddied from his terrain, but his color was clear. He was a molted brown Varg with eyes that held different hues as her own. His left eye was fiery amber while his right eye, like Takhi’s, was a piercing shade of blue, though much brighter than Takhi’s eye.

He snapped and confronted her on why she had come with no permission granted. With ears slightly flattened by fear, she calmly answered, extremely careful not to speak with a bold tone that might provoke him more than he had already been. “I apologize, deeply. I have come to join Sarnes, but did not mean to-”

At that moment her explanation was cut short by another wolf. Takhi could smell that it was a fae. She was coated with ebony with bi-hued eyes. Her figure was slim and slender, a bit tinier than Takhi, though in winter, she would also lose more than enough weight to surpass the Sarnes fae’s small size. She turned to the mann, confirming his identity with the name, Dane. Now the female looked at her with glowing orbs staring upon her. “You must be Takhi,” she said.

Takhi looked up and began to feel more comfortable, but was a little taken aback by the fae knowing who she was, unless the two she met, Red February and Emberlilly, told this wolf about the lone wolf that padded within Sarnes once before and quarreled with the noted cannibal of the pack to protect and defend the blind Alice of Koran and herself. “Yes I am Takhi. I didn’t realize I was being expected. As I’ve said before, I apologize for just waltzing into your territory without so much as a howl to alert any of you so I could ask for Tratto’s Blessing. I honestly meant no harm and take full responsibility for my mistake here.” Takhi knew not to confront, insult, demean, or degrade these wolves. She knew that her full respect and attention was required for this not to end horribly.

OOC: Whoops, sorry. I changed that in my last post so that line about being a member of Sarnes is gone. ^_^

[Dane]

He held his ground against the startled fae, unsure whether or not she would choose to lash out at him for making such an unexpected entrance. Her nature remained docile, and even respectful. Something he was not altogether used to but has come to expect as a member of Sarnes. The wolves he lived amongst were feared, wretched souls, and those who trespassed without so much as asking Tratto's Blessing, were expected to offer respect to whoever found them. If they were lucky, they would walk out of the territory same as they walked in; with their heart still beating. Those not so fortunate would live only to see their end, and spend their remaining days in death filling the bellies of the beasts who had caught them.

As apologies bubbled forth from the timid fae's mouth, Dane began to circle her, his eyes burning hot with scorn for the ebon fae. His temper was held in check by the belief that the trespasser was indeed telling the truth. It was entirely possible that she unknowingly passed over the boundaries, for while it was impossible not to know the terrain had changed to one of a hellish marshland, the initial shock of stumbling upon such a cesspool was enough to distract the mind from offering such pleasantries as permission to enter. Still, he was wary of the fae, and unsure what to do with her. As he opened his maw to say something to her, no doubt his voice would have held a harsh tone, he was stopped dead i his tracks by the unexpected presence of his Alpha.

The moment he heard his name resting on her tense vocals, his full attention was turned towards the lanky, ebon female. His dark ears pricked forward, his bi-hued eyes were wide with surprise as though he had been caught in the act. Bowing his head out of respect, an obedient, "Yes, Mother," fell from his lips. She had promised him an explanation, which was the only thing he had wanted from the start. Content with the fae having to explain herself, he situated himself next to his Drappa and reclined onto his haunches, his eyes still silently scrutinizing the drenched form of the ebon stranger. To her apology he said nothing, his gaze remained stern until she had finished speaking, and only then did he redirect his gaze to Shunke's form to see what she might think of the scene.

[Shunké]

//sorry for the wait, and this probably could have been better ^^;//

Her head held high like any Drappa’s ought to be, Shunké’s oculars scanned over the deeply scared ebon she-wolf. She was well built, and also possessed bicolor orbs like Dane and herself. Shunké sighed lightly, looking half relaxed in the presence of the fae, while half of her knew better and her muscles were tense. These lands have seen trickery before, and Shunké wasn’t going to be taken a fool of, if this did happen to be one. Inside, a voice laughed silently within her own mind. ‘The day you trust a perfect stranger, is the day you’ll be killed, oh great naïve one,’ it spoke. Shunké was much too used to these petty comments spoken by Tarquin. In a way, she built up a sort of tolerance to him- for now. Though she still held a fear about him, that at times of stress and weakness he seemed to get the better of the Drappa. She knew he felt these fears- but as long as she remained calm and put together, Shunké had nothing to worry about. She knew that these petty comments were nothing more than to remind her that he was still there- stalking her, watching her every move.
Beside her, Dane had nodded respectfully before resting on his haunches, Shunké could feel suspicion burning from within him- his gaze barely left Takhi’s form. She couldn’t blame him, for the dark Drappa was curious about this fae, and eager to learn more. With any luck, their numbers could incline again.

“I wasn’t expecting, exactly- but was more of a hunch,” Shunké said simply, before continuing. “It’s a good thing I’ve heard things of you, and have been close by. Ambling into another pack’s territory at one’s own leisure without so much of Tratto’s blessing- that’s enough to get a varg killed,” Shunké replied in a soft voice, turning her head slightly sideways enough to give Dane a swift wink- enough to let him know he still did well, and had the right set of mind. “For now on, please keep this in mind- especially when entering Balkan territory. Though they may be our allies, they tend to see anything moving uninvited or unannounced as prey.” Not only was this meant to be a warning for the future, but the tone of her voice was also meant to be a way of scolding, as Shunké’s gaze was a little less than cold. Though some might say this is unreasonable, Shunké knew that was the law of the varg, and to protect her pack and it’s status, it was a law that must be obeyed.

Shaking her mane, Shunké dropped her erect tail before continuing, though her head still remained high in dominance. “So, what brings you to Sarnes then, Takhi. I’ve heard you’ve already met two of the Nightmare Trio, Red February and Ember Lily. I daresay they pointed you in direction?”

[Takhi]

OOC: Apologies for the wait. I think your post is fine, Shunke' ^_^

The one called Dane, with his fierce eyes and unrelenting sense of suspicion; he circled, examining the ebon stranger. His bi-hued orbs ran across her. In her anxious state, the glare the mann sustained felt like fire burning her core. Takhi dreaded what was running through Dane’s mind. Had she made just a vast mistake that this was the end? With her tail between her legs, head held low, and ears flat, she was aware that she was in a submissive state and showed neither sign of agitation nor any preparations of defense. But these wolves still stared with their wondering eyes, wondering if the dark stranger was any threat to them and their pack. In all honesty, she could not see how they looked upon her with that assumption. She did not bare her teeth and was not holding the posture of a dominating wolf. She appeared no more harmless than a minnow swimming down stream. But maybe that was the problem.

Maybe Sarnes believes that every stranger, whether they show respect or not, are dangerous. This would make sense. Every pack was ready and waiting to show their strength against loners and rogues. Takhi just happened to be their target. Dane was subdued by the black fae as he sat back on his haunches, though his eyes never left Takhi’s form. The gaze from him still felt like an inferno. Was it just because of her fear? It must be. Blue and green eyes focused on his co called “mother.” She seemed to receive the impression of nobility from this other midnight wolf. Her tail was erect and her head was high in confidence, which meant she was dominant. Could it be? Was this the Drappa of Sarnes?

The presumed Drappa had informed Takhi that her arrival was more of an assumption rather than an expectation. She claimed she had heard of the Kerl, but also continued in the scolding of the absence of Tratto’s Blessing. She deserved it. It was a foolish move. Her thought of not meeting a Sarnes wolf until she was closer to the den site was more than wrong. She should have known that it is a rule that just to step paw across a pack’s border, you must udder The Blessing or be sent on your way. It was a dumb move, and she knew it. “Yes, I realize it was a dim-witted stunt. And there is no excuse that I can give you that could make up for it. I am willing to admit and take responsibility for my error.”

The Drappa continued, schooling her about The Blessing and when entering Balkar territories. She had forgotten that the two merciless packs were neutral. She had quite a bit to learn if she were to become a Sarnes wolf. Takhi bowed her head respectfully, her muzzle almost touching the ground and said, “I understand and I will remember this if I ever have to walk in their land.” Now, with that issue settled, the tension seemed to melt away as the fae before her began to ask her questions about her purpose in being here was. Rising slightly, enough to be firm on her loins, but her head no higher than Dane’s or the Drappa’s, she began.

“I am in Sarnes because I wish to become part of your pack. I say yours because I already believe that you are the leader. There is always something about an alpha that one who has never met them, can detect. Almost an invisible scent, if you will. Anyway, I seem to know one by their body positions.” When mentioning Red February and Emberlilly, the Drappa asked if they basically influenced her to come to Sarnes. Takhi cleared her throat. “Well, you could say that in a way. I met Red February in the woods. I was with a Koran wolf named Alice at the time. She seemed all right at first, but soon tried to attack us. The strange thing is that, I had more in common with her than I liked to believe. The battle ended with a few new wounds to bear, but we both escaped with our lives. Alice was blind so I tried to protect her. Thankfully, I succeeded.” Taking in a breath, she continued.

“Realizing my similarities in behavior with the first Sarnes wolf I ever met, I wanted to become one of you. On my first attempt, I came here and met Emberlilly. I was more or less dismissed. Apparently you, the Drappa, were not about that time. And so, here I am at my second attempt. If you send me away, I will understand. I know that strangers can be hard to trust and brain-dead actions can be hard to forgive.”

[Dane]

Idly he sat, listening. It turned out the trespasser had been a recruit after all, convinced by the infamous Nightmare Trio, or, what was left of them nowadays, that Sarnes would offer her the security and satisfaction that her little heart desired. If what she spoke was true, then Dane had no doubts that she would be accepted into the packland, for he knew that his mother, Shunke, had close ties with the ghoulish sisters, and would more than likely trust their judgment. Sarnes was in a tough time. They were better off than the packs to the south, but it could not be denied that new members would mean good news to the swamp. Fresh blood never goes to waste here, he thought cynically.

Catching the wink from his Drappa, he smiled happily like a dog being praised by its master, knowing that he had done her proud, and cast a sidelong glance at Takhi, eyes narrowed and expression sinister, though he was unsure if she would notice. Had Shunke not appeared in time to rescue the misguided faemme, she could have very well met her end at his strong and able jaws. His loyalty to the pack ran deep, his senses always alert. For his family, he would have cut her down just like anyone else. She had been lucky, as Shunke had mentioned, and through the duration of her scolding Dane kept his eyes fixated on Takhi's own, unusual eyes. Fear and worry rolled off of her in waves and he drank it up, eagerly, his assertive yet silent form pushing for more than he deserved. It felt good, for once, to be the one with power. He had the upper hand for the first time since joining, he outranked another and was able to exercise dominance. He was not the one apologizing, instead, he soaked up the frantic, bumbling apologies of this unfortunate fool. His smile grew wider.

"You'd do best to," he chided in response to Takhi's promise to be more careful in the furture, especially when venturing toward Balkan territory. he had been unable to keep himself from chiming in at least once to his mother's reproval. "Ghastly bunch, and much less forgiving." His deep voice held a grave tone as his derisive stare aimed at Takhi turned to a proud approval-seeking gaze directed towards Shunke. He waited only a moment before turning his eyes back to the fae in question.

Studying the ebon fae closer, he was wary still of her intrusion, though her respect and more importantly, her submission sat well with him. Her large build and stocky frame would lend well to the Nietan division of Sarnes, he mused. If she offered her skills as a warrior she would fight alongside him. He did not doubt her abilities or his willingness to learn, he would not deny that she had potential, though he would not give her credit until he witnessed her earning it. Supressing a scoff he turned to Shunke once the fae had finished her tale, for it was ultimately her decision whether or not Takhi would be admitted. Growing bored with the situation and finding he had nothing to say, his attention shifted to a passing fly, uncoordinated and lazy as it whizzed past the three of them.