Curiousity Killed the Whelp...(Dakota only)

[-Raido-]

There was a melody on the air that seemed to sing of sunlight, growth and greener. The molody was the chirping of birds, the hushed huffs of wind, the snap of twigs as animals darted about the woods, going about their daily lives.

And so, on this day, was the day that a little rust and dusk pelted wolf pup decided that it was time he got to know a certain ebony coated Beta male of his pack . After all, it was clear to Raido, well traveled as he may be, that Dakota was rapidly growing closer to Mist, one of the few varg in the world he had any affection for. Of course, it helped that the little wolf was smitten with adoration for the big male; having only seen a weak Sikla as far as male role models went, it was startling to see the huge ebony male for the first time.

In a way, Raido wished he could have held onto his skepticism. It was easier to mistrust people; no risk of getting hurt. However...he couldn't help himself. He wanted to know more, whated to get to know the bigger Varg, wanted to know what it was that made him so different then the mann he had known before.

And so, with foolish, reckless puppy abandon, he flew, snapping twigs, yapping and wagging, into the den where he knew the Beta to sleep, leaping and tackling at where he expected him to be.

"Hi!" Midleap, the young pup realized there was no wolf to be tackled, and flew headlong into the side of the den, yelping as he did. He fell back on his haunches, and whimpered,shaking his head as if to shake the stun from him.

[Dakota Spirit]

Stretching his limbs carefully, one at a time, the male slowly worked the rust of sleep from his body. Under the canopy of Deor's trees, things were still and calm, just beginning to waken as golden sunlight peeked through the leaves. Lifting his blocky head Dakota gazed up at the sun's rays, squinting his eyes at their intensity. It had been a cool night just hours before and the new warmth was a welcome respite to his bones. Though the male was anything but tolerant of heat, he enjoyed the mornings, taking it's gentle awakenings as his cue to start a new day. Looking carefully about him, the dark Beta quickly noted that much of his pack was still deep in slumber. He could not sense their presence nor hear the soft padding of their feet across the ground. To his left stood a small den, compact and suited for possibly two wolves if one didn't carry the bulk he possessed. It was his den by terms of common inhabitants, but the male rarely slept there. Instead he preferred to remain among the trees, freer to spring into action should the need arise. Releasing a substantial yawn, the wolf turned just in time to see a small form streaking the stretch of dirt leading to his den's mouth.

In his short time back in the confines of Deor's pack lands, Dak had met many of the present members. He'd grown to trust and respect the group and in a short amount of time he'd found himself pledging his allegiance to the leaders for a second time in his life. Only this time he had a more compelling reason to stick around. With her gentle words and undying support, the reigning Drappa and easily earned his favor, provoking a response of dedication from him that the male hadn't offered in quite some time. As it was, the dashing cub happened to be the nephew of Mist and thus familiar to him. Raido, he recalled the youth's name being. Dak stood alone watching the pup surge forward with a small smile upon his face. He remember his first meeting with the young wanderer, the unease he'd felt at being the center focus of his attention, and the eventual comfort that had been drawn from him by Raido's continued adoration. It had been one of Dakota's first encounters upon entering Deor with his new found companion.

As the wayward young male leaped into the dark confines of the den Dak moved forward, intent on see what it was Raido had in mind. His steps were slow and measured, increasing in tempo only when he heard the small echoing yelp from within. Poking his head around the corner of the cave's wall the male's bright emerald eyes sparked in the darkness as he sought out Raido's smaller form. There was quite laughter in his voice when he spoke, more in amusement then in mocking, spurred by the cub's antics. "Hello Raido.", he rumbled deeply. "You wouldn't be looking for me, would you?"

[Not the best. Sorry about that, Raido.]

[-Raido-]

Still dazed and blinking, the wolf heard a deep, resonating voice echo through the empty den.

"Hello Raido. You wouldn't be looking for me, would you?"

The wolf felt himself grow hot and embrassed, staring at the ground as the very Varg he had been looking for apparently, had seen him make such monumental fool of himself. His ears splay, his tail tucks and he scoots back towards the side of the den he'd just smacked his head into, his body the very picture of embarrassment and misery.

"Y...Yeah, I was looking for you. Thought...though I'd surprise you. As you see though, Sir Dakota...I..um...well." he sighed and tried to make himself even smaller. "I made a fool of myself. "

(Meh, just to keep the proverbial ball rolling.)

[Dakota Spirit]

Dak's eyes danced across the pup's face as he talked, taking in the subtle changes and obvious discomfort. It wasn't hard to recognize the embarrassment rolling off of the youth in palpable waves as he scooted away from the big male in order to press against the offending wall, and yet Dakota couldn't help but smile at the sight. Sweeping his body into an exaggerated bow, the dark wolf knelt before his visitor in good spirits. Well.", he said winking one jade colored orb. "Here I am." He did feel for the young wandering cub, really he did. It hadn't been too long ago that he himself had been in the grips of cub-hood, struggling to make a place for himself, struggling to find someone who could help him a long the way. Besides which, Raido had always seemed so eager to please. So ready to prove himself. This too was a quality not unknown to Dak's own troubled exsistance."Perhaps...", he said in response to Raido's words. "But then, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who hasn't played the fool now and again. Besides, this is likely for the best." Dak's deep voice grew slightly serious as he continued, bending in closer to speak with the cub. "Had I been asleep and you landed on my body I may have taken you for a threat and ended up harming you. For your own safety you must be careful approaching one deep in the throws of sleep." Winking again, Dak flashed a bright smile and rose to a tall sitting position, curling his thick tail comfortably around him.

"Now young sir...", Dakota rumbled, offering the same respect he was being paid. "What is it you intended to do once you'd sufficiently surprised me?" He was not adverse to doing something with Raido for he had nothing else to do that day and it would prove a good distraction from his normal gripes. First though, there were some daily needs that must be met. "Tell you what.", Dak said, pulling to his feet. "How about you tell me your plans while I rustle us up some breakfast?"

[Hey Raido, if you could pad your next post out some that would be really helpful ;P]

[-Raido-]

The voice that echoed in the confines of the den held not unkindness, though it didn't mask the obvious mirth that the bigger varg felt at him. However, while for a split second, a flash of resentment shuddered up and down his spine, he pushed it back, scolding himself. Simply because he was jaded was no reason to assume that everyone in the world was against him. And it seemed, from the playful bow, that the Beta had been in positions of humiliation before.

At the bigger varg's dismissal of his foolishness, the little wolf seemed to puff up a little, lifting his frame from the ground where he had crouch, flicking his ears up hopefully and putting his smaller muzzle forwards. Despite the tone the Beta took, a slightly chiding, serious note, the little wolf listened raptly, not put off in the least, and not for the most part listening.

"So don't jump on people when their sleeping. I understand, Sir Dakota." When questioned though, the little wolf cocked his head to the side. "Going to do...?" It seemed, in the manner of most excited cubs, he actually couldn't remember his original plans. However, he was spared answering that question by the mention of food.

"Food sounds good. I haven't eaten in a few days. What do you think we'll catch? Do you ever trouble hunting? What's the biggest thing you've ever brought down on your own? Is it frightening, the first hunt? " The little wolf trotted over to the onyx furred varg and wagged his own coal-rust tail furiously as he bombarded the older male with questions.

[Dakota Spirit]

Listening to the young wolf's voice buzz in his ear, Dak wondered quietly if he had been this excitable in youth. He'd only ever been around those his age, never really having a chance to 'look up' to anyone and therefor, he reason, never really given a chance to become a curious tag along. But given the opportunity? Dak remembered those long days walking alone, filled with questions for no one to answer. No, given the opportunity the male was sure he would have developed a bubbling personality much like the one held by Raido. Not for the first time, the big beta caught himself identifying with Mist's exuberant nephew. They seemed to have clicked fairly soon after meeting, Dak finding it easy to 'father' the cub and Raido perhaps, seeing something he needed in the male's eyes. He longed to know the whelp's full story, the reason as to why he'd been left at such an early age but it had been established early on that the subject of his deceased father was still very painful for the rust colored mann. If Dak understood anything, it was this. He chose carefully, picking out those he felt sharing his past with. It only seemed natural that Raido would perhaps do the same and Dak could only hope that some day, eventually, the cub find someone close to him who was safe to speak to. The dark mann knew what relief could come from this and silently wished that the same could be granted for his compaion...when he was ready.

"Slow down!", he finally stammered, laughing as the string of questions continued. "You have to give me time to answer, young one.", he said smiling. His mind whirred with possible answers for Raido's curious mind, but for nearly the first time since his return to Deor Dak felt himself shedding the formalities and story end morals from his head. It seemed to him that with Raido, causal was best. That more then anything, the little tag-along needed a friend and teacher, but not someone endlessly trying to hammer ideals into his being. "Well...", Dak finally said, drawing the word out as he continued to think through the situation. Sharing his experiences with the cub would skirt along the his history and past, things Raido was well and likely to question. Perhaps that didn't matter though, the male told himself silently. The smaller wolf was a youth after all...it wasn't like that he could, or would, use such facts against Dak later. "I was alone for much of my early life.", he said, turning slightly to watch Raido as they walked. "So I was forced to hunt out of nessicity...small things of course. I certainly wasn't taking down deer at that age. Even now, for a full grown wolf such a thing would be challenging. I was scared though...in the beginning. I didn't know what to do or how to do it, but in the end your needs push out the fear. I had to eat and it soon became apparent that if I continued to operate on what scared me, I wouldn't last very long in life. For you though, you should feel excited and not scared. Hunting is a big step for a young wolf...it means you're growing up!" Dak's emerald eyes seemed to smile as he talked, the cub's enthusiasm acting as a power source to feed his tired mind.

As to your other questions.", he continued. "I guess the biggest I've ever taken on my own was a young fawn. Sickly, but of course, it still had the herd to back it up. That is a rare occurrence though...any wolf that claims to continuously take deer for it's own is only trying to serve it's own ego. Really though, on your own you'll likely feast mainly on rabbits, foxes, and those of similar size. Much easier prey...makes for a more assured kill. And we all have trouble. I'm not a god, after all.", he said laughing deeply. "Even the best hunter loses his mark now and again. Looking ahead, the male saw that they had at last come to a small boarding meadow. "Here...", Dak said. "This is the place." His keen eyes darted around the clearing, taking in the escapes and possibly footfalls. "Alright, Raido.", he breathed softly. "It's your time. You are going to catch this meal. See ahead, the fox before us? He is you're prey...and you as the hunter, must be proficient and quick. Crouch here in the brush and wait for the ideal time, when they are not paying attention and do what your instincts tell you to do. A quick death is your goal and it should not be hard. Foxes are fast, but he is in the open, prime for the taking."

Crouching low on his stomach, the male hid his bulky body from view. "You can do this.", he said nodding his head slightly, reassuring the young wolf. "Show me the skills you posses." Dak didn't know if this was the right decision, throwing the youth blindly into unknown waters. He had faith in Raido though, and hope too. If such a young and inexperienced soul could learn to be happy, to overcome his past troubles...then there was nothing stopping himself from doing the same. In aiding to heal Raido, Dak helped himself and set his own mind closer to the path of peace.

[Raido is hunting age, right? If not, let me know and I'll think of a diffrent ending]