work to be done

Shadowclaw wander around his new land, with lightfang following him close behind. Though he never cared much about her, he locked his mind from her a long time ago. he was tired of her attempts of trying to change him from what he has become. His pack made him the way he was now and that was not going to change but now was not the time to wander into the past. There was much to be done now, he had to familiarize himself with the land, he had to find the best places to hunt and sleep. And most importantly he had to define his boarders so every wolf knew they were coming into his territory. For now this land belonged only to him, he wouldn't go out of the way to recruit any wolves he would let them in only if he believed they deserved to serve him. he stopped in front of a small river, he lowered his head and lapped up the cool refreshing water.

Aear watched from downstream the wolf drinking. He must be the owner of this territory, Aear had heard his call of claiming. She slowly swam upstream, submerged in the water. The only sound was Mithdin's nervous dove calls, the running river, and the strange male. Now closer, she slid out of the brook, and onto the muddy banks. The water beaded and slid off her gray coat, as she transformed from a aquatic creature, to that of land.

Mithdin flew down to perch on her head, and she continues silently forward. That is, until she recklessly tread on a dry twig. The crack broke the stillness of the dawning. Aear's head flew up and her eyes widened in apprehension. She continued fluidly forward, weaving through the trees, until she stood only a length and a half away from the dark male. Mithdin ruffled his feathers and spoke timidly, stuttering, but improving as he continued. "H-H-Hello. I-I'm Mithdin, and T-This is Aear. Are y-you the leader of this territory?" He resisted the urge to hide behind Aear's leg, and instead shifted uncomfortably. Aer stared with pale olive orbs, trying hard to communicate with the wolf, although she knew she had no voice.

Shadowclaw lifted his head up after his thirst was quenched, he looked at the rippling water until it cleared enough for him to see his scar. He snarled and swatted at the water with his paw, distorting the his reflection. His scar was a constant reminder of the ones that betrayed him they would never be forgiven for what they did. Lightfang sat down next him, she wanted to say somthing to comfort him but she knew it was useless. He would just get mad at her and unlease the anger he felt on her. she just sighed wondering if they would ever be close again.

Shadowclaw's ears twitched when he heard a twig break, his head quickly turned towards the direction the sound came from only to see a wolf already trespassing on his land he watched as the wolf stopped in front of him. He looked at her anima as he it spoke, "of course i am leader of this territory what kind of stupid question was that" he growled. "Now tell me what gives you the right to approach me"

Aear didn't flinch, but increased the intensity of her gaze. She was beginning to be vexed with this overly aggressive wolf. Aear tilted her head a bit to the side in a rapid motion; the improvised sign language for a question that she did not like. Her cropped and singed tail began to draw towards her belly however.
Mithdin riffled his hoary plumage, and spoke again, more confidently as Aear's irritation fed him energy
"We've been traversing this land. We scented the markers, but wanted to....see the leader, to possibly join his pack. We have a long story to tell, but it isn't pleasant. We have earned the right to speak by merely surviving." At this point his courage failed him, and he half hopped, half flew down to the ground, peering out from behind Aear's marred leg, the winding mark standing out like blood in snow.

Shadowclaw growled at the wolf's anima he didn't know where it was getting its sprite from but it was annoying. He did not care about their story or what happened to them, "Surviving is not does not give you the right to apporch me, any thing with a beating heart could survive. I don't even know why you are still here i see nothing you two can contuite to my pack." he stepped closer to the female wolf, looking over her, "Whats wrong with you does your anima have to do all the talking for you, such a pathetic thing." Lightfang watched on from behind Shadowclaw, she wanted to help them somehow but that would only anger her Shadowclaw. But she had to do something she couldn't sit idle this time she had to think of something. Before he drove them off.

Light green eyes lividly stared at the male. She parted jaws as if to speak, yet as usual, no sound came out. Her muscles tightened, but her docked tail lowered farther. Mithdin shrank back into the shadow of Aear's frame. Aear glanced down at him, and raising her scarred leg, placing behind the frightened anima, and nudging him forward. She sent him a thought 'Shift into something more powerful. It'll give you more confidence' Mithdin obliged against his will, turning into a blue-gray fox. He moved to Aear's other side, feeling safer in her shadow. He conveyed Aear's words to the alpha.

" Then why does the bird fall before the cat's claws? But that is not the point. I-Aear is mute. We are not pathetic. We escaped a tragedy, a wildfire. As far as we know, none survived. We escaped, but the land, fields and copse alike were destroyed. Yet we bear our marks too, that neither time nor love will heal."

As if to prove herself, Aear swept her banner to the side, although it was hard to see, for it was singed to about two thirds of what it once had been. The fae also ducked her head towards her scarred leg, bringing it up.

Shadowclaw's amber eye watched the wolf closely, anima changed form into a fox. Lightfang instinctively stepped beside Shadowclaw, if this turned into a fight she would be ready to defend her wolf whether he wanted it or not. Area's words seem to come from her anima, it seemed to be channeling her confidence into him though it still stood close to her, Aear's confidence impressed him a little, though he couldn't find a use for a mute wolf. then again she could probably have some kind of use, she seemed to have some strength. though he could test her more, "A wildfire, so what. your pain could never compare to mine u don't deserve to be in this pack." he wanted to push her to her limit, how much would she take before she cracked, " I'll leave with that i would suggest you and coward u call an anima leave, i have things to take of." He turned around padding farther into his land. Lightfang stayed where she was and watched the two a while longer before following him.

Talon stalked the wolves. They were in HIS territory! Not theirs! So what if his pack had to leave on a journey? They were back now! This was still his territory! Talons golden brown body was literally shaking with rage. It took all of his control not to snarl out a stream of profanities. There were two wolves, a male and female. It was obvious that they weren't mates. The male was a straight jerk. Something that passed between the two wolves brought Talon up short. Apparently the female was a mute. That was odd. Talon had never come across a mute wolf before. Talon snapped out of his stupor and fell in a crouch, silent snarls making his massive body shudder.

Talon stepped out of the undergrowth, finally letting loose such a gutteral snarl that if he had been in the other wolves' place he would have cowered in fear. "What do you think you are doing in my territory?" Talon kept up a prolonged snarl, wanting to drive fear into the other wolves. The masculine brute tensed his muscles, preparing to fight if he had to.

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Hazel tracked her brother by scent. They had just recently returned to their territory and she could tell some other wolf had claimed their home. Hazel was furious. Who did they think they were? Did they know who they would have to deal with? Obviously not. The brown-pelted she-wolf finally found Talon. He had cornered the wolves who had stolen their territory. She stepped from the shadows, her teeth bared and growl-snarls ripping through her fangs. Hazel flanked her brother on one side, praying that Fern, her brother's mate, would show up soon to help them. They needed her to win this fight. "You have no idea who you're messing with," Hazel snarled. Her hackles were up, fur bristling. They would not get away with this.

Following quickly behind her mate, Fern was enjoying being back home. The trees seemed the same and welcomed her back with there shade. The musky smells of the pine trees made her elated even further.
Suddenly she felt her mate tense. he was looking towards a deper part in the forest, where, when Fern looked, were two wolves. How dare they be in her territory?
It was obvious one of them, the male, was telling the other one, the female, that he was leader of the territory. Running up with her MAte she snarled.
" You don't belong here," She growled to the male.

Aear was heartened at the male's depart, although he had been the only wolf she had seen for ages. She whirled around, and her frame unconsciously sank a bit, and her ears flattened slightly. She had thought that it was that other male's territory. She didn't bother to tilt her head to the side, her body language for a question. She was scared, frightened of loud noises. She began to back up towards the river. Aear's back paws met the muddy bank of the creek, sliding in the clay. She brought the now dirty paws forward, but tensed her muscles to make a get away.

Mithdin likewise was frightened. He hid behind the gray fem, peering out with onyx eyes.
"W-we thought the other male was l-leader. We don't m-mean harm." He ducked behind Aear and anxiously shifted into his mourning dove form, in case he and Aear had to swim away. He scrambled, half clambering half flying up to Aear's slate back. He shyly buried his gray head under his wing 'I wonder what they will do' he thought to Aear, and she gave him a reassuring glance, before fixing her eyes on the agressive wolves' paws.

Two pairs were brown, making her wonder if they were siblings. That and their closeness. Aear glanced upwards, and noticed the agressive male had carmine markings on his umber shoulder- marks of paws that burst into flame when the owner was choleric. And the mel looked dangerously close to it as well. There was a beautiful fae with lovely tawny wings as well, and another fem who's powers were not apparent. Aear's jade orbs did not return to the ground and remained fixed on the male's amber ones.

Talon's aggressive stance lightened when the male left, and the golden brown male turned to the female. "Very well. We will not harm you, as long as you leave this territory immediately!" Talon threw a growl in at the end, making sure that the fae truly would leave his territory.

Aear needed no second thought or opinion on this matter, it was three on one. She slid down the bank backwards, and landed with a splash in the water, already paddling with her paws as she grew fins and gills, paddling upstream rapidly, hiding underwater as to avoid detection. Her belly fur nearly brushing the pebbbled bottom. Soon, the pair had vanished from the area, leaving only tracks in the mud, and ripples in the water.