I Seek the Beauty of the Lands; [Myth]

[;;leto]

Took from me all that I had
With my soul and spirit dead
Killing everything in me
What is one use to be free

Now to drive away the pain
I'll destroy all I disdain
I'll become what I despise
Living someone else's life

Footsteps could hardly be heard over the raucous the birds and other creatures were making. It was spring and just like every other spring morning, animals were making mating calls and scolding young. Others looked for food or cleaned out old burrows but all turned to watch as the wolf moved past. As typical this time of year, young wolves were scouting out young to test their hunting skills. But with a quick glance at the wolf's body movement, he was considered not a threat and the raucous continued.

The wolf in question was in fact hunting but not for prey. Like any other animal in the animal kingdom, he was feeling the addiction of spring fever and the mating song. He hadn't had a home pack in quite a few years and passing by the scent marker in this area, had him heading inland to search for the beauty he knew lived here. Everywhere her scent lingered, on every leaf and twig. His mind was entirely consumed by it that everything else was lost to him.

He was a young male but his looks and mind were far beyond his years due to years as a loner; an outcast. Marked as a traitor from his home pack, he traveled far in wide in hopes of finding the one place that caught his interest. Such as this place. Scars littered his body from a history he wanted to forget. There was a bite out of his ear and a long scar across his left eye. Mind his looks were one to give others a second glance but beneath the scars and tears, he was a handsome wolf. He was a lot smaller than most wolves but don't let that fool you. Beneath thick "fluffy" fur, was all muscle. He was a built fighter with a lean, compact body. Since pup-hood, he had been trained as a warrior. And now he was an outcast hoping for something bigger and better.

He reached the end of a line of trees and her scent hit him like a wall. He was in the heart of her territory and no doubt in the danger zone but that was exactly what he was looking for; a challenge. He wanted a female that defended her land with a determination that created all good Alphas. Without wasting time, he threw up his head, a majestic alto call erupting from his throat and echoing over the land, seeming to make all other sounds quiet. It wasn't a call of lust or demands, more of a challenge call and a call of interest. Born an Alpha's son, he wanted nothing more than to test the Alphess of these lands and see what she had in her. To him, it was all a game, a way of flirting. He would see how the Alphess felt about him.

He lowered his head, listening to his howl echo down the valley till it finally disappeared. The loud raucous of the birds returned and he snorted, lashing his tail. Well, if she didn't hear it, the wolves in the next valley over sure did. He moved away from the tree line and to a small creek with fresh cold water rushing past rocks and leaves. Leaning down, he took a few careful mouthfuls before shaking off and laying out in the sun beneath a tree that overhung the small creek. A lot had changed since he left his father's pack. For instance, before, he would have just stormed into this land, demanded to see the Alphas and fought them for the land. But that was before his mind cleared, before he saw his father for what he was; a warlord. He still had his blood craze, however. He could feel it festering beneath his calm composure. He would always have the urge to lead and demand obedience but he wouldn't force it on himself. He respected Alphas and their choices. If this Alphess wanted nothing to do with him, he would simply accept her choice and live with the pain of being turned down. There were plenty of fish in the sea as his mother would say.

With a sigh, he laid his head down on his paws and sighed. His hazel eyes watched the horizon, where her scent drifted the strongest and waited. The bright blue sky reflected into his eyes, making his green, brown and silver eyes gleam like a crystalline brook in summer. Though his eyes weren't always this color. In the deepest depths of winter, his eyes are the color of summer leaves.It was at this time his mother used to tell him he was a different wolf and that some day, he would amount to greatness. But that was the past. The only thing he cared about now was the future and whether or not the meeting with the Alphess would give him new hope.

((Ugg >.< I know that was probably lame. ))

[Myth]

A twisted song erupts
from the bowls of your hellish mouth
A murderous scream tells me
there is more to you and me

[/i][/center][/color]

A shadow zipped swiftly through the deep underbrush of the forest. Silent. Her movement lost within the loosely sung lyrics of birds and the whirling whoosh of the wind. Her muscles stiffened, but none the less strong. Her eye filled with the insanity that plagued her mind. All to real now. The birds, the river, the leaves in the trees, the song from a creature she knew not of, a creature whose song she dreaded. A song that called upon her as alphess to defend her pack. In the silence of the lands, her pack resting from the heat of the spring day, she slipped away. Back into her dream, fully awake.

Her strong muscles tensed and relaxed in a natural symphony of grace and speed. Her paws barely seemed to touche the ground as she slipped almost unnoticed through the bushes. A ghost in her own land. Her nose found him, long before her eyes. His scent gave him no name, no meaning, no existence other that essence. An essence of mint leaves, and musk. A smell that made her throat clench nervously. While she picked up pace, a long howl tore from her chest. Carrying over the meadow as she broke through the leaves.

Blinding instinct pulled her under as her eyes finally settled on a lone form on the horizon. A deep growl left her mouth as she bounded forth, teeth bared and ready for a fight. Muscles tensed and a long, deep breath drawn into her chest. With increased speed saved till the last crucial moment, she leaped.

[/size]

[Sorry, I'm not sure it's that good, I low on muse, which is normal till i get into the thread.]

[;;leto]

It was all a dance, this game these wolves played. A never ending dance of who stood above who. For one to be accepted into a pack, it was a longer dance of proving yourself and gaining trust from the current Alphas. When her song ripped across the open space and into his ears, he stood up, ears erect and body shaking with anticipation. She had heard his call and no doubt his scent and was coming for him. He stood his ground, baring his name and title boldly but he held himself low, as any loner should. He refused to cower, to show weakness. The key to a strong pack mate was to show your versatility to stand your ground against apposing wolves.

Finally, he spotted her. Heading full speed towards him as though she meant to take him off her land. His one ear pulled back and his tail tip flicked uncertainty but he had no other time to contemplate. Soon, she was on him, teeth and claws, wrapping onto him, sending him sprawling into the dust. Usually, this would evoke a rather threatening response but the scent he had followed here was even more powerful and dizzying. He gazed at the beauty of the lands, all the more real now in flesh. He lay on his side in the grass, his tail wagging and a goofy grin on his face. Well if I do say so myself, your much more beautiful in the flesh than your scent gives you." he teased her, finally rising to his feet and dipping his head in respect, his hazel eyes glittering playfully, yet they were guarded all the same. This Alphess could turn at any moment. Greetings to you, Alphess. I am sorry to be tredding upon your lands without acceptance but I couldn't resist your scent. I had to see if it gave you justice." he flashed her a smile all the while keeping himself below her. My name is Leto and I am an outcast from last pack and currently searching for a place to call home.

((I know what you mean. Until it gets off a little more, they will be simple haha Your post was great though!))

[Myth]

It was fluent nonsense, erecting a statue in ones name to take it down, insanity, pushing all alpha's to wits end. Who was who, who was not, then nothing. Years and years of struggle to crack and fall. Meaningless. But still they danced, Puppets controlled by the unbreakable strings of instinct. All seek ed it, all despised it. No one longed to be alpha than those who could not acheive it, and none long not to be are than those who are. It was a fool's game, a game where you either are or are not, black and white. Just like life. There is never someone who comes out completely sane and stable in the end. It is all for nothing and nothing for all. An fate better than most, but more hurtful than all. Finding meaning that is not and never will be present in the insanity of it all. Insanity.

"Well if I do say so myself, your much more beautiful in the flesh than your scent gives you." The mockery slipped from his mouth as foully as an insult to her family would. A snarl tore from her chest in response, "You are much less intimidating than your essence names you to be." A truth to her fullest knowledge. She stood high above him, statuesque, her amber eyes gleaming angelical in the sunlight. "Greetings to you, Alphess. I am sorry to be treading upon your lands without acceptance but I couldn't resist your scent. I had to see if it gave you justice." The words made her snicker, her tail flailed slightly. "It was an unintelligent move on your part." her tail was held high as she circled around him. Her eyes focus and intense.

"My name is Leto and I am an outcast from last pack and currently searching for a place to call home."

[/i] Her eyes studied him. His deep fur, long scars trailing along his body, his enchanting eyes. "Why would you come to the Loik pack?"[/b] She paused, her eyes locked with his. She was trying to find some sort of emotion within them, so sort of meaning. A sight of fate.

[/blockquote][/size]

[yours was nice too.]

[;;leto]

Well, this wasn't what he expected. He flicked his tail and cleared his throat. Obviously, she was up to his playful teasing. Of course, he wouldn't either if she were intruding on his lands. It had been worth a shot however since she had actually decided to listen to what he had to say. He winced at each thing she said, taking it as a blow. He would have to take this the old fashioned way, he supposed. At her last question, he bowed his head respectfully once more.

Your scent. he told her simply, shrugging a light shoulder. It would be a lie to say it hadn't caught my attention. Like I said before, I simply wished to meet the beauty who owned such a powerful and overwhelming scent. I figured you to be a true Alpha and an Alpha that could hold together a strong pack. he chanced a glance deep into her eyes before looking away once more as was typical of loner wolves. Never look the lead wolf in the eyes as a sign of respect. And, from her original attack and demeanor, he feared he would need to show a lot of it before he could completely gain her trust.

He couldn't help by scan the territory as he spoke. It was so much like his old home that his heart ached to rub his scent throughout the long grass and on every tree. He wanted to run through the creeks and snap at the skitter bugs that took to the air. He wanted to whine his longing but he held himself and decided to tell her instead. And, to be quite honest, this place reminds me of home. I would fit in perfectly. he flashed her another smile but this time, not so flirting or teasing. A genuine polite smile.

It had taken a lot of work to become this polite and nice. Covered in his sister's blood and chased from his home pack had given him a lot to think about. He had spent the next couple weeks after that tearing himself apart (not literally) in a small cave. Depressed and starving, he had wanted to die for what he had done but after he had managed to catch a few dormant mice in his cave, his mind began to clear and he saw a brighter future for himself. It was then he began his transformation from blood and war crazed monster to battle scared loner. He had tried out his new found politeness on a few packs but had been chased away. With each pack he came across, his manners improved till he was the wolf he was today. He hardly remembered what it had been like to be blood thirsty and war crazed.

[Myth]

"your scent" All wolves were directed by smell, more than anything else. Their noses could not lie. Their noses rarely were wrong unlike their eyes. A deep connection to their ancestors, a deep connection to nature and the outside world. Their nose. Scent was everything, a tag, a label, a weapon. All of that all in every wolf in every pack. Her eyes still gazed into his as she spoke, smoothly, her voice soft as if she were speaking to one from her own pack. " My scent is none as enchanting as you speak. I am a lone alpha in this land full of struggle. Not a great flower untouched by blood and war. "

[/b] Her words sounded out of place as she connected them to who she was speaking to, she could not understand why she thought this lone male outcast would understand. She sighed.

"It would be a lie to say it hadn't caught my attention. Like I said before, I simply wished to meet the beauty who owned such a powerful and overwhelming scent. I figured you to be a true Alpha and an Alpha that could hold together a strong pack." Her gaze faltered for but a moment. The gentle velvet tone of his voice brought back memories that made her heart ache. I was not the strong alpha here. It was not a position i asked for. My mate was killed and i was left to lead. Over eight months ago.... I may be strong, but, i am strong in his honor. I am strong for my pack. Never for myself. [/b] Her tone was slightly saddened, her eyes showed her deep in thought. Her words held no lies. No bending of the truth. Her eyes met his once more.

" And, to be quite honest, this place reminds me of home. I would fit in perfectly." Her eyes fell to the ground once more. He was asking to join the Loik. What was she supposed to say, what was she supposed to do? "Was there a rank you wanted? Beta? Hunter?"[/b] Her eyes locked with his for another, brief, moment before they again turned back. Scanning the horizon and the swaying grass around them. She sighed again. Why did everything have to be so complicated on such a lovely day?
[/blockquote][/size]

[;;leto]

((I shall make one more reply before I leave entirely. ))

Oh boy. He pulled his ears back as she mentioned the death of her previous mate. This was not to be expected. This was an entirely new atmosphere that he had yet to learn; grief. He felt many others since being chased from his home pack such as depression and hatred but grief had never been one of them. Now it washed over him like a wave, making him feel a little uncertain as to how to move forward the conversation. The only person he had been close to that had died had been his sister, and she had died by his own jaws. Grief was an alien emotion. But he would attempt it, to better fit in and become one of the pack.

Well, in your mate's honor, let me tell you that you are doing an excellant job in holding the pack together. For one to struggle with grief over a lost love and to hold together a growing pack by yourself, it shows that you are truely meant to be the Alpha of these lands, that you are truely strong enough like our ancestors had been. he bowed his head to her. I would be honored to join your pack and work beneath your strong leadership.

This was where it got tricky. How was he to explain himself when she was still grieving over her lost mate. He could see it in her eyes and the way she held herself when she had talked about him. He could never replace the mate he was sure she had loved dearly but he wanted to be there for her, to keep her strong. He ran through a few ways of saying it before turning his eyes up to hers, a soft smile on his face.

However, I cannot mistake your feelings. Grief is a powerful emotion that could rip you apart without your knowledge. Instead of simply joining your pack, I would like to help you. I don't want to replace your mate, it would be a dishonor to his name, but I want to keep you strong while you still remember the spirit of your mate. he chanced a careful step towards her. I would love to stand next to you and help you the lead the pack to success. I am not only impressed by your strength to keep going but I am also overwelmed by your scent that it makes me head over heels crazy for you. he pulled his eyes away, almost embarressed with himself for saying such cheesy things. What I meant to say is that I want to get to know you better and someday, gain your love and trust and be able to call myself your mate and someday your Alpha.

To him, it was a glorious speech and one from the heart. But, he hoped in her eyes, she wouldn't see it as a cheesy excuse to run a pack. In fact, he had no want to be a ruling Alpha. He only had a strong urge to protect her and keep her strong. There was something about her. She had a hard, cutting edge exterior that protect a soft and damaged interior. He only hoped she saw it the way he did.

[Myth]

The wind washed across the meadow once more, twisting the long grass, and sending leaves soaring through the air. Her fur danced with the breeze for but a moment, surreal in it's movement. Her soft eyes grew cloudy, as if the wind had blown storm clouds over them. Leto, you speak words have not heard in many winters. Your eyes are made of some of the most rare emotions i have seen, your essence is over powering to those who come across it, and you bare the marks of a scattered past.

[/b] her eyes locked with his yet again, seeming to gaze into the darkness of his deepest thoughts and emotions, looking for a spot to focus the words she was speaking to him. Looking for the soul he was hiding somewhere inside himself. Looking for something she was afraid she wouldn't find.

You can find sanctuary within the Loik, I welcome you into the ranks. she pulled her gaze from his for but a moment and gazed over the meadow. Her eyes moved carefully over the land, settling on the hills, the river, the mountains, the meadow grasses, and the sky. All she had, all her pack had given her, all she lived for. Everything she would kill for, and what her love died for. The ground that provided for them, the earth that reclaimed them. All was hers. From where the forest begins to where the hills end, is my land, loik land. I hope that you will accept my offer to make it your land as well as mine, to lead the loik with me, prove to me what you claim. Leto

So long she had been searching for someone to help her up, that she had forgotten she was down. So long she had hoped, she had forgotten truth. Until now. Her eyes locked with his again. Something deep within them pulled her in, made her want to understand every breath he took. Something so closely similar, yet so very different from every other wolf. So many males she had turned away, to give an outcast a chance. She became uncertain of why she had done it. But, was ready to learn.

[/blockquote][/size]

[Hope this is good.]