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Post by Gin on Nov 29, 2008 23:48:58 GMT -6
Teige lifted her head from her white paws, dark eyes sleepily blinking open to the dull morning sun. The light filtered lightly through the trees that had been sheltering her from the night's shower. White maw gaped in a long yawn, lips pulled back, fangs displayed, tongue extended with a slight curl. The fae easily snapped her jaws closed again, though her tongue extended to lick the sides of her maw. Her ears pricked for any sound of movement around her. As far as her senses told her, she had not been disturned during the night, nor would she be in the next few minutes. Confident with this thought, the wolfess slowly arched her body to stretch first her front paws then her rear. Her paws flexed, allowing the soft dirt between her toes. Again, her maw cracked in a yawn, though a smaller one this time.
She took a stumbled step forward only to realize her back leg was still stiff. She snorted and shifted her weight to the other three legs so that the fourth could stretch out behind her. In the air, she again flexed her toes so as to stretch the muscles. As she set the white coated paw back in the dirt, her body tremored with the urge to shake off the filth of her bed. She obliged and quickly shook her pelt, letting the dry dirt float to the ground under her feet. Once more she shook her ruff, feeling proud for having cleaned herself.
Her nose tilted toward the trees, begging any scent of water. Of course there was water, her mind told her, but where. To the east, her nose told her. Teige followed her nose, eager to loosen her dry throat with the cool liquid. She found the stream flowing gently between a large tree and a row of bushes. Her paws made shallow tracks in the mud formed during the night. As the fae dipped her muzzle to the running water, her bushy tail began a slow wag against her hocks. Once she had quenched her thirst, she would have to seek out the leader of this land. Perhaps he or she would allow the dog to stay. After all, Teige had yet to catch the scent of another canine. It was a bit unnerving for the fae.
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Post by Trick on Nov 30, 2008 14:49:13 GMT -6
What the fae didn't realize, was that she had already found the leader of the land. A pair of blue eyes watched the wolf approach and start drinking. Zeal had never really liked canines even though he had never grown up around any. He cast a critical eye on the wolf before him and before he even knew what he was doing he had judged her right there and then. The tiger closed his eyes and shook his head slowly. Just what was he doing? Proving the Guardian's point? If he were to be leader of this land, he couldn't judge a potential member right off the bat, even if it was a canine. He opened his mouth and began to quietly pant as his thoughts continued.
"I suppose I should give the wolf a chance? I'd only be proving that stupid deer is right, that I'm not meant to be the leader of some clan. Well I'll show him...her...it? Ya, I'll show it I can be a good leader! Of course if this wolf turns out to be a trouble maker, which I've heard most are, then I'll be forced to run it out. Oh, that would just be too bad too." Zeal ceased panting and a smirk formed. He looked down at the wolf who had yet to spot him. It was luck that the light breeze brought her scent to him and not his to her. Though she would be able to smell his scent in a few moments if he chose not to bother her...and he was going to talk to her anyway, so it didn't really matter to him. Zeal didn't want to move on his branch however. He was lying down on it, all four legs were over on each side and dangled towards the ground. His head rested on the branch for a few moments before he lifted it again and looked down over the side at the wolf. If she looked hard enough up in the tree, she might just spot the orange blacked stripped tiger.
Zeal sniffed into the air and caught her scent, he would have to remember who this scent belonged to in the future. "I see a wolf has wondered onto my clan's territory. If the leader found you, I'm not sure what he'd do. But why not stay and talk for a little while anyway? Granted he's probably caught your scent like I have, but it might take him a bit to come here. This forest is pretty big ya know." Zeal's voice rang out, he was high into the tree so he had to put a little effort into talking so the wolf could hear just fine. He didn't want the fae to know he was the leader, not just yet anyway.
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Post by Gin on Nov 30, 2008 19:51:14 GMT -6
Teige allowed the smooth flow of water to soften her throat. The water sloshed in her belly as she shifted to be closer to the water. Her legs were tucked beneath her, holding her in a loose crouch on the edge of the water. Dark eyes were open to the movement under the surface. Each flicker of life caught her attention. Fish darted between rocks, chasing each other. Once she saw a snake float past after one of the smaller fish. Her nose crinkled. Teige did not like snakes. Even a few birds had settled down on the shore beside her or on branches hanging over the water. A few crocodiles lounged further down stream, most likely waiting for their first victim of the day. She would steer clear of those beasts.
The wind ruffled her pelt. It was only a light breeze, not enough to disturb her. With her stomach full of the cool water, Teige straightened. She rose on her four paws, limbs stretching her up. No scents came to her of another animal though her sensitive ears picked up something close by, light breathing. It almost sounded as if something were sleeping. Teige widened her eyes, slowly turning her head for any hint of the creature. Finding none in front of her, the wolfess turned, eyes scanning every bit of the forest around her.
"I see a wolf has wondered onto my clan's territory.” At the first word, Teige had pricked her ears, spinning her head around and up into the trees. A dark form rested on a branch. He was a large creature; All four limbs hung off the branch like a kill someone had stashed for later. At her distance, his dark stripes barely stood out against his burnt orange pelt. Her lips quivered in a plea to lift and show her fangs but she knew that was not a good idea. She was a stranger in this territory, she had no right to prance about growling at it’s members. “If the leader found you, I'm not sure what he'd do.” Wow, he’s helpful, Teige thought sarcastically to herself. But at least she had not been caught by the leader of the clan. That probably wouldn’t have turned out so well. “But why not stay and talk for a little while anyway? Granted he's probably caught your scent like I have, but it might take him a bit to come here. This forest is pretty big ya know."
Oh encouraging, the fae thought. She didn’t really want to stay and talk to this cat. For some reason, something was off about him. He was too sure of himself. Teige flicked her ears back against her head but kept her tail out behind her.
“No thanks. If you don’t mind I would rather find him before he finds me.” She paused, looking up at the cat. “Increases my odds,” she said slowly after a moment. Maybe she would stay for a few minutes. Whatever she had seen about this brute that wouldn’t allow things to line up, it now made her curious. She had to know. She would stay just long enough to find out. “What’s your name?” She asked cautiously. Maybe if the leader found her here with this member of his clan, he would be a little more forgiving toward her for not coming to him first. It was worth a shot.
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Post by Trick on Dec 2, 2008 21:24:05 GMT -6
Zeal chuckled to himself at her reply. "Find me before I find you? A little too late for that wolf. Lets see why you wish to find me first before anything else. Introductions will have to wait until later I suppose." The tiger gave a lazy sigh and moved his legs back up onto the branch, where he now stood looking down at the wolf. "Find him first to increase your odds? I'd doubt you'd be able to find him before he finds you." Zeal told the fae. Zeal then skillfully jumped from branch to branch with ease until he landed on the ground with a soft thud, his paws slightly sinking in the mud beside the river.
"He is tiger, wolf, and we are only seen when we want to be seen, trust me on that one." Zeal said as he looked the wolf over. She didn't come off as a trouble maker, but if she was, he felt that he could deal with her without much of a problem. The tiger then took in a dramatic change in posture. His head went low to the ground, his tail sank and lay limp, his ears hung lifelessly to the sides and he wouldn't maintain any eye contact with the wolf. He was playing the part of a subordinate as best he could.
"He is a fair leader, the tiger, for as long as I've known him he has been kind and caring. He looks and acts like a leader does, it's like he was born to lead this clan. He has treated us well and I wish nothing bad to happen to him. So I ask you, why is it that you wish to see him wolf? It's not to make trouble is it? Are you going to be a problem? B-b-b-b-because he won't be happy if you are. He'll do something about it, and you'll be sorry wolf. We like to live in peace, not in chaos." Zeal told her, his voice slightly wavering. "She did not give a name so I will not give one back. Perhaps if she stays long enough we will trade names. Just keep playing the subordinate and see what she wants." Zeal constantly kept looking around, avoiding eye contact constantly and looking nervous.
The tiger was hoping on the wolf staying so they could talk. If she left, she'd leave the area where his scent was the freshest and then she'd wander and find his markings. Then she'd probably ether come back or run off somewhere. Zeal was hoping he could convince her to join the clan. They needed new members, and he needed to prove he was a good leader. How could he do that if he didn't have a variety of different species? Especially ones that never really got along together? What's more he wanted to prove to the guardians that he could do it. He wanted that deer to eat his words and this wolf was just one more step onto that path. He wouldn't force her to join, but it would be great if she did, and who knows, she just might prove to be a good member.
The tiger then began plotting which ways he could take this conversation. The moment he found out just what she was looking for, he'd have to try and convince her to join. Perhaps he would talk about how...no he already said he was a good leader. Perhaps he'd just tell her the truth? That could work, the truth could be the key to letting her see how good of leader he was. At least it was a start. Now he'd just have to pretend to be a subordinate until he found out her intentions, then depending on where the conversation went, he'd reveal himself for what he was...if she didn't figure it out by then, which if she left she just might.
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Post by Gin on Dec 2, 2008 22:29:13 GMT -6
Teige watched cautiously as the tiger moved from the tree to the ground. He was big, bigger than the small opponent Teige offered. His weight made him sink into the mud, his large paws now coated with a layer of wet dirt. Teige cast a sly glance down to her paws. They also were coated with a fine layer of mud. She crinkled her nose but turned her eyes back on the tiger approaching her.
"He is tiger, wolf, and we are only seen when we want to be seen, trust me on that one." She mentally bristled at being called 'wolf'. It was not a name she had been raised to embrace. She had always been more fond of her Malamute side. Plus, Harlin was the only pure wolf she had ever met that she actually liked. He wasn't too bad. The others were intolerable. Harlin was simply annoying at times but she could deal with that. Yet, she had held in her annoyance at the name simply because she knew what she looked like, what she smelled like. She was a wolf to anyone who didn't know her. "He is a fair leader, the tiger, for as long as I've known him he has been kind and caring. He looks and acts like a leader does, it's like he was born to lead this clan. He has treated us well and I wish nothing bad to happen to him. So I ask you, why is it that you wish to see him wolf? It's not to make trouble is it? Are you going to be a problem? B-b-b-b-because he won't be happy if you are. He'll do something about it, and you'll be sorry wolf. We like to live in peace, not in chaos."
The great tiger stuttered over his words, giving Teige a silent laugh in her head. A mighty beast such as this and he was so weak. Yet he spoke highly of his leader. That was always good. But, if the opinion came from a naive fool, the opinion was like not to be valid. Again he had called her wolf. At the second time, Teige retorted. "Don't call me wolf, cat," she snapped back. Though, trying to make up for the previous tone, she lightened her voice and tried to make eye contact but he avoided it. "It's Teige, not wolf," she corrected, in a nicer manner. "And I will be no more sorry than you will be. I don't plan on trouble though I am not just going to let myself be taken advantage of."
She was silent for a moment, allowing thought on both ends. "I want only a place to stay at peace," she added.
As this cat seemed to think it would be impossible for the clever fae to find his clan leader, Teige decided not to leave. Besides, she had been in the territory over night, it would have been hard to miss her scent for that many hours and not do something about it.
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Post by Trick on Dec 6, 2008 23:22:58 GMT -6
Zeal flinched openly at her sharp tone. Oh how he started to hate playing the subordinate. It was just not him and it stunk! How did others do this? How could they live with themselves if they actually acted like this? He shuddered on the inside at these thoughts. The tiger couldn't wait until he could be himself again. For now however, the charade must continue. It was important to keep acting like this anyway. It always seemed like this was the best way to find out information, and it did work, so Zeal had to bare the inner torment of acting the subordinate.
"I'm sorry." Zeal whispered and bowed his head. He then looked up and met her eyes for a brief moment, a sort of spark showed from within them. Then suddenly he looked away towards the river. "It is...nice to meet you Teige." The tiger replied with a light smile. She had corrected her tone and Zeal felt that he should smile in response. Being this sneaky, you needed to have everything somewhat perfect. Not too perfect or the other would think about it being fake. Zeal had learned that the hard way with a Black Rhino. That had been a disaster he'd rather forget.
"That is great. It is good that you are not looking for trouble. I assure you, you won't be taken advantaged of at all. Our leader is fair and is not quick to judge. If you give him reason too, he will kick you out of here." Zeal replied and gave it some thought. She wanted to stay in peace did she? He had just met her and couldn't really judge her character at the moment. Should he reveal himself to her now? Would it be beneficial to him and the clan? He could just stay with her with his little act and find out more about her. In that amount of time however, she could leave and he could have lost a good member. He can reveal himself now and they can truly start talking, but she could be mad.
Zeal just shrugged inwardly, it could go both ways. He decided on however, to reveal himself now. He didn't want to lose a good potential member, and for the deer to start eating his words. Besides, he could finally be himself and not act like such a meek, little tiger, who seemed like he couldn't harm a fly.
"You wish to stay here in peace Tiege? That wish..." Zeal trailed off and looked directly into Tiege's eyes and a glint could be seen. His posture then changed once more. He rose up fully on his paws, his chest puffed out slightly and his head rose high into the air. His tail straightened out and rose up from the dirty ground and he at once took on the look of a leader. "Is granted." Zeal finished, his voice even changed into something more confident and strong. "My name is Zeal, leader of the clan Zilanthin. I hope I haven't offended you by deceiving you like this, but I had to make sure you weren't going to cause trouble. I'm not fully convinced that you won't however, but I can't force you out from what I've heard and seen so far. You are welcome to stay here for as long as you want, and if you have any problems, I'm always willing to help. My clan right now is small, and needs more members, but we can still help in a lot of ways." Zeal said and gave some thought on what he wanted to say next.
"Do you still wish to to speak to the leader, or are you going to be mad?" The tiger asked. He had never been around wolves enough to know how they'll react to certain things. What was worse, it seemed that every wolf had different personalities like big cats did, so what one wolf might like, another might hate. He was hoping she wouldn't mind, but Zeal prepared himself for anything. An almost primal sense within him geared up for a fight, and Zeal could feel it in his blood. He ignored it however, he couldn't be the attacker unless she had given him reason too and she hadn't so he didn't move.
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Post by Gin on Dec 7, 2008 17:18:21 GMT -6
“I'm sorry." The tiger’s voice was low and soft, almost as if he were scared of the fae. Teige mentally smirked. Oh how she loved having power. It was so nice to be able to control others. Of course, she rarely felt compelled to make others do things but when she did, she was good at it. Most of the time she might simply feel bad for telling someone to do something she could do but usually it was that she had control by doing it herself. She could do things her own way and without fear that someone else would screw it up. That was her biggest fear, someone making a mistake and it being blamed on her, her penalty.
The cat met her eyes for a brief second before turning his eyes aside. "It is...nice to meet you Teige." He smiled, still avoiding her harsh gaze. Thinking about it, Teige softened her eyes. It probably wasn’t a good idea to go around intimidating the members of the clan you wanted to join. Although, by the actions of this cat, he wasn’t hard to intimidate. "That is great. It is good that you are not looking for trouble. I assure you, you won't be taken advantaged of at all. Our leader is fair and is not quick to judge. If you give him reason too, he will kick you out of here." This tiger really seemed stuck on his leader. What was he, a god or something? Teige scoffed quietly, not bothering to notice if the tiger had heard her. Her dark eyes scanned around behind the cat. Maybe the leader was back in the forest somewhere, watching his minion. He had probably told the tiger what to say and how to go about things. There was no way the simple cat in front of her could know as much as he did on his own. The leader had to be around somewhere, helping him.
Her eyes flickered through the brush. Nothing in the ferns. No movement except the leaves in the trees. Nothing so much as slithered on the rough bark. Maybe she was just paranoid. Slowly and cautiously, Teige turned her attention back to the cat as he started to speak to her again. "You wish to stay here in peace Tiege? That wish..." The cat seemed to swell before her eyes. Her eyes sharpened, almost glaring at him with black pupils. The tiger had stood up, no more slumping as he had been. His head rose, back straightened, tail rose from the dirt. So this was the leader. He wasn’t hiding somewhere in the forest, he was hiding in plain sight. Teige suddenly felt very stupid. Her ears flattened back against her head and her tail drooped slightly though she kept her prideful stance before the cat. "Is granted. My name is Zeal, leader of the clan Zilanthin. I hope I haven't offended you by deceiving you like this, but I had to make sure you weren't going to cause trouble. I'm not fully convinced that you won't however, but I can't force you out from what I've heard and seen so far. You are welcome to stay here for as long as you want, and if you have any problems, I'm always willing to help. My clan right now is small, and needs more members, but we can still help in a lot of ways." Teige was silent. What could be said to that? ‘Oh, I knew all along, I was just playing along?’ Well, she hadn’t known, and she hadn’t been playing along. ‘Nice to meet you sir, lovely weather isn’t it?’ Right. That was smooth. So the dog had settled for silence.
The tiger, Zeal, seemed intent on a response from her. "Do you still wish to speak to the leader, or are you going to be mad?"
“Speak to the leader? Well, it would appear I already have,” she stated gruffly, letting her tail give a few irritated flicks before falling motionless. “And I suppose I cannot be mad with you for trying to protect your clan,” she added after a moment of heavy silence. “I would still like to ask about a higher position in the clan than an average member though. I should know better than to ask but I want to know. I probably don’t have a big chance since you still don’t trust me but it is worth a shot to try.” She tried to let her eyes ease up so she wouldn’t seem so commanding to the leader but it wasn’t working as well as she had hoped.
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Post by Trick on Dec 9, 2008 23:09:12 GMT -6
Zeal smiled, it seemed like he wasn't going to have to fight a wolf today. His smile turned into a smirk at her next words. "So you are going to join the clan then? That...is great!" Finally, he had a member in his clan that was different species all together. That deer would be eating his words quickly if this continued to happen. He looked into the eyes of the wolf, as if trying to see into her soul.
"It is not entirely because I don't trust you, but I have a few others that are runner up for the position of Deputy. Our rankings are slightly different then what you have in your packs. We have the aplha male and female, and then a deputy who takes the lead if both alpha's can't lead for whatever reason. Right now I am the only one in the rankings, no alpha female or Deputy at the moment. Since you and I have no feelings for each other what so ever unless we somehow get conked on the head and forget what we are, then your not going to be the alpha female. For the Deputy decision, it is a tough one. I have not decided on who will get it yet, so you still have a chance." Zeal explained to the wolf. She really did have a chance at getting it.
"Welcome to the clan Tiege. There is one female panther, female tiger, and one male Ocelot that are in it so far. I know they are all cats as well, but more like you and not like you will come. You are in the clan now, a clan who will be there for each other and other things, even though we are not all the same species. There is a meeting place that seems to be at the center of the forest. A single large tree stands alone and a large rock is beside it. Surrounding it on the outside of a medium sized circle on all sides is the forest, like I said it is in the very middle. It is marked by me so you will know it for sure. If you need any help or something and you can make it there, do so and call out, we will hear it and come. There you can step up onto the rock and tell us whatever it is you want to. This is how we call everyone together." Zeal explained once more, making sure to tell the wolf the important things.
"Now...are there anything you want to ask?"
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