Spirits of the Earth

OOC:  Tags to @Arianna Anderson!
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OC:
It was the middle of the day, and Nox was on his way out of a small village.  He had just completed a job for a farmer, hunting, and was going into Draconi Forest.  He had heard that there were a few Wolf-shifter packs in the woods, and a pack was exactly what he needed right now.

The shifter had felt lost and alone ever since that day nearly six years ago when he had been banished from his pack.  That wouldn't have been so bad, but none of his friends or family had tried to even ask the alpha if he could say.  They didn't even say goodbye.

Nox traveled deep into the sun-dappled woods, towards the spot where the farmer had said there was a shifter pack.  He was in his wolf form, as it was much faster to travel that way.  After a hour of walking, Nox reached a small clearing.   There were a few den-like houses, and people and wolves alike could be seen.

Nox padded up to the village, barking a greeting, and looking fondly at the pups playing in the sun.  The shifters looked at him, and while they did not run away, most ignored him, or looked at him suspiciously.  One wolf walked up to him.

"What do you want?" he asked, his tone harsh.

"I'm looking for a pack," Nox said. "May I speak with your alpha?"

Nox knew that this wolf was not the alpha, he didn't smell like one, but he was a beta. The beta shook his head at Nox's request.

"We're not taking in any strays," he said. " Leave."

"You must reconsider-!"

"Go now!" the wolf growled, but Nox didn't move.

"Beta, I implore you-!"

The beta snapped at him, growling.  "Go!". Then he barked, and three other wolves came to stand by him.  Nox growled, but backed away, he knew he would find no home here.  He turned and ran into the woods.

When he was a good distance away from the other pack, he slowed to a walk and transformed back into his human form, sighing.  This was the third pack this month to turn him away.  At this rate, he'd never find a pack.

Lyra had been in Adela all day long, she had bought some food with the money she earned that day. A mother was desperately trying to get shopping done with her three children. When one ran off and into Lyra and she treated him with compassion the mother all but nearly threw the kids at her so she could shop. With a shrug, Lyra kept them content and busy until she was done. In return she paid Lyra for her help. So Lyra bought a large steak, potatoes and tea.

Once she had it all, she decided to go eat in nature so she walked into the forest with her stuff and reached a clearing. She made a small fire ring with large stones and made a tent type stack with longs. Last she began to smash two rocks together and finally sparks flew igniting her small camp fire. She knew there was a pack around here, she could smell it. However she was off their territory so she shouldn't have any trouble. That was when a scent of a male was caught. Lyra's intense blue eyes looked around and saw the male. He didn't smell like the pack, was he a loner like she was?

"Hello...."

She said slowly standing up tucking her fire red hair behind her ear and even offered him a smile. He looked torn and very upset which pushed Lyra to want to know what happened, but this was a stranger and probably didn't want to share with someone he didn't know.

@JackieCat

Nox smelled the female before he saw her.  For a moment he was going to walk the other way, thinking she was a part of the pack he had just been rejected from, but then, she didn't smell like them, so he continued on.

He found her sitting by a fire.  When she smelled him she stood up and smiled at him, offering a greeting.

"Hello," he said as he got closer.  He stopped a few yards from her.  He wondered if she was alone, he didn't smell any other wolves around, but it was a strange coincidence for him to find another one wolf so soon after being so blatantly rejected by the other pack.  He wanted to ask 'what are you doing here?' but that seemed rather abrupt, so instead he forced a smile.  "I'm Nox," he said instead.

She turned back to the fire, keeping a slight eye on him, after all you never turn your back on a wolf you don't know. She grabbed the thin and soft piece of wood and put the raw meat on it and placed it over the fire. She heard his greeting and turned back to him with the same smile.

"Lyra."

She said tucking her hair back behind her ear. She studied him for a few moments while listening to their surroundings, mainly for an ambush. When nothing was heard she would speak again,

"Would you like some food? I have enough to share."

Her alphas always taught her to share with wolves that needed it. Even though Lyra was alone and didn't have a pack, she was still going to live by those words.

"I have steak, potatoes and tea."

She said with a bright smile before turning to flip the meat over. Lyra's inner wolf was alert and cautious while Lyra's human was calm and collected.

Nox smiled at her offer, but shook his head. "No, I'm fine," he said.  "Thank you, though."

He stood there for a second, not quite sure what to say.  "So. . ." he said awkwardly after a second, "you're traveling?"

Lyra would smile and shrug going to sit down against the log where she was facing him and grabbed the still raw but warmed up steak. Hey she was a wolf she she liked and needed raw meat. She took the potatoes and poured water into it and put it over the water to boil for the potatoes. She took a bite of her meat and licked her lips looking up at him.

"Traveling. Wondering. Whatever you want to call it."

She said with a smile.

"I'm a rouge at the moment haven't found a pack that will accept me or that I fit into so....until then I'm just traveling around."

She told him taking another bite of her meat. She shared just enough for him to understand where she was coming from but not too many as to pour her who history on him.

"What about you?"

Nox nodded.  "Same here."  Then he smiled somewhat bitterly.  "I just tried the pack over there," he gestured behind him. "And they made it very clear they didn't want me, before I even told them who I was.  Did you try going by them?"

If she had, and they had rejected her, then they must just not want wolves in general, and not just excluded Nox because they didn't like him for whatever reason.

She looked at him and would huff slightly,

"No I didn't. I watched them from afar for a while because I thought about joining but the way the treated some members made me very mad. I didn't want to join after that. I may never join a pack again. It seems like either the packs I see don't want rouges or I find something very wrong. If I knew of more rouges like us around here, I would start my own pack."

She told him flat out. It seemed like he was being honest so she was going to be honest as well. She took another bite of her meat and dumped the pre-skinned potatoes into the water and waited for them to become soft so she could mash them up. She pulled out a drawstring bag and sprinkled something into the water. It was a herb called Rosemary and one of the things it helped was for food poisoning.

"I am sorry the treated you like that. It wasn't fair to you in the least."

She told him offering him a apologetic smile even if she was not a part of that pack. She may be a rouge but she was showing true alpha tendencies. 

Nox smiled again.  "It's not your fault," he said to her. "But i should have done what you did and watched to see what they were like befroe I even attempted to join."

He thought about what she said about starting her own pack.  She definitely acted like and alpha, and if there were other rouge wolves. . .

"Perhaps we could try to find some other wolves to make a pack," he suggested.  This was a very abrupt suggestion, but, he thought, why not?

She began to mash the potatoes up and would smile slightly at what he said about doing what she did, she always watched others, she learned that from her friend Demi. She put her freshly mashed potatoes into a bowl and took the water off the fire and looked at him with his next words. That was a bit unexpected. The wolfess scratched her arm leaning back thinking about what he said carefully. Slowly she would nod and smile.

"Yeah okay. Wanna stick with me while we try to form a pack?"

She asked eating the rest of her meat and licked her lips happily. Maybe she would finally be a part of a true family. Though she didn't feel talking about making another pack this close to another pack especially one so rude was a good idea.

"Can I ask what happened to your pack or is too soon or me to ask that?"

She asked eating her potatoes.

"Sure," Nox said, and when she asked about what happened to his pack, he nodded. "We were attacked by a rival pack, and our alpha was killed. . .  Then the alpha of the other pack took over.  He was, is, an awful leader, and i tried to get the others to see that, and to help to make the pack better, but they were all to scared of him.  Eventually he kicked me out." Nox sighed. "I was just trying to help.  And no one even tried to stop him from banishing me, even though they knew I was right. . ."

Nix sighed again then looked up, smiling weakly.  "Enough about me, what happened to your pack?  Why aren't you still with them?"

The young female finished her dinner and hugged her knees resting her chin on the fabric of her dress letting out a sigh and closing her eyes shaking her head. What he told her made her so sad. She looked at him with pain filled eyes,

"I am so sorry to hear that."

She said before he asked about her. She let out a sigh and looked at him,

"Well. I was born into a family with two children. My older brother and my mother, father and ,me. We were both sent up north to the Mountain Pack. We learned how to control our wolves and learned our talents. Then one night on a midnight full moon hunt, we ran into a rouge. The alphas took him in and well. He began killing people and livestock which was a big no no in our family. So after three warnings he was exiled and chased out of the city to save our pack. The damage was already done. Vampires came and attacked our pack because the rouge killed some of them."

She paused before continuing,

"A war broke out. Many died but the Alphaess named he beta and I ran around saving others and sending them out of harms way. I was separated from them. I got letters from time to time always saying I could come back and be with them. I always think about it but, I need to make my own life.I don't hate rouges because not all are bad, something was already off about that one.

She said with a smile on her face and poured herself a cup of tea and looked at him.

"Thirsty?"

She asked.

As she spoke, Nox stepped forwards and sat down on the other side of the fire, listening sadly to her story.  When she was finished he shook his head.

"I'm sorry," he said. "It's awful how one wolf can wreck the lives of so many others."

He smiled when she offered him some tea. "Sure," he said. "Thank you."  Not sure if she had another cup, he reached into his bag and pulled out his own tin cup and poured himself some of the hot tea.

As he sat back he spoke again. "So you were the beta of your pack?"

She would nod to his comment about the exiled wolf,

"Well you know what they say, the strength of the wolf if the pack and the strength of the pack is the wolf."

She told him sipping her tea. What wise words. Her Alpha taught her that and she truly believed it. She didn't belive it until after the ordeal with the wolf. She smiled when he sat down and took some tea. Lyra nodded to his thank you.

"I hope you like hot tea."

She said with a half smile and brushed her red hair out of her face. Her blue eyes fell on him once more when he asked if she was a beta in her pack, and she nodded before answering.

"Originally I was a hunter and a scout. Though during times of stress I could take control and I was moved up to beta to help control situations that may get out of hand or take the place of the leaders if they were gone."

She told him. She had never truly been an alpha but she was always under paw of one of the leaders so it was possible for her to become an alpha if the situation presented it's self.

Nox nodded. "I was also a beta," he said. "But not for long.  Soon after I was appointed the rank, the other alpha moved in, and a few months after that I was exiled."

He sighed, but then shook his head and smiled. "Well, that's all past I need to focus on the present and the future right now."

She looked at him with serious written over her face, even with this stern look Lyra had the underlying look of calm and sweet.

"Have you even thought about going back with a pack that you created or joined and fought the alpha. I know he exiled you, but, all those other wolves are still being led by an iron paw. Who knows what he's doing because they won't stand up to him."

This bothered her greatly. The whole pack couldn't be omegas. She understood Omegas keeping quiet and she understood submissive betas but it was very unlikely everyone in that pack but Nox was an Omega or submissive. She let out an annoyed huff that ended up being a tiny growl. Her look softened as he was going to leave the past in the past and look forward to now and the future. Lyra took a long sip of her tea before letting out a sigh,

"Any ideas where we should go from here? I'd like to move soon. The longer we stay here the more I fear an ambush from that pack up the forest."

She commented grabbing some leaves and wrapping up her meat inside it before tying it closed with some plain string.

Nox nodded, she was right.  "I have thought about it," he said. "And even was going to go back a few times, and perhaps I will, someday, but not now."

As she changed the subject, Nox thought on her next question.  They should move out, especially with the other pack so close.  "We could head deeper into the forest," Nox suggested. "I know there's other packs deeper in, and where there are packs, there a rouges nearby, hoping they can join a pack or scavenge from them."

The young wolfess picked up a fist full of dirt in both hands and threw it on the fire causing it to go out and threw the bag over her shoulder and looked at Nox with a fearless look in her eyes as they sparkled like diamonds.

"Let's move then."

She said. Her voice was calm and caring yet they held authority admired by many. She turned with a quick yet graceful movement causing her red hair to fly around her and smiled before heading west. She wasn't sure where she was going, she was just following scents of other wolves before letting out a sigh. Hoe do you even start a pack? Had they already established a pack? She wasn't sure but she was willing to jump headfirst fearless. Though she hoped Nox liked them sharing ideas and thoughts instead of one of them taking full control.

"Hopefully we can gather a few packless wolves and give them new hope."

She said with another sigh looking at him.

Nox watched her red hair swing around as she turned, but snapped himself out of his daze and nodded.

"I know there are probably rogues around, and there are a group of packs spread out that way," he pointed to the west.  He agreed when she suggested just finding packless wolves.

"I just hope that they weren't kicked out of their packs for actions that were less-than honorable," he said. "I don't want to make a pack full of criminals, though perhaps the 'criminals' just need a home."
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OOC: I like the new username!

The sweet she wolf would pause walking for a moment before continuing. She was thinking of what he said and come up with an idea and wanted to see what Nox thought.

"We can accept everyone in as pledge members which means they are part of our pack and we will watch them. Then after a while under the full moon we will bump them to full members unless they have a special gift for another area. That way nobody gets left out, we can see everyone's actions and I don't have a repeat of my old pack."

She told him but the very last part about her pack was mumbled under her breath but Nox probably heard that being that he had sensitive hearing as did Lyra. As they headed farther into the forest, Lyra noticed the trees becoming thinker and thinker as more and more seemed to appeared, somehow it was comforting and she left completely at peace.

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OOC: Hehe thanks! I thought the name was fitting ^_^

"Good idea," Nox agreed.  "Though we have to be careful."

As the trees got thicker, Nox could smell a pack to the south, and another, farther, to the north.  They were walking nearly right between the two territory.

"There's bound to be some rogues around," Nox said hopefully. "I hope it doesn't take us too long."

Lyra still had a warm heart, but part of her heart a bit tainted with her past with the rouge and honestly if anyone caused trouble Lyra would have no problem settling it either in wolf form or human form. She wouldn't let anyone stand in her way of keeping this new pack safe. Not anyone.

The wolfess caught the scents of two different pack and blinked looking around. Which way should they go. Her eyes would go back to Nox and scratched her head. If she was a rouge looking for a pack ( which she had been) She would keep walking between the two packs before making a choice...that really was no hope.

"So which pack do we go near first?"

She asked hoping to also find rouges to add to their new pack.

"Well, the one to the north is closer, so. . ." Nox shrugged and turned north. "Why not?"

He started walking towards the nearer camp.  He looked over his shoulder at Lyra. "So, how long have you been without a pack?"

She nodded and changed her directions to the pack up north before hearing his question,

"Six moons."

She spoke in a stable voice as if it didn't bother her anymore,

"When I was in Mist Haven and I was growing up learning things in my pack, I dreamed many things. I dreamed of growing up in a pack, meeting my other half and continuing the pack's legacy by having children. While I still do want to have children, I also want to keep others safe. I want them to grow up in a safe pack, I want them to never have to worry about their safety."

She told Nox looking at him as her eyes sparkled from the tears threatening to break free. Quickly she concealed her emotions and looked down, her red hair hiding half of her face. The dreams she had just talked about, were so intense that it brought tears to her eyes. Her thoughts  were pushed back as they began to get closer to the pack and she felt like they where being watched. She slowed her pace and scanned the tree line around them, it couldn't be the pack as they hadn't entered the territory yet nor had they even entered the outskirts of their territory.

Nox winced as tears gathered in Lyra's eyes.

"I shouldn't have brought it up," he said gently. "I didn't know it was so recent. . ."

He had been wandering for almost six years, and though the pain was still very real, it was not as raw.  "I'm sure we'll make this work," Nos smiled, trying to cheer her up. "We'll make a pack and want for nothing!"

He stopped then, for he, too, sensed that they were being watched.  He looked at Lyra, silently wondering, could it be a rogue?  He looked around, sniffing the air.  There was definitely another wolf near, though it didn't really smell like the pack they were nearing.

Nox debated calling out to whoever was in the trees, but he didn't need to.  A moment later a wolf stepped out of the trees, his eyes narrowed suspiciously and his body in a defensive crouch.  He was quite a sight.  His fur was scraggly and scars could be seen on his body where the fur had not grown back.  He had known they had sensed him, so he had come out.

She heard Nox talking, but didn't respond. She was focused on the sounds around them, what if this was an ambush? She sniffed the air and was glad there was only one scent in the air. Then the wolf appeared. He was scruffy and seemed to have scars all over his body.

Instantly Lyra let the transformation take place, the sound of popping and cracking of bones filled the air. The sound was followed by shifting bones. Soon the red head female was standing on all fours and was a red furred wolf. She looked at the male and tilted her head. She yipped a few times asking if he was alone and where was his pack. She looked up at Nox and swayed her tail in a friendly manner to both males.

The lone wolf eyed Lyra suspiciously as Nox also transformed into his large wolf form.  "You don't smell like any of the packs 'round here," he barked quietly, seemingly not hearing her question.  He sniffed again, and, seemingly smelling something important, he immediately crouched to the ground, but it was not a crouch to get ready to spring, it was more submissive, but not completely.  He had smelled their rank.  Betas, though they weren't from the same pack.  He hadn't smelled it at first because the scent was so faint.  The scruffy wolf didn't know this, but it was faint from Nox and Lyra's time traveling away from their packs.  But he still smelled it, stronger on Lyra.

Then he answered the questions.  "I don't 'ave a pack," he said. He looked like he was going to ask a question, but he hesitated as he looked at Lyra and Nox.  Both wolves were healthier, stronger, and bigger than him, and in Nox's case, much bigger, so he snapped his scarred muzzle shut.

Lyra noted the way he crouched down and sighed, he was submitting which wasn't a bad thing. She looked at Nox and would lay down on her belly looking at the new wolf. She wasn't submitting in any way, instead she was showing him that it was okay. Hearing his answer, she would place her furry head on her front paws before lifting up and walking closer to him. She yipped a couple of times and swayed her tail faster, kind of like wagging it. 'Would you like to come with us and join ours?' She asked moving to he side with side with the new wolf. 'What's your name?' She asked sitting down net to him now curling her tail around her paws.  If was to attack her for any reason, he would have easy access considering she was sitting right next to him but something told the she wolf that he wasn't going to be attacking anyone at the moment. She held her Beta pose, but it wasn't threatening, it was just a habit that she grew to have over the time being a beta and it probably wouldn't change any time soon.

Nox watched Lyra's behavior and appreciated it, she really knew how to take charge of a situation, but not be bossy or demanding.  The other wolf shied away slightly as she sat next to him, but he didn't run, or attack her.

"You're pack?" the other wolf yipped, confused.  Nox didn't blame him, they didn't look much like a pack.

"We were both loners," Nox explained. "We met up, and decided to find other rogues to make a pack.  Seeing you don't have a pack, we would like you to join us."

The other wolf looked very suspicious, but Nox was not going to judge the book by its cover. 

The scarred wolf narrowed his eyes, wondering if it was a trick, then he slowly grunted. "Alright. . . Is there a catch?"

The she wolf was acting like a true alpha and she was okay with that, in a way it came natural to her. She was always under the foot of the alpha female growing up. Yes she loved her parents, but she was always chasing after the alpha female and so over time she learned things from watching her. When Nox spoke up, she looked at him nodding her furry head in agreement.

'Both of us came from negative pack circumstances. Fate had us meet and we got to talking and decided to start a pack of our own. You happen to be the first rouge that we came across. There is no catch however, I will say this. You will be loyal to the pack. The pack is family, the only way a pack can run and run successfully is if we are all on the same page. We need the pack to be generous, have honestly, laughter kindness and loyalty.'

She paused to let him think about that and would stand  back up.

'Look, we may seem different as the night is from the day, but if you look a little deeper you will see that I'm just like you and you're just like me. I'm going to be myself no matter what I do, and if we are different then I want you to be true to you. If you follow us, we will put our differences aside. We will stick together to make our pack thrive.'

She said in a very matter-of-fact way while still keeping her even, calm and non-bossy tone.

'We are very honored to have you join the pack.'

Lyra would say before coming to stand by Nox

'I am Lyra, what is your name?'

She asked and would let Nox introduce himself.

The other wolf listened as she spoke, and wrinkled his nose when she mentioned being loyal to the pack. "I would never be anythin' but," he replied as she stood. "To any pack I was a part of."

As she walked over to the Nox and stood next to him, the wolf thought about what she said, then slowly nodded. "I'll join.  The name's Skiffiles, but you can call me Skiff."

"And I'm Nox," the black wolf said. "Welcome to our pack, Skiff."

'You will be a pledge in the pack for a while, until you get settled. You have all rights as a member does as a pledge. It's just a rank that is given so we all know who are new and maybe even who needs more help than others. Under the next full moon, we will hunt together to show unity and celebrate having you in our pack. Welcome Skiff.'

She spoke as her tail swayed lightly. Upon saying welcome, Lyra would stick out her front left paw and lower her upper body and head for a moment, in a wolf's way of bowing. After that she stood back up and pointed her nose back in the air.

'Are you hungry now Skiff? We can take a mini hunting break and get some food.'

She spoke looking over at Nox and Skiff. Skiff looked a little thin so maybe he didn't get much food. That and Lyra's wolf was now out and itching to hunt and chase an animal. Lyra looked at Nox and nodded her head slightly, happy to have found their first pack member. Once they settled down for the night, they would have to choose a name for them.

Skiff nodded hesitantly wondering if this was some sort of test.  He hadn't hunted in a while, mostly eating what the other wolves left behind.  He couldn't hunt large game without a pack, the only animals around here he could hunt himself were small animals, such as rabbits and even smaller rodents.  Even a deer was too big for him to take down alone.

"We could a get a deer, the three of us," Nox suggested.

"There's a clearing not far from here where deer sometimes gather," Skiff said. "We could go there?"

Both he and Nox automatically looked to Lyra.  Nothing had been said about it yet, but it was obvious to both males who was the alpha here, and it had been from the start.

Lyra noted Skiff's hesitation but didn't say anything, Hey, she would be like that too if her backstory was like that.  She would just let him ease into the pack on his own time, not need to rush anything. She looked at Nox who proposed the idea of hunting down a deer and then her eyes looked over to Skiff who told them about a clearing not far from here. When both males looked over at Lyra, it was at that moment, she knew she was the alpha of the pack. She flicked her tail,

'Will you show us this clearing Skiff, we can take down a deer if we all work together.'

She told him moving up and would follow Skiff once he agreed to lead them toward the deer, if he agreed. If not she'd have to use her nose to lead them there. She hoped Skiff would lead them there because that would start building the trust foundation between the three, mainly for Skiff to know that once he turned his back they were not going to attack him. Lyra was sneaky in ways to push friendship and trust, not in dis-honest ways.

For a moment, Skiff hesitated again, but then turned his back on the two larger wolves and started for the clearing.

Nox looked over at Lyra and wagged his tail slightly, Skiff was starting to trust him, or at least feel like he could turn his back without being attacked.

Skiff started to walk slower as they got closer to the clearing, and he lowered to his belly when they got right next to it, motioning that Nox and Lyra should do so as well.  As they were able to see into the clearing, Nox saw a small herd of deer.  Three does and one buck.  He would wait for Lyra to call the target.

A light smile played over the muzzle of the red wolf was Skiff lead them toward the clearing. Her eyes caught Nox, her blue eyes looked at him and saw him wag his tail and Lyra returned the wag of her tail. She thought it was too cute that he was getting so excited. Once the trio reached the clearing Lyra lowered her body to the ground. Her ears up, her blue eyes watched the heard. The buck would be a full meal but....he was the strongest. Her eyes went over to the two does and contemplated which one. Then, her eyes saw the one doe, one of a medium size wondering away from the herd. A low quiet growl left her muzzle. Her eyes went to Skiff and Nox,

'See that one that is separated from the rest. That one is the one we have. I'll go around and make sure it cant run back to it's herd. You two dash out and try to slow it down. I'll help. Don't let it step on you. If you see the herd coming toward us, you both get to safety.'

She ordered them - yet even with her orders, she had an underlying sound of kindness about her tone. Without another word, she snuck around the deer and would dash out chasing off the rest of the heard. With a howl she gave the signal for the other two to try to take down the deer..

Both Nox and Skiff tore out of the trees as Lyra gave her howl to attack.  Skiff barked in happiness as he ran, he hadn't hunted like this in so long. . .

Nox made a circle around the deer, so there were wolves on three sides of it.  The deer bolted for the trees, but Nox leaped in front of her, snapping his teeth and she was forced to turn back.  She ran towards Skiff, seeing him as the lest dangerous attacker.  She was right, but that didn't mean the smaller wolf would let her escape.  He leaped at her as she ran by him, digging his sharp claws into her back.  She stumbled, but didn't fall, and bucked Skiff off.  The wolf rolled to the ground, but got up and went again at the doe.

As the two males began to attack the lone doe, Lyra was keeping the rest of the herd back. She would snap her teeth at any deer that came close to her. Soon all but the buck was left. She growled, her fur standing up. Her tail was level with her body and her ears were pinned back. Those intese blue eyes were locked on the buck and she could and would easily counter it's attacks. She knew he wanted to go save that doe, but the she would wasn't hoinh to let him go. Not at all.

Upon hearing the thud, the she wolf broke her stare on the buck for a split second as she turned to see who it was that fell. Seeing Skiff get up she turned back to the buck only to see back hoofs coming at her. She growled backing up and turning only to get kicked hard in the side. She let out a loud whimper in pain as she fell to the ground. Now she was truly mad and the wolf had fully taken over Lyra. She let out a roar of anger as she got up dodging the buck's attack. In her anger she pushed off the ground leaping into the air and latching onto the buck's side. Her powerful jaws bit down, but she didn't have a good grip with her claws and was thrown off. She fell on non-hurt side so it didn't hurt, but she did have the wind knocked out of her. As she laid there for a moment trying to catch her breath, she saw the buck's antlers coming right at her. She scrambled to her feet as the tip of the antler's got her. She let out a yelp of pure pain as she fell to the ground. The smell of blood was in the air, but, it was hard to tell if it was the doe's, the buck's or Lyra's.

Lyra laid on the ground in pure pain, there was no way she was getting up. On her side, her red fur was wet with blood from a small wound due to the buck who was again coming at Lyra at full speed. Painfully she got up and growled moving to her left, still trying to keep the buck at bae while now keeping herself safe and trying to control her wolf who was still in a sate of rage.

Nox had reachd the doe, and he and Skiff both brought it down.  Skiff was putting the doe out of her misery when Nox heard a loud growl and spun around to see the buck attacking Lyra.

The large wolf ran across the field for them, but by the time he got there, Lyra was standing, but there was another wound in her side, ad the buck was still coming towards her.  Nox threw himself at the buck, and the huge wolf collided with the deer with so much force that the large buck almost fell.  Nox clung to his back for a moment, before jumping back to the ground and standing in front of Lyra, barking and growling at the buck.  Enraged, the buck looked like he was going to come back to fight, but Skiff had appeared by Nox's side, and the buck ran off into the woods after his does.

Nox and Skiff immediately turned to Lyra.  There was a bloodied would in her side, though it didn't look to deep, and she looked sore, the buck must have kicked her.

"What do we do?" Skiff asked, his yellow eyes wide, and Nox too, looked fearful, but he stood his ground.

"Lyra, we should get out of the open if we can, can you move?"

They didn't want any other predators coming around and seeing them as the prey.

When the two males came to her aid she mentally gave a sigh or relief. The wound in her side wasn't deep, but it was there and she was sore. She looked at Skiff when he asked what did they do. She concealed her pain and looked at Nox and Skiff,

'I'm fine. I can walk, let's grab the doe.'

She stated flatly and turned around to lead them into the bushes to get out of the clearing while pulling the doe, the killed it so it was there kill. With every step she took she would wince.  She held in her whimpers of pain, she was just slower than usual. If either male was walking beside her, they would notice the winces of pain. Lyra was trying hard to hide her emotions, she was never good at expressing her emotions, and now being an alpha, she really thought she had to hide them even better for the sake of the pack.

Nox frowned as they walked towards the doe, Lyra wincing all the while.

"I'll get the doe," the wolf said. "You two just get out of the clearing."

He gave Skiff a look that clearly said, 'Help her', and Skiff offered to let Lyra lean on him if she needed.

Nox grabbed the doe and started to drag her towards the edge of the clearing.  As the there of them got there, Nox froze, sniffing the air.

"There are other wolves near here," he yipped quietly.

"They are the Midlast Pack," Skiff breathed. "They'll try to take the doe. . . They don't like me much."

"Great, just what we need right now," Nox sighed.

She wanted to lean on Skiff, but she was trying her hardest to show him she was strong and she was a strong alpha. She looked at Nox when he spoke about a pack being near here. She looked at Skiff and Lyra let out a growl standing up taller looking at both of them.

'They will not take our doe. They will not hurt you Skiff. You are safe here in this pack and we will not let anyone hurt you. If they want this deer or they want to hurt you they will have to get through me. No outsider wolves will ever hurt my pack again. Ever.'

She told mostly Skiff but was also looking at Nox. She sighed and looked around. She saw a den.

'Wait here.'

She told them both and slowly made her way over to the den. She poked her nose up in the air sniffing. The wolves were in the area but, the den seemed clear. She walked into the deep den and looked around. Empty....safety! At least until they can move again, or more so Lyra could shift back.

She poked her head out of the den looking at the two males.

'I found a den, come and we will put the doe in the back and Skiff if the pack shows up, you will be behind me. I will protect you.'

She said and sighed sitting down in the opening of the cave.

Nox wanted to go after Lyra into the den, what if there was something in there that would attack her?  But he stayed put.

When she came out and spoke, Nox dragged the deer into the back of the den, Skiff following.  "You should get some rest," he said. "If the other wolves come, you'll need your strength."

In reality, Nox just wanted the Alpha to lie down.  She needed it, no matter what she said. "A injury does not mean you're weak," he said quietly, wagging his tail at her.  He knew that she must be struggling with this.

She looked at both and swayed her tail quietly and sat still but would nod her head and move to the left side of the cave where she was still near the front and laid down. She looked at Nox and thumped her tail a few times. Luckily she was a werewolf and that meant this wound would heal rather quickly. She blinked and sighed looking around the den then looked at Nox,

'I got attacked by a deer. A deer Nox.'

She said before closing her eyes and turning her head away from both males, she was feeling pretty weak but with the higher healing rate, the bleeding had stopped. She felt bad and looked back at Nox.

'But thank you.'

She said thumping her tail. She wondered if the other pack was going to come around. Her eyes went over to Skiff then Nox. She had to keep these two safe even if it meant her getting hurt.

Nox scoffed. "You were out of practice, and a buck is a danger to any wolf."

He fell silent as there was a sound from outside, then a voice, a human voice, called down into the den.

"We know you're in there, Sirium," the voice growled. "And we don't care who's there with you.  Come out!"

Skiff looked fearfully from Nox to Lyra, then towards the voice.  "This is free territory, Halk, you can't do anything  to me here!"

"Want to bet?" the voice growled, and now it was the voice of a wolf, he had shifted. "Come up here and we'll see about that."

Lyra laid there and sighed closing her eyes again. Her ears went up hearing sounds outside. She opened her eyes when the threats came. She growled loud, loud enough for them to hear. She forced herself to shift to her human form despite her pain. When she was fully in her human form, there where rips in her dress showing the wound from earlier that day.

"Stand down here. Both of you, especially you Skiff. You don't come out for anything."

She snapped. She climbed out of the den and looked at the two people. Her intense blue eyes held anger and rage. She didn't show her pain to them or that another wolf was inside.

"Leave now. This isn't your territory. Who I have with me isn't your concern."

She said but growled wrinkling her nose. She was an alpha and she was showing it to them that she was indeed an alpha.

Nox looked at Skiff, wanting immensely to go up after Lyra, but he didn't.

The man outside looked Lyra over and growled, even in his human form.  "Sirium doesn't belong to a pack," he said harshly. "And he never should."

The man narrowed his eyes at Lyra. "Who are you?  And why did you even come to these parts?"

"Well He belongs to mine. And he always will have a home here with my family."

She growled at them both. She let out a steady breath as he asked her name and why she came here. She could also feel the tension rolling off Nox and honestly that made her feel safe.

"Lyra. My name is Lyra  and it's none of your business of why I'm here. Why do you even care? You don't even know me or my family."

She stated as a matter of fact tone.

"Now leave. You're threatening my family and that's not okay with me. So leave."

She said growling stepping closer narrowing her eyes.

The man shook his head and laughed bitterly.

"Fine," he said cooly. "You can keep Sirium, just make sure he never comes near our territory again."  He started to walk away, but looked over his shoulder to say one last thing to Lyra, his voice full of venom. "Just be careful who you let into your pack.  It's your choice, but I wouldn't want a traitor in my pack.  That's why I kicked him out."

Lyra clenched her fists and growled, even in her human form, it sounded awful,

"LEAVE NOW AND DON'T EVER COME BACK!"

She yelled getting herself all worked up and growled again as they left. Once they were in out of sight she turned her back and went back into the den. She lost her footing and slip down on her hands and knees. She came face to face with Skiff.

"What was he talking about? Why did he kick you out? I won't accept traitors."

She said in a calm tone as her hand went over her wound as she sighed looking at him, her eyes sparkling with tears.

"And please tell me the truth...."

Her bottom lip quivered and she looked over at Nox. She wasn't sure how much longer she could hold back her emotions.

Nox transformed into his human form, and crouched next to Lyra.  He could see she was battling her emotions, but for now, he just looked to Skiff.

The wolf sighed, and for the first time shifted into his human form.  He looked much like the wolf self, small and wiry, and covered in scars.

"I'm no a traitor," he said, and there was sympathy in his eyes as he looked at Lyra. "But I took some unnecessary risks when I was younger.  I was careless. . . And our pack was on the brink of war with another.  I was out huntin', and I crossed the border between our territories.  I was attacked, but they let me go because I lied to 'em, saying that I would spy for 'em if they wouldn't kill me."

Nox growled, but Skiff hurriedly continued, his tone now desperate and his eyes cast down at the floor. "I would have never gone through with it!  Wouldn't you have lied to get out of bein' killed?  And I was twelve. . .  I headed back to my pack, intendin' to tell my alpha everythin', but some other wolves in my pack had seen me get attacked, they had seen me lie.  They got back to our alpha first, and told him I was a traitor.  As soon as I got back I was rejected, kicked out. . . There was nothin' I could say. . ." He looked up at Lyra and Nox, his eyes pleading with them. "But I would never betray my pack.  Never.  Not for anythin'.  You 'ave to believe me!"

Lyra listened to Skiff and narrowed her eyes listening to him, she didn't say anything while he was talking. When he was done she sucked in taking a deep breath, the deep inhale kept her calm but it hurt her side and she winced. That was when she spoke.

"I would have died instead of doing that. My pack was attacked by vampires when a newly joined wolf killed live stock, people and vampires. My alpha died. He could have done what you did but instead he died. The alpha female had to carry on the pack alone. So I would have died. I am sorry they kicked you out but I don't agree with what you did. I do believe you."

She said moving to be against the walls to lean back against the walls. She looked at both males and sighed lightly pulling her knees up to her chest and resting her head on her knee caps. She would so much rather be having a bath and a nice bed instead of a den like this. Yeah she was spoiled and her human side loved the 'human' things she did while her wolf was pure wild.

Skiff bit his lip.  "But dead I would be no use to my pack," he said. "By lying to them, I would have been able to escape, and help fight in the battles we knew would come.  I did not betray my pack.  I would have been able to help them if they hadn't judged so harshly. . ." he trailed off, and said no more.

"Perhaps we should eat," Nox said, trying to add a little cheer to the gloomy atmosphere. "Cooked or raw?"

Lyra didn't say anything, she wasn't sure what to say. Yes Skiff had a point but she still didn't see how one could do that so freely. She sighed again and wrapped her arms around her knees only to let go a few moments later from the pain radiating through her side.

"You two eat first. I'll have what's left over."

Usually Alpha's went first but they were a small pack and Lyra ate not that long ago so she wasn't hungry yet and she wanted to make sure both males had full and happy bellies before she touched anything. Her mind was going a mile a minute while she sat there,

"If we are a family, a pack. We need a name....any ideas?"

She asked.

Nox shook his head. "We'll all eat," he said. "We all need all the strength we can get."

He put a hand on Lyra's shoulder. "Don't worry," he said, and frowned when she mentioned a name. "I don't know," he said. "My pack's name was Dusk River."

"And mine was Nighthollow," Skiff said hesitantly, not sure if his input would be appreciated.

Lyra sighed and rolled her eyes, she really wasn't hungry and the only real reason why she wasn't arguing was because she was tired from that days events, she did need her strength and the more energy and strength she had, the faster she could heal. She looked at Nox and smiled looking down. What was that she was feeling? She felt like she had butterflies in her tummy. Maybe she was actually hungry......or maybe.....? The subject of the pack name over took her other thoughts,

"Hmmm..."

She said thinking.

"NightRiver Haven?"

She purposed.

"It's a mix of all of our pack names."

She said with a bright smile.

"I'd like my meat cooked just a little."

She added with a light giggle, she was already feeling a bit better. Lyra always sprung back quickly from whatever life threw at her. If she was down for an extended amount of time, something big must have happened.

Skiff sighed, seemly relieved that Lyra was happier now, and Nox too felt a warmth upon seeing her smile, but perhaps it was a little different. . .

He didn't get to finish his thought as Lyra spoke, NightRiver Haven. . . he smiled. "I like that," he said, and he then looked to Skiff.  "Now that the other wolves are gone, would you go out to get some wood for a fire?"  the other shifter nodded and walked out, returning a few minutes later with a armful of wood.

By now, Nox had gotten out his knife and had brought the deer outside to butcher it.  Skiff made a small fire near the entrance of the den, so that it could be inside but would let the smoke out.

"I think NightRiver Haven's good as well," Skiff said as he tended the fire. "Should we stick with it?"

"I think so," Nox said, and looked to Lyra for confirmation, after all, she was the Alpha and had come up with the name.

With a slight yawn she smiled as Nox liked the pack name idea and watched Skiff leave to grab firewood. When he came back and started the fire, Lyra would move closer to the warmth before leaning back against the wall and smiled as Skiff also like the name idea and nodded,

"Yeah we can stick with that."

She said in a happy and sleepy tone,

"Where do we head after this?"

She asked watching the fire grow and made a mental note to put it out before night fall so no groups of wolves surrounded them, she didn't want another encounter today - but would handle it if they where 'lucky' enough to meet more packs. Hopefully all of them were not as rude as the last pack they met. Thinking back on it, the she wolf wold scoff quietly and roll her eyes shaking her head.

Nox shrugged. "I don't know," he said, continuing to butcher the deer.  "Are there any more loners around here, Skiff?"

The smaller man nodded. "I know a few," he said. "And meet up with 'em sometimes, but I don't know where any of 'em are now."

Nox instructed Skiff to put a spit over the fire, which on Nox put a few pieces of the meat.  "Well, despite all that happened," Nox chuckled. "At least we got some good food!"

Lyra listened to the two talk about loners, finding them and food before she would smile and nod her eyes closed. Her injury was healing thanks to her faster rate of healing but she did need to sleep. So she fell into a deep sleep laying next to the fire with her pack

- A few hours later-

The moon was high in the sky when Lyra awoke. She stretched and noticed that her wound was closed and just sore now. She would get up and move out of the cave to get some fresh air and stretch her legs. She inhaled deeply taking in the scents around her and moved on taking a short walk.

Lyra fell asleep and not long after Nox and Skiff were lying down.

They both fell into sleep, but Nox kept one ear listening for danger.  So when Lyra woke and got up, Nox opened an eye to see her leaving the cave.

He walked to the edge of the cave and looked out at her, just to make sure she was alright.  She didn't seem to be walking with much pain at all, so the male shifter just sat at the entrance and laid back, looking up at the stars through the leafy canopy of the woods.

The alpha found a nice spot to sit where she was under the light of the moon, of course not a full moon because honestly, she couldn't help but shift. She sat there gazing up at the stars and the moon. She didn't notice that Nox had gotten up, soon he would see a side of her that was not often seen bu others and a side she liked to keep hidden. She had emotions like everyone else, but she tried to hide them to be stronger. Those eyes that held everything crystal clear saw the moon.

"Mother moon...what do I do now? I'm in charge of a pack who looks to me to guide them and help them grow and keep them safe. I am grateful and took the job as alpha with pride and I don't regret it in anyway. The pack I have now, I love already but where do I go from here. Where does my pack go next? Mother moon please help me...."

Her voice was calm and soft but with hints of tears threatening to break through. After that she would lower her head before a gentle breeze blew. With a shaky breath she looked up back at the moon as if something was going on. She felt calmer now like an aura washed over her giving her a clearer mind to think.

Nox looked over to Lyra as she looked up at the moon, and then the large wolf saw how much Lyra worried about being a good alpha, and how much she cared about their small pack.

Part of him wanted to go over and comfort her, telling her that she was a wonderful alpha, as she was, but he stopped himself.  Perhaps now she just needed to sit and think.  He decided that she was probably safe for now, so he retreated back into the cave and lay down, but he didn't fall asleep, waiting for Lyra to return.