DotW RP: Phen joins Chandor

MatrixPotato:

The days seemed to slam together for Lyn. She couldn't tell what was night or day anymore, aside from the obvious signs. But even then, her mind was so cluttered with making sure Chandor was secure and keeping her pack safe, she was too busy to notice the sun rising or setting. They had already been in Chandor for a little over a month and Lyn had to do most of the work. Or at least, she felt she had to. She was the alpha, after all. But now, it was taking a big toll on her. She wasn't sleeping well- or at all sometimes -and she seemed to encounter problems one right after the other.

So she found herself near the border today, telling herself that she needed to scout. But the exhaustion was taking over and Lyn decided to sit for a while, and eventually, slid onto her belly and let her eyes fall closed. Just for a little bit. She told herself. She was asleep in minutes.

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Tawnwen:

More walking. Phen slowly placed one paw in front of the other as she made her way closer and closer to what seemed like another wolf pack. It had been over a year since she had left her old pack in the mountains, and she still hadn't shaken off the feeling of homesickness. The landscapes around these new, forest-laden regions were so much different from her mountainous home, which she had left far behind. There was no turning back, and she knew it. Although living as a loner gave her freedom and adventure, it was hard to battle the loneliness she felt. Additionally, without any wolves to support her, she expended a lot of energy simply to survive. This wasn't the right kind of life for a wolf her age. She decided that she needed to find a pack, even a temporary one, where she could reside until she was strong enough to be by herself.

Stumbling upon this stretch of land, Phen was surprised to find at least three or so wolf packs separated by mountainous borders. Already, she had visited the eastern pack, which had driven her out immediately upon entering. And although the others provided her with necessities, their laws didn't match her standards. This was the last pack, and if it didn't suit her, she'd have to spend another month or so traveling warily. Arriving at the border, Phen lowered her head and sniffed the scent-marked stump of the tree. It was strangely weak, either from poor keeping, or because this was simply a small pack. Taking a deep breath, she placed a paw carefully into their territory, keeping a lookout for any scouts or members that she could talk to into joining. Phen noticed the dense, pine-covered forests that carried the sweet scent of sap and running water nearby.

Phen debated about running or sitting, but neither of the options seemed like a good idea. So instead, she trotted casually past trees and bushes. She was a little nervous. What if they attack, like they did in that eastern pack? she wondered to herself. Rounding a bend, Phen screeched to a dead halt when a strange, brown-furred female came into view. She seemed to be sleeping, and Phen would have gently woke her up. Unfortunately, at that moment, she stepped on a dry twig and it gave off an annoyingly loud CRACK! sound. It seemed to echo through the entire forest. Phen held her breath, leaning backwards as if wanting to flee, but also not moving. She couldn't be sure if this wolf was some regular omega, or perhaps a scout or guard. How would they react to seeing a black loner standing in front of them?

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MatrixPotato:

The forest still rang with life around Lyn, but the only movement she made was the slow rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. Her mind slowly grew blank and all sounds of the outer world faded. Wisps of memories spliced together to create an odd array of dreams that happened in mere seconds. It wasn't an unpleasant dream, but it wasn't a nice dream either. It was one of everyday tasks. It seemed as though, even in her unconsciousness, Lyn couldn't escape what needed to be done. And as if it were a sign from the heavens, a loud CRACK echoed through the trees and to her ears and her eyes immediately snapped open. For a moment, the world was blurry, but then as her vision focused, she saw a dark figure standing in front of her; another wolf, a female.

Lyn was on her paws in seconds, but she stumbled only slightly. The exhaustion was still apparent and getting up that fast didn't help at all. Instinctively, her muzzled wrinkled and her hackles rose and her tail pointed toward the sky. This wolf had startled her, and her first reaction was usually aggression- but then she took in this wolf's expression. She was leaning backward, as if she were ready to run. She hadn't meant to alarm her. Slowly, Lyn relaxed her features, lifted her head, and lowered her tail some. At first, she didn't know if she should apologize or not. She opened her mouth, but then closed it again. She cleared her throat.

"This is Chandor territory." Lyn finally spoke, deciding to take a more business-like approach. She knew that this female must have passed a scent marker if she had made it all the way to Lyn. Now that she thought about it, it was probably time to re-mark them. "Is there any particular reason why you're trespassing?" She asked. She tried her best to sound more curious, but in reality she was still very much on edge. She was embarrassed about being caught off guard. Who knows what would have happened if she hadn't woken up.

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Tawnwen:

Noticing the strange wolf react to her presence so violently, Phen wondered whether this was, in fact, a bad idea after all. But it was only temporary, and Phen contemplated that the female was simply caught off guard. He fur flattened out and she took a step back to put some more distance between her and the wolf. Once the tension had died down, Phen listened attentively to what the stranger had to say. Although her voice wasn't the most confident, probably due to the sudden encounter, it carried a business-like air. In fact, her whole demeanor seemed to radiate some kind of authority. Plus, the female carried the scent of an alpha.

Is she the alpha? Phen suddenly realized, a bit alarmed. She had been prepared to deal with a scout or guard, not the leader of the pack herself. The female was different than the other alphas she had met in other packs, being both female and younger looking than the others. But there was an equal amount at stake here if she messed this up. "Are you the alpha?" she breathed. "I'm... I'm sorry. I didn't expect to bump into you". Her mind raced, wondering how to justify herself. "But, yeah. I've been traveling around these lands in search for a pack and... I was wondering if you were welcoming new members". Phen finished her sentence as quickly as possible and turned her head away. She realized her fail was still held parallel to the floor, mostly out of habit, and she let it fall quickly. But she stubbornly didn't put it between her legs.

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MatrixPotato:

Lyn was thankful that this female was to the point. She was a bit miffed that she actually apologized for startling her though. That was something she didn't expect from most loners. But then again, it was becoming a bit of a norm for loners to seek out packs, with a rather well-behaved demeanor- at least, in Lyn's short time of being an alpha it was.

That was another thing. She was also surprised that she had figured out she was the alpha. Lyn was still getting used to the idea of being in charge of others and for someone to just say it without having her tell them beforehand just felt weird. Nonetheless, it was true- she was the alpha, and she needed to start acting like it. Sleeping on the job was not something she would allow herself to do again. What she wasn't surprised about is this female's bewilderment of actually running into the alpha. Usually it would be a scout- which is exactly why Lyn was out here. Scouting was just part of her routine.

"Yes, I am." She confirmed, though less tense now. "My name's Lyn. And actually, we are looking for more members." Lyn smiled sheepishly as one of her ears flipped backward, and then forward once again.

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Tawnwen:

Feeling that it would be rude not to act friendly in return, Phen returned the female's grin. She was glad that she was getting along well with the alpha, and the fact that they were searching for more members would make this an easy pack to get into. Normally, a wolf would immediately ask to join their ranks. However, being the big stubborn critic she was, Phen had to find out a bit more about this pack before she decided to be included. She had already turned down many other powerful and friendly packs, simply because their rules or culture simply didn't sit with her well. It was almost ironic, seeing how it was usually the pack member that decided whether the loner was allowed to join or not. If this pack didn't suit her, she'd have to explore Kausen next, and after that continue with her journey south. And to be honest, Phen didn't want to spend another month or so walking and trying to survive on her own.

Phen sat down. This would take a bit of discussion, and it would feel strange if she were standing throughout the whole ordeal. "That's a relief to hear", Phen said, laughing nervously. "My name's Phen. I'd love to join-" She broke off, fumbling for the name of the pack that Lyn had stated a while back. "Well, actually, I'd like to know a little bit more about Chandor before deciding whether to stay", Phen admitted. She looked down shamefully, wondering if she sounded like an idiot for demanding specific information from the alpha. Phen decided to ask the usual questions she gave members of each pack. "What is the condition of your pack? And are there any major rules I should know of?" This way, Phen would know if the pack was strong and suited for her taste, without being too officious.

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MatrixPotato:

At the sight of the other females grin, Lyn relaxed more. "It's nice to meet you Phen." She said. This would be a friendly conversation- or so she hoped.

Most loners just asked to join right out, and Phen did, but Lyn wasn't really prepared for her questions. She still felt a little silly even telling them to Suteki, Nevindru, and Delu, who she had originally told about her pack. No other loners had asked her about the pack- at least, not until they had already been accepted. Obviously, Phen didn't want to play games, and judging by her sitting posture, she was prepared for all the details Lyn had to offer, no matter how long it might take. Lyn hesitated, but then sat as well.

"Well," she started slowly, not really sure how to go about it. "We're fairly new- only about a month old really -so we're scarce as far as members go. We manage for the most part, but that's why we're looking for more to join." Her ears flipped back, embarrassed, for a moment before she pushed them forward again. Less members might be a good thing sometimes, but it also caused a lot of stress and a lot of work load, not just for the alpha, but for everyone. "To be honest with you, it'll be hard at first if you decide to join." She said, somewhat surprisingly. It popped into her mind and then just spewed out before she even thought about it.

Lyn muttered a small apology and cleared her throat before moving on to explain the rules of Chandor; they were pretty much the same as Kausen for the most part, except for the needless hunting, killing, or torturing of other species. After the incident with the elk calf, it was something that Lyn felt strongly about and it showed in her voice as she spoke. Once the rules had been explained, Lyn laid out the traditions that she had set for her pack, about the celebration every full moon.

"It's completely optional, though." She blurted slightly, making sure that Phen knew it wasn't an enforced tradition. "You could even be alone to celebrate, if you wanted."

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Tawnwen:

Phen listened intently to what the alpha had to say, and analyzed each point to see if she liked it or not. Honestly, Phen wasn't bothered by the fact that this pack was still relatively new. In fact, she embraced it. Having already lived on her own for about a year, she had gotten used to having a little more responsibility. And the more of a challenge survival posed to the pack, the more each of their members was worth. Additionally, a newly made pack was an open book, without enforced laws or strict traditions. Instead of having to mold herself to fit the pack, Phen could mold the pack to fit herself. She also didn't fancy the idea of being overwhelmed by a multitude of pack-hardened wolves, so the fact that Chandor had fewer members pleased her.

Phen also noticed that the rules of Chandor were quite similar to its neighboring pack, Kausen, all of which she liked. The thing that seemed different was the ban on needless killing, which Phen didn't really feel strongly about, but did agree with completely. But the frosting on the cake really came when Lyn mentioned the celebration they held every full moon to honor new and passed lives. Though Phen probably missed the real point of the whole tradition, she knew it would be something to look forward to nonetheless. She smiled at the alpha upon hearing about it, her tail flicking around the grass.

"Oh, no no", she assured. "That sounds like an interesting tradition you have". Phen paused for the moment, bundling up all the reasons for joining and weighing them against the pack's cons, which they didn't seem to have much of. This would have to be the deciding statement, and she thought hard about it before responding. "Your pack sounds very suitable", she stated humbly. "I'd love to join Chandor, if it would be okay with you". Phen stood up, as if she were already part of the pack, and stared deep into the forest that littered the area.

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MatrixPotato:

After she had finished, Lyn waited anxiously for Phen's response. She relaxed a little when she smiled and in turn smiled as well. She was a little afraid that Phen would reject them- not just because she wanted to look like a good alpha, but also because they really did need more members. They were basically sitting ducks and pretty vulnerable. The more wolves that joined, the easier everything would become. Or at least, that's how Lyn saw it. When Phen finally answered Lyn grinned. She hopped to her feet in suit with the darker female and gave a few wags of her tail.

"I'm glad to hear that! We'd love to have you." She said cheerfully. "Oh, uh, would you like to take a tour? Or maybe meet the others first?"

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Tawnwen:

Phen was genuinely pleased that the alpha of her new pack was so eager to let her join. Normally, large packs would cull weak or inexperienced wolves from joining their pack, but Lyn seemed to ignore those things. Hopefully her past learned skills she acquired from her old teachers would help her prove herself to the alpha. Phen's smile faltered momentarily when Lyn asked if she wanted a tour, or to meet the pack members immediately. Honestly, she would feel more secure if she became more used to the territory, and then talk to the individuals. She was a little nervous about meeting other wolves after living on her own for so long. The only other wolves she had met were a couple stray loners, and they usually weren't friendly, let alone willing to chat. Phen didn't mind going for a small walk, either.

"I'd actually like to look around the territory first", she admitted, walking a little past Lyn. "May you lead the way? I'd love to see the terrain and major landmarks before meeting the others". Although pack life would be hard to get used to, Phen hoped that the extra support of her new family would help build her strength, and get rid of the sense of loneliness.

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MatrixPotato:

Lyn could understand Phen's want to get acquainted with the land first. Most loners were loners because well..they wanted to be alone. She wasn't certain if this was the case for Phen, but she wouldn't push it. She needed something to keep her awake anyway and doing introductions was always a boring thing to her, so she was actually pretty glad that Phen wanted to do that last.

"Sure." She said, trotting up beside the black shewolf. "Well start on the outside and then end at the main den, where everyone else should be." Lyn gave her a smile and began their trek, leading them around the border of Chandor.