Post by Azoto on Apr 29, 2012 23:36:18 GMT -5
Two-River Fork
The two running rivers intersect here, a graceful sight even from a distance. The rumble of the falls is discernible, as is the glint of the waters. The grounds in between the slope and rivers here are damp and sponge-like; they are covered in full reeds, cattails and small puddle-like ponds. Frogs and toads are in abundance, as are some smaller marsh birds. It dries soon, though, and moves out to catch the sides of the water-forms on the outer edges of the soggy grounds.
Players:
Anoki - M. Adol Wolf
Coinin - M. Wolf
Lexus - M. Elder Wolf
Spring brings with it the melting of snow, the breaking of ice; though spring is still reassuring its grip on the land, it is enough to bring a lightness in step to the last youth of the Cerulean; and though he is now the rough size of an adult, Anoki is still on the small side as far as males go; that does not mean he has stopped growing of course. At the moment, the rare-seen youth is currently laying where he almost always lays; at the side of the river, watching the water run beneath the thinning ice, and occasionally stopping to yank great tufts of loose winter fur from his shouler or chest where the itching has been phenominal since he began his first adult-coat shed. He is not yet the great furry beast his father was, one day he might be.
It's not specifically spring that has the pack's only frequently seen elder wolf up and about with a bounce in his step but the warming of the weather certainly helps. Lex spent a good deal of the winter dozing and growing more little grey hairs here and there but that almost feels a whole lifetime ago to him, he's happy, he's alive and he has reasons to keep it that way. For the past few weeks he's back to his old self, barely remaining still for as long as he's awake and currently he's on his way back to the pack. He's been hunting already and successful enough to catch a couple of rabbits which hang from his jaws as with a little bounce in his step as he trots back to the others.
Yank yank spit-thput. Anoki, yanking a large chunk of shed fur from his shoulder, begins trying to spit it out. It's not the most graceful or manly of faces he's making, but he's trying, man. ears perk as the red-headed fellow looks up, that 'star' of red on his temple a mess at the moment for all the shedding fur. He spots Lexus, and grins slightly, moving to stand, streeetching kinks and growing boy's soreness from his muscles, before he starts toward the elder wolf, tail wagging. "Hey old man. Been a while, ain't it," he greets, with a haphazard chuckle, grinning. "You look like the winter treated you good.."
Try old guy muscles, more stiffness, less stretching ability. Lex would be in far worse shape if he hadn't spent most of his life running around like a mad wolf though, slowing down just means eventually more of the others will be able to keep up. He offers a greeting wag before tossing down the rabbits for someone else's lunch "Hey pup, or do I have to stay calling you young man" there's a little smirk, he can see how much Anoki's grown. Mind he's always called Niyt a pup and there's no stopping that, it's affectionate with him. A quick friendly nose nudge and he blows a little clump of loose fur from the younger wolf before grinning "You look like you've spent it trying to grow a new you, I'm sure I was never this fluffy"
Anoki snorts at the blow of fluff from his form, and does a full body shake that just sends stray fur everywhere. "Blame my dad, man, he was like, all fur, no wolf." Anoki's amused grin conveys a wistfulness; he remembers often telling his dad as a pup that 'daddh you too fluffeh' because Shag was almost all fur half the time. Anoki then looks to the rabbits, and remarks, "Hey, you uh, don't mind if I take one of these to my friend, Jatya, do you? I mean, i've been trying to teach her what I know about hunting, and even that ain't much, but. I figure she won't mind s'long as I keep feedin' her." he chuckles and grins, tail wagging slightly. He's become a bit more tail wag, a little less stiff aloofness since meeting the she-dog, hasn't he. Of course, women have been known to change a lot in men when they're friends. Anoki sits, then says, "So Lexus, what do you know about news around here? I've been out of the loop, payin' attention to teaching a dog how to be a wolf.."
Lexus backs his head away when Anoki shakes but still gets a little extra fluff and ends up shaking too to get rid of it. His winter coat's still mostly there, just patches gone. He's inclined to blame it on being a mountain wolf but he's feeling the cold more so it's not ungrateful for the extension. He though has learnt a few tricks for getting rid of lose fur, it's not flying off of him so far. He chuckles at the thought of Shag "Yes, it probably is his doing, great tumbleweeds of fur every year" he shakes his head, amused but also dwelling on the thought of the absent wolf for a moment. Luckily a blink and he snaps out of it, glancing to the rabbits "Oh, yes, go ahead. I caught them for whoever I can just as easily get more" he narrows his eyes at Anoki suddenly though his smirk appears again "Who's Jatya though?" it's news to him, refusal to stay still means he misses some things. He glances back to the sleeping pack "I know there are pups on the way" there's a grin for that but he does try to think of other news too "Erm, it's been quiet. Not seen Tariro in a while, perhaps I move too much"
"Eh.. I don't think my uncle really does much around here anymore anyway; handed all the leader stuff off to Coinin. Coinin's all stuff, but he's not too bad," Anoki dmits thoughtfully. "Jatya.. she's uh.. she's a she-dog I met around the start of winter. She came off a cloud monster, one of the Great Spirit's messangers! I thought maybe I'd watch out for her, an' stuff, till it came back for her, but it's never come back. So I guess maybe she's here' to stay." He pauses, and grins slightly, leaning to the side to scratch at a shoulder with a hind foot; "I don't quite mind, y'know? She's nice, an' it's good to have someone around who's my age and stuff.. means I don't gotta go running to the Ute every time I want someone to talk about stuff with... And uh.. an' she's kinda cute." He grins sheepishly, then adds, "Don't think my uncle would like her bein' in the pack, c'os she's a dog an' all but. She's still not bad to have around. And if she learns to hunt with me, from Coinin? We could have a good all
We could have a good ally for us!"
Lexus smiles knowingly as Anoki talks of Jatya. You wouldn't think the old wolf had only just got himself a mate from that look but at least he's old enough to have seen it all in others before that "I don't know, back when I was a pup" never a good sign when old wolves start stories that way "We had coyote-wolf pups and their parents in the old pack, the pups grow like any other...Mind I never had much contact with the coyote, someone else's parent, not a playmate. Still, they were there and my parents were far stricter than Tariro. Give it time for her to prove she means well and things usually work out. Hunting would certainly help, bring something to the pack. Everyone likes the one who brings in the dinner" Lex has always been a firm believer that if you want to ask a favour or request something important you should bring food "If you like her and want her to eventually stay that's probably a point in her favour, if she wants to stay herself of course"
His ears are turning slightly pink inside at Lexus' advice. Well yeah, okay, he likes Jatya, but pups with a dog? That's.. Wouldn't it be so weird? Besides. "I'm pretty sure only the folks with high rank're allowed to have pups this year. I guess somethin' happened to Maka, though; I haven't seen her around. That's a horrible loss for my uncle.." he frowns, and sighs, shaking his head. "I 'spect Niyt'll have pups before I do, and when she does I'mma spoil'em rotten c'os mom woulda wanted them spoiled." he grins amusedly, at this, before he pulls one of the rabbits close to himself, and begins plucking fur from it thoughtfully. "Actually be kinda nice to have pups around. Wish I was young enough i could play with'em and not get looked at like I don't got knocked stupid by a moose or something.." he sighs though: "I guess I can't go back and take the pup time I missed though." he frowns, ears laying slightly back. He still doesn't like thinking about that time. He hms, though, stopping, staring slightly into space at something that likely only he can see, before he bobs his head, and murmurs, "Thank you for this food, Lexus; and thank you for letting lexus catch you, mister rabbit."
Lexus snorts "High rank? Rayen's having pups, my pups. I don't have a rank, I just asked" He wouldn't consider Elder a rank, more an advisory role and really even that seems too old for him to consider himself. Everytime he thinks about the pups he can't help a little grin and his tail thumps a couple of times before Maka's mentioned and he sinks into a frown "Poor Tariro, the lad could do without another heartbreak in his life, perhaps there's another reason they're being scarce" he worries and sighs faintly but moves on with the conversation to happier thoughts "Niyt best hurry up, I want to see these pups and spoil them too, can't be waiting around forever" he chuckles though he'd never actually rush her really. Another snort and he raises an eyebrow at Anoki with a snort "Growing up is overrated, I've played with every generation that's come through this pack, don't think I'll stop now...though admittedly I did trip at high speed many times and hit my head in my youth, great fun, perhaps explains a lot though" He grins but it fads almost instantly with Anoki's expression over his puppyhood. He leans over for a quick nuzzle and then hesitates before there's a faint sigh. He nods to the murmurs but he's thinking and after a moment speaks again "You know I worry what happens if it turns out I don't get to see my kids grow up much, I'm getting old...The old and the sick, things that we would prefer in prey, heh"
"Time is the greatest predator of them all," Anoki says, wisly, though it's aon odd wisdom, "Time, and the wind," he sighs, closing his eyes a moment in thought. "Maybe, yes.. I can't tell what the wind says as well as Niyt does. I can only hear the songs the river sings, or the songs the trees sing, or the songs in the mud. I can only see the spirits of the dead when they have a message to give, or they want something done for them. I don't have my mother or father's abilities to see the future, or to dream dreams that tell things." he shakes his head. "Perhaps I'm the last, Lexus, the last of a line of seers, and maybe when I'm gone, so too will be the songs of the earth, or the thought that we need to show kindness to those spirits that still roam." He's quiet for a few moments, plucking away at the rabbit, before he looks to Lexus, and blinks, shaking his head: "You'd better stick around to see your pups grow up, old man, I'm not going to get saddled with telling them how great their father was." he smirks wrly, "But.. congratulations, eh? ON havin' youngin's. Maybe Rayen'll let me see'em before they're old enough to decide they want out." he considers. "I'm what, kind of their cousin, aren't I? Your mum was my grandma, after all, so you're kind of.. related to me." he says, considering. He scrunches his face, trying to remember what his dad told him of his most noble family.
Lexus tilts his head at the talk of songs and spirits. He's never had the ability to see or hear such things, the only reason he believes they're there is because he trusts his family and so many have talked about them. He gets the idea of the wind a little, follows it back to the mountains sometimes when it blows the right scent his way "I'm certain there will be more" he considers, his ears perking to try and pick up on things but he's not going to start hearing things now "Your father was the first I knew with those gifts, it might skip a few generations but I'm sure it'll be back and there's always Niyt's children to consider if she ever has them" He smiles faintly when Anoki calls him an old man again, he considers it as affectionate as pup "I plan to stick around, as long and as stubbornly as I can. A few more years, long enough to watch them grow up and give their potential mates a good long feeling of dread" he laughs before shaking his head "That's the hope" after a second he gives Anoki a thoughtful look "After everything if I'm not around though or even" he looks a little uncomfortable with the thought "Fail somehow...I figure you're probably the next one in this pack to go charging into trouble if there's pups in danger unless Rayen beats you to it" a little huff of a sigh and Lex frowns, it's not a thought he likes "Just...keep an eye on things eh? If you can. You'll meet them, we're not going anywhere, they'll be with the pack as they should be" he forces himself back to happier thoughts and into a smile "I'm older than that, your grandma was my sister but go with cousins" he raises a brow thoughtfully "No clue what else it would be"
"Well, could be worse, I suppose," Anoki considers, then chuckles, shrugging a bit. "Maybe some day, me and Jatya might have pups, maybe." He shrugs, "S'up to her, really, I mean, I only do the work of puttin'em in'er, if you go by what Niyt's said. After that, the mom's the one who makes'em, and then raises'em long enough to get'em eatin' solid food.." he trails. He frowns. Yeah, thinking of his mom again. There's too much sadness in this pack, when he thinks about it, but they hardly have the monopoly on it; after all, Tala and Ikuna's mum and da were kille dby a bear, and then the same summer happend to poor Ikuna. Anoki snorts, then begins chewin on rabbit leg, trying to crack the boney limb off in a few bites for gnawing on, mumbling as he does so, "You'll be here, I'm sure. My uncle, who knows. I think maybe he's getting itchy feet, wants to wander when his time to step down entirely is nigh. I dunno, I haven't talked to him. Never seen him around, but a lot of that might also be me bein' .. attached to Jatya by the huntin' bone." he laughs.
The sheer number of tragedies in recent years is part of the reason Lex worries so much, he doesn't want his kids to have to go through so much and miss out on just being happy and carefree pups. He does look a little amused at Anoki's idea of parental rolls "Really? So I'm free to just wander on off and leave Rayen to it until they're a little older?" He barks a laugh "Seems like a good way to get a female pissed off at you to me. She barks I'll come running with whatever the hell she wants without question. Hard work this stuff, sure the mother does most of it with the pups, has to until they're on solid stuff but someone has to look after her too. Could go stir crazy without a break" The talk of Tariro makes him frown slightly again "I suppose if he steps down then Coinin will step up"
"Yeah, Coinin'll have to, won't he? He's like, the beta and stuff." Anoki blinks though at this notion of the dad having to do work. Huh? He doesn't remember HIS dad ever doing work; oh, sure, his sister did tons of watching him as a pup, as did the rest of the pack, but he only remembers his dad during the times when mom was around, and dad was making her happy. And the MUSHY things they did, and.. oh. Hm. He considers, tilting his head. "Sounds like more work than it's worth," he muses playfully, "But hey, I guess someone's gotta do it. An' if she ain't happy with you then ain't nobody happy with you, huh?" He grins amusedly. then offers, "I'm sure you'll be a good dad, Lex, don't worry." he hmms, and crunches and gnaws some of the rabbit meat before he thinks about it, and offers, "And in the very least, you'll make a good bed for them to lay on. Dads and mums always do." he grins broadly, tail thumping the ground in humor.
Lexus considers Coinin thoughtfully but his only response is a "Mmm" he's never sure how he feels about it, it's complicated for the old guy. Coinin's fine, Lex is just finding it harder to adjust to change after so long. He smiles at the next thing Anoki said though "More than happy for it to be my job" he even wags a little "Oh I'll make a great dad, I have years of experience playing with everyone else's kids to go from. I'll attempt to stay still enough to be a good bed just in case though, let them crawl all over me as much as they like"
Anoki grins again, tail wagging before he leaves his hare where it lays and hops to his feet plodding close. "You'll have to get used to ear chewin', too," he says, as he attempts to nip for one of Lexus' ears playfully, "And of course your tail will be awesome for teethin' on," he adds, with a swipe of a playful paw for Lexus' shoulder. he grins. "Yeah, I guess it'll be good to have pups around. I think I'll play with all the pups I can, too, just like you," he grins amusedly, then adds, "And I'll teach'em bad habits like how to get fish from the water in the fall when there's fish a plenty to eat." he teases, "So they'll have fish breath."
Lexus laughs again, his tail beating on the ground steadily "I think it was Niyt who used to chew on my ears when she was a pup. If it can be gnawed on I've probably had a pup do so. Playing with pups is good for the soul. So small and innocent without a care in the world, keeps you feeling young" he chuckles quietly "Knowing me I might teach them half the bad tricks myself, force of habit. I'll have to remember this time the tricks could come back to bite me"
A wry grin comes from the younger fellow, before Anoki murmurs, "... Man, sometimes I wonder what Niyt was like when she was young." he grins, and then adds, "I'll have to teach your pups to play in mud, you know." He bobs his head at this matter of factly. "And how to paint the stones, if we ever head back to the butte," he murmurs thoughtfully, before he looks to the river. "... Though I kind of like to hope we might stay around here. River's nice, and when the fall comes, easy dinner from all the fish swimmin' up to mate and die." he smiles slightly, then adds, "Easier than huntin' for elk when there's so few of us together. Maybe I'll eventually learn to take out smaller deer of course. The way Coinin has it, I'll probably be /the/ one hunting around here before long," he laughs.
Lexus grins at the memories "Funny pup, full of life. We'd run around a play about" Of course then she went missing and turned blind, just one more tragedy to add to the pile. He tilts his head at Anoki "I've never painted stones before. Do you have to be at the butte to do it?" he never felt much at home in the desert, he's better with the river though he'll always belong to the mountains. He chuckles lightly again "If you ever need someone else to go hunting with I'd be happy to join you, pass on the tricks. Hunting larger prey is a rare treat"
It is now your pose.
"... Nah. You just need bud, and something to smear it on. Smearing it on other wolves works just as good." Grins Anoki, remembering his adventures with mud. Oh, how Alaqua had near had a /fit/ upon seeing him muddy from tail to snout. Of course, he didn't understand then like he does now that adults are the ones that have to clean up after little puppies when they make a mess. Now he understands. He chuckles softly. "Yeah.. Yeah, I wish I could have played with her as a pup. Wish i coulda played with anyone as a pup, but instead... Meh." Bad things happened. He hms? ears perking. "Oh ho, you think you can still take on something large, old man?" he teases Lexus playfully, batting a paw at the older wolf's shoulder with a grin, "Not too many bones that hurt, or joints that're sore, huh?" he chuckles, then hmms thoughtfully. "Well, with spring here, it'll be easier for Coinin to teach me and Jatya how to hunt."
Coinin has been away looking for Tariro and largely been unsucessful. He had run into another wolf and Kasa the previous evening. She had said that she had seen Tariro lately and that he was acting all funny. That doesn't bode well for anything. Still until he finds him there is little he can do. He would like to find everyone who might have wandered away and give them a chance to gather together again, and do something of a spring headcount to see who is still here and who isn't. No doubt they will all get that chance. He wanders back into the fork area and glances around to see if anyone is up and about. It seems that good old Lex and Anoki are here. Thats good, "Hello you two." he says.
Lexus snorts "I see why this is considered trouble now. Mud, everywhere, oh dear" He shakes his head "You'll get to play with pups soon enough, make up for lost time with every generation to come. Might have grown up but you don't have to act like one around puppies" He snorts "I could still run down a deer if I wanted to, with others in the pack it's easily done" his ears perk to the new arrival and he nods once "Coinin! Good to see you"
Ears lift, and Anoki looks over, murmuring, "Speak of the wolf, and he appears; if only my uncle were so timely." With a grin, and a chuckle, before he turns to snatch up the hare he'd been chewin' on, and begins gnawin on the belly, lasily settling into a lay, one oaw placed atop the meal, the other tucked under. "Hoi, hoi, Coinin, how are you?" he asks, with a grin. "Sorry I been kinda avoidin' you but, let's face it. You're a stuffy old man, and a pretty she-dog is better company at my age," he winks, and grins, tail wagging slightly.
Coinin wanders a bit closer to the pair of them before sitting himself down. As for Anoki's uncle he only wishes that he knew where he was. No doubt he will turn up. Tariro can certainly take care of himself, but still it just feel so unsettled out there he would feel better if everyone was in one spot where they could all keep an eye on each other. Maybe its just the spring, and maybe its something else..who could say? "Good to see you too Lex. Hope all is going well with Rayen." he says. He is obviously pleased that some pups are on the way. He then turns his attention to Anoki. So that dog is still here. He is going to have to figure out what to do with her. Its not like she is here to cause any trouble but still. A relationship between Anoki and her would be strange to say the least, "Of that I have little doubt." he says to Anoki, "So you really like her huh?"
Lexus smiles again, another little wag for the mention of Rayen "She's doing fine, all a waiting game at the moment" he chuckles at the talk of the dog "Seems to be quite enjoying her company, the rest of us are just old and dull in comparison"
"Well, Coinin," Anoki admits, "Only other female I know my age is not only my friend, but is kinda smitten with my other friend. Wouldn't be right to go makin' moves on Tala, in that situation, now would it." he smirks faintly, "Plus.. well, it's the tail, seriously. It's all the tail. That curl over the back, that fluffyness.." He grins, winking. Then mms softly. "... .. I like her as a friend. I guess I kinda like her more than that, too, but there ain't gonna be no puppies from us, I know the order around here mostly. Gotter ask, or else gotter make sure it's a real good year for prey." Anoki pauses, then, eyes closing, lifts his snout to the wind: "I'm not my sister, but.. I can tell you there's somethin' ain't right for this year, to have more'n' two litters.." he trails, and frowns. ".. If we have that. Like I said to Lexus, I ain't seen Maka in some time, nor my uncle." He sighs. "I been doin' my best to teach her, though, Coinin, about bein' a wild animal."
Coinin nods and chuckles, "Yes we are all too old and dull for Anoki." He is pleased to hear that that things are going well for Rayen and will certainly look foward to seeing the pups when they finally appear. A den will need to be found most certainly if one hasn't already been found. As for Anoki, "You're right that that simply wouldn't do. You can't go after a friends girl...its just not polite. But still you don't have to be impatient you know. Look at Lex he waited a long long time to find the right girl for him and it worked out well." Coinin too doesn't really have anyone that he likes at the moment either now that Molasses has disappeared to who knows where, "I've felt the same thing. We must be very careful. Still Anoki if you love her I understand. I just don't want you to rush into something." The unspoken fact is of course that she is a dog...and a dog is a dog no matter how 'wild' she might become.
Lexus stretches his legs out, laughs at Anoki's description of the dogs tail and shakes his head. He's seen mixbreeds before, he's less concerned. He also thankfully doesn't have many experiences with dogs "Love is love, if it's meant to be I'm sure it'll work itself out...I'm going to check in on Rayen, see if she's hungry or anything" breaking into another trot he started to wander back off.
"Oh trust me," Anoki says, ears going slightly flat, "any 'Rushing in' was taken care of a /long/ time ago by Niyt mentioning the 'facts of life' to men in front of Tala." Anoki closes his eyes and shudders. Dear Spirits, why did sisters have to be twice as bad as moms sometimes? He huffs a bit, and begins to gnaw on the good squishy rabbit bits, adding, as he licks his chops, "'Sides, I know thw whole 'no one wants to say it'. She's a dog, and people are afraid if I hang out with a dog, I'll go dumb in the head." he smirks. He looks over in Lexus' direction, and calls, "Don't be too much a stranger, old man," but again, old man? Endearing term. Anoki hasn't malice in his body for many. He looks to Coinin again, and mms. "... Still, what harm is being her friend? What if I have to wait for Ikuna and Tala's little sisters to grow up at this rate, or even Lexus' pups, should he have daughters."
Coinin watches as Lexus leaves and smiles. Yep that is definitely something to look foward to seeing, "Good night Lex." he says to the old wolf. Now for Anoki, "Anoki I don't think anyone really worries about you going dumb in the head. Jatya is not dumb. And I fully support you being her friend. Otherwise I wouldn't have let her stick around." It was mostly out of charity that he let her stay, and because he knows Anoki needs a friend his age, "...but dogs are different, not bad...just different. And there are certain complications that can happen with things like that. If you had to wait it wouldn't be the end of the world. Look at me I'm as old as your sister and I'm still waiting."
A snort, as Anoke starts to rip meat from the sides of the hare, murmuring, "Yeah, but you /had/ a girl, and she's done gone and.. who knows." He frowns. "Can't I just have a little happy, huh? I mean, I didn't get to have happy as a pup, and it's not like I'm gonna make pups with her. I just.. like her company, and she's nice. Plus I imagine keeping her around would be one more body to hunt in the summer, one more body to keep us warm in winter, and she ain't gonna be too much trouble, is she? So what if she's a dog." He sniffs, then adds: "Lexus was tellin' me when he was my age there was a bunch of coyote half-breeds in the pack. How is that any different?"
Coinin didn't really have a girl, he had a potential girl that just sort of fizzled. Its still a topic that causes him no small amount of angst. He misses her and is more than a little bit worried about her, but there is very little that he can do at the present moment about it. Its not like he can wander off on a great adventure to look for her. Not without Tariro here to keep an eye on things, and where on earth was Tariro anyway? He shouldn't keep wandering off like this. Its just not safe for him or for everyone else, "Anoki I do want you to be happy. I hope that you know that. If you love her then I hope you are both very happy together, but my only point is that it makes relationships a little harder...thats all. And not everyone that you meet will be accepting of it."
A snort again: "So what if /they/ don't like it. They don't /have/ to like it, she's my friend." He shakes his head: "I'm already not thought of as normal, Coinin. I talk to dead things, I hear the river singing songs, I like to eat fish more than I do rabbits or deer or stuff like that. They can make funna me all they want, it ain't gonna bother me." He sniffs, "And if they make funna /her/, I'll make'em sorry. Besides." He licks his chops, then looks at Coinin pointedly, "It'll be a lot harder for her to live out here alone, won't it? Same reason we wolves don't live alone. Well, most of us. I don't know /what's/ up with my uncle, and we all /saw/ what livin' alone did to that Helaku bugger."
Coinin would rather hang out with Anoki than Helaku any day of the week that is for sure, "Yeah. You're definitely goofy I'll give you that." Of course there is no harm in stating the obvious. Besides...its not like Coinin means it in a nasty way. More in the spirit of how Anoki calls Lex 'Old Man' and things like that, "Still there are politics involved that you aren't aware of yet." Coinin has plans for Anoki and when Anoki is ready to hear them he will share, but until that moment he will keep his thoughts to himself. Having a beta that had a dog for a mate would be odd indeed. She would become the de-facto beta female, unless the position was given out in a different way than is traditional. Which is something that Coinin is not necessarily opposed to, "Still if you love her be with her. Thats the best advice I can give."
It is now your pose.
[OOC] Coinin nods.
"Well I do, and I will. Anyone has anything rude to say about it they can say it to our faces, and Spirits help them if they make her cry." Anoki frowns, and snorts. Then remarks softly, "Let's talk about somethin' else, okay? Like, I dunno. Hunting. Now that it's spring, should make for an easier time of you teachin' me, shouldn't it? I figure with all the babies around, good place to start is with stealin' baby animals. The sick or the weak." He adds, thoughtfully. "After all that's what we do, ain't it? Kill the sick, the weak. And babies are easier to kill, as long as we are doing it for food only." He frowns, at the thought. Honestly, he doesn't LIKE the idea of tkaing young animals. But that's life.
Coinin is more than willing to put that topic on hold for now. He would expect nothing less of someone who loved another to want to defend them. Its a good sign. As for the hunting issue, there certainly is a diversity of thought on that topic. Some would say that you get whatever you can get and its all good. Some wolves seem to enjoy killing and others like Anoki abhor it and only do it because they absolutely must, "I would say that the sick and the weak are most definitely ok. As for babies...I think there are multiple schools of thought on that. Personally I would rather not. Unless the need was dire."
Ears perk, and Anoki seems to relax a little at that. "I agree. Mostly because it would be a little too.. like what almost happened to me and Ikuna. I don't think even prey animals deserve to lose their young so untimely like." He frowns and then considers. "Still. The weak and the frail; that leaves the older, and the infirm. I suppose we should start with small prey? Deer. Deer are small compaired to some things." he smirks weakly, though yes, truth be told, his life has so far lead him to dislike the idea of killing to eat. Funny, how almost being killed to feed something can change one's perspective on things.
The world is certainly a dangerous place and its dangerous for everyone...not just the prey animals. He does appreciate Anoki's commitment to being a good person. Its always nice to have a few of those in the pack that actually take the time to really think things out rather than just act, "Deer would be a fine place to start. I know that Catori would like to hunt as well with us and I know that she is capable of bringing down a deer." There are other things to hunt as well but a deer would probably the simplets and most easily caught.
Giving a nod, Anoki sighs. "I have to admit I just.. I admit I don't like the idea, but if it must be done, then so be it." He looks to the rabbit still in peices across his paws, and starts picking bits of meat off what's left halfheartedly. "Gotta feed the monster in our bellies after all," he laughs weakly, then considers. And looks to Coinin: "I suppose Catori coming along would also help me learn. Don't forget though, you also promised to help teach Jatya when she's around." he smiles slightly, and then mms. "... What are we going to do with my uncle though, Coinin? We can't have an alpha that keeps wandering off; we're barely enough for a pack as is, same with the Ute. Maybe we should try to join the packs... Cerulean was once two packs, maybe it's time to happen again."
Coinin has no intention of passing that off to Catori. Its vitally necessary that these two learn how to hunt if they plan to stay with the pack, and he doesn't really forsee either of htem leaving any time soon, "I know...I know. I'm not backing out, only inviting someone else along. The more the merrier." he points out. As for his other thought he doesn't know what to think about it. He has his reasons for not wanting to move up the date of himself becoming alpha. He knows that its coming and that there is nothing that he can do to change that now, but he isn't looking forward to it, "I'm worried about him too Anoki. But we mustn't speak like that. An alpha is an alpha until they are either challenged or give up the spot to another. I for one won't mutiny. I do worry about him though. I heard from that Kasa wolf that he was acting funny...whatever that means. I would like to find him and bring him home. As for merging with Ute. I understand your wish to see that happen since you have friends there, but its a big deal to have two packs come together, and....well the cultures are different. I'm not sure how well we would mesh."
"It's not because of my friends," Anoki says, though it's true it WOULD be nice to have more wolves around that are his age or close to it. "It's because I'm afraid that even with new blood around, like Kasa, or Catori, or even Jatya just being a pack friend.. we're dwindling." He frowns. "My dad isn't coming back, nor is my sister. Niyt and her ... boyfriend... Probably aren't going to have pups any time soon. Uncle Tariro is often missing -- and if he's acting weird, like that Kasa said, he might be sick -- And Maka's missing now, too. I half expect to get kicked out any day now c'os I can't hunt, and only like to eat fish."
There is no doubt about it, the pack could use a few more wolves, but he isn't necessarily ready to look at merger just yet. He would want to make sure that Cerulean was able to stay Cerulean and wouldn't have live by Ute rules, since he had heard that they are more strict than Cerulean. It would certainly be a major effort. But thankfully that doesn't need to happen right now, "You aren't going to be kicked out Anoki...and neitehr is anyone else. We do need to find Tariro though. Perhaps both you and I should search for him. If we split up it would make things go faster and if we find him we can bring him home and figure out what is going on."
The two running rivers intersect here, a graceful sight even from a distance. The rumble of the falls is discernible, as is the glint of the waters. The grounds in between the slope and rivers here are damp and sponge-like; they are covered in full reeds, cattails and small puddle-like ponds. Frogs and toads are in abundance, as are some smaller marsh birds. It dries soon, though, and moves out to catch the sides of the water-forms on the outer edges of the soggy grounds.
Players:
Anoki - M. Adol Wolf
Coinin - M. Wolf
Lexus - M. Elder Wolf
Spring brings with it the melting of snow, the breaking of ice; though spring is still reassuring its grip on the land, it is enough to bring a lightness in step to the last youth of the Cerulean; and though he is now the rough size of an adult, Anoki is still on the small side as far as males go; that does not mean he has stopped growing of course. At the moment, the rare-seen youth is currently laying where he almost always lays; at the side of the river, watching the water run beneath the thinning ice, and occasionally stopping to yank great tufts of loose winter fur from his shouler or chest where the itching has been phenominal since he began his first adult-coat shed. He is not yet the great furry beast his father was, one day he might be.
It's not specifically spring that has the pack's only frequently seen elder wolf up and about with a bounce in his step but the warming of the weather certainly helps. Lex spent a good deal of the winter dozing and growing more little grey hairs here and there but that almost feels a whole lifetime ago to him, he's happy, he's alive and he has reasons to keep it that way. For the past few weeks he's back to his old self, barely remaining still for as long as he's awake and currently he's on his way back to the pack. He's been hunting already and successful enough to catch a couple of rabbits which hang from his jaws as with a little bounce in his step as he trots back to the others.
Yank yank spit-thput. Anoki, yanking a large chunk of shed fur from his shoulder, begins trying to spit it out. It's not the most graceful or manly of faces he's making, but he's trying, man. ears perk as the red-headed fellow looks up, that 'star' of red on his temple a mess at the moment for all the shedding fur. He spots Lexus, and grins slightly, moving to stand, streeetching kinks and growing boy's soreness from his muscles, before he starts toward the elder wolf, tail wagging. "Hey old man. Been a while, ain't it," he greets, with a haphazard chuckle, grinning. "You look like the winter treated you good.."
Try old guy muscles, more stiffness, less stretching ability. Lex would be in far worse shape if he hadn't spent most of his life running around like a mad wolf though, slowing down just means eventually more of the others will be able to keep up. He offers a greeting wag before tossing down the rabbits for someone else's lunch "Hey pup, or do I have to stay calling you young man" there's a little smirk, he can see how much Anoki's grown. Mind he's always called Niyt a pup and there's no stopping that, it's affectionate with him. A quick friendly nose nudge and he blows a little clump of loose fur from the younger wolf before grinning "You look like you've spent it trying to grow a new you, I'm sure I was never this fluffy"
Anoki snorts at the blow of fluff from his form, and does a full body shake that just sends stray fur everywhere. "Blame my dad, man, he was like, all fur, no wolf." Anoki's amused grin conveys a wistfulness; he remembers often telling his dad as a pup that 'daddh you too fluffeh' because Shag was almost all fur half the time. Anoki then looks to the rabbits, and remarks, "Hey, you uh, don't mind if I take one of these to my friend, Jatya, do you? I mean, i've been trying to teach her what I know about hunting, and even that ain't much, but. I figure she won't mind s'long as I keep feedin' her." he chuckles and grins, tail wagging slightly. He's become a bit more tail wag, a little less stiff aloofness since meeting the she-dog, hasn't he. Of course, women have been known to change a lot in men when they're friends. Anoki sits, then says, "So Lexus, what do you know about news around here? I've been out of the loop, payin' attention to teaching a dog how to be a wolf.."
Lexus backs his head away when Anoki shakes but still gets a little extra fluff and ends up shaking too to get rid of it. His winter coat's still mostly there, just patches gone. He's inclined to blame it on being a mountain wolf but he's feeling the cold more so it's not ungrateful for the extension. He though has learnt a few tricks for getting rid of lose fur, it's not flying off of him so far. He chuckles at the thought of Shag "Yes, it probably is his doing, great tumbleweeds of fur every year" he shakes his head, amused but also dwelling on the thought of the absent wolf for a moment. Luckily a blink and he snaps out of it, glancing to the rabbits "Oh, yes, go ahead. I caught them for whoever I can just as easily get more" he narrows his eyes at Anoki suddenly though his smirk appears again "Who's Jatya though?" it's news to him, refusal to stay still means he misses some things. He glances back to the sleeping pack "I know there are pups on the way" there's a grin for that but he does try to think of other news too "Erm, it's been quiet. Not seen Tariro in a while, perhaps I move too much"
"Eh.. I don't think my uncle really does much around here anymore anyway; handed all the leader stuff off to Coinin. Coinin's all stuff, but he's not too bad," Anoki dmits thoughtfully. "Jatya.. she's uh.. she's a she-dog I met around the start of winter. She came off a cloud monster, one of the Great Spirit's messangers! I thought maybe I'd watch out for her, an' stuff, till it came back for her, but it's never come back. So I guess maybe she's here' to stay." He pauses, and grins slightly, leaning to the side to scratch at a shoulder with a hind foot; "I don't quite mind, y'know? She's nice, an' it's good to have someone around who's my age and stuff.. means I don't gotta go running to the Ute every time I want someone to talk about stuff with... And uh.. an' she's kinda cute." He grins sheepishly, then adds, "Don't think my uncle would like her bein' in the pack, c'os she's a dog an' all but. She's still not bad to have around. And if she learns to hunt with me, from Coinin? We could have a good all
We could have a good ally for us!"
Lexus smiles knowingly as Anoki talks of Jatya. You wouldn't think the old wolf had only just got himself a mate from that look but at least he's old enough to have seen it all in others before that "I don't know, back when I was a pup" never a good sign when old wolves start stories that way "We had coyote-wolf pups and their parents in the old pack, the pups grow like any other...Mind I never had much contact with the coyote, someone else's parent, not a playmate. Still, they were there and my parents were far stricter than Tariro. Give it time for her to prove she means well and things usually work out. Hunting would certainly help, bring something to the pack. Everyone likes the one who brings in the dinner" Lex has always been a firm believer that if you want to ask a favour or request something important you should bring food "If you like her and want her to eventually stay that's probably a point in her favour, if she wants to stay herself of course"
His ears are turning slightly pink inside at Lexus' advice. Well yeah, okay, he likes Jatya, but pups with a dog? That's.. Wouldn't it be so weird? Besides. "I'm pretty sure only the folks with high rank're allowed to have pups this year. I guess somethin' happened to Maka, though; I haven't seen her around. That's a horrible loss for my uncle.." he frowns, and sighs, shaking his head. "I 'spect Niyt'll have pups before I do, and when she does I'mma spoil'em rotten c'os mom woulda wanted them spoiled." he grins amusedly, at this, before he pulls one of the rabbits close to himself, and begins plucking fur from it thoughtfully. "Actually be kinda nice to have pups around. Wish I was young enough i could play with'em and not get looked at like I don't got knocked stupid by a moose or something.." he sighs though: "I guess I can't go back and take the pup time I missed though." he frowns, ears laying slightly back. He still doesn't like thinking about that time. He hms, though, stopping, staring slightly into space at something that likely only he can see, before he bobs his head, and murmurs, "Thank you for this food, Lexus; and thank you for letting lexus catch you, mister rabbit."
Lexus snorts "High rank? Rayen's having pups, my pups. I don't have a rank, I just asked" He wouldn't consider Elder a rank, more an advisory role and really even that seems too old for him to consider himself. Everytime he thinks about the pups he can't help a little grin and his tail thumps a couple of times before Maka's mentioned and he sinks into a frown "Poor Tariro, the lad could do without another heartbreak in his life, perhaps there's another reason they're being scarce" he worries and sighs faintly but moves on with the conversation to happier thoughts "Niyt best hurry up, I want to see these pups and spoil them too, can't be waiting around forever" he chuckles though he'd never actually rush her really. Another snort and he raises an eyebrow at Anoki with a snort "Growing up is overrated, I've played with every generation that's come through this pack, don't think I'll stop now...though admittedly I did trip at high speed many times and hit my head in my youth, great fun, perhaps explains a lot though" He grins but it fads almost instantly with Anoki's expression over his puppyhood. He leans over for a quick nuzzle and then hesitates before there's a faint sigh. He nods to the murmurs but he's thinking and after a moment speaks again "You know I worry what happens if it turns out I don't get to see my kids grow up much, I'm getting old...The old and the sick, things that we would prefer in prey, heh"
"Time is the greatest predator of them all," Anoki says, wisly, though it's aon odd wisdom, "Time, and the wind," he sighs, closing his eyes a moment in thought. "Maybe, yes.. I can't tell what the wind says as well as Niyt does. I can only hear the songs the river sings, or the songs the trees sing, or the songs in the mud. I can only see the spirits of the dead when they have a message to give, or they want something done for them. I don't have my mother or father's abilities to see the future, or to dream dreams that tell things." he shakes his head. "Perhaps I'm the last, Lexus, the last of a line of seers, and maybe when I'm gone, so too will be the songs of the earth, or the thought that we need to show kindness to those spirits that still roam." He's quiet for a few moments, plucking away at the rabbit, before he looks to Lexus, and blinks, shaking his head: "You'd better stick around to see your pups grow up, old man, I'm not going to get saddled with telling them how great their father was." he smirks wrly, "But.. congratulations, eh? ON havin' youngin's. Maybe Rayen'll let me see'em before they're old enough to decide they want out." he considers. "I'm what, kind of their cousin, aren't I? Your mum was my grandma, after all, so you're kind of.. related to me." he says, considering. He scrunches his face, trying to remember what his dad told him of his most noble family.
Lexus tilts his head at the talk of songs and spirits. He's never had the ability to see or hear such things, the only reason he believes they're there is because he trusts his family and so many have talked about them. He gets the idea of the wind a little, follows it back to the mountains sometimes when it blows the right scent his way "I'm certain there will be more" he considers, his ears perking to try and pick up on things but he's not going to start hearing things now "Your father was the first I knew with those gifts, it might skip a few generations but I'm sure it'll be back and there's always Niyt's children to consider if she ever has them" He smiles faintly when Anoki calls him an old man again, he considers it as affectionate as pup "I plan to stick around, as long and as stubbornly as I can. A few more years, long enough to watch them grow up and give their potential mates a good long feeling of dread" he laughs before shaking his head "That's the hope" after a second he gives Anoki a thoughtful look "After everything if I'm not around though or even" he looks a little uncomfortable with the thought "Fail somehow...I figure you're probably the next one in this pack to go charging into trouble if there's pups in danger unless Rayen beats you to it" a little huff of a sigh and Lex frowns, it's not a thought he likes "Just...keep an eye on things eh? If you can. You'll meet them, we're not going anywhere, they'll be with the pack as they should be" he forces himself back to happier thoughts and into a smile "I'm older than that, your grandma was my sister but go with cousins" he raises a brow thoughtfully "No clue what else it would be"
"Well, could be worse, I suppose," Anoki considers, then chuckles, shrugging a bit. "Maybe some day, me and Jatya might have pups, maybe." He shrugs, "S'up to her, really, I mean, I only do the work of puttin'em in'er, if you go by what Niyt's said. After that, the mom's the one who makes'em, and then raises'em long enough to get'em eatin' solid food.." he trails. He frowns. Yeah, thinking of his mom again. There's too much sadness in this pack, when he thinks about it, but they hardly have the monopoly on it; after all, Tala and Ikuna's mum and da were kille dby a bear, and then the same summer happend to poor Ikuna. Anoki snorts, then begins chewin on rabbit leg, trying to crack the boney limb off in a few bites for gnawing on, mumbling as he does so, "You'll be here, I'm sure. My uncle, who knows. I think maybe he's getting itchy feet, wants to wander when his time to step down entirely is nigh. I dunno, I haven't talked to him. Never seen him around, but a lot of that might also be me bein' .. attached to Jatya by the huntin' bone." he laughs.
The sheer number of tragedies in recent years is part of the reason Lex worries so much, he doesn't want his kids to have to go through so much and miss out on just being happy and carefree pups. He does look a little amused at Anoki's idea of parental rolls "Really? So I'm free to just wander on off and leave Rayen to it until they're a little older?" He barks a laugh "Seems like a good way to get a female pissed off at you to me. She barks I'll come running with whatever the hell she wants without question. Hard work this stuff, sure the mother does most of it with the pups, has to until they're on solid stuff but someone has to look after her too. Could go stir crazy without a break" The talk of Tariro makes him frown slightly again "I suppose if he steps down then Coinin will step up"
"Yeah, Coinin'll have to, won't he? He's like, the beta and stuff." Anoki blinks though at this notion of the dad having to do work. Huh? He doesn't remember HIS dad ever doing work; oh, sure, his sister did tons of watching him as a pup, as did the rest of the pack, but he only remembers his dad during the times when mom was around, and dad was making her happy. And the MUSHY things they did, and.. oh. Hm. He considers, tilting his head. "Sounds like more work than it's worth," he muses playfully, "But hey, I guess someone's gotta do it. An' if she ain't happy with you then ain't nobody happy with you, huh?" He grins amusedly. then offers, "I'm sure you'll be a good dad, Lex, don't worry." he hmms, and crunches and gnaws some of the rabbit meat before he thinks about it, and offers, "And in the very least, you'll make a good bed for them to lay on. Dads and mums always do." he grins broadly, tail thumping the ground in humor.
Lexus considers Coinin thoughtfully but his only response is a "Mmm" he's never sure how he feels about it, it's complicated for the old guy. Coinin's fine, Lex is just finding it harder to adjust to change after so long. He smiles at the next thing Anoki said though "More than happy for it to be my job" he even wags a little "Oh I'll make a great dad, I have years of experience playing with everyone else's kids to go from. I'll attempt to stay still enough to be a good bed just in case though, let them crawl all over me as much as they like"
Anoki grins again, tail wagging before he leaves his hare where it lays and hops to his feet plodding close. "You'll have to get used to ear chewin', too," he says, as he attempts to nip for one of Lexus' ears playfully, "And of course your tail will be awesome for teethin' on," he adds, with a swipe of a playful paw for Lexus' shoulder. he grins. "Yeah, I guess it'll be good to have pups around. I think I'll play with all the pups I can, too, just like you," he grins amusedly, then adds, "And I'll teach'em bad habits like how to get fish from the water in the fall when there's fish a plenty to eat." he teases, "So they'll have fish breath."
Lexus laughs again, his tail beating on the ground steadily "I think it was Niyt who used to chew on my ears when she was a pup. If it can be gnawed on I've probably had a pup do so. Playing with pups is good for the soul. So small and innocent without a care in the world, keeps you feeling young" he chuckles quietly "Knowing me I might teach them half the bad tricks myself, force of habit. I'll have to remember this time the tricks could come back to bite me"
A wry grin comes from the younger fellow, before Anoki murmurs, "... Man, sometimes I wonder what Niyt was like when she was young." he grins, and then adds, "I'll have to teach your pups to play in mud, you know." He bobs his head at this matter of factly. "And how to paint the stones, if we ever head back to the butte," he murmurs thoughtfully, before he looks to the river. "... Though I kind of like to hope we might stay around here. River's nice, and when the fall comes, easy dinner from all the fish swimmin' up to mate and die." he smiles slightly, then adds, "Easier than huntin' for elk when there's so few of us together. Maybe I'll eventually learn to take out smaller deer of course. The way Coinin has it, I'll probably be /the/ one hunting around here before long," he laughs.
Lexus grins at the memories "Funny pup, full of life. We'd run around a play about" Of course then she went missing and turned blind, just one more tragedy to add to the pile. He tilts his head at Anoki "I've never painted stones before. Do you have to be at the butte to do it?" he never felt much at home in the desert, he's better with the river though he'll always belong to the mountains. He chuckles lightly again "If you ever need someone else to go hunting with I'd be happy to join you, pass on the tricks. Hunting larger prey is a rare treat"
It is now your pose.
"... Nah. You just need bud, and something to smear it on. Smearing it on other wolves works just as good." Grins Anoki, remembering his adventures with mud. Oh, how Alaqua had near had a /fit/ upon seeing him muddy from tail to snout. Of course, he didn't understand then like he does now that adults are the ones that have to clean up after little puppies when they make a mess. Now he understands. He chuckles softly. "Yeah.. Yeah, I wish I could have played with her as a pup. Wish i coulda played with anyone as a pup, but instead... Meh." Bad things happened. He hms? ears perking. "Oh ho, you think you can still take on something large, old man?" he teases Lexus playfully, batting a paw at the older wolf's shoulder with a grin, "Not too many bones that hurt, or joints that're sore, huh?" he chuckles, then hmms thoughtfully. "Well, with spring here, it'll be easier for Coinin to teach me and Jatya how to hunt."
Coinin has been away looking for Tariro and largely been unsucessful. He had run into another wolf and Kasa the previous evening. She had said that she had seen Tariro lately and that he was acting all funny. That doesn't bode well for anything. Still until he finds him there is little he can do. He would like to find everyone who might have wandered away and give them a chance to gather together again, and do something of a spring headcount to see who is still here and who isn't. No doubt they will all get that chance. He wanders back into the fork area and glances around to see if anyone is up and about. It seems that good old Lex and Anoki are here. Thats good, "Hello you two." he says.
Lexus snorts "I see why this is considered trouble now. Mud, everywhere, oh dear" He shakes his head "You'll get to play with pups soon enough, make up for lost time with every generation to come. Might have grown up but you don't have to act like one around puppies" He snorts "I could still run down a deer if I wanted to, with others in the pack it's easily done" his ears perk to the new arrival and he nods once "Coinin! Good to see you"
Ears lift, and Anoki looks over, murmuring, "Speak of the wolf, and he appears; if only my uncle were so timely." With a grin, and a chuckle, before he turns to snatch up the hare he'd been chewin' on, and begins gnawin on the belly, lasily settling into a lay, one oaw placed atop the meal, the other tucked under. "Hoi, hoi, Coinin, how are you?" he asks, with a grin. "Sorry I been kinda avoidin' you but, let's face it. You're a stuffy old man, and a pretty she-dog is better company at my age," he winks, and grins, tail wagging slightly.
Coinin wanders a bit closer to the pair of them before sitting himself down. As for Anoki's uncle he only wishes that he knew where he was. No doubt he will turn up. Tariro can certainly take care of himself, but still it just feel so unsettled out there he would feel better if everyone was in one spot where they could all keep an eye on each other. Maybe its just the spring, and maybe its something else..who could say? "Good to see you too Lex. Hope all is going well with Rayen." he says. He is obviously pleased that some pups are on the way. He then turns his attention to Anoki. So that dog is still here. He is going to have to figure out what to do with her. Its not like she is here to cause any trouble but still. A relationship between Anoki and her would be strange to say the least, "Of that I have little doubt." he says to Anoki, "So you really like her huh?"
Lexus smiles again, another little wag for the mention of Rayen "She's doing fine, all a waiting game at the moment" he chuckles at the talk of the dog "Seems to be quite enjoying her company, the rest of us are just old and dull in comparison"
"Well, Coinin," Anoki admits, "Only other female I know my age is not only my friend, but is kinda smitten with my other friend. Wouldn't be right to go makin' moves on Tala, in that situation, now would it." he smirks faintly, "Plus.. well, it's the tail, seriously. It's all the tail. That curl over the back, that fluffyness.." He grins, winking. Then mms softly. "... .. I like her as a friend. I guess I kinda like her more than that, too, but there ain't gonna be no puppies from us, I know the order around here mostly. Gotter ask, or else gotter make sure it's a real good year for prey." Anoki pauses, then, eyes closing, lifts his snout to the wind: "I'm not my sister, but.. I can tell you there's somethin' ain't right for this year, to have more'n' two litters.." he trails, and frowns. ".. If we have that. Like I said to Lexus, I ain't seen Maka in some time, nor my uncle." He sighs. "I been doin' my best to teach her, though, Coinin, about bein' a wild animal."
Coinin nods and chuckles, "Yes we are all too old and dull for Anoki." He is pleased to hear that that things are going well for Rayen and will certainly look foward to seeing the pups when they finally appear. A den will need to be found most certainly if one hasn't already been found. As for Anoki, "You're right that that simply wouldn't do. You can't go after a friends girl...its just not polite. But still you don't have to be impatient you know. Look at Lex he waited a long long time to find the right girl for him and it worked out well." Coinin too doesn't really have anyone that he likes at the moment either now that Molasses has disappeared to who knows where, "I've felt the same thing. We must be very careful. Still Anoki if you love her I understand. I just don't want you to rush into something." The unspoken fact is of course that she is a dog...and a dog is a dog no matter how 'wild' she might become.
Lexus stretches his legs out, laughs at Anoki's description of the dogs tail and shakes his head. He's seen mixbreeds before, he's less concerned. He also thankfully doesn't have many experiences with dogs "Love is love, if it's meant to be I'm sure it'll work itself out...I'm going to check in on Rayen, see if she's hungry or anything" breaking into another trot he started to wander back off.
"Oh trust me," Anoki says, ears going slightly flat, "any 'Rushing in' was taken care of a /long/ time ago by Niyt mentioning the 'facts of life' to men in front of Tala." Anoki closes his eyes and shudders. Dear Spirits, why did sisters have to be twice as bad as moms sometimes? He huffs a bit, and begins to gnaw on the good squishy rabbit bits, adding, as he licks his chops, "'Sides, I know thw whole 'no one wants to say it'. She's a dog, and people are afraid if I hang out with a dog, I'll go dumb in the head." he smirks. He looks over in Lexus' direction, and calls, "Don't be too much a stranger, old man," but again, old man? Endearing term. Anoki hasn't malice in his body for many. He looks to Coinin again, and mms. "... Still, what harm is being her friend? What if I have to wait for Ikuna and Tala's little sisters to grow up at this rate, or even Lexus' pups, should he have daughters."
Coinin watches as Lexus leaves and smiles. Yep that is definitely something to look foward to seeing, "Good night Lex." he says to the old wolf. Now for Anoki, "Anoki I don't think anyone really worries about you going dumb in the head. Jatya is not dumb. And I fully support you being her friend. Otherwise I wouldn't have let her stick around." It was mostly out of charity that he let her stay, and because he knows Anoki needs a friend his age, "...but dogs are different, not bad...just different. And there are certain complications that can happen with things like that. If you had to wait it wouldn't be the end of the world. Look at me I'm as old as your sister and I'm still waiting."
A snort, as Anoke starts to rip meat from the sides of the hare, murmuring, "Yeah, but you /had/ a girl, and she's done gone and.. who knows." He frowns. "Can't I just have a little happy, huh? I mean, I didn't get to have happy as a pup, and it's not like I'm gonna make pups with her. I just.. like her company, and she's nice. Plus I imagine keeping her around would be one more body to hunt in the summer, one more body to keep us warm in winter, and she ain't gonna be too much trouble, is she? So what if she's a dog." He sniffs, then adds: "Lexus was tellin' me when he was my age there was a bunch of coyote half-breeds in the pack. How is that any different?"
Coinin didn't really have a girl, he had a potential girl that just sort of fizzled. Its still a topic that causes him no small amount of angst. He misses her and is more than a little bit worried about her, but there is very little that he can do at the present moment about it. Its not like he can wander off on a great adventure to look for her. Not without Tariro here to keep an eye on things, and where on earth was Tariro anyway? He shouldn't keep wandering off like this. Its just not safe for him or for everyone else, "Anoki I do want you to be happy. I hope that you know that. If you love her then I hope you are both very happy together, but my only point is that it makes relationships a little harder...thats all. And not everyone that you meet will be accepting of it."
A snort again: "So what if /they/ don't like it. They don't /have/ to like it, she's my friend." He shakes his head: "I'm already not thought of as normal, Coinin. I talk to dead things, I hear the river singing songs, I like to eat fish more than I do rabbits or deer or stuff like that. They can make funna me all they want, it ain't gonna bother me." He sniffs, "And if they make funna /her/, I'll make'em sorry. Besides." He licks his chops, then looks at Coinin pointedly, "It'll be a lot harder for her to live out here alone, won't it? Same reason we wolves don't live alone. Well, most of us. I don't know /what's/ up with my uncle, and we all /saw/ what livin' alone did to that Helaku bugger."
Coinin would rather hang out with Anoki than Helaku any day of the week that is for sure, "Yeah. You're definitely goofy I'll give you that." Of course there is no harm in stating the obvious. Besides...its not like Coinin means it in a nasty way. More in the spirit of how Anoki calls Lex 'Old Man' and things like that, "Still there are politics involved that you aren't aware of yet." Coinin has plans for Anoki and when Anoki is ready to hear them he will share, but until that moment he will keep his thoughts to himself. Having a beta that had a dog for a mate would be odd indeed. She would become the de-facto beta female, unless the position was given out in a different way than is traditional. Which is something that Coinin is not necessarily opposed to, "Still if you love her be with her. Thats the best advice I can give."
It is now your pose.
[OOC] Coinin nods.
"Well I do, and I will. Anyone has anything rude to say about it they can say it to our faces, and Spirits help them if they make her cry." Anoki frowns, and snorts. Then remarks softly, "Let's talk about somethin' else, okay? Like, I dunno. Hunting. Now that it's spring, should make for an easier time of you teachin' me, shouldn't it? I figure with all the babies around, good place to start is with stealin' baby animals. The sick or the weak." He adds, thoughtfully. "After all that's what we do, ain't it? Kill the sick, the weak. And babies are easier to kill, as long as we are doing it for food only." He frowns, at the thought. Honestly, he doesn't LIKE the idea of tkaing young animals. But that's life.
Coinin is more than willing to put that topic on hold for now. He would expect nothing less of someone who loved another to want to defend them. Its a good sign. As for the hunting issue, there certainly is a diversity of thought on that topic. Some would say that you get whatever you can get and its all good. Some wolves seem to enjoy killing and others like Anoki abhor it and only do it because they absolutely must, "I would say that the sick and the weak are most definitely ok. As for babies...I think there are multiple schools of thought on that. Personally I would rather not. Unless the need was dire."
Ears perk, and Anoki seems to relax a little at that. "I agree. Mostly because it would be a little too.. like what almost happened to me and Ikuna. I don't think even prey animals deserve to lose their young so untimely like." He frowns and then considers. "Still. The weak and the frail; that leaves the older, and the infirm. I suppose we should start with small prey? Deer. Deer are small compaired to some things." he smirks weakly, though yes, truth be told, his life has so far lead him to dislike the idea of killing to eat. Funny, how almost being killed to feed something can change one's perspective on things.
The world is certainly a dangerous place and its dangerous for everyone...not just the prey animals. He does appreciate Anoki's commitment to being a good person. Its always nice to have a few of those in the pack that actually take the time to really think things out rather than just act, "Deer would be a fine place to start. I know that Catori would like to hunt as well with us and I know that she is capable of bringing down a deer." There are other things to hunt as well but a deer would probably the simplets and most easily caught.
Giving a nod, Anoki sighs. "I have to admit I just.. I admit I don't like the idea, but if it must be done, then so be it." He looks to the rabbit still in peices across his paws, and starts picking bits of meat off what's left halfheartedly. "Gotta feed the monster in our bellies after all," he laughs weakly, then considers. And looks to Coinin: "I suppose Catori coming along would also help me learn. Don't forget though, you also promised to help teach Jatya when she's around." he smiles slightly, and then mms. "... What are we going to do with my uncle though, Coinin? We can't have an alpha that keeps wandering off; we're barely enough for a pack as is, same with the Ute. Maybe we should try to join the packs... Cerulean was once two packs, maybe it's time to happen again."
Coinin has no intention of passing that off to Catori. Its vitally necessary that these two learn how to hunt if they plan to stay with the pack, and he doesn't really forsee either of htem leaving any time soon, "I know...I know. I'm not backing out, only inviting someone else along. The more the merrier." he points out. As for his other thought he doesn't know what to think about it. He has his reasons for not wanting to move up the date of himself becoming alpha. He knows that its coming and that there is nothing that he can do to change that now, but he isn't looking forward to it, "I'm worried about him too Anoki. But we mustn't speak like that. An alpha is an alpha until they are either challenged or give up the spot to another. I for one won't mutiny. I do worry about him though. I heard from that Kasa wolf that he was acting funny...whatever that means. I would like to find him and bring him home. As for merging with Ute. I understand your wish to see that happen since you have friends there, but its a big deal to have two packs come together, and....well the cultures are different. I'm not sure how well we would mesh."
"It's not because of my friends," Anoki says, though it's true it WOULD be nice to have more wolves around that are his age or close to it. "It's because I'm afraid that even with new blood around, like Kasa, or Catori, or even Jatya just being a pack friend.. we're dwindling." He frowns. "My dad isn't coming back, nor is my sister. Niyt and her ... boyfriend... Probably aren't going to have pups any time soon. Uncle Tariro is often missing -- and if he's acting weird, like that Kasa said, he might be sick -- And Maka's missing now, too. I half expect to get kicked out any day now c'os I can't hunt, and only like to eat fish."
There is no doubt about it, the pack could use a few more wolves, but he isn't necessarily ready to look at merger just yet. He would want to make sure that Cerulean was able to stay Cerulean and wouldn't have live by Ute rules, since he had heard that they are more strict than Cerulean. It would certainly be a major effort. But thankfully that doesn't need to happen right now, "You aren't going to be kicked out Anoki...and neitehr is anyone else. We do need to find Tariro though. Perhaps both you and I should search for him. If we split up it would make things go faster and if we find him we can bring him home and figure out what is going on."