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Jun 20, 2012 0:51:57 GMT -5
Post by Ahiga on Jun 20, 2012 0:51:57 GMT -5
Ahiga’s eyes drift to Ikuna and he exhales a short breath in response to him. “Yeah, yeah..” murmured in a near dismissive way, eyes turning from him during the brief exchange. He knows the drill. Play nice. Give the brothers a chance. Hear them out. It’s the Ute way. Etcetera etcetera. It’s an old song with tiresome lyrics, but Ahiga is here and thus he must, to some extent, agree. To some miniscule, microscopic degree. He does not join in with the calling, opting to instead listen for a return sound. Skahla and Ikuna’s voices reverberate and echo, losing loudness with distance until there’s nothing more. And reply? There is none. He glances to Skahla with ears slightly pricked.
He lowers his head again, trotting forward slightly. Maybe he was wrong? But no. The further they go, the stronger the scent. Fresh. Not some remnant of the rain. “He’s around here. Grim at least.” Brutal’s scent is not as present, having been holed up in his hideaway as he was. If Grim doesn’t answer, or Brutal if he's with him, Ahiga’s nose will get the job done.
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Jun 20, 2012 2:45:25 GMT -5
Post by Therdde on Jun 20, 2012 2:45:25 GMT -5
After issuing his howl, Skahla does not look to any of his companions. Rather, the white-furred wolf looks forward, for there is little chance that anything might manage to sneak around the four of them to approach them from behind. To that end, to make sure that anyone they face actually will be ahead of them, Skahla keeps his ears perked as he waits for a response to his call.
It doesn't particularly surprise him that none is forthcoming, and after a period of near silence, the alpha takes a step forward again. He shows no hesitation in following Ahiga as he does. Regardless of whether he is the official leader of Ute, there is no sense in having all their noses pointing toward the ground. Not when there is a wolf out there, possibly two, that by his packmates' reckoning could stand to be watched out for.
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Jun 20, 2012 11:56:47 GMT -5
Post by Pavane on Jun 20, 2012 11:56:47 GMT -5
Ahiga knows the drill. Ikuna knows Ahiga knows the drill. Ahiga knows Ikuna knows Ahiga knows the drill. Ikuna... All that, in short, means that Ikuna doesn't concern himself overmuch with Ahiga's dismissive response. When they're actually face to face with the brother wolves, Ahiga will have had a fresh reminder of that Ute way, and will doubtless behave admirably despite his grumbling.
Instead, howl done, Ikuna follows Ahiga and Skahla. Where his elder brother looks ahead, he looks from side to side, drawing in closer to the other wolves of his pack as he does. This is, after all, a diplomatic party, not one for hunting or battle. These two they seek are to be watched out for... but they're not enemies, and his posture shows such. Alert, but calm - ears perked, crooked tail out level behind him. Ready for action, but not trying to start anything.
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Jun 20, 2012 18:57:56 GMT -5
Post by Tala on Jun 20, 2012 18:57:56 GMT -5
Tala follows along still, she is quiet while her brothers howl and doesn't join in figuring two howling wolves is enough. Not like they are out here to cause a problem.. right? An she will of course be on her best behavior! As long Grim doesn't try to get all snuggling close or something.. Then its ear rippin time!
Her tail flicks a few times, her gaze drifting over the area as she listens, waches and smells the passing breeze and so forth to pick up any fresh scents. "I wonder if they found a place outa the rain an didn't hear the howls or somethin'."
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Jun 21, 2012 20:47:46 GMT -5
Post by Kvatch on Jun 21, 2012 20:47:46 GMT -5
With only the smallest trace of disconcert does Brutal stand to face the proverbial firing line, unsure of what bullet they might have selected from their arsenal. For a second, the possibilities lead Brutal to glancing toward the edge of the bank where the old oak tree stands and where Althaea slumbers well beneath it's roots. Have they come searching for her? He hopes not, because the burly male isn't quite ready to give any explanations in that regard. The direct quip from his brother provokes a frown to form across the grizzled muzzle of the male, yellow shifting to look upon Grim's well guarded face where he finds narrowed eyes and concealed ill-humor. "Thats not what I meant to say, brother. I'm just.." he sighs and shakes his head, "I'm just ready for change." Unable to really continue down this path of conversation, Brutal turns away to move out in the direction of the howl, the rain soaked ground making his paw steps all the more silent. However, stealth is not the purpose here and it isn't long before Brutal calls back with a baritone 'woof'- the closest thing to a bark that any wolf could ever manage. The message is clear at least. We are here.
-----
Doubt is the expression caught upon Grim's face, among many other suppressed emotions. Golden eyes remain set upon his brother as Brutal speaks, the dark wolf's words eliciting very little response from Grim. Instead, the tall grey male mainly just grunts, before muttering a controversial, "Without me though, right?". As Grim waits for the denial or acceptance of this remark, he steps forward to follow after his brother, if a bit begrudgingly so. This is going to be /such/ fun. Oh boy! Bleh.
(OOC: Apologies for the delay. Been a bit hectic around here.
)
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Jun 22, 2012 3:06:08 GMT -5
Post by Ahiga on Jun 22, 2012 3:06:08 GMT -5
Admirable. Ahiga has a game plan! When they finally do come across the brothers grim, as they inevitably will, yes? he's not going to say a thing. Not a word. What small filter he has tends to be lost when speaking of things that irritate him, and these wolves (or at least one of them), irritate him. If any inkling was had of the hidden adolescent within the den, it would give him all the more reason to replace his feeling of irritation with something far stronger.
But as things are, he has no inkling, and thus Brutal is safe from what would be infamous Ahiga venom.
But oh, that would be going against his plan of being silent, wouldn't it? Ruin the image of a stoic observer, unmoved by whatever conclusion is come to at the end? Well ... no one's perfect.
Ahiga's muzzle lifts from the ground, hovering a few inches as he looks ahead. He definitely has the trail, and the end is near. As if to confirm his thoughts, the sound of a nearby howl has him lifting his head fully, and it isn't horribly long after that two wolves are seen some distance ahead. Now he hangs back. He isn't the leader of this .. eh .. welcoming party, nor does he wish to be mistaken as it. Thus, he slows his walk til Skahla passes him, Ikuna too, and then continues on in silence, positioning himself to the left of their alpha.
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Jun 22, 2012 14:51:47 GMT -5
Post by Therdde on Jun 22, 2012 14:51:47 GMT -5
Were it not for the rain that has passed through, Skahla would almost have to recognise something of his daughter's scent. Wouldn't he? He remains as oblivious as any of the Ute wolves, though. More so, probably, simply because he is Skahla. He always has been good at being oblivious. Even he, however, cannot miss the response that their call finally gets, and he shows no surprise when Ahiga moves back. Because this is on him. He is the one who has come here to...
"Hello," the alpha says warily once they are finally just close enough. And just close enough is where he stops. He is not without some measure of caution in his "old age," caution that was lacking when he last had to really confront someone. Luck has not been with him of late, though, and he is not willing to rely on it the way he did in his youth.
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Jun 22, 2012 16:56:46 GMT -5
Post by Pavane on Jun 22, 2012 16:56:46 GMT -5
Ikuna has noted the lack of Althaea's presence of late - but he has no idea of why. If pressed for a guess, he'd be torn between thinking her brooding the loss of her home, or else visiting with Cerulean. That she'd be here? No. The thought hasn't crossed his mind.
All he's expecting to find here are Brutal and Grim, and his ears perk to the sound of that wuff. He nods slightly. Good.
As Skahla steps forward, Ikuna does the same, a step and a half behind and on the Alpha's right. When Skahla stops, he does the same, one step behind now and regarding the two with a steady gaze. He doesn't speak, yet. This is still on Skahla.
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Jun 22, 2012 17:08:50 GMT -5
Post by Tala on Jun 22, 2012 17:08:50 GMT -5
Tala follows along, continues forward, ears perking and a faint snuffle escaping her in the process as her gaze flicks one way and then another. Ears perking forward and then lower a tad, hackles faintly lifting before they smooth out.
Her large paws carry her quietly ever forward, tail twitching as she sniffs here and there at the passing breeze. She soon catches the scent of one of the brothers an then the call from one. She hums softly while taking in a breath. Though there is a scent, a scent that she knows and she ponders why it is here. Why would Althaea be this far from the makeshift home?.. Perhaps it is just a scent on one of the wolves near her?
As they come closer she takes up a position behind her brothers, and at the left side of Ahiga. She stands quietly, tail lowered and relaxed and ears twitching forward while a slight nod is seen. She won't speak unless she needs to that is!
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Jun 23, 2012 1:02:32 GMT -5
Post by Kvatch on Jun 23, 2012 1:02:32 GMT -5
Honestly, Brutal doesn't know what he means by his words, except the only thing he does know, is that he does mean them. Something needs to change, this at least is true. He has lived in the past so long, that somewhere in the middle, he forgot how to move forward. Althaea, and the Ute Pack in some regard, has helped him realize this. But then, what of Grim? Brutal releases another sigh on account of his brother's insistence, the verbal prodding finally bringing pause to the massive wolf and Brutal turns himself to face his brother in full regards."Grim, I can't provide you with a answer, because in the end, it is you who must decide. I am not your leader." Taking a step forward, he touches his dark muzzle to the side of Grim's pale one, " I'm your brother. And I always will be." With a lingering look to Grim's face, the dark male turns slowly away before continuing in the direction of the howl, picking up his pace with a brisk trot.
After traversing through a dense patch of undergrowth and passing beneath the boughs of a few young trees, Brutal's burly figure becomes noticeable well before the sound of his large paws, though he continues to resemble merely the shadow of a wolf until emerging from the growth to converge upon the path of the four Ute wolves, where close proximity provides a creature who is much more tangible than just a glimpse of a dark shape. There is nothing remotely hostile about his demeanor, yet Brutal still manages to strike the impression of a wolf who should be given ground and regarded with all due caution. Its in the way he moves and in the way he stands. Its in the way his yellow-eyed gaze pans across the faces of each and every wolf, as if always looking for something to discern, giving little away himself, and appearing in all likeness like a wolf who has an army at his back. However, before he begins to address any of them, a slight turn of his head and a pivot of a single ear is given, the motion possessing so little movement that it could hardly account as as glance over his shoulder, but there is no doubt a signal there. However, as his attention is brought back to those of Ute, it is Skahla whom it settles on, the unmet wolf gaining a brief scrutiny before Brutal's gravely voice rises in question, though not without a minor inflection of curiosity, "You are the Ute Alpha?".
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Distracted with feeding the beast of brooding jealousy and the monster of outright contempt, Grim is quite surprised when his brother turns to address him. Well, this is different. It also feels strangely awkward, causing the grey wolf to shift uncomfortably at being held in such direct regard, where old habits of submission threaten to buckle his legs. And while he manages to stifle what was once a well practiced cowering maneuver, he does not keep his ears from laying back, along with a slight cringe when Brutal steps toward him. But then, where teeth had always been anticipated, the affectionate brush of his brother's muzzle leaves Grim standing there quite dumfounded. Blinking as Brutal turns away, for a moment Grim cannot help but reflect upon such words of enlightenment, a heart-warming smile touching the corners of his muzzle. And.....then he remembers why he was grumping. Argh! "Brute'...wait!" Dammit, why couldn't his brother choose to have a mid-life crises with some other wolf pack? With a groan, Grim starts out after his brother, but before he can really catch up enough to picket his protest, golden eyes notice the very wolves who make up the reasons for it, plus one. And while Grim ain't shy about talking about the third party while the third party is present, the signal from his brother brings the tall wolf to a pause, where upon he just eases back upon his haunches several feet from the massive wolf. But, not about to give up an opportunity to annoy, he gives Ahiga a wry smirk before looking to Tala, whom he waggles his eye brows at. Crooked tailed Ikuna is just..ignored.
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Jun 23, 2012 1:33:16 GMT -5
Post by Ahiga on Jun 23, 2012 1:33:16 GMT -5
Ahiga keeps an eye on Skahla now that things are progressing. No, he’s not worried about him. Neither Brutal nor Grim has ever attacked anyone of their pack. Even he had to admit that the incident with Hadir was merely unfortunate accident, likely not done with insane malice towards the youngster. Though still, Brutal’s lack of acknowledgement of the incident to the pack as a whole and apparent aversion to clear his own name, at least to him who witnessed the tail end and dealt with the aftermath, had and still continues to feed the seed of doubt and distrust in his mind. Perhaps there were underlying cruel intentions.
And thus, he keeps an eye on his Alpha, for he is his Alpha and the brother of his best friend and Tala, whose title has grown deeper than that. He has his back. Golden eyes turn to Brutal after a moment, though he says nothing and continues to keep his silence even as Grim appears. The smirk is returned with a near imperceptible one of his own. A vague curve of a single edge of his muzzle accompanied by a miniscule dropping of his brow.
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Jun 23, 2012 7:32:40 GMT -5
Post by Therdde on Jun 23, 2012 7:32:40 GMT -5
Skahla is perfectly aware of his packmates around him, but his attention remains focused forward. Primarily on Brutal, since he is the one who speaks, but he does allow his gaze to shift to Grim a couple of times, and perhaps it is what he sees in the other wolf's expressions, those minute attempt to cause irritation to his packmates, that causes Skahla's hackles to rise just slightly. His mission here is not one of violence, though, and he stands his ground instead of advancing when he looks back to Brutal.
"I am." Skahla's initial answer of the question is very simple. After only a short pause, though, he continues. "My name is Skahla. And you... are Brutal and Grim. I've never been good at this, so allow me to be blunt. What is your purpose here?" That his packmates have cause to be concerned means he has cause to be concerned, and with the number of trials Ute already has to face, the alpha is not willing to draw this one out.
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Jun 23, 2012 15:05:17 GMT -5
Post by Pavane on Jun 23, 2012 15:05:17 GMT -5
Ikuna keeps his eyes on Brutal and Grim, back and forth between the two, and his ears perked to hear. Skahla's words get a slight considering nod - perhaps blunt is what's needed here. There's been enough dancing around, and they have other problems to think about.
As Grim taunts the other two youngsters, Ikuna glances over to them. Just a brief look, no words said. They're all here together, and if there's difficulty.. well, that's why they're here, isn't it? They're going to look at that difficulty, and address it calmly. Or, in Ahiga's case, with a smirk. That's okay too. Even if it irritates them, as Skahla is showing, they'll still do their best to be calm and patient. As Skahla is also showing, as he continues with calm (if blunt) conversation.
After the brief look, Ikuna's attention goes back to Brutal and Grim. He's still quiet; he's already told Skahla what he knows, and if there's nothing yet that makes him feel the need to interject. So. What /is/ their purpose here?
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Jun 23, 2012 15:45:52 GMT -5
Post by Tala on Jun 23, 2012 15:45:52 GMT -5
Tala is ever quiet, why? Because she knows that anything she says could perhaps mess this little meeting up, especially with Grim wiggling his eyebrows at her. Her steele blue gaze narrows as she eyes the other wolf slight, she does not approve of his advances towards her and figured she made this clear by chewing on his ears.. Perhaps she should just take them next time?
She licks across her maw, nose twitching as her ears flick forward and back. Oh sure they have found the ones they was looking for but she would rather not get surprized by others out here at the moment. As Skahla speaks her maw stayed firmly closed, and she slowly settles to her haunches, form relaxing to try and show that they are only hear for a 'talk' and as long the brothers don't push them into something she gets the feeling it will stay that way.
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Jun 24, 2012 21:27:01 GMT -5
Post by Kvatch on Jun 24, 2012 21:27:01 GMT -5
Confirmation receives the barest of head nods by way of acknowledgement, but Brutal cannot help but to look over the Ute's alpha and wonder how a wolf like this gets the rank. He just seems so...disconnected from the rest. But then, Brutal considers the possibilities that things were not always like this and maybe Skahla, once upon a time, looked, walked, and talked like the wolf he claims to be. As it stands, since Skahla seems well informed of their names, Brutal just gives another slight nod and his yellow eyes stay fixed upon the face of the white wolf, ears pressed forward with strict attention. Yet, when the question is asked, the massive wolf seems in no hurry to reply, but instead, he lets his gaze shift to sweep slowly across all the wolves here, minus Grim, who Brutal just hopes is at least moderately behaving himself. Drawing in a breath, it is back to Skahla for who his gaze settles, but Brutal speaks in a manner that suggest it is for all the wolves. "Isn't that always the question, Skahla, Alpha of the Ute? Do we not all ask ourselves this and ponder upon the possibilities? Life as a whole would suggest our purpose is simply to live and die and that what we do with the time spent between is up to us. I believe this is in part true. But I also believe we each are born with a destiny. That sometimes, call it divine intervention or call it fate, some things are just /meant/ to be." He pauses here, taking a few step toward the group, though his attention stays on the pack alpha. Only now, in this proximity, might the breeze carry the scent of Althaea, though it is still diluted by his heavier musk. "If you are asking why I helped that day on the hill, then I'll tell you it was because that was the right thing to do. Strangers we may be to each other, but we are still all together wolves. As for now, I stay because things are unfinished. You and your pack are still without your homeland and it would not bode well on my conscience to leave you like this." For an instant, Brutal's gaze drops toward the ground as the shadow of a memory crosses across his face, "I am haunted by enough ghost from my failures, Skahla of the Ute. I personally do not care to acquire any more. But, if disconcert among your ranks is what has brought you here this day, tell me what you would have of me and my brother?"
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Just as Tala thinks Grim should know better by now, Grim thinks that the she-wolf should know him by now. The grey wolf's advances to win her heart are hardly honest and his endeavors to continue them can be blamed upon one thing- its fun! And so long as his struggle to woo her serves as a means to annoy her, and possibly get under Ahiga's skin, he's going to keep doing it. Well this, and she is cute when she gets all pissy! For the moment though, Grim abandons the game to turn a more serious gaze upon his brother, where his scruffy, chewed on ears perk forward to listen. Never before has he heard Brutal speak like this, at least not in regards to fate. This sounds more like a wolf who has come to embrace it, rather than hate and fight against it. Maybe a change has already happened and Brutal doesn't even know it yet? Shifting himself out of the slouching sit he had taken up, Grim stiffens to attention as he too looks to Skahla upon Brutal's questioning, knowing that one way or another, the answer the Ute Alpha gives will affect him just the same. Which creates something of a disquieting atmosphere for Grim, feeling the heavy pull of de ja vue in his mind and letting it take shape, until Skahla soon becomes the giant figure of his father, behind who stands nearly thirty wolves, while Tala takes the form of the lovely Tyranny, though the expression is still about right. And then there is Brutal, just the same, except without all the wounds and internal demons he carries now. Standing there before father, defending his brother, and renouncing his destiny as the lord of all wolves. That day he damned many wolves to death, just to save one. Grim.
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