WELCOME TO SM

This land was strange with the familiar scent that clung to those of the Silver Mountain pack. She had never envisioned herself arriving here under these circumstances or that the land looked so bare and harsh. She knew better that it was full of life and with spring finally bursting with color. Tired and weary with little more to give she crested the stone ledge and looked out upon the land. Vibrant and colorful hues swam before her light sapphire eyes. A sense of relief fell upon her like rain on parched earth. Raiji had said that one could find safe refuge here, and she was about to find that out.

The tundra fae let her gaze sweep the cold stone encasing her and opening out into a lush valley. The large she-wolf turned her head and glanced at her swollen belly. Here she could hopefully give them a better life and a chance of survival. Outland was scattered like fallen leaves disturbed by the harsh winter winds. There was no future now that WINGS had taken over. Helpfully this would only be a temporary home, just until Outland could form again or settle else where. The unclaimed was too dangerous to raise a family, especially with her wounded.

Aira took one last look around and drew in a deep breath. She lifted for maw toward the partly cloudy sky above. With great effort she forced the air from her lung into a sweet, but exhausted howl. A tear leaked out of the mask she had tried to put on. Her lungs were burning as the air left her lungs and her head began to hurt; she finished her plea for help and acceptance of sanctuary.

Another busy day in the Silver Mountain territory. Ceres took a deep breath - the temperature had changed dramatically since early this morning. It was very cold almost chilled in the early day and now the spring heat had cranked up the moisture in the air. She had been in such a rush all day busily scouting the lands for any unwanted strangers her second wind was now dying down.

A howl abrupt her thoughts she stopped immediately looking over her shoulder in an alert and curious pose. Good thing she didn't make it any farther than where she was or the trip back would have been overly exhausting. She didn't hesitate any longer to pick up her pace with what little breath she was able to gather upon the sudden rest stop.

"Where are you from?" Ceres didn't even take the time to evaluate her fellow female. She wanted answers right away. It couldnt be helped, with the circumstances of the Outland and the WINGS on the loose every which way, she had to be on her guard. But with further examination as she rushed out of the bushes, Ceres could tell this female was pregnant and well on her way to having pups soon. She looked more exhausted than anything else. "Your from the Outlands aren't you?" It wasn't that hard to sniff the clue.

Aira's ears pricked forward as she heard the sound of approaching foot steps. A she-wolf much smaller than herself exploded out of a pair of bushes. She had a pelt mixed with red rather than her pelt of grays. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of dark gold and she wasted no time with the questions. She hadn't met this wolf before and didn't know its rank other than it was at least a gamma.

"I am Aira Schaefer, of the Outland pack. I mean you pack no harm, I seek shelter and a warm safe place for my pups." She hadn't forgotten her manner's, she bowed low to the she-wolf and avoided eye contact, for a stare could easily be seen as a challenge despite what her body said.

blah sorry for the shortness, can't think of what else to say. :p

This post has been edited by Aira on Feb 13 2010, 07:01 AM

Confirming her statement Ceres was already putting together the pieces. The female needed shelter. The Outland wolves numbers must have been devastatingly low. A gut wrenching feeling twisted as she thought about Darkening. "How is your alpha Darkening?.." Trailing for a minute she quickly resumed, "Ah im sorry, yes please stay here in our pack lands I am good friends with Darkening - you will be safe here." Or at least for now. It was only a matter of time before that pack got gutsy enough to invade other packs taking total domination of all the territories. If the numbers where as large as she had heard they would need more room, lots more room. They would expand possibly breaking off into individual packs...

It was unusual for an alpha to accept a female wolf from another pack, and highly unusual for this female to be pregnant. But Ceres owed Darkening in more ways than she could count. She was the only friend she had ever had in Crimson Valley. She considered her family. "..But please tell me what is happening in the outlands? Where is Darkening is she alright? What of this WINGS do you know anything about them?" The poor female was probably exhausted and ready for sleep. "I'm sorry...There is a newer cave carved from the harsh winter winds we had in the hidden lake. You can rest there, it is secluded so when you are ready to have pups it will be safe. I will take you to them - and then we can talk once you have rested." Her words followed by an apologetic look. She notioned for the female to follow.

Aira didn't know what say about the fate of the Outlanders. She really didn't know what had happened to Darkening other than she was still alive when she left and Era had been brutally captured. Based this she-wolf's questions she was the only Outlander to make it to Silver Mountain. So many questions and emotions bombarded her, that she began to feel dizzy and a head ache was coming on.

Aira just nodded her thanks, too thankful for words and too tired to think. Sleep, now that sounded good. It would give her a chance to sort things out. The she-wolf had mentioned something about being Darkening's friend which might make her Ceres. Aira followed Ceres obediently down into the valley bursting with life and the vibrant colors of Spring.

It seemed that as she found one solution to a problem a whole plethora replaced it and weighed her down. Her relief had only been temporary. Aira tried to shake off the nagging questions that threatened to engulf her. For now she just had to focus on where she placed her paws and try to piece together a mental map based on where Ceres took her. She had to keep moving forward.