Clever Concealment { TESHI }

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Today, a gentle wind ruffled the grasses of the meadow. Blue dotted the meadow everywhere, giving it a gorgeous look in the afternoon sun. It was late in the afternoon, and the sun was hitting the bluebonnets just right. Two burnt-orange eyes stared out on the beautiful meadow from the surrounding trees. Alcelaphus had not left his birthplace once during his short life. But he didn't really plan to either. He didn't see the point of joining a pack, and if he wasn't doing that, what other purpose could he have to leaving?

Slowly, the male stepped out of the trees. He smiled gently as he looked on the flowers, chuckling at a private memory. If only...but no. She hadn't. He shook his head to clear it, and his mind returned to its usually immature self. He saw a butterfly flutter close to one of the blue flowers, and he quickly jumped after it, bounding in a pup-like manner. Whenever it flew too high, he would stand on his hindlegs and paw the air with his front paws for the second that he was able to balance. And then he would drop back down to all fours, and carry on bounding about like a pup. Suddenly, he heard a noise and froze. He turned toward the sound, his ears perked cautiously. But his tone was completely buoyant as he called out to the stranger.

Hello!

muse xx i can only imagine - mercyme
tags xx @lassiel
ooc xx sorry about the crappiness. It will improve, I promise!

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Nestled on his back amongst the meadow grasses, Teshi allowed the afternoon sun to warm his soft belly as he surveyed the blue sky above him. He could see nothing but clouds and the occasional butterfly fluttering by, and that was fine with him. The young wolf had always loved the wide open sky. It always seemed so full of promise. And the peace of the meadow was a prime location for imagining adventures far beyond the horizon. For now though, he studied the clouds floating far above. One in particular looked like a bear, and next to it was a wolf-shaped one—if he squinted and tilted his head to the side a little.

Content as he was, the soft sound of grass swishing reached him slowly, and it took even longer for him to realize the noise was made by the movements of another creature. He rolled to his stomach, though he remained close to the ground, peering through the grass. A moment later Teshi caught sight of another wolf running through the meadow. The sight of the stranger bouncing along after a butterfly made Teshi grin, but before he could introduce himself one of the many flowers brushed across his nose. A slight twitch of his muzzle, and not a second later a loud sneeze echoed through the clearing. Teshi froze along with the other wolf, but his cheerful greeting had Teshi finally rising above the grass with a sheepish grin.

"Hey there!” He smiled brightly and trotted closer. “Hope I didn’t scare your butterfly friend away.” His laugh was genuine and his tone, though teasing, lacked any malicious intent. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you hunt down another.”

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At his friendly call, a wolf stood. His fur was a mixture of brown and red, with a creamy underbelly and a black back. His blue eyes peered out at Alces curiously, and a faint grin etched itself upon his maw. He seemed a little bashful, but he wasn't shy. At least, he had lost all shyness immediately.

Hey there! Hope I didn’t scare your butterfly friend away.

He paused, approaching Alces slowly, to let a laugh escape his maw.

Don’t worry, I’ll help you hunt down another.

Alcelaphus smiled in return. He suddenly felt shy, but he tried not to show it. His ears perked up and his black tail swayed from side to side. Their coats were total opposites, as were their eyes. Alces' burnt-orange eyes stared into the blue ones across from him. His black pelt, mixed with dark browns, and his smoky gray face gave him the appearance of a wisp of smoke, with a fire burning inside of him. And his companion, with his red and brown coat, black back, and creamy underbelly, looked like a raging fire, with a cool river flowing inside. Alces' smile grew and he winked at his companion.

Okay!

He turned to scan the area, smiling upon his home. Maybe this other male had been born here too?

My name's Alcelaphus. But just call me Alces. What's yours?

He didn't trust him, but it didn't mean that they couldn't have fun together. He seemed harmless enough. And then, Alces spotted a butterfly. His tail came straight up, and his eyes flashed away from the male's blue eyes.

There!

And with that, he bounded off to chase it, glancing back to see if his companion followed him.

muse xx k-love
tags xx @lassiel
ooc xx hmmm....this is interesting (;

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The wolf smiled and Teshi's tail wagged happily. He didn't seem at all annoyed by Teshi's sudden appearance--but then again, the guy had been chasing a butterfly. Teshi was willing to bet he was pretty easy going!

The stranger spoke and Teshi blinked, momentarily stunned the wolf had actually taken him up on his offer. But there he was, presumably scanning the meadow for more butterflies. He gave his name—Alces—before asking for Teshi's own.

"Teshi!" he replied brightly and without hesitation.

Alces was a small wolf. Almost scrawny when compared to Teshi's height. It didn't help matters that Teshi's thick coat gave him an illusion of stockiness that didn't actually exist. But Alces' small size apparently made him quick. Before Teshi could say more, the other wolf was taking off after another butterfly. Teshi paused, but a glance from orange eyes had him barking a laugh before taking off in pursuit.

Blue eyes focused on the insect and mouth open in a grin, Teshi closed the distance between the two. The butterfly had floated higher above their heads, too far for them to easily reach. But Teshi wasn't one to easily give up. Rearing up on hind legs, he reached as high as he could, only for teeth to snap on empty air. Balance off from overreaching, he stumbled when his front paws hit the ground, bumping hard into Alces in the process.

"Oof!" Air burst out of Teshi at the impact, though he managed to keep his feet beneath him. "Whoa. Sorry about that," he laughed, stumbling away and shaking his coat out. "You alright?" He asked, blue eyes turning to the smaller wolf.

[Deleted]

Teshi!

Alces smiled and barked joyfully. When he bounded away, he looked back. The other male watched him a second and then bounded after him playfully. He barked out as laugh and Alces smiled in return. And then he resumed his chase of the butterfly. He caught up to it, and leapt onto his hindlegs expertly. It's beautiful wings were the same color as Teshi's eyes: a bright, vibrant blue. Alces smiled as he pawed the air. The butterfly jumped in the air, far out of his reach. And then Teshi jumped up beside him, reaching his longer, taller body in the air toward the butterfly. Alces came down and his head tilted up to watch his companion miss the butterfly. He laughed heartily, and then Teshi began to come down. His balance was off and he toppled onto Alces, knocking him over. Alces' right shoulder crashed into the soft grass, and he rolled over, exposing the soft, dark grey fur on his stomach. His tail wagged and he barked out a laugh at the other male's stumbling apology. Teshi's eyes met Alces' burnt-orange ones, and Alces smiled widely. He reached out a hindleg to trip Teshi.

Let's play "I Spy" with the clouds, Teshi!

muse xx k-love
tags xx @lassiel
ooc xx yay c:

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Alces had been knocked to the ground, but there was hardly time for Teshi to begin to feel remorse before the other was laughing, a wide smile on his face. Teshi grinned as well, mouth open and tongue lolling out. He took a step forward, and the grin was abruptly wiped out when his foreleg encountered resistance. He stumbled once more, this time actually tripping to the ground, though he managed to turn it into more of a controlled fall than a sudden crash to the ground.

Alces was talking, but Teshi laughed on through it, turning blue eyes to the sky as he rolled onto his back. Front paws tucked to his chest, he stifled his giggles enough to ask, "What'd you say? Sorry, I couldn't hear because someone tripped me." Another chuckle spilled from Teshi's lips before he reluctantly turned his head away from the clouds, bright gaze instead landing on the wolf next to him.

@ej

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Teshi grinned and then a brief look of surprise crossed his face when Alces tripped him. He burst out laughing as Alces spoke. Rolling to his back so that his own belly lay exposed, Teshi turned to ask Alces what he had said. He chuckled again, and reluctantly tore his gaze from the clouds above them.

Oh sorry. Where I come from, payback is usually given where it's due.

Alces winked playfully, licking his companion's cheek affectionately.

I said, he began, pawing the other's chest and gesturing towards the sky, let's play "I Spy" with the clouds. You go first!

Burnt-orange eyes never left the blue ones. He hid what was going on in his mind completely. Teshi seemed at ease. But in his mind, Alcelaphus was testing the male. Was this a façade? Could there really be another like himself? Stuck in the life cycle of a pup. Although Alces had lost some small amount of his innocence. Maybe this was why he was stuck in that life cycle. Because this small amount of innocence had been torn from him at a vulnerable age, and so he clung to that age. Maybe so that he could pretend that it had never happened. So that he could deceive himself into believing that that deranged wolf in his past couldn't be his kind, affectionate, loyal, over-protective father.

muse xx k-love
tags xx @lassiel
ooc xx A sneak peak into Alces' mind for you (;

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Teshi grinned goofily at Alces’ reply, laughing when the other wolf licked his cheek. As a pretty affectionate wolf himself, he rarely shied away from such displays. If anything, he could be said to thrive on them. The brush of a paw against his chest tempted him to push back and maybe even turn it into a quick bit of roughhousing; he’d always been partial to friendly tussles. But Alces was repeating himself and Teshi figured he’d better pay attention this time.

“Oh! Haha! Okay!” This Alces was turning out to be a pretty cool guy! Which was great! The whole wandering around by himself thing just wasn’t all that fun and it was awesome having someone as easy-going as himself to talk to. Some wolves were just so intense and not fun at all.

Breaking their eye contact Teshi immediately looked back to the sky; the bear and sorta-wolf had long since disappeared. He studied the clouds intently, brow furrowed and expression uncommonly serious in his concentration. But nothing was standing out to him! Ugh, why did that bear have to disappear? It was so cool!

He frowned, and then suddenly rolled over to face Alces. “You know what? Let’s do something else! The clouds aren’t that great today anyway.” He rested on his side, cheek pressed against the grass as blue eyes searched his companion’s face. “Tell me about yourself! Where ya from? Whatcha doing here? Oh oh! What’s your favorite color? That’s always a good one.” The questions came rapid-fire with hardly a pause between them.

ooc: Bloop. Sorry for the wait! Teshi's kinda like a bulldozer sometimes. He just does what he wants. @ej

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Teshi agreed to Alces' games in the same second that he stared into the clouds once more. But Alces' eyes never left the blue pair that was now averted. Never. Was there more to him as well? A small back story? Or was this all there was? Was there a puzzle? Like himself? Would Teshi ever, in the future, try to figure him out? Would anyone? Or would they continue to ignore anything behind his pup-like nature?

Teshi's brows furrowed and his blue eyes focused on the sky in concentration. He seemed slightly frustrated at something, but Alcelaphus couldn't tell what. The male stared, harder and harder, and Alces watched him. He was so intrigued, and very slightly amused by his friend's minor frustration. Maybe he was looking for something in particular? His game suddenly became boring to him. He hoped that Teshi wouldn't find anything in the sky, so that he could keep watching him. Sunset orange eyes finally moved from the blue ones. They trailed down his fiery coat. His fur looked so soft...

Before he knew what was happening, he had reached forward with a paw to very gently stroke Teshi's fur. It wasn't in the playful, companionable way that he had stroked him before; almost in a play fight way. This touch was gentle, almost tender. Alces' mind jumped back a year. He was lost in the memory of her, and when Teshi suddenly flopped into his side, a deep blush tainted the soft grey fur on Alces' face. His mind jumped back to the present, and he quickly withdrew his paw. Teshi didn't seen to notice his baffling fumble, and proceeded to pepper the young male with questions.

You know what? Let’s do something else! The clouds aren’t that great today anyway. Tell me about yourself! Where ya from? Whatcha doing here? Oh oh! What’s your favorite color? That’s always a good one.

I was born here, actually. I just came home from a...trip. I came to see the place again. My favorite color is blue. But not just any blue. It's the blue of a brand new bluejay, singing a beautiful song on a spring morning. Or the color of the river in mid-summer, or the color of bluebells on Easter.

His voice was quiet and contained--a complete turnaround from what it had been just minutes earlier. His eyes were fixed on the grasses before his face. He didn't mention why he had left, or the fact that he had come back to make sure that...certain wolves weren't alive anymore, and to search for one that he desperately wished would be alive.

muse xx k-love
tags xx @lassiel
ooc xx Lol that's okay c: reply soon! Woahhh I don't even know what happened here. Alces is....well, see for yourself. If you can't figure it out, you will in time xD what is he doing?

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Alces replied readily enough and Teshi’s ears perked in interest at his words—or at least tried to, as one was currently pressed to the ground. But Alces’ voice was more subdued now and he no longer met Teshi’s eyes, his gaze instead on the soft meadow grass. An unconscious frown pulled at the corners of Teshi’s mouth, but it was slight and gone too quickly to be seen as his friend finished speaking.

Teshi’s tail thumped against the ground and his paw shot forward to playfully brush against the grass in front of Alces’ muzzle, the movement causing the green blades to graze across his nose and hopefully to get his eyes focused on Teshi once again. “Blue’s the best, but you missed one!” His head tilted slightly to glance above them, the smile on his face not quite as uninhibited as before but just as honest. “Blue like the sky. That’s the best color out there.”

Teshi was not a wolf prone to deep introspection. There were things he simply didn’t like to think about, and that was where his thoughts always ran when he let them loose. But even he was aware of why he was so partial to the open sky and the freedom it offered. His gaze lingered on the blue dome overhead for only a brief second before shifting back to Alces, grin now bright on his face. But that wasn’t what this conversation was about! This was all about learning what he could on his new friend.

“And you were born here? So was I! Ha, this meeting was meant to be!” He shifted a little closer, studying the darker colored wolf and trying to see if he could recognize him. But there was no such luck. “Hm. I guess we never met though. What sorta trip did you go on? Where’d you go?” His eyes were bright and the interest in his voice could not be mistaken.

ooc: Teshi's not an introspective guy. If he's really thinking on something, he'll probably just say it. xD @ej

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Smoky ears detected the faint thump thump of Teshi's tail. A red paw blurred into his vision and a blade of grass passed over his nose. Alces lifted his fiery eyes to Teshi's cool ones. They were blue like a river, or like the pureness of his mother's eyes. He stared unabashedly. They were just like his mothers, except that they were slightly deeper, stronger, bolder, and brighter. Teshi's were full of life and exuberant joy. All he could remember was the sadness in his mother's eyes; her slow deterioration. Her eyes had always seemed frail like her small body, but they had dimmed into a breakable blue. Teshi's eyes were a fierce dousing to Alces' flame, and his orange eyes visibly melted into molten lava as they stared into Teshi's. Teshi's eyes drifted toward the sky and he pointed out that the sky was the best kind of blue. Alces' smoky head shook very slowly, very slightly. Before Teshi looked back at him, he spoke once more. His voice was still quiet and subdued, but it was firm; he was sincere and certain.

No, my friend. Your eyes are the prettiest blue on the continent. I have never beheld such an intense, and yet somehow soft, gentle, and sweet color of blue in my life. Not even in the bluebonnets.

He closed his eyes for a moment, drawing in the scent of the flowers around him. When he opened his eyes again, Teshi's blue gaze had returned to him. A bright grin stretched widely on his face. Alces replied with his own smile, very gentle and sweet. He suddenly felt shy. Teshi told Alces that their meeting must have been fate, because he had been born here too. This made Alces' grin turn half-pup-like again, and even more shy at the same time. Teshi's body drew closer, and Alces copied him. Their fur was mere inches apart. Alces studied the contrasting colors of their coats. Fire and smoke. Volcano and ash. Like they were melded from the same stone, but into a completely different quarry. Alces looked back into Teshi's eyes as he queried about Alces' mentioned trip. Real, sincere interest echoed in his tone and the blueness of his eyes was almost too intense to look at.

I wanted to explore Somerset a bit. So, I've spent the past year doing just that. Did you know that there's a pack on Sharktooth Island? I didn't actually cross because I was afraid, but I sometimes saw them watching the bridge.

Alces reached across the ground, smoky maw outstretched. He whispered into his friend's ear as if he were telling a great secret as he spoke. He loved the feeling of Teshi's fluffy ears tickling his muzzle and couldn't help his impulse to lick the tip of one of those ears. His breathing heightened, and he froze where he was, waiting for Teshi's response. He was such an open, friendly fellow. Alces already felt like he was the brother that he'd never had. He liked Teshi very much...he hoped that he wouldn't ever leave him.

muse xx k-love
tags xx @lassiel
ooc xx Alces' character is developing slightly different than I put in his bio but that's alright (: characters sometimes do that as you roleplay them, right? Reply soon!! I loved your reply<33

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Embarrassment had burned through Teshi at Alces' words, though it was less what he said and more how he said it. Quiet, yet firm and utterly sincere. Teshi wasn't one to keep silent about his own perceived virtues--even if he did talk about them in a half joking manner--but this soft admiration was different. In truth, Teshi wasn't accustomed to straight forward praise at all. He'd always been a bit of an attention seeker and though his family loved him dearly, their praise was often hidden beneath criticism or good-natured teasing. Which was fine! He knew they meant well. But it also meant Alces' honest words left him flustered and floundering for a moment, unsure how to respond or if he even should.

In the end, Teshi stammered a few half formed words before laughing nervously and instead bulldozing on toward his next question. He listened intently to Alces' reply, surprised when he leaned forward as if to impart the secret answer to some great mystery. The surprise quickly morphed into stifled laughter when Alces' soft breath brushed across the fur on his ears, making them twitch involuntarily at the slight tickle. But the moment his quiet words came to a stop, Teshi felt the warm swipe of a tongue across the tip of his ear and this time the laughter burst out in giggles.

He could feel Alces freeze next to him, so Teshi swallowed the rest of his giggles to say, "Ugh, gross." He playfully head butted the other wolf's chest. "Now my ear's all wet!" He leaned back again to casually catch his friend's gaze, his expression just as easy as always but his eyes brightening more than before as Alces' words hit him.

"You went all the way out there? That's so cool! All I've done is visit that massive cave." Excitement grew on Teshi's face and he suddenly sat up, tail swishing in the grass as he half loomed over Alces. "Hey, we should both go back and check the island out together! It'll be fun!" Expression earnest, Teshi waited impatiently for Alces' response. He wanted to explore more but it was just so lonely. Adventures were meant for friends and Alces was quickly becoming one--it was only right that they did this together!

ooc: Sorry to hear about the grounding. : ( Haha, but yes my characters tend to change too. It's why I don't care for long, involved applications. ^^ Poor Teshi is all excited for an adventure that he might have to wait awhile on, lol.  @ej