Trespasser [Orro]

[Deleted]

Zenobia

Careful paws pushed her along the ground, knowing that this ground was nothing like she would have hoped. Distasteful on the matter, she watched the bog creep up between her toes and bristled lightly. But somehow she continued to go, kept her mind on the fact that this would remain in this kind of position. Winter brewed in the air, and most assuredly everything would freeze. Curious minds inquired what winter would be like, but she wagered it would not be as peaceful as it had been in the desert.

The female appeared like something out of a nightmare. Slender, shaggy, she appeared like there had not been a single day of grooming in her life. To be frank, if anyone would have noticed her - they would have commented 'coyote' before the realization that she was a wolf would have ever entered their nose. It was simply that she was tiny, small pawed. If it was not for her broader head, no, no one ever would have guessed that she was a wolf on sight alone.

Once in a while, that proved to be an advantage for her. She was accustomed to her desert home, and while her goal determined her fate easily enough, she realized this year could easily be her last. If she never managed to cross the way to the island, how would she know the truth? How would the messages that filled her head make sense in the end? It plagued her not to have all the notion that was needed, and mouth curved with a distaste that could not be denied.

Even now she could hear the startled sound of her packmates, someone's coming, the hesitation had been dramatic. The last time someone had ventured into their desert, death had been invincible on their souls. Wait... it's a pack. The quiet had been thick, the suspicion worse so. There had never been a history of such an approach. What followed was too much on her mind.

Zen had never believed in the ease of life that had been deserved. The female was a fighter at heart, although her goofy side was not to be ignored. Her laughter was heart stopping, simply because it was freely abandoned in mimicry of any pup. Perhaps the isolation had been meaningful in her life. It had allowed her to survive and become well rounded, more so than those who were tainted with the darkness in their hearts.

The consumption of the madness of the pack arriving, and being welcomed into their territory was not something she had expected the Alpha to do. It was not something she ever considered, and the breath had escaped her lungs at that point. Forever subservient, but not about to lay down and be ruled over, she had questioned. And questioned again, despite the view of Iram and his charming ways. Those words that twisted in his head.

At the end of that, she had found herself needing to see for her own eyes. Stormbourne, this pack that belonged in the North and had destroyed the home of Iram and his followers. Disbelief had forever caused her to want to find out the true horrors of the North. Leaving before the onset of winter had not been her wisest move.

Ears twisted on her head and she stilled in her walk, the branches that snapped enough to alert her. Ears rolled back against her head, and she twisted herself in a half circle. Eyes traced over the area before her, and she curled her lip faintly. Voice was soft though as she beckoned, suspicious. "Whoever is there... you may as well come out."


ooc: @emmerson

[Deleted]

It dawned upon him one day that life was one big series of changes. The day changed to the night. The blue sky changed to stars. The Moon usurped the Sun. And as the Earth turned, so did the seasons. Somerset changed and with it so did the creatures that called that land home. Orro had changed too and he embraced it.

The pup was a far cry from the state he was in when he arrived in this land. He was no long a thin, shivering sack of bones held precariously together by skin. Perhaps he was still slim but he had filled out. There was power behind every leap and bound he made. His fur shown gold in the light of fall and his orange eyes were again glowing with the vitality and fire of life. Orro was finally able to capitalize on the youth life had robbed from him. It was great. He'd never been happier.

Less and less he thought about the snow white of the forest he'd hailed from. His mother seemed more like a dream. He couldn't remember what she looked like or how her voice sounded as she called his name. This saddened him and he reminded himself that he should never forget. It was difficult, however, especially with all that was before him.

The River Delta was full of surprises. Strange creatures and scents were everywhere. He saw these things called a Beaver but soon found said creatures did not appreciate him sniffing around their structures. In the portion of the river that were safe to swim in, little bear-like rats called Otters swum about. They were great fun and didn't seem to fear Orro. This was probably because, as they were the same size, there was no threat of the wolf eating them. Orro chased them and they seemed to laugh as they swam away.

The more Orro explored the better he came to know the land. He kept tabs on Tree Rat, never too far away from him, but ventured out on little quests of his own. Trouncing around in the marsh now, the pup quite liked the squelch his paws made in the mud. He jumped from here to here, the brown stuff coating his legs and stomach, a camouflage of sorts it seemed. He was enjoying himself until he saw, in the distance, a lone figure moving across the horizon.

He opened his mouth, preparing to call his older companion but stopped. He was intrigued and Tree Rat might stop him from getting a closer look. Orro narrowed his orange eyes, sinking down into the ground. His fur blended well against the tannish grass of the marsh, mud covered paws muting his steps.

What was this thing? It looked like he did and looked totally bizarre at the same time. It must be a wolf. However, the frame was so thin. And the fur lay over it in such disarray. What had they been through?

So engrossed in his observation, Orro didn't realize he was getting so close. When the thing spoke, Orro jumped. It was actually a she. Should he reveal himself or run? She obviously knew he was there. He didn't think too long before he rose to his full height which, admittedly, wasn't much smaller than this she-wolf.

"Who are you?" Orro's head cocked to the side inquisitively as he crept around to her side, eyes still studying her, "You look mean. Are you mean?"

[Deleted]

Zenobia

What she had expected to come out of the bushes was not what appeared. She remained tentative, her paws grasped the ground, although she doubted there would be much help. The advantage, one supposed, was that she was miraculously light on her feet. Running on sands of the desert required her to be in excellent condition, after all. Often it meant she hardly had an ounce of fat on her, another thing that caused her to be concerned for the upcoming winter.

When the mere pup appeared though, the gentle gaze stiffened and she fought away the shock. Well, wasn't this a surprise! Somehow, she had realized she had entered pack territory, but had deemed it not a reason to be concerned. After all, if those of the North thought it was appropriate to waltz into a world they no longer could understand, then she was the source of no harm. Her ability to flee was what remained on her side though, she so merely inclined her head with his voice.

"Well that's not very nice to say to a lady," Humor flooded her tones as she skimmed the large little male, and her head cocked to the side. She looked mean? Well, she supposed that was appropriate enough. She feared that there would be those who beckoned her with worse names than that. Mean was simply a state of being, and she hardly managed to live up to the expectations of the young boy. Mean, as easy as it would have allowed her to get to what she wanted, was not how she followed her heart.

"I'm not mean at all." Soft voice announced patiently, "In fact, I'm the most exciting lady in the world, young man." As her voice relayed the information, she relaxed significantly. There was no need to be concerned, unless mama or papa wolf appeared with a hatred on for the stranger. Zen braced herself lightly, leaning down to drop her head faintly as she stuck her nose out toward him.

Her mouth curved up faintly, and her eyes glanced along behind him. As if she might have ratted out a secondary hider in the brush. No, she decided absently, there had been no one at his side. While his scent was mixed with others, there was nothing so blunt and impressionable that would have caused her to be on alarm. For that reason, she dropped her front end into a play bow, and growled at the nearly as large as her pup.

"You wish you could be as fun as me," Her voice sung merrily, and her paws crept her closer. Then she bounced lightly, fake lunging past his side. It brought her head back up, glancing over the bushes that he has passed through, and roughly assessed the area out before him. With a happy laugh, she turned faintly and reached a paw up, batting in his direction.

"I'm a sand wolf, I live far, far away from here. So I bet you've never played with someone like me." It surprised her that it was her first instinct, to launch into the notion of play. But what else was to be done with the appearance of the pup?


ooc: @emmerson

[Deleted]

Adults were some of the weirdest things, Orro decided right then and there. Some were very mean -- he'd met those wolves and just as soon wished he hadn't. Some were nice, like Tree Rat. They played with him when they were feeling gravious. The nice ones were funny. The nice ones like this she-wolf he now made the acquaintance of. He liked her.

His youth painted his perception of the world black and white. There were only ever two conditions to a situation: dangerous or safe. Wolves were either mean or nice. Food was either good or bad. The weather warm or cold. Along these lines, Orro either liked or did not like someone. His sentiments towards wolves were not convoluted by history, grudges or circumstance. Though it didn't take much for him to like or dislike something, he was sure in his conviction. Orro liked her. She made him laugh.

The caution to his step was gone as soon as she spoke. Orro danced around her legs, happy to have found a playmate if only momentarily. Big eyes stared up at her in amusement.

" I'm sorry, lady." Orro yipped, " I didn't know you were so exciting!"

She did seem exciting. Orro was excited, at least. It didn't take him long to get worked up, really but he'd like to believe that he was talking to someone very special. His mind then raced with questions about her. The unknown was exciting and he knew nothing about her. How mysterious and well...exciting.

Orro had never heard of wolves that lived in the sand. He wasn't too sure what sand was exactly, either, until he recalled it was like dirt except...different, somehow. Sand was in the hot place, a land beyond where he called home now. That place was inhospitable and whatever life was able to scratch out a living was hardy and tough. 

"Sand wolf?" Orro tilted his head the other way, hundreds of new questions insighted in his mind, "Did you live in the sand? Did you dig holes to sleep in? Is it really hot? I bet it's really hot!"

[Deleted]

Zenobia

The half smile crossed her features, knowing she had snagged and won over the pup easily enough. The world was so simple being young, and once upon a time her youth had been all she had ever known. Growing up was ever tedious, and it had cost her a fair bit to come into maturity. Forever regret lingered, seeing the sandpit take away one of her friends, but what more could have been done? She could have sacrificed her life, but she had heard of wolves who wasted away in her homeland many times. It was different, she had realized swiftly, that until the moment it mattered, until it was put into words.

The grin blossomed over her features as he yipped, and she humored the excitement with a match of her own. She was delighted to be able to play back with him, brushing against him, offering play nips. "I do burrow in the sand, like a mouse might burrow around here! Dig, dig, dig for days...” Her words supplied merrily, and she swished her tail from one side to the other. The irritation that had lingered in her mind passed away.

Was it hot? Her words paused over that word and she considered what was the best way to approach the topic. Well, inquiring minds had demanded from her that there was an answer. So she bobbed her head agreeably, eyes serious as she stopped and peered into his face. "It's incredibly hot. So hot some days that you can't walk when it's sunny, because it makes your paws burn.” Solemn voice offered pieces of her home so easily, the value lingered in her mind.

Yes, she loved her home. It was everything to her in some ways, and at the same time she had left without looking back. Oh, she would return, eventually. When things were accomplished, and she arrived home with better information on the wolves of the North. So long she had been isolated, her pack had been isolated. To suddenly open up their home, free spirited and the like seemed risky. "There's giant lizards all over the place too, and bugs that are spiky.”

Eyes twinkled as she looked at the pup, her considerate body creeping forward. "It's a little bit scary - I don't think it'd be so much fun for you, you're too furry.” Leaping again, she pranced her way behind him, reaching out to pull on his tail playfully before she hopped away, daring him to catch her.

Oh yes, she knew how to play with pups. It had been her calling, frankly, but she never stepped up to the plate. Restlessly choosing to scout the borders instead had always unsettled her.





ooc: @emmerson

[Deleted]

Orro had recently happened upon a higher level of thinking. He was starting to consider the thoughts and experiences of others. It dawned on him one day that his life was only one in a million. This made him different, this made him unique, he'd seen things other wolves had not seen but, in that way, he was the same as everyone else. Everyone else lived. Everyone else saw different things.

It appalled him that wolves would burrow into the ground like mice. Then again, if he knew what the desert looked like, Orro would probably realize that was the best thing to do. A hole in the sand was a vital asset. But then, Orro knew all to well the comfort of a hole. That was all he had those days he was traveling alone. They were safe and, perhaps for a night, they were home. What other things had this wolf seen? What had she done? Her tales excited Orro greatly.

He couldn't help the way the tip of his tongue poked from his mouth as he gasped in amazement. Giant lizards!? Spikey Bugs!? Orro actually had no idea what a lizard was or why on Earth any animal would need to be spiky.

Orro laughed, all too eager to play with this she-wolf. The pup danced away from her.

"Too furry!?" Orro put on a good show, puffing himself up as he held his head high in the air, "Just wait until I grow big! I wouldn't be scared at all!"

While he was busy paining himself as the picture of bravery, he didn't see her sneak up behind him at all. He growled playfully, whirling around and charging her in jest. He wiggled his behind in the air, tail wagging as he took up a playful bow. Something struck him all of a sudden, though, and Orro literally jumped up.

"Hey!" he said brightly, "What's your name? I'm Orro. I live here. Not for every long, though."

[Deleted]

Zenobia

Concerned eyes never left the pup, although she was forever surrounded with the reminder. There was safe havens, and then there were lands like these. She and taken on the assumption that she could be chased out, but not caught. It was why she boldly walked her way into the pack grounds, despite the hint around the edges that the existence was a risk to be noted. The female was confident enough to know her strengths, and while a high tree stump might have made a challenge to climb over around here — anything else that required her to be quick on her feet would not be as stressful.

It was why when the pup started to play with her, she rolled on her toes. Ready to demonstrate that he had a lot to learn, and likely knew little what to do with a wolf on the small side. Her eyes shined, amused with the thoughts that played around in her head, but she paused with the question. Oh, it was a reasonable one. But a name was a very precious thing.

It caused the oddly shaped wolf to consider the consequences. It had never occurred to her to use a fake name before, simply out of the fact she was unknown. Safe enough, she believed herself to be invincible in some ways. This was not the desert, but she still had not found a place that rivaled the cruelty of mother nature on the hot sands. The she wolf relented, dropping her head down an inch or so, "You can call me Zen, little wolf.” Her voice answered confidently enough, before her head tipped to the side.

"What do I get to call you in return?” Her voice tempted a riddle, but she resisted. There was no need in playing word games with a pup, he was just that. A pup who needed to be watched as he grew, but would not be such a deviant at this young age. For now, there was enough innocence in him that she found herself pleased to be in his conscience. She would be remembered, if only faintly. It meant something, although there was a doubt in her mind that she would make much an impact.

Her wolfish grin was decidedly merciless, ”Where's the wolf who looks after you, pup?” Her words tumbled out of her lips, and gingerly she walked closer to him. "He'll likely be very annoyed that you approached me, you know. No matter how brave you are.” Soft words were concerned, knocked off the game as she considered the facts. There was a fair fact, there was a chance he could be punished. Whether or not the punishments were severe or not often depended on the pack law. Her life had always been on the harsh side, which was why her obedience had been set in place for so long.