Child of Summer (open)

[Ember]

CAMRIA DE LA MARE

The strong scent of brine was what originally coaxed Camria to these sparse, green woods. It was a smell inextricably weaved into her identity—more often than not, her coat carried the very aroma. However, it was also a scent she hadn't encountered in some time, given her various recent wanderings through the heart of Somerset's mainland. She was eager to rediscover the sea, to let the salt water caress her sand-colored pelt and leave the fibers dry and tacky in a way she found endearing, even if others didn't share her sentiment.

Her trek through the forest wasn't exactly ideal, though. As the sun began to slip from its zenith, heralding the arrival of the afternoon, a storm cloud had blown in to hover over the trees. It doused the verdant earth below with a wondrous, flickering display of rain drops, the pellets of water conducting some staccato symphony as they bounded off the leaves of the undergrowth. Some might have sought shelter from the wet, but Camria was not just anyone. No, she was all but dancing her way through the gentle deluge, a smile plastered across her alabaster face. Her tail wagged in time to the weather's song, waving high over her back.

With the ground saturated, the floor beneath her paws had grown muddy. Every now and again, she'd touch a foot down with force, sending little orbs of dirt pattering through the air. Sometimes, they'd fly up and leave pocks of mud across her neck and muzzle, and she could only grin in response. "Hehe!"

Looking veritably like a hot mess, she continued to saunter through the woods, hoping she was nearing the coast she so dearly loved with each lively footfall.

All welcome!

WOLF STOCK BY KATI OF DAWNTHIEVES • TABLE CODED BY EMBER

[Lirriel]

[googlefont="Roboto:700,400"]

[attr="class","Content"]

[attr="class","ContentStyle"]Never before had Fenris experienced the plight of the hunted – always, he had been the hunter, the predator, flashing fangs and fleet feet. Above him, the sky grumbled and roared, the forest that lay around him echoing the thunder’s snarl until it surrounded him. Briefly, the land was covered in a white film, and his lips drew back to reveal his teeth – he snarled, the fur along his back lifting, as his eyes darted.

He found his haunt staring back at him, from amongst the shadows that pooled around the trees’ bottoms, swaddled in impenetrable shade. Its red eyes glowed and Fenris could almost imagine the sharp scent of iron. He snapped at it and spun on his heel, diving deeper into the forest.

Eventually the fog disappeared, and he relaxed marginally, ears peaked high, as his frenzied dash slowed to a nervous trot. Ever since he had spoken to that devil Chaos he had been tormented by that beyond place, where the world was the same and yet strangely transparent. She had seen fit to further torment him with a specter that followed his every move so long as he was within that between state – and his fear upon first traveling to it, though it had to have only lasted mere moments, had been enough to send him away, away from the creature that stalked him.

It was only that veil that separated them, he knew. In his more lucid moments, he had wondered if perhaps it was his own personal reaper, come to take his soul now that the veil had been drawn back. Regardless, he had instinctively known he could not fight it, had immediately sought to escape its grasp – and in doing so, he had run away from Hawke, and the shame of it burned within him.

But perhaps it was better this way? The thought of losing Hawke to it – because Hawke would attempt to fight it, there was no doubt – was enough to keep him away. Still, he was desperate to see his partner again, desperate to bury his face within the great brute’s shaggy coat and hide away from the monster that traced his every step. He shivered, to think of it there, waiting just a few lengths away from him, on the other side.

Which is why he returned to his previous pace when the sky tore open, his gaze once more going milky. He was conscious of the few droplets that passed harmlessly through his pelt, his intangibility making itself known, but the dark intent was enough to keep his mind divided between the red eyes that shadowed him and the path ahead.

So focused was he on the nameless hunter, he at first did not notice the trail he had rushed upon, nor did he recognize the wolf that danced across it. It was only her movement, the veil slipping back into place, that caused him to stop short.

His pale eyes were blown wide as he worked to catch his breath, his muzzle still half-curled into a threatening snarl, his ears tipped back in fear and adrenaline. The wolf ahead of him was so utterly at odds with the hell he had just come charging out of, that upon hearing her laugh, he could not help his own bark of laughter – but whereas hers was the mischievous giggle of fairies, his was the harsh croak of a crow.

Not Hawke, a stranger – and while it was her own damned fool’s fault if she should fall victim to the executioner that stalked him – it was also a chance to test whether others were in danger of being harmed by his red-eyed haunt.

If she survived her encounter with him, he decided, he could return to Hawke’s side.

He was unused to strangers, though. Unaccustomed to greetings, unsure of how to properly begin a conversation. So, he eyed her, a tension settled across his slender shoulders as he awaited her first move.

Ember	-slides in-
stock by Fall of Rain.

[newclass=".Content"]width:360px;background-color:#efefef;float:center;text-align:justify;margin-top:30px;padding:30px;border:1px solid #d7d7d7;[/newclass]
[newclass=".Title"]width:360px;background-color:#efefef;float:center;text-align:justify;margin-top:10px;padding:30px;border:1px solid #d7d7d7;[/newclass]
[newclass=".ContentStyle"]font-family:'roboto';font-size:11px;color:#222;height:300px;overflow:auto;padding:3px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".ContentStyle::-webkit-scrollbar"]width:3px;[/newclass][newclass=".ContentStyle::-webkit-scrollbar-track"]background-color:#eee;[/newclass][newclass=".ContentStyle::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb"]background-color:#324956;[/newclass]

[Kenren]

And still, the rain continued to fall. Like a leak in a dam, Serran sometimes wondered if the sky wouldn't eventually dry up, sapping all of the heaven's water to join with the great ocean around them. Probably not, since it hadn't yet happened, but sometimes it pleased him to imagine this whole noisy world returning to a great water. This, of course, is why he wasn't really a philosophical sort. The light droplets, so ever-present this summer in the woods, threatened in a rumbling growl to worsen in the near future. He wanted to just blame the bad weather on the season, but there was an unsettled nagging in the back of his mind that cried Chaos into the unknown. Nothing good would come of her. Nothing at all. He hadn't even trained the power he'd been granted, and only knew there was any difference in him because another had commented that he was warm to the touch. As yet, he hadn't been able to actually call fire forth into being, and after his half-hearted attempts he was fine with that. It was such a destructive power, and not one that was of any use to him. Scents, even through the dampness on the air, reached Serran's nose. He was, perhaps, over-sensitive to changes in his land's everyday sights and sounds, as he had been alone there for weeks. Aside from one or two passers-through, the scents had been his alone. Even those of the previous pack had started to completely fade, the last reminder of his cousin's power. But Joker was not here, and neither were any of the true Er Rais. It was simply Serran, the bastard who had been forgotten. Fate worked in strange ways. Of half a mind to ignore them, since no one ever really came here to see him, Serran nonetheless pulled himself up off of the dampening dirt and started off at a jog toward the most likely border. It wouldn't do to just have people wandering around without knowing he was here, at least. His frame was large, impressive, intimidating despite his young age, and he could send the wrong message from a distance. Shore Woods itself wasn't overly large, though it was plentiful; it didn't take him long to find the wolves who had crossed his border. He approached casually, not so much the proud stance of an alpha as the slightly wary camaraderie of a loner. He took them in quickly, ascertaining threat. The white female, splashed with mud but seeming happy nonetheless, was quickly cast aside by caution. She seemed harmless, and her large mismatched eyes held no guile. The other, though, caught Serran's immediate attention. He seemed... stressed. Stretched thin, tense. Serran couldn't know why that was so, but perhaps he did have a bit of a protective streak after all. He spoke to both, but his eyes did not leave the grey male as the deep tenor sounded. "Should I expect any trouble here?" He wasn't accusatory, his voice was neutral, but even then his words were more stern than he was wont to be with interlopers. He didn't want any problems - he was perfectly happy with the dull monotony of his life. ----------- Lirriel Ember

CODING BY TEMPEST.

[Ember]

CAMRIA DE LA MARE

Completely enthralled by the magic of a world that, for Camria, nearly bordered on fantastical, she was unaware of the approach of a stranger. It wasn’t until the other wolf huffed a croak-like cackle did she start, her dainty paws lifting from the earth in what felt like an indisputable leap. Camria landed with a thud, the sound muted by the loam beneath her toes, and she puffed an exasperated sigh as her mismatched gaze came to rest at last on the silver male standing perpendicular to her path.

“Hey!” she shouted at him, her voice lacking any real bite. Yes, she’d been scared, and yes, she hated being scared. But judging by the tension lining the male’s posture, the frayed look in his green eyes, she did consider that perhaps the unusual, throaty sound he’d made was due to being startled as well. Maybe he wasn’t expecting to see her, she thought. That didn’t excuse him from her rebuke, though. “You can’t just sneak up on someone like that, y’know.”

Her brows lowered into a hard, thoughtful line as she regarded him. He seemed to be a little older than her, but he wasn’t old by any means. She’d only just begun to entertain the thought of playing with him, of inviting him to a real, consensual game of hide and seek, when another wolf entered her midst.

Camria’s jaw went slack, the lines of her face deepening with what was perhaps a forced look of horror. Here she’d been, chastising a wolf for startling her, and another one decided to show up. What was up with these woods?

Despite the growing chain of grievances in her mind, she listened to what the timber-colored male had to say before replying, somewhat oblivious to his curt tone. In response, she provided a gentle wag of her tail, and an equally amicable shake of her head. “Nope! No trouble here!”

As if to ensure the silver wolf agreed, she cast him a smile, one accompanied by the expectant quirking of a brow.

“You guys, though. Sheesh,” she chirped. “Talk about being quiet. Sneaking up on me like that, both of ya! You’d be good at hiding, I bet.”

Lirriel , Kenren

WOLF STOCK BY KATI OF DAWNTHIEVES • TABLE CODED BY EMBER

[Lirriel]

[googlefont="Roboto:700,400"]

[attr="class","Content"]

[attr="class","ContentStyle"]At the female’s loud admonishment, Fenris sighed, one ear tipping back. He met her odd-eyed stare with his own level gaze, unimpressed. She was splattered with mud, the constant rain carving rivulets through the patches that clung to her fur. She was filthy and young and her voice reeked of exuberance – he was sure Hawke would have delighted in her.

Perhaps they would have lain down in the dirt together and rolled until they were transformed to muck-beasts.

He almost wished to turn tail and disappear back into the underbrush from whence he came – she was not to his taste, with her high-pitched cries; at least Hawke’s stupid ideas were always accompanied by a smooth baritone.

But perhaps it was just that he did not like the wickedness so often imparted with youth. Too often youngsters excelled in tormenting their elders, and he had found he was a particularly good target. Far too easy to tease, he thought.

His thoughts were waylaid by the appearance of a second wolf – and he unconsciously took a step back, as his gaze once more filmed over, and he saw the red eyes hovering over the newcomer. He blinked, once, and the world was returned to its true self, and the male’s words were enough to grind out a gruff, “Only the trouble you’ve brought with you.”

But it was said quietly, the formation of a half-thought that held no true bite to it.

He was getting sick of these games.

Again, the female opened her mouth, and Fenris willingly sighed then, a great heaving of his shoulders that drew the very soul from his body. The rigidity that held his limbs loosened its grip, and he shook his head in response to her silent query of assent.

“Sneaking?” he echoed, his voice trailing off as he mulled her words over. He wondered if you could call crashing through the forest “sneaking”. Flatly he added, “If that was sneaking then it’s a wonder a bear hasn’t eaten you yet.”

He cast his gaze back toward the other male – not necessarily a cautious gaze, because for all that he was too often against Hawke’s ideas, it had been their love for scrapping that first drew them together. There was a pleasure to be found in the heat of battle, and he held little fear toward this towering creature – especially when he still seemed lacking, put up against the silhouette of Hawke, drawn from his mind’s eye. But it was the words he had spoken – as if he had intentionally sought them out. That was enough to draw Fenris’ interest.

Ember , Kenren	xxx
stock by Fall of Rain.

[newclass=".Content"]width:360px;background-color:#efefef;float:center;text-align:justify;margin-top:30px;padding:30px;border:1px solid #d7d7d7;[/newclass]
[newclass=".Title"]width:360px;background-color:#efefef;float:center;text-align:justify;margin-top:10px;padding:30px;border:1px solid #d7d7d7;[/newclass]
[newclass=".ContentStyle"]font-family:'roboto';font-size:11px;color:#222;height:300px;overflow:auto;padding:3px;[/newclass]
[newclass=".ContentStyle::-webkit-scrollbar"]width:3px;[/newclass][newclass=".ContentStyle::-webkit-scrollbar-track"]background-color:#eee;[/newclass][newclass=".ContentStyle::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb"]background-color:#324956;[/newclass]

[Kenren]

The white female's bright-eyed, innocent response confirmed Serran's initial impression, and unlike the grey, he found himself smiling at her exuberance. His size and manner often made him seem overly stern or aloof or something like that, but really Serran wasn't too tough a cookie. At least not when women were concerned. He enjoyed a cheerful nature, as it made him feel less bad about not being able to fill the silence in a conversation - they were often more than happy to chatter away, and he would always relax in relative silence. Even as he warmed to the female, he found himself eyeing the male sidelong just as he himself was being eyed. The grey seemed to be slowly relaxing, but Serran wouldn't forget the strange way the green eyes had snapped to him at first - or, over him. Like he'd seen a ghost. There was something odd here, and he wasn't quite ready to trust it. Regardless of that sentiment, though, he couldn't really argue with his response to the female. He hadn't particularly been trying to be quiet, but some of it was just second nature. "Well, I'm sorry if I scared you," he said with good humor, if a bit dryly. He caught the male's intent gaze, sensing perhaps a question in it. And though Serran was tempted to be contradictory and ignore him, it wasn't quite in his nature. "You've crossed into Shore Woods territory, but as long as you mean no harm, you can stay as long as you like." It was said off-hand, and he pretty much stopped it there - he was no hot-headed youth, drunk on a sense of entitled power. He might be young, but he didn't think himself anything special. "I'm Serran, the guardian," he finished as an afterthought. It made more sense than calling himself an alpha, really. The rain had continued to fall, the dark clouds ominously close now, and he practically shivered with the vibration of thunder on the air. Things were about to get rough, and quickly. ----------- Lirriel Ember This is #shit because I lost it the first time when I was nearly done BUT there you go xP

CODING BY TEMPEST.