A Place to Belong? [Joker Er Rai]

[Deleted]

AURORA

Catching my breath, letting it go,
Turning my cheek for the sake of the show

Aurora never truly felt comfortable straying too far from the lands where she was born. It was sad, she knew, but she was far too comfortable with the climates that came with the West. Though she often dreamed of visiting other lands, she just never had the nerve to venture into anything unfamiliar just yet. Now that four summers have passed, she had long since strayed from her birth pack and wanted to try something new. Find a new place to belong. The young fae never fared well on her own for too long. It became too uncomfortable for her not having at least someone to talk to. Even in passing. Keeping her pepper tinted maw close to the ground and a submissive air around her should she happen upon someone else's territory. She moved along at a steady, cautious pace. Her tail stayed low and even with the ground and her dark tinted auds quivered and rotated to pick up every little sound.

She paused as her amber orbs took in her surroundings. She knew she was far from her home in the Gold Plains. But the change in scenery had told her she had stumbled onto another land. This one was more wooded and she could smell the faintest scent of salt water. The ocean was nearby which comforted her. She had always loved the smell of ocean water. The crisp, clear smell of running water put her at ease. Almost as much as sitting upon a hill and gazing up at the wise old moon on clear nights. A soft shiver passed through her silver-beige pelt, shifting her fur in places before shaking back into place. A new scent overlapped the ocean water on the passing breeze. The land was clearly claimed and was pack territory. Her small paws paused in their trek, pressing hard into the firm earth, preparing herself for whoever was nearby. She meant them no harm, she just hoped to maybe join them so she could have a home again. She was through with traveling alone. She was much better in a group. Her small frame made her adept at speed so hunting for herself and a pack would be no problem for her. Maybe she could help hunt or protect the borders with her speed. Whatever the Alpha would request, she would help with.

She remained still, keeping her sense open to movement around her. She was unsure if the Alpha was nearby, but she wanted to be prepared just in case. She tucked her ears back in submission, but her frame remained rigid just in case they deemed her unwelcome. She surely didn't appear to be a threat given her small frame. She had enough muscle definition beneath her thick pelt, but she was often perceived as weak and far too feminine to provide a true threat. Her amber orbs flicked around rapidly, tacking in the darkened areas of the tree lines, pulling in various scents on the air to keep tabs on any possible threats aside from the present. "Hello? Is anyone there? I mean you no harm. I'm just passing through." She called, her voice light and amicable. Her auds flicked forward as movement erupted nearby. Her muscles tensed and she lowered herself a bit further to the ground. Golden orbs tracked the source of the movement, narrowing as she tried to pinpoint it's exact location. It was now or never.

tag;; Joker Er Rai
word count;; 571

[Kenren]

It was pure luck that Joker happened to be passing that specific section of border at the right time to hear the projected words, though they come from the other side of the trees. Some called it fate, but Joker was more likely to write it off as luck - he'd rather have good luck than rely on fate any day. The male turned his course immediately, any mundane task he'd been off on forgotten. His ears were pressed forward and his tail was lightly waving back and forth, just like a pup with a new toy thrown before him. He jumped over some small bushes and into the area of the unknown wolf - she stood only feet away, and seemed readily on guard. He'd say he'd be the same, but the truth was he'd always been far too relaxed in dangerous situations than was healthy. He showed much of that now, stopping where he'd landed and watching her with blatant curiosity. He showed none of the rigid-legged, stiff-tailed aggression many alphas exhibited, only a fresh openness that led to a smile drawing on his lips. "You're not the first, and you won't be the last. Welcome to Shore Woods." He gave a mockery of a bow, glancing up at her from where his head nearly touched the ground - his smile shared the fact he knew he looked ridiculous. When he stood again, he looked a little more closely at her. "I don't think I've seen you around. Is this your first time passing through?" Not that he could really say much - if she'd been here before the last spring, he likely would not even have been there to see her. Instead he'd been off gallivanting and seeing the continent, much to his late father's chagrin. Who knew? He may even have seen this one before during his long journey, though he felt he'd surely have recognized her. He hardly ever forgot a face, even if seen from afar. And she was a pretty thing - all the more reason for her to have stuck in his mind. So no, it was only luck that had brought her here today, not some lingering attachment. And that made it all the more interesting.

[Deleted]

AURORA

Catching my breath, letting it go,
Turning my cheek for the sake of the show

Even though she had been prepared for it, she hadn't expected her first encounter in this land to be the Alpha. Amber hued orbs glanced up with a mix of shock and submission. She had been well taught on the basics of how to act around one of higher rank. Though for some reason, this male didn't seem like most would think an Alpha would be. She had forgotten herself and jumped back as he suddenly appeared from the bushes nearby. She had lost focus and didn't realize he had been so close. Her pepper tipped auds tilted back against her skull, partially submissive and partially defensive. The tension seemed to melt from her lithe frame and replace with shocked amusement. He clearly wasn't the type of Alpha she was expecting. It was an almost welcome change to the strict, overbearing, authoritative figure she had heard stories about from her father. She had truly believed that all Alphas were serious and strict. This one was clearly not all that serious, but she was sure he could be strict if he wanted to.

She let a smile pull at her maw and she inclined her head in a polite bow. She relaxed her posture, but kept her tail and eyes down just in case. She nodded in response to the welcome. "Why thank you. What a lovely land this is. I've always found comfort in the woods even though I was born in the open plains." She replied, looking around her once more. The bright sun flowing through the trees along with the scent of the ocean on the breeze was definitely a welcome sight to her. A coy grin graced her maw at his question. "Well I would certainly know if I have met someone as handsome as you before. Yes this is my first time passing through. I have left my birth home not long ago and was exploring the neighboring land. Though in all honesty, I'm not exactly passing through." She replied,, vaguely. Her golden gaze lit up with a teasing glint. She raised her head and shifted her weight in a shy, timid manner. She turned her gaze away to the trees nearby, watching a few birds pass, momentarily distracting her. As they passed she looked back toward the brute and moved along, pawing at different things in curiosity, but ultimately making a slight circle around him. She never could keep still for very long, not when she wanted to explore. So long as she stayed in sight, she didn't think he'd mind.

tag;; Joker Er Rai
word count;; 425
notes;; sorry it's kind of short

[Kenren]

A smile came to her face at his antics, just as he hoped it would. He hated starting off an acquaintance with posturing and bared teeth. It kind of defeated the purpose, in his mind. Plus it just went against the sort of pack he led - the type of pack his forefathers had led. "Why thank you. What a lovely land this is. I've always found comfort in the woods even though I was born in the open plains." He looked around, trying to see the gold-touched leaves as a newcomer would. It was difficult, given that he'd lived his entire childhood there. He'd always seen these trees as something confining him, but looking at them now, he supposed they did have a charming warmth of sorts. Her next words made his smile grow, and he gave her an appraising look. "Flatterer," he said, all stern, though there was a certain light in his eyes. He enjoyed this game, the game only truly understood by a few. She went about her business, though, looking around, and he thought over her words. Not that they were especially difficult to interpret. Still, he feigned ignorance with an airy sigh, walking as she did around the small area. "Whatever could you want with a humble land like this? Food, surely. Maybe even a walk on the beach. Hard to say what else it might offer." He looked down at a rock by his paw, idly scratching at it and seeming completely involved - however, though he didn't look up, he was aware of any movement she might make, just as she was likely aware of the smile just barely held at bay, threatening to part his lips. Speech