Waves

[Ashliya]

(OoC: 1,190 words! -highfive muse-)

The powerful roar of the ocean reached her ears. It was a sound that Ashliya had grown familiar to. A sound that even on a night like this, promised peace but in an instant could turn a deadly killer. The sand that was under the white and red orange wolf's paws made a crunching sound as she walked. While the rest of the world would soon face the harsh reality of winter Caleo would face just chilly weather. Still to them it was winter with snow or not. Ashliya shivered as the cool sea breeze blew. She should have thick fur like when she lived more north. Yet no it seemed the longer she lived here the more she was adapted to the weather. Summers were now bearable and the night time she wolf felt the chill that promised winter would soon be there.

As she rounded the bend that would take her to the beautiful stretch of land that was her territory. Of course it was her beach, her lands, but this is where the loners came to rest their paws. Where she would confront them ask them to leave and sometimes offered a place for them to stay in her pack. Yet this night as she dug her claws in the sand she was here to enjoy the night. Her body glowing under the moon, as was her species. The ethereal look of her shimmering coat and glistening ice blue eyes were enough to captivate any soul. Even her long fluffy plume of tails behind her just added to the mysteriousness that was the Aven. Ashliya was an exceptional thing, yet the Alpha was unmated. Pretty or not, she still had a cold and proud exterior.

Not that it bothered she wolf enjoying the night, she was a very proud creature and would kill if she was disrespected. Here on the beach it was easy for a loner to trespass without smelling the scent markers on the boarders. You couldn't mark sand that was easily washed away by the ocean. Not that she didn't try, with a squat and lift of her tails, she marked her territory. It was instinct. Shaking off her coat from the sand that was constantly in the wind she padded on down the beach. It was a gorgeous and clear night. The stars shining and sparkling while the she wolf braved to dip her paws in the water. The water was still warm from the summer and she padded happily in it. Enjoying when the waters would rush up her legs and then leave. Ashliya couldn't help but laugh.

The ocean was a deadly predator to be respected. She knew that still she went deeper into the waters till it soaked up her sides. There she bounded away back to shore as a wave came. Her muscles burned at the feeling of the romp through the water and she relished it. She emerged from the water dripping. She gave herself a good shake sending water droplets from her coat. A satisfied Ashliya continued on down the beach she was coming to the edge of her territory. The edge of everything that she had accepted as hers. It felt amazing to be given this chance this opportunity to show what she was groomed and made for. To be the Queen of her own.

'I must show my pack that I am some beast they can trust. That they can come to. That I can trust. We are family and we take pride in the strength of their alpha of their pack,' Ashliya grinned and lifted her head and tail in the alpha positions. If any wolf saw her there would be no mistake on who ran these lands. She reached the edge of the beach where loner lands met with her lands. It was disappointing almost to not see anyone over the stretch of sand. This part of the beach was beautiful and tasty crab and fish came, usually loners found their way here. Some were new comers to the pack. New comers that gave her the opportunity to grow her pack.

The other pack's were fools. She sat down on her territory to scratch at her ear. Her fur drying in clumps. She couldn't help but think it. She remembered her mother, the mad Lashka the one who had been born in Umbra. While the pack was disbanded before she was at the age of six months. Lashka talked and taught mad stories that the elders spoke of. Those dark wolves. Ashliya remembered the devil tales. She remembered hanging on the words being groomed to be evil. While she wasn't evil it was in her heart that she carried a Darkness. She tried to hide it, tried to keep it from being known but in her speech and the way she talked sometimes it was known. Ashliya knew what her mother was doing when she created the Band of Phallen. Lashka wanted to make a pack in the likes of Umbra. She was mad with power and Ashliya knew that she wouldn't succeed but she had no doubt in her mind that her mother's mad ramblings might catch the attention of another wolf. A dark wolf that wanted power a wolf that probably already had another Umbra in the makings. . . .

Ashliya shivered. She would never tell anyone that her bloodlines actually came from Umbra. She would take that to her death. No she came from a loner band that slowly fell apart. Ashliya knew better but she just decided on telling her pack to keep bringing it up at meetings that they should rally troops to go, find, and destroy whatever pack of Umbra that was trying to resurface. She knew in her heart and intuition that Umbra was back and it would soon grow strong. Either the packs came together now to fight or Ashliya feared that not even with the God's help would they be able to fight this coming darkness. The white she wolf closed her eyes and sighed. When she opened them she looked hard in the distance with her night eyes. At least maybe there would be an ally, loner, or pack member coming from the distance. She needed a distraction from her overwhelming thoughts. A huge distraction. She needed peace.

Sucking in a breath she raised her snowy head to the moon and howled deeply. The beautiful tones of the alpha that could call her pack and quiet them in an instant were heard. She was howling to howl to see where her pack was. See if anyone was close. If not her pack then a loner might answer the call of the alpha. She hoped a loner would answer her call. They were in desperate need of new blood in the pack. Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully she kept them honed in on the horizon. She would site here all night if she had to. She wanted allies and needed new members one of the two were bound to appear.

[Iqniq]

Iqniq kept relatively low compared to her normal alpha walk. Her tail was down as was her head to check for scents and keep from looking too out of place in this land of loners. She didn't know why she'd wandered so far from her small pack, but it didn't really matter at the moment. She wanted to get away for just a little bit, see how the other nearby packs were doing without any huffing or complaining. Here, it was nice a quiet, just a short little break.

The Ocean really called out her name tonight with it's rolling waves and salty air. She could almost feel the sand between her toes before she could even see it and her cream, black and white coat itched a bit with the downy undercoat that was already trying to grow in. The air itself was warm, but her body knew winter was on the way and was preparing for it. Breaking into a trot, she made a bee-line for the water, wanting nothing more than to cool down in the water and stop in incessant itching.

With a sigh of relief, she plunged in and instantly the feeling of the muggy early fall air and the itch of growing fur made her feel at ease more than before. Climbing back out of the water, the Eurus Alpha shook out some of the dripping salt water and continued on, only to hear a howl raise up into the air. Definitely an alpha. she thought and listened for the message and started toward the origin of the howl. At least she knew this other alpha wanted to talk to others and wasn't reclusive, she thought, nearing the source.

Finally, she found the other wolf and assumed her own pose as the new alpha female, holding up her head and keeping her long spotted and striped tail up. Her shiny, sharp black claws were kept retracted for now as she trotted up, catching the scent of the fresh marking. Out of respect , she lowered her tail, but kept her head high and made eye contact. "Hello" She said coolly, feeling relaxed yet alert. This wolf's glowing coat was definitely a sight, and she marveled at it for a moment before feeling proud of her own coat. She shared it with one of the mysterious big cats, the snow leopard, and loved the fact that it made her feel at home when the snows came, despite her relatively short coat and thin frame.

[Ashliya]

Ashliya stood tall against the edge of her territory. That barrier that she wouldn't cross in a confrontation but would defend to her death. Not that she wasn't a sociable Alpha going and keeping diplomatic relations with the other packs. For the past six months though she'd been keeping to her own pack. So maybe one of the other packs would come visit her. Since her call she was getting quite bored of standing there. It was then she breathed in the scent of another. The wind carried the scent of salt, sand, and if she wasn't mistaken that scent of Eurus. The she wolf shook her coat out, sat proudly with her two tails curled on each side of her, and played the waiting game.

She didn't have to wait for long. For soon a cat like she wolf came out of the bushes of the loner side. Following, most likely, Ashliya's call. How interesting that she would greet another wolf from another pack. Was the she wolf curious as to whom owned these lands? Or was she scent by it's alpha to come see how things were going. It was no secret that Caleo kept to themselves more often than not. She never asked her wolves to do that she just had better things for them to do at the moment than go running around the world saying 'how'd you do?'. She liked the look of this slinky wolf though and put on a friendly smile and dipped her head slightly showing respect to the other wolf. From her approaching stance Ashliya guessed a beta or an alpha, that made it all the more interesting. She couldn't help but already assume that the female wanted something. Eurus was north and the prey was heading south. She knew the hardships and yet there were southern loner lands to hunt in where prey frequented. Though by the other's well fed look she didn't think that was the reason. Maybe just seeking a confirmation of the alliance? Ashliya's head reeled with all the assumptions and had to take a deep breath.

She didn't smell other wolves on the wind so this would be a peaceful confrontation. That much was obvious she stopped her fretting. There was no need to be on edge today. Her tails twitched slightly as her crystalline eyes showed friendliness yet she locked with the others. If she wanted a challenge the female was messing with the wrong Alpha. Ashliya was not known for being a passive wolf. Though she noted the tail drop and decided this was not an aggressive stance and allowed her self to blink by not stray away from the other. Definitely a beta or alpha wolf. So far all that was said from the she wolf was a cool hello. Ashliya wanted to humph and ask her why be cold when the Caleo Alpha had called out for a meeting such as this though she bit her tongue.

"Greeting Eurus Pack, I'm Ashliya Alpha of Caleo," she spoke her own greeting with her pack's typical proud tones."Interesting I was calling for loners and I'm greeted with one of the faces of another pack. Is everything alright?

There could be trouble brewing and the cautious females might spring into action, Ashliya calling her wolves to go and help Eurus if need. That was how Ashliya was, her wolves were strong and she would offer help to any of the other four packs if there was need. She actually wished for the hope of a small battle starting. Something to help with her fighting drive. Oh was the other she wolf about to talk, hopefully she would get a title and a reason why the other was here this beautiful night.

[Iqniq]

She wanted to smack herself in the head for not stating anything other than hello, but resisted her urge and just let her tail tip flick instead. "I'm Iqniq, alpha of Eurus. I decided to make a trip around and greet the other alphas, just making sure previous declarations of peace still held. After all, winter will be here soon and the northern packs will be wanting food. My own, as you know, is in the middle and I don't want fighting to make things harder than they are sure to be next season." She barked, relaxing more as she was assured that all was good between their two packs so far. "We're doing just fine right now though, thanks for asking though" she said and sat down near the other alpha.

She really thought about the question on whether anything was wrong, even though she'd already answered it. There weren't any new pups, and hadn't been in awhile, and her numbers were low, but she guessed it was that way with most of the packs right now. Then again, small numbers meant it took less to feed the pack through winter. She could only hope that none of the she-wolves would suddenly decide to have pups when winter was so close. A litter born in the snowy season was destined to lose one or two if there weren't enough adults to keep someone wrapped around them at all times. With a quick sigh, she brought her mind back to Ashliya.

[Ashliya]

A wind brought more sand to cover both the damp wolves. Ashliya just noticed it but the spotted wolf in front of her was damp as well. She wanted to snarl at it for interrupting but the other she wolf started speaking so it brought her attention back to her. Ashliya nodded. So this was the Alpha. She looked lithe and nimble on her paws, but Ashliya easily dwarfed her with her muscle and height. The Caleo alpha couldn't help the rude thought that passed through her head, 'wonder if she has short wolf syndrome?'

Luckily Ashliya was groomed to hold her tongue and smiled. The girl talked of the usual things. Keeping pack peace. A small growl started in her throat but she efficiently covered it with a cough. She would not assume that the other wolf thought that Caleo wouldn't uphold their honor, the other alpha did indeed mention she was visiting everyone. Flicking her ears she realized it was her turn to speak.


"I see. Greetings to you Alpha of Eurus. I can assure you that Caleo will always uphold her treaties with the other packs. If the Winter is too hard for the most Northern packs I'm sure you and I could help give them some food. Can't have the Elements starving off. Would be bad karma," Ashliya spoke light terms and wagged her tails. To show that the wolves of Caleo while proud creatures they were still honorable wolves.

Settling down and satisfied that everything was fine Ashliya decided to ask, "have you heard when there might be an Alpha's meet? We used to every other season but there hasn't been one in a while. I assume that now that Alphas are reaching out to each other we'll soon be setting up meetings and really keeping touch with each other." Like in the older days of peace she added to herself as an after thought. Though sincerely curious she turned her head to the side a bit waiting for an answer.

[Iqniq]

With the more formal part of addressing what she was here for out of the way, she let her shoulders relax a little and let the tense muscles holding her head high loosen. She had seen that growl, even if Ashliya had tried to hide it. "I didn't mean to offend you, but like you said, we haven't had a meeting in quite awhile and I just want to be sure that everyone is still seeing eye to eye. Time can sometimes weaken relationships between packs as things happen. I hope you understand my reasoning" She barked, then simply let the topic go.

Moving on, she also wondered when the next, her first, meeting would be. "Maybe we could set a date and get them rolling again. The two longest days of the year would probably be best" She said, and flicked a leaf off her ear that had decided to fall. "I wonder why they even ceased. I only recently came into the pack and took this rank, but have seen a couple of these meeting from afar and hoped that if I were ever an alpha I would get to be a part of those." she said and looked around.

This place really was beautiful in it's own right, but she inwardly wished she was on the floating garden of Fayhol. She loved being there' but actually getting that high off the ground was definitely a challenge, but not impossible. Shaking her head to clear the desire and bring her back to the present, she l looked back at Ashliya, wondering what she would have to say.

[Ashliya]

Ashliya accepted the apology as soon as she heard the wolf was new in her position. The larger alphess nodded. "Of course. I'm a proud being, I don't like feeling as if my honor is challenged."

Ashliya cleared her throat, "those dates sound good to me. I would join you to visit the other packs if I could. Right now my pack needs me here. . . Rank changes are about to happen and that requires the Alpha to be here."

She chuckled into a paw, Alpha humor. Hopefully her friend will understand the chaos that is calling pack meets. Having everyone come together for the excitement of rank changes and learning what exciting new things will be coming, when the next hunt would be, and of course the challenges for rank and who held what rank. Ashliya kept her pack highly organized, each wolf had their place and every month she would keep those that proved themselves worthy in the right position in the pack. The she wolf was very OCD.

Ashliya then realized something the she wolf in front of her must have traveled many pawsteps to reach the southern ocean. The catlike female must be tired. While she usually didn't allow outsiders in the pack for she wouldn't give the other Alphess the appearance that she was a cruel creature. Coming to a stand she gave her fur a shake and came to her full height. Her head held regally ever looking the powerful alpha she was.

"Lady Iqniq, you must be tired from your travels, please allow my pack to offer you a bit of hospitality. If you wish to spend the rest of the night I will howl to my beta and the rest of the pack to let them know to fetch you food. I will escort you myself to the royal dens where you will given a dry warm bed for the night. Unless you are in a hurry," Ashliya said warmly. While she would understand if the other she wolf was in a hurry it still would be a good idea to stop for the moment. Ashliya would let the other she wolf herself gauge if she wanted to leave or not.

[Iqniq]

She decided to just let the past be the past about her little slip of the tongue when it came to mentioning Ahliya's pack still seeing eye to eye with her own. She should have known better about such a proud pack holding strong to a past pact without saying otherwise. Either way, it felt good to reaffirm the alliance between them either way.

"I understand the need to stay with your own pack. I've left my beta behind with instructions to hold any intruders prisoner until I return." She said and nodded her head. it would be nice to have another with her, but it definitely was not an expected thing to her. Waving her long thick tail, she wondered to herself if any of the others would ask to join her. If they did, she wondered what kind of things they would talk about to pass the time. Waving the thought away with the flick of an ear, she heard Ashliya speak again and saw that she had stood and looked very powerful.

Getting back on her own four paws, Iqniq stood in her usual alpha pose, ears up, head high, and tail up. Once she was fully up, she lowered her tail again in respect. "I will admit I am quite tired, and it would be suicide to try and keep going tonight. Thank you very much for the invitation. In the morning, however, I will be off fairly early to get back on my way." She barked.