Stormcaller! [open]

[Bassharmony]

Autumn had spread itself across Istlamyth, banishing both summer’s dry heat and it’s gentle breezes. For the most part the air had taken on a crisp chill that invigorated the senses and foreshadowed the coming winter. Today, however, was an exception. It was late afternoon, and all day clouds had roiled on the horizon, pregnant with rain. It was the sort of thunderstorm one might expect during the very hottest summer months, and it was unseasonably late to occur now. Nevertheless, the air had grown heavier and more humid as the day progressed, until now, when the whole sky was filled with churning clouds and the very air felt tense and charged. Every now and then, thunder would ring out in the distance, rolling across the landscape like an invisible behemoth.

Rhysalin Ka’an, alphess of the Aeroica pack, was alone at the Ruins, a small silhouette superimposed against the sky on the small, round hill. It had been still all day, a kind of unbearable stillness that wore at one’s nerves. Now a wind had begun to pick up, swirling through the ruins and blowing about dead leaves amongst the stones.

Rhys had taken to wandering the free lands of late. She disliked idleness, and preferred to be out patrolling her lands or wandering the freelands. Today’s journey had brought her to the ruins - such mysterious figures these stones were… they stood erect, their facades decorated with strange carvings that she could never hope to decipher. Still, they stirred something deep within her, a sort of excitement and curiosity akin to what the storm made her feel. Soon the sky would break open, and wind would tear across the landscape with a wildness like nothing else. Rhys anticipated the moment, though she didn’t exactly know why. Already the air danced through her fur, and her eyes glittered. She felt the coming storm in her bones.

Tilting back her head, she let a howl rise up from the depths of her lungs. The clear alto tone soared into the air as a peal of thunder shook the ground she stood upon. Still she sang, desolate and joyful, her song now lost in the wild sound of the storm about to break.


[ooc - I was listening to really epic music when I wrote this. Feel free to post!]

[Peach Ala]

The slightest movement in her peripheral vision could make Ala skittish on the best of days. On days like this, with the leaves dancing across her path and dark shadows hanging heavy, she was no more than a nervous wreck. Her fear of ghosts had not lessened in her arrival to the Freelands. In fact, it had intensified.

She could feel the storm. She was waiting for it. The thunder and lightning were not unknown to her - she'd grown accustomed to the weather (to nature in general) over the past two years. Something else alarmed her more in the brief rumble of thunder, something she had not heard for many months. The howl of her Alphess. Her Alphess! Rhysalin!

Coughing a joyful bark, she took off in the direction of the noise, hurtling through whipping wind. It had been a long time since she'd ran so fast (the last being when a rogue male had caught her scent - that was a fight she was not willing to partake in) and her muscles felt stronger and weaker at the same time. Her gallop was almost painful.

Is she accepting me back? Ala thought frantically, happily. She could see the mysterious ruins quickly approaching. Oh, I don't care if she is or isn't. Mother. Home!

Ten meters from Rhys's figure, Ala stopped. She could see the other wolf from her spot, but wasn't so sure whether her presence was as obvious. With another gentle cough, she stepped forward, bowing her head in a submissive gesture (almost shamed). Her gray eyes sparkled at the honor of being before her idol once more.

[Bassharmony]

The wind seemed to gather in fury with each minute that passed. Rhys stood now, still and quiet, watching the sky in its turmoil. She wondered how much more strength the wind could gain before the sky would tear open - still there was no rain, only thunder and wind and the feeling of standing on the brink of something ferocious. Leaves danced between the stone columns, as if urging the storm to unleash itself.

A movement from below, at the base of the hill, brought Rhysalin back to attention, and she dropped naturally into a defensive position, searching the growing shadows. A female stood before her, and to her surprise, she recognized the wolf. Ala, who had been sent away, but then, she couldn’t be sure… but she did not seem hostile. The alphess returned to her normal posture, confident and relaxed.

Ala seemed to be waiting for her, and Rhys nodded in cordial greeting to the female. “It’s Ala, isn’t it? How do you fare?” Her voice was quiet but clear, the syllables carrying the distinct lyrical accent of her homeland. They marked her out as different among the wolves of Istlamyth, although they were hardly the only thing that did so. As she watched the wolf before her, the alphess tried to remember her story…Ala had been cast out of Aeroica by the previous alphas shortly before their death. If memory served her correctly, she’d been banished for repeated issues of conduct, rather than disloyalty. It was an important distinction to make, in Rhys’s mind. She stepped closer to the female, awaiting her response.

[Kira]

How he hated wind. The darn thing did nothing more than mess up his coat. With fur as long as his, that was a big deal. Now breezes - he could handle those. They were useful for hunting and could be quite pleasant. But this - this was something he did not enjoy.

Grumbling to himself, Tri-Nitro-Toluene wandered aimlessly. He knew he was close to the Ruins, but didn't really have an idea of where he wanted to go. He barely noticed the storm roiling overhead. Rain never bothered him - it would just roll off of his coat - and he had long ago learned that thunder was not his enemy, and lightning would only strike him if he made himself a target.

What did bother him was his empty stomach. He had foregone hunting for the past few days, choosing instead to sunbathe during one of the last nice days and assuming that he would be able to hunt later. But now he was hungry, and all of the prey had already run off to avoid the storm. That, above all, was what caused his angry muttering. Normally a happy wolf, his dark mood was unusual.

The howl that the wind carried to his ears caused an almost immediate shift in the white wolf. His ears flattened back as he lifted his head and his tail poked slightly through his legs. Strangers. There are strangers here. He could recognize part of the voice behind the howl, knew it as coming from the Northlands, but he knew he had never heard this particular wolf's call before. Forever wary of those he didn't know, but still somewhat curious, he began to trot cautiously towards the call's origin.

Toluene halted when he reached the base of the hill at the back of the ruins. He was just in time to hear the few words spoken, and knew that the other wolf was somewhere ahead despite the fact that the ruins blocked his view. But the other had spoken... Can there be two of them? Not good. His nervousness was directly proportional to the number of unknown wolves he had to deal with. He was slightly regretting his decision to go towards the original howl, but with nothing else to do he decided to stick around and observe.

Every wary, Toluene crouched down on his stomach and crawled silently up behind the nearest standing wall. There was enough cover on the way that he managed to keep himself hidden. Unfortunately that meant he also didn't know exactly where the other wolves were. Finally safely situated behind a wall, he poked his head around the side and caught his first glimpse of one of the other wolves. She was small, surprisingly so. He was certain that the call had come from the top of this hill, but he didn't think that such a small wolf could produce such a powerful howl. Confused and slightly intrigued, he sat back to watch.

[Peach Ala]

Ooc;
I didn't exactly do the maths for whether or not Rhys would be Ala's mother, hey? Oh well. She'll just call every Alphess and Alpha mother and father. That works.

Bic;
Falling out of her submissive stance and into a more casual one, Ala slid a step closer to the Alphess. It had been two years and three weeks since she had last been inside Aeroica grounds. This wolf, Rhys, was still young - much younger than Ala. From afar, Ala had watched the Aeroica family grow and strengthen. Perched on one of the Freelands higher peaks close to the borders of Aeroica, she had seen Rhysalin's strength and determination. The smaller wolf was feisty, determined and fast - a perfect leader.

Now that her excitement had dimmed for the most part, Ala took another step forward, so that she was partially hidden from the wind by an old moss-covered wall. The gusts had thrown her thick fur in flurries, leaves and debris catching in the tangled strands. It would be hell cleaning her coat later, especially in the sleet.

"I fare well enough." Ala replied after a few moments. Her voice was tired, yet deep and warm. "How about you, mother? What brings you out to these haunted lands? Surely you have a warmer place to be."

She shuddered at her last question of 'what brings you out to the haunted lands'. She could not help her temper. It wasn't exactly a secret that she feared ghosts. The Freelands were rumored to be haunted and had names to suggest so. At first, she had thought her banishment to be some sick joke, but now, cycles later, it obviously wasn't.

[Bassharmony]

OOC[/u];; It's cool. Actually that's kind of an interesting thing for a wolf to do, anyway. I sort of just assumed that's what what it was, since Rhys is relatively young and hasn't ever had a mate or pups :3

IC[/u](finished!);; Rhys nodded a curt greeting to the fea now close to her. Her features were familiar enough, and her body language spoke of no threat. Still, the alphess had learned caution when it came to loners and rogues. Ala was within striking distance now, but she continued to present herself as friendly and relaxed. If it was an attack or ambush, it was a rotten one. Rhys allowed herself to relax as well, her form still held in a comfortably dominant stance, and studied her former packmate.

”I’m glad you are well.” She said, her syllables making her sound like the outsider rather than Ala. Rhys didn’t take notice of this – her own speech had always sounded normal, even musical, to her ears. At first she’d found the speech of Istlamyth wolves harsh and disjointed. Over time she’d come to recognize it as strong and bold, with its own beauty. ”I’m quite well. I wanted to see the storm, and this is where she is strongest.” She smiled, remembering Ala’s habit of calling the old alphess ‘mother’. She was not old enough to serve as a maternal figure for Ala, but perhaps it was simply a term of respect. She was also aware of how strange it might sound that she actually wanted to be out in this sort of weather, and she shrugged good-naturedly.

”But what of you? You have found no other home? Surely you must have some sort of shelter.”

[Kira]

So these two wolves were at least slightly acquainted. That caused a slight knot to form in the pit of Toluene's stomach. He could barely control the urge to inch backwards and bolt into the night. Something held him there, though. He didn't know what it was, but it kept his paws firmly rooted to the ground behind that old and crumbling wall.

He continued to watch the female he could see. He didn't quite understand the other's use of the word 'mother.' He couldn't see the one that had used the word, but the female on the hilltop seemed much too young to have any offspring running as loners or rogues. He supposed that he could be wrong, but it would have surprised him.

So intent was Toluene on the other wolves that he failed to notice the small bit of dust and dirt that the wind had blown up towards his nose. The particles gathered on the moist surface, waiting for just the right moment. And then Toluene's nostrils flared with his inhalation and the particles took off like snow in avalanche. They flew through Toluene's airway, colliding with each other and, more importantly, the sensitive hairs within Toluene's nose. Surprised by the sudden sensation, Toluene had no way to fight off the sudden itch. An explosive sneeze erupted from him, rocking him back enough that he was sitting instead of crouching, his head visible above the wall.

[Peach Ala]

Ooc;
I'm sorry I haven't seemed very active - my girlfriend was cheating on me and I was dumped, so I'm just coming out of a vague depression. I'll be okay. I just really hope this post turns out okay, because I'm in a bit of a dark place right now...

Bic;
Ala cocked her head in curiosity at the thought of her Alphess coming out in a storm - even more so, that she had wanted to come out here because of that very reason. Storms could be nice if you knew how to handle them properly and they certainly made you appreciate a warm shelter more, but never had Ala thought of coming out in a storm for the storm. It almost made the weather seem a tad majestic, but then the wind swept through her coat and chilled her to the bone again.

She opened her mouth to tell Rhysalin of the small notch in one of the mountains she had found. It was close to the Aeroica border, but distant enough to keep her out of trouble. The mountain regions she explored were often left alone due to steep slopes and dangerous footholds, but the slopes and outcrops offered protection from the wind and (most of) the rain.

Her speech was interrupted however, but the lightest sound, but a sound all the same. Her paranoia revolving around ghosts caused her head to snap up sharply in the direction the sound had come from. The wind had dimmed the noise, but her ears had picked it up and, as she turned, she found herself looking right at a ghost.

A small squeak of fear sounded in the back of her throat, her tail slinking between her legs as she backed into the wall behind her. A vague voice was sounding the back of her head, telling her to fight and stand her ground, but a stronger, louder one was telling her to either submit or run.

[Bassharmony]

Rhys’s smile left her face in an instant, swept away by a look that fell somewhere between fierce and startled. She was jolted to her feet by the sound, and instantly alert once more. For a moment, her ears swiveled, trying to catch the direction the sound had come from as the winds swirled frantically around the ruins.

Ala tucked her tail between her hind legs, surprising Rhys with her fear. Rhys’s own tail had risen into the air, and her stance was defensive and dominant. Perhaps it was the surroundings that frightened Ala – the shadows were long and deep here, and the wind seemed alive, playing its own game. Rhys stepped forward, putting herself in front of Ala and searching the darkness, looking for the source of the fading echoes. If Ala was somehow in on this, turning her back on the wolf could be a dangerous mistake. Rhys had weighed her options and decided she trusted Ala a bit more than she wanted to be pinned against a wall. Plus, having an ally at her back would be advantageous, if it came to that….

There, at the top of that wall, where Ala was looking. Something white… Rhys blinked at the sight of a male’s head and torso, visible above the wall.

<b>Stanger, why do you lurk in the shadows?</u> She asked, voice clear. She had to shout slightly to be heard over the winds.

The Aeroica alphess was fully aware that she traveled on free lands at the moment, and was not on her own packlands. Still, she had every right to call this wolf out. Hiding in the shadows… it was peculiar at best, and menacing at worst.

[Kira]

How could he have been so stupid? Forgetting dust! Always watch out for your surroundings - that had been lesson one of Toluene's stealth training. Apparently he didn't have a very long memory. He shook his head, trying to rid it of any lingering itchiness, forgetting for a moment that he was not alone.

An extremely loud, frightened yelp parted Toluene's jaws at the female's voice. He nearly tumbled backwards, only just barely managing to land on all four paws. That small act brought him fully out from behind the wall. Being downhill from the other - rather imposing - wolf, his position was quite vulnerable. He lowered his head, ears flat and tail slightly tucked, though his rear-end wouldn't have been easily visible at that any.

"I... I'm sorry... I w-was just c-curious..."

Since when did he have a stutter? Maybe it was just the wind messing with him again. He didn't really have time to think about it though, or the fact that his barely mumbled words probably wouldn't reach the ears of the other wolves. He turned his head slightly to look over his shoulder, debating whether or not his usual tactic of running away would be helpful in this situation.

[Peach Ala]

Ooc;
This one's under the word limit, but Ala's not really communicating with anyone. I only wrote out more about what she's thinking, doing and how Toluene's presence is screwing with her head.

Bic;
Never in her wildest dreams would Ala think to communicate with a ghost, even if it was the clumsiest ghost she'd ever laid eyes on. That same small voice in the back of her head was making a list of the reasons this male was living: obviously solid, no ghost would stumble, it would more than likely be impossible for a ghost to survive in such a fierce wind, Rhys didn't seem scared of him at all. She was so close to believing, when her wide eyes picked up the movement of his lips. He was speaking, but she couldn't hear anything!

Unable to find her proper composure, Ala backed up a bit more, her rump pressed so hard against the smooth stone that it was about level with her head. She didn't seem to realize that the wind was dragging away his words (and if it wasn't the wind, perhaps it was the rushing blood in her ears) and that he was merely curious.

Sick with panic, she gagged, trying her hardest not to vomit - not in front of a ghost and most certainly not in front of her mother!

[Bassharmony]

Rhys’s attention was split between Ala and the newcomer – the aforementioned female had shrunk backwards and seemed to be having trouble breathing. The prior backed off, equally frightened, mumbling words she couldn’t catch as the frantic wind stole them from his lips. Rhys ducked her head in towards Ala, who was close by enough to still speak with. ”Do you know one another?” The query was more of a shout, but not in anger; simply in an attempt to be heard.


They both seemed unduly frightened at one another’s presence. She couldn’t have known that the fear was because Ala thought Toluene was a ghost. Nor could she have known the reason for Toluene’s fear. All she’d managed to glean from their behavior was that it was out-of-the-ordinary. From what she remembered of Ala, the female was not a fearful creature to cower at the sight of another, so it had to be something else….


A single fat raindrop made a splat sound as it slapped against the heavy stone nearby. Soon, the storm would truly break… perhaps it would be better to sort this out somewhere else, but how to do do that was beyond her at the moment. The wind made simply communication difficult at best. She would have to await Ala’s response and the stranger’s next move.

[Kira]

Toluene had absolutely no idea what to do in this situation. His instincts screamed at him to run, but his mind kept him rooted to the spot for a reason he could not fathom. He did, however, chance a quick glance over his shoulder. It would be just his luck if other wolves were to show up.


OOC:: Sorry for the shortness, but I figured the main interaction here was between Rhys and Ala. The only thing Toluene would really do for a longer post is run away.

[Peach Ala]

Ooc;
This isn't put in The Tomes, so I assume I can still post. If either of you (Kira or Bassharmony) are still reading this, then I'm incredibly sorry for my lack of activity. I'm trying though. Things have been so much more complicated lately. I'm sorry. And I'm sorry if this sucks too - I haven't roleplayed in a while...

Bic;
Her eyes rolled slightly and she tried unsuccessfully to swallow. Of course Ala did not know this ghost, but she couldn't seem to tell Rhys that. She simply could not find her voice! Her entire body was trembling from a mixture of fear and cold, yet, after a few exceptionally long minutes, she managed to shake her head and mumble a meek "no". Would Rhys hear her over the screaming wind? Probably not, but the head shaking would certainly help.

The rain fell in fat drops which clung to her hair and fell through to her skin below. If there was any sort of rain Ala hated, it was sleet. Fat rain sometimes led to sleet. Maybe the stinging drops would wash away the ghost. Maybe not. Maybe they would make him angry. Maybe they would throw him into a fit of supernatural rage. Maybe.

Her frantic eyes were still plastered on the strange ghost wolf and her mother's shinier, calmer eyes as they probed for the answer Ala had whispered. The frightened wolf had pressed herself so far against the moss-covered wall that her tail was almost brushing the back of her ears now - a comical sight had she not been so obviously traumatized.