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 Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2019 11:18 am
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The sun is a violent lover. Manipulative. Brutal. It lights up our days by scorching our paws...a beast in the sky, cutting through the darkness with fire only to cast more shadows in its blazing wake... it...
"OW!" The thought went silent, an involuntary cry scratching the record as a series of sharp breaths, following a loud shuffle, could be heard. The very source of the commotion was a cream shewolf, and she was suddenly tangled up in a thorny vine.
Every shift she made worsened the ordeal. Sentient vines, she thought. Impossibly strong and tightening their hold on her.
The aggressive attempts were failing her. Fast. Creating more harm than good and leaving her wrangled by the earth itself. Despite being frustrated to no end, she could see that clearly enough and, through grit teeth, she paused. Sucked in a fuller breath. And made a stab at a slower, more controlled escape... Her golden eyes looking fixedly upon what portions of her assailant she could make out.
Looking incredibly focused.
But betrayal was eminent, as the large spikes dug into her still, clinging relentlessly to her soft fur. And this provoked a series of curses to erupt once again from her dainty maw.
"Crap! Ow ow ow! Why!"
She had been making her way to the desert, more out of curiosity than anything else, creating poetry for the location; as she occasionally enjoyed doing... When OUT OF NO WHERE she became ensnared. It was a threat she could not have anticipated. Mostly because she had only heard stories of the wastes beyond the forest. The dry land, all but set aflame and left desolate by the sun...
And somehow, in all those stories, she'd never once heard of this devil bush. The deserts greatest evil.
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Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2019 1:22 pm
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 Sandstorm liked to push his limits. While he'd complain and throw a mental tantrum all the same, he still liked to see how far he could push himself. Except... now. He needed to cross the river to scout out a camp and now was taking his sweet time avoiding it. He could swim (of course he could, he'd be horrified if you claimed otherwise) but he still hated the process of it. He had somewhere to be, but really... what did an extra day matter?
....
It mattered.
He huffed in irritation as he padded in a circle. He needed to get going immediately, but he didn't want to. Correction -- he didn't want to do what he needed to. Why couldn't they fly? Make a bridge? Anything? He had crossed a few fallen logs and found old rubble of a time long ago for other bodies of water; why didn't the desert have the same? How was this fair? It wasn't, was the answer.
In his petulant grumbling he heard a sound. More like a cry, actually. His head snapped upwards, pierced ear flicking as he listened intently. Did he just hear som-
'Crap! Ow ow ow! Why!'
He snorted under his breath, mouth pulling at the edges. That was definitely a sound of some sort. Making his way towards the sound (look even raiders have a conscious), the wolf nearly skidded to a stop when he witnessed a she-wolf tangled mercilessly in a thorny bush. Crap was right -- what in the world had happened to cause her in this predicament? For a moment he looked around himself, ensuring no one from his home was nearby before doing the forbidden -- laughing.
He'd never want his pack mates to see him so impolite. But her? She was someone not from home -- someone who wouldn't carry the story of the rude Beta. His laugh was short but sweet, head shaking as he approached.
"New to these parts?" He called, stopping right before her and the thorns. He raised a paw, eyeballing the mess before experimentally swatting at a vine. "How did you get so ensnared? Were you not looking?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2019 9:35 am
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She had collapsed into a heap. Sort of on her back, sort of on her side, head stretched out long with her eyes staring out at him.
Under any other circumstance she might have tensed up and freaked out. This was her first encounter with a stranger since leaving her family den, so she'd have every right to the paranoia... but exhaustion had taken hold of her much like the thorns, leaving Yucca unable, or unwilling, to fight fate.
Hell... it was lucky for her to be found at all. For half a second she thought she might die by the hands... the vines... of this blasted bush.
His laughter was met with mockery. An empty 'hahaha' rose up from her belly, and was quickly followed by a nasty sneer... and through a soft pant, she replied:
"Yes, no--look! Can you just help me out of this?" His swat made her flinch, a reactive 'HEY' spilling out of her before she narrowed her gaze. "Please." Through grit teeth, her pleasantries came... but her expression was expectant.
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Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2019 12:10 pm
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Oof, he had made her mad, but really he had figured he would. She probably felt helpless, and then he came in. He eyeballed the vines again, again swatting at them despite her previous protests. He was looking for something -- a weakness. Anything that didn't get him too stuck in her predicament.
"Of course I'm going to help," he answered, not looking up at her as he poked and prodded. "What kind of monster would I be otherwise?" Aha! He felt a tug on a vine, something not caught in her fur and skin. A supporting vine, if anything. He reached down, gnawing around the thorns to break the vine. It snapped cleanly, loosening the hold around the she-wolf.
This was going to take a bit.
As he experimented and carefully pried and gnawed vines off her he kept an eye on the poor she-wolf. Last thing he wanted was to break a vine tightly wound against a limb and cause her to slide against the thorns. Now that wouldn't be pretty.
"How did this even happen?" He asked the obvious question while trying to find another vine to go at. He was almost done, and maybe with one more bite or two she'd be free enough to at least shake off the vines still on her. It'd hurt, but that's what he was for -- he could lift a few off and help pull any residual thorns off.
He caught the chuckle before it left his throat. He had, as a puppy, done the same thing once. It was probably one of the worst experiences of his life, as he had been left overnight in the thorns due to sneaking off when everyone was asleep. How long had she been there?
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Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2019 2:37 pm
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"Alright then." Yucca huffed. "Good." Her eyes moved from him to the bush... and back again. Lingering. Her face going hot. Crap.
Now she was flustered. Embarrassed. His question made her eyes roll, but not at him. She must have looked so childish... she felt childish... but wasn't it a thing? Strong males coming by to save the damsels in distress? Was she a child, or just a victim? It was almost more frustrating to sit with those thoughts than it was with the thorns... the thorns... "OW! Careful!"
But he was, about as careful as one could be. Her eyes had drifted, wandering away when his seemed to look for them until she offered a soft reply.
"I um... didn't see it. I was chasing after something and uh... um... Well," Nervous laughter shook her belly, rattling some of the remaining vines in their place. She quieted it quickly when he leaned in to break off another. "So, are y-you from around here?"
Every snap brought her closer to freedom, and him to... well... leaving. Leaving her alone. Again. And suddenly that seemed terrifying to her? Sure, she didn't know him. Sure, he could be headed back to his mate and pups. But... maybe he wasn't? Her heart pounded. She shifted to find her footing as soon as it could be managed. Boy, he sure was handsome.
"Haha. Yeah." Wait what? Why did she say that?! STUPID.
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2019 6:16 pm
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When she hissed at him to be careful he only paused to give her a look. He was half tempted to pretend to stop, but really that'd get them nowhere. And her more ruffled. While listening to her was fun and all, he was more interested in actually ensuring she got out safely.
He grunted in acknowledgment when she admitted how she ended up in the bush itself. Chasing something? Without even looking where she was going? Well, it had happened to him before, but still, what a way to learn to watch your step!
"Yeah, kinda," he answered around a vine, snapping it. Just a few more... "I live with my pack around here, he said, leaning back as he admired his work. This was maybe the best detangling he had done, and with little harm. He leaned forward to snap a few more when she spoke again, his ears perking and eyes widening as he tilted his head at her while biting into a vine.
What was that?
He didn't have long to consider it as with that final bite the vines loosened their death grip on her. He instantly perked up, tail wagging in quiet celebration as he approached her and began gently lifting off vines.
"There you go~ Isn't this better?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2019 10:50 am
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His kindness did not go unnoticed, even if her pride kept her far from humble. Yucca was just distracted. Worried she might have to go it alone again. She was also flustered, taking quickly to her hero? No, that was dumb. She didn't even know him. He could very well be a bad guy.
Looking back at the male being gentle and helpful, she sighed. He didn't look bad. In truth he seemed kind of fun? A little annoying but...
She had just begun to smile when his eyes met hers, provoking a full on giggle... that turned nervous whine... that turned... panic. Oh no. Did he hear her? No. No he didn't... wait. Maybe? Okay, breathe.
When it at last clicked she leveled with him by feigning confusion aggressively, furrowing her brows, sharply tilting her own head. Trying desperately to make him look like the crazy one. Then she steered the conversation back to him.
"Pack? Out here?" her expression seemed to soften into a more genuine bewilderment, but the flush of pink around her muzzle had already been blushed. She was so hot in the face. So hot.
"Why?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2019 12:56 pm
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She was confusing. He was sure she had said something, but the look she gave him was almost convincing. Almost. Maybe she had just been talking to herself and hadn't realized? Regardless, after he had removed the last vine from her back he stepped away, noting a few thorns caught in her fur. Still, she wasn't nearly as injured as he had been when he made the same mistake.
"Why?" he repeated, head tilting in thought. He had never considered that, honestly. Having grown up with his pack he never really questioned the why of it all. He shrugged absently, nodding towards the sun.
"A lot of us like the heat. We've been here awhile; you don't really notice it after a point." He turned back to her, intent on redirecting her question.
"Why did you come over here, anyway? Clearly something drew you over." He noticed her flushed features, tail snapping to the side. Now that he thought about it... he was thirsty.
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 7:55 pm
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To further distract herself from any and all unease, Yucca multi-tasked. Plucking gingerly at the thorns in reach along her sides and speaking up intermittently. Who actually enjoyed the heat? Really? Was he just trying to be cool or was he serious?
...
Pausing with the thought, Yucca looked his way, saw the sincerity behind his eyes and huffed -- making her maw sound off in a slight raspberry.
He was serious!
But. Okay. He's been here for a while. Maybe he was born here? That would make all of this far more sensical. After all She wasn't born beneath the blazing sun, so of course she'd have her reservations about living within it.
Not... that he had asked her to live with him. In it. Or anything.
...
The she-wolf returned to her grooming quickly, shook free another thorn a bit too forcefully, and tried to spit it out smoothly. Only a long dribble of drool followed it down.
"Oh. So do you and your family live here together?" He said we, and assumptions were fun. Maybe he did have a mate. Maybe she would be crossing a line to ask? A spike of angst shot through her, carrying a hint of unwarranted spite.
"Yeah, you know I don't know why I came out here really. I wasn't born here, so maybe I was just curious about this side of the forest? But it's stupid hot. So stupid hot. I don't really get it."
Her gaze caught the sharp slap of his tail to one side, and a thousand potentialities all flashed all at once. What did that mean?
Nerves made her speak up quickly. "So like... what do you guys do, anyway? All the way out here by yourself?" A blank pause. "I mean yourselves?"
By YOURself? Come on, Yucca... Come on.
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 8:32 pm
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He noted her rather... sloppy way of ridding herself of thorns. He didn't make a face, although he glanced at her side. She had more, too, and she wasn't the fastest at removing them. He didn't blame her! He was surprised she could latch onto any in the first place. He padded closer, nodding towards her side.
"Can I? I probably can reach a few by your back," he questioned, blinking at her next comments. His eyes traveled to the side in thought for just a moment before something soured in his expression. His chest ached, but he shoved the bubbling hurt deep down. He smiled, instead, although it was a bit too wide.
"No family. They're... gone. Unless you include the pack." He quickly moved from that topic, biting back memories and stuffing them further in the back of his brain. She was born in the forest? He rarely saw anyone from the forest willingly trying to test out the desert, honestly. If she thought this was hot... well, she'd be in for a surprise.
Although he had heard further exposure really did get the edge off. Plenty of wolves learned to adapt to the heat and even enjoy it. He just doubted she'd be one of them, honestly. Or, maybe he'd be surprised. Wait, why did that matter? She never indicated going any further and he was sure his Alpha wouldn't be pleased with him for bringing in a complete stranger. Although... he was sure he could weasel past any glares and get back in his good graces. After all, his Alpha wasn't a bad sort. If anything, maybe his Alpha would be excited to put a new wolf through some trials.
Then, the dreaded question. He couldn't outright say they were raiders -- not yet, at least. He had no idea who she was or how'd she take it. She could be the vigilante type; he had met a few of those. Right pain in the asses they were. Or, she might try and seek their treasure out herself. He needed to ensure, first, she wasn't someone to be wary of.
"We collect things," he answered, which wasn't a lie by any mean. "And we share what we collect. We're a family to one another, regardless of blood. Our home has always treated us well and not many come to bother us."
He smiled faintly, a fond expression. He really did love his pack. He returned his attention to her, now intent on returning one of her questions. He was curious, after all.
"And what of you, little miss?" His voice held a hint of play within it, something most of his pack did not hear. "Where is your family? Surely they'll be missing you by now, no?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 9:21 pm
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If a wolf could full on turn cherry red, she would have. Right then and there.
But, instead, the tip of her maw continued to glow its brilliant pink hue as the thin, pale fur lining it betrayed her entirely. Her mean-mugging, thick-skinned persona had slowly begin to shed. The thorn bush, at one point a literal thorn in her side, was now turning into the boon she never knew she wanted and Yucca was almost... happy about it.
"OH. UM." Should he? Did he actually want to? Should she allow it? What did it mean? Gah, who cared?! YES.
"Yes. That would be. Fine." Staggering her words, breathing deeply, her nose flared as she watched him, her own teeth reaching for another thorn and missing it as a result. The fumble, which she hoped he hadn't caught, was cleverly disguised by a forced sneeze.
Maybe... just maybe... this desert business wasn't all that bad? She could run into more thorn bushes and be tended to by strangers! She could hang out with this guy. Who was this guy, anyway? Had she gotten his name yet?
Or catch fire while resting out in the open. Okay, so she wasn't entirely convinced yet.
So he didn't have a family! But, he did. At one point. Which made her feel pretty awful for bringing it up. It was unexpected, and he moved on so quickly that she couldn't tell whether or not 'gone' meant he had gotten over it. So that then left her a bit frustrated. And confused. Because. Well. She didn't want to hurt him. Even if she barely knew him.
So she followed the conversation along, barely catching the shift in his disposition. She chose to ignore it because he chose to ignore it. And with where things were headed next, it wouldn't be too difficult to get absorbed.
"You collect things?" Her expression deadpanned for a tick, then a brow lifted questionably. "What kind of things?" There was a mild sense of accusation, as if she one-hundred percent believed he was lying. "So like... you collect rocks? And then share those rocks with... your family? Also yeah, no kidding. I bet most of the forest doesn't even know this place exists."
Pausing, Yucca offered him a cheeky grin. "I know I didn't."
"Look, you're not getting out of explaining what the heck you guys are doing out here... but... you know. It was like. High time I travelled on my own to do--" Big girl stuff. ALMOST left her mouth. Almost. But she bit down so hard on her tongue to keep it from spilling out and... she might have... no, she definitely broke the skin.
The taste of iron trickled down her throat, but through grit teeth and out of pride she finished with:
"Adventuring."
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Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 9:41 pm
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She was fumbling with her words. Was she overheated? For a forest wolf who had stayed on the cooler side it was probably likely. Well, he was thirsty and he was due to seek water out soon; maybe he could ensure she cooled off in the process. For right now though her fur needed to be freed of thorns. He leaned forward, carefully picking thorn after thorn free from her. He was rather adept at it, honestly. One got used to such things when similar plants littered your pack lands.
He pulled back as she questioned his collecting, noting her expression. Cheeky little thing, wasn't she? Sandstorm rolled his eyes (although playfully, he'd like one to know), returning to his task.
"Collecting of all sorts of things. Why? Trying to see if the travel really is worth it?" he teased. How ironic; calling someone else a thief. He pulled out another thorn before leaning backwards to look at her again.
"You keep asking -- why not visit it for yourself? The desert, that is." He examined his handy work and, once satisfied, fully stepped back, scratching at the area around his necklace for a brief moment. "I'm sure it seems hot, but its home for us. Besides, like I said, not many come to bother us. It has its perks."
He grinned ear to ear, a true smile this time. "And, wolves tend to not go looking in the desert for things to take. We don't like sharing, after all." he answered, which wasn't a lie by any mean. He smiled faintly, a fond expression. He really did love his pack. He returned his attention to her, now intent on returning one of her questions. He was curious, after all. His tail wagged once, head turning to look past her and where water ought to be. There was a river near by.
"Although, if you're keen on adventuring I would recommend keeping an eye out for nasty plants. There's worse -- some are even poisonous. Especially if you find your way past the river and into the desert." He glanced back at her, grin still apparent. "I think I've missed your name? Or am I just rude?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 10:00 am
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Another giggle broke free. One part from the gentle pull of thorns, another from the ease of banter. But this time, she didn't bother putting up an emotional fortress, allowing her amusement flow into and weave through every word.
"So you think its worth it?" As he tended to an itch she shook out her pelt. "I see, I see. I mean... You've definitely peaked my curiosities. I may hate this heat, but... I'd really love to know more about..." She began to muse, looking off whimsically. It wasn't entirely clear if she was playfully mocking or otherwise. "the band of collectors scouring the... desert? Desert, in search of... treasure? Working as a family unit, sharing their prizes only amongst themselves... It's wildly romantic."
Another giggle. "Okay. How about this? You're the expert around here and I'm definitely keen on exploration... Show me around, tell me more about your family, and I'll consider giving you some of the stuff I find?" Fair trade? Nah. But she was turning up the charm in hopes of convincing him.
And it was her turn to flash him a grin. Oh yeah. The pleasantries. "Yucca." Her eyelids became heavy for a moment, snout tilting upwards as she looked down at him. Her tail had taken to a high wave. "And what of my good Sir Knight?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 11:32 am
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He quirked an eyebrow at her, head tilting. Oh ho, was she taking control of the conversation? He flicked his tail in good humor, although he shook his head.
"Maybe. Although I've barely heard of your own family. Not even your hobbies, and I've been so kind as to tell you of mine," he answered, tone playful as he stepped around her.
"I think it's only fair to know the same information from you. After all, information is just as valuable." He liked keeping her on her toes. That, and her interest in his home had alerted him. She was so keen on knowing more -- why? She had mentioned adventure; she was probably a wolf trying to seek her own life. While the heat gnawed at her he wondered if her interest would persuade her to look further. As a Beta, it was his job to recruit. Had he found an unlikely addition to the family?
She was hot. s**t, he had forgotten entirely that she needed to cool off, if anything. Sandstorm noted her look, puffing up slightly as he stretched to his fullest height.
"Sandstorm. And I think we should take this conversation to the river." Yucca, huh? Where had he heard the word before? A plant, maybe? "Yucca is a good name," he added honestly. He liked it. He turned, pausing a moment to ensure she actually had a chance to pad over before heading towards where he knew the river was.
"After we get a drink and you tell me more maybe I'll even tell you how to find us."
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Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 12:19 pm
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Yucca nodded her head sharply. "Ha. Sure. I'll share a little with you. Although I don't think it's as interesting."
Then, he mentioned a River and suddenly she was salivating. Did the desert have a river? Was he planning on bringing her home to meet his parents already? This was all happening so fast... she was... "Ah, Sandstorm," after his name rolled off her tongue she let it linger, distracted momentarily and idling on its meaning. How did it tie in to the male before her? A sandstorm?...
Yucca is a good name.
What would have made her tease was lost to the wandering thoughts, as his voice was moving away from her quickly. A red tipped ear flicked, her attention thrust over a shoulder before she hurriedly stepped to find his side.
"Um. But this is backtracking? Don't you guys have something closer to your home?" The shift seemed sudden, even for her. Now all she wanted to do was be in the heat, to understand his ways, to be his... friend. Funny how that worked. "I can wait!"
Could she, though? Dry mouth was beginning to set in, as if the process of dehydration was expedited by the mere thought of water. And in response to this, Yucca huffed.
"Fine. We'll get a drink and then start our adventuring." Her tail swayed in time with her stride, and her eyes darted from the path ahead to the side of his face and back. The walk was as good of a time as any to share a bit about herself, right? But she hesitated a moment, unsure as to whether or not sharing family information would be... respectful. "Uh... so. I guess I was named after a plant. A good one though. I think you can eat it? And I have siblings who were also named after plants. I just recently left them... you know. It was time."
At first, she didn't realize she was reiterating. Her head bobbed excitedly. But again, when it hit her, Yucca moved quickly past it.
"And... you wanted to know about my hobbies, right? I don't really have a lot. I like hunting! And... I like to... uh... describe what I see?"
That sounded vague and dumb. An anxious laugh left her. "Like... like, obscurely? 'Eyes like pools of crystalline, for which we hunt.'."
WHY. Why did she say that? Ugh. Where was this river. Where was the salvation?
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