Galdiator, Jarem Wolf & Jawslynn
A man and a young pup traveled through the prairie. Being advanturesome man Jarem moved off the provided path and found himself here. He still knew what direction he was traveling and hoped he would get there in good time, but there was someone he must meet first. It was another canine, much larger then the pup he had now. The pup was large though, nearly fifty pounds and not yet a year old. She was innocent to the world's ways and traveled a bit away from her owner. her curved tail was up and her nose to the ground with delight. She had no collar, leash, or anything that attached her to the man, but she followed him willing. With a short whistled from Jarem she flew over to his side, sitting anxiously at his feet. The man smiled and gave her a treat while patting her on the head, "Good girl Jaws".
She ate the treat with a wag on her tail but grew tense. She checked the air once more and barked. Her bark was deep for such a young thing, but it was her own. She dashed off to the underbrush and Jarem sighed, someday she may learn. He continued on knowing the pup will return to him shortly. he listened to the pup's barks and was surprised to hear another returning them. He paused and listened to the new barks, a smile spreading on his face.
The man whistled and called out, "Gator! Come here boy!" Soon a large older dog raced to the man, his tail wagging for all he was worth, with the smaller pup leaping and tugging at his fur. With a stern growl to the pup he began licking the man's hand, taking the treat he provided. The pup tried to get in between Gator and the man, but was pushed aside. "What have you been up to huh? Glad to see you though, this place doesn't look too bad does it?" Gladiator barked happily in reply.
Jarem stood up again and began traveling again, his two dogs folling him in there own trails. Gladiator was more alert to their surroundings, watching for any trouble. Jawslynn was playing some made up version of leap frog with the wind, her long bushy tail flying in the air. Once of a while she would try to start a game with Gator, but was driven away with a stern growl or snap. Jarem ignored all this as he moved on, letting the two just be dogs. He was hoping he can move out of this place quickly, not wanting to encounter one of those 'killer wolves' he was sent out here for with all his luggage. It wasn't that he traveled heavily (he only had one rather large bag) but he was still encumbered by it.
Nightcrawler
The ebony-tinted brute had caught wind of the three and quickly redirected his path to make a wide circle around to their right side. Very far right side, that is. Raising his head above the grasses, Nightcrawler surveyed the trio with a mixture of curiousity and caution. He had experienced both pain and understanding from humans. But from experience, he had delt with far more pain from them than anything else.
Nighrcrawler watched Jawslynn and a memory of a young pup he knew sparked in his brain. He longed to rush up and steal the pup away and raise it himself, but fear was too strong. He had committed a crime against the two-leggers already and feared they would be after him.
Galdiator, Jarem Wolf & Jawslynn
Gladiator's keen senses told him of the other wolf, seeing a gimplse of him as he looked above the grasses. He did not bark or growl, just slowed his walk as he studied him. If he was not going to do any harm to them he would do nothing, but he watched him for any fowl play.
Jawslynn saw Gator tense and stopped beside him, licking an ear. She saw the other wolf and wagged her tail. With a children's innocence she raced over to him, anxious to meet everybody she could. She did nto stop her wild gallop til she ewas right in front of them and barked playfully. The human, accustomed to her doing this ignored her and continued on.
Gator, on the other hand, did not. He followed her in a slow jog, just incase he meant harm to her. Though he was a pet, he knew the ways of the wolves, and fought many. He carried himself as such, but he was open to a friendly wolf.
Jaws skidded to a stop in front of him and cried out joyishly, "Hello there! I'm Jaws." Her long, furry tail wagged high in the air, but she did not know much about the connections this had with wolf dominance.
Nightcrawler
He drew back instantly, not because she had run towards him so suddenly, but because Gator followed. He was at least use to the barking, because a good friend of his was a dog, and was particularly hyper and playful when he was young. That and he had been designated pup-sitter on more than one occasion. Nightcrawler's ears went back at first and his body tensed with uncertainty at the situation as he tried to keep track of where the human was, where Gator was, and trying to figure out this energetic thing before.
"Nightcrawler. Nice to meet you." his voice was light and quick, sharp. Nervous. But being more of a peacemaker than anything, he decided against trying to steal Jawslynn away. That could cause more problems than it solved. "You're... a pet?" he questioned, taking a step back and flashing his eyes towards her tail. Instinct told him not to be dominated by a pup, especially since it was in his nature to look after them in a pack. He brought his head up and raised his tail, but cricked it to show his wariness of the situation.
Galdiator, Jarem Wolf & Jawslynn
Jaws smiled as he replied, not noticing his change in stature. "hello Nightcrawler. A pet? Um, I suppose you can call me that. The human is Jerry, he is nice... And this is Gator! Gater, this is Nightcrawler!" She said all this in one breathe, her energy level amazing. She looked over at Gator with glee, Gladiator was a funny character. He would never play with her, but that didn't stop her from playing with him. Her whole body seemed to wriggle with her tail, her eyes bright with happiness. She had a long sandy coat, and a border collie face.
Gator stayed behind, as if he really didn't want to get too involved. He rasied an eyebrow as the wolf moved to a more dominant position, but he didn't more to hurt him so he stayed put. He heard his name in the pup's lyrics and stared at her. He spoke slowly, "yes, I heard".
Jarem paused where he was, just realizing the dogs had met a wolf. He smiled and waited silently, he would call them if the meeting turned violent. He had a friendly face and held no none weapon, but he seemed sure of himself.
Taijya
Within the grasses the huntress slowly slid as low to the ground as she could, her raven form being an easy sight in the browns and greens of the grass. But this didn't bother her, in fact, it just gave her more reason to attack. The humans scent had found her, and even afer the last fight at the ranch she wanted more. So now here she was, ambers locked on yet another human, salmon tounge running over her fangs. Time to hunt. Instantly her hidns pushed off the earth, sending the fae quickly towards the human. She had been behind him when she first headed towards him, hopeing she hadn't been noticed, she leapt jaws snapping at his arm. As her jaws shut, a low snarl was released, be her mark righ on or off.
Galdiator, Jarem Wolf & Jawslynn
Gator heard something and turned back to face jarem to see if he was alright. A black form caught his attention and he growled when he realized it was a black wolf in the hunting position. He leapt into a gallop after the she wolf, hackles raised to increase his already awesome size. he would get there was shortly, but til after she gave the first attack.
Jerry, alerted by his dog's growl, soon found the wolves' where abouts. He dropped his pack as she went to a lope, grapping a nylon gadget as he did so. He worked with the halter looking thing and leash, but was not able to get it to the position he wanted before the wolf was on top of him. He lifted his arm to the wolf's attack. Knowing what kind of land he was moving into he previosly put on some garmets to protect him. He had put hard padding underneath his sleeve, which now the wolf's fangs sank into, giving hardly any pain to the man. He smiled and spoke to the wolf gently, "Now what was that for? Have I done anything to you?" he ahd a strange love of these animals, and knew how to handle them, even a mad one. As he spoke he moved to strap the nylon collar/muzzle around the wolves neck, but was not expecting a success right now.
Jaws whinned as the other wolf attacked his owner, but knew not what to do. She paced and whinned, watching Gator jump to his rescue. The pup looked over at the other wolf, what was he going to do?
Gator was reached the pair now, and stopped near by, growling as loud as he could. His head was low over his throat and his hackles raised "drop know wolf." he spoke forcefully, he would only attack if she did again.
Taijya
Thye huntress released her hold, keeping away from the rope type object which he held. She would not fall for something like that. But for once, she was actually quite surpised by a human. His..uncaring for what she had done amazed her. And at the moment, she didn't want to think about it. Her dial turned the lupe whom had spoken, and before her bodice tensed once more she relased a vocalization to him. "Your the first lupe I do not pity for being a pet. Be proud of your master." Had she just said that? It amazed her so, but it had come from her own lips. And now she turned, taking off at a good gate, quick enough to excape the human, but not so fast to assume she was afraid.
Galdiator, Jarem Wolf & Jawslynn
Jarem smiled as the wolf dropped her hold and he dropped his rope, she was too smart for that trick. He shook his arm slightly, looking over the rip in his sleeve. Aw well, he had plantly more shirts. He watched the wolf, but made no move as he waited for the canine's next movement.
Gladiator stopped his growls short, amazed by his quick response. "Thank you wolf." There was nothing else he could think of saying, but the wolf was gone anyway. He watched her gallop of, strange creatures they had here.
Jaws paused as the wolf left, his human seeming to be unhurt. "Oh, nevermind." She smiled at the wolf, "You want to meet Jerry?" Her happiness enjoyed quickly, the stress waves that bothered her was gone now, everything seemed to be fine.
Nightcrawer
Nightcrawler had once again become tense, watching the conflict and thinking he was going to see either a dead human or a dead wolf pretty soon. But to his utter amazement, he saw that Taijya's jaws didn't bring a drop of blood from the man.
Nighcrawler was baffled, for he knew how easily human flesh gave away to wolvish fangs. And ontop of that, this human didn't look mad... and didn't carry a gun. He turned to Jaws, the look of awe still on his face, "I.. uh.." Nightcrawler wanted to hedge the question, but his sense of curiousity was too great; that's why he had circled around to observe the three in the first place, "He doesn't have those... sticks of fire, right?" When he first arrived in the valley, a young pup friend of his had told him all about how humans carried sticks that shot fire and killed wolves. Some wolves knew them as guns, but not Nightcrawler. He had never actually seen the fire part, but he had seen them in action. They had killed members of his former pack.
Gladiator, Jarem Wolf & Jawslynn
Jaws put her head on her side, closing her mouth. "Sticks of fire? Uh, never heard of those..." She sat down, trying to rack her memory. Suddenly she jumped up, "Oh wait! Yes I have, Gator talked about them. He says it is the wolf term for guns!" She paused, happy that she remembered. "No, he doesn't have any of those. He doesn't carry any weapons I don't think... Well, he does carry a knife but he only uses that on wood and rope and stuff. He cut himself once... but never a canine." She spoke quickly, smiling up at the wolf.
Jarem shook his arm again and dropped it, the wolf may not broke any skin but he still felt the pressure. He was not angry though, he knew the dangers that came with the canine field. He smiled down at his leonberger, rubbing him behind his floppy ears, "Thanks Glad." He offered a treat which Gator gobbled up. Gator then sat on the left side of Jarem, gaze looking over at Jaws. The man followed his gaze to Jaws, concern going over his face. He did not think his pup knew how to act around wolves yet, and he did not wish his dog being hurt. He gave a short whistle, maybe she would come back. Gator stood up, his long bushy tail wagging slightly, giving his own calling in a short bark.
Jawslynn jumped up and looked over at them, tail wagging up high in the air. She turned again towards the wolf, "Are you coming?"
Nightcrawler
Still, the sight rubbed him wrong and his ears pressed forward more as his single fang was bared, striking white against his inky-deep fur. Apart from being irked by Jawslynn's actions, his own interest and vast curiosity got the better of him. And Taijya's attack on the man better influenced his deciscions. She attacked him and didn't get hurt. What a better demonstration to show a particular human wasn't dangerous than that? Although he was nervous by the fact that Jarem himself wasn't injured, he was now determined to inspect this two-legger more closely. "Sure, I'll take a closer look..."
Nightcrawler padded through the brush, keeping his body low and his head shoulder-level. His bright, inquizzative eyes flashed about nervously, watching for any sign that would tell him of danger. He continued his approach until he was only a few, short yards away.
Gladiator, Jarem Wolf & Jawslynn
Jaws caught the fang, dropping her tial instantly, only because that is what she does when she is scared or frightened by something. She looked at the wolf questionly, what did she do to make him angry so quick? But when he agreed she was happy again, and tail raised again. Someday she should learn, or another soul may not react to it as Nightcrawler does. She started bounded through the grasses, not stopping until she was at Jarem's feet, sitting politely as she looked up at him with a wide puppy grin.
Jarem patted her heqad as she did so, handing her a treat. He always seemed to have a pocketful of them. He then noticed the wolf was near by. His voice could be heard, soft it was, trying to not act as a danger, "Well, what do we have here, a friend of Jaws? Gator is he worthy?" He spoke humorly, he knew Gator to always inspect the canines he came in contact with before he could do much with them. Jaws barked happily at her name, and Gator looked up, his tail wagging slightly. Both only understood a few words of the human's vocaburally, but they tried to work the words out.
Gator seemed happier then before, sure he was still alert just in case the wolf changed his mind, but a little bit less intimidating. He looked questionly at the wolf, "you coming to meet Jarem?"
Nightcrawler
The memory of being fed by a young woman when he was injured came to mind. Images of his dying friends, bleeding and suffering from bullet wounds conflicted that thought, all as he watched Jarem. His ears flickered forward at the strange noises that came from Jarem's equally funny face. To Nightcrawler, the human was indeed an odd-looking thing. So flat, but with a funny, pointy nose and smashed, rounded ears that didn't respond to sounds with any sort of movement. But just as soon as the human finished his speaking, Nightcrawler's ears flattened back and his back hunched up in a sign of fear and submission.
Now he glanced to Gator and gave a faint nod in reply, "I hope this is no trick..." As if saying that would make them admit if it were a trick or not! He was just trying to reasurre himself that the idea was unlikely and staunch the irrational fear that made his body tremble slightly as he drew near. He tried to push aside the mental image of death and pain as he stepped closer and closer. Soon, he was close enought to nearly stretch his neck out and touch Jarem with his nose.
Gladiator, Jarem Wolf & Jawslynn
Jarem, studying these canines every since he could read knew the signs of fear and submission almsot before he gave them. He slowly moved his backpack furthur away from him, and also removed his coat. You could not hide much from the wolf now. He wore a long sleeved, collared shirt (though it was not completely buttoned up) that kind of bunched here and there, especially at the arms and chest area. It looked much like the place where his sleeve was torn, revealing the pad underneath. This man was not one to go into a place without some kind of protection. He knew if a wolf really wanted to kill them they still could, it would be harder though, and probably give him more time to stop the thing. He wore blue jeans, again there was pads underneath to protect his thighs and calves. It was hot underneath all the pads, but he rather be hot then have one of his limbs ripped open. He had a friendly face and stood less tall, almost small, trying not to seem like a threat to the wolf. He spoke gently, "Come on now, I won't hurt you."
Gator wagged his tail, about level with his spine for he knew the ways of the wolves, dropping on the ground near his human. "No, this ain't a trick. You can touch him all you want, he will even sit down sometimes so you can smell him over. But he first wants to make sure you won't attack him."
Jaws seemed to get the impportance this meeting may be and amussed herself with a lizard running for its life in the long grass. She could be heard rustling about, hitting her sandy paws against the dirt floor.
Jarem smiled as the beast moved closer, breathing slowly to quench his excitment. First day out and he may be able to touch one of those 'killers' as his boss called them. He moved his hand slightly, but only to show he wasn't holding anything. Eyes dropped down to shoulder width, shoulders dropped, and he stood kind of side ways to him. The human was not submitting exactly, but he sure wasn't trying to be aggressive.
Nightcrawler
He had backed off a step when Jarem began to remove his things, fearing that a weapon or some terrifying object might be drawn out. Yet nothing bad happened, and this human acted different from the others. Sharp yellow eyes took in every movement, trying to decipher the meanings and determine following actions. Slowly, his ears perked up as intruig began to rule over fear.
Nightcrawler spoke lightly but didn't take his eyes from Jarem, "A friend once told me humans had personalities like us... is that really true?" The idea was a revalation for him, mainly because he hadn't observed humans enough to know. Finally his couarge and a bit of trust had been won over and the ebony wolf drew close. He extended his quivering nose so that it was less than an inch from Jarem as he began to sniff at him, trying to learn anything and everything that he could. He walked a complete circle around Jarem, sniffing intently now with his ears pricked forward.
Gladiator, Jarem Wolf & Jawslynn
Gator smiled, glad this meeting was going well. "I would say so. There are the killers... but there are others as well. I am sure you had experiences more with the first, I know I have. Kind of sad huh?" He moved himself to a striagter down position, crossing his front legs and letting his tail thump quietly against the grass. He was a really a handsome animal, his long coat shined with health and draped about him plesantly. He had mudspots here and there, but you couldn't be, as well as he wouldn't want to be, prefectly clean out in the wild. His soft brown eyes danced between the wolf and his friend, maybe this assignment of his human's wasn't all that bad.
Jarem wanted to shout with glee when he could feel the wolf's breathe on his hand, without the thing trying to kill him, but did not afarid it would scare him off. But other then the once of a while twitch of glee he stood still, letting the wolf finish his inspection. he so wanted to reach out and stroke the wolf's fur, but he knew that was not the kind of thing to do in a first meeting, especially with wild animals.
Nightcrawler
Learning all he could of scent, Nightcrawler began to inspect the bag next. He felt part of it between his teeth, since he had no hands to feel with. The bag was nothing that use to be alive he concluded; nothing edible. It smelled like human pretty much and some other things, but nothing that familiar to him. "Yes, it seems that many of the killer kinds live around here. But I guess the same thing can be said for our kind." he added meekly, thinking right away of two canines; Mitya and Legosa. Both of whom were more than willing to kill him and his friend Jais for no reason other than because they just wanted too.
Nightcrawler finally finished his inspection all together and paused to the side of Jarem. Like many wolves, he didn't feel comfortable inspection a human from the front; coming from behind or the sides was much better. He tilted his head in a curious manner, "He's awful trusting. Does he hunt for you, or do you hunt for him? Or do you work together?" Here was an aspect that baffled Nightcrawler. He saw humans hunting now and then, but not nearly enough that would sustain all the humans he saw in the town. And plus, he could smell foods that he'd never smelled before in the wild.
Galdiator, Jarem Wolf & Jawslynn
"Aye, he is a trusting lad." The dog paused before answering his question. "Now that is a bit tricky. The humans don't eat just meat. You must of smelt some in his pack, they eat vegetables, fruit and nuts as well. Some humans don't even like meat and won't touch it. But I can hunt and will hunt on my own when the time is available. But with someone like Jaws," he posinted his muzzle to her, who was now chewing on a piece of wood she found, "I would be amazed if she caught anything at this point. So he provides for her, and me when I don't hunt. Sometimes he gives us real meat that he caught, but mostly stuff he buys at a human building. He lets us keep anything we catch ourselves though, our working relationship is a little lop-sided." Gator hoped he explained it well enough. Humans were so spread out on this topic, it was hard to say it all in one sitting.
Jarem, seeing the wolf was done inspecting, moved slowly over to Gator. If the wolf shied or tensed he would pause and wait for him to settle down till he made a much slower movement. None of his movements were sharp, but flowing. If he ever got to Gator he sat down next to him, still have that almost idiotic grin on his face. This was all thrilling to him.
Kimara, Iditaro, & Verona
Kimara, the Golden Eagle, chirped happily as she flew high above her newest firned, Iditaro. He had the biggest pack, and in fact the only pack, Kimara had ever seen. He was only the Beta so she couldn't really say he owned it, but he was in it. The Hidden Shadows she had remembered him calling it. She burst from the tree branches and soon spotted the human and other canines. She perched onto a nearby branch and stared down intently at them. She was dazed in amazement.
Iditaro ran casually close behind his new eagle friend. He leapt over a fallen log and noticed Kimara was perched. She was staring at something. He followed her gaze downward and found the human and other canines as well. Only one wolf. Some of the olves in the Hidden Shadows Pack were known for killing. He was one of them, and was unsure of to go on, or hold ready for an attack of a gun or something. But he losened his muscles and sat, staring at the human. He hadn't ever seen a human out in the wilderness before, but he knew they were there to hunt, but this one was different,or at least it seemed.
Verona, Iditaro's mate, bounded up behind him. She stopped dead in her tracks. "Shouldn't we leave?" she asked quietly to Iditaro. He shook his head despite he wanted to go. He felt unsafe near humans when he wasn't attacking or hidden anywhere. Verona sat beside him, ready to run if need be.
Jawslynn
Jaws was now laying in the grass quite far from her group chewing on some stick she found. Though her senses were not as keen as the wolves, she could tell the other wolves were there. She did not notice the eagle though, being the friendly pup she was she was especially good and spotting canines, but not much of everything else.
She stood up instantly, turning she faced the duo. She did not bark or move closer, only stared with a great curiosity. Her mouth was shut and her head was tilted sideways as she surveyed the two. She gave her famous doggy grin and began wagging her tail. She couldn't believe her luck, maybe she would have three new friends today!
She walked towards them in a slow walk, tail wagging furiosly high in the air as she did so. She did not yet understand the meaning of dominance amongst the wolves, and only raised her tail when she was happy, dropping it when she was sad. But know she was quite happy, almost prancing over to meet the other canines.
Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler absorbed the information he got eager to learn all he could still. The word 'buy' was a new concept to him, and also a new word. "That's where I begin to loose humans." The ebony wolf admitted, watching Jarem closely as he moved, growing a bit tense again, but relaxing rather quickly. "I'll have to study them more perhaps..." he trailed off, watching the show of teeth by the human. There was no sign of agression on his body or in his movements, but those bared teeth sent a warning through his brain.
He tried quickly to decipher this behavior, studying the face for clues. Bared fangs weren't neccessarily bad, but Nightcrawler had his doubts. Was it a show of appology for something? A warning? Fear? All those things could be shown by bearing teeth, bu Nightcrawler just couldn't read the rest of the face to figure out what Jarem meant. Confused, and glanced to Gator, "He's showing his fangs... I can't read the rest of him though; what does he say?"
Gladiator
Gator glanced at Jarem, confused for a little bit. Humans don't bare their teeth he didn't think... But as he saw his happy grin he laughed softly. "Oh, that's nothing. He is smiling, he is happy. You wouldn't believe how much he is enjoying this. But humans don't bare their teeth I don't think. They can clench them, but you can tell when they do that easy enough. You can see thier jaw line on thier cheek, that is also one way you can tell if they are frustrated or angry. Watch the eyes of the humans, they work much the same as you and I."