Altan

The brute trotted through the tall grass, lifting his knees high in the air. The prarie was white with frost. The ground beneath him was solid and frozen. Although it was a particularly warm winter, it still had it's cold streaks. His antlers danced proudly in the crisp winter air above the meadow.

His pelt was covered with white splotches from the snow. His hooves tapped the ground in a never ending rythm. Clip clop Clip clop His hoves made a unusual sound. I sounded like he was on a road.

The red elk tossed his delicate head. He was not wary of other wolves. In fact, he loved them. He was their brother. He was one that had once been their kin, until he was destroyed. Now, he was in the form as an elk, and was loving it for the time being. Though he still longed to be a wolf, he could easily be an elk as well...

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They Dubbed me: Altan

They Molded me: Brute

My Blood is of the: Red Elk

My pools are Dyed: Dark Brown

My Pelt is Hued: Shades of Brown

I Belong to: No Herd

My Heart Belongs to: No One

H a r l a n

The large 700-pound Roosevelt Elk trampled through the frosted lands, his head swinging too and fro a bit as he seemed to struggle to hold the immense 30 pound antlers attached to his head. He released a loud, high bugling "screech"-type noise into the crip air, catching the sounds of another soon afterwards. He slowed to a wobbly halt, not used to running over such frozen ground. The grass didn't help either, especially with the fact that it was so long. As pretty as it was, looks could be decieving.
With a foggy snort, he picked his head up high and looked out across the landscape. He was a bit startled at first to be so near to another of his kind, yet apparently not of the same type, you could say. He stood there, his big ears erect and pointing in the direction of the other, wondering if he would be noticed. What was another doing all the way out here?

Altan

The Red Elk lifted his elegant head, sniffing the air. He wasn't facing in the direction of the Rosevelt Elk. His nares soon caught the scent of the other elk. He slid around on the frozen ground to face him. Altan was about 200 pounds lighter than the other elk. His bodice swayed a bit as he regained his balance. His dark brown pools stared into the other's eyes.
Greetings. I am dubbed Altan. What is your dubbance? He asked in a low, guarded voice. He didn't trust this elk just yet, even though he was one of Altan's own kind...

Harlan

Harlan kept his head turned in the other's direction, watching him curiously. By the looks of it, this other elk didn't seem to warm up to strangers very quick. But who really did? Harlan, maybe.

Emitting a light snort, he took his time replying. "Hello..." he began, more used to saying "hey" instead. He needed something a little more formal when you were met with a "greetings."
"What brings you out here?" he asked, figuring it was better to try and start off on the right hoof. After all, they were both elk, and apparently, the only ones around.

Seiberry

While Nhosh and his guards were investigating potential alliances, Seiberry was given other duties. To bring in potential new members, or at least make friends with the surrounding cervid population.

Being an Axis deer, the dark-furred, spotted stag was one of the smallest in the herd. Weighing in at a grand 95 pounds, Sei was a fraction of the other bloaks' masses, which made him a bit leary to approach. But approach he did, figuring the worst that might happen would be him getting chased away or something.

At first, the stag grazed off to the side of the two elk, keeping a decent distance from them as he pawed at the snow-covered forage. Slowly, he weaved his way closer, until he was within hearing range of the larger beasts, and then talking distance. Lifting his head up and shaking snow from his muzzle, Seiberry gave a nod to the two before he spoke, "Where do you two hail from, if I may ask?"

Altan

The smaller elk nodded at Harlan. He stamped a hoof once and snorted. He wasn't angry at the elk, he just was getting cold. He opened his maw ans breathed out, watching his white breath float away.

Altan took his eyes off of that and looked again toward the Roosevelt Elk. I have traveled away from the Rocky Mountains-where my home used to be. I never felt at home there...with so many other elks. One is fine, but 50 of them is too much... Altan answered. What is your name? And what brings you out here?

Altan did not reveal that the other reason he left was that he left was because his herd hated him for loving wolves.

Scenting another one, he turned around to find the deer. He nodded, hearing Seiberry's question. I have no herd and I am from the south-west. He said. No herd anymore.

Seiberry

No herd? This shifted Seiberry's intentions quite a bit, for he had assumed they were part of a herd already. "My name is Seiberry, of the Almuit Rune Herd." The stag announced, deciding it was time to give his name before making his proposal, "If either of you are interested, there is free land to the west of our herd. We are looking for suitable stags to start a new herd, and we are willing to send some of our younger hinds there to help establish such a herd." His own daughter, Mezi, was one of the mentioned hinds who was looking to move out. Of course, he didn't know how either of these two elk felt about a herd of mixed cervids, but it didn't hurt to make the offer anyway.

Altan

Altan listened intently to Seiberry's offer. His eyes dropped his guarded look. The frost-covered field swayed against his legs and chest, marking his legs with a thin layer of frost. It might be different, leading a herd instead of being put down every time he defended the wolves. Of course, he would never metion this to anyone in Sparkling Creek Valley. He nodded at the deer. Hello Seiberry, I am Altan. I am interested in starting a new herd. If possible, could I lead this smaller herd? If not, Altan would seem out of place. He would tower over everyone else and receive messages and orders from deer that was twice as small as him. He wanted to be a strong leader.

Seiberry

"Yes, of course." Seiberry confirmed with a dip of his anterled head, "The herd will be yours. Now, we have no elk of your species, but many of the hinds that wish to move out are Red deer; no more different from you than an arctic wolf is from a grey wolf." The stag went on, hoping that Altan would be alright with this, although there were other elk of his kind in this land, just not in the Almuit Rune herd.

",b>There is one thing though, and it's not much." The deer paused a moment, giving the frozen landscape a quick once-over, to be sure there was no danger. Once satisfied that all was well, Sei continued, "Our lead, Nhosh, will request that you come to his aid if he should ever need it. And in turn, you will obviously have our assistance if needed."

Altan

Altan nodded and dipped his head in return. His antlers were white from the snow of the forest. Altan was perfectly fine with this. He looked over at Harlan, who was still silent after all this time. He turned his delicate dial back to Seiberry. "It will be fine to have these hinds in the herd. After all, I am only a larger deer under a different name. " He replied. After he did so, Altan looked up toward the sky, gazing at the clouds. He heard the deer's next comment and brought his dial and maw back to look at Seiberry. "Of course, I will aid Nhosh whenever he calls for it. Thank you Seiberry." He finished. without even knowing Nhosh, he had great respect for him and Seiberry. in a way, they had given him a new life.

Seiberry

"And thank you, Altan." Seiberry returned, looking to the much larger cervid, though his ears and nose kept a constant survey on the surroundings, "If you've nothing else to do, I can lead you to the lands right now." Eyes were turned briefly to Harian, "If you are in need of a home, Altan's land is plenty large enough. "

Altan

Altan's eyes turned to Harlan, and then back to Seiberry. I smile appeared on his maw. He was glad that he had left, for here had had a better life. Not because he led a herd, but because no one hated him. He had friends here-or at least aquantinces. He nodded.
I have nothing else to do. he replied. He glanced once more at Harlan. and...If it's alright, may Harlan be the next highest rank? Altan thought it was only fair. They had both recieved this offer together, yet he was the one who spoke first.

Harlan

Harlan didn't know why he hadn't spoken at all during this whole little conversation-- thoughts just overtook him. Staring hard at the ground, he suddenly snapped out of his little trance, and looked over at Altan before quickly averting his gaze to the smaller deer. His auds flickered for a moment as he heard Altan's last question, and he felt spirits rise. He never knew much about having a herd, but he had indeed been in one before. Protection was only one thing they provided.
"I would enjoy that greatly... Traveling isn't all too fun alone." he stated with a bright smile, finally having decided that he wanted to actually settle somewhere. It'de be better for them all.

Seiberry

"Of course." Seiberry assured Altan, before looking back to Harlan, "We would encourage having different rankings in the herd. Now, I won't tell you how to run things, of course, but I would suggest having stags assigned to patrol duties. Just to ensure the safety of your hinds and yearlings, when it comes to that." The axis added, before stepping away from the dup, "I'll show you to your new home then." With a light smile of his own, Sei headed for a more central location in the Valley. The Shadow Hedge territory.