Pack Mentality

[This is an indie RP blog. Semi-selective May contain NSFW material, so +18 preferable. Please read the disclaimer & rules.]

[wolfpackofmyown]

tellurianwitch:

Miranda went out into the woods again the next day but saw no sign of her friend. She met plenty of other animals, and they were nice, but they didn’t have much to say. Then, sadly, she had to leave her grandmother’s house, but she hoped she would see him again soon.

Sometimes she didn’t go back for months. Her mother didn’t approve of spending so much time away (particularly in the woods where her grandfather could come visit), but she couldn’t keep a child from her grandmother, and Miranda always went out into the woods. Even if she didn’t encounter her wolf friend, she brought whatever bones and meat she could manage to get, and she was careful to leave them far from the house in case other animals found them first.

It was nice to have someone else to talk to that she didn’t have to hide secret things from. She could tell her grandmother, but Polina was human. She didn’t understand it the same way. They could walk through the woods and play and tell stories, lie in the sun and take naps (since Miranda usually wanted a nap when the sun was high).

After she started school things got more difficult. She couldn’t visit as often, and the other children in her class found her peculiar. She was peculiar, and she didn’t mind so much, except when they teased and bullied her because she couldn’t defend herself how she wanted to. Going to the woods became a welcome refuge, where she was free to walk without shoes and sing to plants and be with her wolf friend.

A long time stretched where Miranda did not come to the woods, and when she eventually did, her skin was dull, her movements lacked the usual vibrance and energy.

The wolf was never far when her presence was felt in the forest, but some days the veil between them kept her from seeing the guardian that watched her so vigilantly. Little changed in his day to day, but that he so looked forward to those days that their eyes would meet properly, and he could lose himself in company once more.

After a while, the wolf found that he could leave his forest, but only for short bits at a time and no one ever saw him as he watched over her - not even the girl. But still, he did so, sparingly as it exhausted him greatly to be away for too long, though a little less so each time. 

Still, when the months began to stretch out, the ancient being found himself bristled with anxiety the longer time passed without a visit. At one time he had forgotten, lost track of the passage of time, but now he felt it sharply. 

Finally, the presence he was so used to returned, but something was wrong. As she stepped into trees, the wolf seemed to materialize from the shadows, his head low to look at her face, eyes concerned.

“You’re ill, little one,” Though she wasn’t quite so little anymore. “What’s happened?”

[wolfpackofmyown]

tellurianwitch:

A smile bloomed on her face, bright as the moon. She definitely would find him again. She wanted to hug him—she liked hugging new friends—but he was still a wolf and she didn’t want him to think she was trying to hurt him or anything. So she adjusted her basket to her elbow and raised her arm to pat his side (rather low since that was all she could reach). Her hand did stop, but not quite where she expected it to. There should have been more fur. There was something, but he wasn’t completely… there.

What an interesting friend she made.

Miranda beamed up at him and headed towards the house, picking through the garden. The door opened and her grandmother stepped out, preparing to call loudly. “Oh! You’re back!” she said, seeing Miranda hopping over a row of stalks. “Did you find lots of mushrooms?”

“Yes!” She held out the basket for her grandmother to take and turned to wave back at the woods.

“Who are you waving to, Mirishka?”

“A friend!” Polina looked out towards the woods. Miranda might have been able to see in the dark, but she couldn’t. She didn’t expect to see anything; at most a bush rustling from a departing deer or skittering rabbit. But there was… a shape. She squinted. It had to be a tree, her eyes playing tricks on her, she decided, ushering her grandchild into the house. Nothing that big would come that close to the house and just sit.

How young she made him feel, even now. Fate had such a strange way of pulling its strings, even for beings like himself. Even now, he knew that his path lined with hers. Something in his heart told him that she would need him in the days - months - decades to come. Perhaps longer. And he would need her, though he didn’t feel that just yet. A smile turned his muzzle again, but it faltered when that little hand reached out. 

A shiver crept its way up his back, repressed though his fur visibly bristled from the chill, his expression becoming confused for a moment. How long had it been since anyone had even attempted to touch him, let alone succeeded? He wondered if her presence had brought him further past the veil, that she was able to at all.

The moment passed, however, as she made her way towards the house. The massive black wolf remained in the shadows, but sat still as a statue, watching. His ear flicked, head tilted slightly in return to the wave, but his eyes, ever attentive, were on the older woman.

His eyes met hers, but unlike his living kin, showed no reflection of light in the darkness, and so would not be discernible to one who didn’t know he was there - or  couldn’t see him properly. His wolfish expression had returned to neutral, and he waited. Once the young girl had passed into the house, and only then, did the beast rise to his feet, turning with little sound but the rustle of wind, to disappear back into the darkness of the trees.

To wait for the next time their fates crossed. 

[wolfpackofmyown]

tellurianwitch:

She nodded, resolving to remember that. Avoid allowing hate into your heart. It sounded big and important. She might forget, though. The problems of a small child. She smiled up at him and nodded, toddling or skipping or hopping along, sometimes to keep up with him, but mostly for fun.

When the light illuminating the back porch became visible, Miranda slowed and looked up at the wolf. “Will I see you again?” she asked hopefully.

It had been so long since he’d had company, let alone that of a child. It reminded him of the times before, when the world itself was younger and he still roamed in truth. He allowed her to lead, though his size made it difficult to avoid overtaking her lest he slowed completely. Though she did well in keeping up, and it warmed his heart to watch.

He paused as well, eyes towards the porch. After a few moments, he turned his eyes back to her and smiled. “These woods are my home, small one. I am certain you may find me, if you wish it.” After a few moments, he sat, keeping mostly to the shadows of the trees, so that he could affirm her safety until she was under another’s protection. 

[wolfpackofmyown]

tellurianwitch:

Miranda looked up, head tilted. Aunt Sveta always laughed when she said that, so it must have been some adult joke. But he said his grandchildren. Were all the wolf shifters his grandchildren? He must have had lots of wives!

She wanted to hear more about when they ruled, but it was getting close to her having to go inside, which she hated because it was always the time she felt most awake. She wanted to run and dance and listen to the wolf tell stories. “Do you hate them?” Hate was a relatively new concept to her, one she  hadn’t felt herself, but she almost understood it. Humans seemed to have a lot of it.

“Hate?” He chuckled quietly, shifting his weight on his paws and shaking his head slowly. “I am too old for such things. I do not blame them for things those before instilled in them. A trait they would benefit from sharing, but they cannot always help their instincts.” He looked down at her. “Hate is exhausting, child. I would suggest not allowing it into your heart, if you can avoid it.” 

He looked around for a moment, an ear flickering slightly. “It’s getting late. I suspect your grandmother expects you home soon. Would you like an escort?”

[wolfpackofmyown]

tellurianwitch:

So it wasn’t him all by his lonesome. That was good. Someone as nice as him shouldn’t be lonely, she thought, bending to pick a few mushrooms. These ones were good in omelettes.

“Mama says I can’t go out on full moons. Aunt Sveta said it’s because of werewolves, but there are none of those around here.” She wasn’t sure why she wasn’t supposed to go out. Mama had lots of rules like that and never explained them. Secretly she wanted to find out why. Maybe she could meet some of his friends!

“I wish people weren’t so afraid,” she grumbled. “Then all sorts of us could be here. We’re not all scary.”

Werewolves. The name still amused him, though he’d only heard it after his death. Wolf men. It wasn’t entirely incorrect, but humans always were simple in their terms. “She isn’t wrong, though.” He mused, turning his head. For a moment, looking to the sky again. It hadn’t yet grown dark, but he could always feel the energy simmering in the air as it approached. “My grandchildren can be dangerous. More and more of them allow themselves to become feral, and the humans suffer for it.” “But you are right.” He turned his attention to her fully. “They would not suffer if they did not make us suffer in turn. There was a time when we ruled this place, all of us. But hubris, and an inability to curb their own growth, unfortunately saw us driven to hiding...or worse.” 

[wolfpackofmyown]

tellurianwitch:

Miranda nodded with a solemn frown. Humans had a lot of problems. They weren’t very nice to the Earth or animals… or each other. Her mama would have said Fae had more problems (although she wouldn’t have used the word). She blinked up at the wolf. The first? He must be very old and powerful! Like Mab and Titania! Maybe even more!

“Where do they live?” she asked, ever curious. “In the Otherworld?” She smiled broadly. “Do they come at Samhain? That’s just after my birthday!”

It was almost unnerving, even to a being who’d long ago joined those across the veil and seen more than his share of...well, unnerving. She had a soul, an understanding far past her appearance. They always did, though. Perhaps it had just been too long since he’d been around them. Another smile turned his expression and he lowered his head slightly.

“Some, yes. Others still walk this realm, but only show themselves - their true selves, me, in the light of the full moon.” His blood had, after all, been the catalyst. The creation of what had since devolved into legend, myth, but was far more real than most were want to accept. “But the others, those who’ve gone on from watching over our lands, do return when the boundary is thinnest, yes.” 

[wolfpackofmyown]

tellurianwitch:

He sounded happy about that, but she frowned. Didn’t he have family? Or a pack, she guessed. Were they all gone? That made her very sad. “How come?”

He looked down at her, head tilted again, and hummed. “Many reasons,” He mused, thoughtfully, his eyes turning towards the sky. “Humans, little one, are fearful of that they do not understand, more so if they are unable to control it. I was the first of my kind. Over time, we were hunted... and our bloodlines diluted. Those like me no longer exist on your realm, though our descendants still lurk when the time is right.” 

[wolfpackofmyown]

tellurianwitch:\

Wolves really were just big doggies—or rather doggies were very small wolves—and it showed when they did things like shake themselves. Miranda giggled and led him off towards more mushrooms. “No. So long as you don’t eat me. There are lots of wolves at…” She stopped herself from saying ‘home,’ biting down on her lip. “…Where my grandfather lives. None of them are as big as you though.”

Catching the pause, the spirit wolf looked down at her curiously, though her back was already turned as she led him off, following curiously. He thought to ask where her grandfather lived, but he knew well enough that some things were held back for good reason. So instead, he drew himself up a bit, proudly, and almost smirked. “Few are, these days. We diminished long ago, unfortunate though it is.” 

[wolfpackofmyown]

tellurianwitch:

Miranda smiled wider. Walking in the trees was always better with company that she could talk to. True, she could talk to the trees, but they responded so sloooooow. If they talked back at all, which most of them didn’t. “Okay! But I have to be home soon. I don’t want her to worry.” She pulled out a small mushroom and popped it into her mouth. “You are very big and pretty. And fearsome,” she added. Wolves seemed to care more about that than being pretty or soft, even if they were both.

The wolf stood, shaking out his fur, and chuckled a low, soft sound. “Of course, little one. I would not want that either; she is good to let you explore, after all.” He looked down at her, honey-colored eyes glinting, still smiling in that way that would look threatening to one already fearful, but in truth was soft and pleasant. He gave another laugh, a little deeper this time, and bowed his head slightly. “Thank you, though I hope not to strike fear in you. Only those who threaten unreasonably.” 

[melancoliedesames]

[wolfpackofmyown]

telepathandenigma:

“I highly recommend it.” He shrugged a shoulder. “But there’s nothing wrong with doing a bit of local wandering. It astounds me how often people ignore the beauty immediately around them in search of some far-off mystery.” He smiled at the woman who brought them their drinks and took a long sip. “But I suppose it’s not so far anymore with the internet.”

Abi pursed her lips for a moment, though quickly smiled towards their waitress as well. “This is true. On all accounts, actually. Even if I don’t go online much. I miss the cities sometimes. I used to spend a lot more time in the trees. It’s gorgeous there too.” She hummed a little bit and leaned her elbows on the table, looking up at Padraic with a small half-smile. “But I can’t blame anyone for looking for the mystery either. There’s something alluring about it, isn’t there?”

[thesluagh]

Crashing Down

[wolfpackofmyown]

thesluagh:

He tried to follow the bottle but ended up against Liam instead. That was better. What was he saying about a lady? Maybe she would like to join them. Another time. Devon pulled Liam’s mouth back to his, kiss hot and sloppy. “I want you to fuck me senseless,” he murmured, eyes dark and lids heavy. He pulled him back towards the bed.

Liam chuckled quietly, putting the bottle to the side while he returned the kiss, his own side a little firmer, but no less heated. A shiver worked its way up his back at the other’s words, eyes glinting faintly, almost changing their color as that instinct bubbled up a bit. He wasn’t sure if it was because Devon smelled faintly of Abigail, or if she had simply woken the instinct and he was pushing at it. “I’m glad we’re n the same wavelength,” Voice a low growl, he followed him, his hands on Devon’s hips, fingers digging in insistently. 

[telepathandenigma]

Bearing Gifts

[wolfpackofmyown]

telepathandenigma:

She wasn’t sure why Alris interested her. Morrigan did as well, but not in the same way. She just… found him interesting. Some people caught and held her attention more than others. And he had a vibe. She couldn’t ignore when she got a vibe.

The fact that his pack didn’t know much about him only deepened her curiosity. “He did seem rather intimidating,” she agreed, and then shrugged. “I’m just curious. What is he…” She stopped when she realized that she was about to ask what he was into and cleared her throat, cheeks tinged pink. “What does he do? Around the village.”

Aurora wasn’t alone in picking up on his vibe. Many of the pack found themselves fascinated by him, a fact that only seemed to amuse him. She wasn’t sure if anyone would ever find out more about the man; or what it would take to do so.

Eyes picking up the pink dusting her cheeks, Abi bit her lip to hide a little grin and then hummed thoughtfully. “He’s a hunter. Our best, actually. Some people wonder if he’s actually more than what he lets on, or if it’s his patience that makes his senses so sharp.” She shifted a bit, uncrossing and recrossing her legs. “My mom and I used to supply his hunting party whenever they went out. When he isn’t hunting he spends a lot of his time just observing others work. He helped me perfect my fletching.” 

[wolfpackofmyown]

tellurianwitch:

She stared right back, smiling a little, tentative. She hoped he was friendly. She liked wolves… but she was especially glad that he wasn’t hunting. She didn’t want to be a delicious snack.

“Mushrooms!” She lifted her bag, holding it open for him to smell. “I’m going to bring them home for my grandmother. Would you like some?”

How curious he was about this little one. How long had it been since he’d had a proper conversation? She reminded him of his own, so long ago. Long enough he couldn’t even remember names.

Tilting his head a little bit, he leaned his head down and sniffed at the bag. Another reminder of home, one he was more familiar with. A smile, tongue lolled out and his eyes glimmering softly, shown on his wolfish features. “No thank you, little one. It would be untoward of me to take from such a gift. Perhaps the young lady would instead allow me to accompany her on her hunt?” 

Company was more than a little appealing. Besides, though she claimed the trees her friends, he felt it would be against his better judgement to leave her unprotected if he had the option.

[telepathandenigma]

Bearing Gifts

[wolfpackofmyown]

telepathandenigma:

Aurora nodded before she even explained. She did know. She had grown up with Evs. She lived with Ira. She hung out with Devon. Her attention perked up at the mention of not having that, especially Alris. There were people like her among them? How did that work? …maybe she would like visiting the pack more than she anticipated. Not just to see Abi.

The aesthetically pleasing part didn’t surprise her. Abi’s description rather intrigued her. It was how Ira tried (and half-succeeded) to describe how he looked at people when he had an art mindset (which was most of the time). There was nothing innately sexual about nudity, he said; people just posed it that way because they had been told so and didn’t think to question it further.

…Rather like the crew of the Orchid, for that matter. Aurora wondered how Fae and werewolves got along.

“Sounds like the boys are going to make a lot of art,” she mused. She shifted in her seat, leaning a little closer. “…tell me about Alris.”

Abi was pleased that it had caught Aurora’s attention, to be truthful. She wanted to make sure that her friends felt welcome with her pack, as though they were as much around kin as not. 

“I hope so.” Leaning forward a bit, her elbows resting on her knees as she watched them oh-so-slowly reaching the end, she turned her head back to Aurora, expression going thoughtful for a moment. 

“Alris is...curious.” She mused, biting her lip and thinking. “Very old. A lot older than Morrigan, actually. I don’t know how much we actually know about him. He travelled a lot before he and Morrigan decided to settle down. I don’t think he actually remembers where he was originally from. He’s the most patient man I’ve ever met. And the most intimidating.” She smiled faintly, a brow arching slightly. “Anything specific you’d like to know?”

[wolfpackofmyown]

tellurianwitch:

He did seem like one of the more friendly wolves, despite how big he was. She was… admittedly a little afraid of him. Many of the more wild ones were not so nice, and she had never encountered any of them alone. But they were in the mortal realm, and she had more power here than she knew what to do with. Or was aware of.

She stayed still as he approached, knowing she couldn’t outrun him. Her grandfather hadn’t taught her how to shadowstep yet but, by the Morrigan, could she scream. She didn’t feel the need to, though. His voice was very big, but it felt more like being at home with Sindren and Bast and the others. And she did miss that.

“The trees know me,” she said. “They’re friends. My grandmother’s house is not so far away. Are you out hunting?”

His eyes did not stray, focused intently on the small girl, curiosity at the forefront. They’re friends. He mused on this for a moment; perhaps the trees here - and their denizens - were more accepting than the wilds he knew. Or perhaps it was simply that she eluded to something ancient and wild that the world seemed to lack these days.

Maybe they just feared the consequences if they did not care for her as her own did. Even so, there was a small tug in his chest. She interested him; the first person to see him since the world moved on from the wilds, brave and curious.

“I am not.” He mused, slowly lowing his head, shoulders hunching, so that they were more at eye-level. “Simply watching. What brings you out, little one?”

[brilliantlybeloved]