The Beauty of this Season

[☼ Sunstorm]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=000000] Ah, the splendid, rich colors of the fall. The leaves were starting to leave their home, scattering around the path that I tread on now. It was a wonderous sight, causing my amber eyes to lift up and watch the scarlet leaves twirl and dance through the air until they peacefully landed on the ground to disintegrate back into earth. Fall was one of my most favorite seasons; as Jocassee, anyway. As a Healer, the Spring was my favorite, since all the precious herbs returned to their abundant supply. But today I was taking a small break from the long routine of herb gathering, and I was just Josie, wondering about and enjoying this Fall day. The sky was bright and open with a light breeze twisting its was through the expanse of trees. The stretched branches swayed in time with the wind, the occassional leaf falling away. There were very few trees that were still a green color; most had turned the rich reds and oranges I had come to love so much. I smiled appreciatively, continuing with dainty steps along the dirt path. I took care, like I always did, to keep my fur clean. The dirt here wasn't fine and wasn't likely to be stirred by the breezes, so I wasn't too worried over it. I traveled within the Fighter's Forest, moving lesiurely through the majestic oaks that stretched up and over me. I was within the heart of the Order, and the trisket was boldly emblazed upon the left side of my chest. Due to my treatment, it no longer burned like fire, as it had when it was first branded upon my skin. I had yelped out, unintentionally, when the fire had set on my skin. It was a sign of weakness, but that was a very tender area of my body. After I had retreated to collect healing plants and applied them, there was an immediate relief. I glanced down at the three swirling arms, kind of unable to see the entire thing because it was so close to my line of sight. I couldn't properly look at it without a still pool of water, but I knew that there was no longer a puckered red line. My abilities gave me a satisfaction, and I looked back up to the wide sky with a smile upon my muzzle, a cockier air to my feminine walk. ooc:// For Dagonet!

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[Thirteenth]

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[atrb=background,http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x30/Silehnce/Valley%20Howls/stormbackground.jpg] Morning faded into noon as I made my way through my new domain, learning the layout of the land that I now belonged to after a ceremonial blood-letting. Dragunov’s mark still burned on my chest, edges smeared and matted with sanguine lowlights that stood out in stark contrast to my creamy undercoat. With only a little more than a day passed since the title of Rittmeister had been bestowed, the earth within The Order’s boundaries still felt unsteady beneath my paws; I was yet to firmly establish my position within the pack, and so the honor was merely a stale word still without any significant meaning. However, I had no qualms about my ability to assume the position; I was more than suited for the task. War was as much a part of me as the scars it had left through the years, and experience had taught me more than enough about handling even the most hard-headed soldiers. It was a position which I was perfectly suited for; so far, washing up on the shores of Traum was proving to be one of the most beneficial mishaps since my brothers and I had been taken from our homelands to fulfill the debt born in our blood. There was a heavy scent in the air as I entered the red leafed woods, a deep, earthy smell that emanated from the ancient roots of the forest. I inhaled it deeply, savoring the weight of the air in my lungs and the musky scent of life and decay which mingled chaotically on the breeze. For the briefest moment I felt a sudden, heart-felt shock of longing for the lands that had born me; no matter what anyone else said, the lands one hailed from took a piece of them and claimed it forever. No other place in the world would ever offer the same contentment as the sprawling plains from which I had been taken; but those lands were no longer mine to claim. The lands of The Order were my home, and would be until I drew my last breath. The sky was clear and blue through the brightly adorned boughs of the oaks in the forest, providing an eye pleasing disparity of color as I meandered along a fairly well worn, leaf strewn path through the forest. Other scents mingled with the ageless smell of the forest, some of them belonging to other members of The Order and others to various other creatures living out their lives within the borders. One such scent stood out among the others, a trail that had been lain down within the past ten to twenty minutes, and I knew that I was drawing closer to another of my kind. I caught sight of her a few moments later when I rounded the trunk of a particularly old oak tree that had been impeding my path. She was moving towards me, sauntering proudly, and like myself she bore a fresh mark in her chest; another new comer to Dragunov’s cause.

[☼ Sunstorm]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=EE76EB] I wasn't sure whether or not I was willing to receive company. I was in a decent mood for my temprament, that coming from the fact that it was my season. I decided that I wouldn't mind anothers presence, but I wasn't exactly craving for it either. In any case, however, it did not matter whether or not I wanted it. Company was approaching me now and I had no choice over the matter. I was simply lucky that I would not mind his presence. I knew at once that he was an ally, for he bore the very same mark that I did. The triskle was on his left--my right--and it looked relatively new. Maybe newer than mine, I couldn't tell, but my thoughts immediately jumped to a Healer's perspective. I had told myself that I would relax today, but my instincts stirred within me. It was something that I could not help, and though I was trying to watch his face like any other stranger would, I couldn't help but find my eyes glancing back to the healing wound. I could tell that it would be fine on its own, since he was obviously so strong and healthy, but it was my nature to worry over such things. If I didn't do this, then how would I carry the position that I do? I was unsure of the entire ranking system of this place--I only knew for certain that I must submit to Dragunov--so I kept myself at a careful nuetral position. I was naturally smaller than him so it wasn't that difficult, but nevertheless. I nodded by head, my expression somewhere between 'I'm still judging you' and a concern for the trisket. The first words that came out of my mouth went against what I had promised myself for the day, but it wasn't too big of a deal. "Have you cleaned that yet?" My voice was light in tone, and relatively polite, though there was a knowing tone underneath it, for it didn't look as if he had tended much to it. The pleasant weather was affecting my mood, and I was pretty sure that if it were raining and there was mud everywhere, I would probably threaten to bite his head off. I exhaled sharply, the noise more of a half chuckle than a way of breathing. There was a slight curve to my lips, but I didn't apologize for being nosey. Nosey and intrusive was just who I was. "I'm Jocassee, by the way. The one and only Medic around here. Who are you?" I didn't bother waiting for him to ask who I was. I wasn't the shy type, waiting for someone to ask me who I was before giving my name. I'd rather jump right into things than wait around for them to jump at me.

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[Thirteenth]

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[atrb=background,http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x30/Silehnce/Valley%20Howls/stormbackground.jpg] I studied the female as I approached her, noting the way she took a neutral stance and seemed to be analyzing me as much so as I was her. My pace slowed somewhat as I drew nearer; she didn�t seem to be showing any signs of hostility, but where I came from, females tended to be harsh and unpredictable. Living among soldiers made for a rough life, and many so many females had been brutalized that none of them completely trusted a strange male approaching them even at the best of times. Truth be told, I had virtually no social experience outside of a military setting, so I treated the meeting just as I would have if I were still slaving in The Empire�s legions, halting several feet away from the female and mirroring her neutral posture while she spoke, "Have you cleaned that yet?" I glanced down at the gory brand in my chest and the bloody, matted fur around it, then rolled my shoulders in a dismissive shrug as I met her gaze, �A little, its only been there a couple of hours,� I answered. Since the pain it caused hadn�t particularly bothered me, I hadn�t seen much to the open flesh past helping to stop some of the blood flow. I glanced into the forest as a branch crashed down somewhere in the distance, swiveling my ears around to take in the sound of our surroundings, then pricking them forward again when her voice lifted into the air again, "I'm Jocassee, by the way. The one and only Medic around here. Who are you?" She was a forward one, I thought as I kneaded the earth beneath my claws. One who went cleanly to the point rather than dancing around with needless formalities. �I�m called Dagonet,� I gave my name, neglecting to share the rank that Dragunov had given me for the time being; for all intents and purposes, it was still just a stale title that was of no use to me yet.

[☼ Sunstorm]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=EE76EB] He glanced down at the mention of his wound, seeing the brand that was no longer bleeding but showed obvious signs that it had been. The fur that surrounded the trisket was matted and bloody, a sight that I often saw and no longer bothered me. When I'd first started the career blood had turned my stomach, but within a short period of time it meant nothing disguisting to me. Now I could look at it without even flinching. Anyway, back to the present; the stranger rolled his shoulders with a dismissive attitude about the matter as he lifted his eyes to meet mine again. 'A little, its only been there a couple of hours.' So he was new then? Hm. That made sense, as aggravated as that trisket looked. He might not notice it, but I'd bet that the skin there was very red (I couldn't tell from this formal distance). Even though he looked strong and masculine and it may not hurt much, skin was skin, and it would always react that way when it came to fire. There was always a risk of infection, too, with open wounds like that, so I voiced my opinions regarding the matter. "You should probably get to that. Just find some running water somewhere around here and it should be fine." It might be fine even without that, actually, if he had a strong immune system. Still, it was my job to give advice on these type of things, and this was the first wound of any kind (other than my own) that I had come across. Why not start now? His ears twisted around at some noise that I had not heard, searching around us. I glanced around, the glance far from thorough; I wasn't taken to observation. Actually, I take that back: I was taken to observing other wolves, and I was taken to observing nature as far as seasons and herbs, but surveillance? Not so much. I could be quite an impatient individual when it came to some things. It was then that I spoke again, getting straight to the point about my name and where I stood within the Order. His ears turned immediately back to me then, seemingly attentive. 'I’m called Dagonet.' I noticed that he had left off his title; for a reason, no doubt, since I had made it a point to include mine. I wondered why, and I was quite tempted to press for it. As typical of me as that was, I didn't press today. I was relatively new here, and he was the first individual of the Order I had met other than Aice and Dragunov, who had accepted me. I didn't want to isolate myself in this new world, and if I pressed this quiet individual, he'd probably recede back to where he'd come from. I also wondered why he didn't speak much, and I hoped that I wouldn't be doing all the talking, as much as I loved to hear my own voice. He wouldn't be much of fun company if he didn't say much. "Dagonet," I murmured to myself, nodding slightly as I committed the name to memory. Usually speaking them aloud enabled me to remember things better, though I already had an excellent memory--most Healers needed a wonderful memory considering the fact that there were so many medicines in the world. I started to sit back on my haunches, but the instant that my hindquarters started to lower a slight fraction, I caught myself, looking down to the ground. We stood on dirt here; I never sat on this substance unless I absolutely had to. I preferred grasses or slabs of rock, or even large tree roots. I remained where I was instead, simply shifting my weight to one side of my body. My eyes quickly lifted back to Dagonet's as I spoke again. "So, you're new here, then? Figures, I can't figure anything new about this place," I said, grimacing, though there was no true emotion behind the facial expression. I wasn't honestly frustrated with that, but I simply went through the familiar emotions. "But, regardless of that...I'm kind of new, too, which is why I said that. I haven't been here but a week or two....It's pretty quiet around here. Unfortunately." I shrugged my silvery shoulders, just as he had when he dismissed my concern over his burning trisket, though my gesture said 'oh well, it cannot be helped'.

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[Thirteenth]

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[atrb=background,http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x30/Silehnce/Valley%20Howls/stormbackground.jpg] “I’m sure I’ll come across one eventually,” I nodded, though I had no intentions of going out of my way to look for a creek to wash the brand in. If something convenient came along, then great; but I had better things to do with myself than spend the day scouring unfamiliar territory solely for the purpose of cleaning a couple of shallow cuts. So long as the open wounds didn’t begin to cause discomfort or become infected, I was content to ignore them. There was only so much that could be done to heal flesh wounds, after all, and I wasn’t going to take any extra lengths to deal with a couple of scratches. So, you're new here, then? Figures, I can't figure anything new about this place When it started to become clear that this wasn’t going to be merely a passing meeting, I shifted my weight back, lowering my haunches to the ground and seating myself, “Yeah, I washed up on shore a while back and eventually wound up here,” I replied in easy tone, faint traces of a sardonic smile curling the corner of my mouth for a moment. Ending up on Traum hadn’t exactly been a planned venture. I wound up here after running myself into a lot of trouble and a shit pile of ill chance. Maybe I could say that the storm cloud that got me here had a silver lining (I damned well hoped that turned out to be the case, considering that only a few hours ago I had all but sold my soul to Dragunov, and if my fortunes hadn‘t changed much from before, then I was royally screwed) and that my predicament had worked out for the best, but I’m a soldier, not an optimist. At any rate, all I really wanted was a secure position in a life that I was familiar and comfortable with. Having traveled as widely as I have, I knew from experience that military packs like The Order were few and far between. Experience and a few weeks worth of observation had told me that Dragunov’s pack was probably going to be my best bet, so I made my decision and approached the borders. I figure that my odds here were good; I would be able to secure my position within the pack with relative ease, of that much I was sure. So as long as Dragunov didn’t turn into a raving lunatic, I felt that I would be more than content here. ooc: Sorry to take so long! I'm really close to getting a promotion at work so I've been busting ass putting in extra hours and stuff to try and secure the position. .

[☼ Sunstorm]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=EE76EB] "Im sure I'll come across one eventually.' Honestly? I didn't believe him, but I didn't press it. He was healthy and considering it had only been a few hours afterward, it looked mighty fine. The only reason I had pressed it as much as I had was because I literally had nothing else to do. Since the War was relatively quiet at this point, no injuries were occurring; therefore I had no one to heal. I was restless. He seemed to realize that I wouldn't shut up because he sat down on his haunches. I smirked slightly, my silvery tail swaying a bit. I talked a lot, and he was one of the many who would realize this. What a pair we were; he didn't talk much at all and I could easily make up for the both of us. I would probably ask him exactly why he was so reserved, just because I was nosey. Don't forget that I was bored, too. 'Yeah, I washed up on shore a while back and eventually wound up here.' He said this in a chilled tone, a smile starting to tug at his mouth for just a moment. My face responded without my thinking, a smile pulling up on my own mouth as well. "You wash up? From the sea? Ick," I said, with a fake shudder. I sat my rump daintily on the ground despite my usual adversity to dirt in general. It wouldn't kill me, and it was just more comfortable. Now that I thought about it, though, I couldn't quite remember how I had gotten here. It had been...dim. I didn't let the wonderous look cross into my expression regarding my own part, though, because my mission today was getting him to talk. "Where from, anyway?" ooc:// Ick, this is definitely not one of my best. -.- Jocassee is a really new character, so her personality has not filled out at all. And don't you worry about making me wait, I'll live! Good luck with getting that promotion!

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[Thirteenth]

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[atrb=background,http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x30/Silehnce/Valley%20Howls/stormbackground.jpg] I shrugged once in response to her final question; truth be told I really wasn't sure where exactly I had been prior to my arrival on the island. When you spend most of your life on the move names and places start to blur together. Only the most impressive stand out upon looking back, and, well, I hadn't been in a very memorable area. Just on another rocky coastline. "No idea. To make a long story short, a ledge gave out from under me during a storm and my paw got caught and wrenched against something. When the current caught me I couldn't fight my way out of it so all I could do was try to keep my head above the waves until I wound up on this rock."� If the same thing had happened only a few months ago, I would have attempted to get off the island the day my injury healed sufficiently to allow for it; but at this point, my perspective on things had changed. The life of a civilian was one that I didn't understand, and one that I couldn't quite adjust myself to. In the army, every one knew their place. Natural law ruled the hierarchy, for the most part. The strongest held the highest ranks and were treated with the respect they deserved. Everyone knew who they were in relation to everyone else. In civilian packs, however, life wasn't so clear cut. So many ridiculous rules and restrictions existed. If an inferior pack member started stepping on your toes, it was often a punishable offense to put them back into their place. Wolves of average mettle would throw arrogant displays of posturing demands into their superiors faces without much, if any, repercussion. I'd seen my father thrash pack members for considerably lesser offenses; he would roll in his grave if he knew what went on in other parts of the world. Our race was becoming no better than the humans many of us hated so much; but maybe that was why so many of us harbored such feelings. Looking at the human race was like looking into a mirror-a distorted one, but a mirror all the same-and we didn't like what we saw in the reflection.

[☼ Sunstorm]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=EE76EB] 'No idea. To make a long story short, a ledge gave out from under me during a storm and my paw got caught and wrenched against something. When the current caught me I couldn't fight my way out of it so all I could do was try to keep my head above the waves until I wound up on this rock.' His answer was vague, and I didn't know whether or not he truely knew where he was from, but regardless of that, I had finally gotten a proper reply from him. A whole paragraph it was, actually. That was surely a step in the right direction, now wasn't it? "Ouch. That's definitely no fun." He had said it was a while back, though, so surely he must have healed by then. "Good thing you're okay, though. Our cause needs every bit of muscle we can get, eh?" My brow line quirked, though I said these words as if I were bored. In fact, I was kind of bored, and I didn't exactly know every bit of the 'cause'. I was just hoping to get him talking about something. "So what exactly is your part in this grand scheme?" I said these words in a mocking kind of way, not really being serious when I said 'grand scheme'. Like I said, it was all vague to me. I wondered if this guy had heard more than I had, and if that was the case, then I would have to get all the details. I was a gossiper, and I was intent on knowing every little thing, whether it be true or not. It was just a matter of getting it out of him.

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[Thirteenth]

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[atrb=background,http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x30/Silehnce/Valley%20Howls/stormbackground.jpg] "Ouch. That's definitely no fun." “Yeah, cliff diving never is when it’s unintentional,” I chuckled, shifting my weight to the right as I looked back over my shoulder, gaze scanning the forest. Something was hiding in the thicket. A shift in the wind must have carried our scent to it, because that was when I heard the sudden, subtle sound of leaves shifting against the paws of a creature suddenly frozen by fear. At least, that’s what it had sounded like to me; but as I scanned the thicket I realized that perhaps it was wishful thinking making something out of nothing. Before I could make up my mind, though, the female was speaking. Again. No surprise there. She didn’t seem like the sort of problem that would conveniently just go away; but it wouldn’t kill me to be social and it’s never a good idea to cross paths with a medic. Damn sure not one that might someday be in charge of deciding whether you live or die, and the odds of that happening weren’t too bad if she was really the only healer. “Whatever our cause is, eh?” I smirked, ear twitching flippantly as I removed my gaze from the thicket and met the female‘s. I was well enough aware what Dragunov’s aims were. No one would ever say that I was so foolish that I had sold my soul and sworn a blood-oath without learning what sort of shit storm I was sauntering into beforehand. It was all about racial cleansing and purification, to an extent. It was about as clear cut as any regime’s vendetta. I’m just a soldier doing what I’m told while a few words come stringing to mind: Genocide, holocaust, Nazis. We were that sort. No wait, that’s not right. Nazi is such a nasty word. Whatever. The ends justify the means and I’m just an addicted war-monger. A junkie, if you will. I’m also a hero in other parts of the world. What does any of it matter? Whilst absorbed in my silent tangent I almost didn’t hear the female prying at me for information that, if I had cared to share, I would have done so already. Typical female, gouging without any front of subtlety. What is it about gossip and drama that gets them so hot and bothered? “My part in this grand scheme is to kill people,” I smiled darkly, if not a bit mockingly, “that’s all that particularly matters at the moment. I’m a soldier if you simply must attach a word to me.”