Unseen Shadows [joining]

[Lonetear]

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[atrb=background,http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz315/xxlonetearxx/mireibg_3.jpg] Her small black frame lay hidden in shadows as she sat and waited, watching, from a small swatch of trees near the border that marked the beginning of one of the most feared and avoided packs, the Order of the Black Stag. From where she sat, though it was a fairly decent distance from where their territory actually started, she could scent the metallic smell of spilled blood. She knew all about this pack, for she had been watching them for some time now, always careful to leave behind no clues of her hidden presence and she had never crossed the border. No need to any unnecessary risk, she could learn all she needed to know from where she sat now. Glancing up at the sky she took in its dark appearance, the stars and moon hidden beneath a thick smoky looking layer of clouds. And though she thoroughly enjoyed looking up at the bright moon tonight the clouds seemed to be on her side, creating even more cover then the night already provided her. One ear flicked as she listened even more intently to the sounds around her, she didn’t particularly know why she did this, she was always listening carefully to things around her, watching, taking in every detail she could, it was second nature to her, one good thing her rough upbringing had given her. But her instincts told her that she needed to pay even more attention to what was happening around her now and so, somewhat regretfully, she pulled her vibrant blue eyes down from the sky and back to the border. If it weren’t for the stench of blood and decaying bodies it would have been a beautiful site. Smooth flat stones stretched across its entirety, stones that would feel quite warm after being warmed by the sun, even during the cold winter months they wolves of Traum now found themselves in. Water surrounded the area near it, a purplish hue cast from them even on this dark night. She could smell the briny scent rolling off the salty waters, hear the gentle pounding of the waves against rock. But that beauty was diluted by the remains of wolves dead, their bodies strewn along the border as a warning.Though the heavy snow covered most of them there was still the occasional bone she could see peaking up through the snow like the brightly colored flowers that would do the same come spring. Again she searched the dark night for any sign of another being, but when her eyes met nothing but empty ground she let out a somewhat impatient sigh. All day she had been sitting and waiting for the right wolf to come around, waiting for the right time to reveal her presence. More then one group of wolves had come around throughout the day, patrolling the border, protecting their land from all those they deemed unworthy. But none were high enough in ranking to provide her with what she needed, and so she had simply watched them carefully, looking for whatever signs of weakness she could find. One never knew what information would come in handy at a later time, so she gathered information on any she came in contact with, storing it away for use if the need should ever arise. And for the most part the wolves she had seen were huge monstrous creatures, at least the ones that were guarding the territory. She was sure there were ones of more normal size deeper in the territory. That had been her only worry for days now. Though she was quite a pretty thing to look at she was tiny, only a fraction of the size of most of the wolves she had seen here so far. Her small build was deceiving though, she was stronger then many expected her to be and her speed gave her an upper hand but she knew that here she would get no chance to prove herself as she had had to do all her life, they would either except her or kill her. It was a risk she was willing to take and even that worry wasn’t a very big one. If they didn’t find her worthy she would fight her way out of there, she was confident that she could cause enough damage to escape without receiving too much damage herself. And if she didn’t then it didn’t really matter, this was her last chance to find a home for herself, no other pack would take her, of that she was sure. She was tired of roaming alone, she was used to it, for even before leaving she left her previous pack she was often sent far and wide as a spy and assassin. Still, she had at least had some pack to give her allegiance to. Her current situation was different. She had no one to give her loyalties, no one to report back to. It was different from anything she had so far experienced in her young life and though in the beginning she had enjoyed it she had now grown weary of it. With her mind sharp she focused once again on the border, waiting for just the right wolf to come along. Word Count: 874

[Makarov]

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[atrb=background,http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac192/fireb4ashes/Dragonuv--MIDDLE.jpg] The borderlands of The Sanctum were indeed well-patrolled. But those chosen for the task were usually those somewhat disinterested in the particular stories of woe from being to being they came across at the edges of their safety zone. In fact they seemed to care less then most. Not that their leader had much of a problem with that. If they had been beautiful and elegant diplomats, maybe strong, trust-worthy leader types he would have absorbed them into his cause as Officers with voices of power amongst them. Rather he kept them at the edges of that "safety zone", honing their tempers and over-inflated egos onto the poor few who came here and died for their sins. The beach itself lay littered with their carcasses, frozen reminders in the receding ices and snows, that - once the winter ceased to exist - would begin to stink to high heaven. Only then would Dragunov Solokov call in a cleanup crew, probably a few of the non-combatants sheltered in their domain and begin the process of stripping the beach of rotting meat. ..Perhaps he would leave the bones. The great white beast sat thinking to himself on his high ridge. Warmer breezes whipped off off the ocean now. It seemed relatively calm, though that was somewhat of an overstatement for a giant body of water. It's powerful force crashed up against the cliff face, creating a dully, throbbing roar far below his paws. Speaking of the bones, he wondered briefly about Zero's plans. According to him, it was all to begin tonight, and Dagonet and Masquerade would be returning from their covert mission into Enchanted territory. They were to avoid skirmishes and return with Camellia in their possession, a prisoner of war... and soon, the entirety of their pathetic, peace-loving group would be under his control. It was all their own fault really. They had hold over the most tropical area of the island, a variable haven for the sluggish, greedy, over-fed bullshit that Dragunov sought to abolish from the world. Disgusting. However he had other things to take care of, and for the first time since he and Zero had collaborated in the murder of Zane that the Generalissimus' mind was abuzz with the billions of possibilities and paths these next couple of weeks could take. The Order's own sense of complacency would end, and he would march his soldiers forth to glory. Their stuck-in-the mud mutterings would cease to exist. Undisciplined lumps they were sometimes, it made him nearly sick on his own bile. As if he did not have ears all around The Sanctum, all around the island of Traum for Moon's sake. Like a personal blizzard, Dragunov rose as a flurry of white-clad splendor and picked his way down the narrow goats-path that wound it's way precariously down to the bottom of the cliff and connected itself to the rest of the shoreline in the form of an expansive and beautiful beach. He was a streak of ivory against the dark, purple pallor of the rocks, the water and the sky all wrapped into one, strangely royal package. Ignore the faceless corpses and picked at mounds of entrails and hell, this place could have been an oasis at one point. And it had been. More wolves then ever were rallying towards the Order. Attracted to the strength and the unity of those within it, who all took up their destined niches and fit into the machine snugly. Also attracted by their own spirits, and an ever-raging war to find a place and a purpose to call their own. Some wolves just needed a little guidance. And there she was, a tiny black wolfess, her eyes sharp and blue. She looked like Deidre, but slimmer and shorter. From the slope of her body, lowered but curious, even at a distance the white behemoth could see she was waiting for someone.. That someone would be him. "Privyet" he hailed across the expanse of beach, tossing his head a little as a terse greeting. Eyes, like muted, blue lamps were afixed upon the newcomer. As he came closer, her size shrank and his own grew. a breeze blasted across the side of his face and this close it would be easy to see the tattered base of his former right ear bared beneath the shifting fur on his cheeks. "Privyet, I am his lordship, Generalissimus Dragonov Viktorovitch Solokov. What brings you here to us, bitch?" His tone, the subtleties of his Russian accent blended in flawlessly with his aurator's pipes. His question was one he had spoken almost hundreds of times before. NOTE;; Privyet = Welcome in Russian

[Lonetear]

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[atrb=background,http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz315/xxlonetearxx/mireibg_3.jpg] A cool breeze ruffled her dark coat, pushing away the scent of death for just a moment. Above her what few dead leaves remained rustled loudly before they too lost their hold on the branches they so desperately clung to and fluttered down, a few of the dry and wrinkled objects landing on her fur. In slight annoyance she shook herself, effectively dislodging the leaves which seemed to try to cling to anything with any bit of life in it. It reminded her of lives which she had taken in the past, every one so stubborn, trying to cling to the tiniest thread of life but with a hardened heart and cold eyes she cut that thread, snuffing out the light in their eyes, watching until their body grew cold and unmoving. She felt no remorse for these acts, she was trained to be a killer and a very effective one she had become. Movement broke this train of thought and she brought all her attention to the land before her. Sniffing the air slightly she found the scent she had been waiting for, the scent that belonged to the one that would ultimately decide her fate. She didn't like putting her life in another's paws, she so rarely trusted others, only relying on herself. From the start she had learned not to count on others to watch your back when it was they that it needed watching from. But at the moment it was unavoidable, she had to gamble a bit to get what she wanted now and if she succeeded it would be well worth the risk. Her sharp eyes caught sight of the white behemoth as soon as his ghostly fur broke over the ridge. Ears pricked forward even more as she watched carefully, taking in every movement, every twitch of his muscle as he moved. She could tell from his movements, how he carried himself that this was the one she was waiting for. Many times before she had stepped back a few paces, moving further into the shadows, though she knew it wasn't really necessary to do so to avoid the gaze of the giants roaming along the border. None would be so sharp as to see her as she was, her pelt so dark that the shadows seemed to crawl to it as though it was a missing part of them that they had just found. But she would rather err on the side of caution then risk diminishing her chances of succeeding at the task now at hand. No, this time instead of flitting back in the shadows she held her ground, allowing the moonlight that had broken through the thick cloud cover to illuminate her small form. She could feel his gaze on her, but she too was carefully observing him, her eyes unwavering. Some would call her bold for not lowering her eyes to one who was so obviously higher in rank then herself, but if she was to join this pack she would show her true nature from the beginning, not playing the part of the submissive female in the least bit. Instead she kept her eyes locked on this male, her posture straight as she remained sitting though still fairly at ease with no hint of fear or nervousness in her body. She could tell, even at the large distance that was still between them, that he was of large stature, easily towering above her, though he wasn't bulky like many others she had seen. She knew his slimmer build was deceiving though, just as hers was. Her eyes quickly flicked up to the stump that was all that remained of his right ear. Every wolf received battle scars, even ones as powerful as this one seemed. As he grew closer she rose to her paws, taking steady steps toward the border, her tail slightly raised but not in any kind of threatening or aggressive posture. Her movements were fluid as she neared, her body flowing into its smooth gait, though a gait that always hinted at her being more dangerous then she looked, the gait of a predator, one that had felt warm blood washing over her body before, one who could blend with the shadows and disappear until the moment to strike was right. She halted at the border, careful to stay just outside their territory. She would not cross unless invited over, though she may seem almost too confident she did know how to show respect to her superiors though at no time would she ever appear weak to appease them, she refused to cower beneath another just to avoid and consequences that might occur from whatever she had done. Besides, the Order would want strong wolves, not cowards that kissed up to those above them in order to survive. She did however dip her head slightly as a respectful gesture of greeting before raising just a moment later, letting her eyes lock back on his. "Privyet." His greeting was a strange one, something unfamiliar to her, however she did recognize it as a greeting from the tone of his voice and his body language. As he finally stood before her she finally saw his true size, his shadow falling over her, completely enveloping her body. She didn't let this deter her though, and she remained still, not so much as flinching as she lifted her head a little higher to look him in the eye completely. "Privyet, I am his lordship, Generalissimus Dragonov Viktorovitch Solokov. What brings you here to us, bitch?" Carefully she kept her expression cold and blank, not showing even a bit of the small amount of surprise she felt at having the highest ranked wolf in the Order before her. But once the initial feeling was gone she was once again void of emotion, only thinking that this was just another wolf that she had to prove herself to. "I'm here to provide my allegiance to you, to give you my loyalties and the use of my skills where they are needed." She kept her voice steady, its pitch strong and determined though her words were still quiet, almost musical. Some days she cursed her voice, thinking it was too soft, but it did come in handy at times. Though slightly musical and song like in pitch it was also almost ghostly, her tone usually almost a whisper, her excellent control of it allowing her to use it against others, letting it brush against them, sending shivers down their spine. After her words were spoken she waited silently for Dragonov to speak. Word Count: 1066

[Makarov]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=000000] There it was, a tiny rushing bloom of excitement that shuddered very slightly in the core of him. Like the free-moving inner tower of some sort of great skyscraper, keeping the great beast from toppling over altogether in rapturous weather. As seemed like custom with many of who he met here on the borders, the female was vastly smaller then him. But as he approached she rose quickly, drawing her body up in order to make herself seem a little more ready, a little more imposing. Accepting wolves was just a part of his bi-daily ritual. But today of all days there was a renewed vigor to his passion. By the end of the day Zero would approach him, his devious one-eyed brother, and regale him with the results of their raid. They would celebrate and then, then it would be time to prepare for the coming invasion. Oh yes, the fate was laying itself out at the great General's feet. Before him was a sea of uncertainty. These last couple weeks had resulted in the eruption of tiny rocks out in the middle of uncertainty's depths, little islands which created a path on which he could walk. Like some sort of god, an all powerful being who could give a flick of the ear and send a torrent of slavering hellhounds upon his enemies. Traum would be his. Dragunov Solokov stood there before the female. Each was wrapped up in their own air of contemplation and authority, even if Mirei here held absolutely none. Her form had risen to meet his quickly, showing both readiness and respect. She stood quite tall, but not so much that the inspecting Warlord found her distasteful. In fact it worked out well for her, as a creature so much tinier then himself she proved only to express little fear in the face of a leviathan such as he. Just from the flick of her intelligent blue eyes he could tell she was inspecting him as well. Blue eyes. They had a very interesting habit of seeming so much more introspective then any other eye color, as if wolves born with such a hued orb were somehow more fleet of mind, more dangerous. Filled with his own prejudices, both learned and of his nature, the beast drank in what the ebonite shadow had to say to him. Waiting with unnerving silence and attentiveness. Would she choose the right words? "I'm here to provide my allegiance to you, to give you my loyalties and the use of my skills where they are needed." Vague but strong. Drago was reminded briefly of his Rittmeister, Dagonet and the feisty Demarz. Such an interesting combination of well-measured strictness and bold-faced expactations. His eyes never left Mirei's tiny form, as if considering her deeply, over and over again inside of his head. Occasionally his single good ear would twitch at the tip, of a flicker of muscle would twitch in the corner of his lips. Very little emotion was betrayed on her face now though. She simply stood awaiting his judgment with a surprising amount of patience. Finally the Warlord tossed his head a little in a nod. He affirmed everything in his mind, locked it away and then turned his attention fully to this new recruit. Her size would be the only issue. She was a brave one to say the least. She had come this far seeking out a warlike pack with a vengeful and well hated manifesto. She knew full well the pack's capabilities and the rampant fear they spread far and wide across Traum's earthly surfaces. Dragunov lifted one forepaw and then the other, lapping absently at each before returning them earthward with an immense flex of his yellow-gray claws. "Hmm yes, I know that already, she-wolf. Those who come here either seek death or rebirth and I knew from seeing you that you were not a creature ready to succumb to death's embrace.. Not just yet." The Generalissimus' jaws parted slightly, and within a range of formidable white tusks were glimmering wet with his saliva. To most it would have been a motion that had sent them running back to the trees, so scared they would crawl back into their mother's wombs in order to escape him. But truthfully it was a smile. However derranged, Dragunov seemed secretly pleased with Mirei's arrival. Unwavering he twisted his body slowly to the right, inspecting the black wolfess from the parallel, from behind, and then finally arriving back in front of her face. It was a painfully slow motion. He seemed to be trying to decide on something. "What I wish to know of you, soldier, is how you expect to benefit my Cause? Know you anything of us, and the work we do -- hmm of course you do! Who does not know these days on this miserable isle?" His smooth, orator's tones were now sliding each world into place with delicate firmness, knowing where each and every one of them went. "Your structure is small, but fleet. I can see the muscle beneath your fur, deceptive as my own. But you lack the capabilities of a wolf twice your size. Tell me, how do you intend to make up for this?" He was eying her carefully again, those muted, blue lamps of his flickering with intrigue, mystery.

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[Lonetear]

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[atrb=background,http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz315/xxlonetearxx/mireibg_3.jpg] Blue orbs never faltered in their gaze. She could almost see the gears moving in the great wolf's head, thoughts turning over and over. The occasional flick of his remaining ear, the tiniest twitch of his maw, the only signs of life showing in the stillness between them. She could taste the rising tension in the air as each analyzed the other, one deciding whether to end the other or accept them, the other waiting calmly for whatever fate had in store for her. Ears remained alertly pricked as thoughts tumbled in her mind. She wondered just what this wolf was thinking of her, there was always a looming doubt in every leader's mind when one as small as her showed up asking to become one of the pack. Just from looking at her one would never know what she could possibly do to be helpful when there were indeed pups just as large as her that were new to their training, wolves that showed promise of growing large when her growth had long halted. Quickly her mind flew to the last pack she had tried to join, it wasn't too far from these lands yet still outside of Traum. She had been thankful of her swiftness for they asked no questions, merely deemed her weak by judging her size. Her stamina and speed had been her savior then though she knew they would do her no good here. These wolves would let no trespasser escape. Now her sharp mind was all she had left to help her in this situation and her silver tipped tongue, one so adept at turning even the most hazardous of situations into one of her liking with well placed words. Eyes silently followed his movement as one forepaw was lifted after the other, a few licks given to both. She held back a growl, though her eyes narrowed slightly as her temper began to rise, she wasn't used to wolves being seemingly laid back with her around. She took it almost as an insult, another underestimation of her by yet another wolf. Yet she was careful to keep her patient mask up, not letting any slip of emotion jeopardize this mission. "Hmm yes, I know that already, she-wolf. Those who come here either seek death or rebirth and I knew from seeing you that you were not a creature ready to succumb to death's embrace.. Not just yet." A slight nod was all she met his words with, knowing that more would soon be coming. What he said was true, she supposed many before her had said the same, but she had always been the type to keep things vague, never revealing more then needed to be revealed. She knew the value of information and she used that knowledge well. As his jaws parted slightly she held her ground, her face blank, she knew many a wolf would be sent running by what she was pretty sure was supposed to be a grin. A single snap of his powerful jaws could leave her dead if that was what he wished, but she wasn't about to turn tail and run, if she wanted to join this pack she had to prove that she was worth something to them. Her ear flicked slightly as he slowly circled her, taking in every angle of her lithe body. Her eyes followed his every movement, ready to take action and defend herself if he should attack. But when he returned to her front calmly she relaxed just a little bit knowing that she had at least lasted this long without incident. And though she had the urge to circle him just as he did her, just to set him on edge she refrained from doing so, knowing it was better the remain still then get under his skin, that could wait just a bit longer. "What I wish to know of you, soldier, is how you expect to benefit my Cause? Know you anything of us, and the work we do -- hmm of course you do! Who does not know these days on this miserable isle?" He was thorough, she would give him that much and despite his immense size he was clever, relying on brains just as much as strength. It made this game all the more fun for her, more exciting, the risk growing with each passing moment. "Your structure is small, but fleet. I can see the muscle beneath your fur, deceptive as my own. But you lack the capabilities of a wolf twice your size. Tell me, how do you intend to make up for this?" And again with the size, she had foreseen this but hadn't really wished to hear it, not again, after so many times of hearing it, growing up as the runt of all those in her year group. They almost seemed to blame her for her small size, it wasn't like she could control how large she got. A hint of malice crept into her chilling voice as she replied, picking her words carefully though without pause. "I've been watching you and your pack, learning your habits, reading strengths as well as weaknesses, all the while remaining unseen and unknown. You could say I've been gathering intel of my own before coming to join you, making sure it was the right fit both of us." She grew a little bolder with her words, taking a few steps forward, closer to the behemoth before her, so close she could feel his hot breath on her pelt, before moving away again, turning her back on him for just a moment, a risky move but one that would show she would not be intimidated by the male before her. Turning back around to face him, she continued her words in her whisper like voice. "I have honed a useful set of skills, not just as a spy but as a silent bringer of death, a mere shadow among shadows, a wraith. Without hesitation I can and will snuff out a light, feeling no remorse for it afterwards. I can be trusted with secrets, never revealing them to another soul no matter how they may torture me. I carry out the work that no one likes to talk about and I do it with a certain grace and finesse, never being suspected by others, even after the deed is done. The ability to mold to any situation is another skill I possess, easy falling into whatever role I need to in order to complete my task. This and much more I can give to your pack." Easily she looked him in the eye, almost daring him to make a wrong comment. She was curious to see what his response would be, if her bold words and actions would cause offense or make him rethink his evaluation of her. Standing tall, well as tall as one of her tiny stature could, she waited, counting her heartbeats silently to keep pace of the time, knowing that it only seemed like an eternity was passing, when in all reality it would only take a few moments for everything to be over. Word Count-907

[Makarov]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=000000] Dragunov's mind was polluted with a cornicopia of thoughts. Each swirling and eddying at such a maddening pace it was a miracle he simply did not go insane. What allowed this were his own skills, things unique to him that allowed him to sift through one, discard it, and then go to another in such an orderly fashion it made a computer look a little bit daft. All the while the giant kept special tabs on those things he thought would be useful in the future. Mirei had come here seeking a home where no other wolves would allow her. None had an understanding of the power in her bones and the prowess of her mind because to the untrained eye she was as useless as they got. Drago, however, had long since discarded the idea of uselessness. Every wolf had their purpose, their potential, and The Order was where they came to find that. He felt a disdainful squeeze run through the atmosphere of the female's body as he brought up her size. Tactical it had been, to gauge her abilities to simply keep it cool when she was obviously being mocked. And oh how she hated it. Dragunov could practicably see the smoldering resentment building inside of her insidious blue eyes. Her actions would grow haughtier and of course the Warlord would allow it. Already he had made up his mind on whether Mirei would become a part of them or not, but she did not need to know that just yet. His little secret, if you will. "I've been watching you and your pack, learning your habits, reading strengths as well as weaknesses, all the while remaining unseen and unknown. You could say I've been gathering intel of my own before coming to join you, making sure it was the right fit for both of us." Dragunov listened carefully, and watched. Her words came out well-formed and well thought out and he appreciated that as much as he did a powerful hunter. The wisdom of the mind could have just as much potency as a well-placed bite in some cases. At one instance however his ears flicked and he cut her off briefly, but calmly. "There is no weakness here," he said simply, resolutely as if there would be no further discussion on it. His voice was eerily smooth, with a dangerous edge to it. And then he prompted."My apologies.. Please continue." It was then the lithe female boldly drew forward, approaching the General with a determination and coyness about her steps. Maybe had this been the beginning of his reign here on Traum he would have allowed himself the pleasures of gawking, but such was not so anymore. With a.. mate - the word still felt foreign and cumbersome on his tongue and in his mind. He would never get used to the idea, despite his adoration for the lightning quick crimson bitch that was his Field Marshall and the bearer of his epic progeny. Aye, Zurian would rather rip out his eyeballs then allow him the pleasure of sending invitation to some pretty young thing in the melting snow. His steady pace of breathing picked up ever so slightly as she came closer. Instinct prickled and screamed inside of him but he soundly shut it up and resigned to watching her. The fur along her face parted with the hot, fetid blasts of breath that washed across her. Her sapphire eyes blazed. With that she turned sharply away, revealing her back, shoulders and rump to him. Oh how he could have simply lunged and snapped her fragile spine between his jaws like a brittle twig. He knew what she was trying to prove with her brazen act, and luckily for her she turned away before he could father any more unkind thoughts. "I have honed a useful set of skills, not just as a spy but as a silent bringer of death, a mere shadow among shadows, a wraith. Without hesitation I can and will snuff out a light, feeling no remorse for it afterwards. I can be trusted with secrets, never revealing them to another soul no matter how they may torture me. I carry out the work that no one likes to talk about and I do it with a certain grace and finesse, never being suspected by others, even after the deed is done. The ability to mold to any situation is another skill I possess, easy falling into whatever role I need to in order to complete my task. This and much more I can give to your pack." By now the great male was lowering his body down. It was not a show of disrespect, not weakness, he simply wished to be at a more manageable height with the wolfess with whom he was conversing. His muted eyes, as somber and lifeless as a dead fish's semi pearlescent scales, sparked with intrigue. Beside them the ocean tumbled and washed ashore. In the background it created a constant din, back and forth, back and forth. Pleased with what she had said to him he did not allow for any more from her and began to address the female in his simpering, Russian phonetics. "You have a boldness in you almost unlike most of the wolves who have come to my Sanctum. I can see in your eyes how quickly your brain moved, leaping from topic to topic soundly without missing a beat. Lay down your posturing and let us speak as equals for but a moment, soldier and I will tell you what I think." And he did wait, but not long before carrying off again. Speaking, dictating, was such an infectious thing for him to do. "I think that you have a place here amongst us, but do not let your confidence get ahead of you. Here we are a vast machine, many living beings come together to create something greater and more powerful then any wolf pack has yet to achieve. As one of us you will be a cog to the greater purpose... But I.. I have a very special place for you. I have been praying for a creature such as you to come forth." Dragunov licked his lips, slowly, thoughtfully. "What is your name, she-wolf? I will see to it that you go on to do great things." He paused and winked briefly. "It is not our size that makes us dangerous creatures to be reckoned with.. It is the cleverness of our minds and our ability to shape the world around us." He grew silent, almost eager for her response.

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[Lonetear]

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[atrb=background,http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz315/xxlonetearxx/mireibg_3.jpg] Quietly she reigned in any emotion she was feeling, crushing it before it had a chance to grow. She knew he could see her irritation when he spoke of her size and she hated it, normally very few could read her at all, most only saw her calm and albeit a bit blank expression. But it was necessary, better to keep a calm and level head then end up like some whose emotions controlled their every movement. She still felt but she was capable of pushing feelings away and relying on cold logic and nothing else, only when she was sure she could relax would she loosen up just a bit, showing just a hint of what she was feeling. After all this time of hiding what she felt it was more natural to do so then let others past her wall. But now she was before another being that could read the resentment in her eyes, see the building anger in her movements. Taking a deep breath she pushed it all away, her eyes cooling into icy shards, still full of life yet empty at the same time. His low voice interrupted her strange tones, and she paused letting him speak whatever was on his mind. "There is no weakness here." She inclined her head slightly, hearing the dangerous his voice was beginning to take and the finality it held. Better to agree then argue and risk death, at least for the moment. And overall she did agree, as a pack they were strong, working together nearly seamlessly. But on the individual level she could see where her advantages would come in, which wolves relied too much on strength and not enough on speed, which wolves were more governed by emotion then logic. It was these individual flaws that she was speaking of. When together each member worked together, one wolf covering the flaws of another and vice versa. "My apologies.. Please continue." And with a single flick of her ears she did so. As her words came to a close she saw him lowering his huge body to the ground, taking a more relaxed position and one closer to her height. She didn't know whether to be flattered or insulted, none before had ever lowered themselves to her height so as to speak with her. But she could still she the politeness in his gaze and movements and so she remained quiet and calm, deciding he wasn't being rude in his actions at all. His low voice once again sounded around them, so different from hers yet both held a certain grace to them, showing the ease with which they processed information. "You have a boldness in you almost unlike most of the wolves who have come to my Sanctum. I can see in your eyes how quickly your brain moved, leaping from topic to topic soundly without missing a beat. Lay down your posturing and let us speak as equals for but a moment, soldier and I will tell you what I think." Her head tilted to the side slightly as she took in his words. Relaxing even a little could prove dangerous if he decided to attack suddenly but she sensed that he wouldn't, that he really did want to talk as equals instead of two wolves facing off. And so against her better judgement she sat down on her haunches, letting her small shoulders relax. To some they would look like old friends conversing after a long absence between them, but really the matters at hand were more serious. "I think that you have a place here amongst us, but do not let your confidence get ahead of you. Here we are a vast machine, many living beings come together to create something greater and more powerful then any wolf pack has yet to achieve. As one of us you will be a cog to the greater purpose... But I.. I have a very special place for you. I have been praying for a creature such as you to come forth." More pretty words. This type of talk seemed to be the only way they could communicate, with fluent sentences and diplomatic words. It seemed they had both long learned the art of refined speech, each using it their advantage. And though they were both still relatively formal with the other the tension was slowly dissipating, words coming a bit less carefully, more like how any other wolves would speak to one another. But at the same time she felt a spark of hope with them, finally she might have a chance at a real home. Her confidence would be no problem, she wasn't overconfident at all, she was sure of herself but not cocky, she knew she had weaknesses and she worked hard to fix them. She would not let herself get ahead of things, until things were completely set in stone she would retain some pessimism with the current situation, after all it was best not to get her hopes too high. She did begin to wonder just what place he had for her though. She knew her skills were valuable but for a being to be waiting for someone like her she wondered just what their motives were, what they already had in mind for someone like her. It was these words that made the suspicious part of her spark to life, she knew that if she was to join this pack she would have to trust her Alpha but it was always best to retain some sense of suspicion. She never trusted a being too much, she had been burned by that before and would not make the same mistake twice. However, she wouldn't become some paranoid female either, she would merely keep her wits about her and think things through. "What is your name, she-wolf? I will see to it that you go on to do great things." Her name, such a simple question really, but deceiving exactly for this reason. She was always careful when giving her name to others, especially those in a position of power. But she shrugged this off a bit, he needed her name if she was going to join his pack, it would be absurd of him to not know it before making a final decision. "Mirei," her response was but a single word. There was no need for anything else to be added to it, she held no rank as of yet, she was merely a lone wolf seeking a home. Perhaps in time she would climb the ranks of this pack, but until then Mirei would suffice. "It is not our size that makes us dangerous creatures to be reckoned with.. It is the cleverness of our minds and our ability to shape the world around us." A small smile appeared on her face, there for but an instant before it had vanished. The two of them were of like thoughts, though the paths they had taken to find this out were surely different. She herself had always had to rely on her mind to accomplish things, she knew she couldn't win in a fight of brute strength, but using her wits it was a rare thing for her not to succeed. "Strength has its limits, the mind however is just a realm full of possibilities, ever expanding, growing, there is always room for improvement even in the sharpest of minds." She grew silent for a moment, her gaze rising to the sky for a moment, taking in the colors, how they affected the world below. "You were right earlier when you said I was not one that had come seeking death. I came seeking a new home; a place where I could be useful, for a creature without purpose is but a detriment. Too long have I wandered seeking this and I would be honored to call this pack my home, to aid you in your cause. A new era is upon us and I don't wish to enter it without having a place to give my allegiance. This may not be an easy rode for me, but I don't expect it to be. But I will fight just like I have for my entire existence that my life is meant to be, that it wasn't just luck that allowed me to survive. I will prove to you, that if you allow me to be one of your pack, that it wasn't a mistake to do so." Eyes returned to the wolf before her, a wolf that hopefully soon she would call her Alpha. Word Count- 1036

[Makarov]

[atrb=border,0,true][cs=7][bg=000000] He could see the suspicion in her eyes. Those last vestiges which prompted her swiftly not to join them. But at the same time he could see her dismissal of such things. She was tired of having her ways avidly shunned by other packs, and that was where the white beast found the focal point of his need to swell the ranks. Despite their suspicions, most wolves recognized his abilities to afix wolves into the ranks they were most suited for. It was both his passion and his tactic. Because wolves with a little bit of suspicion in them, lets just say they came out to be far more valuable members to a pack then you would ever first believe. Not always being believers, not always being followers they tended to think for themselves. He saw this as a strength. For if they pledged their loyalty to him, their wariness soon made very little difference. Being down there on the ground with her, Drago could sense Mirei's own set of senses reacting wildly to him. It was just his way. His job. He had to know the ways of the wolves around him. Or else he was no better a leader then any of the other pathetic wolves who took up alphaship in the allied groups around him. They barely knew those creatures who joined their packs around them, instead sticking them into superficial groups based on their appearance. He himself had been a victim of such things, as well as his right paw wolf, Zero. The Warrior's Realm had so foolishly delved only into the shallowest parts of the two killers' flesh. In the end it had been their ultimate undoing. His jaws clenched as he thought of Zane. Dragunov of course tried to be a more immersive leader. For even if they did not trust him their loyalty still remained in his state. They did not have to share the same views to work together at all time.. and maybe that was what drove the warlord so far. Finally the she-wolf spoke her name, after much deliberation. Mirei. Mirei continued to speak, and Dragunov hung on to every word. It had been a long time since he could engage in an intelligent conversation with another beast and the idea pleased him greatly. "Strength has its limits, the mind however is just a realm full of possibilities, ever expanding, growing, there is always room for improvement even in the sharpest of minds... You were right earlier when you said I was not one that had come seeking death. I came seeking a new home; a place where I could be useful, for a creature without purpose is but a detriment. Too long have I wandered seeking this and I would be honored to call this pack my home, to aid you in your cause. A new era is upon us and I don't wish to enter it without having a place to give my allegiance. This may not be an easy rode for me, but I don't expect it to be. But I will fight just like I have for my entire existence that my life is meant to be, that it wasn't just luck that allowed me to survive. I will prove to you, that if you allow me to be one of your pack, that it wasn't a mistake to do so." The Generalissimus felt his cold heart swell with each and every word. She indeed understood the elements with which the beast accepted wolves into his midst. She had studied long and hard, watching the passing groups of brutal guardians along the borders and for that he commended her. "Despite the differences in our size," he said with a sudden cheerfulness about his tones. "We are oh so very alike, and we see eye to eye on most matters." Dragunov gazed at her for a long time.. his eyes neither nervous or wavering. "I can see the sleekness to you, your ability to sneak unnoticed.. And thus I wish that you will become our Polkovnik, the esteemed leader of our spying core. You will only be entitled to report to myself and my mate. It is a well respected and mysterious Officer core of my group in need a capable head." What would be her reactions? ooc;; sorry about the length and crappiness of the post. xD

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[Lonetear]

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[atrb=background,http://i839.photobucket.com/albums/zz315/xxlonetearxx/mireibg_3.jpg] A sudden and cold wind blew against her back, a small shiver passing along her frame, not because of the wind but because of the sudden gleam in Dragunov's eyes as she spoke, a gleam that brightened with every smooth syllable that passed from her lips. She had finally said something that really made up his mind, her words connecting with him at a level that had never occurred between her and another before. He understood just what she was saying, something that was new to her for many overlooked what she had to say, not understanding the meaning behind them nor the thoughts that made them. It was a remarkable feeling, being able to speak with someone that understood you for once, someone that you didn't have to try to make things simpler for. Her ear twitched slightly, the only sign of her anticipation for what his next words would be. Carefully she made herself remain still, she wasn't some excited pup that couldn't remain still, though the more moments passed by the more excited she grew. She really beginning to believe that her long journey would finally be over, that she would have a home to go to tonight instead of wandering in search of someplace secluded where no wolf would find her so she could catch a few seconds of rest before pushing on again. She was sure there would be those wolves that would be wary of her, those that would need time to accept her presence, but if Dragunov wanted her there who were they to argue? Quickly she pushed these thoughts away, she had already told herself that she wouldn't get ahead of things, but here she was doing just that. Silently she scolded herself for the slip up, it had been so long since she had thought like this, she had been just a pup then, but she had learned quickly to take things as they were, planning many steps ahead, maneuvering in just the right way, being patient and waiting for the trap to be sprung, but never to get ahead of yourself, that was one way to get yourself killed. But she was still waiting for that final word, the phrase that would make her one of the Order. "Despite the differences in our size, we are oh so very alike, and we see eye to eye on most matters. I can see the sleekness to you, your ability to sneak unnoticed.. And thus I wish that you will become our Polkovnik, the esteemed leader of our spying core. You will only be entitled to report to myself and my mate. It is a well respected and mysterious Officer core of my group in need a capable head." She really wasn't expecting this at all, she had expected to start at a lower rank and given enough time prove herself worthy of a higher position, prove that she could handle the stress and delicate maneuvering it would require. Yet here she found herself with an invitation to one right off the start. For but a moment she was quiet, taking in the information and processing it. From the sudden lightness of his voice, though still serious, she could tell he wasn't joking when he said this, and beside that Dragunov didn't seem to be the type that would joke over serious matters. Dipping her head slightly before raising it to meet his eyes she spoke. "I would be honored to take this position, though it comes as a surprise. I will do my best to fill it and accomplish all that is required of me. I will not make you regret this choice." The determination in her voice was clear, her strong will to succeed in all she did pushing through as well as a bit of humility, she really was honored by his request that she take up this post. And while her words were simple they were a vow, one that she would see through to the end. And deep within her her soul sung its cries of joy, she had finally found a home. ooc- Its all good.