The first to arrive was a torn up brute, his ebony pelt speckled with ivory and marred with scars, the largest and most noticeable of which stretch across his facade from muzzle to eye. And then of course there was his pinnae, so completely asymmetrical, and yet they complemented themselves as would yin and yang with one perfect specimen, and one torn apart. No blood covered him, and thus it must be an old wound, well healed. It certainly made him an interesting varg from the start. Standing on the edge of the precipice, her plume hanging over it and wagging as it swept at thin air, Nimueh smiled. Raising a paw, she gestured to the land in front of her, offering him a spot - not just to sit but a place within the pack itself. He chuckled but then began to shift his weight from side to side, as if uncertain. Nimueh cocked her head to the head slightly and narrowed her gaze, the smallest of smirks crossing her lips as she waited - patiently - for him to make a move. And then, finally, he did. Slowly, his head lowered and his pinnae flattened against his cranium, his eyes averted from looking at her. Nimueh smiled and nodded before coming toward him, ivory eyes pouring over his form and examining him - his muscle which was well in form, his bodice which was well fed, his pelt which told of his own wars. He would be a good first edition to his pack. Slowly, purposefully, she moved against him, rubbing her flesh and hair hard against his, working up one side and down the other until her scent covered him. "You have been claimed by this pack, my worthy knight. Now tell me, what is it that you are called?" There was no reason to ask of his abilities - he was quite definitely a warrior of sorts... and if he had any other talents she was sure she could sniff them out eventually. "And what tale is it that can be told of you, that shall prove to me your future loyalty?" After he answered, she stepped back away from him, resuming her seat on the edge, drifting her gaze to the next wayward wolf that wandered into her pack.
This varg too was intriguing - a kalak. She was both far from home and far from others of her own kind. Nimueh, who took it upon herself to learn as much as she could from every situation and indeed every exacting moment, knew a bit about the maned wolfs of the world. No specific details, of course, having no desire to get involved in their twisted and manipulative politics - or rather games of subterfuge, torture and backstabbing - but she knew enough. Such as that Cold Summers had been their haven here and had since burned down... and that the kalaks elsewhere lived in clans ruled by royal families and they lived by the law very strictly... of course only in public. If they weren't caught, there was nothing to punish was there? Absent-mindedly Nimueh clucked her tongue at their ideologies and looked over the scraggly teenager - too thin and too alone. Like the hessian, this lass hesitated but used her stance to submit over the more traditional belly roll.
'Hello, my name is Shilo. I was hoping to join your pack, if you will have me.'
Nimueh shrugged before nearing her and slowly and tantalizingly wound herself around the femme as she had the brute. But this time as she did so she inhaled deeply, searching for clues of her past. There was the smallest scent of fire, which made sense, but no active perfumes or colognes. Everything upon her was musty and old and told nothing. "You are welcome to join, Shilo, but I must first ask invasive questions of you - I know a bit of your kind and while I am no racist I am a cautious fellow and have no desire to be betrayed. What brings you here aside from the fire? Why not return to your packs, your clans, the Council at large? Where is your family?" Nimueh stepped back, her pillars still and strong despite the exhaustion that gnawed at her insides from her long trek to claim this place. With an unblinking gaze, she laid her unsettling gaze upon the young one and awaited answers, but she was not to wait long as her audettes flickered. Her nape rotated her head enough to catch sight of one final soul upon the horizon, another petite frame bounding out of the forest to stand instead upon the plateau that they all currently rested on.
A purr resounded within Nimueh and she watched with pleasure as tradition finally emerged from one of her subjects and the young varg flipped over with an introduction. 'I am Nike, and I would also like to join.. If you would have me.' Each dainty paw stepped closer and closer to the exposed flesh of the wolf until Nimueh touched her nares to the exposed nape, pressing slightly until she felt the jugular jumping beneath the flesh. Swiveling her head, she then nuzzled the wolf's head, leaving her perfume there. "Rise." It was hardly a murmur, but it was a sign of Nike's acceptance into the pack. As she had before, Nimueh stepped back toward the edge.
"I welcome the three of you and thank you for heeding Andere Seite's call. This land, desolate though it may appear, is now your home. I suspect that an earthquake tore these deep gouges through the terra, and though the land up here is dry, there are ledges that lead down to a deep stream below. Have care on these ledges however - I suspect we are the first to traverse them in a long while and they may have loosened footing. An entire cavern system - which the river once ran through - has been exposed and so there are plenty of dens to choose from. And while we have no trees in the actual packlands, the caverns are cool and provide shade and protection. These other plants have started to grow I suspect from a decrease in precipitation, leading to an almost desert or arid-like climate. Be careful of the spines on the cacti, but if you can get past them they will I bet have a delectable center, if you are not opposed to the sweet meat. Now, as for me my name is Nimueh and I am your Alphess. I expect you each to remain true to yourselves, but I do ask loyalty and service in return for your safe haven here. I ask that you come to me with concerns or suggestions. Now, as for ranks you will all start out as Omegas - it is not a lowly rank but merely the rank of a newcomer. If you wish to have a higher rank, you will become more active - recruiting new members, guarding the boundary, getting to know one another... and of course I may ask things of you. How high you go depends entirely on you. Now, what is it that each of you want from this pack?" She smiled at them and turned her head from one to another, wondering who would speak first.
One Betrayal Leads to Another Betrayal
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