Might I Inquire... [Joining]

[zivve]

"Go find your home, Alistair." Ever since he'd had that dream, he'd heard the voice in his head, repeating that very same incantation, as he spent time listlessly drifting over the land. He wanted to do as it said, but he didn't want to rush the decision and make a mistake. Alistair sighed, lifting himself up from his comfortable nap. Every damn dream keeps telling me that. If it were that simple, I wouldn't be having this problem! He thought angrily. He was trying to find a home and failing. He just didn't know where he wanted to go. Why didn't his dreams understand that? It was putting him on edge, this constant nagging, and it wasn't like him to get tense over something so minor a detail as having a pack or not. Since meeting Alora, though, he'd begun to truly miss pack life. Perhaps that is what changed my subconscious's need for a pack. He mused.

Sighing heavily once more, the tundra wolf looked around the area. It was plains mostly, an area he'd been near before. There was a pack nearby, new, but still a pack. He could solve the problem by simply going and asking to be accepted into their ranks, yes? Alistair began walking toward the closest border, then stopped. What if I don't like it there? He questioned. Shut up, self. It doesn't matter. You just need to find a home and go back to being yourself. He replied internally. It was getting too confusing to fight over where to live. He just had to go and get accepted into a pack. It's not that big a deal.

Alistair walked right to the border this time. He had decided and he wouldn't go back on his word. I can solve any problem. If it comes to not being trusted, I'll work hard and prove myself. Alistair stopped at the border, being certain not to cross it. If he were to cross, he would anger the Alpha of this pack. Alistair held his tail low, but kept his head up to look around, at least for the moment. Then, he picked his head up more to howl. "May I speak with someone?" He called out. Then, he sat down, tail tucked in by his paws. He wasn't the best at acting submissive, but he did know that when someone appeared, he would have to treat them respectfully. Treat them like you treat everyone else.

Alistair kept an eye out to the world around him. There was almost no one in this pack - it had only recently been established. In fact, there could just be the Alpha at this point in time. That makes no difference. I have decided to ask acceptance to this pack, no matter how many members they may or may not have. Alistair's ears perked up in search of noise. The darker coloration on his ears were part of his few markings. In fact, he was completely white with the exception of the darkness on his ears and a few mixed shades of light gray on his back. His yellow eyes skimmed the area around him. Just try not to make them angry. He reminded himself, relaxing now to wait. Now that he had spoken, his decision was final. His mind calmed down, seeming to relax at the thought of him joining a pack. Sure, now the voices in my head shut up.

--- Alistair --- Tundra Wolf --- 2 Years ---

"Speech." Thoughts. Actions.
Word Count: 572
"His sibling's voice//In his head."
Notes: I wasn't sure if I should reply to the Small Beginnings thread, but since it was from so long ago, I figured it would be okay to start a new thread. I hope you don't mind. :3

[slimestone]

Qaniit was lonely and bored - two things she had been for a long, long time. It had been so quiet around her lately; after those two wolves that had wandered onto her land in the summer, there had been no one. Not that she had not noticed wolves around - she had heard howls carried on the wind, and caught the scents of stranger wolves on trees and bushes, wolves she had never seen face to face. However, because none of these wolves made themselves known to her, they counted as nothing in her mind. A land full of invisible wolves was no better than a land devoid of any at all. At least, she had to admit to herself, the drought was easing up. Rain was returning, even if only in smatterings, and life was returning to the parched land. Still, the lack of wolves worried her. What if no one ever returned?
      When she first heard the howl, she though it had just been in her imagination. The mind played tricks on you when you greatly desired something. When you were lonely. When you were bored. However, Qaniit could not shake the feeling that it was more than just a voice in her head; it sounded real, it had a different quality to that of the sounds that she sometimes thought she heard. She stood up and swivelled her ears around - but no more howls came. Luckily, she had pinpointed the sound before, in her desperation for company. Slowly, she trotted towards the sound of the noise.
      The wind changed direction and the familiar, musky smell of a wolf entered her nostrils. Qaniit grew excited, her heart thudding in her chest. Her trot changed to a lope, and her tongue lolled out of her mouth. She barely felt the ground beneath her bows as she glided towards the wolf. Towards company.
      Qaniit saw him not long after, his white form almost mirroring her own. His coat was also dirtied by markings, the striking white coat of arctic and tundra wolves one they could not call their own. She slowed to a walk as she approached him, masking her desperate and overjoyed emotions. She held her tail high and puffed out her fur. She looked at him along the length of her nose, gaze firm but welcoming. She could not risk scaring him away. As she got closer, she was pleased to see that he had manners, and respected her as a leader, unlike the rude wolf she had met a season ago.
      "You may speak to me," she said to him, her tone strong and indifferent. "I am Qaniit, alpha of these lands. Who are you?" She studied him closely, watching for any sign of aggression or other wolves. If he had come here with a pack to take over, there was no way she could defend herself. She was only one wolf, and he seemed capable as a fighter, her gaze taking in the scars that covered his side. She stood on edge, but tried to appear as approachable as possible.

(Sorry if it's not very good, I just wanted to give you something! Sorry for the wait.)

[zivve]

While waiting, the tundra wolf decided to try to prompt the voices in his head to speak again. However, no matter how many times he asked, yelled, or contemplated begging, his mind was left the think on it's own. Then again, those voices were probably just tricks my own mind played to make me decide, anyway. Alistair scanned the area again. Still no one... Maybe no one's coming? He stayed seated, even with this thought in his mind. Patience is a virtue and all that fun stuff.

As the thought crossed his mind, his eyes noticed movement. Quickly, the shape took the form of a she-wolf. The wolf carried the scent of the pack. She spoke with little emotion, though she seemed cautious. She introduced herself in two simple statements - name and rank being the only noticeably important information included. She was the Alpha - interesting that I should meet her so soon. I suppose I'm in luck. And, of course, she ended it by asking who he was, the same as any sensible wolf would in a similar situation.

Alistair dipped his head in a sort of half nod, not completely sure what the alpha expected of him, as far as submission went. He was used to treating everyone in mostly the same way. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Qaniit. My name is Alistair." He paused, wondering momentarily if he should state why he was at her pack's borders now or later. Deciding quickly, he added, "I've come to ask if there is room in your ranks for one more."

He fell into silence, knowing he had nothing else to say until the female replied. For a moment, a part of his mind wondered what Qaniit's impression of him was. He knew he was clearly built to be a fighter and he had scars on his left rib-cage. Adding this to his slightly mess fur at the moment could make someone think he wasn't exactly friendly. If he was lucky, his personality would have more of an effect on her judgement. However, you can tell someone a million times not to judge another on their impression, but that didn't mean they had to listen or believe you. It was his hope that the wolf wasn't one such being, but acting with careful thought had never hurt him before. Turning off the wandering part of his mind, he focused fully on the task at hand. It was more important than contemplating someone else's mind. And probably easier to understand.

--- Alistair --- Tundra Wolf --- 2 Years ---

"Speech." Thoughts. Actions.
Word Count: 421

[slimestone]

The wolf was very quick to get to the point, spending little time dabbling around in pleasantries and unnecessary talk. A rank, a place in her pack, was what he wanted. Qaniit could not disguise her excitement and pleasure at this news, having been waiting for this wolf for a very long time. However, despite her desperation she was cautious, and did not want to trust him straight away. She would not let herself trust him straight away. He would have to prove himself to earn a place in her pack, to show that he would stick by his pack members through thick and thin, life and death. That was what she expected from those closest to her. In a world like this, survival only came to the fittest, smartest individuals and the teams they worked and lived in.
      Even so, Qaniit reasoned with herself, he had acted very politely; he was submissive but not overly submissive; and he looked strong, a powerful and possibly hard working member of the pack. He could be very useful, a good addition to what she wanted to be a strong and powerful force in the area. She peered at him closely, focusing hard on his body language. She could not help but like him already, but was mature enough to not let such first impressions affect her judgement. "Why should I accept you into my ranks, Alistair? What can you give me, and how do I know I can trust you?"
      Qaniit laid it to him straight: there was no point beating around the bush here. If she wanted a truthful, honest, direct-to-the-point answer from him, she would have to be the same toward him. Qaniit knew she could not be too picky at this time when there were so few wolves around, but even so she had to be careful. One wrong move and it meant the end of her position as alpha, and expulsion from the pack and her lands; and that was something she could not afford to do - not yet, anyway.

[zivve]

The female focused on him, taking his words seriously, as he had intended. "Why should I accept you into my ranks, Alistair? What can you give me, and how do I know I can trust you?" She asked, no longer spending time on unnecessary chatter. Three though questions were before him, but Alistair had some idea of how to answer them. Although the scent made it clear her pack was still small, her words told him she would not accept dishonest or indolent wolves.

"I hope it's not rude of me to say, Miss, but I've clearly had some training in fighting techniques. And, although my skills are average at best, I can hunt when need be." There wasn't much more to be said of his skills. He could hunt and he could fight, what more was needed? She spoke of trust... he reminded himself, then continued, "Not only that, but I stick with the decisions I make and I am willing to trust and listen to those around me. As far as you trusting me goes, you will have to decide for yourself. I can only say that I would never betray those that are in my pack. I'm willing to give you my trust, and I hope you can try to do the same for me." Qaniit would not know the truth of these statements unless she saw him in action. He spoke with honesty, but there was no promise to her. He could only give his word at the moment.

It went without saying that he would get straight to the point when given a task; he had proven that merely by his actions thus far. If he was given the chance, he would prove by acting that his words were true. Hopefully I don't have to prove myself as a fighter soon. Peace is an enjoyable thing that I would like to keep, if possible. Even as he thought, he listened for the next question or statement from the Alpha female.

--- Alistair --- Tundra Wolf --- 2 Years ---

"Speech." Thoughts. Actions.
Word Count: 335

[slimestone]

Qaniit nodded as Alistair replied, pleased with his answers. He spoke with confidence, he was clear, direct and to the point. She liked how he conducted himself and he was polite and respectful - a big difference to the brutish male who had traipsed onto her territory, head and tail held high. She smiled as he finished, but quickly wiped that off her face. Qaniit knew well enough that he could say whatever he wanted, and only his actions would speak the truth. Yet, she knew that she would be faced with this predicament every time she tried to accept a new member into her pack; although she did not like it, she would have to take a chance with each and every one of them.
      "Ok, Alistair," she said, holding her tail stiff and erect. "I can see that you are strong and you say you can hunt. You seem loyal, respectful and honest. For this, I am willing to accept you into my pack." Qaniit spoke with a strong, bold voice, doing her best to cover up the unease and worry she felt. She strode towards Alistair, stiff legged, until she was about a wolf's head away from him. "However," she began, voice cold and harsh, "do something to betray my trust and you will be off my land quicker than you could imagine; if you got that far." Qaniit glared deep into his eyes to show she was not joking. She waited to see his response, but hoped she had not scared him off. She knew that she often came off as bossy and intimidating.

[zivve]

She smiled; an expression that was quickly lost before she spoke. "Ok, Alistair, I can see that you are strong and you say you can hunt. You seem loyal, respectful and honest. For this, I am willing to accept you into my pack." Alistair wagged his tail, smiling brightly at this reply. However, Qaniit did not seem to be finished speaking. She walked closer to him, stopping to speak once she was only about a foot away from him. When she spoke, her tone was no longer happy as she warned him, "However, do something to betray my trust and you will be off my land quicker than you could imagine; if you got that far." Alistair bowed his head, understanding the weight of the words the instant they were spoken.

He raised his head once more, and replied, "Thank you, Qaniit. I would try to assure you that I will not betray you, but words alone cannot prove that. I will have to prove myself over time, as will anyone else. However, I would like to add that with a wolf like you leading, I would never betray the pack or any of it's members. I feel that, although you say I will be off your land, I am more likely to fall breathless before I get to the border." He paused, allowing the words he had spoken to sink in for himself as well as her. "I will try my hardest to do nothing that would cause this thought to become a reality."

--- Alistair --- Tundra Wolf --- 2 Years ---

"Speech." Thoughts. Actions.
Word Count: 255

[slimestone]

Qaniit flicked her ears nonchalantly at his response, but was pleased with it nonetheless. Good, she thought. The beginning of my pack. "Ok Alistair, I welcome you to the Elk Plains and its pack. You are free to wander throughout the lands, but be warned that no protection will come to you if you choose to stray from them and run into trouble."
    Qaniit took one last look at her new pack member, taking in his scent once more, before she turned around and starting walking away. "Otherwise," she called back, as an after thought, "there really isn't much for you to do here. It's just you and me for now."

(Sorry for the extremely super duper long wait, but yay welcome to the pack! -throws streamers everywhere- I'm not sure if you want to end this or not, but feel free to reply or whatever~)