. a New start (open)

[Kismet//Accalia]

Fang ran down the mountain, dodging the few trees that grew there. Despite it being summer, some snow fell from the trees because of how cold the mountains could be. His thick coat would protect him for now, but he knew danger was nearby for he kept his ears in a hostile position. He wanted to start his life over from before, yet he knew that would be hard. Maybe impossible, but all he needed was a wolf to stick by him to help out.

Maybe nobody cares, was the though Fang has as he kept running to the end of the mountain. He looked at the overcast sky and though, why. He decided to stop. He howled, loud yet in a submissive way. Let's see how many wolves will come after that, he said in his head. He tensed himself, growled, then howled louder than before. Take that! he mumbled under his breath.

[Sivoncé™]

Why had he come back to the mountains?
At least he wasn't high up; that much he could handle. He was nowhere near the place where he'd roamed for the youthful part of his life. Nevertheless, his paws carried him highed into the rough mountain snow. He shivered, breath billowing out in steamy plumes around him. He stopped, grumbling irritably. I don't even have a winter pelt. There's no use in travelling where I've already travelled. They aren't there.
He crumpled down miserably into the snow, wondering blankly what he should do now. A howl rose up not far from him, unfamiliar, but seemingly as lost as he was. Well then, what the heck? What've I got to lose, anyway? Reluctantly, he pulled himself up and shook the frosty foam from his pelt, though it remained lightly dusted in white. He loped off towards the source of the howl, not at all certain what drove him to do so.
As he drew nearer to the call, he let out a short answer howl of his own, one that was, as always, melancholy but uselessly hopeful. Lithium's eyes flitted over the snowswept scenery, glimpsing the form of a wolf not far from him. Well, here goes nothing.
"Hello there! Were you the one that made the howl?" He padded gradually forward, his burly, silver-blue and ebony body took up a friendly, conversational stance, but inwardly he was automatically untrusting and suspicious. I've never seen this wolf before...

[Kismet//Accalia]

Fang perked his ears and stared at the wolf. He didn't really want to reply yet, not sure if they were friendly or not. I mean, they sounded friendly to him, but for all he knew they could be waiting for him to let his guard down. "Um...yea. Yea, I am. The name's Fang." He smiled a wolf-like smile, lips turning up and only slightly above the teeth. He took a few steps back though, his fur rising on his shoulders and neck. He tried not to make eye contact, knowing, despite his recent times of loneliness, that would be threat. But he couldn't help it, since that was the way he liked to judge others. He knew very well about emotions and he knew how the eyes could easily give something away. But what would this wolf, who knew nothing about him, how would it react if it thought Fang was trying to be threatening?

[Sivoncé™]

"Yeah, I am. The name's Fang."

Lithium felt his pelt bristling subconsciously as the wolf studied him. It was instinct that made him bristle, but he felt his guard go up at the wolf sought for eye contact. Lithium felt his discomfort begin grow rapidly, and his stood a little taller, brow slightly raised in question. He nodded curtly at the introduction, "Fang. I am called Lithium." He stood in silence for a few moments, maintaining the stare with the other wolf. I can't tell if he's a threat or not. He's certianly strange...well, then, so am I, so I guess I really shouldn't be talking. After a while, he broke the silence with light conversation. "I've never heard of you before; are you from the mountains, or the lands below?" He didn't like the way the other brute seemed to be penetrating him with his stare. He was sure his eyes reflected more than he wanted them to; he hadn't been around other wolves in ages, and he hadn't cared to conceal the wear and tear from the search for his mate and children. The search that had worn on for years...
Surely this wolf would see the hints of gray at the roots of his pelt, the dawning of the final stage in his life. Perhaps he'll think me weak....well, that is one thing I am not. If he wants a fight, I'll be able to handle him.

[Kismet//Accalia]

Fang was soon able to look away, feeling stupid by what he had just done. This was his first time being in an area like this, and he was already making a fool of himself. Maybe it was that he usually tried to avoid other wolves for reasons of his own. He wasn't technically scared of others of his own kind, he just preferred being alone, like an extreme loner. He can't even remember why he tried to avoid others. He thought it was because some of the hatred and spite he had felt in his past. Here was his chance to forget the past and start anew, making friends with a new wolf who knows absolutely nothing about him. He already kind of ruined the first impressions by acting aggressive. He never wanted to be alone for his entire life, and he knew if he started a bad reputation here, it could probably spread like wildfire. He convinced himself he would be able to change everything, and today was the day it would happen. These wolves would have to accept him unlike the ones at home. The others had seen him grow clumsily, and knew all the mistakes he made and hated him for it. Being an 'extreme' loner wasn't bad when you had really bad days and felt like strangling the first animal you see; you wouldn't want to end up strangling your friend, though. But Fang had gotten very sick during the winter, his paw pads turning blue from frostbite and his body was losing water fast. If he had a friend with him, they would've helped. He soon realized how long he had been thinking about all this and tried to remember what the wolf had asked him. He remembered a mention of a name: Lithium. It was quite weird that a wolf he had never met before so easily answered and asked questions. It was weird actually talking to another for so long.

"I come from the mountains I guess you could say. Are you a native to these lands?"

[Sivoncé™]

The bold gesture broke as Lithium spoke; the wolf seemed to realize his mistake and attempt to make up for it. The conversation was strange, a little too easy. How long had it been since he spoke aloud? Scratch that -- how long had it been since he'd spoken to anyone but himself? How many years?
He'd travelled farther than most wolves ever do in their lifetime, save for lost wanderers like himself. He felt the question of his origins just as strange as the conversation that flowed, with minimal effort, between them. He could lie, say he'd never been very far into the wretched mountain strongholds; he could forsake his past completely and start as a new Lithium. But his head spun warily at this possibility; not only was he far too aged for such tactics, his voice reflected the terra of his birth. It's not that I want to lie, anyways. I am Lithium, here as I am now...that's all I know how to be, isn't it? What's the point of even covering myself, anyway? Any enemies I used to have are long dead.
"Yes, but not here exactly, not bordering the packs. I am from the deeper mountains, many miles away from here," he explained. "I heard there are many wolves settling in this valley," he continued, uncertain where his words were taking him. "I have been looking for someone I lost many years back...I thought this valley would be a good place to try, but now I'm not so sure." He hesitated, letting the silence hang between them for a moment. What if I'm saying too much? He attempted at worry, to have some sort of fear or sense of guardedness about him. But as he looked over Fang, he felt nothing of the sort. What have I got to be afraid of, anyway? "What brings you to this place?"

[Kismet//Accalia]

By the looks of this wolf, it makes me wonder if he's been searching for his entire life, thought Fang, looking at the silver-gray hairs that only sprouted when one was reaching the end of their life. The wolf must've been able to figure out a little about Fang; Fang had learned so much about expressions, he flattened his ears angrily, wondering what the wolf thought of him now. It wasn't his fault he had tried to avoid others for so long. It wasn't his fault his pack and family made him hate his life and made him feel worthless. He bet his family probably didn't even miss him and thought him dead. The weird part was, was that he was named after one of the most popular wolves in the pack. He didn't really know why he did avoid others. Like some random wolf, say this one for instance, would know anything about his life unless he told them. His life would be ruined if someone from his old pack came by, but what was the odds of that? No one had followed him, and if they did, they probably would've died by now up in the cold mountains. Fang was the only of his pack who had earned some recessive trait that made his body bulkier and fur longer to take the mountains. Heck, maybe he was lucky and the pack destroyed itself somehow. His old pack contained a bunch of idiots, it wouldn't be much of surprise if they did collapse. At a time like this, he couldn't be thinking of his pack. No. He still had his whole life before him, unlike this old wolf now standing in front of him. He had missed a lot already from being depressed and lonely, and now he still had so much to experience. He knew he had the strength to explore this area, and this time no one would get in his way, he was sure of it.

"I've come here to run away from my past, I guess you could say. I plan to start anew here, if you don't mind. I have a question for you, though. How long have you been searching for this wolf?"

[Sivoncé™]

(Thank you for your patience )

This wolf was a strange one, that much was certain. The blend of expression that swirled across Fang's features left Lithium slightly perplexed and perturbed. If his face doesn't match his words, how can I trust him? Though angry, it wasn't a particularly hostile stance, nor was their sizzling energy ripping the air around them, the aura of a battle. His words rached something in Lithium, and the great, wizened brute nodded through comprehending eyes, washed in oceanic understanding.
I may never truly know this wolf as others have known him. I may not know what made him run precisely. But I can have a rough idea without naming names and getting into particulars. We don't need to speak of it; I know it, too.
The smile that played across Lithium's lips was only a slight curve of his maw. It was almost an ache, seeing it there, a ghostly resemblence of a grin. "I ran from my past as well....but only part of it. I have been searching for this wolf since I was birthed into this world."
And those words were fitting as any. His love for Lacrymosa would always leave him searching for her, it always had.
Catching Fang's studying eye, he shrugged his broad shoulders, head slightly raised. "They always underestimate the old ones," he snorted idly, but with good nature.

[Kismet//Accalia]

A little smirk went across Fang's face and his tail wagged slowly. He stood tall on his toes now, but he was not trying to act dominate. He was very curious about this wolf now, and very curious about the world around him. He took a few quick sniffs. Other than him and Lithium, all he scented was cold air from the mountain and pollen from trees. He then curiously pricked his ears, and, unlike what he usually does, he actually paid attention and listened. He could hear birds in the trees. A sound he hadn't heard in like...ever. He could hear a river quite a distance a way, and a farther away cry of a moose. His smirk turned into a grin. Wow. What a place this was that he found. If he was lucky, maybe the residents of this area were nice.

"Eh...I didn't mean to seem rude for thinking about how old you are. Just...spending your entire life looking for one wolf seems kind of a waste to me. You miss out on so many things..." He dropped back onto his haunches, the grin still on his face. "I am curious to know more about this place, who are the wolves that live here? Are they friendly? Or is it best I should avoid them?"

[Sivoncé™]

The air around him seemed to loosen and offer slack, deteriorating the tension with a gentle swipe of a paw. Lithium eyed him with open curiosity as Fang became enthralled with the world around him. Lithium tilted his head, ears twitching to capture the sound of approaching pawsteps. No vibrations or scrapes echoed against the rocks and only the small crunchings of prey stirred the snow-tipped mountains. He straightened, the smile presistent in its place on his features. Now here's a wolf that appreciates the world around him. Well, at least it would appear so. He gazed sadly to the mountain peaks, pearly white and frothing with frost. It's a shame I never had time for these things.... His mind trailed over his travels, lingering painfully on the moment of the fire, the moment of his life's implosion.
With an uncomfortable swallow, he turned his mind away from these harmful memoirs. I can't think of this now. I can't let him sense my pain.

A waste? For all that he had missed, all that he had not stopped to admire, even when he was at the twilight of his life, Lithium felt little regret stir in him. He shook his head, now working to keep the lighthearted grin on his face. "That's what they call love, son. They aren't kidding when they say it makes you go to insane lengths for each other," he barked roughly, eyes travelling down the mountainsides and to the valley below. Many wolves congregated here -- their distant scents left traces in the air, their prescence pulsed in his blood and quickened his heartbeat. "I'm as clueless and curious as you are. The last time I passed through here, a couple years back, the only wolves here were loners and wanderers, none that had stayed long enough to say much of life here." He blinked at Fang, eyes forming a question. "We could find out, if you'd like?"

[Kismet//Accalia]

Love

Fang looked at Lithium with curiosity. This was a word he rarely heard to the point he had no idea what it meant. He knew his parents loved his siblings, but what was love? He bit his lip as the question tried to break free, but it would've been awkward to ask a question like that. He just shrugged and pretended to know what this wolf was talking about. But he had to find out one day. What if this love came to him and he never knew it? He would miss his chance to fully discover it and who knows what would happen then. Whatever love was, it seemed to make wolves happy, and in this case, insane. But did he really want to experience something that made him crazy? He flattened his ears and a low whine escaped his lips.

"Um, yea, sure, let's go find out more about this area. Maybe we'll meet some more friendly wolves, or something."

[Sivoncé™]

Unreadable though Fang's thoughts where, Lithium observed that his companion was once again knee deep in them. Her refrained from questioning this time, however, and instead surveyed the scape of land that curved below them. It was a beautiful terra, outlined by soft meadows and both tall and powerful with its towering forests. A mist draped mysteriously across the setting, providing an aura of mysticism about the place. Questioning Fang will get me nowhere...it's not my place, anyway. He's right, though -- we should find out wha the wolves are like here. If they're anything near mountain wolves, then maybe our luck won't be so fine. But what if the stories hold true?
Shifting his jaw idly, he spoke to Fang without moving his eyes from their destination. "Many wolves have spoken to me that culture is different in the land below us. Where I come from, culture is strict, enforced with brutality, and never questioned. There is no religion, save for worship of pack hierarchy. The loners say different on these packs. They say they do not migrate, they believe in afterlife and worship deities...they are many things mountain wolves will never be." He pondered aloud, wondering what Fang would make of this. He's searching for a new life, isn't he? Getting away from his past...so why should he object?

[Kismet//Accalia]

Fang was slightly taken aback, wondering if he really wanted to join religious-crazy wolves. Although, he was kind of curious about who these wolves worship. As long as they don't worship corn or something like that, maybe they aren't that bad... He glanced once at the sky, imagining a great wolf watching out over him. Who knows, maybe one of these wolves were looking over him. He smiled slightly, a warm feeling building up in him. I bet one of these wolves really is looking after me. They probably helped lead me here.

"When you say 'what mountain wolves will never be'," he started slowly, "do you know if any mountain wolves have actually joined these packs?"

[Sivoncé™]

Lithium laughed a soft chuckle, then turned to faced Fang with a raised brow. "Well, the ones I knew would've never dreamed of it -- too ethnocentric. But I wouldn't go so far as to say we'd be the first to venture into their terra. We'll find out, won't we?" The was a glowing warmth in his stomach, like a tamed fire, ringed with stones. The idea of a culture besides the one he'd known -- rickety, tradition-based and medieval with its practices -- was simply splendid. How do they manage to settle in one place? Does the food ever run out? How many of them are there? They'd have to be pretty big to hold all of that territory against three other packs...but then how do they support themselves?
He gestured to the rocky path ahead, his tail swishing like the pendelum of a clock in anticipation. "Shall we?"

(sorry bad post =P)

[Kismet//Accalia]

Fang's face lit up in surprise. "Are you saying we're going to look into more about these packs? I mean, are you sure someone your age will be able to go on if we do get attacked? I mean...uh..." He didn't really know how to explain what he was trying to explain. Heck, he was starting to forget what he was about to say, anyways. Fang kept his mouth shut and stared curiously at Lithium. If the packs were aggressive, would Fang even be able to fight for himself? He had become hardened during his time on the mountain, but what if they were jumped by more than one wolf? He really wanted to know if Lithium could fight, but how could he ask a question like that in a nice way? He glanced once at the rocky path, his heart beating fast, and he nodded. "We can go only if you're up to it." He smiled and winked.