..THE OUTSIDER../

[vvVENOM]

Zorn's wandering lope had brought him to a mountain range last night, the scent of a foreign pack on the wind. He found a temporary den to ride out the evening snow, but in the morning he was forced to dig his way to the surface.

The snowfall was thick, and the male tested its surface with his paw. A hard crust had formed, but it wouldn't be able to withstand his full weight without cracking. Still, it wouldn't do him good to wait until it melted, if it melted at all. The dark wolf hefted himself onto the surface, and was happy to see that his paws didn't sink more than a nose's width into the snow. The mountains were silent except for the bitterly cold wind that created false howls in his ears, so he was forced to angle them backward as he set off. The temperature was cold - not unexpected, though - and he puffed up his outer coat after shaking off snowflakes.

The frozen air made it hard to scent-track, and the recently fallen snow had buried any fresh marks. Still, he knew which way he was headed before, and continued on that path under the slate-gray sky. He wasn't worried about feeding right now, which was good considering he stood out starkly against the blinding white landscape. He noticed the remnants of tracks, filled in by snow with no discernible scent, and passed on.

His relaxed pace carried him to gentler hills by the time the air grew dark. Evening approached and the smell of the pack was definitely distinct... even more so was the green, biting scent of the forest. He saw it about an hour after he detected it, just as the last of the day's light waned. Though his body was relaxed, his pants came from drawn lips as he drew closer to the territory.

Finally it was dark. He saw well without much light, but his nose was what detected the border. It was strange: the edge of the forest was, incidentally, the edge of the territory, it seemed.

With mouth open, he paced outside of the scent markings, tasting the air. He smelled Alpha, but was confused when there was only a female. Experience told him that a strong female scent unaccompanied by a male one meant females were breeding... It was an odd contrast to the dominant scent of the Alpha. There was something to this pack that he wasn't getting.

He sat back and pulled his chin to the sky. His howl was as deep as he was old, and the bass in his voice was steady and distinct.

In his howl was many facets. A greeting, introducing himself and his strong nature to the strange pack hidden in the expanse of trees. A request for a meeting with the Alpha. A question, wondering why there was no male scent, wondering if females were breeding.

He finally relaxed his voice and stood again. If things went as planned, the Alpha would be drawn to his howl. To prepare, he kept his eyes and ears alert and forward, neutral, and just slightly tucked his tail, showing he respected this pack's Alpha. If she came and he learned that it was mating season... He'd probably be gone from this place within the moon's turn. (If he could see the moon at all, that is.)

[CROW. █]

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[atrb=background,http://i52.tinypic.com/bimrme.png] The fury of the snowstorm hadn't been able to reach through the canopy of the forest. As a result, the forest floor had only patches of snow here and there where it had fallen from a branch, or there had been a break in the trees. Those patches were still deep, several inches at least, and Zealot found herself unwilling to travel over them. The winter was one of her favorite times of year--mostly because she could build tunnels in deep snow, an action she found endless amusing as well as useful--but also because the sky was covered with clouds more often than not. She had never liked the full glare of the sun, preferring instead the gentle gaze of the moon. Zealot stood on the edge of a small clearing, staring at a rather oddly-shaped pile of snow. It rose high in the middle, nearly two feet, and sloped down to just inches on either side. She had just began to wonder what could lay under it to give it its irregular shape when the forest brought the echos of a howl to her. Her body tensed. This wolf was well-versed in long-distance communication. His howl--she gleaned it was male from the deeper note--was more than a simple sound. It was a greeting, a request, a question. Zealot felt a powerful urge within her breast, and raised her own muzzle to the sky. The cry she gave was one of power, telling of her rank and the hard work to achieve it. It told of a dislike of males, a fight with herself to come to terms with her sexuality, and the pain that came with the knowledge she would never bear young. It gave an answer; Yes. She would come to meet him. And it gave her appreciation, for this new wolf, whoever he was, knew what most did not, and it pleased her. As her cry fell away her body moved into action. She picked up her tireless trot, and made for the direction of the howl. The foliage dipped away as she neared the northern border, the snow-covered rocks of Deadman's Ridge coming in to view. She didn't bother to hide behind bushes before exiting the shelter of the forest. This wolf she was to meet knew his own mind, knew how to talk, and she was eager. Her ears were forward, tail in a relaxed arc over her back. Silver eyes were fully open, settling on the shadow among the white of the snow. She approached within a fair distance. "Hail. I am Zealot." She felt her words were unnecessary, but did not regret them. The black and tan female fell silent, her gaze glittering in what little light there was as it tracked over his form.

[vvVENOM]

It didn't take a long time for the response to come to his ears. The voice was female - probably the Alpha. As far as he could tell, there were very few members of the pack. That was bad - bad for the pack and bad for the Alpha. In any case, her howl also had many facets. The main was the acceptance of his request. She'd be here soon.

He didn't miss the anticipation in her tone. She wanted to meet him. This was a good sign - if the pack was lacking, the Alpha would want to gain strength. Zorn himself wasn't overly worried about becoming one of them, but it would be nicer than wandering around as a loner and trying to get a decent-sized meal. Being a strong, dominant creature meant nothing when one was alone.

Still, there was something that he couldn't understand in her howl. It was a new concept to him. He didn't know the true meaning, but he gleaned that the Alpha was unable to bear pups and had a disdain for males. It was very confusing and Zorn honestly wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Without the ability to breed, the Alphas cannot pass on their strength, cannot bolster the pack with strong pups. Zorn pondered this until his ears caught the approach of the Alpha.

She emerged, her strange colorization apparent quickly in the dim light. As it were, she greeted him from a distance. "Hail. I am Zealot." She was a big wolf, strong. Obviously had been through much hardship. A fight would probably be well-matched and dangerous for both sides, and Zorn's advantage would have to be the fact that he was a male. Zealot was clearly the Alpha, however, and Zorn made sure to let her know she was in charge.

With his tail still tucked just behind his ankles, he lowered his head, keeping eyes on the Alpha, and pressed his ears back non-aggressively. "Alpha," he acknowledged, licking his lips. He took a few cautious steps forward, trying not to encroach but instead to show that he didn't mean to cause trouble. Despite being physically larger, he would allow her to rest her head or paws atop his back... If he were permitted to grow near enough.

"I have no pack," he began, choosing not to avert his eyes. Such was his way, though he didn't know or even ponder whether the Alpha would take offense. "The scent of this territory is new to me. Without a male scent, other packs may believe this area is for breeding only."

The words were blunt and objective. He knew from experience that female wolves on their own would very quickly be drawn into a pack with males, whether with their will or against it. "I am called Zorn, and I wish to be one with this pack."

[CROW. █]

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[atrb=background,http://i52.tinypic.com/bimrme.png] The female's eyes took in his posture. His tucked tail. His ears that were back to present no threat. His head was put lower than hers. All of this pleased her until she caught his gaze. It was solid as it bore into her own, no indication that it would be dropped. Her hackles rose, giving her a larger more intimidating appearance. Her tail stiffened, a slight kink appearing in its arc. His word, saying plainly that he acknowledged her as alpha, was never heard. One could choose to believe the soft words of the snake, or the way it coiled in preparation to strike. When he moved forward, so did Zealot. The female moved with a swift determination, the confidence in her own abilities plain for all to see. In a few breaths she closed the gap between them. Her body was tense, muzzle twitching in the beginnings of a snarl, ears and eyes directed fully at him. She stepped into him, encroaching on his personal space, forcing him to give way or fight, and lay her head across his shoulders. Just as she had done with Vivian, Zealot applied downward pressure on his shoulderblades, her throat rumbling a warning. His voice reached her, and she quieted for a moment to pay heed. What she heard angered her very soul. With a quick jerk she took a reprimanding snap, aimed at his ears--to avoid damage and merely express her displeasure. She heard his name, his want to join the pack. But the gods be damned if he would join without submitting. This was her test, a true test of a wolf's resolve. Her chin pushed harder into him, her abdomen tightening to give more leverage. If he chose to challenge her, chose to fight, she could respect that. But it would not gain him entry into the pack. A pack member must be willing to submit, even when it goes against the very grain of their existence. This ensured that the pack wouldn't tear itself apart in dominance wars, and also that they realized that they needed each other to live. If the pack didn't work as a whole, prey could not be brought down, and wolves would go hungry. Zealot knew this male had, from the lack of other scents on his pelt, spent a good time as a loner. He, more than most, must know how difficult it was to have a decent meal without the aid of others. The black and tan female lifted a leg, placing a paw next to her head on his back. Her paw flexed, claws pressing into his fur for traction. NOTE. i have an explanation of how to submit defensively in the thread with Vivian, if you haven't already read it :P i figure Zorn won't be the type to roll over.

[vvVENOM]

His eyes met hers and clearly the Alpha took offense. She raised herself up and her tail twitched. Zorn knew that she had misunderstood him, but it was too late. Not that he would have changed anything. He was not the Omega. He would not play dead for the enjoyment of others, and it wasn't in him to reveal weakness, despite the consequences.

Still, when she charged him, he heard her warning growl. Zorn buckled his legs even before her head touched his back, but after his words she snapped at his ear harshly. They were far back enough that her teeth hadn't caught, but it still gave pain. With her standing over him and his stomach nearly grazing the snow, he submitted. His tail tucked, proving her reprimand was sufficient, and he let out a whine that was surprisingly high given the tone of his howl.

He did not raise his eyes again, though she also rested her paw on him, claws extended. He lifted his chin to lick her extended foreleg apologetically, but his eyes were slits. The lick expressed what his body might not: I meant no offense, it said. "Alpha," he murmured again, reasserting that he understood his place.

Though his chin was raised to her, his throat was directly near her jaws. Zorn knew that his mistake had not been too great, but he also displayed trust in the Alpha, trust in her power and authority.

[ooc: sorry it's so short =P]

[CROW. █]

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[atrb=background,http://i52.tinypic.com/bimrme.png] Zealot pushed forward, putting her paw down on the other side of the wolf so that she stood directly above him. She had been wrong to snap at his words. It wasn't the action of a calm dominant wolf. But it had happened, and she would not take it back. Settling her weight evenly on her paws, the black and tan female's chest brushed his shoulders. This was her final test, the one that would make or break a wolf. Zealot lowered her muzzle and pressed it into the fur of his neck, her teeth just barely touching his skin, and held it there. With Vivian this had come naturally, the silver female able to easily hold her position without flinching, but it was the second part that was the hardest. Zealot was already positive that this wolf, Zorn, would make a good pack member. He had submitted without hesitation, but still retained a midocom of his own power, a trait she could respect. She was about to strip him of his last defense, and she was eager to know his reaction. Removing her muzzle from his throat, she stretched out her neck and took his muzzle gently in her own, teeth pressing gently but firmly. She held this for but a few heartbeats; This was her acceptance, and her claim. He was part of her pack. The female stepped back and away, allowing Zorn the freedom to move. Her tail dropped so that it was even with her spine, hackles disappearing back into her normal coat. She was pleased. "Welcome, Zorn, to the Scarlet Forest Pack." NOTES. ^-^