Wild Call

🐾 You come to a large line of trees, it seems dark and ominous, but the rains from last night will explain that, the sun this morning is bright and has made mist rise from the damp ground, you push forward into the forest 🐾

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🐾 As you walk over the forest edge you notice movement in the trees, you brush it off as woodland critters, but can't shake the feeling you are being watched.... 🐾

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Suddenly a large black wolf with piercing green eyes appears on a large rock infront of you, he stands very tall and strong as his gaze meets your own with an unwavering stoic frown..."You have crossed into Wild Call Territory, what is your business?" The wolf speaks with a surprisingly soft tone, some of the tension leaves your shoulders and you visibly relax, since you now don't feel a threat from this wolf. Not an immediate one atleast. "Whatever it is, my Alpha will want to speak with you, if you come in peace he will treat you to his hospitality. Let us hope you do." The wolf is clearly in a hurry, as he leaves you no time to explain your presence before turning tail and dissapearing into the brush and dark forest. You studiously follow through instinct. 🐾

🍃

🐾 As you follow his pud marks trying to keep up, you notice how difficult his scent is to follow, you ponder to yourself that should he not be occasionally stopping and waiting for you to catch up a little, you could quite easily lose him. Either he washes unusually regularly for wolf or he is a practiced stalker, or perhaps scout. Scout would make sense, since he was patrolling the borders. You notice also that you've been following this large black wolf for what seems like forever, how big is the territory, or is he simply tricking you away from the pack...

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🌲 But before you are left to ponder this some more, your silent question is answered; the black wolf exits into a large clearing in the forest, there is a river running through along side a green blanket of soft grasses and moss, there are worn pathways, you can tell that this is a home for wolves. You begin to feel as if more eyes are on you though, as you follow the black wolf down the path you noticed that eyes peer out at you from caves below tree trunks and behind rocks, eventually you come to a large Redwood towering into the sky, you doubt if 3 wolves could stand nose to tail around it and still not meet each other around the tree, you begin to realise that not only were you being watched, but followed, there are 2 wolves to either side of you and as you quickly glance behind you you see 2 more padding their way towars you. Perhaps you may not meet such hospitality after all.

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As you draw closer to the giant Redwood, you see a large imposing figure with his back to you, he is mostly red-gold and brown with dark accents, and a creamy underbelly, you watch as he talks in hushed tones with another wolf this one almost silver with grey eyes to match, they look troubled. You silently hope to yourself that you haven't interrupted at a bad time.

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The black wolf turns his head to face you and huffs in a sign to stay put, your paws come to a standstill, and the black wolf pads up toward the 2 wolves underneath the towering tree, he whispers something to the imposing wolf, who quickly snaps his head around to peer down at you, his eyes burn like fire, an amber yellow that could see into your soul, if he so chose. He returns his gaze to the silver wolf and mutters something, the wolf snaps a grey and penetrative gaze before turning tail and trailing down behind the tree trunk, out of view. The imposing wolf then sits and looks at you, his eyes burning into your own with the presence of an Alpha, the black wolf beckons you up with a small bark, as he sits next to his Alpha.

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🐾 You slowly make your way up the small rise, putting your paws very carefully between the twisted old roots protruding from the soft damp soil around the great tree. You can tell all eyes are on you, so you attempt to remain a relaxed sort of confident, altho truthfully you doubt if any wolf could seem confident while in the same position. As you reach the base of the tree you bow your head slightly as an automatic sign of respect at meeting any Alpha and notice something out the corner of your eye, there is movement in the trees to the right of the large tree, a flash of blue and all of a sudden time seems to slow down....there is an energy in the air...you're cold, even though the sun is shining down in this clearing...wait...why...how....what's going...on... you notice that all the other wolves aren't moving, infact....nothing is...the air seems to sit still, birds are suspended mid flight, even a drop of drool hangs betwixt the maw and the ground beneath the black wolf's feet. You wonder a moment if you are frozen too...but no...you appear to move perfectly normally, confused and curious you peak your head around the immense trunk and see another flash of blue dissapear, this time around the same tree trunk. Beginning to grow in nervesnous and impatience you pursue the ghostly movement and you hear very earthly paw steps, running infront of you, you chase and chase and suddenly realise you have been running in circles never gaining ground on the figure. You stop, defeated and bemused and turn, you are met with glowing blue eyes, intently starring at you, but strangely the beholder of the eyes is just a wolf, a young wolf, barely past puphood as far as you can tell. Except he seems to eminate a glow from his whole body from beneath his fur....this strange blue haze and you suddenly realise some of his fur itself is blue. what....are you? you think to yourself.

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"I am Aspyrínn. It means King of the Forgotten Night, a mouthful I know. I didn't choose it. That would be Akai's doing. You must have many questions...but I beg you, though I may look young it would be wise of you to head my warnings," The voice appears to be coming from the strange wolf cub but...at the same time it seems to humm around from all corners of the earth, it is almost otherworldly..."do not tell Akai of what you have just seen we shall meet again traveler, I see your future, and it is intertwined with my own"

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Quite suddenly and all at once you are sat back infront of the imposing Alpha male wide eyed and confused you search the spaces around you for a glimpse of Aspyrínn, but all seems entirely regular. As if nothing happened the Alpha snaps into conversation.

"Welcome! Weery traveller, my name is Akai. You must be a long way from your family, you must join us for a meal and tell us of your journey, we greatly apreciate a good story." You find yourself a little taken back, his tone is bright and chipper, much contrasting to the tension upon your arrival. "You must forgive the atmosphere...One of our own is very ill, and we are worried she may not make it through the week. All the more reason to show kindness to fellow brothers and sisters on this magical night of the Full Moon." You give you greatest condolences and best wishes and even share an idea of soemthing to ease their suffering, something you picked up from the herbalist in your own pack, greataful for your kind wishes and words, he welcomes you to spend the evening with them, and you greatiously accept.

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After a night of much merriment and various foods and herbs past around the pack gathering, you feel ready to sleep, the night had sweapt you away into a rumble of welcomes and songs and dancing, you told them of your travels and the adventures you've had, they treated you well and gave you every kindness, but as you lay down on a soft bed of dry leaves and grass that you quickly scraped together as the night had grown cold and since you had chosen to sleep away from the warmth of the main pack groups, out of respect for their sick wolf, you remember something from earlier...infact how could you have forgotten it, it was as if it was a dream...maybe it was a dream...or maybe...

"Traveller...we shall meet again..."

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