Alone No More [Bushy]

[Knight]

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died

Two black wolves rested side by side at the base of the waterfall, though that color was the only similarity they shared. The male had crimson markings and crimson eyes, and the female had white marking with blue-green eyes. Together, they formed quite the odd pair, fierce male and delicate female, traveling together.

However, the scent markers of the Silent Pack had summoned them here, where they would wait to be discovered. It had been the goal of Kuro and Kura to reach the pack since they'd first heard of it. Perhaps this pack would be the one they'd been looking for, the one that would accept them.

Kura sniffed the air, shouting to be heard over the roar of the waterfall. "Kuro, do you think we'll meet anyone any time soon?" it was hard to tell if she was happy or annoyed by the prospect. In truth, she was both. She was happy because it was lonely out here. She was also annoyed because any day she spent with another wolf brought the chances of her feeling their pain skyrocketing up.

Koru took his time answering, mulling it over. "I think we will. These pack lands aren't that large, and I doubt that our appearance will have gone unnoticed. Someone will be coming for us sooner or later, I imagine."

Kura nodded, satisfied with that answer. "All right, then." She rose to her feet, and the bony female slowly began to walk towards the pool at the base of the waterfall, Kuro surging to his feet and sprinting after her, catching up with Kura just as she took her first lap of the cold water.

Taking a protective stance, his eyes scanned the forest around him. Anything that wanted to hurt his sister would have to go through Kuro first.

Kura didn't notice her antics, just swiped her tongue across her lips once finished and padded up to sit at his side, panting slightly already from the exertion. "You think this will be our home now?"

Kuro took his time answering, until Kura thought he wouldn't respond at all. "Perhaps..." he murmured, though it was nearly impossible to hear it over the roar of the waterfall. He'd show the world that it was wrong about him - he was no devil. He was just a brother who wanted to protect his sister.

And in the air the fireflies
Our only light in paradise
We'll show the world they were wrong
And teach them all to sing along

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[bushy]

Keaira stretched and yawned, shaking out her fur to wake herself up. It was time to patrol her lands, which wouldn't take very long from the air. She was about to take off when the scent of strange wolves reached her. Her hackles instantly went up and a low growl escaped her maw. Intruders! Her wings snapped open and she launched herself into the air.

Frost formed in the air around her from her anger as she flew. They hadn't announced themselves, and her scent markers were all too clear. She checked them every day to ensure that they couldn't be missed. Her eyes glowed as she zeroed in on the scent. There were two of them, a male and a female, and they were at the waterfall. Her lips curled back from her fangs as she spotted them.

She landed a few yards from them, tail standing tall and posture strong. "Who are you and why are in my territory?" She asked them, frost gathering on the ground around her footprints and chilling the air where she stood. She examined them from where she stood. Their scent had told her there was a male and a female. Looking at them now, she wasn't so sure. They both looked female to her, and one of them seemed very weak. But the other was watchful and protective. That one was most likely the male. He looked like he had blood staining his pelt. If he wanted to stir up trouble here, he would be chased off like all the rest.

[Knight]

Well my heart knows me better than I know myself
So I'm gonna let it do all the talking.
I came across a place in the middle of nowhere
With a big black horse and a cherry tree.

The pounding waters disguised any sounds that might have been caused by the landing of the female. Kuro was the first to notice her, his eyes sliding from scanning the horizon to locking on her, a slow snarl rumbling in the back of his chest. Spurred by this, Kura turned her gaze towards the female as well, muscles stiffening as she noted the other wolf. There would be pain on her part soon, especially if Kuro went after her. Kura rested her tail on her brother's shoulder silently, a silent reminder to be careful.

Kuro stiffened at her touch and at the reminder he heard and understood. His eyes narrowed very slightly and his ears pricked forward to listen to what the female said, struggling to make it out over the pounding waterfall. His gaze softened just a bit at the words - at last a wolf they'd been looking for. "I'm Kuro." He said, addressing the first part of her question first.

"And I am Kura." Looking vaguely nauseated, Kura surveyed the female before her with a snort. If this female thought they were going anywhere without a fight, she was in for a surprise. Frail or not, Kura had tried her hand in fighting once or twice. "And we are here because we've been looking for the Silent Pack for many moons." She firmly took control of their side of the equation, a smile forming on her face.

Kuro humored his sister, letting her take control. She could do what she wanted, and he'd be ready, waiting to pick up the pieces of the explosion she would certainly make. "Sounds about right." He added, nodding his head, just to prove that they were on the same page. He didn't intend to fight, nor did his sister, but they would do what they had to do to survive.

"Might I ask who you are?" Kura spoke again, just the slightest hint of a smile on her face, tone respectful. She was interested in talking to this female, and hopefully, they wouldn't be driven away because of a folly on her fiery brother's part.

So I sent it to a place in the middle of nowhere
With a big black horse and a cherry tree.
Now it won't come back, 'cause it's oh so happy
And now I've got a hole for the world to see

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[bushy]

Keaira watched them intently, looking each directly in the eye when they spoke. They could be a pair, but from their names she figured they were most likely siblings. Kuro was more wary than his sister, and seemed to be her protector if his scars were anything to go by. He also seemed to relax slightly, whereas Kura seemed like she felt sick just looking at her. Hearing that they were looking for her, she lowered her wings to her sides.

They were outcasts. Well, if they wanted into her pack, they would have to prove that they wouldn't be a hindrance. It would difficult for Kura. She would have to be able to pull her own weight and from the looks of her she relied on her brother to do that for her. She had to shout to be heard over the roar of the waterfall, "I am Keaira, Alphess of the Silent Pack."

Keaira shook out her fur, dislodging pieces of ice that had formed while she was still, and broke the ice around her paws. The ice was a constant annoyance, but she had yet to discover a way to keep it from collecting. Her abilities were always active and only motion could keep it from building to dangerous levels. If these two saw that as some sort of weakness, she would prove them wrong.

She debated for a moment whether it would wise to tell them that she was currently the only member of the Silent Pack. If they truly wished to join her, they would discover that on their own. If they were intelligent, they would question why she had come to confront them alone. Either way they would find out. "If you truly wish to join the Silent Pack, you should be aware that I am its only member. This Pack is new, one of several here, and there is bad blood between the others. Life here will not be easy." She couldn't lie to them. Honesty was important in this first meeting. If they left now because it would be hard, then she wouldn't think twice about them.

[Knight]

This chaos, this calamity,
This garden once was perfect
Give your immortality to me;
I'll set you up against the stars

The female lowered her wings to her side. Kura took that to be a good thing, and relaxed slightly, smile widening upon her features. "Alphess?" The only part of the female's statement that stuck with her, she turned towards Kuro, shouting to be heard over the roar of the water, though that probably meant that Keaira could hear it. Kura wasn't a huge fan of secrets, though, so she doesn't care. "Do you believe her?"

Kuro slowly thought about the answer, "I do." he responded, yelling as loudly as he could, "What does she have to gain by lying?" Ending the conversation as he turned towards Keaira, watching her shake the ice from her pelt. "You okay?" he yelled again, frowning in the direction of the waterfall. It was annoyingly loud, and to have a proper conversation, he'd have to go somewhere else with the Alphess and his sister. He certainly wasn't going to leave her.

Kura watched the female shake the ice from her pelt, eyes taking on a more speculative air. If the ice built up constantly - which Kura wasn't sure about, to be honest - that meant that if Kura could keep her still for long enough, they would be able to escape if worst came to worse. At the thought, Kura nodded slightly, though the nodded came just behind Kuro's voice. She was nodding about both things, it seemed, and so she was. She blinked as the female went on, revealing something that looked to be a topic she wasn't entirely happy about. "Life is never easy." she responded easily, words swallowed by the roar of the waterfall, and she added in a much louder voice, "This is not a deal breaker for us, though we thank you for informing us." Her small chest moved up and down as she panted, tired from the energy already expended.

Kuro nodded his head in agreement, "No, it is not." he echoed, just as loudly. It didn't seem to bother him to yell as loudly as she had, Kura noted sourly, before turning to gaze back at the Alphess.

I cut the arrow from your neck
Stretched you beneath the tree
Among the roots and baby's breath
I covered us with silver leaves

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