The Arrival of the Misfit

[Ruskin]

The misfit wolf cursed silently to himself as he set foot in Aryian territory for the first time in his young life, a sense of foreboding eating away at the back of his mind. While he knew this was perhaps the most dangerous land for him to enter, he could think of no other place that he could be safe from his former pack. It was a gamble, he knew, but what other choice was there?

Ruskin's ears pressed to his skull and his head bowed low as he treaded carefully deeper into the enemy territory. However, he hoped they would not remain enemies for long. Surveying the area with his left eye (his good one), he wondered how the Aryians would receive him. Logic dictated that they should refrain from attacking as long as he showed no sign of a threat, but bloodlines dictated otherwise. The wonder only grew stronger as he picked up the scent of what he assumed to be an Aryian. Readying himself as best he could, he plunged deeper into the unfamiliar land.

[Lilah]

Just another day in paradise.
Although, she had been lectured by many to be resting and recovering from her injuries during the last hunt. But this was Lilah. Her endless amount of energy and freakishly uneffected joy could not be restrained and she found herself strolling about the land once more. She had a slight limp in her stride, but apart from that, she was as right as rain.

Chocolate and creamed fur was stroked gently by the breeze sneaking through the trees of the forest, bringing with it a scent. That smell made her freeze, blinking vacantly as she tried to interpret it. It smelt like a wolf newcomer, but why was her brain yelling at her to panic? She couldn't quite put her paw on it, and instead shook her head, ears flopping about and continued forward. Emerald eyes scanned about the forest, sniffing lightly as she came into a clearing.

The scent was strong but she needn't follow her nose any longer. The stranger stood near by, looking around as if he were lost or looking for someone. Everything suddenly fell into place within Lilah's mind, her stomach falling aswell and muscles tensing.
A Chicotah. The warning in her brain fired up once more and she began to growl purely out of fear. She was hardly a fighter, and to make matters worse she was injured. Lilah was frozen to the ground, ears pinning back to her head, hackles raised but body betraying her other behaviours and lowering showing submissive fear.

"Chicotah! You walk on Aryian lands," she barked out across their distance, "Explain yourself or prepare to be attacked!"

[Ruskin]

Keeping his head lowered, Ruskin proceeded toward the other, doing his best to remain calm. This must have worked, for his expression was unchanging from its look of tranquil curiosity. Of course, this did nothing to shut off the instinctive alarms inside his head, screaming at him to run.

"I come not for a fight, Aryian. We find ourselves on the same side, this day," he said diplomatically. "Do not raise alarm, and there shall be no need for bloodshed."

[Lilah]

Lilah found her breathing was shallow and her features were needless to say distressed. Of all days, why had a wolf that was littered in scars and reeked of the Chicotah just come toddling across her path? Any cheer Lilah usually spread to newcomers was certainly absent this moment and kept her guard up, emerald eyes alert and focused only on his slowly advancing form.

His voice was surprisingly peaceful and smooth however, causing the Delta to faulter in her growling, blinking over at the smokey pelted male. This didn't last long however, her young mind pressuming some kind of trick.
"If you do not come to fight then what is your purpose here Chicotah," she took a bolder step forward, reminding herself of her pack. Although not holding the spirit of a fighter, she would certainly do what was necissary to keep her family safe.

[Ruskin]

Ruskin maintained his look of no contest. "I am here to rest, and hopefully find a place to stay," he said, laying on his side about ten feet away from her. "My pack was a group of traitors and killers...."

[Lilah]

His blunt response again lowered her guard, aswell as his behaviour. He obviously didn't feel threatened by her by his new position lazed across the ground, and she cocked her head in his directions daring to tread a few steps closer.
She cocked her head in one of her pup-like mannerisms doing her best to disguise her limp.

"A... A Chicotah wants... to find a home in Aryia?" saying it out loud seemed to bewilder her even more so, wolfish eyebrows raising to the sky.
He didn't have to tell her twice about those barbaric Chicotah, but she kept that opinion to herself, never one to voice negativity of any sort unless called for.

[Ruskin]

He continued to gaze at her levelly, watching with his own brand of curiosity. "Indeed... I guess you could say that I've been exiled... Unofficially," he explained tiredly. Ruskin appeared to be exhausted, but continued to study her. Tilting his head, he continued, "Why is it you try to mask your injury?"

[Lilah]

The Chicotah were exiling their own packmembers? They were more ruthless and astranged than Lilah had ever imagined. She reminded herself to find Rouch as soon as she could and tell him of this; the Beta male would find this information and perhaps this wolf very intriguing. If his words were truthful then the Aryian lands could gain alot of valuable information from him about his former pack.

She dared to take a step closer to the stranger as he lay splayed out across Aryian soil clearly tired form his travels and ordeal. Whatever that had consisted of. Lilah grunted in surprise at his blunt question and her ears fell back in an almost embarrassed mannerism. She was convinced that she had been doing a good job at hiding her injury.
"Well... I did not want to approach a potential threat appearing as if I had a weakness now did I?" she snorted down at him and feeling quite vulnerable at the moment as it was, "Now before I can lead you to a higher rank, you must tell me why you have sought out Aryia; your 'former' pack's enemies. And how you could contribute to this family."

[Ruskin]

Ruskin glanced up at her, deciding it best not to point out that she was obviously trying to maintain an air of confidence while in danger. It seemed she was uncomfortable enough with him as it stood. Ruskin got up. "My former comrades were rather savage... Say what you will; I hate my own blood," he explained. "And as for contributing... If you should need some extra muscle, I'll gladly aid in any way possible... All I ask in return is the opportunity to start anew here." The wolf paused, staring at her with a look that seemed serious, but not threatening.

[Lilah]

Lilah frowned softly, an expression not commonly found on her young and cheerful face as the newcomer spoke. There was sadness and sincerity in his eyes, and exhaustion and suffering in his posture.
"...My name is Lilah. I am Delta for Aryia. What is your name stranger?" she finally let caution fly away in the soft breeze and sat before him as an equal, done doing her head in about what the right thing was to do. Perhaps Rouch would not be happy about her behaviour, but she hoped he wouldn't stay mad for long.

[Ruskin]

"Ruskin..." replied the newcomer tersely, though not in an unfriendly manner. A relief came over him, and it showed through in his features. It seemed that, as he rested, it was the first time he had done so in quite some time. "It's good to finally be in non-hostile company..."

He couldn't help but wonder how the Alpha would respond to this, and whether or not the rest of the pack would be as accepting as Lilah. Only time could tell...

[Lilah]

Lilah felt more so than saw the newcomer relax as he spoke his name.
"Well then, welcome Ruskin," she gave a smiling nod and a small wag of her tail, "We Aryians tend not to be hostile but... I must warn you that the Beta and Alphas may be a little tense with your presence here. But if you confide in me your truest motives then I can give you my word to sway them in your favour as much as I can."

Her small frown was fastly fading, convincing herself that she could help this wolf. She wasn't just a pup-like Delta who liked to goof around and play with new faces. She could do something important and use her bonds with her packmates to support this troubled newcomer Ruskin with his unfortunate blood line.

[Ruskin]

Ruskin felt his own tail begin to wag and did his best to smile, despite the aching in his bones. He knew it would be wisest to share with her exactly what he sought. "I truly wish to live amongst you; a more peaceful life... Yet, at the same time, I wish to strike deep into the hearts of the Chicotahs... Any order that your superiors should issue this wolf will gladly carry out."

The newcomer had known from the beginning of his life that he was destined to be a grunt. Perhaps one of great skill, but always a grunt. Yet, this did not trouble him, so long as he followed a leader with the best of intentions for the pack's well-being. The Chicotahs displayed no concern for one another's well-being, and if they did, it was usually deception.

[Lilah]

Her usual excitement in welcoming in a new face was beginning to return the more time passed. This newcomer had certainly caught her by surprise, but after an initial misinterpretation of his character, Lilah was back to her joyful self. Although, not as active as she would have preferred with her injury.

"Well, let's leave the unsavoury talk of 'revenge' for another day shall we and I will show you around our territory," Lilah cocked her head in a pup-like manner trotting ahead a little of ehr previous path before looking over her lithe shoulder at Ruskin, "Keep an eye open to the Alphas, or Beta aswell. They can officially give you the title of Aryian pack member."
The Delta scouted ahead, assuming the former Chicotah had enough energy to keep up with the lively wolfess.

(( We may need to wait for Rouch to return, but she should be getting back from her holiday in a day or two, then we can get poor ole Ruskin initiated ^_^; ))

[Ruskin]

The Misfit wolf's expression brightened considerably as he gained a bit of a "second wind" (or rather a fifth wind if you count those he expended reaching Aryian territory) and proceeded to follow the cheerful Delta. Watching her injury, he wondered exactly how she'd acquired it, and why anyone would want to hurt someone so kind and joyous. The world was a harsh place, he knew, but that didn't justify it.

"Will do," he replied, wagging his tail. "Do you think that I should remain in the brush when we reach the others, until you can explain?"

He asked this due to past experience. The Chicotahs would have leapt upon anything unfamiliar that entered their territory in a heartbeat, far quicker than anyone could explain an odd set of circumstances. Then again, this wasn't Chicotah land. He reminded himself of this, relaxed once more, and continued to follow.

(Awesome. This is a great RP; glad that my friend told me to check out this site. ^.^)