i have [the biggest] STICK

[Ƨatƴr.]

S A T Y R !!

The branch taunted him. It was big and brown and jutted out of the ancient, hardy tree in such a way that its pointed tip was slightly out of reach of his nose. His olive eyes narrowed in fury as he took a few steps back on the sandy, pale slope and surveyed his opponent. A slightly manic grin parted his black lips as he lowered himself, muscles bunching in his limbs. His skinny rear end swayed with his long, black-tipped tail. Brilliant. He was brilliant. It'd be just like the time, a long time ago, when he'd leaped and caught a fleeing eagle out of the air that had been about to eat a den mother's pups. Except the stick was longer than the eagle had been, though maybe about the same color. He tipped his head to the side and snorted.

"You are so going down."

He had crunched stronger bones in his life. This would be a piece of cake. All he needed was a head start up the dune he crouched on, and the height - combined with his amazing leaping length - would land him the kill. He inched backwards, a mottled green bar on the beige sand, every fiber of his body ringing with concentration. He smirked at the sound of a desert bird and imagined himself with its wings. And so he collected himself, inhaled one more time, and soared.

"Hell yeah!"

Maybe it was the breathless laughter that threw him off, or the fact that one of his pale grey-tinged hind paws had gotten caught in the sand, but he missed his kill. He found himself sailing under the prize, and as this thought registered with him he tried to twist his head to make up for the evident miscalculation. The green wolf found himself catching on the branch, and his neck pulled with agony. The moment was brief, but the goat horns jutting out of his skull had dug a little too deep into the bark.

"Ouch..."

Satyr shook his sore head and snarled once he had dropped rather harshly on the earth. This movement only made him dizzier. Swearing profusely under his breath, he glanced at the dune and tried to rethink his strategy. Maybe he'd been too far away... Grinning like a pup who'd gotten an answer right on a hunting evaluation, he stood directly under the branch and attempted to jump up from there. Turning in midair, he got his jaws around it and managed to fall back to earth with a portion.

"Score!"

He thought himself very clever as he scurried under the tree for some kind of shelter, and in the shadows began to pounce around. As he carried it triumphantly in his mouth, he did not quite register that the stick trailing between his forelegs and almost tripping him. He had what he'd wanted, and that was enough for him. He was simply brilliant.

[nayeli]

Sand. Lots and lots of sand. Every few steps left Nayeli stopping long enough to shake her paws free of its grit. Where is the beach? I've never had to walk so far through sand to get to the water before! She had heard rumors of a beach in the area, unfortunately she had wandered in the complete wrong direction and was now in the dunes heading the opposite direction. The beach was in fact, a small cove found within the Flyanta pack territory. This sand isn't even pretty sand. Where's the white soft sand?

The sun eas beating down on her, and she had seen no more shade than a few tufts of grass here and there. Snorting at this inconvience, she kept moving. Cresting a final hill, she paused to again shake the fur from her paws, as well as her entire body. The journey up the slight incline had resulted in some of the sand depositing itself upon her coat. Once this was finished, she opened her mouth to lick a tuft of fur on her shoulder before thinking better, it would most likely taste sandy.

Elly faced forward once more, surveying the area before her. Again, no beach, no water. Looking closer to herself, she spotted a tree. Petite paws carried her swiftly towards its welcoming shade. As she neared, she noticed another wolf, a male possibly by his build and scent. For once, she had sniffed ahead. He was playing with the tree, attacking it almost. After a few attempts, he managed to get the limb he was jumping after and fell to the ground. Nayeli giggled at his luck, unable to control herself. It had been a rather funny thing, especially as he pranced with his prize and tripped himself. As he fell a second time, she caught herself laughing louder, but was again unable to stem the flow of mirth.

[Ƨatƴr.]

S A T Y R !!

As he flopped down in the sand - or, rather, refused to get up from his last stumble - the green wolf stretched his legs and crunched on his prize, ignoring the dry taste of the bark on his tongue. He dropped it on his paws and nudged it, wondering what to do next now that he was triumphant. However, as he contemplated whether he could sharpen his horns on it, laughter bubbled from a little ways off, making a shiver creep up his fur. Grinning, he turned his head to see who had made the delicate sound.

It was a female, as he had expected from the decidedly feminine laughter. If it had been a guy, he wouldn't have known what to say. She was not very far off, probably searching for shelter from the heat of the dunes. He smiled charmingly and rose to his paws, shaking sand out of his fur and not really caring if he looked ruffled, as he was. It was a part of his personality leaking into his appearance, or so he would claim if she said he looked rough and messy. He stopped to consider if "messy" was a good personality trait, then walked up to her.

The small wolf was pretty, with an almost immaculately groomed pelt, disturbed only by her travel. She had a curious stripe running up her face, parting the darker browns of her fur in two halves. He cocked his head and met her eyes with a broader grin. They were odd, one chocolate and one sapphire. He bowed, sweeping one long leg elegantly, and straightened with a slightly teasing expression.

"Fancy meeting a beauty like you all the way out here," Satyr said as he shook a bit more dust out his pelt, careful to not let any fall on hers. "What brings you to a place like this? I have to say, love, this doesn't look like your cup of tea. Unless you're adventurous on the inside, perhaps." He smirked slightly as all thoughts of the large stick left his mind. He didn't quite know what he thought of this girl yet. She was very pretty, but that never meant for sure that there'd be any attraction. And he wasn't sure he was in the mood to sweep her off her feet even if he wanted to. His mindset had not yet settled and was prone to change.

[nayeli]

A beauty? Oh, she like this male already. His rough, slightly matted coat was ruggedly handsome, and as she looked, she noticed this particular wolf was rather unusual. Streaks of green coloration ran through his ruffled pelt, and a pair of goat like horns graced his skull, curving backwards towards his neck.

He shook the dust from his fur as he moved towards her and she eyed his movements carefully. She wasn't scared or bothered by his approach nor his friendliness; Nayeli simply didn't want any of the stray sand on her fur. "No... I can't say this is the exact spot I had planned to be... I fear that I am a tad lost...." While all of this was true, his eagerness to know more about her had shown through and her "manipulative girl" streak had kicked in. "You see, I was trying to find my way to the beach.... and I'm afraid I've missed and gotten only the sand of it and not the fun..."

Elly allowed herself to trail off. He was a handsome wolf, and eager to help her. This event had only two possible outcomes: either he helped her because he fell for her and tagged along for however long she willed, or he simply helped her. She didn't see a way this could go amiss.

"I'm Nayeli... but you can call me Elly." She smiled at the male, trying to persuade him to help her, her eyes sparkling in the light. She wondered to herself at his actions before she arrived. Despite the silliness of it, it showed he was of good genes, and worth keeping in mind as a potential future mate. It was mating season after all...

[/size]

[Ƨatƴr.]

S A T Y R !!

When he shook his coat out, the female did in fact edge away, and he stiffened for a moment before realizing it was to avoid the flurry of sand. His olive eyes, which had darkened in that moment, were bright and good-humored again. He just could not stand the sight of a she-wolf cringing away from him; it pissed him off, mostly because right now he could not place the memory of it. He certainly didn't want to hurt her; there was no advantage to that he could see. And if it didn't benefit him, he didn't do it - maybe.

"No..." the creamy-striped wolf said. "I can't say this is the exact spot I had planned to be... I fear that I am a tad lost...." She went on to explain that she had been searching for the beach, and he smirked slightly as he shook his head at her. If she looked hard enough, she might find an oasis or something, but the beach he had in mind was far out into pack territory. She evidently wasn't from that group of wolves - or at the least new there, as she did not yet have a distinct pack scent.

"You must have gotten very turned around, love," Satyr chuckled as he stepped in a half-circle around her, far enough away so that she would not feel threatened. He arched his neck slightly as he studied her body, wondering if he wanted anything to do with it. His mind was racing to find a personality for it, and in these few moments the nearly insane wolf was prone to swaying by whomever he was talking to. "I believe that there is a beach up in the pack grounds. You would be able to smell some salt on the wind. Here, there is sand and scrub for quite a ways." He sat down and brushed his tail across the tan grains, creating a few marks in the ground.

When the female introduced herself, smiling, the light catching her eyes brilliantly, the green wolf grinned and nodded a little. "Nayeli is a sweet name," he remarked. He did not base wolves solely off their names, but it was fun to taste the different sounds, some syllables forming a playful demeanor and others harsher or fluid. Her nickname in particular, Elly, reminded him of another she-wolf who had a quick, childish name. He couldn't be bothered to remember her right now. "I am Satyr." He dipped his head again and looked out toward the horizon thoughtfully.

"I could take you to the beach, I suppose," he said after a few moments, glancing at her with a small grin. "I doubt that I would head into pack territory, though. I have been terrorized for being on grounds that I did not belong in before." He shrugged his muscular shoulders slightly.

[nayeli]

"Oh, dear..."

[/color]

Nayeli sighed. Now what would she do for fun? She allowed him to pace behind and around her in a half circle. He wasn't threatening to her. Her beauty had blinded her to the evils it could attract, and whether or not his intentions were honorable or not-quite-so polite, she wouldn't notice one way or another.

He would take her? She had only doubted that one of her two outcomes would occur in the few moments he had sat silent, tail swishing and casting sand to and fro. "Satyr.... you would take me? For real?"[/color] Her smile widened as she spoke, making plans for them.

"We can go to the beach, and either there or along the way I can catch some fish for us... you'll see, I'm an amazing fisher wolf, and if you're hungry we can eat before we get there... but when we get there we can play in the surf and then we can lounge in the sun and in the sand... and it will be good sand, not like this sand.... at least at the beach the water and the sound makes up for the grit, which feels like a good scratch against your skin instead of this itchy dirty sand.[/color]

Hardly a pause was in her words as she thought through it, including her newly found friend (yes friend... he had been consistently complimenting her through the entirity of the conversation) in them. Then the last bit of his statement came to her mind. She caught he wasn't willing to go into pack territory... and if she wanted to one day join a pack, this might be a good idea for her to not be seen with such a trouble maker in their lands.

Elly, showing concern for Satyr's feelings and well being (because this path would lead them together) spoke a little more slowly, looking deeply at him, drinking in his features. He was, after all, her first friend in this new land of Nevermore."...but if you wanted, we could go to the beach another time? ... let's just get out of this giant litter box and go somewhere fun..."[/color] Regardless of her company, she always wanted to have some fun.
[/font][/blockquote][/size]

[Ƨatƴr.]

S A T Y R !!

"Satyr...you would take me? For real?"

As Nayeli smiled and turned excited eyes on him, the horned wolf stood stark still and twisted one ear back, looking her over. "One way or another," he said at last, his mind a swirling cloud of confused feelings. He shook himself mentally. What was the point? He had met this character, so the Fates had some plan for him. Maybe it was to follow her - rather, lead her - to this pack land. Perhaps she would do a favor or two for him the next time they met. He grinned slightly at the thought, even if he had no favors in mind.

He suddenly realized that the petite wolf was rambling on and on about what they would do once they got there, explaining the glory of the beach and especially its sand when compared to this harsh climate. He stared at her with a mostly blank expression, trying to register her words, though his lip quirked up a bit in a smirk. She was pretty dumb - no, no, that was not he right word at all. She was very immature. She didn't know the laws of the wild yet. His words about not liking to venture into pack territory sunk in, so she shifted a little closer, taking in his features and suggesting, "...but if you wanted, we could go to the beach another time? ... let's just get out of this giant litter box and go somewhere fun..."

Satyr smiled and started to head in the direction of that watery territory, flicking his tail along her flank so she knew to follow him. If anything, she would provide very interesting conversation. And he might teach her a thing or two; a dead wolf would do him no favors. He leaned to talk in her ear, eyes fixed on the horizon, toward their destination. "Why do you trust me so much, love?" he questioned, trying to make his voice border on menacing. She could trust him, for now at least, but he made no guarantees about the next time they met. He was somewhat aware of his rather insane condition, in which familiar wolves he greeted with a smile one night could be hurt very badly in less than a week. He didn't really make the connection that it was him causing harm, nor would he later, but all he could think to do was protect this girl from any danger as he escorted her to the beach.

[nayeli]

Despite his hesitations, Satyr agreed to take her to the beach. A smile lit her features, and she followed him as soon as his green tinted tail flicked her side. The sun beat down upon the pair still, but as she walked she found the sand less bothersome; perhaps she was growing used to it, or perhaps she was simply enjoying thoughts of the beach still.

Already she enjoyed his company, although, he seemed a little off.

Not in a crazy manner, he just seemed different, even to someone who is a few fries short of a happy meal like Nayeli. Of course, anyone whose fur had such an unusual tint and whose head was graced by goat horns was certain to be an odd character. Then he spoke.

'Why do you trust me so much, love?' His words stopped her in midstride. Nayeli was a bit naive, and as such, quick to trust. However, having grown up in a pack, she had learned to trust everyone (she hadn't met any other wolves until her abandonment) because trust is how the pack worked. If you didn't trust that the other wolf would be there for you, then the pack dynamics fell apart.

"Umm...." She paused, unsure of what answer would be best. Unconsciously, Elly had taken the remainder of the step he had stopped her in and stood a few feet behind him, just looking at him, wondering. "You've given me no reason not to... should I not trust you?" What an idiot. Asking someone if you should trust them when their voice had just hinted at a meanicing answer. Her gut told her she could trust him, but experience and time where the best teachers.... what would they teach her today?

[Ƨatƴr.]

S A T Y R !!

The timber female certainly looked happy when he agreed to escort her to the watery packlands. He could not help but smile faintly at her own grin as she eagerly followed him. She reminded him so much of someone else from his past, though who she was escaped through the mists of his mind as he searched through it. Bubbly, sweet, and trusting. He lifted his eyes skyward thoughtfully, his tail ceasing in its slight swaying motion. He had the sudden urge to rear on his hind legs and scream into the clouds, to rend the sky in two with a howl.

Satyr was a little frightened of himself, the metal walls of his insanity closing in. His chest hurt, and though he knew he didn't want to be one to angst over that which he could not change, he wondered if his heart was broken. But no amount of wondering could really tell him why he felt this way. It was lost through the seasons. As he lowered his eyes again to stare at the path ahead, he suddenly realized he could not hear the girl. He turned to glance over his shoulder at her, as she stood in surprise at his question. He paused and looked at her. Nayeli stepped forward a little and said, "You've given me no reason not to... should I not trust you?"

His olive eyes softened at her innocence. For a moment, all he wanted to do was close the distance between them and bury his face in her fur, like a parent or big brother, and whisper that she had nothing to worry about. He let out a quiet sigh and walked over to her, though all he did was give her snout a little nudge with his, as if to tell her to cheer up. He met her odd eyes and replied sincerely, "I don't know, love. Right now, you don't need to be afraid. I will take you to your beach." He smiled in faint amusement. "I don't even know if I'll be able to see you again after that."

He offered a tiny shrug and turned his horned head toward their destination. Taking another deep inhale, he started walking again, and appeared more subdued than before, prone to mood changes as he was. To offset how unnerving he may have seemed earlier, he asked in perhaps to casual of a tone, "Have you been in a pack before?" He knew he had been, long ago, or maybe not so long ago. He wasn't sure.

[nayeli]

Satyr's words troubled her. Her main concern was that she wasn't sure of his meaning. All she could grasp from them is that their friendship seemed conditional, but that neither of them could control the conditions. This didn't make sense to her, but his comforting nose-to-nose nudge reassured her trust in him.Her tail wagged slightly, and she found herself relishing the touch of another wolf. Elly had been alone for so long, just the feeling that there was someone there removed a weight of loneliness from her shoulders.

Her paws carried her forward again, bringing her along side her companion. Questions. Good. She wanted to know more about him, and she was more than eager to share things about herself with him. "Yes... I've been in one. But my parents died and the others weren't very nice to me. They actually left me one day." In truth, her parents had faked their death (which wasn't hard since they were faking it to Nayeli) and abandoned her as well.

Time for questions about Satyr. "What about you? Have you ever had a pack? And why were you trying so hard to get that stick?" More over, she wanted to know how he gained his horns, why he was green, and why she might not be able to trust him in the future. Elly sensed it was more than that he might had ulterior male motives towards her. Not that she hadn't had her fair share of admirers and advances before. Thanks to her rock hard element she was able to fight off wolves stronger than herself, at least long enough to escape their devices.

[Ƨatƴr.]

S A T Y R !!

He wouldn't lie to himself; it felt really good when he saw her tail wag in response to his touch. The confused, frightened expression she had worn on her striped face before had faded back into a happier one. He smiled slightly, glad that he was in this mood now, as depressed and tormented it was. He could at least pretend to be happy, if quiet. As long as he didn't hurt Nayeli, he'd bear to be down in the dumps. He didn't want more blood on his name.

She scampered to his side as he asked the question, and answered it in a pretty straight-forward way. He was surprised she hadn't hesitated or spoken in a weakened tone as she explained to him that her parents had died, and the others abandoned her. The green wolf shook his head slightly at her, musing aloud, "I don't see any reason for them to leave you like that. You don't look like the type to cause serious trouble in a pack." He wondered why he'd said that. Was that why he wasn't among other wolves? His olive eyes trailed over her eager face. Someone might be annoyed at her bubbly and ditzy personality, but that was no reason for a pack to leave one of their blood.

Her voice started up instantly, asking him questions of her own. He pondered over how to answer and set his eyes forward. He troubled himself mostly with the first question, attempting to conjure up memories, and at least managed a few emotions here and there. Satyr smiled a little as he spoke. "I was in a pack far, far away from here. There, we were all warriors, smart and swift, blending in with the trees around us. My parents were the leaders." An epiphany hit him, and he continued a bit shakily. "I... I had a brother. He was younger, but he was to become heir. He disappeared - I left the pack and wound up here." He was missing a lot of details, unable to figure them out, but he hoped his explanation would suffice.

At her second question, Satyr laughed and winked at her. "It was taunting me."