[somba] I don't dream. [open]

[Maromi]

A brown muzzle rose to heaven. The clouds spotted it with their bright, bulky bodies, carefully drifting across the wide sky. It was like the ocean, seeing the waves break from beneath, and watching them somber away.
There was no sound that escaped her muzzle, just the gentle wisp of a breath, where her eyes settled to the earth above her. The grass about her black legs tickled her, teased her dark underbelly, as a wind kissed her hackles and flanks. Those emerald green eyes burned across the land with so much hatred, her chin raised in a superior way. She had no care for how the earth felt, how the wind felt, but a more social and kind hearted animal would note the calm winds that surrounded her. It was cool, yet sunny and bright outside, a blaring sign of life all around her. Something she hated, something she had no empathy for.
And off in the distance, she looked to the horizon, where slowly came a dark figure, and then a lighter one. Their sillouhette tempted across the crest of the hill, touched, then parted to spereate ways. She kept watching, suddenly aware, realizing who they were. Her tail, so still for so long, began to sway behind her, kicking up the grass, and thrilling a few locusts that fled from her back side.
"Father?" She barked, her tongue began to lull, and her eyes lit up in a rare emotion, "Mother?"
Her heart sank as they faded away in the distance, her black coated father not even looking back to her call, and her ivory coated mother doing the same. She felt horrible and abandoned. As they walked, her emotion of hatred and bitterness returned as a rustle came from the grass nearby, barking and snarling, as pups played a few feet away. She followed the sound and discovered the litter romping in a bare patch of dirt amongst the pretty wild flowers.

They immediately saw her, and barked a welcome to her, "HI!"
She lifted her lips, showed her fangs, and gave them a little growl.
"What's your name?" They asked, the four of them curious with their emerald green eyes.
"Somba..." She glared at them, but relaxed a bit, "And who are you?"
"We don't have names. We were killed before the Goddess could bless us..."

She woke up with a jolt, and stared around at the tall grass around her. What was that? She could hardly remember....

"I don't dream." She snarled with her fangs bared to the Goddess.

[ninja]

(( I admit, the nameless thing was kind of scary. ._.; ))

His travels had taken him far. But exactly how far?

Merango gave his rusty orange coat a shake as a dry breeze drifted over him. The breath of wind did little to cool him off, but it did make the unrelenting rays of the sun just a bit more bearable.

'It doesn't matter where you are or where you go.' he sternly told himself. 'Because you are never going back.'

Merango decided he liked it here. The wild, rolling grasses reminded him of the steppe-like savanna of his old home. It gave him a warm feeling, like he was roaming the lands of his puphood again.

Still, it would be nice to know where he was. Merango would likely be staying here for a while, for the prey was running well. During most of his life as a nomad, he had been hungry nearly 24/7, but since he'd meandered to these lands, he'd been able to find a nice meal every other night, sometimes more! Maybe no other wolves lived here...? No, that was absurd. Wolves were everywhere, even if they didn't form packs. He raised his snout to the sky, checking again for any traces of wolven scent; but even if there were others, the sweet aroma of the grasses drowned them out. A small sigh escaped from his jaws and he continued on.

It was nearly noon before Merango had decided to stop for a rest. Letting himself sink to the ground, the Maned Wolf checked again for a scent; and breathing into the wind, he almost thought he found one... But upon the next whiff, all he could smell was the overbearing grass again. He sighed, resting his head on his sooty black paws. Normally he would try and avoid any and all attention, but... Well, truth be told, he did not like the life of a loner. He hated it nearly as much as the crowded pack he had been born into. Solitude was fine with him, but for this long...?

Deciding it wouldn't hurt to check, Merango pushed himself to his feet. Those long, lanky limbs were excellent for this kind of terrain-- he could easily see over the grasses, no matter how tall. Still, he couldn't spot anything in particular but grass and dust... Swiping his tongue over his lips, Merango sat back on his haunches and threw his head back to howl.

It wasn't a joyous, cheerful sonata. It was lonely, longing, resounding across the plains and ringing far into the distance. It was the kind of howl that let others know he was here. When the last of the somber tones had died away, he perked his ears and listened for an answer.

[Maromi]

For a moment she'd imagined that long, lonely howl to be that of her parents, and envied their cry from afar. Within the twisted confines of her mind she felt so compelled to call back. She couldn't help but follow that instinct and threw her head back to answer with her own sad and drawn song. Like that of a gentle solo from a symphony, her voice remained distant even to her. Its echoes rumbled the lands and woke the wild life around her. Even the flowers seemed to react to the disturbance and turned in a breeze as it rushed through her coarse black fur.

But all soothed at the gentle face of her dark coated father, and her lightly plumed mother, gracefully teasing the crest of the hill, and dropping from it together to shower their favorite daughter with their affection. She kept her burning green eyes upon the horizon from which the howl summoned, and waited patiently for the familiar form and the feeling of love to welcome her and sooth her uneasy mind.

A shower of guilt slowly crossed her and a once raised tail (up and ready to brush from side to side with happiness) sank below her haunches. There was an uneasy flicker that shifted across her muscles, shook through her fur, and then a gentle sigh that escaped her slighly gaped mouth.

Her parents would never forgive her for the death she brought upon her family. She remembered her mother weeping over her nameless children, and her father licking his mates face to soothe her depressed muzzle. There was no love for her anymore. No gentle warmth. She'd washed her paws in her own families blood. The worst of sins when it came to moral and good standard. Why didn't that matter to her at the time? She certainly felt hurt by it now. It must've been the forgotten dream, had only moments before, the howl stirring up some subconcious emotion that followed her until those feelings were swept away with her cleanly soul...

[ninja]

There it was. A returning howl! Rolling across the wide moors like a brewing storm, hammering its way into his eardrums. Yet somehow, it seemed... Depressed. Miserable. Like its voicer was yearning for something lost. Either way, this wolf was close.

Merango broke into a trot toward the source of the howl, a new sense of determination gleaming in his eyes. Perhaps she would be able to enlighten him on their location, maybe know of a place to den in safety... She, because he was quite certain the wolf was female-- the almost musical tone to the howl was like that of a femme. His paws flew down the gently rolling hills, making hardly a sound in the grasses he knew so well. Yes, he was definitely a prairie wolf at heart. His lanky limbs would never be comfortable scaling bitterly cold mountains, or sinking into sands that were hot on his pads; nor would he ever be comfortable under a thick canopy of trees. He lifted his head just a bit higher, eyes searching and sifting through row upon row of yellow-green grass. Slightly opening his jaws, he scented the area over again; yes, there was definitely the distinct odor of a Grey, undoubtedly female. Now he was very near. Slowing his pace to a calm walk, his eyes blazed ahead to find his guest.

He fell still a few tail-lengths away. By now she would have heard his approach, if not scented him. So as not to startle the black and brown femme, he lowered his head and hunched his shoulders so as not to seem to... Towering, as the Maned Wolf breed seemed to loom over several of the smaller ones. Merango's rusty red-orange fur would easily blend in with the grasses, so this would make his black 'socks' stand out, almost as if he'd been burned from the paw up to the joint on his legs. It was then that he realized how strange he must look to this Grey-- his breed was exotic, and definitely not the kind of thing you would see so far from his homelands. Merango opened his jaws to say something, but... Suddenly he was at a loss of what to say. Curse his awkwardness in conversation!

'Well,' he thought, gold eyes scanning over this wolf, 'wait to see what she says. If she's friendly, go from there. Hostile...? Run.'

[Maromi]

How queer. This wolf was so much different than herself. His body was long and thin, taller, and his neck seemed to melt into his spine. Her ears flickered, struck by the strangeness of this creature. But that howl, it was so lupine is shook her. It depressed her to see that this creature was not of blood relation, but she supposed it was okay, seeing as her parents would probably meet her with fangs.

He came as a blaring sign of orange and red, his darkened mitts taller than that of the grass, and his radar dish ears sitting atop his head as he walked. He came to her as no wolf had ever approached her and she patiently waited for him to near closer.

Nervously she turned her side at him, ready to strike if truely necessary. She couldn't find herself attacking this god-like creature, his fur the color of fire and burning stones...In fact, his strange appearance made her feel inferior. Her tail slowly tucked itself close to her belly and she let out an uneasy whimper.

"Hello?" She barked, feeling as though there was an unecessary silence about them, "What are you?"

[ninja]

This wolf seemed younger than him, maybe a year or so. Yet, even being a Grey, she was considerably smaller than him; the combination of her youth and his largeness made quite a difference.

She had waited calmly for him to approach, which in turn made him feel at ease. She was not the kind of wolf to attack without reason, or run away at the first sign of movement. But then, as they sized each other up, she seemed to tense. Her muscles flexed under her inky fur as she turned her side to him, ready to strike-- or run, for that matter. That too was admirable, for no wolf could ever be too cautious, especially without the safety of a pack. But then she made a move that rather surprised him; her tail wrapped around her paws, and she let out a soft whimper. Like a pup would act to its Alpha, she seemed uneasy. He bowed his head even lower, eyes burning with embarrassment.

And then she asked him: What are you?

What a strange thing to wonder! Of course he was a wolf, just like her. True, he had come a long way... But that was no reason to judge someone like that! Still... What if he was the only Maned Wolf for moons? He shuddered at the thought. It was like he was an alien on these lands.

"I'm no different than you." he growled in reply, cocking his head to the wind. "My name is Merango," he added in courtesy. "Would you... Happen to know where we are?"

[Maromi]

She felt so compelled to touch his coat with her nose, to scent him, and to see if his fur burned like the heart of coals. She was so transfixed on his beautiful coloring, herself so simple compared to he. Her dark, shadowy coat quivered and she pranced her paws beneath her chest, where it moved with her gentle and rythemetic breathing.

"Your howl suggests it." She replied, her ears flicking back, apologizing to the god, "I've never crossed an animal of such striking marks. Your sire must've been a fire lord."
She had said with a tone of question, and yet had the infliction to her voice that suggested she was in awe. He was handsome for his coat, despite the difference.

She bowed her head when he gave her his name, and mouthed the words slowly.
"It's so nice to meet you," She muttered, "I am Somba."

((A little shorter than I hoped. Forgive me. A tad bit busy.))

[ninja]

Merango had to admit, she looked rather strange as well. He'd never seen a wolf with such a long, beautiful black-and-chestnut coat, or a sturdy, muscular frame like hers; though he knew such wolves must exist. It was only common sense! She even spoke with a bit of an accent- but, of course, the femme likely thought the same about him.
'It just goes to show you,' he told himself, giving his shoulder a quick lick, 'wolves will differ from region to region.'

"Somba..." he repeated, trying out the name softly on his breath. It reminded him of a dance Even what expecting parents decided to call their pups was so different than in his homelands! Still, he had to admit it had a nice ring to it. Short, yet intricate; it said a lot about the wolf who went by it.

"I must ask again," he continued, a bit embarrassed by her assumption that he was a wolf of element like those told of in tales, "would you be able to enlighten me on our present location? I have traveled far," he admitted, "and my paws are weary. The necessity to hunt is unrelenting; I would be grateful if you knew of a safe place to den...?"

It was a feeble thing to hope for, yet he had to try. Somba would likely be wary of trusting him with such knowledge- and he couldn't blame her, for they had only just met- but the simple need to sleep couldn't be overlooked. He would feel much safer in at least an old fox den than out in the open, where more hostile nomads could roam...

[Maromi]

She shook her head solemnly, looking up and down from the ground to his dashing face. She felt sad at the fact she couldn't provide an answer nor a den...Or even a snack for that matter. She herself hadn't eaten any time recent, nor slept in the comfort of a den. SHe'd pleased herself on grasshoppers and resting in a half-doze in the open.

"I apologize." She was still struck, her green eyes wide and questioning, almost upset that he would leave her soon, "I don't know where we are. I think something about foxes...But that's all that I can remember. I haven't seen any food since i've come, nor any dens or caves. There must be an underground den somewhere about, if this is the home of foxes..."

Oh dear...She was caught rambling. The end of her episode droned off with some stumbled mumbles, and she turned her head away, embarrassed. She had just as much knowledge about the treading than he did.

There was a strange quiver that shook up her spine and her black nails stretched as she imagined a tingling wind jostle her fur. She couldn't help but give a queer shake, whether it was for a real reason or not.

And then her lips couldn't help but move, "I'm sure, if you'd like, I could help you take down a meal."

[ninja]

Merango released a small sigh.

"I suppose it can't be helped." he murmured, defeated. It seemed they were in the same boat. But, that was true- if this land was indeed named after foxes, there should be some sort of underground den or tunneling. With such tall, thick grasses, it would likely be hidden well, but two noses are better than one; especially with the distinct scent of fox.

His soulful yellow eyes glistened with pity as Somba described her desperation upon coming to this land. He himself found it to his liking and, with prior knowledge of prairie hunting, he'd been able to experience quite an abundance of prey.

He'd been so deep in thought he nearly missed the femme shiver for no apparent reason... It definitely wasn't cold- in fact, he was practically roasting in his own light coat! Was it something he'd said? But Merango simply shrugged it off.

When she offered to help him hunt, he couldn't help but laugh. It was gruff and wolfish, of course, but more or less friendly.

"You say you haven't enjoyed a good meal since arrival here, yet you offer to help me find one. Perhaps I should be the one offering you my help!" he teased, baring his fangs in a canine grin. However, in moments, he returned to his original serious state.

"Perhaps it would be in both our best interests to form a... Temporary alliance," he suggested, tail-tip slightly swishing hopefully against the dusty ground. "With our combined efforts, I'm sure we would be able to find a proper den... And a little prey."