Birds chirped in the branches all around. Wind made its presence audible in and around the trees. The 일 was very mild, and very bright. A scent of moisture carried through the breeze brought the impression of an approaching autumn. Before too long, that presence would be visible as well as felt in the changing of colors. A woodsy scent would take hold of the world as leaves were shed from the treetops. The kind of smell that could be amplified 의해 crackling a leaf beneath your paws to release a potent smell of musty earth. It was beautiful in every sense 당신 could view it with.
The morning had passed 의해 now, the cold turning to cool, the breeze sweeping away the foggy dew that the night drizzled through the area.
Eight hadn't stirred all evening. From the time his eyes closed he did nothing but dream. He thought, like so many other times, of his family. He longed to be 집 even in his sleep. Their faces were brought back to him in dreams, as real as they ever were. These visions carried on conversation as though they knew he was apart from them. They would ask how he was and inquire about his dealings with several instances of his travels. He gladly obliged them as they laughed and spoke on many subjects.
A certain crackling sound rang through Eight's mind, making dark close in. His family waved goodbye to him as he stood to try to take a step toward them. He didn't want them to leave. His Mother and Father gave him a few parting words to ease his anxiety just as his eyes opened to take in an alien landscape.
He took his time getting up, shaking out, remembering where he was and the past 일 of travel but most of all his family visit. He scratched below his neck with a paw before standing and shaking again and stepping 앞으로 into the light of the day.
He felt better today than he could remember after a long sleep. The small dugout was indeed very comfortable.
He stood around for a moment, gaining his bearings. This terrain seemed much different in the light of a new day. He could see everything now, and very easily too.
There wasn't much time to take in the scenery on this morning, off to his right, toward the side of the mountain base and out of the woods came a familiar crackling sound. He watched the 나무, 트리 line as he walked in that direction. Before long he spotted who he imagined would be there. Deogee was headed his direction.
Eight picked up his pace to a trot to meet the old 늑대 who had stopped short when he took notice of the distance being closed between them.
"Good morning, there, Eight!" Deogee called out to him.
"Mornin'." Eight greeted him as they both took direction and began to walk, Eight a few paces to the side and back, in order to take Deogee's lead.
"I hope 당신 slept well?" The 스타우트 늑대 asked back to Eight who was trailing him only a head length. He trotted to the side of Deogee, keeping his head just in length with the old wolf's shoulder so he could follow and keep conversation.
"Yessir, it was quite comfortable, thanks." Came Eight's reply.
"Well, it looks to be a big 일 for you, son. I called a 굴, 덴 meeting early today, and the pack has collectively decided to meet 당신 before their decision was made." Deogee explained, preparing the younger wolf. "There won't be a thing to it, though. Just be yourself like 당신 were last night and 당신 should be just fine. I'm sure the bulk of them have already made their choice anyhow." He explained further.
Eight nodded and answered with a sigh,
"Well. Lets hope for the best, huh?"
"Nothing to it, my boy. Nothing to it."
A while longer of walking and they began to travel a trail up the mountain. If he had looked the night before, Eight never would have found it. It was obscured 의해 boulders, though easily accessible. One could only find it, if they knew where too look.
The pair traveled in silence up and through a 울퉁불퉁 한 바위, 바위가 많은 곳, 바위 in the mountain and around a thin trail on the other side, all the while heading up. About the time they got to, what Eight imagined to be half way, the mountain opened up into a very large mouth, built over thousands of years 의해 winds and rains and sands. The platform was huge, his first reaction was awe. His 초 was to wonder just how large this pack was.
The platform opened out to the world, almost as though someone had taken a bit off the side of the mountain. The flat of it stretched farther than the opening and overhang making a perfect place to look over the land below 또는 even just sit in the sun.
늑대 all sat, their attention immediately turned to him. Everyone who wasn't taking care of a duty, even the pups were getting their first eye full of the newcomer from far South. A few whispers in the back seemed to trail 앞으로 through the crowd as each of them had some observation to relay to one another.
Eight could feel his 심장 with every step he took. Their eyes peering made him quite nervous, he found his head dragging a little low and tried his best to keep it high and confident, though, every so often, he would catch it down lower again.
He followed Deogee to the edge of the platform. Deogee faced in, and so did Eight. And when he sat, Eight was quick to follow suit.
Deogee spoke to them, their ears intent and their eyes trained,
"Ladies and Gentlemen, as you're aware, this meeting of the Clan has been held to determine whether 또는 not an outsider, known as Eight, may be allowed to stay on the Clan's land. This is an invitation I have opened to Eight here, and it is up to your consideration as a pack to decide to accommodated him, 또는 send him on his way."
The old 늑대 spoke to them, his voice echoing into the far reach of the very large outcropped cave mouth and they listened. Some faces shifting and twitching with expression as they mulled over what he said.
"With that, I will leave it to you." The pack leader stood from his sitting position and smiled down at Eight before taking his leave from his side to sit on the side of the rest of the pack.
A 늑대 stepped forward. Rather large as well. His 코트 was as pitch black as night itself, and body carried an intimidating aura about it, though, when Eight looked to meet his eyes, they countered that intimidation immediately.
"Eight, I am glad to meet you." he spoke, an incredibly deep voice. "My name is Otto. My role here includes a few duties that are key to the survival of the pack. I am the Huntmaster here, first and foremost. I also train the young ones who enroll in Alpha School." Other 늑대 looked on as he spoke and Eight gave him his full attention as he stood before him. Otto continued, "I feel that it is my duty to ask, for the clan, firstly, your pack role. If 당신 stay here, 당신 must comply with out laws and rules, and help just as any other member of the pack. For that, we need to understand where your strengths lie."
Eight thought very briefly about what he might mean 의해 'pack role'. He cleared his throat and gave his answer,
"Back home," He started, uncertain what his answer would bring, "There were ten of us in my family. We had to rely on each other to learn and do the same as the others could. I'm afraid that my 'Pack Role' can't be limited in a limited sense."
Otto looked at him, he didn't seem puzzled,
"Please explain further." He requested.
"Well, in such a small 'pack', if 당신 could call it that," Eight explained, "Every member learned the same as the next. Hunting, gathering, outside relations, security... Each of us, at one point, have known almost each responsibility that any pack has."
Otto looked over to Deogee for a brief moment, who gave no response, then back to Eight. Some 늑대 in the back whispered among themselves briefly.
"So, then your status as an Alpha, Beta, Delta 또는 Omega..." The black 늑대 led Eight into another explanation and Eight obliged.
"I don't suppose I have no status. In such a small family, not only would there be no reason to separate responsibilities, we didn't have the pack power to. It was impractical. However, I can fill the responsibilities of any roll and typically I found myself on patrol duty either 일 또는 night and hunts." He finished, glancing around the cave, noticing a few nods, though uncertain whether they were nods of acceptance 또는 understanding.
The black 늑대 breathed in heavily, taking in all of the information laid out before him. He considered for a moment.
"Thank you, Eight, for your time. I'll now turn the floor over to another." He said as he stepped over to sit beside Deogee, who, 의해 this comparison looked significantly smaller.
A smaller 늑대 stepped up, she had a thick 코트 covered with very light grey fur. She stood before Eight and greeted him.
"Hello, Eight."
"Good morning, ma'am." He responded.
"I am called Dusk." She spoke with the same confidence in her voice that the others he met seemed to, very straight forward.
"My responsibilities here include watching over much of the younger members of the pack, including the pups in the den. I mention this so that you'll understand my full meaning when I tell 당신 that we are a very large pack. We have enough young who need tending to who cannot yet attribute anything to the pack in their own way. 당신 can imagine the strain on our hunters most of the time."
Eight nodded in understanding and she continued, turning her side to him just a little, her light 코트 reflecting the light from the sun..
"I would like little 더 많이 than your word to me and the rest of your den, that your time here will not be a drain on our resources. I want 당신 to be aware that if 당신 are to stay here for any length of time, 당신 may have any number of responsibilities, just as any member of our clan does. Outsider 또는 otherwise. And since 당신 seem to be a... Jack of all Trades... I stress that there may be any number of pack roles 당신 may fill from 일 to day."
"Yes Ma'am, I understand." He answered with no hesitation of silence, no hesitation in his voice, even his 심장 and mind were keen on making his 다음 point abundantly clear.
"I can see how 당신 would need every able bodied 늑대 to pull their part, and even more, if they needed to. One thing I've learned from my own family is that every pack is a family, Kin 또는 not, and as such, they should be willing to give everything they can and 더 많이 for the betterment of the clan. I give 당신 my word, that my intent is to carry out that ideal, for your clan 또는 any other."
With that, she looked at him, her eyes gleaming from his answer. 당신 could tell 의해 her expression that she was very pleased with what she heard. She smiled and thanked Eight before moving to the other two to Eights left on the outcropping.
Little time passed before another 늑대 passed in front. His walk was stout, his muscles seemed to pop and bulge as he walked. This 늑대 seemed as though he could withstand a gale-force hurricane as easily as any mountain. He looked very plain. His course 모피 a dark brown color, similar to Eight's coat.
"My name is Benjamin." He said with a haggard voice, almost scratchy. He spoke in short sentences, very to the point. Clearly a no-nonsense wolf.
"I am the lead hunter just below Otto. If we place 당신 in a hunt pack 당신 will be under my watchful eyes." Benjamin sounded like a drill instructor. He did not request, he did not tell, he instructed. Commanded with each word from his mouth.
"But before we place 당신 under my care, I want to be personally informed of your capabilities as a Hunter. For starters, what's the main prey that 당신 and your pack would hunt?"
"Deer, sir."
"Deer?" Benjamin rebutted.
"Yes sir." Eight said.
"Deer are small. Weak. Easy Kills. I hope you're not trying to impress me, son."
"No sir." Eight replied. "Deer are small and weak. But they are fast and agile. In my experience they are in no way an easy kill, sir." Eight stated plainly and respectfully. Benjamin cracked a smile as he looked to the others before him and returned to Eight.
"What is the most dangerous prey you've ever had to take down?"
Eight answered as quickly and straight 앞으로 as his 질문 came, hoping to impress Benjamin.
"Javelina, sir. Feral hogs. They can weigh up to 500 pounds and if 당신 don't know how to deal with them, their tusks would make short work of you. Though in the way of 동물 not prey, we have had run ins with Cougar."
Benjamin seemed impressed enough 의해 this. Perhaps Eight surpassed his expectations, though, to look at him, his expectations seemed like they would be at a constant high mark.
"One further 질문 for you, Eight. In your pack, while hunting, what was your typical role?"
"Support, Sir." Eight replied rapidly, "My role, 더 많이 often than not was to keep the prey contained in a certain area. To break a beast from the herd and make sure it went where we need it it to be, although, if the opportunity were to present itself, it was always expected to take the prey yourself if we knew we could."
Benjamin nodded and silently walked to take his place with the others.
As he left, a much smaller 늑대 came to take his place in front of Eight.
He had light tan fur, and was at least half eight's size. At first glance, he didn't seem like much, but Eight always new better about assumptions.
"Eight, My name is Jayne. I'm pleased to have this opportunity." He stated. Jayne was a funny name, but who was Eight to judge a name, after all?
"A pleasure, Jayne." Eight replied.
"From what I've seen, 당신 are quite the well mannered wolf. Thats where my role lies. I head up territorial patrols as well as relations with other packs and creatures in the area." He stated very eloquently. There was no doubt that he would be the person for that job.
"I don't have much to ask you, as the rest have been answered 의해 watching your interactions with the other members. However, my role is to ask 당신 preliminary 질문 and judge your character based on your answers. I suppose all I can ask about would be your experience in night time patrols. Anyone can walk around in broad daylight, but it takes a special sense of both the world around you, and your place in your immediate area to be like the shadows. To be unseen but have an account of every last needle of pine in a 20 yard radius is a honed skill. Lets say you're on a stationary position in the forest one night, 당신 hear a disturbance behind you. How do 당신 act?"
Eight thought for a moment, remembering what his father had taught him and answered,
"Test the air. Determine who 또는 what is behind you. Listen for further disturbances to determine the intent of the unknown body."
"Its a cougar. Its intent uncertain." Came the 다음 rapid 불, 화재 piece of the situation.
"Sound off, alert the area. Then face the predator."
"Not predator. You're uncertain of its intent." Jayne stated. "But thats a fine start. Thank 당신 Eight, 당신 did very well."
Jayne turned and headed toward the others.
Deogee stood and spoke. We will each now confer with one another, our thoughts. Afterward, the rest of the pack may state their peace. Eight, if 당신 would please wait at the base of the trail."
With that, Eight nodded, thanked each member and headed down the trail to the base of the mountain.
His head swam with possibility and he couldn't help but think and ponder every outcome.
All there was left now was to wait.
The morning had passed 의해 now, the cold turning to cool, the breeze sweeping away the foggy dew that the night drizzled through the area.
Eight hadn't stirred all evening. From the time his eyes closed he did nothing but dream. He thought, like so many other times, of his family. He longed to be 집 even in his sleep. Their faces were brought back to him in dreams, as real as they ever were. These visions carried on conversation as though they knew he was apart from them. They would ask how he was and inquire about his dealings with several instances of his travels. He gladly obliged them as they laughed and spoke on many subjects.
A certain crackling sound rang through Eight's mind, making dark close in. His family waved goodbye to him as he stood to try to take a step toward them. He didn't want them to leave. His Mother and Father gave him a few parting words to ease his anxiety just as his eyes opened to take in an alien landscape.
He took his time getting up, shaking out, remembering where he was and the past 일 of travel but most of all his family visit. He scratched below his neck with a paw before standing and shaking again and stepping 앞으로 into the light of the day.
He felt better today than he could remember after a long sleep. The small dugout was indeed very comfortable.
He stood around for a moment, gaining his bearings. This terrain seemed much different in the light of a new day. He could see everything now, and very easily too.
There wasn't much time to take in the scenery on this morning, off to his right, toward the side of the mountain base and out of the woods came a familiar crackling sound. He watched the 나무, 트리 line as he walked in that direction. Before long he spotted who he imagined would be there. Deogee was headed his direction.
Eight picked up his pace to a trot to meet the old 늑대 who had stopped short when he took notice of the distance being closed between them.
"Good morning, there, Eight!" Deogee called out to him.
"Mornin'." Eight greeted him as they both took direction and began to walk, Eight a few paces to the side and back, in order to take Deogee's lead.
"I hope 당신 slept well?" The 스타우트 늑대 asked back to Eight who was trailing him only a head length. He trotted to the side of Deogee, keeping his head just in length with the old wolf's shoulder so he could follow and keep conversation.
"Yessir, it was quite comfortable, thanks." Came Eight's reply.
"Well, it looks to be a big 일 for you, son. I called a 굴, 덴 meeting early today, and the pack has collectively decided to meet 당신 before their decision was made." Deogee explained, preparing the younger wolf. "There won't be a thing to it, though. Just be yourself like 당신 were last night and 당신 should be just fine. I'm sure the bulk of them have already made their choice anyhow." He explained further.
Eight nodded and answered with a sigh,
"Well. Lets hope for the best, huh?"
"Nothing to it, my boy. Nothing to it."
A while longer of walking and they began to travel a trail up the mountain. If he had looked the night before, Eight never would have found it. It was obscured 의해 boulders, though easily accessible. One could only find it, if they knew where too look.
The pair traveled in silence up and through a 울퉁불퉁 한 바위, 바위가 많은 곳, 바위 in the mountain and around a thin trail on the other side, all the while heading up. About the time they got to, what Eight imagined to be half way, the mountain opened up into a very large mouth, built over thousands of years 의해 winds and rains and sands. The platform was huge, his first reaction was awe. His 초 was to wonder just how large this pack was.
The platform opened out to the world, almost as though someone had taken a bit off the side of the mountain. The flat of it stretched farther than the opening and overhang making a perfect place to look over the land below 또는 even just sit in the sun.
늑대 all sat, their attention immediately turned to him. Everyone who wasn't taking care of a duty, even the pups were getting their first eye full of the newcomer from far South. A few whispers in the back seemed to trail 앞으로 through the crowd as each of them had some observation to relay to one another.
Eight could feel his 심장 with every step he took. Their eyes peering made him quite nervous, he found his head dragging a little low and tried his best to keep it high and confident, though, every so often, he would catch it down lower again.
He followed Deogee to the edge of the platform. Deogee faced in, and so did Eight. And when he sat, Eight was quick to follow suit.
Deogee spoke to them, their ears intent and their eyes trained,
"Ladies and Gentlemen, as you're aware, this meeting of the Clan has been held to determine whether 또는 not an outsider, known as Eight, may be allowed to stay on the Clan's land. This is an invitation I have opened to Eight here, and it is up to your consideration as a pack to decide to accommodated him, 또는 send him on his way."
The old 늑대 spoke to them, his voice echoing into the far reach of the very large outcropped cave mouth and they listened. Some faces shifting and twitching with expression as they mulled over what he said.
"With that, I will leave it to you." The pack leader stood from his sitting position and smiled down at Eight before taking his leave from his side to sit on the side of the rest of the pack.
A 늑대 stepped forward. Rather large as well. His 코트 was as pitch black as night itself, and body carried an intimidating aura about it, though, when Eight looked to meet his eyes, they countered that intimidation immediately.
"Eight, I am glad to meet you." he spoke, an incredibly deep voice. "My name is Otto. My role here includes a few duties that are key to the survival of the pack. I am the Huntmaster here, first and foremost. I also train the young ones who enroll in Alpha School." Other 늑대 looked on as he spoke and Eight gave him his full attention as he stood before him. Otto continued, "I feel that it is my duty to ask, for the clan, firstly, your pack role. If 당신 stay here, 당신 must comply with out laws and rules, and help just as any other member of the pack. For that, we need to understand where your strengths lie."
Eight thought very briefly about what he might mean 의해 'pack role'. He cleared his throat and gave his answer,
"Back home," He started, uncertain what his answer would bring, "There were ten of us in my family. We had to rely on each other to learn and do the same as the others could. I'm afraid that my 'Pack Role' can't be limited in a limited sense."
Otto looked at him, he didn't seem puzzled,
"Please explain further." He requested.
"Well, in such a small 'pack', if 당신 could call it that," Eight explained, "Every member learned the same as the next. Hunting, gathering, outside relations, security... Each of us, at one point, have known almost each responsibility that any pack has."
Otto looked over to Deogee for a brief moment, who gave no response, then back to Eight. Some 늑대 in the back whispered among themselves briefly.
"So, then your status as an Alpha, Beta, Delta 또는 Omega..." The black 늑대 led Eight into another explanation and Eight obliged.
"I don't suppose I have no status. In such a small family, not only would there be no reason to separate responsibilities, we didn't have the pack power to. It was impractical. However, I can fill the responsibilities of any roll and typically I found myself on patrol duty either 일 또는 night and hunts." He finished, glancing around the cave, noticing a few nods, though uncertain whether they were nods of acceptance 또는 understanding.
The black 늑대 breathed in heavily, taking in all of the information laid out before him. He considered for a moment.
"Thank you, Eight, for your time. I'll now turn the floor over to another." He said as he stepped over to sit beside Deogee, who, 의해 this comparison looked significantly smaller.
A smaller 늑대 stepped up, she had a thick 코트 covered with very light grey fur. She stood before Eight and greeted him.
"Hello, Eight."
"Good morning, ma'am." He responded.
"I am called Dusk." She spoke with the same confidence in her voice that the others he met seemed to, very straight forward.
"My responsibilities here include watching over much of the younger members of the pack, including the pups in the den. I mention this so that you'll understand my full meaning when I tell 당신 that we are a very large pack. We have enough young who need tending to who cannot yet attribute anything to the pack in their own way. 당신 can imagine the strain on our hunters most of the time."
Eight nodded in understanding and she continued, turning her side to him just a little, her light 코트 reflecting the light from the sun..
"I would like little 더 많이 than your word to me and the rest of your den, that your time here will not be a drain on our resources. I want 당신 to be aware that if 당신 are to stay here for any length of time, 당신 may have any number of responsibilities, just as any member of our clan does. Outsider 또는 otherwise. And since 당신 seem to be a... Jack of all Trades... I stress that there may be any number of pack roles 당신 may fill from 일 to day."
"Yes Ma'am, I understand." He answered with no hesitation of silence, no hesitation in his voice, even his 심장 and mind were keen on making his 다음 point abundantly clear.
"I can see how 당신 would need every able bodied 늑대 to pull their part, and even more, if they needed to. One thing I've learned from my own family is that every pack is a family, Kin 또는 not, and as such, they should be willing to give everything they can and 더 많이 for the betterment of the clan. I give 당신 my word, that my intent is to carry out that ideal, for your clan 또는 any other."
With that, she looked at him, her eyes gleaming from his answer. 당신 could tell 의해 her expression that she was very pleased with what she heard. She smiled and thanked Eight before moving to the other two to Eights left on the outcropping.
Little time passed before another 늑대 passed in front. His walk was stout, his muscles seemed to pop and bulge as he walked. This 늑대 seemed as though he could withstand a gale-force hurricane as easily as any mountain. He looked very plain. His course 모피 a dark brown color, similar to Eight's coat.
"My name is Benjamin." He said with a haggard voice, almost scratchy. He spoke in short sentences, very to the point. Clearly a no-nonsense wolf.
"I am the lead hunter just below Otto. If we place 당신 in a hunt pack 당신 will be under my watchful eyes." Benjamin sounded like a drill instructor. He did not request, he did not tell, he instructed. Commanded with each word from his mouth.
"But before we place 당신 under my care, I want to be personally informed of your capabilities as a Hunter. For starters, what's the main prey that 당신 and your pack would hunt?"
"Deer, sir."
"Deer?" Benjamin rebutted.
"Yes sir." Eight said.
"Deer are small. Weak. Easy Kills. I hope you're not trying to impress me, son."
"No sir." Eight replied. "Deer are small and weak. But they are fast and agile. In my experience they are in no way an easy kill, sir." Eight stated plainly and respectfully. Benjamin cracked a smile as he looked to the others before him and returned to Eight.
"What is the most dangerous prey you've ever had to take down?"
Eight answered as quickly and straight 앞으로 as his 질문 came, hoping to impress Benjamin.
"Javelina, sir. Feral hogs. They can weigh up to 500 pounds and if 당신 don't know how to deal with them, their tusks would make short work of you. Though in the way of 동물 not prey, we have had run ins with Cougar."
Benjamin seemed impressed enough 의해 this. Perhaps Eight surpassed his expectations, though, to look at him, his expectations seemed like they would be at a constant high mark.
"One further 질문 for you, Eight. In your pack, while hunting, what was your typical role?"
"Support, Sir." Eight replied rapidly, "My role, 더 많이 often than not was to keep the prey contained in a certain area. To break a beast from the herd and make sure it went where we need it it to be, although, if the opportunity were to present itself, it was always expected to take the prey yourself if we knew we could."
Benjamin nodded and silently walked to take his place with the others.
As he left, a much smaller 늑대 came to take his place in front of Eight.
He had light tan fur, and was at least half eight's size. At first glance, he didn't seem like much, but Eight always new better about assumptions.
"Eight, My name is Jayne. I'm pleased to have this opportunity." He stated. Jayne was a funny name, but who was Eight to judge a name, after all?
"A pleasure, Jayne." Eight replied.
"From what I've seen, 당신 are quite the well mannered wolf. Thats where my role lies. I head up territorial patrols as well as relations with other packs and creatures in the area." He stated very eloquently. There was no doubt that he would be the person for that job.
"I don't have much to ask you, as the rest have been answered 의해 watching your interactions with the other members. However, my role is to ask 당신 preliminary 질문 and judge your character based on your answers. I suppose all I can ask about would be your experience in night time patrols. Anyone can walk around in broad daylight, but it takes a special sense of both the world around you, and your place in your immediate area to be like the shadows. To be unseen but have an account of every last needle of pine in a 20 yard radius is a honed skill. Lets say you're on a stationary position in the forest one night, 당신 hear a disturbance behind you. How do 당신 act?"
Eight thought for a moment, remembering what his father had taught him and answered,
"Test the air. Determine who 또는 what is behind you. Listen for further disturbances to determine the intent of the unknown body."
"Its a cougar. Its intent uncertain." Came the 다음 rapid 불, 화재 piece of the situation.
"Sound off, alert the area. Then face the predator."
"Not predator. You're uncertain of its intent." Jayne stated. "But thats a fine start. Thank 당신 Eight, 당신 did very well."
Jayne turned and headed toward the others.
Deogee stood and spoke. We will each now confer with one another, our thoughts. Afterward, the rest of the pack may state their peace. Eight, if 당신 would please wait at the base of the trail."
With that, Eight nodded, thanked each member and headed down the trail to the base of the mountain.
His head swam with possibility and he couldn't help but think and ponder every outcome.
All there was left now was to wait.