Darkening Sky Pack & The Spirits of the Dawn Rp

This is a post where Nyx and I will be doing an Rp between our to wolvden packs.

Frost Dawn stood regally in front of her den, ears pricked. She had just listened to her scout, Foxfire, about the scent of another pack. Her fur bristled at the thought. Barking to summon her second-in-command, Silverlight, she quickly groomed herself.

Silverlight emerged from his den, alert and well-groomed. Bowing his head before Frost Dawn, he looked up at her. "Foxfire's told me of another pack on our territory." She watched as Silverlight's ghostly white eyes began to burn with a harsh light. "Maybe a neighboring pack. But I called you to watch the camp while I go and check out the area Foxfire told me." Silverlight looked as if he wanted to protest, but he dipped his head in acknowledgement.

Brushing back him, she sprinted out of camp, muscles pulsing under her tawny fur. She could taste the moisture in the air as drops clung to her pelt. She shook them off impatiently and leapt over a trickling stream, not wanting to get her paws wet.

She soon arrived at the border Foxfire had instructed and cautiously began to sniff it. Her keen senses picked out an unknown scent, trailing deep into the other side of the border. Frost Dawn's eyes narrowed. There was the scent of another pack, indeed, but the moisture of the air had washed it away, at least most of it. She wouldn't be able to trail it.

Skipping Stone began to think no wolf would ever come to the border as sun-passes seemed to go by, and as time passed, Skipping Stone became increasingly more uncomfortable in the small bush. Branches poking her anytime she suddenly moved, the heat radiating from her own body becoming tapped inside the bush making it exceptionally stuffy, that's not even mentioning her damp fur covered in cold mud. She was about to give up on this whole stakeout when she heard the rustling of movement. Her mind suddenly racing Skipping Stone refocused herself on the task at paw and poked her nose out of the bush. The smell of another wolf almost flooded her. Now that she knew another wolf, a possible pack wolf, was present, she leaped out of the bush.

Skipping Stone didn't realize how much force she put into her leap until she began to slide across the muddy ground. She didn't let this miscalculation stop her as she pulled back her jaws into a low growl, "So your the wolf my scouts smelt on the border? Or was it a couple of your own scouts?" Despite her bold entrance and calm tone Skipping Stone was slightly panicking inside. Praying to Temperate that this she-wolf was just another loner drifting between territories. 
Lowering her head Skipping Stone began to circle the other wolf out of instinct. Stopping herself moments after. She didn't want to come off too threatening and start a fight... well she kinda did. Either way, She stopped circling the other wolf and raised her head up. Losing the snarl on her face too. "Your not here for trouble, right?" Skipping Stone was tempted to tell her about her pack but resisted. It might be best to learn a bit more about this other wolf before she gave out any of her own information.

Holy Shades. Frost Dawn nearly jumped a foot when the female wolf skidded out of the brush, pelt smeared with mud. Frost Dawn watched with wide eyes as the female growled something about her scouts being on their territory... but that wasn't right. Foxfire had said there were wolves on the pack territory, not that they were on enemy territory...

A growl built in Frost Dawn's throat. "We haven't been in your territory," She said, fighting to keep calm. Her whole body was tense, but she tried to be diplomatic. "But my scouts tell me they've scented other packs on our territory. Are you sure it wasn't you?"

Frost Dawn's ear twitched curiously as the female began circling her but stopped almost immediately. "I'm not here for trouble," Frost Dawn said. "I just wanted to see what Foxfire-my scout-was talking about. He reported other pack scents on our territory."

The fur on the back of Skipping Stone's neck bristled. Her scouts never crossed the border into the pines. She clearly laid out exactly where her wolves could and couldn't go, and the pine is a place no Darkening Sky Pack wolf should venture in. "We don't venture past our borders. The farthest my scouts go is to that pine tree," Skipping Stone lifted a paw to harshly point at the lone pine that was surrounded by birch and oak trees on all sides. "Besides, if my pack really went into the heart of our territory--" Skipping Stone paused, a sly smile growing on her muzzle, "You would know."

Listening to the tawny pelted wolf Skipping Stone's worries became reality. This wolf did belong to a pack, and that pack shared a border with her own. "Well, that's good, and what I understand now is that there is a pack, your pack, in some part of the pines?" Not giving the other wolf any time to answer, Skipping Stone continued, "I also think it's safe to assume we're both leaders of our respected packs, correct?" This was the question Skipping Stone wanted to know the most. Out of who knows how many pack members this pack had, their leader was the most important wolf of all. Waiting for the other wolf's answer, Skipping Stone wondered what she should do. She was a couple growls away from started a permanent feud with this rival pack, or she was a couple of persuasive words from becoming allies with this pack. Skipping Stone didn't know which would be better or more entertaining.

Frost Dawn listened to the fellow leader speak with narrowed eyes. “I suppose so,” She said, reminding herself to talk to Foxfire later. If what this alpha was saying was right, then Foxfire must’ve travelled into rival pack territory.

”I’m Frost Dawn,” She said formally, nodding a polite greeting. “The leader of my pack, the Spirits of Dawn. I hope this one little scuffle won’t effect our... future meetings.” Frost Dawn tried to choose her words carefully, not wanting to get in a fight with the other alpha. Dawn looked down on fighting without need, and Frost Dawn wasn’t going to break the code now.

”I’ll have a talk to Foxfire about us being on your territory. If I do find out he’s been on your territory, I assure you, it won’t happen again.” She wasn’t fond of punishing her wolves(she didn’t want to rule in fear)but if worse came to worse she had no other choice. Sipping her head diplomatically, she took a step back so she was standing in her own territory, to show she respected the borders.

Observing the fellow leader Skipping Stone felt the aggression within her diminish. She made it clear that she wasn’t all that interest in fighting, or maybe she’s trying her best to suppress the urge just like Skipping Stone. It was probably for the best that the other leader didn’t want to put up a fight. Even though it had been a couple seasons Skipping Stone still had a lot to work when it came to training her pack to be proper fighters. Thoughts of her pack aside Skipping focused on... Frost Dawn. Skipping Stone didn’t know if was already time for introductions.

Nodding in response to Frost Dawn’s words Skipping Stone began her own introduction, “ Skipping Stone, current leader of the Darkening Sky Pack.” Despite Skipping Stone’s cool and collected tone her words were almost ominous and threatening by default. “It won’t,” Skipping Stone reassured with a small grin. “Now isn’t the time for fighting and bickering after all.” Skipping Stone was referring to the nearing winter. A time that always hit the Darkening Sky pack hard. She want to tell Dawn Frost that though. Still not completely trusting the other leader.

”Same to you. If Ebony or Cinder really did go past the pine tree, rest assured they will be punished for their disobedience.” Skipping Stone was talking about Cinder mostly. Confident  her mother(Ebony) wouldn’t have done anything negligent. On the subject of punishment Skipping Stone wondered what she would do. Maybe make Cinder do a trial? Fight her on the next full moon battle? Or maybe simply kick her out of camp for a couple passes of the sun and moon. While contemplating what ideas of punishment in her head she noticed Frost Dawn carefully back away. Skipping Stone approved not saying a word. Any sign of respect could get anyone in Skipping Stone’s good graces. “I didn’t know there was another wolf pack that bordered us. The Darkening Sky Pack as been here for ages and hadn’t heard a faint whisper from your wolves. Did you recently expand your territory or was their something I missed?” Skipping Stone figured she might as well press the other leader for a few answers on how this whole ordeal came to be. Skipping Stone though she would notice any change in her forest home, borders or not, so how did she miss this?

Frost Dawn smiled coyly. "We're quiet. And I'd like if we stayed that way." She glanced around. "And I'm sure there are many other wolf packs in these forests. We just don't see them."

Elders in the pack always said Frost Dawn had a way with words. It was true. She could twist them and soften them and smooth them onto unrecognition. It was a gift, indeed, and over the years it had proved useful.

Glancing up at the sky, Frost Dawn's lip curled slightly. The sun was high in the sky and Silverlight would be wondering. "I must return to my pack," She said smoothly. Bowing her head one more time, she back away. After a moment, she turned and trotted back to the camp.

Silverlight was waiting for her at the camp entrance, a concerned look on his face. "What happened?" He asked, eyes glittering curiously. Frost Dawn sighed. "Its a long story. I'll tell you after I talk to Foxfire." Silverlight nodded, then settled himself on the soft grass.

Frost Dawn found Foxfire speaking with Dappleshine, the other scout. Both bowed respectfully as she approached. "Foxfire, may I have a word with you?" He and Dappleshine exchanged nervous looks but didn't say anything. Foxfire nodded and walked over to Frost Dawn.

"Now, answer me truthfully. Were you in neighboring pack territory?" Foxfire shook his head. "I only went up to the Great Pine. I scented another pack deeper into our territory." Frost Dawn narrowed her eyes. "Show me."

Skipping Stone didn’t say a word as Frost Dawn talked. Evaluating every word that slid out of her mouth. She had never thought there were that many other packs in close vicinity to her own. Temperate had never mentioned she would need to be aware of many other packs in the area. A part of Skipping Stone began to wonder what all she had missed. As troubling thoughts filled her mind Skipping Stone’s attention was brought back to Frosted Dawn. “If you must,” Skipping Stone cooed in response. Waving her tail as a way to say goodbye to the other leader. Standing still and watching as she slid off into the darkness of her own forest territory.

Once Frosted Dawn was out of sight and earshot Skipping Stone turned on her heels and began her own trek home. Not thinking too much about Frost Dawn’s sudden urge to leave. After all she had her own things to worry about. Her main worry being Cinder at the moment. Skipping Stone’s blood boiled at the thought of Cinder blatantly disobeying her orders. Skipping Stone’s jaw clenching at the thought as she picked up her pace. Cinder better have had a good excuse...

Arriving to the heavily shielded camp her pack called home, Skipping Stone made no effort to hold off gathering the whole pack. Going to her now named, “Leaders Mound” in the middle of the camp and letting out a bellowing howl. With this howl her pack mates quickly gathered and Skipping Stone quickly located Cinder. Having no interest in hiding her intentions for gathering the pack Skipping Stone growled, “Cinder, Please step forward and explain yourself!” Hushed barks and yips were heard throughout the pack as Cinder weaseled her way in front of the leader. A slightly annoyed expression on her face.

“Explain what... Stone Skipping,” Cinder replied her head bowing down respectfully. At this rate Skipping Stone decided she wouldn’t punish Cinder that badly. As reversing her name was something Skipping Stone outlined as being more than respectful and apologetic when it came to talking to a leader, her leader.

”Did you go past the pine tree?” Skipping Stone barely waited a moment before yelling, “DID YOU?!” Skipping Stone could see Cinder pull back at her harsh words.

”Yes... only because I smelled wolves. While it’s past out territory they were so close I—“ Cinder was cut off by Skipping Stone’s furious snarl.

”Cinder you have disobeyed me and no matter what the reason a punishment is due,” Skipping Stone paused turning away as she licked her teeth. “I assign you a trial to gather every herb Whisper requests for three sun passes, and you must sit vigil over the camp for one moon pass.” Satisfied with the punishment she came up with Skipping Stone grunted turning away from Cinder and her gathered pack. Who were now all whispering between themselves. “Dismissed!” Skipping finally howled causing the pack to disperse quickly. Just before Cinder left Skipping turned back over her shoulder, “Get Ebony and meet me outside my Burrow,” not saying another word before storming off toward her den.