Skorn

Interesting Chased: 1 Pyrope, 1 6xMerle, 1 dust eyes, 1 Opal, 1x Fox, 1x Grulla

The founder of an old pack in the Wolvdom. She is a very capable leader, and where she goes, her right hand Avalanche is never far behind. She does not place as much value in having pups as other pack leaders, as she both recognizes them as a drain on a pack's limited resources, and has personally experienced the pain of loosing a pup. Instead, she is more likely to recruit fresh blood, and send the pack's new adults into the wild, to have their own adventures. 

A capable leader, Skorn views the environment which they call home to be beneficial to the development of her scouts and hunters despite the harsh conditions. She will only send out the new generation when she sees fit: usually after they are capable of actually bringing back a meal. The Flashpoints have shown that it is indeed best for young wolves to train as scouts before becoming hunters, as they have failed time and time again in order to progress to where they were now. Avalanche has taken up the exasperating task of training young and brash adults into capable wolves.

Skorn will most likely never take a mate; the pack values fresh blood too much for her to be allowed that luxury. In addition, it is unsafe for the pack to breed within itself, and only after confirming that two wolves are completely unrelated will they be allowed to pairbond.

It was a long time ago that Skorn founded a pack on the lands of Myth. The spirits here claimed her and her line to stay. They do not interfere much in her daily life, and rather, guides her through the obstacles blocking her from becoming stronger. After all, they do require a host to live.

The lands whisper to her constantly, but the large shewolf has never gotten such a loud response from them before when befriending new wolves.

It was this curiously gangly young male that had them so agitated. He had spots and speckles all over his fur, so much so that she couldn't even make out his coat color.

Why were the whispers so insistent on this one that they even told her how to befriend him?

The answer came to her later.

A Cnitharian!

A genuine starborn!

Though that did explain why he was so strange at times, almost not understanding basic wolf behavior, and his insistence at referring to her as 'Queen'. Maybe they had queens where he's from?

The voices still whisper about him, though less frequently, and calling him a disquieting name: Lovecraft. Hmmm, it would be interesting if it weren't so foreshadowing.

~&~

She was older now. She has seen generations rise and go, out into the wilds and never coming out. Her decendants number much fewer than they did before.

Her pack has always valued fresh blood over old blood. High genes over low genes. Mutations over all. This was why all females in the pack remained unmated, and why their arranged studs were all special in some way. Her companion, Avalanche, has yet to produce an heir born with special traits, and maybe she never will.

Skorn's last breeding partner was a wolf much like her first mate. They were both colored like the sun, but this male was covered in dense white patches. Darkstar, her ever loyal herbalist, pronounced her pregnant just a forenight ago.

Peering at her swelling belly, she whispers to them sometimes, the way the forest whispers to her.

Hush my dears, for this pack values fresh blood. Should you wish to stay, become unique, and be bound forever. If you want to go, reject the abnormal, and you shall be free. In the way I never was.

~&~

They have been borne by you for long enough! You must give them to ussss! We have remained patient, and now it is TIME.

It was time.

She had borne them for long enough.

There were six pups in total, the largest litter anyone has ever had. Like always, every pup resembled their mother. Such was the curseblessing of these lands.

There was one that did not resemble her, a rust colored pup, and another with the same white patches that his sire had. Perhaps they are to take her place...

DO NOT THINK FOOLISH THINGS! They are OURSSSS!

NO. THEY ARE NOT YOURS.

Skorn rarely speaks, and now, she never does. It wasn't until now that it was revealed exactly why.

Her younger pack members stepped back in shock. They had never seen anyone look like her she supposed. The perpetual purple flames that spilled from her eyes had set her coat alight. She was larger now than most of the other wolves in the pack, the flames giving her an infernal look.

THIS IS MY FATE. YOU HAVE CLAIMED YOUR PRICE. THESE ARE MY OFFSPRING, AND I PAY THE PRICE FOR THEM.

So it seems. But why now? The others have never had such protection. DO WE SENSE DECEIT?

DUST WAS PROTECTED BY VIRTUE OF HER BLOOD. GOLD WAS TAKEN IN. THE OTHERS LEFT THESE LANDS AND YOU CANNOT AFFECT THEM.

We claimed most of them. CALCITE YOU LOST. Sssome never made it home!

You will NEVER KEEP THEM WHOLE!

~&~

Another strange wolf has wandered near.

Another rising star, like Ichor and Lovecraft and the late Whirlwind. Another hint to a change. She wonders what it was this time?

She wondered, in the safety of her den, if she would find such a rising star on her last days. Would they take her place? Would they be strong, like she was?

~~~

She could sense it.

She was in the twilight of her life. In cycles past she could take down the most fearsome of enemies, now her joints creak on foggy mornings and her legs ache on her travels.

The pack has been thriving however. The newest hunting team has been trained and new blood is joining.

Perhaps one of them should take her place.