And so he returns...(open)

[Bounder]

(Yes, Bounder is back ^^. And THIS time I am determined to try and stay active on here. This thread is for Hito and anyone else who wants to join. Feel free, he don't bite... not much anyway lol.)

The timber slipped through the brush, his pelt matted, golden panes awash with fatigue. All this wandering about had left him exhausted, and to make matters worse, he was lost. He passed a boulder, some bushes... a boulder. Yep, the same boulder, which meant he was going going in circles.

"Perfect," he groaned. He stopped by an elm and curled up at the base, his eyes beginning to close. May as well get some rest before he passed out. Sleep came to the wolf a little too quickly. He was out like a light in no time flat.

ooc: Icky intro post, but oh well. For whoever shows up, feel free to poke him and wake him on up.

[hitobannofokkusu]

Hitoban wandered without really caring where she was going. She was really just getting some time alone to think. She'd been introduced to her half-brother, Ryuunosuke, who was the son of her enemy and her father, and who had the same demon problem that she had. He used his demons just like she did, but she had the feeling that Rasputin had more control over Ryuunosuke than the other way around. Still, he was sent by his mother to kill her, and he was going to do it if he could. And even if he was going to stand up to his mother and tell her that he wasn't going to kill her, he'd killed their father, Ryuu, out of the evil of his heart. He killed him for power, and that she couldn't forgive.

Or could she? She didn't know. That's what she'd thinking about, wandering alone in her woods. She hadn't yet reached a verdict in her mind. It was a very touch decision for her.

She suddenly smelled an unfamiliar wolf nearby. She hadn't noticed it before, probably because of her brain working at full capacity already. She turned toward him, keeping her tail and guard up. When she saw him, a wave of pity washed over her. He was filthy, and dead tired. That could be easily seen. He was probably lost as well-these woods had been known to be confusing to strangers. She circled him, trying to identify him. She had the feeling that she'd seen him somewhere before. She put her face close to him and tried to smell the wolf smell underneath all the dirt. When she finally got the scent, she jumped back, surprised. She had met him before after all. She struggled to remember his name. Bounder, she thought. She gently prodded at him with her paw, trying to wake him.

"Bounder? Is that who you are?"

[Bounder]

Bounder rolled onto his side, his paws pushing and clawing at nothing. He was worlds away, and in his dream sat his father. You wanted a demon? Here was your demon. Not in the flesh, but of the mind. He'd ruined Bounder's life, and now Bounder was gunning for him. Sooner or later, his father would pay. Bounder could just see that smug look on his face. Those eyes... he was laughing at Bounder. The timber wolf let out a snarl, and dove for his father, aiming to snap the old timber's neck...

... only to wake up snarling at nothing. His eyes flew open, golden panes a bit murky, a sign that he was not fully awake. He shook his head and made to stand up, his legs shaking slowly. And that's when he noticed her standing there. A she wolf, and one that was somewhat familiar. He was certain they'd met.

"Yes," he replied, his tone laced with fatigue. "Do I know you?"

He took a closer look. "Lady Hitoban," he mumbled. "It's been awhile." He remembered running into her a while back. She was tending to one of her friends, and he'd offered to help them, only to lose track of them shortly thereafter. "It's good to see you," he said, his tail wagging slowly. And that's when he realized how dirty he really was. Paws caked with dirt, fur mottled with burrs. How embarassing. "Heh... forgive me," he muttered. "Had I known you were coming, I would have bathed first."

Too late for that now...

He dipped his head to her, a soft smile on his face.

"How are things with you?"

[hitobannofokkusu]

Hitoban smiled, glad to see an old friend in all of this mess. She chuckled when he mentioned his state of being, but shrugged it off. "It is no matter of great importance." She knew he was still very sleepy, but she didn't know that she wanted him sleeping here. The woods were dangerous at night. He spoke again, asking her of her nature. She sighed, sitting down. "Not very good, I'm afraid. Too many things are happening at once, and I haven't spoken to Dawn since this morning. I feel ill at ease for more reasons than one. But I've been mulling over that all day-how have you been, my friend? You look awful-and not just your fur."

[Bounder]

It was good to see a familiar face...

"If you say so," he chuckled. Still, he didn't feel right looking the way he did. It seemed so disrespectful, and he made a note to stop by the river as soon as he could. He shook himself off and sat down in front of her, a tired look in his eyes. He would have preferred a little rest, but she was talking again. "Oh dear," he mumbled. "Sounds like things are tough all over."

But who was Dawn, and what had happened to the rest of them? He was so confused. "I hope things get better." What else could he say? Aside from Shimo and Mar, he had yet to meet the rest of her pack.

"I'm alright," he said. "It's nothing compared to what you've been through." And really, it wasn't. He was plagued by bad dreams and thoughts of failure, which was something he'd rather not talk about. Besides, she had enough to worry about. But enough of this lounging around and feeling sorry for himself. He rose and then stretched, working to get the kinks out of his system.

"I suppose you'll be wanting to head back," he mumbled. No doubt she was worried about them. "Mind if I tag along?"

[hitobannofokkusu]

Hitoban listened politely to the wolf, still a bit distracted. She had the feeling she'd been rude to Tsuki before she left and she wanted to apologize. Not only that, but she needed to check up on how things were doing with the rest of the pack.

Just as she was about to speak, Bounder just about spoke her thoughts. He wanted to come along. She didn't figure it would hurt anything for him to come, and he might as well meet the rest of the pack. A friend of an Alphess is a friend of her pack, after all. She nodded, standing and swishing her tail slowly. "Yes, I was just about to say so. I don't see any reason why you shouldn't come, so that's fine."

She began walking back in the direction of home, knowing Bounder was following her.

[Rynn]

(ooc: If it is too late to post here tell me and I will delete this post)

A rabbit darted across the path a little ways ahead of Hitoban, a few seconds after the rabbit dissapeared a black blur sprinted across the path and vanished into the bushes where the rabbit had dissapeared, the bushes where they had dissapeared moved around a lot but it soon went silent again and the black wolf padded back out of the bushes with the rabbit limp in her jaws. The wolf then turned to look at Hitoban and blinked, startled, the then tilted her head to the side and relaxed once the wolf knew who it was. The wolf sat the rabbit down on the ground and bowed it's head to Hitoban, "Hello my lady Hitoban..."

[hitobannofokkusu]

[ooc]Who is this wolf?[/ooc]

[Rynn]

(ooc: Fallen, Rin's sister sorry guess I forgot to put that in there...lol ^^

[Bounder]

ooc: yay for random appearances lol And I don't mind ^^

Bounder could tell she was worried about something. Or was it someone? Well, far be it from him to make her wait. He lifted his head, his tail wagging slowly. She was allowing him to come with her. Fortune smiled on him indeed.

"Thank you, my lady."

He got up to follow, figuring he'd make a quick stop by the river along the way. Best he look nice for the others. He was right on her tail, when a rustling in the undergrowth snagged his attention. A rabbit entered the clearing, and behind it came a wolf. She ran after the rabbit, the two of them diving into the bushes. She emerged a few seconds later, the rabbit clenched tightly between her teeth. Bounder cocked a brow and looked to Hitoban. She seemed to know Hitoban well...

"A friend of yours?" he asked.

[hitobannofokkusu]

Hitoban's ear swiveled backward as she heard rustling. She scented Fallen, a slightly familiar scent, and watched as she took down a rabbit. As she spoke to her, Hitoban dipped her head with a small smile on her face. "Hello Fallen."

Bounder wondered aloud if she knew her, and she nodded to him. "Bounder, this is Fallen, Rin's sister. Rin and her siblings are guests in my lands."

"So," Hitoban said, "pardon the expression, but what brings you to this neck of the woods?"

[Rynn]

Fallen lifted her head and chuckled though it didn't sound like a happy chuckle it was more like a nervous chuckle. "Well, Rin's health took a serious nose dive, don't know how well she's doing but I figured I'd see what I could bring back for the pack...I can never seem to be around Rin when she's like that....it's really too painful to watch her suffer like that, I dont' see how Kaze can stand it..." She shook her head, "Anyway, i guess I'll get back to hunting and you two can get back to where you were going... take this rabbit with you please, or eat it..I don't care..." And without another word, turned and vanished back into the forest.

[hitobannofokkusu]

Hitoban listened to Fallen's stories of Rin's health and wanting to bring something back for the pack. She felt a bit of a strange pang-something like anger-when she mentioned providing for the pack. That was her job, not a guest's. And where was Tsuki, anyway? Or Kage? Surely one of them would go hunt instead of Fallen? She had the strange feeling that things weren't as good at home as she thought they were. She half-nodded when Fallen left, immersed in her own thoughts. She turned around to head back home. But before she got going, she turned and spoke to Bounder.

"Come along, if you still wish, and eat that rabbit if it suits you. If not, just bring it along."

[Bounder]

Bounder dipped his head to the newcomer. "A pleasure to meet you," he said. He then fell silent, his eyes on the rabbit. Rabbit, his favorite. Already his mouth was beginning to water. No, pay attention. He shook his head, and focused on what they were saying. Poor girl... her sister was sick, and there wasn't a thing she could do. "I guess all we can do is hope for the best," he whispered.

Fallen got up, after a moment or two, and headed on into the woods. She was leaving already. That was fine with him. She had a lot to sort out. Bounder turned back around, his eyes on the rabbit. How thoughtful of her to leave it behind. He scooped up the kill and turned 'round to face Hitoban.

"I'll save it for later," he said. "Lead the way."

[hitobannofokkusu]

Hitoban shrugged, her mind on other matters, and turned around again. She slipped silently into the trees, knowing Bounder was at her heels.

[ooc]I'll go ahead and start a new post in the waterfall and lock this one.[/ooc]