OOC: Trying out a new post format~ So sorry for being late!
Play the part. Oakspark lifted his chin and met the other alpha's accusing gaze. 'No, you merely acted on the orders like Chronospark's marionette.' the Southern Snow alpha had sneered. At least Chronospark led his pack, unlike a certain Thunderspark.
The large brute was tempted to say as much, but refrained until Winterspark was finished with his preaching."You can be certain that your misguided ideas about Eastern Rock will be proven unfounded," he replied, moving to stand. "Let's hope you do not follow in your previous leader's path, as well."
OOC: Ew sorry for the late post ;_; "You can be certain that your misguided ideas about Eastern Rock will be proven unfounded," Oakspark growled, standing up. Winterspark watched his movements with cool distachment. "Let's hope you do not follow in your previous leader's path, as well."
Winterspark let out a short bark of a laugh before eying the older male with cold, blue eyes. "I follow no one," he said, his spreading smile as frosty as his powers. "Thunderspark is dead to me, as much as he is to you. He was not a loyal Pack member, and therefore an unworthy bloke.
"My 'misguided' ideas about your Pack are there merely because you caused them. It was your-- no, pardon me, Chronospark-- I understand you don't want to be blamed-- it was his choice to portray Eastern Rock as a threat. And now we view it as one.
"You have a choice, Oakspark," he continued in a cool voice, "whether or not to continue the legacy Chronospark set down, or create a new one."
Oakspark returned the other wolf's cold glance with one of his own. This was certainly not the type of reception he would have liked with the other alphas, but there was little he could expect from such a traditional group. "Chronospark is as dead as the pack he drove into the ground," the alpha assured with a sharpened edge to his tone. "And with it his bloodthirsty conquest."
Figures, to have a hypocritical remark from a Southerner. It was hard enough in him having to repair the ties obliterated by the leaders before him, without pompous jibes from the maws of would-be leaders. Play the part. He moved forward, passing Winterspark. If the frost wolf was set in his ways, then Oakspark had no more business here. "Perhaps we can continue this discussion when the thirst for accusation has left you. I'm not here to make enemies, my friend."
OOC: Nice song "Chronospark is as dead as the pack he drove into the ground, and with it, his bloody conquest," Oakspark said frostily. The older male stood up, brushing past Winterspark, who followed his movements with only his eyes. "Perhaps we can continue this discussion when the thirst for accusation has left you. I'm not here to make enemies, my friend."
Winterspark angled his head to acknowledge Oakspark. "Nay, I hope not." Standing up as well, he turned to face the earthly wolf, giving him a pleasant smile, as if they were two buddies who'd bumped into each other for the first time in years. "Ah, well, it looks like you have drained me of it. I will assume that you are not looking to continue what Chronospark has started. So, I will address you as an acquaintance and comrade from now on. Let us put past conflicts aside, and see each other as mere rivals." Sitting down, he tilted his head at Oakspark, his eyes glittering. "Before our... banter, shall I say, and before that rude arrival of that Transport bloke, I believe you were telling me about how well you Pack was getting along. Are you finding everything well yourself, I hope?" he asked, amusing himself slightly with this new attitude he was putting on. It was rather puppish, yes, but if Oakspark was going to play along he might as well too.
He'd almost been inclined to forfeit his reason for seeking out Winterspark. Sparks, even now, pushing forward with the brute's clear invitation would be something of a gamble... Then again...
Oakspark made a show of slight hesitation, before weaving back around to face himself toward his 'comrade.' Play the part. "In spite of our efforts, the commotion from the Fall has scared every last trace of large game from our borders, my friend," the Eastern alpha confided rather reluctantly. "And in light of our changed ways..." He turned his head fully toward the other wolf, brow raised. "I find it better to ask for a deal. If you'll oblige to deal with a murdering lowlife like myself, of course." Despite himself, Oakspark felt the need to deliver the last sentence with a hint of indigence.
OOC: I don't have anything to say this time ._. "In spite of our efforts, the commotion from the Fall has scared every last trace of large game from our borders, my friend," Oakspark said after a slight pause.
"Yes, that and the fact that your Pack lives near a volcano," Winterspark mused.
"And in light of our changed ways..." the Eastern leader turned to address Winterspark. "I find it better to ask for a deal. If you'll oblige to deal with a murdering lowlife like myself, of course."
A deal. Hm. Winterspark cocked a brow, mirroring Oakspark's move. He narrowed his eyes slightly, the alert gleam never leaving, but it flickered slightly to convey a undertone of pity. Whether or not this wolf was telling the truth, he did sort of feel sorry and some remorse for what they'd done. After all, it wasn't any worse than what Eastern Rock did.
"They started it," was what he would retort if someone were to argue the thoughts he was just thinking. It was a puppish excuse, but it didn't make it any less true.
But it wasn't Oakspark that started it. The old bloke was just as brutal as his predecessor, but he had a reputation to hold, and a duty to carry out. Whatever he did after Chronospark would be entire his decision. But he only held partial blame for the Fall. Some wolves were just born evil. Some were just born good. The rest were somewhere in between. It didn't mean that their destinies, or personalities for that matter, were set in stone. Anyone could change, and no one was perfect. He, Winterspark, was certainly no prize.
And what about those wolves in Eastern Rock that weren't completely evil? They were starving, too. His own Pack had just suffered through an epidemic, and had just recovered sufficiently, only recently finishing their payback period.
A deal. Oakspark definitely wasn't one to be trusted at first look. But Winterspark wasn't one to go down the route of selfishness and spite just yet, and let one Pack starve.
"Your changed ways," Winterspark repeated. "I will believe it when I see enough of it. I am not sorry for not trusting you or any of your other Packmates. You must know that, at the very least, you are a rival that I cannot let tread all over us, just as Bluespark or Huskyspark is.
"However, at the same time, it is not right in any way to let a Pack starve. I hope you have learned from Chronospark's mishaps and that you know you do not want this starving period to happen to your Pack again." Giving the other male a slight smile that showed barely any warmth, he continued, "do know that killing, as I have explained to our unwelcome visitor, is quite inevitable in our lives. You are no more of a murderer than any of us others. It is only wrong when killing is done without good reason, or killing is done excessively. Our punishment has been complete, I believe, but you have punished us just as much. So, I believe that we are even. Take a breath.
"But all that aside, I am willing, and admittedly curious, to hear your deal. Bear in mind, dear Bloodied Oakspark, that, should we agree on a deal at all, my Pack and I are helping your Pack, and you will be in our debt." He tilted his head at Oakspark, giving him a furtive, curious look.
"But all that aside, I am willing, and admittedly curious, to hear your deal. Bear in mind, dear Bloodied Oakspark, that, should we agree on a deal at all, my Pack and I are helping your Pack, and you will be in our debt," Winterspark concluded, his tone far less frosty than before.
Oakspark inwardly stiffened. Debt. He'd certainly had many debts owed to him in seasons past, but to owe something to Southern Snow? Then again, there didn't seem to be much to lose. What was the prospect of giving a bit of future aid in the face of the need as big as food?
The alpha sat back on his haunches. "In exchange for a small section of hunting grounds - enough to get my pack through the barren season - I want to offer a peace between our packs. My wolves will be certain to respect these new borders, on their life."
OOC: -- "In exchange for a small section of hunting grounds - enough to get my pack through the barren season - I want to offer a peace between our packs. My wolves will be certain to respect these new borders, on their life," Oakspark responded.
Winterspark almost smiled at that, but he held it back, reminding himself that he mustn't be rude. For a moment he pondered this. A peace offering. It was certainly something, especially when it was coming from Oakspark.
A nagging voice in the back of his head pushed itself forward. What if he ends up attacking the other two Packs after we help him?
No. As long as his Pack was safe, then there was nothing to worry about. Should the other two Packs ask for help to defend against Eastern Rock, if that ever happened again, he would only agree if they were in a terrible risk of being slaughtered. There would be no need to send soldiers to die in a battle not aimed at them.
What if he breaks the deal? the voice continued.
A small part of Winterspark agreed, but he doubted that Oakspark would do so. It would be of the highest shame to break such a word; it meant you couldn't be trusted at all, and no one would want to deal with you in the future, even if you really needed help out of a sticky situation.
So giving the Eastern Rock leader the benefit of the doubt, he said, "very well. Do know, however, that should you ever threaten the survival of the other two Packs-- and I am not assuming or accusing, I am merely stating a hypothesis-- my Pack will be obligated to ally with them to save them and preserve the Four."Giving Oakspark a twisted smile, he continued. "But of course, they will be in our debt as well, since we only helped them, instead of fighting also for our own survival.
"Dear friend, I will grant you and your Pack a quarter of our hunting grounds, in our southernmost region, bordering your Flesh's Burrow. It will be the warmest, and the there are usually plentiful, with caribou, reindeer, hare, and the occasional bird. I will have my wolves set the borders tonight, and starting tomorrow your wolves may hunt on that land. Should any of your wolves cross that new border, however, they will be viewed and fought as an intruder. I will have my medicine wolf meet regularly with your medicine wolf, and when they both agree that your Pack is in fit conditions, the borders will be reset. Can we agree on this?"
"Very well," the other alpha agreed after a moment of contemplation. Oakspark waited patiently for the 'however'. "However, should you ever threaten the survival of the other two Packs - and I am not assuming or accusing, I am merely stating a hypothesis - my Pack will be obligated to ally with them to save them and preserve the Four."
The condition was, of course, reasonable and expected. Always the neutral one, after all.
Winterspark continued in laying the groundwork. "Dear friend, I will grant you and your Pack a quarter of our hunting grounds, in our southernmost region, bordering your Flesh's Burrow. It will be the warmest, and the there are usually plentiful, with caribou, reindeer, hare, and the occasional bird. I will have my wolves set the borders tonight, and starting tomorrow your wolves may hunt on that land. Should any of your wolves cross that new border, however, they will be viewed and fought as an intruder. I will have my medicine wolf meet regularly with your medicine wolf, and when they both agree that your Pack is in fit conditions, the borders will be reset. Can we agree on this?"
Upon the proposal, Oakspark raised an incredulous brow. "I'd love to agree, dear friend, but you seem to be forgetting something. Our nurses were among the first to be slaughtered in your vengeful glory." Lasting Treeleaf and Hidden Sandspirit had fought like the strongest of soldiers, and were cut down in the same way. None of the remaining pack had shown any aptitude for a replacement, besides possibly Lichentooth.
Though, of course, he wouldn't expect the other brute to know or care. Each pack for their own, etcetera etcetera.
OOC: What snapped? "I'd love to agree, dear friend, but you seem to be forgetting something," Oakspark said. "Our nurses were among the first to be slaughtered in your vengeful glory."
"Ah, yes," Winterspark said somewhat hastily, feeling inwardly flustered. "It slipped by my mind, and I apologize. In that case, I will call Blizzardsong to take care of your wolves, should they fall ill with any ailments or injuries, and to deliver pups. I do expect that he is fully taken care of and treated as a welcomed guest.
"Blizzardsong and you can agree on when your Pack is ready to relinquish its hold on the part of our land. I will also ask him if SparkPack has spoken to him of a possible replacement nurse for Eastern Rock, if you haven't already. Do we have a deal now?"
What if Eastern Rock never withdrew? Winterspark blinked. If Oakspark had any pride (which he was sure the large bloke had more than enough of), he would leave as soon as his Pack was fully on its paws again. It's okay, Winterspark reassured himself, Southern Snow has the support of the North and West. He mentally winced at the thought.
Then his mind went back to the deal. Had it been an impulsive move? Had he given it too less thought? He had come to the Neutral Circle originally for some quiet time. Instead, he'd met Oakspark and that Transport wolf. Oakspark couldn't have just came to the Neutral Circle on the sole purpose of hoping to find one of the other leaders willing to help. No, the meeting could've been purely coincidencial, and they had just decided, more or less on the spot, to make a deal. Or perhaps Oakspark had been thinking of asking help from some Pack for a time, and Winterspark, and thus the rest of Southern, had been within his vicinity. Should he, Winterspark, have talked with Blizzardsong? His co-alphas?
What other solutions might we have reached? Winterspark thought. If I'd talked with anyone, they'd likely agree that helping Eastern was the right choice. It's not like I'm being stupid.
"It slipped by my mind, and I apologize. In that case, I will call Blizzardsong to take care of your wolves, should they fall ill with any ailments or injuries, and to deliver pups. I do expect that he is fully taken care of and treated as a welcomed guest," came his quick reply. Ahh, so the brute did have some tiny sense of humility in him. Hmph. "Blizzardsong and you can agree on when your Pack is ready to relinquish its hold on the part of our land. I will also ask him if SparkPack has spoken to him of a possible replacement nurse for Eastern Rock, if you haven't already. Do we have a deal now?"
Oakspark quickly took inventory of this new prospect. Fresh hunting and the promise of the help of a healer? All in exchange for playing nice with the neighbors. It was almost cute how quick some wolves were to show honor over sense. Of course, the Eastern alpha would uphold the agreement, as there was no reason not to, but the thought still fed to amusement. He gave an almost exaggerated bow, contentment lacing his expression. "We have a deal. And, with this, I'll take my leave."
Play the part. He moved to stand. "And, Winterspark... I truly do wish you well with your pack. Things will be different from now on."
Also, shall we end the thread here? (Like if you agree ^^) If so, I'm gonna miss RPing with you. :/ "We have a deal. And, with this, I'll take my leave," Oakspark said, moving to stand.
Winterspark gave him a curt nod, a frosty glaze in his eyes once more. They were not friends. They would never be. Jerking his head slightly downwards to more or less mirror Oakspark's bow, he said, "then with the SparkPack as witness, let us reach our agreement and seal this pact. Good-bye, then," he added as an afterthought. He turned to make his own leave. It was no use staying here. He had to get back to his Pack and make some announcements.
"And, Winterspark... I truly do wish you well with your pack. Things will be different from now on."
At that, Winterspark paused, and couldn't help but glance back at Oakspark, a look that was half a suspicious glare.
"Likewise," he said. Then, after a pause during which he thought again about Oakspark's words, he let out a laugh that hid a scoff. Smirking to himself, he turned away again. "Things will be different. As much as I want to accept that now, dear friend, I will believe it when I see it. Let it start from this point, with us. Good day to you." And with a howl of snow-laced wind, he disappeared.
Welcome to Compass Ross Packs territories. These wolves are... different than those of Earth. They live in a different realm, and the only way in or out is through the Transport wolves.
What are these wolves, you ask? These wolves have magic on their fur and the elements in their blood. These wolves have power. But will they use them for good, or for evil? That is up to you.
Compass Rose was created by Sentinel. Content is copyrighted to Compass Rose unless otherwise stated. The skin is created by Wolf of Gangnam Style. The board and thread remodel is by Kagney.
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