From the Desert Sands [finished]

[wolfiern]

Aizen padded lightly through the trees taking in the sites. It had been a few days since he had left the desert but he was glad to be rid of burning sand. It was all thanks to Cloe his friendly raven companion that he was even able to make it out of that blasted heat but now the weather was cooling down more like what he was used to. He had been traveling for over a year now wandering. He left his pack in the arctic tundras to find a life for himself maybe settle down with family and start his own pack but for now the simple life of a wanderer was just fine for him and with Cloe he was much more at ease.

Cloe flew over head landing on branches here and there waiting on Aizen as he slowly strolled through the trees. "your smiling? Its been a while since you have smiled." she chirped

Aizen looked up at her. "Yes i seem to be in a fairly good mood don't I." He looked around at his surroundings to his left there was a small stream to the right he smelt what seemed to be like deer. He missed the smell of deer. All he seemed to find in the desert was rabbits, it would be nice to have venison for a change. he looked over to his left and got up next to the stream taking a drink, he then look over at Cloe who was doing the same and told her "Cloe, help me find a place to make a den. I think we may settle down here for a while."

"This does seem like a good place to stay doesn't it?" she asked smiling. she fluttered off along the bank pecking at the dirt to find some soft ground. after a few minutes of searching she found a spot and Aizen began to dig a den for the two of them.

[Marie Anne]

Maji and Marako were walking through the forest. It was beautiful here. It was a warm, sunny day and there were animals galore. Maji had just taken one of the sick does from the nearby deer herd and was giving thanks to the rest of the herd for it's sacrifice and to the doe itself for giving it's life in order for his to go on. He knew that Marako didn't really like that he was eating another of his kind, but he was willing to deal with it because even he could see the reasoning behind culling the herd so it was healthy.

"I'm going to go look out over that hill," Marako said, walking away. He knew it was good for the herd, but that didn't mean he had to watch Maji eat it. Crowning the top of the hill, Marako spotted a lone wolf digging a den. I wonder if he's hungry. Marako thought, starting down the hill towards the wolf. He knew that Maji would be happy to share such a large meal.

Reaching the wolf, Marako waited patiently for the wolf to stop digging so he could give him a proper invitation. It might not have been the smartest thing to do, approaching an unknown wolf, especially as a full grown buck, but Maji was just over the hill and would come help him, should he need it.

[wolfiern]

Cloe giggled as she watched the buck wait for Aizen to see him. Aizen however was too busy digging to notice anything. She laughed then flew down to a lower branch and greeted the curious visitor.

"You know its not really the best idea to sneak up on a wolf." she chirped at the buck.

Aizen stopped digging immediately and crawled out of the hole. He turned to see what visitor Cloe was talking to. A lone buck stood there seeming to wait for him to reply. He hadn't eaten yet but to try and take on a lone buck by himself at this state was suicide especially seeing as he was tired from digging for the past hour or so.

"Well i don't think I have ever had my lunch walk up to me but i guess there is a first for everything" Aizen chuckled "However, I am smart enough to know that i can't attack a buck by myself." He stepped closer and sat down. "My name is Aizen if you would care to know and that energetic little raven above you is my companion Cloe. May i ask your name and why exactly you chose to walk up to a wolf on your own accord?"

[Marie Anne]

Marako only smiled and bowed slightly to the wolf. He wasn't afraid for the wolf per se, but he did make him a bit nervous. Taking a few steps back and motioning towards the hill he had just come over, Marako tilted his head.

"My friend would like to invite you to dinner," Marako said with a smile. He looked at the bird, whom the wolf had said was Cloe. The wolf had introduced himself as Aizen, but Marako would wait to introduce himself when he was back with Maji so the wolves could both meet each other at the same time.

"My name shall be revealed to you in time, but my friend is waiting" he said, walking towards the hill, stopping when he got to the top to make sure that the guests were coming or not. He didn't care if they did or did not, but he was sure that Maji would like to know. Especially because he didn't know that he was going to have guests in the first place.

[wolfiern]

Aizen looked up at Cloe. He wasn't for sure whether he should trust the buck or not after he didn't give him his name and the mention of a friend intrigued him. "what should we do Cloe?" he whispered to the raven.

Cloe ruffled her feathers "I don't know it may not be a good idea we don't know anything about this friend, that and i find it odd that a buck would just waltz right up to you. Ill leave the decision to you though." she replied just as quietly.

Aizen sighed "we will go but be ready for a fight" he was already starting to build energy inside of him "we may very well be running head on into a trap". He stood and started towards the buck not sure of what may be over that hill.

[Marie Anne]

Maji looked up and was surprised to see Marako turned toward himself, watching him. It couldn't have been a pleasant experience, and it kind of made him feel bad. He was eating one of his companion's species. Maybe I shouldn't eat deer anymore. he thought, swallowing the meat he had in his mouth.

Marako wasn't exactly looking at Maji eat, but he wasn't exactly looking away either. It was like a bad car accident. He just couldn't look away. But he heard the two come up behind him and he looked at the wolf.

"Dinner is served," Marako said with a small nod of his head towards his companion, making sure that Maji could hear him. Marako knew that his companion would never be able to eat all of the deer and he wouldn't mind that he had a little help in getting rid of the leftovers.

[wolfiern]

Aizen topped the hill and immediately saw the tawny brown wolf eating on a doe. "i dont like this." he thought to himself. he didn't trust the situation at all he would go along with it for now but he didn't trust the wolf that was in front of him. it was then that he noticed the ram horns. "what an odd site." he thought. he looked over at Cloe who seemed to be thinking the same thing.

Cloe saw Aizen watching her and immediatly saw that he was uncomfortable.

Aizen looked back at the wolf and decided to introduce himself. he stepped forward "My name is Aizen and the ravens name is Cloe. It seems as though you weren't quite prepared for us to come along." he watched the wolf's face for any sign of aggression, ready to attack if there was.

[Marie Anne]

Maji looked at the wolf the came to stand in front of him. Standing up, Maji gave a smile.

"Welcome, friends. Please, feel free to partake of the meal. I wouldn't want anything to go to waste," he said before introducing himself.

"I am Maji, and the buck that invited you is Marako. I would like to apologize for the rudeness of him, by the way. He hates to not be near me when he says his name," he said, laying back down to eat. The meat was tender and delicious but it was very filling. The deer was only about a quarter of the way eaten, and Maji was almost completely full. He wasn't one to gorge himself on anything so he was happy to share the food he wasn't going to eat in the first place.

[wolfiern]

Aizen watched the wolf begin eating again. He looked over at Cloe who was watching buck that was name Marako. He sighed.

"If I was a normal wolf i would take you up on this most gracious offer, however, one of my personal rules is to never eat from that that i have not killed." He hated denying the off especially seeing as he was starving but that was one of things he was taught as a pup. "I hope i don't seem rude it's just how i was raised i do thank you for the offer and your hospitality." he looked up at the setting sun. "I'm afraid its starting to get dark and i'm not nearly done with my den." he waited to see what the wolf named Maji would say.

[Marie Anne]

Maji licked his muzzle and stood up.

"You're not going to partake? Well, will you tell the next wolf you meet of this feast?" Maji asked, not wanting the meat to go to waste. The birds of this forest were not ones to eat meat, but there were other creatures, so if this wolf would not eat, and the next one was too late in coming, then at least he would have fed some other hapless creature.

"Is that all you are going to eat?" Marako asked his companion.

"It is all I can eat. You know how I feel about wolves who gorge themselves on meat that others could have very well have eaten," Maji said in response to his friend's question. He felt that while it was in bad taste to waste a good meal as this wolf was, it was worse to eat when you were full, which would be a good reason for this wolf to offer, had he not offered that it was against the way he was raised.

"Where are you going to, my friend?" Maji asked of Aizen. He was only making small talk, but he didn't exactly expect the wolf to stick around, and he wasn't disappointed when the wolf said that he was in need of finishing his den.

[wolfiern]

Aizen saw no harm in answering the question posed by the friendly wolf. "I honestly don't know where im going. I have been wandering for the past year now and haven't really figured out where I am going. However, i think i may stay here in this forest for a while it seems to be abundant in food unlike the blasted desert i left but not a few days ago. That and my companion seems to enjoy the trees that grow here."

Aizen looked back up to the even lower sun. "Well I must be getting back it was nice talking to you for the little bit we talked if ever you need anything i will be at my den for at least the next week or so." he looked back at Cloe "Come Cloe we need to get back." he left the wolf and padded over the hill then began to finish digging.

[Marie Anne]

Maji watched the lone wolf walk away and he lightly shook his head. He wasn't sure what to think the wolf known as Aizen.

"I'm going to bury this deer here, Marako," Maji said just loud enough for Aizen to hear. He wanted to let the wolf know that if he got hungry there was food here. Maji was just passing through, making his way to a destination that the gods above only knew. He was wondering if he'd ever see anyone from his family ever again. He knew that seeing his mother was going to be impossible if only because she was always with his father.

Now that he was done with the business of getting rid of the deer, Maji made his way off. He headed towards the moon that was beginning to rise, the shape like a half circle that was filled in. The sun wasn't quite set and the wolf had plenty of time to make it to the edge of the forest before he would have to bunker down for at least the night.

[wolfiern]

Aizen laid there in the quick den he made thinking to himself "should I have stayed longer?" he peeked out into the darkness. "It isn't often i see other wolves." he buried his nose into his fur "well nothing can change what I have done so i guess it's best not to dwell on it. In the morning ill hunt." he then closed his and welcomed the dreams that came quickly.

Morning rose and Aizen set out to explore when evening came he would dig a little deeper for the den he had now was very shallow. Cloe flew over head as he ventured out deeper into the forest. As he went he marked the area remembering that time when he forgot to and ended up getting into a fight with that jackal over it.

As midday came he smelt deer and followed the scent. when he came to the herd he picked out the smallest and ran it down, it would make a nice meal for him for the day. He drug the carcass back to his den and tore a few pieces of meat off. After indulging himself he buried the rest near the den and decided to take a nap he curled up with Cloe nuzzled in next him and went to sleep.