Convoluted Constructions (Vivid)

[Mokobo]

The midday sun sparkled merrily upon the calm waters of the lake. Soft, small waves lapped gently against the sands of the shore, adding their steady rhythm to the tunes of birds which trilled their joy to the world. The occasional laughter of pups at play echoed across the water or through the trunks of trees. An errant breeze breathed through the grasses and wild flowers, dancing with petal and leaf alike in a spring-time jubilee of life. Upon all this the sun beamed down proudly, offering forth its warmth and energy to all the bustling life it touched. In short, it was a perfect spring day.
After the gloomy events of the previous evening, Icewulf found himself revitalized by the sights around him. Icy blue eyes watched the gigantic tree across the lake sway within the breeze as he contemplated the previous evening. He had not slept in several days, and yet he could not bring himself to take the time to rest. With all the events taking place around him, the elder wolf felt that resting would only be a waste of time. Their were contingencies to plan for, breaches in borders to fix, and many more tasks to undertake, That is, for others to undertake. He had given up such duties at the end of the Great War, keeping a promise he had made what seemed ages ago. Despite how much he intended to live out the rest of his day in peace with his beloved mate, Icewulf always seemed to find himself drawn into the mix.
With all this in mind, the elder wolf had decided to take up a project, a more constructive sort of activity than his usual militaristic duties demanded. For some time that project had been an escape of sorts, a way to focus on something other than the impending doom he had been feeling grow. Even better, it would serve to keep his old promise, the very idea of which brought a soft smile to his lips. Yet he was not as young or spry as he used to be, and some parts of the project presented daunting tasks for one in their waning years. For a time he had been forced to put a halt to the project, but no more.
Icewulf had managed to enlist the aid of a younger creature he had made acquaintances with during the previous evening. The youth showed quite a deal of promise and something else that spoke to the elder. Something that reminded him of days past and memories lost. The veteran warrior hoped that this project could help them both, and that maybe he could be of some aid to the younger canine. He turned his gaze to look upon the sun's position from the corner of his eye. While he had not been at their meeting spot for too long, Icewulf judged that the mid-point of the day was soon arriving. Calmly the white wolf would lay upon the soft grass, grateful for the cool breeze and relaxing scenery. 


OoC - For the record, I am the worst at opening posts xP almost as bad as I am at naming threads even.

[Vivid]

Large red paws struck the ground in a rhythmic fashion as he trotted along, his long silky coat tossed around by the breeze while his tongue lolled out of his mouth contently. The sun was pleasantly hot as it shone down on his dark fur, the fire wolf soaking in its rays. It was possible for him to get too hot, but it was unlikely for a warm day to do it to him unless he exerted far too much energy.

Continuing on though the fields of grass and flowers, Daichi was on his way to meet Icewulf at their designated spot, hoping he wasn't running too late. He had taken the elders warning to eat a large breakfast, but waking up a little later than he wanted to, and the fact that he was a clumsy hunter most of the time due to his large paws made him fall behind schedule. Now he was forced to jog along to keep on time. He wasn't sure exactly what Icewulf wanted. Their exchanges had been short and to the point last night and Dai was uncertain what he was going to be learning, but he was excited none the less, shown by a spring in his step and a wag in his tail.

Soon the smell of fresh water tingled his nose and a thirst pulled at his throat, coming close to his destination. As he got closer he felt both relieved and awkward about what he was doing today. On one hand, he was being welcomed into the pack more. It was strange to him still after being a previous loner, but he felt more and more like a true pack wolf as the days went on. On the other hand, he felt awkward that at his age he was going to be trained, or whatever else it was that Icewulf wanted. By no means was Dai an old wolf, but he figured by the age of five that it was strange being taught new things.

Shrugging, he carried on until he reached the clearing of the lake, spotting Icewulf almost immediately and hurrying over with his tail swaying contently behind him as he called out a greeting. "Hello, Icewulf! Sorry if I'm late!" He passed by his tutor with a dip of his head, taking a few long strides until he reached the lake to quench his nagging thirst, turning back to the elder immediately after. "It's a wonderful day, and I'm ready to start." He finished, trotting back over to his companion to stand patiently near his side.

[Mokobo]

As the sounds of an approaching creature steadily grew louder, the elder wolf would keep his pale blue gaze focused upon the massive tree on the lake's far shore. Amazingly the lake and its surrounding area had been left mostly untouched during the Great War. The gigantic monument of a tree looked much the same as it had in seasons past, almost as if it were immune to the ravages of time and war. For a moment Icewulf wistfully thought of how nice it would be to live like that ancient monarch of the forest; forever unchanged by time and the world around it. Yet how much worth would an eternal life bring if it was spent forever rooted in one place? While he was sure the tree thought very highly of its position in life, if indeed it could think, Icewulf found the fantasy quickly loosing its luster. There was simply too much that needed to be done to spend eternity dancing with the wind.
The white wolf would continue to lounge upon the soft grasses by the lake's side as Daichi appeared. At the apology for tardiness, Icewulf would lazily check the sun's position once more from the corner of his eye. Apparently he had spent more time by the lake than he had realized, but the elder would remain mute upon the subject. It was somewhat disconcerting to Icewulf that he had been unaware how much time he had lost in thought. Yet he attributed his day dreaming to his lack of sleep and quickly dismissed the whole thing.
As Daichi commented upon the loveliness of the day, a small smile would crack through the otherwise frosty expression Icewulf usually wore. It truly was one of the more beautiful days these lands was prone to exhibiting. Such beauty and peace were exactly why these lands needed protection, a sentiment Icewulf had held since he and his companions first migrated to the territory. Slowly he would rise to all fours, stretching his frame slightly before offering a response. "Indeed it is. I hope you took my advice and ate well, we have much work to do."
After speaking Icewulf would turn his gaze to follow a nearby stream which disappeared into the forest behind them. In that direction laid their eventual destination, the site which Icewulf had surveyed some time ago. What had originally been meant to be a project to pass the time was beginning to shape into much more within his mind. One final time the elder canine would check the position of the sun before turning back to face Daichi. "Do you have any questions you would like to ask before we start?"

[Vivid]

"Eheh.. That's actually why I'm late. Krol was not on my side today it seems." He answered as Icewulf mentioned taking his advice and eating well, feeling quite sheepish that he was such a failed hunter. How had he survived all that time alone when he couldn't catch a rabbit if it hopped right into his mouth? Dai shook his head and gave a bit of a smile to the elder, letting his eyes follow Icewulfs gaze to the stream that trickled into the lake before them. The sun shone on the water brightly and made Daichi squint a little, shaking out his coat and licking his maw from the water he had drank only a few minutes earlier.

"I have no questions, I'll simply follow your lead." He answered simply, excited and anxious to get started though he had a few minor concerns about what they would be doing. Should he ask? He fought internally over that thought, finally coming to the conclusion that it wasn't worth asking. He'd go along with whatever was to come. He was done hiding from himself and the people around him. It was time to give a little trust in others, and faith in himself.


ooc: Short, sweet, to the point! Plus I got to mention a god. >D Sorry for the delay!

[Mokobo]

After Daichi's response was given, Icewulf would take a moment to examine the other canine. While the elder's face remained as impassive as ever, he could see the uncertainty and eagerness brewing within the younger creature. Despite an obvious urge to question the purposefully vague instructions Icewulf had given, Daichi instead choose the route of patience. Such a decision pleased Icewulf, and only served to reaffirm the thoughts which had brought about this whole endeavor. After a brief moment of examination, the white wolf would nod his head once before turning about to follow the stream toward the forest. "Good, let's get going then."
Icewulf would follow the small, babbling brook past the eaves of the treeline. Once past that border, sounds would seem to take on a muffled quality as if they were swallowed by the foliage and fauna of the forest. Even the breeze, which would cause the more limber trees to sway and creak, would have an almost distant quality to it's tone. Occasionally songbirds would begin trilling their merry tunes to one another. Those bright songs would echo about the forest in such a way that it was impossible to tell their origin. The low hum of a dragonfly's wings would drift past the two wolves in their journey as the insect followed the same stream further into the wilderness. Rather than be oppressive or foreboding, the muffled atmosphere would have a comforting warmth much like the shelter of a mother's embrace.
"I've always been fond of these warm, lazy days." Icewulf's voice would contrast sharply with the otherwise peaceful mood of the terrain through which they passed. Despite the pleasant things which he discussed, his voice maintained those cold, almost impassive tones which he always seemed to use. "A good portion of my homeland is covered in snow for most of the year. Even so, there was food to be found and wonders to behold, much like any other place. Nothing like this though." As if to accentuate his point, Icewulf would pause to cast his icy blue gaze about. He would close his eyes and take a deep breath, drinking in the earthy scents of the forest. After a moment the white wolf would turn to cast his gaze toward Daichi. Those bright blue eyes, usually cold and calculating, would instead sparkle with a variety of emotion for a heartbeat before the normal frosts returned. "Although, I suppose this is now my homeland in more ways than one."
With that Icewulf would continue on in silence, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. Daichi would not have long to wait to answers however, as after only a few more moments they would come across an interesting scene. They had come upon a small clearing within the forest, the edge of which the stream passed through. Tall grasses and bright yellow dandelions danced lazily upon the small winds within the clearing. Across the brook laid a massive pine tree, having apparently fallen down in a recent storm. Turf and gravel were woven into its roots, leaving an almost crater-like depression within the raised bank of forest floor near the edge of the small rivulet of water.
"Ah here we are." Once more Icewulf would pause their procession, taking a moment to look about the clearing. The area looked much the same as it had the last time he had come here, and so he was certain no other had discovered it as of yet. He would turn about to face Daichi again, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips. "It's a lovely place, no? These lands hold many mysteries, one of which I'm going to show you here. First you must know why we are here." Once more Icewulf would turn to face the clearing, a soft sigh escaping from his lips. "My beloved Antarctica has been through so much on my behalf. Lately I have been doing my best to right this wrong, and you are going to help me. Within this clearing is something, a wonder if you will, which with a little work can be made into something much more. Are you ready to begin?"


OoC - Don't worry about the delay =P It's been that time of year where everyone seems to be busy. Also, I'll do my best in my replies to keep from rambling and to give you enough to go on, but feel free to add your own twists and turns =D

[Vivid]

On his word Daichi followed after the elder through the lush grass that tickled the pads of his paws every now and then, his ears turning to catch the songs of birds or the bubbling of the stream that they were walking along. These lands we brimming with life and wonder, something he hadn't been able to enjoy much of since he was just a pup, when everything was new to him and life was easy and safe. The plants here seemed to dance happily, the animals all seemed so alive and full of energy. He was somewhat knowledgeable of what had taken place here during the war, and he knew that many parts of this territory had to be renewed and fixed up, and for what seemed like the hundredth time, he wondered what wolves had the amazing abilities to rebuild everything.

Dai nearly jumped when Icewulf spoke, completely lost in his own mind and startled as the hushed sounds were broken by the loud, crisp voice beside him. Calming himself the wolf nodded, paying attention now to his companion.

"I can't even imagine living in the snow for all seasons.. Not something I'm comfortable with. You step in thinking you'll sit on the top, and next thing you know, you're nose deep and stuck." He reminisced about long ago when he was still a young wolf, having that exact thing happen to him. Daichi was clumsy as an adult, never mind a young wolf... "I believe my old pack lands are located somewhere within this pack territory now, so I can agree to that." He answered solemnly, taking a moment to look above him at the sky as Icewulf took in his deep breath, noticing the trees above him beginning to become more and more scarce as they entered into a wide open space, the male tilting his head ever so slightly to the right. This is where they should be? What on earth could they do here? The ground seemed torn apart as if a tornado blew through or a heavy storm. Was this part of the lands that wasn't finished?

"A mystery?" Dai was beyond intrigued, many possibilities crossing his mind at just what the mystery could be. There were lots of mysteries he had already seen - like the spirit lake for one - and he wondered what sort of magic this place could be hiding away. When Icewulf spoke about his mate Dai wondered what they could possibly do to this place to impress her, seeing as it was rather barren over all. None the less, he was eager to learn what his purpose here was and he nodded to Icewulf, taking a few steps into the clearing to look around. "Ready as I'll ever be."

ooc: Writing this after not sleeping all night, sorry if it's sloppy. xD Been a long week, and I feel bad not getting this out when I got the other replies done. :c I'll try to be more timely next time!

[Mokobo]

"Excellent, if you will follow me then." Now that the task was at paw Icewulf felt the cobwebs of drowsiness and age begin to shake loose. With a brisk pace he would stride across the windswept ground beside the stream. "First you must know what sort of wonder lies hidden here. Beneath these lands, and most likely many of the surrounding, there are many caves. Some are connected in massive catacombs, some hold ancient writings, and others can contain ancient magics. Finding one such cave is usually a rare thing though, and Hawke could tell you more of them than I could ever hope to."
As the elder spoke these words they would arrive at the crater-like depression which the pine tree had torn from the earth in its lethal fall. Woven into the thick roots of the tree was a massive boulder surrounded by turf and smaller stones. Such a large rock was apparently responsible for the steep slopes near the top of the crater while the bottom edge was nearly level with the bank of the stream. The tree had apparently sprouted in front of the large boulder, only to slowly encompass it as it grew over the stream to avoid the shade from the surrounding forest. From the size and girth of the felled tree, one could determine that anything buried beneath it had been for some time.
"More than likely we will find nothing of note within, except perhaps the stash of some long-passed rodent." A quick glance within the pit would raise doubts that there was even a cave to dig up. The only hint of solid stone laid near the top of the depression left by the large boulder. Barely noticeable among the dark, tightly packed soil was a rough semicircle of granite. "You know, before the earth wolves expanded and elaborated upon the design, the Hall of the Vorlfur was one such cave. My comrades and I discovered it after our flight to these lands and made our home there."
After making a slow circuit around the edge of the pit so that Daichi could make his own assessment of their project, Icewulf would come to a halt. With a soft grunt, the elder would leap upon the trunk of the fallen tree. Once atop his perch, Icewulf would turn to face Daichi before calmly taking a seat. "Which is precisely what we are going to do, make a new home. Before we can dig," He would pause to slap a paw upon the sticky bark of the tree, "We have to get this out of our way. I have a couple ideas of how we can, but first I would like to hear any suggestions you may have." Icewulf would quirk his brow slightly after his final words as if to accentuate the inquiry.


OoC - I guess it was my turn to take a while to reply, sorry about that ^_^; Also, I feel like this post is lacking something, but hopefully not too much D=

[Vivid]

Daichi nosed forward toward the tree and took a few sniffs of the decaying wood, enjoying the earthy smell, still somehow fresh of pine despite probably having been fallen for a very long time. He followed his nose to the pit that Icewulf stood over and listened as the elder spoke, trying to feel for any air current that a cave might produce. Finding nothing, Daichi sneezed and shook his body, standing up straight and pondering Icewulfs words.

"Are you sure there is even anything here?" He asked as he drew a paw across the dirt, cupping it a few times to dig a shallow hole. It seemed hard to believe that hidden under the rubble there would be one of the tunnels, after all, what made this specific spot special? He wandered around a little to look from different sides, trying to decide if the old wolf he followed here had lost his mind or not. He looked up from crouched over the hole when Icewulf jumped onto the fallen tree, tilting his head.

"Out of our way? This thing is huge... I can't think of a way to safely remove it.." He trailed off for a few heartbeats, examining the pine carefully. "It looks dry enough that I could set it aflame... But it would take a considerable time to burn out, and I can't exactly control fire per say. It would be able to spread very easily." He was vexed. How could they move it? This was a job for something much larger and stronger, or at least several more wolves.

"I can't think of any other option, there is no way we have the strength together to just roll it out of the way. Especially since there are still so many branches attached. What were you thinking?" Like the elder, Dai took to sitting down beside the trunk, his fiery eyes studying the system of roots.


Ooc: The "what were you thinking" is referring to his ideas. I realized that sounded a lot like him mocking Icewulf after I finished writing it. xD

[Mokobo]

Icewulf's tail would flick slightly in amusement as he listened to Daichi ponder the dilemma. It wasn't that the elder wolf found the younger amusing, but rather that he was pleased with their words. He had suspected that this youth might have a strong head on his shoulders, and this project seemed to already have brought some of that trait forward. "Good, very good." A broad grin spread across Icewulf's lips as he spoke his praise before continuing. "You're right in that despite being dry, this tree would burn for a very long time. What's more, the pitch would make the fire hotter than usual. It could spread and destroy the clearing, or worse yet, part of the forest." As if to accentuate the point, the white wolf would pause to gesture to their surrounding area.
"However, I am not without my own powers, and as our elements conflict I could possibly help contain such a burn. We may revisit that idea if my plan does not work." Once more Icewulf would pause to cast an appraising glance toward Daichi. It would be apparent that the elder was enjoying how their task perplexed his companion. Yet he would not withhold the information for too long. "You're also right in that the tree is far too heavy for us to drag, and that the branches prevent us from rolling it." Icewulf would lightly smack his tail against one of the lower branches, causing a shower of copper-colored needles to fall into the stream below. "If this creek was a river we could perhaps float the tree away, but these waters are too shallow and too weak."
As he spoke those words, the white wolf would allow his tail to droop over the edge of the tree's trunk. The very tip of that appendage lightly touched the surface of the water, causing a needle to change its course to follow the babbling brook. "However, if we use both our powers, and take advantage of how easily some of these branches will break off-" He would pause to close his eyes slowly. As those pools of icy blue would shut, a small ring of ice would begin to form around the tip of his tail. Once there was a disc of ice bobbing upon the surface of the water, Icewulf would lift his tail to allow the frozen craft to take its journey toward the lake. "-We can give this tree the little push it needs to go on its way and allow us to begin our work."
With a broad grin that could almost fortify the assumption that the elder had indeed gone mad, Icewulf would leap down from the fallen tree. "We'll break off the branches on the side closest to the stream. As you can see, it lays across the water at an angle." Once more the elder wolf would turn to gesture toward the tree to prove his point. "Once there is a surface that is somewhat smooth, I will freeze the stream solid and we will push the tree onto the ice and downstream. You will have to melt the surface of the ice to make the going easier. It will be a lot of work, but I believe it is the safest option." With these words Icewulf would turn to face Daichi once again. "And if my plan does not work, you can burn it to cinders safely within the bed of the stream."

[Vivid]

Dai looked up to the sky after browsing along the roots, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. "If we manage to get it into the stream, won't it catch further up at cause a blockage?" He pondered how it would work and what he would have to do. It was possible that he could just summon his fire orbs and use them to trim the tree, or maybe even just bite the branches... But that was a lot of work. Not to mention defrosting the stream. That would take a lot more effort if Icewulf froze it solid - which was likely considering they had to move the tree across it - and he wasn't really willing to use any other method than his orbs to defrost it. His magic was strong and he couldn't control it, Icewulf would need to stand far away and watch for anything that lit.

He yawned, becoming stressed, his tongue lolling out with a curve at the tip. Would they be able to do it easily? Was there really no other option? Surely there was another wolf who would be better off than he was, someone who could just... Use earth magic to move it? The plan on burning it within the stream seemed the best course of action, and he hoped things would turn out that way. Not wanting to wait any longer (and think about the worst outcomes) Dai wandered over to the part of the tree nearest the stream and summoned several orbs of fire to set to work taking off the underside branches, chewing one off, partially to relieve his stress.

"How are we going to push this, exactly? Even on ice it's going to take a lot of strength." He spoke before tearing into his branch, already having taken three or four off with his fire which left little smouldering spots against the wood. This fire, he was confidant he could control. As his curious eyes wandered over the large pine the male wondered once more if Icewulf was even the slightest bit crazy. The tree was large and still had many a branch to add to the weight, it seemed impossible to Daichi that they could move it. He sneezed, a bit of pine dust irritating his nose from chewing the branch off. Was he going to go alone with Icewulfs plan until it proved to fail, or was he going to go about it his way? So far the elder hadn't steered him too wrong...

I'll probably kick myself for this later... He thought to himself as he kept burning off the branches, once in a while dipping a flame into the water below just for the satisfying sizzling sound.

Ooc: Late as fuuuu. Apologies, this took me about 4 days to get together because nothing I was writing seemed right. Been a very off few weeks. Hope it's okay to work with, if you need anything changed let me know.

[Mokobo]

Rather than rush into aiding Daichi with the task, Icewulf would instead take a moment to observe the other. While his own proposed plan was feasible, he had intentionally made it far more elaborate than was necessary. He had hoped that the other would leap at the opportunity to the quicker option, even if it was more risky. While Daichi had brought up his doubts, he had not wavered from the assigned task. Instead, the younger wolf had set to the task Icewulf had assigned with a deliberate sort of determination. Yet the white-pelted elder could not help but to wonder why the other seemed to shy away from his own magic. Even as he went about breaking off the branches, Daichi used the same wisp-like spheres that Icewulf had seen utilized before.
Icewulf was so engrossed in contemplating this mystery that he almost failed to notice the question Diachi posed to him. Pushing his thoughts aside for the moment, the elder would slowly approach to examine what progress his companion had made so far. "That's an astute observation of you to make." The words were not spoken in a mocking way, but were simply stated as one would remark upon the climate. "However, strength isn't just a measurement of physical prowess. It can represent other qualities, and perhaps one of those may just be what we need." After calmly reciting this enigmatic phrase, Icewulf would nod in approval of Daichi's progress before slowly striding away.
The elder wolf would approach the uprooted base of the tree before appraising with a pensive gaze. After only a moments pause, Icewulf would raise a paw to touch the tightly woven mass of roots which loomed over him. He would close his eyes as a brisk breeze would begin to pick up. This mysterious wind seemed to come from nowhere, and would rise up as he gathered forth the required energy. Soon creeping fingers of frost would spread out from where he touched the soiled wood. The icy crystals would spread faster as the wolf continued to focus his magic upon the root system. He would do his best to concentrate the growing ice within the bundle of roots, but despite this effort a wave of cold would slowly wash up the rest of the tree. Soon the twisted ball of wood was entirely coated in a thin layer of frost.
Yet Icewulf did not stop there, and would continue to pour his magic into the base of the tree. The frost would turn to solid ice, which was almost entirely clear from how dense it was. Icicles began to droop from more wayward roots, and the air within the clearing would grow so bitterly cold it would nip at the tips of noses and ears. The fibers of the wood would groan and pop as every ounce of moisture within grew solid. Once he was certain the root system was entirely frozen, Icewulf would at last cease the flow of energy. As the wind suddenly died off, the elder would let loose an exhausted sigh before lowering his paw from the icy wood.
For a moment the white wolf would stand still, his head slightly bowed and his eyes closed. Yet this statuesque pose would not be held long, as he would quickly snap open his eyes and lift his head. He imagined to himself that the frozen base of the tree was a foe. Not just any adversary either, but his oldest and most hated. Rage would quickly boil within his chest, but it soon began to burn out of control. A ferocious snarl would escape the grizzled veteran as he would slam his shoulder into the wall of frost and wood. Icicles and roots would break off from the force of the impact, but the wolf was apparently not satisfied with this. He would take a quick step back before leaping into the air. His paws would whip out in a series of rapid blows which would rival those of a far younger warrior. As he landed upon the ground he would lash out in a similar attack once more, snapping off more icy roots with each new attack. In a matter of moments Icewulf decimated the root system, and was soon left panting upon all fours as his rage slowly subsided.
As he struggled to catch his breath, the elder would wonder to himself what had just happened. From a young age he had been able to control his anger, harnessing it to his own means rather than let it consume him. Yet when he had imagined the base of the tree as Shanto the fury had taken control of him. The sensation had been so unexpected, and had startled him so much, that even as the adrenaline subsided he struggled to control himself. Sudden realization would wash through him, and he would quickly look to Daichi to see how the other might have reacted to such a display of anger. After a moment of awkward silence, Icewulf would simple give a grim nod before turning to slowly approach the waters of the brook. "Continue working on those branches. I will prepare the stream."

[Vivid]

Whilst Dai knew there were other kind of strengths, none of the ones he could think of made any sense to help push a huge dead tree across several feet of ice. Mental strength, maybe, yet neither of the two had and sort of psychic abilities that he knew of. Gradually he was growing frustrated by the elders vagueness. Did he think this was a joke? Why couldn't he be forthcoming in his answers? He watched the wolf walk away for a heartbeat before once again snapping off a branch, redirecting his anger. He didn't mind doing a lot of the work seeing as that was what he came here for, but having nonsense spouted to him while doing it.... His tail thwapped against the trunk of the tree.

In the back of his mind he muttered on to himself about the events of the morning and how everything was moving along, trying to find some alternative to moving this large downed tree. It seemed like they would have to get crafty since he figured Icewulf didn't really have any idea how they were going to do it. At least if he did, it seemed it was top secret. It seemed like a lot of things today had felt like that and it annoyed the wolf a little.

A cold wind nipped his nose and Daichi looked up confused. It was a brilliantly warm day.. What in the... He looked behind him to see part of Icewulf at the base of the tree, realizing that it was the elders magic he was feeling. The cold didn't bother Dai as he just let his own magic pulse, effectively combating the cold with his warmth. The male continued to break and burn off branches at a quick pace, getting most of them done on two-thirds of the tree. Soon he'd have to switch sides so that whatever they were going to do with the tree, it wouldn't get stuck anywhere. There were crackles and pops as the ice was forming and then suddenly a loud snarl, Daichi spinning around with hackles raised, fangs bared briefly in fright. Had someone snuck up on them?! Instead of an adversary, Daichi watched as Icewulf beat the tree with great force, the males ears flicking in confusion and mild fear. Could he have been poisoned by Shanto too, to act so strangely?

He stood his ground and just watched the elder until things came to a close, getting nothing more than a nod to answer his many questions when Icewulf settled down, telling Dai once more to work on the roots. Puzzled and still a smidge frightened, the fire wolf sighed, keeping an eye on the elder while jumping over the trunk, working away on the last of the branches.

[Mokobo]

As Icewulf slowly approached the stream, he began to assume a demeanor far different from the one which had accompanied his fearsome display of fury and physical prowess. Each step seemed to shake portions of the anger and tension from his form, and by the time the elder wolf could see his reflection he had resumed his usual cool, collected attitude. If Icewulf was aware of the fright that he had instilled in Daichi, his actions did not reveal such knowledge. Instead he gazed impassively at his paws for a moment, pondering the dull throbbing sensation the recent abuse of them had left behind. With an almost apathetic shrug, the arctic wolf would dip one of those paws into the waters of the stream, causing a small smile to pull at the corner of his lips as his icy blue eyes lazily drift shut.
For a moment the aging canine seemed a picturesque portrayal of serenity as he soothed his aching limbs one by one. The surrounding forest seemed to mirror this new aura which emanated from Icewulf. After a few silent moments nearby songbirds began to trill their songs once more. A soft breeze flowed over the top of the forest canopy, rushing through the small clearing which composed the canines' work-site to play among the nearby grasses and dandelions patches. Once he was finished cleaning the sticky sap of the pine tree from his fur, a soft sigh of pleasure would issue from the warrior wolf before he turned to face his companion and assess their progress. Apparently what Icewulf saw was to his liking, as his smile would broaden slightly as he issued a satisfied grunt before speaking.
"That will do just fine, excellent work Daichi." The words were accompanied by another nod of approval before the elder wolf gestured the younger to approach. "Come, rest a moment. I wish to explain some things to you as I prepare our next task." After making his request, Icewulf would turn to face the babbling broke before easing into a comfortable seat. The elder would dip his paw into the water as he had before, but this time he began to idly twirl his limb through the flowing fluid as he waited for the other wolf to join him. After a few moments of patience silence, Icewulf's voice would raise up whether Diachi had joined him or not.
"It's important during times such as these that we continue to live." As he uttered this preamble to his apparent lesson, the aging arctic wolf would watch his paw's meandering path through the stream. "By that I mean that even with the impending danger and doom which Shanto's presence represents looming over us, we must continue to work toward building a better future." Icewulf's soft smile would falter for a moment as hazy memories flashed before him, but the genial expression would quickly return with an wistful tinge to it. "It's that thought which has always separated me from my oldest foe. Where his rage has consumed him like the wildfire it is, mine has been tempered, harnessed and directed toward pursuing some of the most important things in this world-" The canine would pause as he began to release his power once more, causing a thing layer of frost to grow out from his submerged paw. "Family, love- and justice. Shanto believes killing myself and all those I love will bring justice for the dead, but that is not justice. That is vengeance-"
Again Icewulf's voice would drift off as he seemed to ponder the narrative he was offering. As a chickadee began to warble from the boughs of a nearby tree, he would break his reverie to continue speaking. "-And he has already had his revenge. Those I once commanded killed most of his family, against my wishes, and kidnapped the rest per my orders. Orders I myself had been given. For these crimes he passed judgement down upon my late mate and first born-" For a brief moment his blue eyes seemed to harden as the ice issuing from his paw connected between both banks of the brook. "For that crime I passed the same judgement down upon him. An action that cost me several close friends." Water began to bubble over the top of the makeshift wall of ice, hardening to form fresh layers in the construct. "Which is when I learned just what was worth fighting for in this life." The frosty layer which had crept into Icewulf's eyes would shatter as he turned his gaze toward Daichi, his wistful, pained smile returning. "Do you understand?"

OoC - This took way too long for me to get done Dx Things have been hectic (to say the least) over in Monkeyland lately, but hopefully things will to continue to settle as the holidays pass by. >.>

[Vivid]

The taste was getting old, and his uneasiness remained intact as he watched the elder from the corner of his eye. What had gotten into Icewulf? Whilst hardly knowing him, Daichi didn't take him for someone to lose control like that. Surely Shato had something to do with it, poison or not? The canine brought a paw up to his nose to wipe away a splinter that had poked him, tail swishing irritably behind him. This wasn't exactly what he thought today would be like, and it was far from over yet...

His right ear twitched to the grunt Icewulf made, looking over to his companion with a tilt of his head to be greeted with the words of a finished job. Dai flopped onto his haunches and took a heavy breath, dispersing the flames around him that had continued to singe away the little branches until puffing out into smoke. Dai wasted no time walking over to the water and taking a long drink once Icewulf signaled him, working at getting the taste of sap and bark out of his mouth and off his paws. It was horribly sticky stuff... Content that his mouth no longer tasted too funny, he sat back down and swiveled his ears to the elder, his eyes watching the ripples of the water carefully, intrigued as it began to freeze slowly.

As Icewulf came to a close with his words Dai pondered the question, mulling it over carefully to give his reply. Many thoughts passed through his mind, some bittersweet and some he'd rather forget, while others were of his pup years, surrounded by family. After several heartbeats, the male spoke, his tone solid, unwavering.

"You say it's important to live, but to protect those dear to you, it might cost you your life. I've always believed in family, even though most of my life was spent without one. I also believe in vengeance however, even if it's against ones self. I understand where you're coming from... But I can't agree with all of it." He paused, his bright eyes turned toward the sky. "I fight for what I believe in, for what I feel needs to be protected. Not just for family, not just for love." Dai turned his gaze back to the elder for a moment before he went back to trying to rid his paws of sap, gnawing at them gently.


I don't really have an excuse for this taking so long, very poor muse as of late. Still could have got something out ages ago, just haven't wanted to. My apologies, hope this is okay to work with.

[Mokobo]

As Daichi answered the question that Icewulf had posed to him, the latter's full attention was arrested by the former's words. A small frown formed on the elder's lips as he listened to the reasoning of the younger canine, but not once did he interrupt. Instead, even for several moments after Daichi had finished speaking, Icewulf silently surveyed the student before him. Those icy blue eyes seemed to be pondering several things before they at last turned from the fire elemental and returned to the ever-growing semi-circle of ice. Slowly the arctic wolf rose to all fours, maintaining his silence, before beginning to gather several of the branches scattered across the earth during Daichi's earlier labor. It was only after a few moments of collecting the sticky limbs that Icewulf at last spoke again while continuing this odd work.
"Living is not just survival. A creature who is a master of surviving can not live a single day if they do not seek or create that which gives them joy. Just as family can be much more than simple ties of blood. Over the years I have come to view this pack as my family, and since my son has assumed leadership this sentiment has only increased. I have fought hard to protect my new family, and have made many sacrifices for their sake. I have also grown to love these lands, so full of bounty and opportunity that even the most destitute may have hope of building a life worth living among its borders." As Icewulf recited this speech, the pile of pine boughs continued to grow in size. Shortly after his final words the elder seemed satisfied with the material gathered, and as such he once more assumed his seat beside Daichi and the side of the stream.
"Most importantly, though, you must understand the true meaning of vengeance. The form you speak of, against one's self, is in truth penitence. It can achieve good, but as with the other it does not serve the common good. Both are selfish acts, born of emotion, which ignore reason in order to fulfill base desires. Truly vengeance is the more destructive of these acts, as it focuses on doing harm to others, but penitence is as equally destructive to one's self." All though the duration of this shorter speech Icewulf had kept his gaze trained upon Daichi so as to judge his reactions. Yet, as his final words drifted off on a passing breeze, the elder once more focused upon the work before him before continuing. His following words came in a halting pace, as he often paused to grasp a severed tree limb in his maw before carefully placing it upon the growing barrier of ice. Each bough was quickly covered in a fresh layer of ice before the wolf would continue his lecture.
"Justice is about ending the cycle of harm brought on by vengeance. Those I commanded killed Shanto's family, so he killed mine, for which I killed him, and now he desires to visit harm upon those I care for once more. If I were to march off to do battle with him, it would only be furthering this cycle. Reason tells me that, for the time being at least, it is not my place to end the existence of that wretched soul. While it would do good for most of the pack, my family and that which I love, not all within that group would benefit. What of Káshila and Vellina? Is it my place, he who has torn their father from them so viciously, to deny them the opportunity of closure with their patron? While it is unlikely, might Shanto not come to repent for the atrocities he has committed? It is not the place of a servant to justice to decide its course, only to fulfill its will." Once more the elder wolf allowed his words to be lost among the serene peace which surrounded the glade. With this particular lesson concluded, Icewulf busied himself with precisely laying the tree branches upon the ice. The barrier was now nearly as tall as he, and the wolf had to climb atop it to place his material on the side closest the far bank of the stream. He maintained his silence though, casting his gaze toward Daichi every so often to observe his reply.

OoC - Oh no worries ^_^ I may vocally badger for replies from time to time, but I know all to well how fickle the muse (and time) can be =3 On a side note, it was interesting trying to type this with a broken finger xD