VODOPADNAYA'S PLACE OF MIRRORS

Nokar somehow missed this place on his journey east to Kiveyka Bay, and my predecessors, including Nokar himself and his father, also made the same mistake. So I, The Last Ancient, had the honor of discovering this gem. When I was an older adolescent, and capable of handling myself, I came across what I call Vodopadnaya's Place of Mirrors. In my darkest moments, I would come here to seek peace, alone. Before my packmates and I engaged on our mission to the Oaken Forest, I brought them here, in hopes that they too might find peace. I knew then that such peace could be so easily taken away.

PREY: MANCHURIAN HARE, MANCHURIAN DEER, MOUNTAIN HARE, VARIOUS SPECIES OF FISH
PREDATORS: BROWN BEAR, LYNX (non-threat)

Star ran to catch up with the wolf in front of her. She looked at the beautiful scenery in front of her. No wonder this is the place of mirrors. The water reflected the landscape so perfectly, she wondered if it wasn't actually a mirror placed there.

To make sure she poked her muzzle in the water for a drink. It seemed liquid enough so she swallowed.

She heard a splash break the silence and looked at the other wolf. A fish glittered in the sunlight, and was then picked up by the other wolf. The wolf then crushed its head and went off to sit on a boulder.

Star wanted to know more about everyone, so why not start now. She wen over to the boulder then sat down.
"My name's Star, if you haven't already heard, and you are?"
Was that the proper way to introduce yourself? It had been a while since she had talked to others. She wasn't one to start conversations, but it's good to know who's in your pack.

I approach the wolves, recognising one of them. One seem familiar but I'm not sure, "Hello, Loup. Remember me? Its me Lupa." I look the other wolf over, I then hear the other wolf say its name. I decide to not interupt and walk off to the river instead, the journey we have left is long and I know where to go thanks to Koa.

I scent Mountain Hare on the other side of the river, I look back seeing the wolves talking to one another so wade across. I stalk the hair through bushes until... POUNCE I land on it bringing it down instantly, it was an easy meal but I still tuck in. I eat all of it before wading back across and lying by the water thinking of my journey.

Encountered wolves: Loup, Star
Wolves talked to: Loup

Loup twisted her head to look down at the other wolf sitting at the base of her boulder. Normally her reply would have been one-worded, followed by her departure, but Loup sensed that the other female was almost as uncertain as Loup herself felt. What was it about wolves–the strange social creatures that they were–that drove them to seek the company of others when it was more intimidating than facing down a tiger? Oh well. If she was going to live with them she might as well make friends with them. Not that such a thing a easy for her.

"My name is Loup. Nice to meet you, Star. Hungry?" the brown female indicated the fish.

The other individual, Lupa, was wandering around on the opposite bank. Strange character, that wolf, but Loup admired her confidence. Loup studied the pattern of minerals in her stone perch, lost in thought.

Loup still seems a wary wolf and I decide to just lay down near the rock in front of the river. I await the rest of the pack to travel to the next location.

Soon I become bored, so begin running around before diving into the water and swimming. The other wolves probably think I'm weird about now, but I don't care. After a while in the water I get out and brave speaking to the wolves.

I speak excitedly "Hey guys! You all ready for the journey?" -- What were you thinking! You know Loup is a wary wolf! I think to myself. I calm myself down and then try to approach them more calmly, "Sorry about that... I'm Lupa, as you can probably tell I'm quite excitable." I say to the new wolf, Star I think she is called.
I then turn to Loup, "Do you remember me, Loup? I'm Lupa the one who left for a while." I hope they will re accept me but I'm not so sure whether we started on the right track. "Where are the others?" I say, but then realise I've asked so many questions. Stop with all the questions! I say to myself. I decide to wait for replies so sit infront of the boulder apprehensively, waiting for a response.

Encountered: Loup, Star
Spoken to: Loup, Star

[Also, Loup. The roleplay scenarios have been selected and you're doing number two, I'm doing 3. Me and you have to do ours in this section so we need to try and make the pack linger here until they are both completed]

"My name is Loup, nice to meet you Star. Hungry?"
Star looked at the fish and remembered how hungry she was. She went over and grabbed it, then ate it making sure she didn't eat all its little bones. When she finished she stood up and looked at this wolf called Loup.
"Thank you," she said not forgetting her manners.

"Hey guys! You ready for the journey? Sorry about that... I'm Lupa, as you can probably tell I'm quite excitable."
Star looked over at her.
"Hi Lupa, I'm Star. Anyway everyone gets excited every once in a while."
She was also very excited.

"Where are the others?" asked Lupa. She seemed full of questions today. But then again, so was Star. Even now.

"They're still back at the den. Maybe they've been eaten by the tigers, but I don't think they have."
Star hoped that was answer enough, and hoped that the tigers didn't get them.

She then smelled a new wolf scent and looked over at her location.
"Hello?" She said to the new wolf, hoping she heard.
"You're welcome to join us." Was that the right thing Star should've said? But once your words are out of your mouth, it's hard to take them back. She sat down. Hoping this new wolf would come out.

Lupa smiles when Star replies, she then realises she doesn't mind about all her questions, "Good to meet you, Star! I sure do hope they're not eaten by tigers!" She says happily, full of energy and excitement.

As a new scent arrives she flicks her head round. She doesn't recognise this wolf either. So many have joined since she left! Lupa trots up to the wolf as it begins to walk to the water. Lupa then drinks along side it. After it is finished she says, "Hello, I am Lupa. I'm quiet excitable!"

I then think to myself for a moment, Wgat if another wolf here is like you? Maybe you could get to know them better? Or even just befriend more wolves? She then realises she's been looking up to the sky.

Lupa quickly looks back down, before noticing the sun begining to set in the sky. The air becomes colder and Lupa drinks once again, still thirsty after her long journey.

Stripe approaches the marked out boundaries and sniffs them. He smells a familiar scent, No it can't be! he thinks to himself. The scent seems like Lupa's the wolf who's parents adopted him.

Out of curiosity Stripe heads forward in a submissive fashion, stopping before Lupa and then drops his chest to the ground on submission before letting out his whine, the whine he always did when Lupa and him were young. He then speaks, "Hello, Lupa. It's me." I don't know if she recognises me but I give it my best shot. I then howl loudly waiting for a reply from anyone.

Suddenly a scent comes from downwind, a recognizable scent. It is not from Sikhote Alin. It is from somewere else. She's not smelt it on her travels... She then thinks for a minute, but before Lupa can work out who it is a young black male about her age, small muscles and long muzzle turns up. As he drops to the ground and whines Lupa instantly knows who it is. Stripe. She gets up as he speaks, "Stripe! Its you! You survived?" She says happily.

Lupa runs around in joy as the small black male pulls back his head, his most recognizable aspect, his stripe, shines in the light as he let's out a howl. She pulls back her large head and pushes back her ears before opening my mouth and letting the loud howl ring out in chorus with his. Lupa begins to start a rally. Howl after howl, before eventually stopping and saying to Stripe, "That stripe and whine of yours I'd know any day!"

I then circle him wagging my tail happily at our reunion.

Loup was beginning to doubt the Last Ancient's words. These woods didn't seem abandoned at all. In fact, this seemingly still place was bursting with wolves–both familiar and unknown. Yes, Loup remembered Lupa. But before she could say so the other female had bounded off like a rabbit on the first day of spring. Now she was greeting a black and silver male like old buddies. Great, another sibling alliance. Loup thought, recalling the tree-climbing wolf and her brother. Yet another individual had been noticed by Star. They were still wary, but she figured they would come forward to join soon enough.
"You're welcome," She said to Star, giving a friendly glance before scanning the tree line for signs of the old pack members. At this rate the mission would consist of more new-comers than established members. Deciding she was done with being left out of the loop–rather literally–the brown she-wolf bounded off her perch and trotted toward the new male and his sister. Loup hesitated for a moment, looked back at the pale female she'd been talking to, then approached the other two.
"And you are?" she inquired of the stranger. She would address this one first, since the other loner was still holding back a little. Better to start now than never; not knowing people would make it easier for her to be betrayed, or to miss out on an opportunity.


[FYI Lupa: I at least have permission to do my obstacle at the bay, but if you need help keeping folks around for yours then I'll put in a word]

Lupa is so excited to see Stripe again but then realises how rude she was to Loup.

After waiting for a reply to him and receiving one she says, "Shall we hunt a deer?"

After once again receiving a reply she nods and turns to the other wolves and barks loudly, "Shall we all hunt, I'm starving and I'm guessing that the other wanderers are too?"

By now Lupa is becoming restless. She is so excited that Stripe has returned and just wants to do something. Whilst waiting for a reply she sniffs the air trying to locate some deer. Lupa catches a faint scent, its new but in the distance. The other side of the river and before the wolves have time to reply she says, "I've located the herd." Then she waits semi-patiently, pacing infront of the rock to which all the wolves are surrounding.

Mentioned: Loup, Star, Stripe, Madrone.
Spoken to: Loup, Star, Stripe, Madrone.

[Thank you, Loup! But are you starting your here or at the bay?]

Two wolves and they had just gotten there. It seemed as if Lupa knew the one. While the other was just a bit cautious. Couldn't blame her though.

Star decided to go to the wolf who she overheard her name was Madrone.
"Hello there, my name's Star. We're just waiting for the others. If they're still coming. You may join us if you wish."

She then bounded over to the other stranger, who it turned out Lupa is familiar with.
"Hello there. My name's Star." I looked at the two of them, and some more questions popped into my mind, and I wanted to find out more, but that would have to wait.

"Shall we hunt a deer?" The wolf Lupa suggested. The fish Loup caught was tasty, but also a bit small. And the others probably were hungry too so why not. She wasn't too strong, but would try to help.

As Lupa turns to Stripe he stays dead still.
"Stripe its you, you survived?"
Stripe gets up slowly and says with a smirk, "Well I'm here, aren't I?" After the chorus of joyful howls she asks him to hunt, "Yes of course, I am starving." Before Lupa runs off to ask the others Stripe leaps on her back, growling playfully before sliding off and standing a few metres behind her.

As she asks the others to hunt Stripe begins pacing behind her, his expression happy. He then thinks about whether Lupa should know about her parents. She has the right to know. But she probably already knows... The decision is hard but Stripe decides he will let Lupa ask him instead of just blurting it out.

As Star approaches him and introduces himself he becomes more excited, "I am Stripe! I knew Lupa since a young pup, I was abandoned and her parents adopted me. We became like brother and sister." Oops, you just mentioned the parents. I think to myself, he now feels quite rude and awkward.

"I've located the herd."
Stripes ears perk up at this speech, he then says, "After you, Lupa. You lead us there and we'll help you take them down." Stripe then smiles and sits patiently waiting for us to depart.

"Well I'm here aren't I?"
Lupa laughs at his cheek, "You still have all your cheekiness, haven't you!" She says with another smirk.

As Stripe leaps on his back, she growls playfully and nips gently at his ear. They were both beginning to act like pups again, Lupa being as hyper as ever didn't help.
As Star also wanted to hunt Lupa says, "Well then let's go!"

But before she can cross the river she hears her parents being mentioned. Stripes expression then turns sad and awkward. She ignores it this time but next time she may not.

"After you then, Lupa. You lead us there and we'll help you take it down."
Lupa nods to Stripe before saying, "Across the river. Follow me, we have no time to loose."

Lupa wades across the river and sniffs the air every few seconds making sure she doesn't loose track of the ever moving herd. As they near the herd she stops and says under her breath, "They're here." Before stalking them...

Seen: Loup, Madrone, Star, Stripe
Spoken too: Star, Stripe

[FYI, Loup: Sorry got you and Star mixed up. It's Star before me with the black bear threat.]

Hello, Mandrone, I'm Loup. Welcome. she might have said more, but she was distracted by voices from behind her.

"Shall we hunt a deer?"Lupa asked. There were almost instant agreements. "Across the river. Follow me, we have no time to loose."

Excuse me? Loup thought, her normally dormant pride beginning to surface. I'm the hunter here. Help is all very well and nice, but don't go taking over my job. If there was one thing Loup hated, it was that. Without replying verbally, she whipped around and plunged into the water. The rock she'd launched from was a good two feet above river, and Loup took advantage of that to propel herself forward. She made it almost a third of the way across the river before hitting the water, then was completely submerged for an instant because of the force of her leap. She surfaced with a snort and swiftly swam to the other side. She didn't need Lupa's guidance to find the herd, but she used it anyway. Better to save her energies for later. When she arrived, Loup crouched down dangerously close to her pack-mates, but also made a point of being a little in front of them. Losing her job here would make her useless, and that was the one thing she feared. No one was going to get the better of her here.

She angled her ears in the direction of the prey. A rasping sound caught her attention.
"Check out that one."she indicated an old deer who's breath was coming ragged and fast even though it was only moving at a slow walk. Normally Loup would have gone for it without a word, but she was determined to prove her intelligence and worth. Without losing track of the deer's labored breathing, the she-wolf looked at her companions for their reactions to her somewhat intense arrival. Had her indignant behavior been a fatal mistake, or would they accept her advice?


[Lupa; depends on how the RP goes. Most likely the bay, but I can't say for sure.]

As Loup begins to go ahead Lupa realises she was promoted to Hunter when she left. She then trots up to the same level as her,"I'm not trying to loose you your job." She says under her breath. Her tone of voice is slightly annoyed seen as she wanted an adrenaline rush. Lupa scans the herd for the fittest deer and weakest deer, also noticing the laboured breathing.
"Check out that one" Loup says, gesturing towards the sick, old deer. Lupa nods to her before replying softly, "That one is defiantly the weakest. But also the thinnest, hardly enough for three starving wolves. Let alone another two." She looks towards the more plum deer who has a growth on its leg, its the most far off one but also the plumpest. Lupa then gestures towards the plump, deformed deer, "This one is plump with enough meat and has a leg growth which will make it slower and easier to catch. I recommend that one."

Now beginning to get extremely hungry Lupa stalks slowly around the herd without waiting for a reply. She gets in lime with the plump deer and slyly licks her huge muzzle, wetting her nose.

Suddenly she jumps out startling the herd, beginning to chase the injured deer. She separates it from the others then chases it steadily before a sudden burst of speed. She leaps onto its back and reaches her long teeth lined jaws to its neck, plunging her teeth into its windpipe. The deer let's out a last call before dropping to the ground wheezing, Lupa then snaps its neck before pulling back her head and letting out a long joyous Howl. It wasn't the adrenaline I was looking for but it was fun nonetheless. I also now have a nice plump elk to bring back she thinks to herself.

Lupa finally drags the carcass back to the river and drops it there before ripping into its flesh.

Saw: Loup, Stripe, Star
Spoken too: Loup, Stripe, Star

[Loup: okay cool.
Star: when are you planning on starting your scenario?]

The others had already started to cross the river, so Star had to catch up fast. She quickly got a running start and launched herself forward. The river water felt nice and cool beneath her feet and she propelled herself across.

The others were already waiting there, when Star got out of the water, shaking herself vigorously. She didn't know if she got water on the others, but then Loup noticed something.
"Check out that one."
I looked over at the old, sick deer. I got excited my first pack hunt.
"That one is definitely the weakest. But also the thinnest, hardly enough for three starving wolves. Let alone two." Another one then caught Lupa's attention.
"This one is plump with enough meat and has a leg growth which will make it slower and easier to catch. I recommend that one."

She then without a reply leapt off and bounded through. Was that what was supposed to happen? This had been Star's first pack hunt, she had no idea what was supposed to happen.

She wondered if she should run and try to help or if she'd be getting in the way. So in the end she sat down and watched.

[I'm going to do mine today if nobody else joins us.]

Lupa drops the deer carcass infront of Star, "Sorry to rush off like that. I was starving. Normally we'd hunt together, y'know. But man I was hungry." Lupa then says, "Tuck in, this is hardly a meal for one. We'd all be able to fill our stomachs easily!" She says before snapping her jaws shut on its abdomen. It's insides spilling slightly.
Lupa then looks up at Loup, "Remember I am not trying to take your position. I'm more of a guarding wolf anyway, I just have adapted to be an 'all rounder' during my lone wolf days." She emphasises the 'not' trying to make her know how much she doesn't want to be a hunter.
Lupa now turns her gaze to young Stripe who is sitting off in the corner, "Come eat, Stripe. You must be starving." She then lowers her head and lifts it back again opening her huge mouth, showing her once white teeth, which now had the deer blood on them before letting out a howl, letting all the wolves know if her kill. Finally she lowers her head and begins pulling at the meat, tearing it off in chunks and eating it quickly.
Once she has eaten her fill she walks off to have a drink before once again pulling back her head, calling the other wolves to the Place of Mirrors to join their quest. Lupa then finds a shady spot where she lies down, watching over the other wolves...

Seen: Loup, Star, Stripe
Talked to: Loup, Star, Stripe

[Fine by me, Star!]

"Remember I am not trying to take your position. I'm more of a guarding wolf anyway, I just have adapted to be an 'all rounder' during my lone wolf days" Lupa said, after having brought down the deer in a matter if minutes.

Okay, Loup could respect that. At least the offense wasn't intentional. The other female certainly looked and behaved more like a fighter than a hunter. A good fighter at that. Yet, like your typical solider, this one's thinking was self-centered. Something Loup... well, detested. Any hunger or hunting drive Loup might have felt vanished as her stomach twisted with resentment. She didn't eat. Instead, choking down a snarl so violent her throat hurt, Loup walked away. She was tempted to bring down her choice of prey to prove a point, but they didn't need the food. She was angry, but not selfish enough to take a life pointlessly. That was sometimes a fault of hers. Nobody knew how she felt because she would never lash out. Or at least, she hadn't lashed out yet.

Once she was alone, Loup let her snarl come forth. She glared at the rocks between her paws. If she was going to stay, going to risk her life against a tiger, she would not tolerate this. Maybe I should just ditch she thought No, you're stronger than that. Don't let anyone get the better of you. But that was always her conundrum. The bitter fact was, Loup didn't make friends in a group. She just fended off enemies.

[Star: Go ahead, I'm all for it. They can jump in if they show up.
Lupa: I don't think this post was offensive, but just know its my character not me]

Lupa watches Loup walk off and hears her snarl. She doesn't snarl back, all she wants to do is protect them. She then says to the others, "You may all rest. I'll keep nightwatch." Lupa loves keeping nighwatch, so just sits there before then getting up and scouting around for any dangers. The only other animals in sight are deer, good, no threats found she says to herself. Maybe you should talk to Loup? She is now wondering whether Loups safety is being threatened. Lupa decides to talk to the other female, approaching her carefully.

Trying not to startle the female she walks around to her front, "No matter what you think all I want is to make sure that this whole pack is safe." Lupa then speaks in a calm voice. "I know you think I'm self-centered and just want everything for myself, but you're wrong. I'm more self-less than self-centered. I'd rather die to save your lives. Please don't bare a grudge." She says wanting to bond with this female. "My hunt back there, it was out of starvation. Not doubt upon you." Lupa tries to reassure the female of how much she doesn't doubt her. Lupa's intentions were not to hurt anyone, but to serve as she is needed. Her acts of hunger were a one off, just this once but Lupa doesn't believe this is how Loup sees it.

Seen: Loup, Star, Stripe
Spoken too: Loup, Star, Stripe.

[Loup: No offence was taken although you did get one bit on incorrect information, it does state in Lupa's bio that she is basically the opposite of self-centered. I tried to mention this in the roleplay post.]

Raelyn tail swished back and forth, and her fur was as dark as always as she sniffed the air on a upcoming breeze, trying to find the rest of the pack. She was behind, and was quickly trying to catch up. She got this far, but the scent ended here and she was getting worried. But to her luck, she saw them across a river, a carcass of a deer nearby. So she stretched her powerful back legs and leaped into the river, and made her way to the other side of the shore, and shook her wet coat out. "Did I miss something? she asked the group, not caring who responded to her.

It seemed to Star already, that enemies have been made, she just hoped she wouldn't have to pick sides.

"Sorry to rush off like that. I was starving. Normally we'd hunt together, y'know. But man I was hungry. Tuck in, this is hardly a meal for one. We'd all be able to fill our stomachs easily!" I understood.

A hungry wolf at all the herd will run. In hopes of many to make sure of one.
"I can't blame you, hungry wolves are always the most desperate to get food."
Since most others were digging in I decided to do the same. My once pure white muzzle was now red with blood.
"Thank you."

I then smell a strange scent. A new wolf came over, and yet it wasn't that of a wolf. I sniffed again trying to place it. A ferocious growl escapes my mouth, my fur stands on end.
"Bears."