call an o p t i m i s t . /cheyenne

[sköldpadda]

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[atrb=background,http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae183/sigathkerr/Tables/skoldpaddatablemid.png] Large brawn moved rather clumsily along the ledge protruding from the side of the gigantic rock formation, copper ringed eyes remained fixed upon his paws and the stone beneath them, being very cautious while this close to the edge of a cliff. Being such a large wolf made it very difficult for Skoldpadda to manoeuvre his way around tricky obstacles such as this, it didn't take much to throw him off balance. But, then again, it had been completely his choice to be an idiot and venture out this far onto the cliff, it had been all his decision to explore the largest mountain in Everfrost. He sighed heavily to himself, copper ringed eyes gazing out over the scenery before him before it dropped, sending a small wave of panic through him as he realized just how far up he was standing. The ends of his shaggy russet fur stood on end, muscles quivering slightly as he had a panicked image of himself slipping off the edge. He shook his head, he would not be that clumsy. Ears rotated atop his skull, trying to absorb all the noises around him, so far there was nothing particularly exciting, just the continuous whistling of the wind around him. He settled his haunches onto the stone floor beneath himself, letting his tail lay out limply behind his body. His muscles were slightly more rigid than they usually were, he was not used to heights, and he must admit, they were somewhat putting him on edge. Trying to ease his tension, Skoldpadda let his gaze drift over the tops of the trees before him, he was higher than they were, which astounded him, seeing the earth from this height was breathtaking, absolutely beautiful. He was glad he had talked himself into venturing this far up the mountain, the view was certainly worth it. He sat still at the cliffs edge for a few moments longer, admiring the scenery, before he decided it was about time he left. His nerves had calmed a little, but he wasn't going to be completely relaxed until he got down from this mountain. Lifting himself from the ground, he stepped backwards cautiously, inching his way away from the ridge. He was not easily scared, but he knew when to be weary, and being this close to the edge didn't seem overly safe to him. As he moved away from the cliff he felt much better, his muscles began to relax and he moved at a steady pace down the path he had come up. His muscles ripped beneath the bronze sheen of his pelt, making his shaggy fur appear almost fluid, like moving water, the way it moved. His tail hung limp, swaying from side to side with every long stride he took. It wouldn't be long before he reached the base of the mountain now, only a few minutes, if he kept up the slow lope he was currently moving at. It wasn't a particularly sunny day, and for that Skoldpadda was glad, that meant there wasn't enough sunlight and heat to overheat him. There was a nice breeze this high up too, moving the air around so it didn't feel quite so humid. He hoped the breeze would still be existent at the base of the mountain, as well. His tongue hung limply from the side of his mouth, breathing becoming slightly more rugged and off-beat as he increased his speed on the last trek of the path. He was now moving at a mild jog, although moving downhill made it seem a little faster. Once he reached the bottom of the mountain, his paces slowed, and he ran his tongue across his muzzle. His mouth was dry, he could feel the unpleasant pain as he inhaled the crisp air deep in his throat. He looked around, scanning the terrain around him for any visible sign of water. He didn't see anything, but he picked up a sound which sounded suspiciously like a small amount of moving water. Maybe a stream or river? His interest perked with the thought, and he turned his attention toward the thin line of trees where the sound was hidden. Ears continued to swivel atop his head, leading him directly to a small stream hidden not too deep inside the trees. He walked to it's bank, pawing at the water's moving surface hesitantly with a fore paw. He waded ankle deep into the stream with his front paws before lowering his muzzle toward the welcomed refreshment. He lapped up the cold water for a few seconds, letting his bright golden eyes close as he did so. The burning sensation at the back of his throat was immediately sustained and he felt much better. Licking the excess liquid from his muzzle and whiskers, Skold lifted his head and stepped out of the stream. He shook himself furiously, sending his already shaggy and disheveled pelt into an even messier frenzy. He didn't mind his rugged appearance, it only made him look larger and stronger than he already was. A yawn broke his muzzle, and he settled his haunches on the ground beside the stream. Maybe he would decide to take a nap here for a while.. ooc: Sorry for the crappy post, I'm not used to roleplaying this character yet. haha

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[shira]

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[atrb=background,http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae183/sigathkerr/Tables/cheyennetablemid2.png] The sun came from the sky in a great burst of perfect fall heat, enveloping the forest and the land in a surprisingly warmer atmosphere then usual. A single body sat high on the tallest mountain in Everfrost, her deep gaze fixated on the flawlessly blue sky above, her brown coat shimmering in the light, lips pulled into an even smile. She felt really calm and really close to perfection up here, where the view was irreplaceable and pure, able to see far off into the distance without having to deal with other mountains or trees in the way. The gray-tainted ivory rock was cool against the soles of her feet, her rump placed firmly on the ground and tail curled lightly around her paws. She’d travel to this place early that morning, and had been here ever since, without company and enjoying her time of silent serenity and solitude. But now she was getting bored, and her smile began to falter. It wasn’t long until she muttered something under her breath and then slinked over to a large boulder, hiding herself in the shadows, her lithe body pressed up against its rather cold surface; a total different temperature then the air outside. She supposed that if you were always hidden in the shade, you’d obviously been colder then all the rest, right? It wasn’t until moments later that her quick gaze caught a moving shape; a shaggy brute of grand structure, far stronger then she and defiantly built as a fighter. She eyes widened, never leaving him as he advanced up the mountain, but obviously not far enough to spot her hiding in the shadows of her rocky empire. The female observed as he stopped, sat himself down and looked out at the scenery; he must not come up here often like Cheyenne did when she had the time – she rather enjoyed the thrill of being taller and higher then all else, including the trees that towered above her all other times – because she could tell that he seemed a little tense from the moment that he had arrived. She had been there so long that her scent farther down the mountain must have gone mostly by now, and it was a pity too, because she was instantly curious in this male. She was finally able to breathe again when he took his leave back down the mountain side, and without thinking she followed, pulling herself to her feet and lingering in the shadows along the edge, being sure not to get too close or be seen. With her lean and slim figure she could travel and be unnoticed until she wanted to be so and she had the luck to go unnoticed this time, because occasional she did get caught. Her paws rose and fell against the rocky surface, the feeling familiar beneath her weight, auburn ears erect and high atop her skull and tail swaying in sync with her rocking hips. She continued to stalk him to the base of the mountain, pausing when he altered courses and started going to the small stream, leaving Cheyenne unsure if she should dare follow further. But she decided to a moment later, knowing that she had nothing better to do and that something might come of this. Her steps were light and as quiet as a ghost, her eyes locked on to him as she weaved around the occasional tree and such, halting her pace and seating herself far off from the stream itself, but close enough to talk to him if he were on its shore. She watched as he dove on in, and that was when a sudden fierce fire started up in the back of her throat, itching, needing … she hadn’t drank anything today, had she? Not to mention eat … but she didn’t care, she was waiting until the perfect moment to make her presence known to him. Finally, it was her time when he removed himself from the water, shaking his pelt and driving his fur into a wild mess before taking his seat on the coast. “Excuse me; you wouldn’t mind if I joined you and got a drink, would you?” She asked innocently, his own drinking creating a force so powerful that it was urging her to leap into the reviving liquid and down it all. She had been a fool staying up there most of the day, even she would admit that. “If not, I suppose I could leave…” She held easy to notice sadness in her tone then, gaze meeting his when and once he’d turn around to face her, head cocking to the side hopefully, brining herself back into a standing position. The pretty babe thought that he might recognize her scent if it had lingered somewhat in the air, but if not, he’d have no clue and no suspicions about her, and they could go along – hopefully – in a friendly and relatively social matter. That’s all she wanted; some friends and companions to spend the days with, and she had yet to find any of those. Maybe that would change today? ooc: haha, no problem, i'm still getting use to Cheyenne too - i hope this is alright word count: 854 tag: Sköldpadda

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[sköldpadda]

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[atrb=background,http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae183/sigathkerr/Tables/skoldpaddatablemid.png] Skoldpadda had his bright copper ringed eyes closed, his attention faltering from the reality around him and receding into the depths of his mind. This happened quite frequently, he wouldn't be able to keep his attention on the present, and he would find himself having an internal battle with himself. He was sure it was because of his hereditary gift of compulsion, but he could always just be nuts, too. He smiled mildly to himself at that thought. Yes, he could be insane, but he decided to stick with his first conclusion. He didn't need others thinking he was crazy. His nose twitched, breathing the air around himself in deeply. Perhaps if he hadn't been so caught up in his own thoughts, he would have noticed the unfamiliar canine scent which was slowly seeping into his nostrils. But, as it were, the smell escaped him, and he didn't realize there was another wolf in his presence until he heard a small feminine voice pipe up from his side. His attention was immediately gathered to the present time and the world around him, his bright golden and copper ringed eyes snapping open. Although he had been caught off guard, his posture didn't tense, he held his natural pose and let his gaze fall upon the female not far from him. His gaze ran the length of her body, taking in her remarkably unique features. She was small, not overly small to your average wolf, but definitely small compared to his own grand stature, and she was pretty, he noted, gaze lingering on her face which was accompanied by smouldering brown eyes and a unique pattern of darker fur which ran around her head. He observed her a moment before letting her words really seep in. Could she join him for a drink? Well he could really see no reason why not. She really didn't need his permission, this wasn't his stream, and he had finished his drink, but he knew that the she-wolf was only minding her manners, just being polite. A friendly smile crept over his features, shifting his body so that the female could be in his primary line of vision. Before he got a chance to answer her question though, she made an addition to her previous sentence, and he could clearly hear the sadness in her tone. He shook his head, clearly surprised that she would think he would banish her away without a second thought. "Of course you can join me," He answered easily, his words coated in a mild surprise. "I always enjoy some good company." He smiled at her again, lifting his haunches from the earth floor so that he could step out of her way, granting her easier access to the stream. He never took his eyes off her, and he noticed the mixture of colours dancing throughout her well kept coat. She was very unique, and he admired that. Skoldpadda himself was nothing special, sure his fur was an unusual colour, but it was basically all the same tone, there was no differences. He wouldn't complain, though, he really didn't care what he looked like all too much, he was happy with the unique coppery brown colour that his fur held. He let his hindquarters settle against the earth again once he was out of the she-wolf's way, his shaggy tail laid limply along the side of his paws. "My name's Skoldpadda, by the way," He added with a slightly weary tone, knowing the female would probably think the name odd. Most times when he introduced himself, he received a weird look, but it's not like he had chose his own name; no, that had been his parents job. "What would I call a pretty thing such as yourself?" His tone was easy, obviously trying to tone down the flirtatious undertones of the words. He was only trying to be friendly, even though he truly did think she was pretty. He let his gaze drop from the female for a moment, looking at his damp paws as he waited for her answer. ooc: it's fine, your post was awesome! :]

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[shira]

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[atrb=background,http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae183/sigathkerr/Tables/cheyennetablemid2.png] His words came to her slowly, looming through the air as Cheyenne’s brow rose, her lips twitching to avoid smiling a broad, toothy smile. While she had been watching him, she had defiantly noted that he was built big, huge compared to her, with a pure copper coat, messy and tangled, but only added onto him and made him look that much stronger. She had to admit; she was impressed, most others had muscle and size, but she had yet to meet any quite like this brute. She let the words register before she pulled herself to her forward, ears high over her head and her gaze fixed on him lightly, subtle but easy to notice. "Thank you then, on days like these we could all use some friendly company like yourself." She told him, her voice kind and somewhat playful, continuing so that she padded past him, their fur brushing against each other’s the slightest bit, but in nothing more then a natural way. She also gave a quick murmur of a ‘thank you’, since he had after all moved out of her way, without a word from Cheyenne asking for him to do so. A gentleman? Perhaps. In only a matter of moments, she arrived at the stream, pausing at the bank, letting the sand glide and squish between her toes before she slowly walked in. The cool liquid pooled around her ankles as she went far enough out into the stream, obviously since it was quite small. In one movement, she had bent her legs, granting her easier access to twist her head and drink up the reviving liquid, that fire in her throat slowly dying out and being replaced with a new, cool and refreshed feeling. Just on time too; she didn’t know how much longer she could have gone like that. As she brought her head back up, she found herself enjoying the heat now rather then despising it, and took a moment to let the warmth beat down on her back, eyes even closing momentarily. It was when she remembered the male on the shore that she opened her eyes, snapping back into reality as she turned her body around and removed herself from the water, her paws now damp and collecting the sand and dirt as she made her way back to his side. The timing was perfect for the introductions he gave, and she took her seat only a foot or so away from him, head cocking curiosity to hear what he had to say. And though she paused when she heard him name, she was mildly intrigued and flashed him a darling smile. “Skolpadda? That’s quite the name; it has a nice ring to it.” She said in a friendly tone, getting use to saying it and letting it roll off her tongue. It was unique – she’d give him that – and preferred names this way then simple, boring titles. Where was the fun in that? Besides, she really did like it, and her own name was nothing compared to that. But he had asked of it anyways, though the way he had would have made her blush if such a thing was possible. She eyes snapped to catch his gaze, facial expression a mix of surprise and sheepishness. ‘What would I call a pretty thing such as yourself?’ Oh my, had he really said that to her? Cheyenne’s smile truly turned sheepish then, her eyes flickering away as a small, light laugh erupted from her vocals. Hadn’t that just tickled her pink; she would have never thought of herself as pretty – not even appealing – and yet this brute had gone ahead and said just that! "Cheyenne," She said finally, after being able to bring her gaze back to him with only a bright smile to show her emotion, along with her eyes of course. "Sometimes I go by Chey, but it doesn’t really matter what you call me." She had control over herself now, and her tail brushed to curl around her paws, shoulders rolling back as she blinked slowly, waiting for him to raise his head once more and reply whatever way he saw fit. Well! This was turning out better then she had though it would! ooc: haha thanks, and you should know that i'm loving Skol's character so far! x) word count: 707 tag: Skolpadda

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[sköldpadda]

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[atrb=background,http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae183/sigathkerr/Tables/skoldpaddatablemid.png] His thoughts began to amble the tiniest bit again as he stared at his damp paws, which were now muddled with dirt and other debris from the forest floor around him. He scowled at this slightly, it was always so annoying to have dirty paws, they were always a nuisance to clean. He heard the female's voice again, but it sounded slightly farther away then it had been before. He was confused, had she moved? Slowly, he was able to break his gaze away from his dirty paws and onto the she-wolf again, and just as slowly, if not slower, he brought his mind back from his wandering thoughts. Gaze ran over her slender frame, noting that her paws were also wet now. Had he really been spacing out long enough for her to go get her drink? It hadn't seemed like that long. He hadn't even heard her lapping at the water. Head cocked to the side slightly, wonder washing through his eyes for a quick second. It really was strange, how easily his mind could get sidetracked, he lost so much information around him when that happened. He tried desperately to grasp at the memory of the words she had just spoke, but the escaped him for just a second too long, and he was afraid that the female might have noticed the slight hesitation and lack of comprehension on his face before he grasped the words that she had spoken. She had complimented his name. Someone complimenting his name? He was surprised, and his features were clearly shaped to this emotion for a few seconds. Too bad he had missed whatever expression the female had wore as she answered his introduction, that might have made his surprise even greater. He studied her face intently now, trying to grasp at whatever emotion it was that might still be lingering upon her face. A smile, maybe? There seemed to be a hint of a smile still lingering on her muzzle, and for that he was glad. He let his own muzzle slack of the surprised expression, letting his own small grin replace it. "Thank you," He murmured, gaze shifting to the ground once more, almost in a mixture of relief and sheepishness. "Most people look at me like I have six heads after they've heard my name." He allowed a small, easy laugh to roll off his tongue, gaze rising to meet the she-wolf's once more. When he looked at her again, he noted how she seemed to be almost fighting to keep her expression under control. It was a funny thing, and Sköldpadda couldn't help but let his smile widen slightly, his bright copper ringed eyes dancing with amusement. Was it his choice of words that seemed to have this vixen at a sudden loss for words? Her expression mingled with surprise and almost what appeared to be a nervous flattery. He noted how she had composed herself by the time she returned her gaze to him, and he couldn't help but emit a small, barely audible laugh. He listened intently for her words this time, positive that he wouldn't be drifting off this time. Cheyenne. That was a pretty name. He studied her face for a second again, registering the two together. It suited her, he finally concluded. "That's a pretty name. It suits you well, a pretty name for a pretty face." He gave her a soft, friendly smile, head still slanted to one side slightly as he studied her reaction to these words. He must admit, having watched her fight with her emotions had been a funny sight, but it made him slightly more drawn to her, knowing that she didn't have a limited emotional range, it seemed this she-wolf had a wide range of emotions. He let the smile linger on his muzzle, repeating her name over and over in his head. "Cheyenne," He muttered, storing the name away for future reference. He could tell he was being slightly more flirtatious with this female than he would have been with most, but he couldn't help it, she had a weird sort of charisma about her, and he was being drawn to it. He found himself wondering vaguely if she had the gift of compulsion as well, and he were merely being tricked by that. He banished the thought away, not wanting to ruin his first impression of her. He wanted to believe the charisma was all from the wolf, and not from some silly power she possessed which was creating a sort of mirage around her. This thought instantly had him sidetracked again, could it simply be his compulsion which was drawing her to him? He was shocked at the idea. He surely wasn't intentionally using his compulsion right now, but as he knew, it sometimes had a mind of it's own, even using it's tricks against himself. He shook his head as if to clear it, focusing on the wolf before him. Suddenly weary, he inhaled the female's scent, and noted with some relief that it was not mingled with any other canine scents. This female surely didn't travel with a pack, she was another loner, much like himself. "What does a lone wolf like yourself do for fun on days like today?" He questioned lightly, curiosity tinted on his words. He truly wanted to know, he was instantly intrigued to find out as much as he possibly could about this she-wolf. ooc: haha thank you! I love Chey's character, as well, she's a little sweetie. She hasn't seen every side of Skold yet, though ;].

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[shira]

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[atrb=background,http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae183/sigathkerr/Tables/cheyennetablemid2.png] Cheyenne had just sat there for a while, watching him, her features calm and smooth, showing no more emotion then a small – yet still true and bright – smile to portray what she was feeling. The sun was at its peak now, and thanks to her recently quenched thirst, she was rather comfortable and relaxed out in the lovely fall sun, the sky cloudless for as far as she could see. She inhaled deeply, eyes closing only momentarily to bask in the feeling, the rays seeming to warm her from the inside out. Wait, did that make sense? Her insides were all fuzzed and warm – yes, that was true – but was it really because of the sun? As one conclusion went into the next, she finally decided to push those thoughts away, deeming it not the right time to consider such things. When she was able to return her full attention back to Skoldpadda, she had just got a glimpse of his face, speckled with hesitation and lack of comprehension, and her smile faltered slightly. Had she jumbled up her words and made no sense? Or was what she saying just seemed odd and out of place? But thankfully, right before she was about her open her mouth and cover up for these assumed faults, she saw surprise on his face, and she could tell that he had grasped whatever he had missed before. Her smile reared back into place, and her tail flickered, brushing against her paws as she listened while he spoke about the usual reaction to his name. Shock was easily noticeable on her face after he said that, mixed with a somewhat distasteful flicker. “Well, then they must have no taste whatsoever for good names.” She retorted, echoing his laugh with one of her own, her face losing the shock and distaste for a playful and teasing tint, gaze holding when his golden eyes met hers. She was trying oh so hard to figure out any emotion that happened upon his copper face, knowing that her own reactions and expressions were easy to see and realize; though it was just the way she was, and she felt as though she had nothing to hide from her new found friend as of now. She did however, notice the amused glint that tagged along with his widening smile, and she knew that must have been because of her reaction to his previous words towards her. Sometimes, maybe she was just too obvious, and she would have felt heat rising in her cheeks if such a thing was possible for a wolf. But she tried not to show as much emotion as before, especially now that he had complimented her again. She hate to admit that she couldn’t hold back the teasing thoughts rolling around inside her mind that came into play only seconds later. “Do you want me to lose my head because of all this flattery?” She joked, shaking her head with another light laugh, eye sparkling, wonder how he’d react to this outburst, though anyone could tell that she was fond of all the compliments. “You know you’re about the only one to say that to me? Ever?” And that much was true; she couldn’t remember another time that someone had called her pretty, and she had met a good deal of wolves in her journeys. This was probably the sole reason she reacted so obviously when he had said it; she’d never dealt with those kind of words before, and it had more or less scared her to bits.“But thanks, I don’t hate the name so much myself.” Ah, the darling was quite the character right now and she playfully brought herself to her feet, stretching out her slowly tightening limbs and pulling her gaze away from the brute for those few moments. Though it was obvious to tell that she was joking and enjoyed the flattery, there was always that chance that he’d mistake it for something else, and then the whole meeting would probably go downhill from there. Cheyenne didn’t want that one bit, and prayed now that she said it that it wouldn’t be happening. She padded up to him, eyes friendly and her smile now as bright as the sun itself, though still her signature small and barely-there shape. Some things were undeniably surprising; take Cheyenne’s smile for instance. How could such a small thing, barely there and in no way boastful, hold so much emotion and happiness? Wasn’t it supposed to be ‘the bigger the better’? And though it defiantly wasn’t the time for anyone to talk about that, it was defiantly a question that passed by the heads of others once or twice while around her. She brought her attention back to Skoldpadda now, rolling her shoulders back and gliding another foot or so towards him, smile daring to transform into a smirk before taking her seat again, much like a little game she was starting to play. She felt very calm and social around him, and something about his very aura intrigued her, made her want to know everything and anything about him. “Fun?” She mused lightly, ears flickering slightly over her head as she thought about this; what did she do for fun? “Whatever I’m in the mood for, really; what can’tt we do? We’re loners after all, we have the mountains, the streams and the valleys and the lake all to ourselves; the possibilities are endless.” She explained, her tone gaining a very perky and happy tune to it, deep eyes meeting his again. “But I love to swim, and exploring the mountains; the view from up there is amazing.” She added honestly, remembering the scenery and the feeling of being up there, being taller and towering above everyone and everything else. As for swimming, it was just a habit of hers, the water was somewhere she could go to relax and let go of all of her fears and problems, even as odd as that might sound. “What about you Skold? Oops, you don’t mind if I call you that do you?” Oh yes, because she’d hate to call him something he detested; if anyone dared to call her CheyChey, or Che or something as oddly annoying as that, she’d have their head in no time at all. ooc: haha, i'm sure i haven't! but seriously what's with my last line? x] word count: 1,053 ... my longest post in a while tag: Skoldpadda

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[sköldpadda]

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[atrb=background,http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae183/sigathkerr/Tables/skoldpaddatablemid.png] The large brute shifted his weight slightly, finding a more comfortable position against the ground. His shaggy copper tinted tail laid in the fallen debris behind him, twitching every so often as if it had a mind of it's own. He let his gaze trail away from the female once more, as nice as she was to look at, Skoldpadda didn't want to seem like he was staring too intently at her, so he let his focus snap to the easy moving current in the stream, watching as the water glided over the smooth surface of some rocks, the sunlight which was now becoming more prominent also glittering from the water's surface brilliantly. His ears rotated toward the she-wolf's voice as she commented, but he didn't bring his gaze back up to meet her just yet. He snorted lightly, an amused sound, obviously referring to her take on other wolves' take on his name. Maybe it wasn't so much that they had a bad taste in names, maybe she just had a weird taste in names. That seemed more appropriate, after all, didn't the majority always win? His smile broadened a bit in amusement at himself, and he finally tore his gaze away from the stream and back onto the wolf before him. He kept his gaze latched to her features now, once again studying the expressions which were moving across it in rapid sessions. They were a bit harder to read this time, maybe she had caught onto his amusement the last time and was trying to keep them a bit more repressed this time. Although Skoldpadda was good with reading body language, so nothing really escaped him either way. Ears perked up and face slacked a little in surprise as the female spoke again, a little outburst, you might say, but either way, it was not a rude outburst. He was taken aback for a few seconds, but soon his features were adorned with a wide, toothy grin, and a genuine laugh escaped his mouth. Did he want her to lose her head from flattery? That was something he'd never heard before, and it took him a moment to control his laughter. Copper ringed eyes still clearly sparkled with amusement after he got his smile under control, and he shook his head playfully at her. He was glad to know she was funny, also. Before he could open his mouth to answer her first question, she asked another one, and his smile was once again broadened. "Well, you must have come across some blind dogs, or maybe they were just idiotic," He mused playfully, not being able to comprehend how no other wolf had ever told this female that she was pretty. Because, she very obviously was. He lowered his head slightly, gaining control of his wide grin once more. "Sorry, I definitely wouldn't want you to loose your head by me saying that," He joked, his tail wagging against the ground slowly. He must admit, he was enjoying Cheyenne's company. He was glad she had decided to strike up a conversation with him. Attention was drawn from her face to her body as she abruptly pushed herself from her sitting position and stretched out her limbs. He was suddenly anxious, was she going to leave? He hoped that wasn't the case. Gaze followed her movements, and he was relieved to see that she was merely moving herself to sit closer to him. He supposed it would be easier to talk with the closer proximity. He watched as she seated herself once more, this time closer to where he sat and gave her an easy smile. He listened intently as she began to answer his last question, intrigued by every detail he was going to learn about her. He nodded with every different option she offered, and wasn't surprised when she mentioned she enjoyed climbing the mountains. That is where he had met her, was it not? He smiled softly, glad that he had decided to explore the mountains himself today, even if it had been a bit nerve wrecking when he had been out on the cliff. He shoved the memory aside, not wanting to get his thoughts sidetracked while Cheyenne was still speaking. Listening to her speak in that excited, perky tone managed to lift his mood, and he couldn't stop smiling at her. This wolf was definitely very charismatic, there was definitely something different about her than other wolves, and he was drawn to that. She seemed so positive, which would be a good influence on him. He listened intently until the very end, where she redirected the question toward himself. So she enjoyed swimming and hiking, then? He could deal with that, he enjoyed a good swim every now and again, and he had to agree with her that the view from the mountains were breathtaking. He would just have to travel up there a bit more frequently to become more comfortable. He chuckled as she stumbled over her words, making sure he didn't mind the nickname. "Skold is fine, I don't mind." He answered honestly, smile never faltering. "And I must agree, the sights from the mountains are beautiful." He hesitated then, trying to think of an answer to her question. What did he like to do in his spare time? Nothing in particular, really. I guess he mostly just explored, like he had been today. "I guess I could say the same as you, Cheyenne," He muttered, gaze fixed on her own deep brown one. "I usually go exploring, that's what I was doing today, it was my first day in the mountains," He mused this with some amusement, the happiness clearly expressed in his eyes. "I'm glad I picked today to explore them; I got to run into you," He grinned sheepishly, adding a small laugh onto the end of his words. Was she going to loose her head like she had said? He figured that would probably be a funny sight. ooc: hahaha it's all good, I love your posts. :]

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[atrb=background,http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae183/sigathkerr/Tables/cheyennetablemid2.png] Her deep brown eyes had been latched onto his, still determined to unfold and understand every emotion that would cross over his copper face or champagne eyes, and she quickly found herself getting better at it. She had finished speaking, and she knew he’d respond quickly enough, but the moment he tore his gaze away and focused on the stream, her face faltered slightly and she wondered why. It was then that she also realized she had been staring a tad too much at him, and this made her look away from him too, her tail curling around her sheepishly though she tried to make the motion of looking away and reposition herself seem as natural as could be. That had probably been an odd moment for Skoldpadda is he had realized this, no? She didn’t mind when he stared, but she had no intentions of saying that; wouldn’t it just embarrass him, with Cheyenne catching him in the act? No, she wouldn’t be doing that! Not when this was all going so well! Cheyenne dared to sneak a peek back at her friend, and it was then that she realized he had returned his gaze to her, so she naturally repositioned herself again and watched him too. She was a mess, her insides were still fuzzy and warm and she actually seemed lost for words now, her gaze and that of Skold’s locked together, she wasn’t sure what he was really thinking, and that was scaring her. She liked knowing what others thought of her, and would much rather know if he wanted to be here or not, even if he seemed to be enjoying their chat; you never knew, unless you could read their minds, of course. At that very moment, Cheyenne really wanted nothing more then to have a power like that. But then she heard it, the sound she had been hoping for; a genuine laugh, full of honesty and amusement. That was music to her ears. Her own smile reappeared then, and she let look a low laugh of her own fall in sync with his; she was glad that he thought she was funny, that gave her hope that he really did want to be there with her. Finally, after listening to his words linger through the air after he controlled his laughter, Cheyenne managed to reply. "Who knows, they might have been blind; they were pretty stupid though." She retorted with a gentle snort, ears flickering lightly atop her head. "But thank you; I don’t like the idea of loosing my head that much myself.” She added with a wink, another chuckle rumbling through and erupting from her jaws. The female was surprised at how much she was enjoying his company, but she didn’t regret it; she actually loved it. She made him laugh and smile, and that was enough for her to be in the best mood possible. She loved being around others, loved the feeling of knowing that this might lead to something whether it would be friends, companions, an inseparable duo or whatever else. It was still something, right? A small sigh would have come from her when thinking of this if she hadn’t been in control of herself at that very moment. Instead blinked slowly, brushing her gaze away lightly to look at the mountains as his next set of words came to her through the foot or so of air between them. "Skold it is then," She perked, though kept her gaze on the mountain, smile brightening then. It was good that he didn’t mind her nickname for him, because as she had thought before; there was nothing worst then a title that you hated above everything else. "It’s good to hear that you enjoy the mountain view too; when I was younger, before-" She cut herself back, her past playing before her eyes in a rapid motion as she struggled on how to say this. It’s not like he had asked about her whole freaking past, right? So she wasn’t about to just go ahead and tell him to waste his time. Skoldpadda though could probably realize the pause and sudden change in her facial expression though, because Cheyenne was too caught up in the memories to even try to control it. "-Before I left my pack, there was a mountain nearby, and I’d always go there in the evening to watch the sun set, even if my father feared heights and always told me to stay away from it.” She told him, eyes growing slightly sad at the thought of him, her gaze drifting off onto some unseen thing. She had morphed the truth at the first section of her statement there, but the rest was as true as could be. She hadn’t really left of course; she had wandered from the area only because of the horrid incident. But, unless Skoldpadda bothered asking, she wouldn’t go into her past. When he spoke again, her eyes went back to his, and she inhaled a deep breath, her gaze regaining some of its happiness when he flattered her again. "What did I tell you about that?" She muttered, shaking her head disapprovingly. "If you keep going on like this, I’ll drop dead any second, and will have lost my head." As she said it, playfulness wedged its way back in and she did her best to push all thoughts aside from the brute back into the dark part of her mind, where the things there went mostly unnoticed. She was mostly successful, and was able to regain most of her charismatic and friendly appeal, explaining when her tongue slipped out from in between her jaws in a mocking manner. "The mountains are a beautiful thing, and if I may say so myself … I’m actually happy to have met you too." He made her forget about everything, the bad and good, sad and happy, and he was the sole reason all those memories had been banished from her mind at the moment. She’d be forever grateful because of that, since those thoughts were so painful sometimes she didn’t think she could bare them. Thanks Skold. ooc: haha, thank you ^^ i have insanly high muse right now word count: 1,028 tag: Skoldpadda

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[atrb=background,http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae183/sigathkerr/Tables/skoldpaddatablemid.png] He watched Cheyenne's expression continuously change, and couldn't help but keep a small smile on his face. He could practically see the wheels turning in her head and she had internal conversations with herself, and he held back another mild chuckle which wanted to erupt past his jaws. She was definitely something else, not your average wolf. Skoldpadda couldn't remember the last time he had been so positively influenced by another wolf. She was so easy going, so easy to talk too. He felt completely at ease speaking with her, he didn't think he could ever suspect her of any sort of harm, physical or mental. She didn't seem capable of such emotions, although he knew that he would probably be surprised under the right circumstances. They were wolves. It was in their blood to be aggressive and territorial. He figured he would still be shocked if she ever exposed this side of her to him. She was just too small and innocent to be mean. His gaze wandered over her slender feminine form again, just to confirm that his thoughts were correct. He couldn't picture this she-wolf in a physical conflict, he wouldn't picture her in one. He suddenly felt very protective over her, almost possessive. He would protect her with his life if he ever found her in such a situation. As her voice rang through the air again, Skoldpadda suddenly realized the odd train of thoughts running through his mind. He had been spacing out again, although his thoughts had still been centered around Cheyenne. He hesitated a moment, caught off guard by the severity of his own thoughts. Why did he already feel this protective over a wolf he'd only just met? His gaze lingered on hers for a moment, bright copper ringed eyes smouldering in their depths as he tried to break into her own gaze, to try to unmask something in her gaze that could perhaps answer that question for him. He found no answer there, and emitted a small sigh to himself, too low for the female to hear. He was slightly frustrated with himself now, but he kept the emotion hidden from his features. He had no intention of letting Cheyenne see this, he wasn't frustrated with her, and he didn't want her thinking he was. He was frustrated with himself and his constant wandering mind. The prying curiosity and intensity in his eyes was suddenly diminished, and he regarded the female with the same friendly gaze he had before, trying to grasp the words she had spoke. He always seemed to loose bits and pieces of conversation when his mind wandered, but he was able to grasp the words she had said, and he let another genuine laugh past his jaws, although this one wasn't out of control like his last fit of laughter. He nodded at her slowly, a grin still spread across his muzzle. Of course they were stupid, thinking this female wasn't a pretty sight. Or maybe they had just felt too insecure in her presence to actually comment on such a thing. Skoldpadda pondered on this theory for a moment, ears twitching as he considered all the possibilities. Who knew, males were unpredictable characters. He shrugged the thoughts away, attention still focused on Cheyenne as she continued talking. He let another small laugh escape him as she talked about loosing her head, but he offered her no response this time, considering the topic closed. He could feel the nagging presence in the back of his head, and it was causing his attention to waver the slightest bit. He hated when this happened, because soon his thoughts would probably wander too far away, and he would appear distant and uninterested to the pretty wolf sitting beside him, which was definitely not the case. Sometimes he wished he had not been born with this hereditary 'blessing', as his parents had called it. He had his own names for it. He fought with himself internally for a moment, and managed to get his priorities back in check. He was here now, with Cheyenne, a pretty she-wolf whom he had only just met, and things were going great, in his opinion, and he did not want to screw this up, so he managed to pull his full attention back on her for the time being, and ignored the dwelling darkness in the back of his head. He watched her face intently, still wanting to pick up on every change in her body language as she spoke to him. He loved learning things about others by the way they moved, and this female's face spoke miles, which he was clearly drawn to her by. He listened to her as she dove into a story about her past, but he noticed her small hesitation, the slight jumbling in the flow of her words. He frowned for a split second, before concealing the emotion from his features, gaze prying intensely into her deep chocolatey one as he searched for answers to her pause. He watched her face contort the smallest amount, and caught the sadness which passed through her eyes at the mention of her father. He hardly registered her words, because he was watching the changes in her posture and face too thoroughly, but he finally managed to piece everything together. Her past was clearly a touchy subject for her, so Skoldpadda was momentarily at a loss. Should he question her about it? Or should he let it be, because it would clearly bother her? He didn't want to upset Cheyenne, or see her upset, he couldn't think of one thing he'd rather see less at that very moment. But, he was a curious wolf, and he was very interested about Cheyenne and everything she had to say. Maybe it would be good for him to learn some things about her past. "Why did you leave your pack?" He asked softly, no prying edge in his voice. He clearly didn't want to cause any trouble by asking her this question, but he decided her should probably speak that fact out loud, so he had absolutely no chance of offending Cheyenne. "You don't have to answer me if you don't want too, I can see how this might be a touchy subject for you..." He let his words trail off at the end, his voice soft and sincere as he spoke to her. His gaze had softened slightly as it searched her face for her emotional response to these words. He hoped he wouldn't upset her by asking this. He repositioned himself slightly, readjusting his weight as he sat and observed her. He was quite plainly staring at her now, but he either failed to register this fact, or he didn't really care anymore. She intrigued him greatly, and he figured he didn't care if she caught onto his gawking and curious looks. He was relieved when he saw her mood pick up again at his playful flattery, and his muzzle twitched at the corners as a smile threatened to cover his face. He gave Cheyenne a sheepish look which was half joking and half serious, a smile still toying at his jaws. "Sorry, Chey," He muttered, tone somewhat sheepish. He let his gaze trail toward the ground as he regained his courage to talk to her so boldly again. "I just can't help myself around you." He offered her a playful wink as he returned his gaze to her, still smiling broadly. He listened as the last of her words hung in the air, and he was mildly surprised again. This probably flaunted itself across his face for a moment before he regained composure of himself and let a small smile rest in it's place. She was glad to have met him? Of course, he had known she had been enjoying his company, but he had supposed it was just a sort of time killing thing. He didn't think she was genuinely happy to have met him. This knowledge made his whole face light up, and his copper hued tail thumped clumsily against the ground behind him. He was truly happy now. It had been a while since he had felt like he genuinely had a friend, and at that moment that's exactly what he considered Cheyenne. She was a friend for now, and perhaps that could broaden into different possibilities in the future, but for now he was perfectly happy having her as a friend. "I'm glad." He gave her a huge, genuine smile, giving him an amusing childish aura for a moment. "It's been a while since I've met someone as interesting as yourself," He let his smile soften, gaze lingering on hers with a happy sort of satisfaction. ooc: haha that's good :]. My muse is kinda iffy today, just because I have so much going on, and I'm kinda on a deadline for everything. x[. But I somehow managed to pull out the longest reply I've done in a long time haha. 1507 words o.o.

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[atrb=background,http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae183/sigathkerr/Tables/cheyennetablemid2.png] Her smile was clean, crafted to perfection to hide those ugly thoughts that lingered in the back of her head, beckoning her to remember that horrid day. It made a shudder past through her spine, made her want to cry out in remembrance of her loss. It made her heartbroken, how else could she put it? No one else knew about it, no one except Cheyenne, and she wasn’t even sure if her brother was alive; so what if she was alone in the world now? She had no friends – except for Skoldpadda, thank god for him – and she liked it better keeping it hidden and concealed . . .or at least she thought she did. She knew at one point or another she wanted to shout it out, tell anyone and everyone, to just get it out of her system and be able to share her pain and sorrow. Most wouldn’t expect such a sob-story from this pretty, charismatic little babe, but that was still exactly what they’d get. She’s learned from her experiences and grown well, she was a fighter, whether anyone would believe that or not. Cheyenne could feel his eyes on her, and this only made her smile stay intact longer, because it made her feel important. Something about his presences made her feel safe and very open, like she could tell him anything. Wait, anything? Even those secrets of her past? This shocked her, but she was able to control her facial expression and avoid letting Skold realize her change in emotion. But this was true, and she came to the conclusion that she wasn’t lying to herself, that she really did enjoy his company; he was her first friend here after all, thus shouldn’t he be her favored, most treasured company for the times to come? Oh yes, defiantly so. She snapped back to reality when she saw him nod, followed by his warm, hearty laugh, and made her smile morph delicately into a grin of her own, even when he made no reply. He was so easy to talk to, and it was like they had known each other for years, not the little while they actually had. Her gaze slowly lingered from his smoldering gaze to his figure, nose twitching mildly. Unlike her, he was built with force and sheer muscle, and the two were actually quite the opposites. While she was petite and delicate, he was large and brawny, where she seemed innocent and sweet, he appeared more unpredictable, dominant; but that wasn’t the case right now, he wasn’t hostile or fierce as one could have predicted, he was social and kind, and was able to keep this conversation running smoothly and perfectly while Cheyenne did the same. But the moment she stumbled and slurred with her past, she saw the flicker of the frown, the confusion lick up his face, and his deep gaze on hers; he was clearly unsure what that had been about. Her ears flickered, as she tried to ignore this, but her gaze quickly swept back into sadness and disappointment in her herself; she had given too much away, already more then he needed and probably want to hear, right? She had guessed wrong, because in a matter of seconds his voice rang out, coming to her slowly and clearly, and she could tell that he was concerned with her emotional state with this subject. She could pry out the softness and concern in his voice, and this made a meek smile cross her dainty muzzle. "There’s nothing wrong with being curious, Skold." She said softly in return, gaze latching onto his. Holding his eyes at that very moment, she was able to tell herself confidently and certainly that she was able to explain her past to him, no matter how surprised he’d be to think that she of all people and endured it. "I didn’t exactly leave at my own will … when I ‘left’, it was only because there was nothing left of it." She started, giving the words time to register before diving into her tale. "My parents held a higher rank in the pack, and when the time came me and my brothers had to compete for it. I ended up winning – surprise there – because they both relied on their strength to win, whereas I tried a different approach. But my eldest brother messed up my leg, and I walk with a little limp now; but I doubt you noticed that, right? Most don’t. But, anyways, we were all about to celebrate our second year, and I had the choice to either take a mate or not when I took on the position. I had been fond of one brute, Dante, and I had chosen him after getting my parents’ blessing. He had a strong heart, good morals, and made me feel special." She stopped there, sneaking a glance in his direction to see his reaction to that. Something about mentioning Dante made it feel as if a brick was in the pit of her stomach, and she suddenly regretting mentioning him. Though when she thought of her old court and the way he had treated her, it mildly reminded her of Skoldpadda. They both had the same, strong set of eyes and true, wide smile. The male before her made her feel calm and protected too, but did that mean anything really, or was it just because they were hitting it off so well and becoming friends quickly? They were just friends … weren’t they? Cheyenne couldn’t answer that, not now, she couldn’t think of that right now; they had only just meant after all. But still, that didn’t explain how close she already felt to him. But Dante had been an important part of her story, so she continued soon after regaining her composure. "So, the pack had gathered in a clearing, surrounded by the finest trees around, and we were all ready to take on the rank. My brothers – you should have seen theirs faces – you could tell that they were jealous that I had beat them, but they were proud of me, though it was probably more impressed then anything. Things didn’t really turn out as we had planned though … before we could get on with anything, my father shouted out the one thing no one ever wanted to hear … there was a wildfire close by, and no one had noticed it." An icy blade ran down her spine at the mention of that, but she shook it off, wincing slightly and struggling to continue, trying not to hold off the story for too long. "We all ran, but most of the pack got caught in the fire and were killed, including my eldest brother, my parents and of course, Dante. My other brother made it out it with me though, but the pain was unbearable; you couldn’t even imagine what I was going through. I couldn’t stay there, so I left my brother and he knew it was what was best for the both of us. We had lost too much, we needed a new life … and then I wounded up here and met you." That had taken long enough to explain, and when finished she could hardly look at him. She trusted him enough to open herself up and let him know everything about what had happened that mere year ago, and she was eagerly awaiting a reaction, but dreading it too. Wolves were unpredictable, and she never knew what to expect with any of them. But Skold was different somehow, in some weird way, and she knew it wouldn’t be too awkward to keep talking about this subject or move away from it. She hoped she had made the right choice. "I bet you weren’t expecting that, huh? Not from me, anyways." She added briskly, making her voice light and calm, fighting the sadness back into her throat. She was getting better and shielding her emotions, but she knew he could probably still unmask most of them and figure out exactly what she was thinking. If so, she was jealous, but didn’t mind; there were some things that she couldn’t say, so maybe he’d figure those out in his own way? Her mind was the one drifting off now, but she didn’t really care. She was lost off in her own thoughts, consumed in the better memories that lingered along with the horrid ones. Memories of laughing and being pups with her brothers, the long nights under the stars, the sound of family and of love; it gave her hope – if that could happen once, couldn’t it happen again? Yes, it just had to! Everyone deserved their happy ending, a life full of adventure and compassion, family and stories, to have a name to be remembered by through the ages. If only she could be that fortunate. And if she didn’t deserve it, she was almost positive Skoldpadda did. From what she knew of him, he was as kind as any – maybe not as open and bold – but sweet and protective, and social enough it would seem. Though she knew that there could be another side to him, something different and something she wouldn’t have expected from meeting him like this. But it was defiantly a possibility. A small sigh fluttered out from her throat, and she slowly tugged her gaze back to him when she heard his voice again. It wrapped around her in a sort of embrace, and she was able to breathe again and answer to his remark. "Interesting?"She said, on the brink of a small, hardly noticeable smile, the hold of the memories still clouding most of her brain. "I guess that’s one way to describe me; but honestly, you made this day worth my wild, I’m really enjoying it." ‘For the most part’ was left out of course, because she didn’t want to ruin the kind and appreciative sound to her voice just then. Finally, she was able to gather up herself and force a tiny smile onto her face, though through it shone the happiness that was dying to get out. Maybe she could have along without going through her past, but what was done was done, and she really had no probably what so ever opening herself up to Skoldpadda, even if she hardly knew a thing about him. She just knew that she could, knew that her feelings would be safe with him. ooc: oh yes, i love that post very much, despite if it's his utter personality or not x] but we need to find a way for Chey to see his other side, if you know what I mean o: word count: 1,751 tag: Skoldpadda

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[atrb=background,http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae183/sigathkerr/Tables/skoldpaddatablemid.png] Gaze lingered intently on the dainty little wolf before him, scrutinizing ever little detail which ran across her features. He could clearly see that behind her mask of perfection, and the perfectly crafted smile which rested upon her muzzle, that the she-wolf was suffering by the resurfacing memories. He felt a pang of guilt stab at his insides at this realization, he didn't want to see her like that, she deserved to be happy. Although she had gotten better at hiding the emotions from her body and face, her chocolate brown eyes were like perfect glass windows, granting him access to her true inner feelings, he could almost register every feeling which ran through her mind, although a few of them got lost in translation. He was momentarily brought out of his analytical observing when her laughter reached his ears again. This made him feel somewhat better, at least Cheyenne wasn't too upset by these memories, she could still laugh. He let a small smile expand upon his jaws, gaze still prying into hers. He felt almost crazy, maybe obsessed. But he felt like he needed to know everything, be able to understand everything. He wondered for a moment if his compulsion was once again working against him, making his emotions too strong or too muddled to truly know what he wanted. Or maybe that was just him. He shrugged it off, either way he didn't care at the moment. Ears twitched atop his skull as Cheyenne's words reached them again, and he heard the sincerity in her words. She truly didn't seem to mind his curiosity, even if it was a touchy subject for her. He respected her for that, he believed that if she really objected to telling him her past, she would have said so, and he admired her bravery for telling him about her past. Copper ringed eyes remained fixed on her as she started her story, he wouldn't let his gaze drop, he felt that it was only right that she be able to read his every emotional response to her story. He was sure she would want to know how he felt about certain things, and he felt it was only fair, because he had already picked up on so much about her through her body language. He nodded slowly after her introduction sentence, and he noted how she paused, giving it time to sink in. He was slightly confused, not fully understanding what she meant, but he was sure he'd figure out as she continued. When she dove into the story, Skold's full attention was focused toward her, he yearned to soak in every word she spoke. He was not overly surprised when she said her parents were a high rank of their pack, but he was clearly surprised when she went on to tell him how she had competed for the title of Alpha against her two brothers and won. The muscles in his face slacked a little bit, eyes widening a fraction. She - this dainty, innocent little wolf - had fought to gain a position of power? He nodded slowly as she continued, agreeing that she would not have won if she had relied on strength. He assumed she had used her brains and agility to win the position, he could see her feminine little body being very lithe and agile, she would have been good at dodging attacks. His surprise only intensified when she mentioned the injury she sustained. He hadn't noticed her limp, which was surprising because he usually picked up on so much when it came to body language, but he supposed he hadn't exactly been paying attention for that. He would have to look for that later. His brow furrowed slightly, eye's narrowing the slightest bit. He was slightly agitated with the thought of Cheyenne receiving any sort of injury in a physical conflict, especially with someone of her own kin. What had they been thinking? How could they hurt her, their own sister? Such a pretty, innocent looking female. He didn't think he could ever have done it, not for any title or any other reason. He wouldn't have been able to inflict any sort of pain on someone as pretty as Cheyenne. He shook his head, clearing his head of the irritation as she continued on with her tale. He had to listen to her story with an open mind, considering things from all angles. His ears twitched again as she mentioned picking a mate. That concept hadn't even crossed his mind. Of course she would be expected to have a mate if she were Alpha of a pack. As soon as the name Dante left her mouth, Skoldpadda felt his muscles tense the smallest amount, and the muscles around his jaw clenched. She had been interested in another male? Of course she had, why wouldn't she be? She was a pretty little thing, why wouldn't males want to court her, be her mate? His insides twisted and contorted at the thought, a small fire rising up and burning in the pit of his stomach. He had no idea why he should start feeling such a thing, but it happened, and he couldn't help it. His teeth locked together tighter the more she talked about Dante, about how he made her feel special, and how he had good morals. As far as he was concerned, Dante made him feel repulsed. But, he really shouldn't think that way, if he made Cheyenne happy, she deserved to be with him, right? Skoldpadda wouldn't interfere with her happiness. He started debating with his emotions internally, fighting to relax his jaw and other muscles which were still slightly rigid. He noted that Cheyenne had paused in her story and had turned her gaze up at him, with this realization Skold fought to smooth himself out. There was no reasonable reason for him to be getting worked up over this. He offered Cheyenne a small, slightly forced smile as she dove back into her story, but his attention never faltered from her, even as she continued on about Dante. That forced smile soon turned genuine as she talked about her brothers and their jealousy toward her. Yes, he did wish he had seen their faces. He was sure they hadn't been able to comprehend how this little female had gained power over them. He chuckled slightly at the image, his composure now completely at ease. But then, all his amusement was diminished. Of course this story would end in tragedy. Why else would it have been a touchy subject for her? He cringed internally, noting how she hesitated momentarily and almost seemed to shudder as another memory resurfaced. He could tell they were getting to the worst part of the story now. A wildfire. He watched her face solemnly, his bright golden eyes soft and sympathetic as he watched her finish her tale. A goddamn wildfire which had wiped out her entire family, nearly. And her mate. Skoldpadda couldn't help but feel a sick and twisted wave of relief wash over him when she said this, though. He wasn't happy that the wolf had perished, certainly not. He was just glad to know that there was no one standing in between them, atleast as far as he was aware. His gaze flicked over her form, and he noted that she wouldn't fully turn her gaze back on him. Was she ashamed? Was she afraid of what his reaction might be? He was once again surprised. None of that had been her fault. Maybe she just felt self-concious, too exposed. After all, she had just told her life story to someone who was hardly more than a stranger. As she tied up her story with a question, Skoldpadda could do nothing but shake his head in response. Of course he had not expected that from her, she seemed so positive and charismatic. How could someone be like that and be carrying such a heavy grief on their shoulders? He didn't think he could have done it. He was flustered for a moment, he wasn't used to emotional conversations like this, and he wasn't really sure how he should proceed. He could clearly tell the female was torn apart on the inside, no matter how hard she fought to conceal it from him. She did a good job, he had to admit, but he knew how he would have felt if he had been in her place. He pushed himself up, straightening himself out of his sitting position. He had no idea what he was doing, these actions were completely out of instinct, not out of rational thoughts. He brought himself closer to Cheyenne, his copper ringed eyes searching her face for a moment before he extended his neck, letting his muzzle brush against Cheyenne's soft, grey pelt. He nuzzled the side of his face into her neck, her fur was warm and soft against his, and her aroma was coming to him ten times stronger than before. He was sure he would never forget her smell now. He wasn't entirely sure what he was doing, he supposed he was trying to offer her some support, letting her really know he was there for her. Actions spoke louder than words to some. He hoped Cheyenne was one of those people. He lingered there for a moment, resting his head against her neck, before he drew back, moving a few steps back from her and resting his haunches against the ground once more. His gaze lingered against the ground for a few seconds after he'd moved, unsure of how to proceed. He hadn't rationally thought those actions through, and he was afraid to look up and see what her reaction might be. Would he have frightened her? Did she think he was a complete nut job now? He cringed internally. "Very interesting," He breathed, still unable to meet her gaze. "And you made this day worth my while... And I'm really sorry to hear about your loss..." He trailed off, voice soft and more quiet than it had been before. He wasn't used to comforting words, he was a male, what was he supposed to know about this sort of thing, right? He finally managed to pry his gaze from the ground and look back up at Cheyenne. "You're very strong, I don't think I could have healed from something like that as well as you did.." These words were honest. He didn't think he could continue a normal life if he had lost his entire family, and his mate. He would have been completely devastated. He was sure Cheyenne had been, but she seemed to have recovered nicely, of course she still grieved, but that was only natural. Skoldpadda feared that he would have lost all hold on his sanity if he had been in her place. As he watched Cheyenne, he felt like she had morphed into a whole new person. He suddenly had so much more respect for her, and felt the urge to protect her stronger than it had been before. He would never let this female get in harm's way, he would never let her face another physical confrontation alone. He would always be there to look out over her. She was strong, yes, and she was perfectly capable of looking out for herself, but Skoldpadda felt like he still had to be there. She was so dainty, so fragile and feminine. He was sturdy and well built, he felt very confident that he could protect her from anything. He would protect her from anything. He couldn't let her get hurt. Not now, not after knowing everything she'd been through. She didn't deserve to feel any more pain. She deserved a good, happy life. He sighed softly as he looked at her, not understanding the sudden strong impulse which was screaming at him to protect her. He may not understand it, but he knew he would obey it. Had to obey it. ooc: Wow, I absoutely LOVED that post. Like, so much. : D. And you want Chey to see Skold's nasty side? : o & holy crap! 2,059 words! & sorry it's still not the best post, and it's not near as smooth as I'd like it to be, but I'm exhausted and my thoughts are all kinda jumbled. x]

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[atrb=background,http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae183/sigathkerr/Tables/cheyennetablemid2.png] It hadn’t been that bad, she supposed … thinking back at her past. Well, not nearly as bad as she thought it would be. Maybe it was Skoldpadda? She had no trouble letting it pour all out of her in one motion, only pausing once or twice, and it felt almost good to get it all out, to tell someone. She was actually quite happy that someone is him, as a matter of fact, and she slowly brought her gaze back to his. He had been watching her – well obviously, she was telling a story – and she met his gaze steadily, letting him unfold and take apart the emotions that lingered within them, while she tried to do the same to his golden ones. She wasn’t trying to hide anything now, she was just letting it be, letting everything come out of her at once. Some things just didn’t matter at that very moment, and she wanted him to know everything, know how much she’s suffered. She needed comforting, was that too much to ask? He wasn’t doing much to hide his own reactions to his story, and she almost smiled when he say the muscles in his face slack off, his eyes widening in surprise just the tiniest bit to be noticed. Oh yes, she knew she’d get him there; who would have thought that she, a tiny little thing, would win against two males for such a title? Even she hadn’t been expecting to win, but she had inherited many things from her Mother, one of those her cunning and swift nature. Her mother had fought of many opposing females for her rank, and Cheyenne would have done the same. Thoughts lingered to this and that, and they suddenly locked onto her leg. Yes, her blasted brother had messed that up pretty bad, but she had still managed to pin him down successfully. She’ll admit that he was kind of a air-head, and he had lacked intelligence and tragedy; he had tried to win simply by plowing into her like a truck, and that, mind you, hadn’t worked all that well. Her other brother wasn’t much different, not so smart and about three times her size, but he just tried to scare her by snapping at her face and tugging at her tail, with the occasional plow as well. No offense to them, but they hadn’t stood much a chance against the agile little babe, who had spent months training with her Mother, who was confident in her daughter’s success. Then, as she snuck a glance back at Skoldpadda, she wasn’t able to find out much more, and this surprised her since she had just spoken of Dante. That usually got more of a reaction out of anyone. But now – thinking of her old court – made a stab of pain and guilt pass through her body like a tremor, and closed her eyes and took a quick short breathe, though didn’t let Skold’s gaze leave hers so quickly this time. Dante had made her feel special; he had loved her and cared for her, and given her anything she would have wanted. He had vowed to protect her with his life, and do anything to keep her out of harms way and happy. Surprisingly though, as she kept his gaze and continued to think about her previous court, Dante seemed to start to fade away, disappearing into the back of her mind to be replaced by the face of Skold, who more or less returned her look. Something stirred in her stomach, and then Dante was no more; it was like he had never existed, I guess you could say, and Cheyenne almost would have looked confused, dumbstruck at forgetting her whole train of thought like that. It was then that she let a sheepish look cross her face – one that Skoldpadda probably wouldn’t understand – and turned her gaze away, letting him register the rest of her story. She had heard his chuckle at the remark of her brothers, but she knew that that would quickly fade in a matter of moments. Oh yes, that tragic end to her fairytale, her perfect ending had been no more, ripped into a thousand pieces and thrown off into the wind. She had always been looking for a bright future, one full of love and happiness, and that day it had all been ruined. She had even been selfish and stupid enough to leave her one last living brother alone the next day. Even if he had agreed to such a thing, she always wondered what had happened to him, if he was safe if he was happy, if he had started over like she was right now. If he had found someone like Skoldpadda to keep her company. She shook her head at that, not even wanting to think of her brother, and instead tried to keep her posture neutral as the worst part of the story sunk it. She still wouldn’t meet his gaze, but caught the shake of his head from the corner of her eye. But of course, no one would expect such a story from a charismatic little babe; most wouldn’t believe it even. Sometimes, she thought it had all been a dream, until the pain hit her and it couldn’t be denied any longer. She still remembered all their faces, full of happiness, love, and compassion. She could see her Father’s proud muzzle and her Mother’s cunning grin, the dopey look of her eldest brother, and the charming laugh of her other brother. And what did Cheyenne have, different from all others and considered her signature feature? Her eyes of course, their deep chocolate hue like a whirlpool, drawing you in to the abyss and telling you everything anyone would ever need to know. They were the gate to her soul, so to say, and even she was quite fond of them. But it was only moments later that she felt completely at ease, calm, safe and protected. She heard as he moved closer towards her, felt his eyes on her, and then he was beside her, his next extended to nuzzle her neck tenderly. It hit her like a punch to the face, but every single thing in her world was suddenly perfect. She bathed in his warm, his scent wrapping around her in a soothing embrace, her chocolate eyes immediately snapping to his, full of gratitude and kindness. Honestly she didn’t want him to move, she wanted him to stay there, and practically never move. She was so distracted, unable to think of much else, and the slightest bit, she twisted her neck to envelope the nuzzle further. Inhaling deeply as her eyes dared to flutter close. Then in the next instant, he was gone, pulled back again, and she almost cried out in protest. She tried to regain herself, act like if nothing had been going through her head, when it obviously had. What was she thinking though? Come on, she had very much appreciated that gesture, but that didn’t mean anything … right? She wasn’t going to lie to herself, but she had very much wanted him to stay next to her, their fur together, for a very loner period of time. It had felt so calming, so natural, and all the grief and sorrow had washed away the moment they made contact. It had been perfection, simple perfection. She noticed how he couldn’t meet her eyes again after that, but when and if he did, he’d notice that her gaze was soft and gentle, and clearly full of gratitude and warmth. Again, she wasn’t trying to hide anything, she wanted to let it all out, but somehow it just wouldn’t. She couldn’t utter or let her eyes show exactly what she was thinking. Was she afraid? Doubtful? Some things just couldn’t be answered right then and there. She shifted her body slightly, shoulders rolling back as she got the last bit of her body back under control, and with perfect timing as his voice come to her. She inhaled deeply to try and have her voice even and neutral when she spoke and she was confident in her tone now. Though, she still couldn’t get over that though, that nuzzle – a simple gesture –and her heart skipped a beat at the very thought of it. "I guess so, " She said lightly, tongue lolling around inside her jaws somewhat nervously, somewhat in the lack of knowing what else to do. "But thanks, it was hard, but I made it through it alright, hm? I’m not an emotional wreck, and I’m not a crazed psychopath. But Skold, I wouldn’t say I’ve healed; it’s more like I’ve just learned to hide them away, keep them hidden and such. That wasn’t easy either, and I’m sure you could have done it if you had been in my shoes." If there was honesty in his words, there was just in much in hers, and Cheyenne somehow managed to avoid sadness in her voice now. The scent of him still lingered very close to her, and this calmed her, and she could still sense him warmth though he had moved away. She sighed then, quiet and inaudible, and let her gaze drift away naturally, giving him time to think, register and answer however way he saw fit. She was trying to stop thinking about all those thoughts in her head – she was scared of what the outcome would be – but was sadly unsuccessful. She was almost frustrated with herself, because frankly she was missing one piece to this puzzle; she was missing some valuable information to make her theory right. She shook her head, muttering something quietly to herself, before her gaze would wander back Skoldpadda again, a small smile tugging at the edges of her lips in a sweet and delicate manner. ooc: No, its not like I want her to, it's just like .. she will eventually, and I wonder how .. I kinda worded that wrong. BUT, um haha NO, that post was freaking amazing Chels! :D I looooove it, hopefully mine's half as good as yours ^^ & word count: 1,648 tag: Skoldpadda

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[atrb=background,http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae183/sigathkerr/Tables/skoldpaddatablemid.png] He couldn't stop the images forming in his head, vividly picturing Cheyenne and another grey wolf - who he declared her brother, although he really had no idea what her siblings might have looked like - circling each other like vultures. He could picture Cheyenne's deep, chocolatey warm gaze boring into the other wolf's face, those eyes which spoke so much were sparkling with cunning and strategy, and she he imagined her with an almost fierce sort of grace, willing her brother to make the first move. He had no idea if the competition had actually progressed like this, but he couldn't stop the image from forming in his mind, and he couldn't tear his thoughts away from it. He was trapped, hopeless to watch the video playing in his head. He watched as her hackles rose at the nape of her neck, her swift gaze catching her brother's tensed muscles simultaneously as he made to take his first lunge at her. Skoldpadda felt himself cringe, even though he knew the images were fake, but he still didn't want to see Cheyenne getting hurt. But of course she was too fast, she foresaw the obvious attack and ducked out of the way easily. This made Skoldpadda relax some, although he was still on edge as the attacks continued. They exchanged petty attacks, until Cheyenne's brother rounded on her a little more quickly than he had in previous attacks, and managed to clasp his jaws around her lower leg. He imagined Cheyenne's lovely, warm eyes widening in shock and pain, and he muzzle parting to release a yelp which would surely have been in hurt and surprise. He image pained him more than it should have, but he couldn't stop picturing it, he couldn't turn his back on the thoughts his mind were conjuring. He could see the thin streams of crimson which were pooling up around the grey muzzle which was still latched onto her leg, and he had a fierce, overwhelming urge to disappear into the image and rip the wolf's life right out of his throat. He hadn't realized that his posture had once again become rigid until he was finally able to pull himself out of these thoughts. He quickly smoothed himself out, letting the fire of fury which had been building in his eyes be smothered out. He didn't want to put Cheyenne on edge, it was his own imagination which had gotten the better of him. He analyzed the present time for a moment, trying to conclude how much time had actually passed as he had been trapped in his vision. He decided that it wasn't very long, maybe thirty seconds at the most. That was a relief. The images had seemed to go on forever, but in reality it hadn't been enough time for him to actually miss anything important. Skoldpadda brought his gaze back up from the ground, letting it settle on Cheyenne's dainty little muzzle. No matter how vivid the images in his head had been, he still couldn't picture this she-wolf competing physically for the position of Alpha. Or for anything else, for that matter. His attention was once again drawn to the play of emotions running across her features, and he tried to pick them apart as he had been for their entire encounter so far. He had finally allowed enough time for the shock of his abrupt movement to settle in. That nuzzle. That simple little gesture which had seemed so absolutely foreign to him. So absolutely absurd and out of place to him. Skoldpadda wasn't usually one to make any sort of physical contact that easily, but he supposed that it was because the pretty little female in front of him so clearly needed the comfort. It was almost like a maternal instinct to him, although he had no idea why he would carry any maternal instincts, that was the female's job, they were the ones raised to nurture and offer comfort. But he supposed that every wolf had been born and taught the skills to comfort each other, to offer some sort of support. He watched her posture closely after he moved away from her and was finally able to draw his gaze back toward hers. He wanted to know exactly what her reaction to that had been, although now he was probably too late to see the true, initial first reaction she had had. He watched her eyes, they still held every ounce of warmth they had possessed earlier, and her posture was completely at ease, she seemed perfectly content. This came as a huge relief to Skoldpadda, he had thought he would see the complete opposite. Although, there as something else in her posture that spoke differently to him. Something he couldn't quite place, but it was enough to put him on the slightest edge. There was some stiffness in her body, but she seemed to smooth it out after only a few seconds. Skold had no idea what that might have been about. Had she just been caught off guard? Well, yes, but there was something else, too. He fought hard to dig out the emotion, to place a name on it, but he could do nothing more than guess lamely. He could hardly make himself believe that she had bit back a protest when he moved away, he wouldn't flatter himself that much. He stuck with the assumption that he had just caught her off guard. Although, if he had caught her off guard, then she wouldn't have responded to his actions, she wouldn't have cozied her neck and head into his, intensifying the heat caught between their contrasting fur, almost as if she had been happy that he had offered such a gesture. Almost as if she actually had wanted him to stay there. His thoughts were suddenly very confused, all muddled together. She had responded to his actions, hadn't she? He was sure she had, but self-doubt always made you second guess yourself. He sighed lightly to himself, banishing the confusing babble to the back of his head. He was a male, he didn't know how to deal with these confusing presences known as emotions. They were much too overwhelming for him, he would have to deal with them while he was alone, when he had the time to disappear into his head without any negative consequences. His attention was once again perked as the female's voice rang out, making his ears twitch as they responded to the sound. He noted how she almost seemed to fidget after she spoke at first, her mouth still moving slightly even after her words had finished, but then she continued, covering up the nervous habit. Skoldpadda's muzzle widened into a soft grin, his golden eyes warm as he watched the female. He nodded solemnly as she finished her words, his soft smile was still present on his features, but it had mostly disappeared. He supposed that her words were true. She might not have fully healed, she would probably never fully heal from such emotional wounds, and he knew he would never fully recover from such a thing, but she had done a good job with dealing with them. She had coped nicely. "I guess you're right," He started, gaze still searching hers in gentle curiosity. "But you've mended well, you're a strong person..." Skold stumbled over his words here slightly, not exactly thinking that 'strong' was the words he really wanted to use here. No, he didn't think it suited her enough, even though she was a strong wolf. She deserved a better adjective, something nicer; prettier. He smiled at her sweetly, copper ringed eyes regaining some of their playful, flirtatious glam. "You're a lovely wolf, Chey, and I would go as far as to say that you're one of the most beautiful, purest, and kindest wolves I've ever met." He hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words to finish off his thought. "And you deserve to be happy for the rest of your life. I hope Dante treated you like a Goddess; because you deserve nothing less of that." His words held nothing but sheer honestly, although he spoke Cheyenne's old court's name with a slight distaste. He gaze never faltered, never dared to drift from hers. He needed to know what her response to these words would be. He was being perfectly honest with her right now, and he needed to know the type of response his honesty would get him; even if his words were slightly cliche, they were nothing but the truth. ooc: haahah gottcha ;] & well thank youuuu :} && your post was lovely, as always! :] &&& sorry this post is a little shorter, I just woke up, so my muse might not be reaching it's full potential yet. ahaha

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[atrb=background,http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae183/sigathkerr/Tables/cheyennetablemid2.png] Her own thoughts were focused on that of Dante – yes, frankly she had wondered back to that – but at the same moment, Skoldpadda; an unexpected twist to her boggled brain. At first, it was all Dante; the day they had met, the nights they had spent under the stars, laughing and growing closer each moment. The days they spent, frolicking through the forest and playing games that they should have outgrown long ago, their fun dyeing down only when they’d take the evening to relax on the shoreline of their favorite river while the sun set on the horizon. Those had been the days, where all she thought about was her family, pack and Dante, with his charming smile and proud stature. He had been quite the bloke; she’d give him that, even with that slightly hard head of his and a stubborn demeanor that came out often enough. Oh yes, Dante had hated to be told he was wrong, hated the possibility of even being wrong. Cheyenne scorned him for that, which in the end just angered him more. Though aside from those few faults, Cheyenne use to be able to say she loved him, adored him even. They had grown up together, and it was almost as if fate had brought them together. Amost. Surprise, but nothing was ever completely perfect for her. She always thought that something was a little off between them, her and Dante, something that she couldn’t trust or understand. Yes she still loved him – she had loved him until his dying breath – but at times their relationship just seemed wrong, their trust seeming to falter. Other females of the pack envied and lusted to take Cheyenne’s place at his side, and Dante lapped up the attention like water; these were the times that his court saw the cocky and arrogant side to him, and it almost made her blood boil. This had always struck a nerve in her – as it would in anyone – and though he had always stayed loyal to her, even when their courtship wasn’t official, she had the suspicion that it could have happened. That’s where Skoldpadda came in. During the images and memories of Dante and those other pack members, he appeared right there beside her, his face burrowed in the fur of her neck just like it had been moments before. She, again like before, twisted her neck to envelope the gesture further, and the scene replayed in her head again, until she fiercely pulled them away, snapping back into reality startled, confused, and not knowing what the hell had just happened. Was it normal to think like that; to daydream of Dante, only to have Skoldpadda practically replace him? She had no clue, and this scared her, but the fright was oddly calming, reassuring even, and eventually she didn’t know what to think. She shook her head, freeing herself of every thought that had come to her mind, to focus solely on the brute in front of her. She had almost forgetting that she had just released her life story to a stranger – who, mind you, she trusted enough to do so – and they were currently debating and discussing this and that. Your brain did that to you, and Cheyenne was momentarily curious at the thoughts that were on inside his head. She had turned back to him just in time to see him smooth out his rigid posture, and this made her brow raised slightly, ears pricking forward as eyes searched his, wanting to know what had caused him to tense like that. Though she found close to nothing, and eventually gave up, letting her gaze fall to her paws. She was a mess now; she had never felt this way, she had never felt so confused, not even after the wildfire. That had been easy to register. But now, with all these things in her head screaming for attention, and her gaze seeming to be drawn to his face, she didn’t now what was happening, and where this was coming from. She had to fight hard to hold back a wince, eventually giving up and snapping her eyes back to him. She let her chocolate gaze bore into his, trying to peel away the layers and find out really what he was thinking. It was like a lust; she needed to know. Surely if her own thoughts were so wild and frenzied, shouldn’t his be the same way? Maybe he just didn’t feel the way she did – all these different emotions – maybe he just pitied her for her loss, felt sorry for her and had given the gesture out of a simple act of comfort. Who was she kidding, she had to just be overwhelmed by thinking back to her past, that’s all it was. All she believed it could be, even if that’s not what she wanted to believe. She mumbled something low to herself, inhaling deeply to avoid a pained look to her eyes, just as his voice came to her again, like an answered prayer to get her mind off everything else. "Strong? I guess so … hearing someone say that makes me feel better about it all. A little bit, anyways. " She said softly, a small, slightly forced smile just shy of appearing on her delicate facial features. She noted how he stumbled over the last set of words there, and this cracked away her face and let that smile appear, tail slipping softly around her rump, large eyes doing their best to latch onto his while she spoke. She continued to listen, intently and focused, not wanting those thoughts to drift back and consume her when his own smile appeared, his copper-ringed eyes regaining what they had had much earlier during their conversation. When his words came she took them in quickly, a look of disbelief and shock crossing over her features, but at the same time, flattered and sheepish. Her eyes were wide but tender, smile faltering but remaining bright and pure in her eyes. Her features relaxed after a little while, and without thinking, her mind took control and pulled her to her feet, closer to him. "You really mean that?" She said, voice hardly a whisper, eyes searching his even if she had heard the undying honesty in his voice. "You know how much that … means to me?" She said, still unable to make the words come out right, though her own words were tainted with such honesty and thanks that the message was clear. There was a mere foot or so between them, and quickly assuming that she was a bit too close, Cheyenne sat herself down, pulling her face away and looking out across the horizon, down the stream and to the sun off in the distance. Finally, after she regained some of herself, she looked back at him, eyes latching onto his immediately. "I doubted Dante would have said that to me," Voice held a gentle note to it, a small smile finding its way up to her eyes. "Even if he treated me well, you have no idea how much more that meant to me then anything he had ever said. We hardly know each other, but you can still tell me all that … you should know that I could probably tell you anything in the world right now. You have no idea how close I feel to you, there’s just something about you that I know I can trust." Oh, there she went! Words of affection and respect, relief and confidence, knowing and truth. Everything she had said had come right from the heart; it had all poured from her mouth before she could even think of it, and Cheyenne of all people went through that without a stumble or halt in her words. Her voice had been just as tender and honest as his moments before, and she never once let their gazes drift apart. Not even when she realized what she had said, and was startled but very relived. Why relieved, you ask? Relieve because she was happy that her heart had taken over and said what she had been too scared, and too afraid to say. Maybe she’d get the reaction she was hoping for now. ooc: bhaha, stop flattering me! x] & this post ... ehh, i'm iffy about, but it'll do, i hope you think it's ok. i think it sounds like i'm rambling. BUT SHORT? not really .. and i don't care 'bout that! quality KILLS quantity, and that was amazing quality, love <3 word count: 1,380 tag: Skoldpadda

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[atrb=background,http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae183/sigathkerr/Tables/skoldpaddatablemid.png] The great copper brute shifted his weight around between to two forepaws, his attention wandering to the ground for a few seconds and he started to drift away into his head again. Emotions were such a fickle thing, and Skoldpadda just couldn't wrap his head around the way they worked. One second you could feel something completely different, something completely opposite, than you'd been feeling the second before. Simple words, they could stir such irrational emotions from you; or simple actions. How could such simple, easy actions cause such a strong response from someone? He sure as hell didn't know, and he really wasn't sure if he liked that. He wished that he could have complete control over the way he felt about certain things, but of course, that would never happen, because emotions were fickle, and they had a mind of their own. Gaze rose back to Cheyenne, and his golden eyes swam over her features, this time not scrutinizing at her body language or expressions, rather trying to look past it, to really see her now, after all that he'd learned about her. He started at her face, taking in every little detail, the little grey tuffs at the tips of her ears, to the unique dark line which ran across her forehead, and then down to her muzzle. Her dainty little muzzle which slightly more rusty hued, and was much more slender than his own. He then allowed his gaze to travel over her pelt, taking in the gradient of colours which were melded together there. Greys, browns, whites, blacks and even a smudge of copper, like his own pelt. They were all common colours, but they looked exceptional on her, and Skoldpadda couldn't help but let his muzzle stretch into a happy smile again. Of course she was beautiful, he had already known that, but under the rapidly growing morning light, she almost seemed like she was giving off her own light. He flicked his ears back for a second, a flash of amusement running across his eyes. That thought had been extremely cliche, and he couldn't help but laugh at himself mentally. His gaze was torn away from the female again, rising to the sky above them. He hadn't realized just how much of the day had passed since he'd run into Cheyenne. It had been hardly more than early morning when he'd come to the stream for a drink, and judging by the sun now, it had to be at least noon, if not a little after. This surprised him a lot, I guess time flew when you were having fun. That was how the saying went, wasn't it? He didn't really care, and he returned his attention to Cheyenne, although his ears rotated atop his skull, giving the terrain around them a quick scan, just to ensure himself that they were still alone. Once satisfied, the only other prominent sound besides his and Cheyenne's breathing being the quiet babble of the stream, he let his ears straighten out, facing the female once more. It was as if he'd been queued, because as soon as they stopped moving Cheyenne's feminine voice rang out again. He registered her words easily now, his head was clear, he had moved the lingering emotions to the back of his head, and the constant nagging darkness had crawled away with it. For this, he was very grateful, that presence hardly ever left him alone. He smiled at her, and offered her a small nod after her first words, understanding exactly how she meant. The reassurance was nice, but it didn't help anything, what was done was done, and words couldn't change that fact no matter what. That was a terrible feeling, it made you feel somewhat helpless, and he hoped that Cheyenne was ignoring that feeling as best she could. He watched her closely as his last words sunk in, and he could have burst out laughing at her emotional response to it, but he kept himself in check, his smile broadening and his eyes dancing with amusement and happiness. He watched her face first slack off in surprise, her smile faltering with the surprise, but the happiness in her eyes only seemed to brighten. He caught onto her sheepish look again and couldn't help but let a small chuckle fall past his lips. She was cute when she lost control of herself, was momentarily taken over by the abrupt wave of emotions bombarding her. He watched as she finally regained some control of herself, smoothing out her features. He watched as her body bolted forward, and he himself was slightly surprised by the sudden movement, but he didn't move away, he was perfectly fine with Cheyenne being closer to him. His ears flickered as she spoke up again, although her voice was hardly more than a whisper, so the words were a little harder to decipher and he had to strain to hear them. He smiled at her gently, a sudden urge to get up and run his muzzle against her neck was strong again, but he kept himself in check, remaining rooted to the ground. He nodded at her, gaze not leaving hers. "Of course I mean that, Cheyenne," Her answered her softly, his voice lowering a few notches so that his answer didn't seem so loud next to her whispered question. His smile widened a fraction as she continued on with another question which was slightly rhetorical. He didn't really know how much it meant to her, but judging by her reaction, it meant a great deal to her. She seemed to notice how close she'd moved, and he watched as she settled herself onto the ground again. This made him want to chuckle again, but he snuffed it out before he could reach his throat. His copper ringed eyes searched her face again as she began to speak, trying to figure out what emotions might appear as she talked about Dante. He was surprised when she said she doubted Dante would have said that to her, and he wasn't afraid to let that show. If he had an eyebrow, it would have rose in a questioning arch at that statement. What kind of a mate was he if he couldn't even say that to her? He shook his head astonished, not being able to comprehend the thoughts of some males. He listened intently to the rest of her words, now very thankful that the daunting presence in his head had subsided and he could fully concentrate on Cheyenne. He was still surprised by her words, but he kept his face mostly in check. He had no idea she felt that way with him, and that made him happy. She felt she could trust him, which she most certainly could, in his opinion. Did that mean she felt safe? Secure? He hoped so. His smile grew, golden eyes shining with admiration. Cheyenne was a fine wolf, and he respected that she was able to admit these feelings to him. Skoldpadda, on the other hand, wasn't exactly sure how to share his emotions. Hell, he was hardly even able to comprehend his own emotions, he usually just shushed them away into the back of his head, and then ignored them, never trying to deal with them later. He just didn't understand. But, this pretty little wolf had just admitted to him that she felt close to him, and that was something, was it not? And she could trust him. Trust was a big word, especially for someone who was hardly more than a stranger. He sighed lightly, fighting with himself to figure out how to respond to her. Did he trust her? He thought about that for a second, and decided yes, he truly did trust her. Could he say that to her? Probably not. He was a wreck at trying to admit his emotions to others. Everything just came out jumbled and wrong. Did he feel close to her? His thoughts flashed back to the inescapable urges to protect her with his life and the abrupt, instinctual nuzzle which he had initiated. Yes, he did feel close to her, there was no denying that. His brow furrowed slightly, his mouth opening as if he were going to speak, but then he closed it again, a confused expression laying itself out across his face. He had no idea how to proceed, and he almost could have laughed at himself at that moment. Skoldpadda was always so good with words, and now he couldn't find any. Not one. This thought amused him, and he allowed the puzzled look on his face to smooth out into a huge, toothy grin. He chuckled abruptly, some sheepishness underlying the sound. "I can say the same, Chey. I'm sorry my words aren't going to be as nice and elegant as yours, but I'm a man, what do you expect," He offered her a small, playful wink, although the words sounded somewhat hollow to him. He didn't think that was the reaction she wanted, and he wasn't happy with it either, but he really didn't know what to do with the words he wanted to say, they just wouldn't make sense once they left his mouth. Slightly frustrated with his inability to speak coherently, Skoldpadda settled to answer Cheyenne in the only way he could see fit. He pushed himself off the ground again, and closed the distance between their two forms. Golden gaze searched her face for a second before he looked away, once again letting his muzzle sift gently against Cheyenne's warm, welcoming fur. He merely lingered beside her for a second, hardly daring to touch her, just letting her aroma settle around his body, it was nice, it settled his nerves somewhat. His sighed lightly, pressing his muzzle against her neck now, he let his neck move on it's own now, and he ran the side of his face gently against her neck. He was unable to speak with words, so once again he would have to answer with his actions. This time he didn't draw away from her, he stayed by her side, letting his muzzle run up the side of her face gently before he rested his lower jaw gently at the top of her head. He was quite a bit taller than her, so he was able to do so easily. He sighed again, an easy, content sound, and let his eyes close for a second, allowing himself to bask in the heat radiating from her body. "You're very special, Chey, to me, anyway," His words were completely sincere, and they sounded completely relaxed and at ease. He felt completely relaxed and at ease here with Cheyenne. He kept his head resting gently atop her for a few more seconds before he moved it away, so he could register the emotions on her face. He didn't leave her side, though, instead he settled his haunches into the ground beside her, his features adorned in a gentle smile. ooc: Whooo, little muse burst in there :]. & yay for Skold's awkwardness x]

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