Hardly Worth The Storm(OPEN)

[~Nighthunter~]

Tuvio Hunteri

HONOR,NOBILITY,RESPECT

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Tuvio strode from the castle purposefully. He wanted to make a sweep of the territory. He had hoped that he would have run into someone before he left to extend the invitation to run. He was certainly going to use this time to snag all his thoughts together that were floating about in his head, and try to make sense of them. Running always had a way of putting things into perspective, and maybe he would catch someone to mingle with.

Currently he was enveloped in the more beastly form of his wolf. A russet brown and red long haired beast, with a white lower muzzle and underbelly. He carried a light and logical expressive face, and had a heart to match. Tuvio always tried to be the best Alpha he could be for his pack, and so far had not brought it crashing down. Letting out a gruff in light exertion, he took in his surroundings. Trees that were covered in all sorts of moss, and had limbs high up. Limbs whose branches stretched down, and once shadowed the ground like a blanket, and provided shelter along the entire floor of the forest he now ploughed through. Colorful plants, flower, fungus and other weird things that filled the area here and there, having decayed, or succumbed to the frost. It was beautiful in his eyes though, it was his, it was home. Today as usual Tuvio had pack matters endlessly assaulted him, and demanded the his attention.

He cast a casual glance to the clouds and noted that they were moving more forcefully. The once quiet wind was now starting to tug gently on his coat. His instinct told him that a storm was possibly going to hit, though whether it would be a gentle rain or a thunderous blanket, he couldn't tell. He stopped running, his muscles shifting to slacken his foot falls and stop his form all together. He brought his nose to the muggy ground and sniffed, breathing in the humidity and trying to pick up something interesting. The bear were around yesterday, so he didn't expect to find any trace of them around, but he was hoping to find a dear or maybe a rabbit. His stomach growled as if to assert his decision to stop and quest for food before he resumed his search. As he was bent down, a strong gust came and blew a cloud of dirt floated into his eyes. The wind, made him lift his head abruptly and shake it to try and clear the stinging of his eyes from the unexpected pain of some particles staying in his eyes. This wind is going to be a problem.

He sincerely hoped it started to rain shortly, then the straying winds wouldn't be as much of  a problem if he came upon prey. The rain would mask any scent that the wind swept up from his position. Blinking his eyes clear, perked his ears up. It had sounded like something was approaching, but he hadn't been sure.

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Her long, blonde hair drifted lightly against the breeze. She stood outside the castle of which she called home. Her elbows were resting on the old brick wall that surrounded the entrance of the large fortress. She leaned forward and folded her soft hands in front of herself. Aurora stood in her human form, gazing over the horizon of the pack's territory. She wore a soft white blouse and khaki slacks. Nothing particular was on her mind and she found herself daydreaming.

The alpha female rarely found time to herself. Her personal needs and wants came second to those of the pack. It was her responsibility, and her mate's, to make sure everyone was taken care of. The two of them barely got time to spend together. It was like a miracle if they ever got to see each other and not have to deal with any pack problems. But that was simply part of her job, no way to deny it.

Her ears perked up when she heard something behind her, breaking her out of her thoughts. Turning her head to glance back at what disturbed her thoughts of nothing, Aurora caught a glimpse of a familiar frame running down the stairs of the castle. The brown pelt was easily recognizable to the female alpha. She smiled as she watched her mate take off towards the woods. Just like Tuvio to be so caught up in his own thoughts to not even notice her. Her smile grew, turning her body towards the stairs. Aurora wasn't sure if he was off to hunt or do a perimeter run. Either way she figured it would be a great opportunity to spend some alone time with him.

Aurora started to jog down the stairs, and morphed into her blonde wolf form as she reached the bottom. Her four paws hit the ground in a rhythmic pattern, making only a light sound. She shook her fur out as she ran after Tuvio. Running as a wolf gave her a feeling that was hard to describe. For lack of a better word she definitely felt free.

The female alpha was able to weave in and out of the trees, and took note of the cloudy sky. The wind was also picking up. She knew that a storm was on the way. She could smell the rain, even though it hadn't arrived quite yet. Aurora was able to catch up to her mate in a timely fashion, however she chose not to show herself right away. She slowed to a stop as she noticed Tuvio up ahead. He had stopped to sniff the ground.

Aurora crept up closer so that she was in pouncing range. She noticed a gust of wind made her mate flinch back. The blonde wolf crouched down to the ground, her butt wiggling in the air. Her tail was wagging. She looked like a playful pup. She was still smiling as she let out a low growl and attempted to ambush her distracted mate.

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words: 503

[~Nighthunter~]

Tuvio Hunteri

HONOR,NOBILITY,RESPECT

____________________

Momentarily he had been distracted by a noise, and upon looking had come up with nothing resulting from said noise. Maybe his antsy attitude he was currently employing was getting to him. Taking a slight breath, he was about to turn back to paying attention to the ground and try to scent again. Of course it ended up that his nose was rather abruptly pushed into the dirt he was so interested in a moment before as a weight landed on top of him catching him off guard. At the same time the wind blew again, showering more dirt into the air, enough to cover the scent of the offending body that had ungraciously landed on him moments before.

Unable to hold them both up he flopped onto the ground on his side, probably taking his assailant with him, as this happened almost as soon as she landed on him. Sure he was built, but if it was an attack, albeit a poor attempt at one, he would counter from this position as it might have surprised them as well.

All of that line of thought vanished as he looked over his shoulder into the bright blue mischievous eyes of his mate Aurora. Well I'll be damned... she got me. This was a pleasant surprise, as he had been hoping to run into someone to keep company with. Ironically she had run into him, or pounced on him in this case. Grinning with a closed mouth half smile, he reached his big head over to nuzzle her beautiful white and creamy fur. Taking in her scent through his battered nose, he felt some of his tension release. It mattered not what he was troubled with, Aurora always seemed to bring him out of it.

Tuvio was glad she had sought him out, her playfulness was just what he needed right now, and he looked forward to having time with her. They were mates, and of course they saw each other often, but they were very much the type that was glued together. Even when one wandered off the other was not far behind, whether on accident or on purpose, they always stayed near one another.

Looking at her, he hoped he hadn't hurt her when he fell to his side once she landed on him. It made him a tad guilty that he wouldn't have been able to stop it if he had, since he had gone with the momentum. It also admittedly annoyed him that he had missed her sneaking up on him. Was he really getting that unobservant? Of course she was very skilled at tracking and staling, just as he was, if not better, so she would have been hard to spot even if he had been trying to find her.

"Hmm hmm, I am glad to see you my dear. It seems you have found me, and I hope your didn't stumble as my clumsy paws gave out on me." He said it with the utmost sincerity, for he was a bit disappointed in his finesse just then. "Come to make the best of this weary day?" It should have been him that sought her out, and he vowed that next time he would search for her first before giving up and running out alone. The fact that she approached him meant she wanted to see him, so he should have been more available. Twitching his nose, he knocked a few tiny pebbles off of it, clearing a thin sheen of dirt off it as well. Then he focused his stare onto her, waiting for her to whisper in her angelic voice, and looking more forward to his day then he had before.]

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[OTTIE]

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A light, airy trill of laughter filled the surrounding area. It was almost like a childish giggle as Aurora was able to successfully pounce on her loving mate. However, she was unexpectedly tossed to the side as Tuvio collapsed under her weight. The creamy blonde wolf seemed to be smiling as her mate nuzzled against her. She took in the familiar smell that was so intoxicating. The musky, woodsy smell that she adored filled her head as she returned his affection. 

Aurora gave her mate a swift lick on the cheek, rolling onto her back and kicking her legs and paws up into the air. She watched as the dark clouds moved quickly above. She didn't seem too concerned with them however. Rain wasn't going to melt them and it certainly wouldn't kill them to get wet. Especially now that Aurora's normally crisp and clean coat was muddled with dirt, leaves, and a few small twigs. She looked happy as could be, rolling around there next to her Tuvio.

The two were truly in love. She knew of many alphas that were only mates because it was expected. Luckily she had found her "one true love" in the russet brown male next to her. They brought out the best of each other and balanced each out quite nicely. Tuvio was known to almost always have something on his mind, troubling him. Aurora was one who could, sometimes not so easily, break him out of being so serious. Of course, sometimes Tuvio had to do just the same for Aurora. Some who were not especially close, especially younger pack members, found her intimidating and intense. Be that as it may, the Alpha female was just doing her job. She was very protective of her pack and wanted to keep them safe. She understood how much a loss would hurt and didn't want anyone to experience that kind of pain.

Hmm hmm, I am glad to see you my dear. It seems you have found me, and I hope you didn't stumble as my clumsy paws gave out on me. Tuvio's voice made her smile even more. "You're too distracted once again Tuvio." She said softly in a sing-song voice. She wiggled her body closer to his, turning on her side and stuck her nose into his pelt, taking a deep breath and letting out a soft sigh. "One of these days, it won't be me. What will you do then love?" She asked, closing her eyes and hoping that wouldn't ever be the case. Aurora just couldn't imagine losing such an important part of her life.

The female took notice of his mention of the dreary day. She nodded her head in response. The skies were getting slightly darker and she could've sworn she saw a streak of lightening earlier. If they were to get anything productive done, the two should have probably started to get a move on. Aurora was just as content to stay there with Tuvio and have some alone time though.

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words: 504

[~Nighthunter~]

Tuvio Hunteri

HONOR,NOBILITY,RESPECT

____________________

Just as he had hoped, her contagious laughter spilled out enveloping his senses with her mirth. Tuvio knew was she was laughing about, no doubt at all that it was towards her success at pinning him and catching him unaware yet again. It was funny, he should have paid attention. His nose still stung, though the rhythmic pattering of cold rain on it, was helping it to lessen. It was almost like he was putting ice on it in a way, nature's cold pack. Smiling at her, he got a swift lick from her, that made it all better. Belatedly he realized he was in the mud, and water was pooling around them in a small puddle, not an overly wide one, but it was melding to there forms. Flapping his ears back, he was slightly annoyed that his once nice coat was mucked up, it must not look all that nice in the state he could imagine he was in after that fall. Lifting up only and inch, he could feel the water falling from his side, and the thick mud caked there. Huffing and rolling his eyes he plopped back down resigned that there was no saving it. It wouldn't have bothered him, but he had already bathed that day.

Turning, he looked at Aurora again, and snickered at her in playful humor. She was on her back in the mud starring into the sky. As a predator, he didn't like being on his back much. It just wasn't appealing, he felt all exposed that way with his belly showing. In human form he could just constrict and curl up, but on while on his back in wolf form, that was impossible.

Distracting him from his woes, she spoke to him about how distracted he had been lately. He knew he had been, but it couldn't be helped in leadership it was required that you take on certain tasks, and the other packs didn't usually make his life any easier. Tuvio supposed that he could stand to relax a tad bit more, Aurora did just as much, and she didn't seem to be stressed out like he was. Sighing, because he knew she was right, he moved to lay on his back next to her. The pliant ground gave way easily to his bulk, and he sank in about three inches, but he knew his thick coat would keep some of it from reaching his skin as long as he didn't shimmy too much.

Aurora nuzzled him, and he lay there in bliss just taking in her light scent and listening to the rain. Exposed as he was, he even shut his eyes to tune out everything but the sensations. It was very therapeutic, and he had to admit that he liked the rain, he just wasn't too keen on the muck part as much.

Once more she spoke as she lay her head into him, about how he was lucky it had been her. She was right of course, one of these days it might not be her. Tuvio didn't wish to worry her though, so he smiled and spoke to her. "I would beat them, with you in my thoughts I'm luckier then them who would be dumb enough to confront an Alpha" Actually most challengers he knew were coming, for they puffed up like peacocks and strut around before they tried for it. Granted he knew he couldn't rely on that all the time, but he was young and strong, and would give anyone hell that tried to disrupt the life he had built. " I will be more careful, and how do you know I didn't know you were there hmm" That would probably make her feel better knowing he would try and be more observant when alone, but he had to tease her a little. Swinging his tail, it dragged a bunch of water and mud, having been weighed down from sitting there. Not surprising since the rain was starting to pick up, and perhaps he had heard thunder. Lifting one eye, he glanced at her in a playful manner, before stretching with all four limbs and swinging his tail in the air, the mud and water flinging off and sailing in her direction, a smirk of giddiness finding his cheeks raised high. Almost at once he was up on all fours and turning to face her before bending down his front paws and stretching them out with his behind in the air tail wagging. " Hehe how about a little tussle in the mud before we hunt or patrol, no since in worrying about how wet we get or how dirty we are. It will be good fun and practice too."

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Raindrops that were slightly chilly fell from the sky onto Aurora's dirty pelt. Yet she barely felt them. Instead she was overcome with joy and a sense of being content. Aurora knew

how precious spending time with loved ones was. She was excited to have this alone time with her mate. She noticed him relax and even close his eyes, which surprised her. Tuvio wasn't normally one to be so exposed. It made her feel good to see him so comfortable.

She did notice that his pelt was becoming more muddled the more they laid there. Of course the mud on her own creamy fur was more detectable. But she didn't care too much. It wasn't like it wouldn't wash off. She smiled once more as he answered her concerned question. I would beat them, with you in my thoughts I'm luckier then them who would be dumb enough to confront an Alpha. She let out a little chuckle. "I'm sure you would. I already put all of my faith and trust in you." Aurora gave her mate a few more loving licks near his neck.

I will be more careful, and how do you know I didn't know you were there hmm? Tuvio's words made her want to laugh. It was obvious he didn't know she was planning her surprise attack. But before she could argue back mud was flung across the small space between the two wolves and splattered her. The wet brown substance even made its way onto her face and ears, along with the rest of her body. She let out a gasp and kicked her way away from the Alpha male. "You're going to regret that!" She growled, flipping over to a crouching position, just as Tuvio reached all fours and stuck his butt up in the air, smirking. He looked so proud of himself. 

Hehe, how about a little tussle in the mud before we hunt or patrol? No sense in worrying about how wet we get or how dirty we are. It will be good fun and practice too. Aurora squinted her eyes at him, a tiny grin on her face. "Don't have to tell me twice." She whispered, running towards her mate, but stopping to slide in the mud, hoping to send the liquid spray his way.

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