~Eternity~ Asmundure, gripping the crown of woven leaves, then carefuly bestowed it upon Auslougs humbly bowed head. "Ausloug, Hunter of the North Winds Pack, son of Erwin Rabbitrunner and Jurigg Stormhowler, I present to you your name, to carry and uphold your family's honor." The tension waiting to be broken by the speaking of the name could almost be felt in the air. "Ausloug Marrowhunter!" The Alpha boomed, announcing the name. With that, Ausloug opened his eyes, tilted his head back, and howled. The Alpha soon joined him, and one by one, the whole pack - Including Erlendur - joined in the first solemn, deep, grand howl, which then transitioned to one of a more ceremonious tone. Erlendur finally dipped his head again. He was happy for his brother, of course, but he had dreamed that it would be him up there, beside his brother before the Alpha. Erlendur was first to return to his den after the basic festivities had begun to dissipate, feeling alone and cold, and worst of all, nameless. ~Chapter 3~ Erlendur, without much alacrity, stalked along the North Winds/East Winds border. Bestowed once more with the drudgery of patrolling, Erlendur had lost almost all heart for the work. He should be leading hunting teams like his brother; not patrolling the border of most painful memories. Yet here he was, trotting over the sticks and stones as if his paws were made of the latter. "Yoi!" He cried out as pain rippled from his rear leg. "On your toes, Erlendur. I'll have no patrol wolves with their paws stuck in the mud." His superior lieutenant growled. "Yes, Borigg Pineracer." He submitted, picking up the pace. He could understand why Borigg was so bitter, as his own failure also reflected badly on the lieutenant. It had marred his chance of advancing to captain for at least an extra few fortnights. Then, mid-thought, something caught his eye. It was a flash of white... Erlendur cocked his head and paused, focusing on the white. It took a moment for him to identify it... It was the White Stag! The silver wolf locked eyes with the majestic White Stag. It stood there, far from it's herd in the East Winds land, watching him. Erlendur felt locked in a trance between him and the stag, when suddenly a fierce impact hit him in the side, knocking the wind out of his chest. He was on the ground in a heartbeat, suddenly surrounded by snarls and growls. "Ambush!-" His superior Lieutenant barely was able to howl before also being barreled over. Erlendur was plunged right into the heart of the battle, and he could hardly tell his own packets pelts from those of his enemies in the writhing mass. Erlendur bit and nipped at opponents in reach, all the while eavesdropping on the battle conversation between the two Lieutenants. "Why battle unannounced? This is dishonorable! Against the Code of the Ancients." Borrig cried. "Blast the Code of the Ancients! Our pack must survive! Without Winter Territory, how is it possible that we can prevail?" The white War Lieutenant of the East Winds growled. Territory. This dishonorable dispute was about territory? Typical, of the East Winds, Erlendur snorted in his head. Angered, he launched himself into the fray, landing himself on top of the muscular back of a brown wolf. His foe growled, flipping over and landing him beneath her. Erlendur's wit was quick, however, and so managed to regain himself. Not only that, but he landed himself -on top- of the wolf. Only then, did he see the eyes of his foe, and his heart froze. It was the green-eye'd she-wolf. The very one he had seen before, across the border, the day of his great shame. Her eye's were far less sympathetic now, of course; yet they betrayed the sense that she didn't agree with the breaking of the Code of the Ancients. Because of this, he hesitated. It was less of a hesitation however, and more along the lines of an offer. An offer of which, with a catch to her eye, was quickly accepted, and she rolled away out from under him, returning to the fray. He too, after a moment's breath returned to battle, tacking one opponent after the next as they came. Much to his dismay, they appeared to be loosing the battle. His pack's wolves were beginning to loose their ground, and those who still fought looked ready to give in. His fears were turned true, as the opposing Lieutenant let out the victory howl; before he knew it, he was being chased out of what had, moments ago, been his own territory. His legs ached from the strain, and finally the East Winds wolves held back as they returned to what still counted as their territory. They had just lost their outer-flanking hunting grounds. Poor land, but land was power. His pack would be weakened severely by this blow. "Erlendur! You fool! What were you thinking? By the Ancients!" came the sharp voice of his infuriated Superior Lieutenant, almost as if to add --
-- to the pain of the moment. "You know better than to aid an enemy in battle!" Shock and ice ran up his body. He had been seen! His release of the she-wolf had not been as discreet as he had hoped. "Borigg Pineracer, my most sincere apologies, it was a slip of me." He replied. If he dared lie, and was found guilty, the punishments were severe indeed. "I most severe slip! One warrior can turn a battle, and you turned it in their favor! The Alpha will have hear of this!" Erlendur's head down in shame for the second time in as many weeks, he turned and followed behind his newly hostile-to-him patrol. Worry welled in his belly. Another fault like this, and his name would be lost to him, forever. ~Chapter 4~ It of course came of no surprise that, after his short punishment on Omega's duty for his offense, he was put straight back to hunting when the whether turned cold. As luck would have it for him, the pack's very loss of territory made it so the Alpha could waste no wolves on obedience training. The Herds were migrating out of pack lands, and so small prey had to suffice for them. It was meager meals, but they got by, just barely. However, barely, would not keep a strong pack. And with the pack growing weak, it only fell into the paradox of hunters returning with no prey, losing it to low fatigue, and without the prey, the energy is never regained. As the Winter months drew forth, long and cold and harsh, Erlendur witnessed his packmates fall, claimed by the hunger, told and disease that ran rampant in the dark months. Even the Alpha lost some of his bulk, himself reducing his usual feast for the better of the pack. This he could mind, but when Erlendur saw his own mother grow frail- despite that she tried to hide it- a fire raged within him. He could not let this happen. This was his fault. And he intended to fix it. As the short hours of day passed once again, Erlendur snuck out from the camp. The light, misty snowfall cloaked him within a decent radius. He made slow time, being the hills buried beneath a wolf's half height of snow. Yet, with all his might, he bounded and raced through the torrential storm, his plan firm and clear in his mind. At last, he reached his destination. The East Winds camp was within his view, the snow here being far more light due to the extra heat of this territory. He briskly trotted towards the camp, then slunk around the back to where a ring of trees acted as a windbreak. He poked his head through the foliage, spying around for his target. The sentries were obviously directed towards the main entrance of the camp, for he had not yet been seen. Soon enough, he spied his quarry. The green-eyed wolf. And as it so happened, she spotted him too. She cast a nervous glance here and there, and turned away from her place at guard. Again, to his luck, she didn't sound the alarm. As soon as she approached, she didn't bother with formalities. "Why are you here? You could be killed if any of the others see you, and that would be a sour waste of me not killing you last Fall." He was slightly stunned by the bluntness of her question, but without time to waste, he didn't bother clarifying that she ever had the -chance- of killing him last fall, as the situation had been quite the other way around. Nevertheless, he replied:"Admit it or not, you owe me. My pack is in crisis." She cocked her head. "And you admit this before me, why? How is it of any responsibility to me?" Deciding to briefly interrupt the conversation, he rose, and hen bowed. "Erlendur, of the North Winds. She returned the gesture, as customary. "Aulay, of the East Winds, and my question still stands." He locked her eyes, trying to appear firm, though really, inside, he was afraid. "I need you to hunt for us. My pack is starved, We have fallen into the Winter Paradox." He blurted out. Aulay looked to the ground, as if considering. She sat there for a long, long ,moment, then finally met his gaze again. "For my honor, I'll do it." ~Chapter 5~ Aulay had then proceeded to direct him around and out of the camp. She led him out across the East Winds territory, to a place on the border of the two packs. Yet, this location was rarely patrolled, as prey was nonexistent in the permafrost plains. "This is where we'll meet, every week. I'll get what I can spare. Nothing more, nothing less, and only until the snow clears, or your pack returns to strength." She stated strongly. He nodded his head. It was reasonable. "Agreed.". "Very good. Now I advise you to be going." She said curtly, turning back in the direction of her own camp. "Very well." He said before trotting off in the other direction. He returned to his den that night with a sense of satisfaction. His pack would be fed- if, Aulay held to her word. He had the feeling though, that as a wolf of honor, she would. However, there was no way of knowing till that day came.
