Never Take Advice from Strangers.

[wake]

NORUT
They say curiousity killed the cat.

The wind was both crisp and fresh, bringing a constant reminder that winter was on it's way. Now, usually I would enjoy the nice, cool fall weather, but to be precisely honest, I wasn't looking forward to another winter all to myself. Even rogue's get lonely, after all. Not that I was really a rogue, per se, but that's what I'd been treated as. I suppose there was no getting out of it, but in all fairness, the packs in the areas I'd been before knew loners only as enemies. I was always disappointed when I came across a pack to try and explain myself to, only to be chased off in the exact opposite direction. I let out an involuntary growl as I reminisced the past. My two brothers, for instance, were never very fun to remember. In fact, I rather fancy that it never happened.

Though, I'd always know it did.

I lashed my tail, sighing loudly through my nose. Enough was enough, I figured, trotting along the outline of the square, deciding I'd rest for a bit before leaving again. I wasn't sure how long I'd been moping about here, but from what I could tell, loitering wasn't in the accomodations. As I plodded along, I could feel the eyes of strangers on my skin, burning right into my mind. I had always been uncomfortable under the watchful eye of complete strangers - it made me feel as though I had someone to impress. Not that I let on, though. If I did, my weakness would have been exploited by one of two wolves: myself, or my brother, Moruze. I shook my head and carried on, eyeing those who didn't seem to understand it was rude to stare.

"'Scuse me," I muttered, brushing past an older brute who looked at me oddly. Honestly, was there something wrong with me? Or were these wolves just entirely too observant? I shot the male a similar stare and sauntered off a few more paw-steps, auds pinned back until I could no longer feel anyones gaze on my back. Finally - maybe at long last I could blend in a little more. Or at least, stay out of the way until I felt prepared to leave.

Although, I couldn't say I was entirely sure where I was going. I was a wanderer after all; eyes set on only one goal. Not that anyone else would know that.

It was actually the determination that led to its demise

[Pocket Kitsune]

Citlali was tired of grays. Soon spring would chase winter from her throne--forcing her gnarled fingers of ice to release the lands. And though he was no longer a pup, he knew full well he'd be giddy and drunk on the uplifting mood that spring's warming breath brought. At the moment, however, the approaching winter shrilled her horns, demanding that nature observe her coming reign. The brute was getting on in years--not yet five, but not more than a handful of months away from being so. The cold gnawed at the marrow of his bones, cold milk teeth seeping into his thin pelt better designed for warmer climates.

He had expected no more hopefuls this season. For although it was only late fall, the paths that lead to Dachau had already begun to silver with the season's first icefall. Before long, only those of Kalte stock would be able to make it as far as the Capital. And yet, as he was swiftly learning, Dachau still held a few surprises for this wise and seasoned male. There was a stirring just outside of the inner most section of the square. Bodies moved aside with dismal politeness, ebbing and swelling around a darker shade that moved through them with the neatness of a knife slitting paper.

Ocher eyes, keen with both vigilance and the grace of wondrous eyesight from the genes that lined his veins, picked out the vague shape of a young male, drifting like flotsam among the weary travelers that lingered at the base of the sorting rock. His ears canted forward in mild curiosity, lips curving into a smile of private amusement.

"Milord in the back," he called abruptly, lifting his voice to drift among the dust motes and whisper into Norut's ears. "Step forward, please."

[wake]

"Honestly..." I muttered to myself, frowning as I felt yet another set of eyes cast in my direction. Apparently, I wouldn't be left to my own devices for more than three seconds. Sighing, I looked up. Well. This was odd, wasn't it? The male that had called me up and asked me to step forward looked... mildly amused? Skeptical, I did as I was asked and took a few curious steps up. Few bothered to stop what they were doing, but it was obvious they were curious. And hey, I would be too. Then again, this could be some kind of regular occurance. I knew nothing of this land, or it's wolves - and that was a rather large problem when you thought of what could happen. I didn't even know the terrain properly should I need to run.

I decided I should probably speak-up before he assumed I was mute.

Clearing my throat slightly, I adressed him with a nod. "...What can I do for you?" I hoped I didn't sound over-curious. I was, let's get that straight, but being curious in this type of situation may or may no be a very bad thing. I mean, how many places have I travelled in my few short years, and how many wolves have been annoyed with something as simple as being there? My eyes narrowed at the thought. I tilted my head to the side, considering all angles of what was happening. Really, it didn't matter what I did. If he decided to attack, that was that. He didn't really give off the I'm-gonna-kill-you-if-you-don't-move-get-your-paws-off-my-territory aura though, and that was always good thing. In fact he seemed almost... what's that word... friendly? I felt myself frown slightly. Who on earth would spare friendliness, of all things, to a rogue? Well, he certainly had my interest piqed, if that's what he intended.

[Pocket Kitsune]

Citlali's lips again curved in an upward ascent. There was a questioning candor in the words of the male, and the manner in which he neither drew too near nor kept too far back, even after being addressed, was far from offensive. It was the typical nature of newcomers--or, as he suspected was the case with Norut, newcomers who had not deliberately sought out the lands their weary paws swung them into--like the wild rocking of the compass needle. Very well. If Norut was not to come to him, then he would go to him--as much of a poor reflection of protocol as it would seem.

He leapt lightly from the rock, winding his way through the crowd with the serpentine grace and stride of the confident. And indeed, as if he were a wolven Moses, the crowd parted and drew aside from either side of the male as he approached, their whispers lingering on the hairs of his ears like memories of ghosts, and just as chill. He stopped at a respectful distance, neither too close nor too far, but near enough to where neither of them would have to shout back and forth any longer.

"It isn't what you can do for me, milord, but rather, what I can do for you," he countered smoothly. "Let me be the first to welcome you to Dachau. My name is Citlali, and in the brief time we have together, I will be your Zielle." He paused, allowing the weight of those unfamiliar words sink in.

[wake]

I watched as he approached, studying the manor in which he did so. He seemed rather noble, or... something similar. No, no, noble wasn't the word. He seemed... higher ranked, simply in the way he moved. At least that much could be assumed. Curious, I eyed him as he began speaking. Dachau... so that's where I'd wandered into. I'd heard people further off talking about this place, but never really knew where it was. I flicked my tail as I heard another unfamiliar word. Zielle...?

Trying to register what he said, I gave a slight nod. "I am Norut," I replied evenly, trying to gage what I was saying so as not to sound quite as baffled as I was. What he could do for me, hm? I wonder what he meant by that. I suppose that might include a pack, which would be nice, but I didn't honestly expect it. More so, I was curious. Curious about all sorts of things, to be precise. One of them was the word he'd used. "You say you're a Zielle?" I paused to think over what else I would say. "What exactly do you do?" I inquired, sitting down lightly [of course, I was still on my toes, just to be safe].

This was certainly a strange place. Or at least, much different as compared to other lands. Zielle, whatever they were, seemed to have a high standing of sorts, though I wasn't sure what kind of standing, I knew they must have been important. Or something awfully close to that. And Dachau... such a unique name. I glanced around as I digested the information, making mental notes here and there as I waited for an answer.

[Pocket Kitsune]

Citlali would have been disappointed indeed if no questions were forthcoming. Or perhaps not so much disappointed as surprised that his assumptions about Norut had proven wrong. His was the gift of insight, and while no single wolf that paced through the wide city gates was an open book, he could read the more subtle emotions that rested and mirrored there like weathered lines in a book half burned to ash--or surface tension on a pond as a leaf's four points kissed the still murk of the drowsy stream. He dipped his maw once in a cordial acceptance of the male's name. It was a rare gift, and one for which he was grateful. Too often, he sent the wheels of fate spinning, placing the wolf in question in the center of those madly dancing spokes, without ever once knowing their name.

The dip of his crown, too, acknowledge the litany of questions that assailed his ears. It was his patient nature that stilled his tongue until long after he was sure Norut had finished speaking. "My task here is to, of course, welcome you to our lands, first and foremost." It was partial truth--for the words he didn't speak were the silent code--if ever a wolf looked sick or infirm, they were to be turned away at the gates. Disease and weakness were not permitted inside of Dachau. Harsh laws, perhaps, but their nation would not have become what it was today if those very laws were not in place.

"But my job is to also find you a suitable pack, if that is your wish." He, too, sank to his haunches then, eyes locking with Norut's own. "To that end, let me explain a bit more. There are four ruling packs in our land of Dachau. Which one I send you to depends largely on you. So tell me, Norut. What brings you to Dachau? Do you seek a pack? And if so, what can you tell me about yourself? What makes you special?"