Wake Up, The Arcane Pack

[Ivv]

Lijah was far more concerned with the fact that Wilde and Jetta were in their den, but Jarkko simply smiled from ear to ear at his sister. These intruders were being doused with their scent. That aweful scent they'd had earlier, the one from the rotten, hollowed log was fading as Wilde and Jetta were out more, and now finally were being rubbed with the scent of Jarkko and Lijah's den. Fenrae and Logan's scent. The smell of grass and freshly turned dirt. It was like they were all becoming one group, but under Lijah and Jarkko's terms. Still, that didn't stop Lijah from turning on Jetta. Jarkko turned to face Wilde, anticipating a retaliation, but Pandora's sharp voice stopped each pup in their tracks. There was a warning, then the adults continued talking. "Who cares about these guys, Lij. The moment we get out of this den, we're — no, you're asking Dad wasn't going on." Lijah could get anything out of Logan. Jarkko was almost clotheslined as he darted out of the den, getting knocked back by Loni's paw and suddenly being pinned there. He yapped playfully, thinking it was the game his grandfather had promised, but Loni did the same with Jetta, and spoke in a low, warning tone. What was up with everyone? Everything had been fine just a little while ago, and now everything had changed. "Game. We'll play a game." Jarkko answered immediately and without hesitation. He was on his feet the moment Loni released him and looked up at his grandfather with bright teal eyes in anticipation, forgetting the questions he'd had about whatever had sparked the pack into action in the first place...

[Fureek]

HAPPINESS IS JUST OUTSIDE MY WINDOW She was prepared for this sort of retaliation, so when Lijah marched her little white butt over for an attack, Jetta easily evaded it. However, the two still ended up rolling away, snarling and growling as best as their little puppy voices could, until Jetta suddenly felt herself lifted high above Lijah. “What the…MOM!” She squirmed around, furious at her mom for having separated the two. In her mind, she was SURE she would have won. Pandora set her on the ground away from Lijah, and Jetta was only stopped from entering round to by her mother’s ‘serious business’ voice. “You four will share the space in a friendly matter or I will make it five, and I will not play nice.” She huffed, but otherwise listened, glaring at Lijah from the corner of her eyes. At least the two could agree on one thing: This sucked. But it didn’t take long for things to get going again as Jetta heard Logan move most of the pack away for a hunt. She was quickly on her feet and after Jarkko and Wilde, sprinting for freedom until that same old wolf that had brought them meals when they were in the log clotheslined her in the same manner he did Jarkko. She took the opportunity to catch his scent in full, scrunching her nose a bit when she recognized the scent. This was a relative of Jarkko and Lijah’s…figured. All fun ruiners were… So it surprised her when he offered them a game. Jetta looked after the disappearing pack, imagining that—as fun as a game was—what THEY were doing would be much cooler, but the threat of time out won her over and she nodded in agreement with Jarkko. “Yes…a game.” She flipped to her feet as soon as the old wolf let her, watching as he straightened himself up to his full height. Her head cocked to the side as she studied him while she waited for him to explain this game, noting that he had that same presence about him that Logan had carried. This wolf was something to be respected…why? She’d have to find out. But first! She’d play. There was always time for questions later. Now, her brain focused itself on whatever play this old wolf suggested.

[meg]

Jarkko flashed his teeth and Wilde narrowed his eyes in an annoyed way. He began to mutter about not wanting to be in your stinky den anyways, when Pandora stuck her head in the den. You four will share the space in a friendly matter or I will make it five, and I will not play nice. It was mom's warning voice, and Wilde flattened his ears in a submissive way. He wouldn't double cross his mother, she was always super tough on him when he went behind her back. Suddenly, mom's eyes got that weird, glazed over look that they sometimes had, and Wilde took this moment to attempt to scurry out of the den, but Pandora immediately snuffed him with her paw and shoved him down. She took this moment to get up and join the rest of the pack in a hunt, and while being slightly dazed from the paw to the top of the head, Jarkko bounded out of the den with Wilde right behind. Jarkko was then clotheslined by a big wolf's paw and held down, and Wilde put on the brakes quickly and scurried around the paw, only to be stopped by another wolf. Gena held him firm as Wilde squirmed and twisted and grunted and flailed, but to no avail. He was stuck. Wilde's mood darkened quickly, as soon as he realized he was stuck, actually, but in an amazing feat it brightened up like crazy when Loni offered a game. I'm going to let you up. If any of you try and break to run after the other adults all you'll get is a long, boring time out in the den, and me and Gena will be quite content to let you sniff our butts while we take a nap. Or, you can behave and we'll play a game. So. Gena was holding him down, and if he ran off she would drag him back and shove him in that already smelly den and then put her butt in his face and nap!?!?! OH. The horror. His face was purely horrified as he scurried away from Gena when she released him, and scurried over to Jetta, still keeping an eye on Gena. No WAY was he going to sniff her butt! Wilde focused his attention on Loni and sat promptly and watched the older wolf with bright brown keen eyes, awaiting to hear the rules of this game. This game had to have rules, or those good for nothing cheaters would be at it again, of course.

[Losty]

It seemed as though Jetta felt the same way about being stuck in the den, and there might have been a glimmer of recognition in that if it wasn't for Lijah's immediate disinterest in the entire situation. Instead, she turned to her brother as he spoke up. "Who cares about these guys, Lij. The moment we get out of this den, we're — no, you're asking Dad wasn't going on." "I doubt he's going to be there when they let us out," she replied patiently, but knowing that Jarkko wouldn't accept anything other than her agreement to the arrangement, she humoured him. "But as soon as I can, I will." Just then there was a flurry of activity as light poured back into the den and it became clear that no one was watching the entrance. First out was Jarkko, followed closely behind by Wilde and Jetta. By the time Lijah emerged, her suspicions were confirmed; all three of them had been stopped. She couldn't help the knowing smirk that creased her lips as she slumped lazily against the den's archway, watching with amusement as they were reprimanded by Grandpa. "I'm going to let you up. If any of you try and break to run after the other adults all you'll get is a long, boring time out in the den, and me and Gena will be quite content to let you sniff our butts while we take a nap. Or, you can behave and we'll play a game..." he said in his whispy voice, and her ears picked forward. A game? While the others jumped at the only sensible option they were given, Lijah held her tongue. She wasn't going to agree to any game until she knew exactly what the game was.

[Hype]

While Jarkko was quick to respond with Jetta, Wilde and Lijah held their tongues. They were waiting to see what kind of game they were going to play. Loni grinned, but took a moment to stretch into a bow before taking a seat. "Alright," Loni began, watching their puppy ears prick forward, their full attention trained on him, "the game is called Tail-Lengths." Loni turned to Gena briefly, and with her small nod of understanding the game, Loni continued. "Now listen carefully, because there are many different ways to play the game. How we'll play today could be different from how we play tomorrow. Today, Wilde and Jarkko will be playing with me. Jetta, Lijah, you two will be with Gena. Gena and I will be over by this tree with our backs turned. Your goal is to tag me, and then see how many tail-lengths away from me you can get before I catch you." Loni waited a beat for the pups to think this over, then continued. "Now, whoever gets the farthest wins, but there's one more thing. If I bet that neither Jarkko or Wilde will get farther than 5 tail lengths from me, and neither of you do that, then I win that round. You understand? We'll have three rounds. If a pup on Gena's team wins the same number of times as one on my team, those two will face off in a final game later, how about that?"

--------------------

Wolves: Loni . Fenrae . 133
Dogs: Roshi
Humans: Bronson . Dover

"The Public is more familiar with bad design than good design. It is, in effect, conditioned to prefer bad design, because that is what it lives with. The new becomes threatening, the old reassuring." -Paul Rand

[meg]

The old wolf grinned and Wilde could feel his muscles itching to hop up. He was sure Loni would totally be able to tell the poor puppy could barely sit still and yet was sitting still all for this game, he lost the last game to some cheaters so he obviously couldn't lose this game! Loni stretched out, taking his dear old time as Wilde squirmed visibly in his seat. Alrighty, the game is called Tail-Lengths. Wilde's tail began to flop back and forth and his eyes got bright as he drank in the name of this new game. Now listen carefully, because there are many different ways to play the game. How we'll play today could be different from how we play tomorrow. Today, Wilde and Jarkko will be playing with me. Jetta, Lijah, you two will be with Gena. Gena and I will be over by this tree with our backs turned. Your goal is to tag me, and then see how many tail-lengths away from me you can get before I catch you. The thought of the game switching up multiple times threw Wilde for a loop, and his ears twitched in barely concealed joy. Then again, he had to play with Jarkko. He backed up his cheating sister, and although Wilde wanted him to be his friend so they could explore and scout things out together and do totally manly things, Wilde was still insecure about it. He however pushed this thought aside, and told himself he would give the other puppies time to redeem themselves... it seemed as though they weren't going anywhere anytime soon. Watching Loni carefully, before catching Jetta's eye and giving her a small grin, he leaned in interestedly as Loni spoke again. Now, whoever gets the farthest wins, but there's one more thing. If I bet that neither Jarkko or Wilde will get farther than 5 tail lengths from me, and neither of you do that, then I win that round. You understand? We'll have three rounds. If a pup on Gena's team wins the same number of times as one on my team, those two will face off in a final game later, how about that? As soon as Loni said something about bets, Wilde promptly stood up. He was ready for this game. He was booorrrnnnn for this game. "I understand, but mom says it's not nice to beat girls... but it's okay if you beat girls in this game?" Pandora had tried to instill upon the pup some manners, but Wilde had been too busy digging a hole to pay any attention. He wanted to make sure he knew the rules of this game, however, cuz if he beat Lijah or Jetta they might cry to their moms or something... psh, girls. He gave Jarkko a glance and shrugged, of course he had to ask that question.

[Ivv]

Without even noticing, Jarkko found himself shoulder to shoulder with Wilde, both eagerly listening to Loni's instructions. Wilde fidgeted more, but both tails wagged in anticipation. The only major drawback was the fact that their teams would split up the siblings and Jarkko knew both Jetta and Wilde to be terribly sore losers. With a look back at Lijah, Jarkko decided to let the pairing slide. While his sister tried her best to maintain the level of nonchalance she was constantly perfecting, Jarkko could tell she was intrigued. He could see it in her eyes and how she held herself; it was subtle, but Jarkko noticed. "I understand, but mom says it's not nice to beat girls... but it's okay if you beat girls in this game?" Wilde asked. Lame. They weren't physically going to demolish them, so what was the big deal. "Who cares," Jarkko said, standing. He wrinkled his nose in thought for a brief moment, then walked behind Loni, then back around to the front of the group. "Okay, our tails only come out to... here," Jarkko scratched two lines in the dirt; the first was the starting, and the second was about the length he'd calculated the tails of the four pups average out to be. "But yours comes out to here." He pawed another line into the dirt. "So which one are we using to count with?" Jarkko asked, standing tall behind his scratch marks. He didn't want Wilde or Jetta to have any fuel for calling Lijah and Jarkko cheaters when they won their respective heats.

[Fureek]

HAPPINESS IS JUST OUTSIDE MY WINDOW As Loni launched into his explanation of a game he called “Tail Lengths”, Jetta sat back and listened, her head cocked to the side in that way it did whenever she was taking in something new. The game sounded interesting enough, but to be quite frank she had somewhat been hoping for a game that involved her beating the living snot out of the alpha pups—in a purely loving, playful way of course! Because in no way would she ever want harm to accidentally befall Fluffy and Snowball…especially by her own paws. Loni finished his explanation and Jetta stood up, catching her brother’s eye as he looked at her in response to the “split up teams thing”. She exhaled and glanced back a Lijah quickly before trotting up to the only wolf she hadn’t yet met, and who she assumed to be Gena. In the few steps it had taken her to reach the lady wolf, she had wiped away any outward annoyance with pairings and replaced it with her natural puppy cuteness. “I’m Jetta. It’s nice to meet you.” “I understand, but mom says it’s not nice to beat girls…but it’s okay if you beat girls in this game?” “Who cares?” Jetta narrowed her eyes when Jarkko responded to her brother’s perfectly valid question with that same “Lupus, you’re an idiot” tone he’d used with the two since they’d met. Sure, she agreed with him mostly just because she not only thought she could beat either one of them any day so the question was void anyways, but she also agreed with him cause she thought any girl could beat any boy, including Lijah! But she was really, REALLY starting to get irritated with his attitude. She listened to his question and Loni’s answer, but her mind was swirling with the possible outcomes of this game. No matter what, she’d decided she wouldn’t give the two of them any more fuel to label her a “sore loser”, even if it wasn’t even true in the first place. When the question session was over, she turned back to Gena with determination in her eyes. “Who goes first?”

[Losty]

Tail-Lengths, Grandpa had called it. Lijah blinked slowly as she focused intently on his explanation of the game, her mind going over the rules and digesting the concept to the point of full understanding. The only part she found herself sneering at was having to be paired with Jetta...but with a quick glance at the other female, she quickly got over it. "I understand, but mom says it's not nice to beat girls... but it's okay if you beat girls in this game?" Wilde asked, and she snorted impatiently. Jarkko echoed her thoughts. "Who cares?" Beside her, Jetta seemed to tense. She ignored it, turning back to Loni with little expression. "What do we get when we win?" she asked smoothly, and still sat in the same spot she'd been, stalk still. As much as the game did intrigue her, she didn't see what was in it for her yet. She'd already played for bragging rights, and a lot of good it did them; they were just called cheaters. No...she wanted to make sure this was actually worth her time.