A Lukewarm Bath [open]

[Issalyn]

[bg=c5e3b1][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=border,0,true][cs=7] A small drop of saliva fell from the tip of her tongue, dangling out from the side her of open month. Her ribs heaved in and out as she panted, roughly. Her breath came in raspy spurts as if singing it's own exhaustive tune. Her tongue quickly coiled back into her jaws with a flick. The sides of her muzzle puffed out as she inhaled and exhaled deeply. Water. She smelled water. Coppery pools gazed out beneath her tight brows, and in their reflection danced the cool blueness of the water that lay like a speck on the ground ahead. The mere presence of water was enough to revive her. Her muscles were aching after a long day's run, but she barely felt them now. The thorns and burrs that fussed up her fur were forgotten. The only thing she cared about was the evangaline lake that lie ahead. Swift limbs carried her towards it, pushing on, faster and faster. It seemed she just couldn't reach it fast enough. After what seemed like forever, but was only a short time, she found herself parting through the thin grasses and sliding to a stop at the lake's loamy bank. Without even taking a casual glance around, she plunged her muzzle into the lukewarm water and propelled the refreshing liquid down her throat. She lapped at the water vigorously, stepping out into it with her front legs. The motion sent droplets flying to her pelt, making the combination of blacks and tans sparkle under the late afternoon light. Her expression softened as she took in the water, and her entire poise grew relaxed. Her tail hung long and low, wagging softy behind her. Odd little floppy ears were held in a neutral position at the sides of her tawny head, not really focused on anything in particular. Finally she had her fill, and with one graceful move she stepped her entire body into the lake and started paddling. She swum around the shallows along the bank, dipping her head under once and then shaking it as she pulled it back to air. The water was just slightly beyond being cool, but she found it a welcome sensation against her hot, travel-weary skin. After swimming around for a few moments, she stepped back out onto the bank, paws making fresh imprints in the moist ground. She gave a great heaving shake, sending water flying through the air in all directions. Satisfied, she walked over to a bush only a few strides away, sat down, and started the laborious process of licking herself dry. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[/size]
Muse; Meh.
Words; 490
Notes; I feel rusty. Dx
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[Cherished]

Mercedes crouched low to the earth, loose dirt reaching up to cling to her coat. Crystal blue eyes were locked on a small doe that was grazing on rich grasses, unaware of the predator nearby.
It has been several days now since Mercedes was dropped off onto the island. Since then she has been unable to find something to eat. Her wolf-like instincts were just now starting to kick in. Her stomach ached with hunger, feeling as if someone were squeezing it like a water-filled sponge. Mercedes tried to ignore the pain. The worse part was the growling that came from her stomach, which could give her away in the presence of prey.
As she remained crouched in the brush, her stomach growled, gaining the attention of the doe. The doe quickly raised it's head, looking around for the foreign sound. At an attempt to get something to eat, Mercedes crawled forward, closing the space between herself and the doe. Just as she launched into the air, with paws extended and teeth ready to bite in, the deer spooked and dashed off. Mercedes was not willing to give up so soon, she raced after the doe, her strong muscles rippling under what used to be a healthy coat of blue, black, brown, and white.
Soon the doe widened the gap between itself and Mercedes. She had lost again, her hunger weakening her ability to function properly. With a soft whimper she moved through the forest, not paying much attention to her surroundings. Her long pink tongue flicked in and out of her mouth as she panted. She needed water before she would dehydrate. Raising her little black nose into the air, she took in the scents of her surroundings. The smell of pine and dirt reached her first, then came the scent she was looking for, the strong distinct smell of water. Mercedes moved into a lope, her strides coming gracefully, carrying her smoothly across the jumbled forest floor. It was not long before she reached the water she had scented. Going straight to the shore, she dipped her muzzle in, lapping up the refreshing liquids. She savored the taste, letting it slowly go down her throat, cooling her off as it did. Getting her fill of liquids, she raised her head, her eyes scanning the shore line around the lake she had come to. Not far to her right she noticed movement. Curiosity won her over, what did she have to lose. If it were another dog they could hunt together and she would no longer be starving. She moved slowly, taking careful steps so that she would not make any noise. As she approached she noticed that it was indeed another dog, another female dog at that. Mercedes stopped not to far from the other dog. Not sure how to greet this stranger, Mercedes sat down, waiting to see if the stranger would notice her. Her muscles were tense despite her relaxed look. She was ready to flee or attack, whichever one might be required if the dog decided to attack her.

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Muse: Not to bad.

Words: 514

Notes: Don't worry, I'm feeling rusty too.

[Issalyn]

[bg=c5e3b1][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=border,0,true][cs=7] The female spent several minutes licking herself. She licked the tan fur on her front legs until it lay smooth, then moved to licking her sides, and finally her hind legs. She then stood up and shook herself again, trying to shake off as much of the moisture as she could. The black hair of the marking on her back dried more quickly than the rest of her, for it attracted the warm rays of the sun, which still hung bright in the sky. Her fur seemed to glisten, the black saddle-like marking reflecting the world around her on the stray drops of water that remained. She walked a circle around the bush, scoping out her surroundings. Then feeling content, she lay down beneath it, making sure not to get in the shadows. A sunbath was always a luxury to her. It warmed her and relaxed her, and always made her feel at peace with the world. As she lay there soaking it in, she let her mind begin to wander. She'd noticed new animals showing up on the land lately, and strange things crossing the skies. Like giant birds that made a lot of ruckus. It wasn't an unpleasant sound, more like a gentle roaring. But it was peculiar that something from the sky would make such a sound. She hadn't yet met any of the new ones, she'd just caught traces of new scents, and heard stories twisting their way around that mentioned them. Never the brave sort of creature, she wasn't sure whether to worry over this or not. The big noisy birds hadn't come close enough to danger her, and they only appeared every so often. Sometimes days apart, sometimes weeks. But if there were new animals on the land, it would mean food would become more scarce. She'd have to fight to find shelter. She'd exhausted about every resource she had. She'd tried finding a place in the packs of the decent dogs around, but they'd all cast her aside. She was a nobody, a nothing. No one wanted her. She was broken, useless. She sighed as she mused over her plight. Her eyes were closed lightly, but she still peered out beneath her lashes. Nothing was really moving, which she found strange. Sometimes the lake was a busier gathering place, especially during the summer. She supposed with the recent rains, and a hint of the cold still on the spring breeze no one was venturing out much. No one but her at least. But what choice did she have? She had no where to stay, so it was best to keep moving around. Out of the corner of her eye she saw something move, not quite directly behind her. She stiffened and perked her ears up, listening intently. She heard the footsteps coming closer, but stayed frozen in her position. It didn't sound like a predator. The footsteps were soft, not heavy like a large beast. She heard them stop, and felt the silence cling to the air. Only then did she turn her head around, coming face to face with another dog. It wasn't close enough to touch, barely close enough to smell. She could tell it was a female. She was a mixture of grey and white colors. Not too big, not small. Not much different in size than herself. She stood up and stretched, trying to judge what she should do. It was an unfamiliar female, but she didn't get the sense that she was in danger. Deciding to remain calm, but still watchful, she lowered her ears and wagged her tail ever so slightly. Hi there. Her brassy eyes met the cool blue eyes of the other dog and she tried to give her a welcoming smile. As long as the female didn't try to advance on her, she'd be fine. There was nothing to fear. She kept reminding herself not to act scared. Not to give the female any reason to think she was weak. I'm Auralie. I don't recognize you...

[/color] Her words trailed off as she realized what this meant. She took a step back and shivered slightly. You're not from around here, are you?[/color]
[/blockquote]

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[/size]
Muse; Getting better.
Words; 790
Notes; Still getting a feel for her...
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[Cherished]

It was awhile before the other dog realized that Mercedes was sitting there. During this time her mind was working between thoughts of the past and the present. She did not like letting her mind drift, it meant letting her guard down which would make her vulnerable to predators. Her ears pricked to the gentle roaring sounds up in the sky. The sounds bothered her, it was an unfamiliar noise that may attack her. Seeing that the giant creatures were so high in the sky, she realized that they were not that much of a threat to her. Her eyes went back to the dog not far from her. The she-dog looked about the same size as Mercedes, though with different markings. The dog was a brownish color with a black saddle type marking.
With the dog not paying attention to her, Mercedes took the time to clean herself up. After getting dropped off on the island, her beautiful show-worthy coat had gotten tangled with briers and dirt. All Mercedes wanted was to be seen as beautiful, though when by herself she did not give a care in the world about crawling through mud or going through brier bushes. Right now in the presence of another dog, Mercedes had an urge to go for a swim in the lake to clean herself up, but it was too late for that she was already here. It would not be long before her presence would be noticed.
Mercedes stiffened as the other dog turned its head, finally noticing her. Her muscles tensed as the dog raised from its relaxed position and stretched. Mercedes was ready to flee at any moment. She was able to relax after the dog lowered her ears and wagged her tail, showing no signs of being a threat. Slowly, so not to set off the other dog, Mercedes rose to a stand. Like the other dog, Mercedes lowered her head and wagged her tail slightly. She made it clear to the other dog that she intended to be no threat to her. Her ears pricked to the vocals of the other dog. It had been so long since she had heard vocals from anything. Her mind drifted for a brief moment, she could hear the vocals of her mother, trying to consul her as their owners grabbed Mercedes and crated her, preparing to send her to this island. She missed her mother, who was the only one she could trust. Her mind returned to the dog in front of her, whose vocals rang once more to her ears.

Hello came smooth vocals, almost as smooth and clear as Mercedes' eyes. No welcoming smile was given to the other dog, though no threatening postures were made. Mercedes might not be a threat, but smiling was foreign for her, her friendliness coming from the fact of her not attacking you. I am Mercedes. I suppose you can say I am new to the area. The fact that the other dog did not recognize her did not bother here, she was one to stay low key and stick to herself. It would have been more of a surprise if the dog had recognized her. She shook her head to Auralie's last question, No, I was dropped off here. She wondered if there were actually animals native to the island. The whole island was an intriguing mystery to her.

------------------------
Muse: It's there. Could have been better.
Words: 567
Notes: Slowly improving.

[Issalyn]

[bg=c5e3b1][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=border,0,true][cs=7] Auralie guaged the other females actions intently. She seemed to be giving mirroring Aura's own body language. That was good. She relaxed a little more, forgetting to be afraid. The smooth vocals that rang from the other female were light and almost cheery. The other dog didn't smile, but she seemed to be friendly enough. Her voice had a little more authority than Aura's own quivering whispery tones, ringing out a louder, solid, and clear. She was still a couple feet away, rocked backwards onto her haunches after taking the step backwards in fear. As the other one, Mercedes, spoke, she didn't know whether to be glad or fearful. It was confirmed, this was one of the new strangers she'd been dreading coming across. Why were they here? What did they want? What problems would they bring with them? The island had been rather peaceful. The truly native animals always seemed to have a reign of authority over the second or third generation natives, but it had all balanced into a scheme that worked. Aura's own parents had been dropped on the island not long before she was born. They'd been the among the first few 'test' groups dropped off. She'd been one of the first newborns...other than the native species like the bears, mice, rabbits, deer, and such. One of the first to be born on the island that had come from a domestic world, even though she'd never seen the human touch. She'd learned, with much prying, that a few test groups had been dropped off, and then it had subsided. It wasn't until the past months, maybe close to a year, that rumors had been spread that new drop-offs were being tossed onto the southern coast. She almost never went down there, preferring to stick to the forests or the hills, the east and western coasts respectively. Only recently had she come back into the vast open plains - the center of the island, which also offered little shelter. Maybe her curiosity had gotten the better of her. After hearing the rumors, maybe she'd had to come closer to the dunelands to see for herself what the truth was. Sure, it scared her. She never understood quite what the intent of tossing her kind on the island in the first place was, but she knew if it kept up too long food and shelter would grow scarce and fights would inevitably break out. The chain of order than had stayed in balance for so long might finally fall off the scale. She sighed as she stared at Mercedes, not knowing what to say. She took another casual step back, and then stood up square. Please, tell me. Why are you here? Her voice quaked and she shivered involuntarily. Did she want to know the answer? What if this female told her some story about how the newcomers were being sent to take over the natives. What if they were being sent here because they were diseased? Oh, she'd heard a thousand possible explanations over the past months. Some spoke of doomsday, others just shrugged it off and said let it be what it will be. She tended to fall somewhere in between. She couldn't quite brush off the thoughts of tragedy, but at her heart, she wanted to believe they were innocent, just like her parents had been. She wanted to believe that whatever reason they were here, things could still work out for everyone. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[/size]
Muse; So-so.
Words; 667
Notes; Yay for all thoughts and no imagery. Fail.
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[Cherished]

Mercedes watched the other dog, who seemed somewhat uncomfortable with Mercedes presence. She took a deep breath, keeping negative thoughts out of her mind. Perhaps Auralie was just thinking, and trying to protect herself from what attacks Mercedes might make. Auralie had good reasons to be cautious around Mercedes, being that she can be quite unpredictable and temperamental. However, she did not want Auralie to feel uncomfortable, she had no reasons as of yet to attack her.
Mercedes rolled her weight back, politely sitting her haunches on the warm earth. Spring was coming, warming up the air and soil, bringing about pleasant feelings and smells. She inhaled again, taking in all the wonderful aromas around her.
Flopped auds flicked at the lyrics produced by Auralie. The question Auralie asked was one that had been through Mercedes mind quite often. The answer was that Mercedes had no idea why she was here or why her people would abandon her. She had a slight hunch, but was never given a reason. The question caused her mind to wander. Of course she never thought herself to be aggressive, she was simply protecting herself. When her siblings would make jokes and comment on her coat compared to their husky-like coats, she was attack them. Attack is being used to harshly, more like she warned them. A true attack would probably have killed the little group of weaklings. She had no respect for her siblings. Her warnings consisted of going for their bodies and just biting whatever she could get a hold of. Rarely did she intentionally go for their neck, she never planned to kill anyone. Her respect for people had vanished when she became older. Her owners would fuss over her, talking to her in a language she could never understand. Perhaps if she had been able to understand it, she would not have been so aggressive towards them. When in public, out on walks, people tended to crowd around her, poking at her soft coat, rubbing their sticking hands all over her. With a growl, they would all quickly leave her alone, allowing her to go back to a nice peaceful walk. Though after awhile people did not believe she would go past a growl, so she took it a step further and began to snarl at people. When people would not believe her, she would prove them wrong, and continued doing so until she ended up biting someone in her own household. She did not believe that it was a wrong doing since they were picking on her, making more gestures to her coat. All these hands on her, the crowds, the gestures, just continued to lower her self esteem. Her only way out of it was by being aggressive.
Thinking this over, and how after she had bitten the one person, she started to wonder if that might be the reason for her being dropped off here.
She shook her head, realizing she had spaced out and never answered Auralie's question. By Auralie's actions after asking the question, Mercedes could only imagine what thoughts were going through the other dog's head. Did she think that Mercedes was sick or a threat to the island? Neither one applied to Mercedes. Her coat showed just how healthy she was. As for being a threat to the island, she never thought about it, nor had any plans to. She was alone on the island and that fact alone kept her from having any thoughts of trying to take over the place. Honestly.. I do not know why I am here. I was just dropped off, alone here in the wilderness. She figured the whole biting of a human part was something that could be left unsaid. Her mind brought up a question for the other dog, relaying the words to her mouth, why are you here? If Auralie felt the need to ask Mercedes that question, then she should be able to ask the same question. All she wants now is to be able to live a somewhat peaceful life on the island, perhaps finding others that were like her mother who would not make fun of her.


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Muse: Not bad.
Words: 695
Notes: Yay, got a higher word count again. I'm improving

[Issalyn]

[bg=c5e3b1][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=border,0,true][cs=7] A cool breeze sailed across the rather still lake, making a few miniature waves that lapped at the banks. Aura turned her head to listen to the sound for a moment, thinking it was quite a peaceful sound, like the tolling of bells. Then she turned her head back, a serious look on her face. Her bright eyes stared intently at Mercedes as she felt herself sizing up the other female once again. Fear tugged at her, but she tried to shove it aside. She had a tendency to worry more than was necessary. She never took anything for granted, and always tried to be wary of strangers. She had no one else covering her back, so it was up to her to make smart decisions and keep herself out of danger. For the most part, she had managed to succeed. She wasn't naturally an intelligent sort, but she had a sense of caution that usually kept her out of harms way. It didn't mean she was always able to find the best food supplies, but she survived. She'd fallen into the traps of males, believing they truly cared about her, only to be tossed aside a few weeks later. But overall, she could usually judge whether someone was mean-spirited or or not. Something told her Mercedes was not. At least, at that moment. The female seemed to be answering her honestly and openly, and she appreciated this strangers respect. Her expression softened as she thought about how to answer Mecerdes' question. There was really only one answer she could say, it was just how best to say it. I was born here. She spoke quietly, as if somehow feeling ashamed that she'd been born there, when Mercedes had just been dumped off. She didn't want the other dog to feel like she was being haughty. Being a native didn't make her better, or more entitled. As much as she worried about the newcomers, she also didn't feel like she was any better than them. She just hoped it would all work out for the best, because she was content without any disruptions in her life. After pausing a moment, she spoke again. My parents...they were like you. Dropped off here against their will. I was born soon after...

[/color] Her voice trailed off and she stood, walking off in a classic German Shepherd posture. She paced along the bank of lake for a few moments, head carried low and tail carried straight behind her. Then she stopped, turned, and came back to sit by Mercedes. Forgive me, I just don't like thinking about my past. I have nothing left but memories, and they aren't exactly pretty.[/color]
[/blockquote]

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[/size]
Muse; Bleck.
Words; 540
Notes; Weak attempt by me.
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[Cherished]

Mercedes turned her dial, eyes resting upon the lake as the wind's fingers softly touched the surface, causing a rippling effect. The day was gorgeous, though slowly ending. Golden rays from the sun had started to stretch for the western horizon. The clouds had since blown past, leaving only an empty clear blue sky. Mercedes mind wander, thinking about how the golden ball in the sky was so regular in it's path, and the white fluff-balls always different. It had been a favorite pastime of hers to lay on her back in a patch of emerald grass, warm rays touching her belly, her crystal blue eyes finding shapes out of the white cotton-ball of clouds.
Her eyes flashed to the present, still looking the sky. There were no shapes today. Feeling the eyes of Auralie on her, she looked over. Was the other female sizing her up, or was she judging her? Mercedes tensed, not liking the feeling of the other dog's eyes on her. The other dog's expression softened. Mercedes took a deep breath, relaxing herself, the dog was only concerned about it's own safety. Anyone on an island alone would have to worry about their safety around strangers. It's a dog eat dog world out there, as Mercedes had heard other dogs say before. Her auds flicked, picking up a soft statement that told how Auralie had gotten here. The fact that Auralie was born on the island was interesting to Mercedes. That meant that there was a way to survive an entire life on the island, and that this dog knew how to find food. Merecedes found this important for her own survival, if Auralie could trust her. Auds flicked again to more vocals spoken from the other female. Her words were soft with emotion. Mercedes watched Auralie walk down to the shore, making paths along the bank. Merecedes remained seated as Auralie walked back towards her and sat down. A nod was given in response to her vocals before Mercedes spoke. It is fine. Memories are all that I have as well. Although her memories were different from that of Auralie's, they still were emotional for Mercedes, she just hid it. All of her emotions were tucked down inside of her. Sure it made her a little cold on the outside, but it kept her from being hurt like so many times before. The more she stayed here and talked to this Auralie, the more she enjoyed her company. So, are there many others on this island? She had never tried to make small talk before, but now she found herself talking as friends, in a way, with the other dog. This was new to Mercedes, and felt somewhat odd. She sat still, casually watching the other dog and their surroundings.


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Muse: There.
Words: 465
Notes: Kept getting distracted, sorry for the poor quality.

[Issalyn]

[bg=c5e3b1][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=border,0,true][cs=7] Auralie sensed the other female was relaxing, and she too let her guard down. The evening was slowly creeping into the sky with a marvelous tapestry of hues. The faint fiery blaze near the horizon blended effortlessly with the brilliant blues of the clear afternoon. A few whispy clouds feathered through the otherwise crisp, clean skies, making only a few shadows on the wide open lands. She took note of the time of day and realized soon she'd have to decide where to go for the night. It looked like the weather would stay clear, so she wasn't worried about needing protection from the wind or rain. But this early in the spring it wasn't uncommon to get a bit of a chill, so she wanted to make sure she could at least stay someplace warm. About the time she was thinking this, Mercedes spoke, interrupting her thoughts. Ears pricked forward attentively, to catch the other's words. Her answer formed easily, yet still quietly, on her tongue. Hmm, I guess it's...normal? We aren't overpopulated in the least, though not completely isolated either. Until now, there have been more native wildlife, only a few of the domesticated drop-offs. Horses, dogs, and the like aren't incredibly common, but we're around. She smiled at Mercedes, finding herself opening up to the female...trusting her. She wasn't sure just how much Mercedes wanted to know, but she felt herself continuing, her voice growing a little louder and more confident, though still holding the usual softness of her dialect. Her eyes narrowed, her thoughts growing deeper, and she tilted her head in confusion. Should she really tell this new one the 'secrets' she knew? She should confide in her? Somehow, she felt she could, so she continued. But now...things are changing. It seems like more and more new animals are being dropped off the past few months. You're the first one I've met...

[/color] Her smile faded and she frowned a bit, remembering the fears she'd had over the newcomers. I've just, been afraid I guess. I'd heard stories about all the reasons the new animals might have come and I've been worried they were true. But now that I met you...well, I feel a little less worried.[/color] She smiled again and then glanced back up at the sky.

The evening would pass by quickly into darkness and she wasn't that familiar with the prairie lands. Scanning around, she didn't see anything very close for shelter, so she knew they might have to walk a ways to find something. She stood for a few moments, waiting for Mercedes to speak, and then she nodded at the other female. You want to follow me? I think we should probably try to find some shelter nearby before it's too dark...you never know what sort of creatures show up on the prairies.[/color] Then she turned and looked in every direction, trying to figure out which way to go.

She was on the north edge of the lake, so she knew she didn't want to go south, moving closer to the sandy beaches. To the west were the dense forests, and to the east, the plains gradually grew into hilly lands. Knowing there was quite a wide expanse of prairie to cover, it had taken her most of the day to travel over from the forests, she decided if they went back towards the forests they could probably find a small grove of trees or bushes not too far away from the lake. The walk would give them more time to talk, and if they didn't have to go too far, they could return to the lakeside in the morning. Turning, she began to walk slowly away from the bank where they'd stood, beginning the trek to find shelter for the night.[/blockquote]

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[/size]
Muse; Ummm, faint.
Words; 740
Notes; I have no idea....
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[Cherished]

Mercedes was starting to get an urge to move. She was part Australian Shepherd, a breed of high energy, she needed to move. To keep a polite appearance and not to seem like a threat to the other dog, she simply shifted her hindquarters. They would need to move sooner or later due to the oncoming of night. She had enough knowledge to know that she was not in captivity anymore and that she needed to find a safe place away from larger packs of dogs and other creatures that might want to make her into their next meal. She felt calmness in the air, no signs of a storm coming in then, but the nights at this time do tend to be cooler.
Her auds flickered to the vocals of the other female, taking in what Auralie had to say about the population. She enjoyed listening to her talk and the fact that Auralie seemed to be openning up to her. Mercedes was never a popular dog, only having a couple of friends and struggling to keep them. The thought of having someone else to be with on this unknown island, especially someone who knows the island, comforted her. I have not seen nor spoken to anyone else here but you. I hope, however, that the island does not become over populated. I can only see many problems forming at that point. She noticed Auralie's smile, and made an attempt to brighten her expression to be more of a smile, but it was an unfamiliar facial expression. Noticing Auralie's confused expression, Mercedes unknowingly titled her head the same way. A nod was given to Auralie's words. I can understand why you would be afraid. No one enjoys a load of newcomers moving into their lands. I know I would not enjoy that. I have heard some of the stories and I am glad to have lessened your worries. But I would still be cautious of the other new dogs, a lot of them seem a little.. well.. different? Without knowing them I can not say for sure how or why, but they just seem unlike other creatures I have come across before. She found herself rambling on once more to Auralie. This was completely out of her character, but she just found it happening and actually had no want to stop talking to the other female.
Nodding in agreement to Auralie about needing to find shelter, Mercedes rose to a standing position, and took some time to stretch out her body after sitting for so long. Cracks were heard through her body as she stretched. She shook her coat, a light cloud of dusty coming off of her. Her legs carried her next to Auralie in long swinging strides, full of built up energy. She felt like she could run a marathon and not be tired at the end. Not wanting to leave her new found friend behind, she did not run ahead, she simply left her energy flow out through an energetic walk. I believe going towards the forests would be in our best interest. It might seem like a long walk, but I think it is managable. Plus there might be something small along the way that we'll come across. Her vocals flowed out, not affected by her movements. Eyes looked to Auralie occassionaly as they trekked onward, listening for a response to her speeches. When not looking to Auralie, her eyes scanned their surroundings, not just for danger but for food or shelter.

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Muse: Finally here a bit, been struggling with finding it.
Words: 587
Notes: I apologize for taking forever to respond.

[Issalyn]

[bg=c5e3b1][atrb=width,450,true][atrb=border,0,true][cs=7] As Auralie started moving she felt the other female's presence at the side. Their chatter died down for a few moments as they walked along at a brisk pace, neither one seeming too tired. She gave her coat a quick shake as she moved, feeling a little restless and trying to make herself relax. So far, so good. The newcomer hadn't done anything too crazy and didn't seem like she was out to hurt her. She had to keep reminding herself not to worry. Oh, she was such a worrywart. If only she'd been the fun-loving type who all the males wanted...maybe then they would have kept her around even if she couldn't have pups. Thankfully, Mercedes' words broke her unwelcome thoughts and she felt herself giving off another friendly grin. They always say great minds think alike. Hopefully we can find something off in this direction without having to travel too far. She saw some bumps on the horizon in the distance and hoped they would be trees or bushes that could give them shelter. They weren't too awful far ahead. I just came over from the forests this morning. But I was on a on a different path.

[/color] She frowned momentarily, eyes squinting with concern. Hopefully they wouldn't get lost.

Feeling restless still, and sensing that Mercedes wasn't too tired, she moved into a brisk trotting pace, her legs covering the ground in long low strides. She moved like a dog bred for herding, tail hung low behind her and her quick pace still seeming like a creep. Unlike the ganglier, excited movements of her Labrador breeding, she looked almost the complete picture of her German Shepherd breeding. She really wasn't sure what all she was, but she knew the biggest part of her blood came from the German Shepherds. She was smaller than most of the breed, but most of her body structure still held the proud, dignified appearance of power. The fact that her personality was anything but aggressive came more from her past than instinct.

Her pads hit the ground softly, landing with a slight bounce and propelling her forward foot by foot. It felt good to be moving, especially having someone to be with. She had been alone so much. Even when she hadn't been alone, she'd been emotionally isolated. Always the loner, the one who wasn't good enough to waste time getting to know. She had emotional scars leftover from the males who had promised her everything and then left her to fend for herself when she hadn't gotten pregnant fast enough. They always wanted to produce a pack to help protect their future, and she, so far, had been unable to do that. She wanted pups almost as bad as they did, but for different reasons. They could be her companions. She knew she'd be a wonderful mother, and she didn't understand why she couldn't be given that chance.

She sighed deeply, eyes clouding over with grief. Realizing how she must look, she quickly changed her expression and tried o think of something else. No need making Mercedes think she was some over-emotional baggage-ridden thing. She really wasn't, most of the time. It was only the thought of how happy she was having a new friend that reminded her of how long it had been since she'd been able to share her path. Deciding to put herself into a better mood, she fumbled to come up with some conversation. Do you think you'll be happy here? Or was your old home far better? I can't imagine how hard it would be to be plucked away from everything you know and tossed somewhere like this...all alone. It's really not a bad place...just such a big island to wander upon alone.[/color] Her trot slowed into a jog as she spoke, finding it easier to talk while moving slower. She found herself hoping Mercedes would come to consider her a friend, and maybe even stay together for awhile. Of course, eventually, some male would find them, or Mercedes would want to join a pack. But even just a short time together would make Auralie feel better.
[/blockquote]

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[/size]
Muse; Bleck.
Words; 780
Notes; I fail.
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[Cherished]

Mercedes strode easily alongside the other female as they began their walk towards shelter for the evening. So far this stranger she had met was working into the category of friend, which is a category rarely filled in Mercede's world. Her eyes settled on an area ahead of them with several bumps, she guessed that Auralie had seen them as well since she was leading their walk. A nod was given as Auralie's speech entered her ears. Yes, I was in the forest earlier as well, though I too was on a different path. Being the adventurous girl that she was, she was not concerned with getting lost. She had traveled the streets of her last home many times and was always able to find her way home.
Mercedes picked up a brisk trot after Auralie, her legs stretching out before her. Her smooth gait showed her Australian Shepherd background, keeping her low to the ground while making long strides. Her legs had the power of her Husky background, giving her strength and stamina to move for long periods of time over any type of terrain. She shook her head, enjoying the feel of the breeze ruffle through the fluffy coat around her neck. This was one of the happiest moments in Mercede's life. She had the comfort of being with someone she was beginning to trust and she was running, enjoying the freedom of nature and no more human restrictions. Her bouncing movements reflected her joyous energy of the nice run. For a moment she almost forgot the purpose for their adventure. Night was closing in slowly, it's dark fingers reaching into the light blue heavens that had been present throughout the day.
Her attention quickly returned to Auralie as a deep sigh escaped the other female's lips. A concerned expression flashed in Mercede's eyes before disappearing.
Somewhat of a chuckle came from the depths of Mercede's at the questions presented to her. Anything is better than my old home. She adjusted her speed to match that of Auralie's before speaking again. I can't say it's easy to be dropped into an unknown place such as this, but I like it for the most part. I don't miss much from my old home, there wasn't much there that I liked to begin with. I like the freedom that is here. I have yet to come across a two-legged and I would love to keep it that way. The two-leggeds bother me with all of their poking and laughter. Though she spoke the truth in which she felt, she choose her words carefully. She did not want to give all of her thoughts right away. Sure she was beginning to trust Auralie, she'd been hurt to much before by others that she thought she could trust. Perhaps everything she was saying was being stored in the other dog's mind for that perfect moment where everything could be used against her. One of her strongest beliefs is that her worst enemy is herself. She is the one who could give too much personal information to others or say something that could be taken wrongly and then cause problems. Normally she kept her speeches short and simple. The least amount of words used to get her point across, the more others tended to understand what she was saying. Her eyes drifted to Auralie, she wanted to say something to keep the conversation rolling. Do you think any packs are forming yet? She spoke the first question that came to mind. It was not anything great, though it was a curiousity for Mercedes. If there was a pack forming, then her and Auralie could join it and be more protected than it just being the two of them.

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Muse: Well it came back enough to make a response
Words: 624
Notes: I apologize for taking forever to respond, again.