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" Deep amber eyes glared out of the dark shadows of the brush. Large paws stepped through the snow, the white power crunching under his weight. Sharp teeth in a broad muzzle glinted in the pale afternoon light. Pudgy puppy fat rolled as the hunter crouched, his muscled bunching in anticipation.I’ve got you now! And with that, he sprang!
”GrrrAH!” A bundle of brown and gray fur shot from the undergrowth, paws aimed for a little sapling just barely poking over the snow. But his pounce was misaimed. He watched as the bare sapling disappeared from sight, his front paws suddenly slamming against the ground and his rump tumbling over him. After a full somersault, Samwell ended up flat on his belly with a heavy thud and a loud “Oof!”, his four legs sprawled out in all directions. Dazed for a moment, he slowly pushed himself onto his paws, shaking his head as he tried to gain his bearings.
The dark, slender shape of the twig caught his peripheral vision and all previous events were forgotten as Sam dropped back down into a crouch, his rump in the air and his little tail wagging high above his back. He glared at the sapling with a wide, playful smile. This time… it was his."
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ShiaWolfe:
Amoux had been on an early patrol, it was one of his favorite things to go off early in the morning. He liked to watch the sun rise and the stillness of the forest before the sun had rose. He lifted his muzzle and scented the air once more before setting off back for the pack. His paw prints trailed behind him as he made his way up--suddenly a noise caught his attention. Slinking down low just in case he moved forward to investigate. To his surprise and amusement it was just one of Finn and Saba's new pups, Sam he believed his name was. Though he wasn't' completely sure, not wanting to startle the pup he stood up straight, watching. He eyed the pups movements a bit before revealing himself. " You know..you would have better balance and aim if you fixed your position," he said softly, still not wanting to spook the pup.
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Wildfire-Tama:
Samwell was just about to pounce when a deep voice cut through his excited dreams of an easy victory. He looked over at the dark male with his eyes wide. ”My… position?” Sam glanced down at his paws in confusion. They were large and clumsy and quite honestly at all strange angles. He tilted his head, trying to understand what he should do about it. He looked back up at the wolf, his amber eyes just begging for more instruction. Samwell did not recognize the wolf, but he was a grown up. And therefore he was safe and trustworthy.
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ShiaWolfe:
Amoux was glad that he hadn’t spooked the pup, but rather caught his attention. Stepping forward more he smiled and nodded ”Yes your position,” he said showing the pup the proper way to stand to stalk something. ”Just a suggestion of course, but I’ve been hunting since I was young—If you even your weight out more it makes it easier to land and chase if you have to,”. He liked that the pup had wanted feedback, he always appreciated that and quite frankly he loved teaching the younger ones. ” You’re Samwell aren’t you, or Sam..? One of Finn and Saba’s pups..”. He had only one meeting with Finn, and it didn’t turn out very well in the beginning. He thought back to when the wolves were nearly at each other, before both of their wrongs calmed each other down, and since then they hadn’t spoken. By now he just figured no one really wanted to talk to him all that much. He wasn’t the friendliest looking, face and body littered with scars. ”Sorry if I startled you-I’m Amoux. I was just doing my rounds when I saw you..”
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Wildfire-Tama:
Samwell watched the big wolf’s stance and he turned back to the twig. Sticking his tongue out in concentration, he narrowed his eyes and spread out his paws. He watched as he placed each one on the ground, trying his best to keep them straight. He finally looked satisfied as his four paws were on the ground, perfectly distributed weight, but he was just barely able to stand because of how very far apart they were. But that strain he felt on his leg muscles as he tried to resist falling onto his belly he took as meaning that he was doing it right.
When the big wolf said he name and began to talk about his family, Sam turned around, dropping his pose, and forgetting about what he had been trying to do. ”Oh, yeah! I’m Sam! And Finn and Saba are my parents… and Alexis and Sophie are my sisters.” he added, his tail wagging at the thought of his siblings. He looked attentively at the big gray and white wolf as he explained himself. ”Amoux… wow, are you a Guardian?” Samwell trotted closer to the big male to observe his big, shaggy pelt. But not too close. He didn’t want to be rude! He wondered if he would ever look so grand. And those scars! What a cool wolf!
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ShiaWolfe:
He smiled as the little wolf positioned himself as he has shown him. He couldn’t help thinking what it would be like to have pups of his own. But as soon as it came, he was quickly pushing that thought out of his mind. Snapping his attention back onto Sam he let go a soft smirk. ” Yes, you have a wonderful family!". He hadn’t been this gentle with a wolf in a long, long time he couldn’t help feeling a bit refreshed. ”Yes, I am a Guardian! Is that what you want to be when you grow up?”. He loved being a Guardian, it was what he wanted to do since he joined the pack. To use his knowledge and skills to help he pack, it was what put his mind at ease. Amoux watched as the pup circle him, probably checking out his physical statue and such. He didn’t mind—he decided to let the pup be curious and investigate. Flicking an ear back and then forward, he stayed in his posture to let Sam get a good look at him. He wondered what he thought about his scars and if any further questions would be asked about them.
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Wildfire-Tama:
Sam’s heart soared at Amoux complimented his family. His tail wagged happily, looking absolutely delighted. ”Thank you! Yeah, they’re awesome!” he cried, his fluffy chest fur ruffled with pride. He loved talking about his family. They were just the best!
Samwell’s ears perked at the big male’s question. ”Yeah! My dad is a Guardian! It would be so cool if I could be too! I want to be just like him! And I’ll get to protect my sisters and mom from bears!” he said. Clearly he was very drawn to the more fantastical aspects of being a Guardian, and perhaps not quite aware of the true dangers and risks it entailed. But he was young, and it was only normal for a young pup to be a dreamer. He would deal with the realities when he reached them.
As Amoux had expected, Samwell’s next comment was, ”Wow, you have so many scars! Where did you get them?” His amber eyes glowed excitedly, clearly picturing the dark warrior locked in a valiant battle, fearless fending his homeland from the evil jaws of monsters! He wished he had some cool scars like that!
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ShiaWolfe:
Amoux let out a light chuckle as the pups described protecting his family from bears, he hadn't been in that situation yet, but knew that they were indeed out there. He couldn't help but smile at the pup, his imagination and creativity at it's height. He only stiffened a bit when the question was asked about his scars, as he thought about it--Sam had been the first to ask him this question. Looking down at his own scars that littered his body, he picked through his brain in an attempt to figure out what to say to Sam.
"I got those protecting and defending the ones that I held most dear..", he didn't want to get too far into it, but he hoped that sounded good enough for the pups ears. It had always been important to Amoux to stay strong, and to not show too much emotion. He had been raised like a warrior from the start, and those always stuck with him. He was quick to put a smile back on his face to try to hide the fact that it bothered him slightly, all his scars, but none the less he tried to wear them proudly.
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Wildfire-Tama:
Sam’s ears were cupped forward and his orange eyes were wide with wonder as he listened to the explanation, which could not have been more noble and awesome to the pup’s young ears. ”Wow... “ he said, his tail wagging. He clearly had no idea that scars and Guardian duties may be a sensitive topic. As far as he could tell it was all about the glory and courage and fantastical stories.
”Where’d you get that one?” Samwell asked excitedly, his eyes flowing as he prepared for an amazing story of warriors and battles. His large paw was lifted, gesturing toward the two scars that sliced Amoux’s top lip.
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ShiaWolfe:
Amoux's eyes seems to flicker down his body, trying to land on the spot he was mentioned too. He guessed to himself that Sam had wanted to know about the scars on his muzzle. He didn't know if he should the pup everything, he hadn't spoke anything about what he had been through before, but..why not? "Well..that was, back before I joined the pack, I was traveling through with a friend of mine..when a cougar came about and tried to go after us, my friend who was smaller, got knocked around..but I took the cougar on and it got me here and ruined my pretty face,", he spoke gently putting in some humor to lighten the story up.
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Wildfire-Tama:
Samwell gasped, ”A cougar!” he echoed, unintentionally interrupting for a moment to blurt out the word before falling silent again to listen to the rest of the story. His tail was wagging, ”That’s amazing! And I think you look awesome with it!" Samwell had never thought of a wolf's face as pretty... not a male wolf, anyway, but he understood Amoux's joke in any case, and wanted to assure him that at the very least he liked how he looked with the scars! Samwell could hardly wait until he took on a cougar for the first time."You defeated a cougar all by yourself! Were you scared?” Samwell’s amber eyes were wide with wonder as he tried to imagine such a scene. He was sure how terrifying Amoux must have looked with his dark fur and scars! And he must be twice the size of a cougar! Samwell just knew that Amoux had that prissy kitty running for the hills.
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ShiaWolfe:
Amoux smiled, thinking calmly about the question at hand. " Well..I think I was, but at the moment, I was more focused on protecting my friend.." he said gently, trying to not get himself too worked up about his past. He found himself feeling at comfort though telling Samwell all that had happened and what he had done to get the scars. " You just have to really remember to breathe..know what move your going to do before the other knows, always stay ahead of things,". Amoux had remembered giving the other wolves the same advice, but obviously had fallen short, because they all had lost their lives along the journey. He wouldn't wish anything he had gone through to anybody, it was a learning experience, but regardless an experience that haunted him. He looked down at Sam and smiled at him, he had a warm feel on his pelt. Amoux was quite frankly suprirsed at how he was being with the pup.
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Wildfire-Tama:
Samwell listened with amber eyes wide, drinking in the advice and storing it in his mind. Although it would doubtlessly be gone in just a few minutes. But his fabricated flashes of Amoux fighting the cougar were in his mind to stay!”You are so brave, and… noble” he breathed, his tail wagging furiously as Amoux gave him a gentle smile, ”Do you have to fight things out of Kausen a lot?” Samwell asked. His question had no concern about his own safety, but more of the possibilities he would have to practice!
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ShiaWolfe:
This was the first time Amoux had ever gotten approval or complimented like this, he was both shocked and appreciative of it. " Well..thankfully not that much at all--things here are very calm. And that's totally alright with me," he said with a low chuckle. He had never knew what it was like to be a pup, and have fun and all of that. His father had made sure of it, it was all he had known, he smile faded lightly.
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Wildfire-Tama:
Samwell looked a little crestfallen at that. ”Oh… well, that’s okay! Because when something does come you’ll be ready! And hopefully I will be too.” He swiped at the air before him and his tail began to wag again as he pictured himself big and strong, fighting side by side with Amoux and Finnegan to protect his sisters, mother, and the rest of the pack. Samwell’s orange eyes flicked up at Amoux as his expression fell slightly. ”What’s wrong?” Samwell asked with wide eyes and sad and his head slightly tilted. Samwell was not a particularly intelligent wolf by any means, but he did have a pretty good sense for the moods of others.
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ShiaWolfe:
Amoux looked down as the pup stated a question, he swallowed softly and flicked his ears back "Well-I'm just glad you get to grow up in a place like this, with these wolves that are..I dunno, good teachers and have good patience.." he said softly. It hurt him to remember his childhood sometimes, how he was pushed around and beaten if not done something properly. In his fathers eyes there was no room for weaklings, Amoux had to be on his top game, all the time. The pup had gotten to the point where he was scared to show any emotion at all, he still struggled with that issue now, but had been getting better.
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Wildfire-Tama:
Samwell listened to Amoux with his ears perked. He could sense the sadness coming off the male as he thought of his memories. Sam smiled with a small whimper, trying to meet Amoux’s gaze and cheer him up, ”Yeah, I am glad too.” Samwell said, although he honestly did not know there was such a place where wolves were cruel and harsh. All he knew was the sheltered world in which he has been raised. ”I love grown-ups.” He nuzzled Amoux’s foreleg affectionately, ”You are so brave and wise. You always know what to do.” He looked up at Amoux’s face, his chin pressed against the dark gray forearm of the male. ”I hope I’ll be like you someday.” He said.
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ShiaWolfe:
Amoux couldn't help himself but grin, he'd never heard something like that, and he actually really really appreciated it. He never thought how words from a pup could make his heart soften, though he knew it was probably because Sam had truly meant it. With a light smirk, he lowered his head to nuzzle the pup softly. "Thank you Sam..If you are ever in need of something, know that I'm will be there." This he meant, whether the pup would need him for guidance or for advice, he would give his input and try to help the pup out as much as he could. He knew he had his own father, but it was always nice to know others were there for you. He had wished he had that when he was his age, but there was no point in hoping or wishing now, it was in the past and Amoux was just really starting to embrace the future. He looked forward to whatever Kausen had brought him, he was thankful for a lot. Including his new friendship with Samwell, from then on--Amoux knew he would have a soft spot for the pup.
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