The Belaqua Brothers

[Asriel]

<sup>Trekking across the spring-brightened landscape came two wolves, their pads hardened from travel. One, walking slightly behind the other, held himself with a stately air, his head high, his hard grey eyes emotionless. He emitted an aura of power, and seemed to silently demand respect. His experience was somewhat intimidating. He was not overly tall or heavily built, but his harsh, stern expression and the piercing quality of his eyes were known to make cowardly knees knock. His coat was shaggy and thick, coming from the North as he did, coloured a dark grey on top, with a dirty white underbelly.

The other was obviously slightly younger. His gait was smooth, his head, which was in line with his slender body, swinging, shoulders rolling. His coat was also thick, for he too came from the far North, where temperatures were low and winds bitter. It was a pale flaxen in colour, although his paws were dipped in a dirty honey colour, and a ring of similar hue surrounded one of his gleaming hazel eyes.

The former came to a sudden halt, emitting a low, commanding chuff. The latter seemed somewhat annoyed, and he whipped sharply around, scowling, to be met by piercing grey eyes. The former growled softly.

"Don't look at me like that, Jude," he rumbled dangerously.

"Why not? You don't own me, Asriel. You're older but you're not the boss!" Jude snapped angrily. Asriel's eyes narrowed slightly.

"I am, Jude, and if you do not obey me you will get yourself into trouble. When that day comes, don't expect me to help. As your older brother, I am responsible for you. You don't have to like that fact, but you do have to accept it." Asriel snorted, opening his mouth to continue, but Jude interrupted. Dark annoyance flickered across the older wolf's face, and Jude noticed this, but carried on anyway, straightening up.

"No one's responsible for me," the young male hissed. "Not you. Not anyone."

Asriel simply glared at him for a full minute, and in the end Jude was forced to look away, blushing furiously, teeth gritted in silent anger. Only then did Asriel speak again.

"I smell a pack. It is quite close." Jude sniffed, and had to admit that he, too, could identify the unique, pungent scents of pack life. He nodded grudgingly.

"We'll move closer and then call for the alphas." Asriel decided gruffly. Jude growled to himself but said nothing, instead turning on his heel and continuing to walk. Asriel followed him, and it was not long before they reached the borders of Oracular Forest.

Jude glanced at Asriel, despite himself. His older brother was lifting his head, eyes closing. Jude mirrored him, and the two released two very different howls which merged together as one and lunged deep into the terrain.</sup>

[Adder]

Having heard the two brothers' howls from a far distance off, Alpha Adder had soon arrived on the scene as quick as a flash. She had been patrolling for a long time; but she had to admit she had been rather surprised when she caught scent of the two. However, she was quickly composed and observed the brothers closely as she approached.

' Outsiders, ' she acknowledged, nodding. Her expression was unreadable, her face blank. However, her eyes carried much intelligence. ' I am Adder, of Oracular Forest - the lands in which you are currently located in. '

She tried to be as short as possible, keeping conversation down until she determined the business of the two. It was easy to tell they were brothers, despite their difference in appearance. The elder made her feel uneasy, he looked older and much more advanced then herself. He also seemed very grave and gave off a serene aura. The other, a younger male, had a lighter fur colouring. He looked different from his brother, although his personality was hard to tell.

' What is your business on my territory, may I ask? '

[Asriel]

<sup>The two had barely lowered their heads when Adder appeared before them. Jude straightened up slightly, eyes flashing - he was a right idiot sometimes, rebelling against even the most harmless, practical forms of authority. Asriel, however, did not change his expression at all. His eyes ran briefly over Adder's features, then he dipped into a shallow bow. As he straightened up, a low growl was emitted from his jaws, aimed at his arrogant brother. The tone was threatening, and Jude knew that Asriel meant business. However much he loathed to be told what to do, he had seen his brother on the battlefield, and had no desire to be the victim of one of his attacks.

Bobbing into a grudging bow, Jude's cheeks flushed slightly, an indignant scowl appearing upon his visage. Asriel chuffed in gruff approval, but this did help Jude's angry shame. He kept his hazel eyes on the floor, his jaw set, his expression sour. Asriel turned to Adder.

"Greetings. I am Asriel Belaqua, and this is Jude, my younger brother. We are here seeking a pack." The brute spoke gruffly, but his tone was not impolite. His sharp grey eyes were veiled, but not expressionless. They contained a harsh, flashing fire, which, like his appearance, could be seen as very intimidating. Jude looked up at the strange female, ears perked forwards as he awaited an answer.</sup>

[Adder]

Adder nodded in approval of Asriel's respect, but her sharp amber eyes remained fixed on Jude. He seemed young and ignorant. He does not know the ways of the packwolf, she thought to herself, neither scornfully nor with pity. She returned her gaze to his older brother.

' I am afraid that we are not the largest community, ' she admitted, but showed no signs of embarassment, and her stance remained regal and imperior. However, her tail and head were held high as proof that she was also not one to be messed with. She was a tall female, and though perhaps not as well built as a male she was in perfect condition for combat if the need arised. ' The only current.. residents amongst these lands are myself and our only hunter, Alphonse. '

Her tail swished slightly and her eyes became more piercing as she further composed herself.

' You are welcome to join our short numbers, as long as you remain loyal. First of all, what strengths do you posess? '

She remained quick to the point as she observed the newcomers, her gaze impervious as she tried to figure out which ranks would suit them best.

[Asriel]

<sup>Asriel inclined his head impassively. It mattered very little to him that the pack was small - if anything, it suited him. He and his brother had learnt from experience that when packs became too large trouble brewed, and he had not intention of reliving his past.

Jude stepped up, concealing his eagerness, to answer Adder's question. Asriel did not object, but simply watched him, a sort of rough amusement playing briefly across his features. He knew that his brother liked to show off when given the chance, if only to reassure himself that he possesed the qualities he boasted of.

"I can hunt well, and am a capable fighter." Jude announced shortly, suddenly looking somewhat important and mysterious. Asriel growled softly to himself, and Jude turned to shoot daggers at him. The older male brushed the furious look away as if it were nothing, and returned his attention to the alphena.

"I, too, am capable of both fighting and hunting. I am adaptable. Assign to me whichever job you wish." He said, his voice considerabley lower and gruffer than Jude's.</sup>

[Adder]

Adder held back a smirk at the brothers' behavior. Annoyance with your own brother.. sounds like a luxury to me, she thought. She shook the thoughts of her past aside. She thought about her brother every day that passed; though tried to hide her feelings. She did not want to trouble these newcomers with her history. Instead, she began to think.

' Asriel, if you would like to become a guardian, then the position is open for a wolf such as yourself, ' she merely replied to the older wolf. ' And perhaps you would be best at a hunter - we need as many as we can get, ' she continued, this time towards Jude.

She nodded towards the two brothers, yet not lowering her Alpha stance. She flicked her head towards the trail that led off towards the rest of the Forest.

' I suggest you meet Alphonse. You will have to go on future hunts with him, so you might as well talk with him, ' she said. This was accompanied by a raise of the eyebrows and a slight smirk. She nodded towards Asriel. ' I hope we meet again. '

Although this was a strange departure, Adder had never been too good at assessing new wolves she had never met before. Perhaps I wasn't trained enough to become a good enough Alpha, she thought to herself. She ignored these thoughts and instead turned, now content enough to be able to turn her back on the newcomers. Soon she was out of sight with the flick of a tail tip as she exited the area.