Unlike Any Other, Open to all

[Reed]

In the midst of a world turned cold with war, the mystic scents of the struggling flowers and the fighting plants made the healing garden stand out like a brilliant source of light in the blackened sky of the darkest of storms. Even though the air was chilled with the spirits of the dead and dying, the wind scratching terribly at any and all exposed flesh with icy fingers, the garden was warm. The sun peeked through the dull, overcast skies just enough to light the path between sections of overgrowth and foliage, welcoming and warming the frosty grizzled coat of the shepherd male who found his way into its midst.

How he actually ended up in this little patch of heaven in a world turned so dark, he was unsure. One moment, the lands were barren, dry, and dusted with ash and hazardous chemicals. The next, the sunlight was bright enough to make the large breed dog squint his hard red-amber gaze, as if trying to be sure the light was really there at all. It'd been so long since he'd seen the sun, its presence was almost surreal.

Making his way further into the garden at a steady, casual pace, the brute's head dropped to the dirt on which he stood, pointed ears erect and turning, listening, curious, as he investigated his surroundings. This place smelled of dogs... and it smelled of wolves. Both, strangely, mingled together, as if one. Not warring, separated, segregated as they were everywhere else. The red shepherd's black dusted brow furrowed and his head lifted again.

What exactly was this place?

[Jonah]

 

Though he was blind, the beautify of his home was not lost on him.  For the moment the alpha lay near the gazebo, though he didn't know what it was, it was simply a place to shade him from the sun, where he could hear the brook rolling over the rock gardens.  There was no magic in this horrific world they inhabited, but if there was, the Healing Garden would be it.

The sound of claws on the gravel paths, however overgrown as they were, alerted the blind wolf to the dog's presence.  His ears pressed forward.  He could hear how large the dog was, maybe even wolf sized.  But there was an odd strut to his gate.  It seemed his back legs were a bit shorter then his front. 

He had heard dogs with similar gates that simply referred to themselves as Shepards.  He knew them to be dog, not wolf.

Slowly the snow white male came to sit, so that he could be seen by the other, his head turning, it would be, from that distance, impossible to know that he could not see him.  ``This is a place of peace friend, if you come not in peace, leave in peace or... pieces...``   Though there was nothing veiled in his threat, he spoke it in a calm and tired voice, it was more then clear he wanted no more blood shed this eve.  ``I am Jonah, alpha male in these lands, might I ask who you are?``

[Reed]

As the shepherd's russet golden gaze wandered its way along the horizon, it paused every few moments to examine the foliage and fauna of the local surroundings. Birds danced in the branches of the slightly sickly trees and bushes, singing a very soft sort of tune, as if afraid of causing another wave of disaster to fall upon the world with so much as a note too high or too loud. But they were there, and though their presence brought attention to the slightly drooping branches and and thinning leaves of the local plant life, their songs were welcoming all the same.

Following a particular head of fowl, with feathers as bright a crimson as a dooms-day sunset, the keen eyed dog shifted his attention suddenly when a white figure appeared on the fringes of his vision. Though slightly surprised that he had not noticed the wolf's presence before, he made no sudden movements to suggest it and instead very casually turned to face the other canine, whole-heartedly expecting some sort of confrontation.

His expectations would prove to be improperly set.

"Forgive my intrusion," he began, bowing his head to show respect to the alpha male, unaware that the white wolf could not witness such an action. " I am a wanderer. I stumbled upon this place by accident. I was unaware that this was pack land."

He paused a moment, looking around as if to be sure no one else was listening in on their conversation... as if that would, for whatever reason, be a problem.

"My name is Reed, born and raised just south of here, in a valley once full of flowers much like the ones here. They attracted me."

[Admin Rogue]

 

Those black ears twitched slightly.  The only marring to his perfect white coat other then the black stripe that went up his nose.  Yes indeed he was an odd looking one.  He rose to his feet, bowing for a moment as he stretched his front legs, his tail coming up over his back.  He was strong, thick built, and likely weighed the same if not a bit more then the Shepard.  

``Yes, the smell beautiful don't they, they attract all manor of prey... this place keeps us alive.``  He said softly.  he was glad to hear no aggression in the large dog's voice.  The large breeds were so much harder to fend off, they were big, strong, and bred to fight.  This war for control was going on everywhere, and yet this dog seemed unaware of the state of things, simply wandering and enjoying this world, whatever it might give him.  He didn't know wheather to think the dog a fool, or envy his foresight.  ``Tell me friend, what side of this battle do you stand.  You have found your way to the home of the Resistance... We want no trouble... only the ability to live in peace with both wolf and dog...``

He did not slander the opposing forces, he respected their beliefs and pitied their stupidity.  He would come forward, taking the stairs easily.  He moved a bit stiff, and as he came forward, the slight limp showed a healing injury that would soon be nothing more then yet another scar on the wolfs hide. 

He had asserted that he was alpha already, yet he didn't raise his tail, or try to force the other to submit.  Only moved to him with pride.  As he got closer, the whitish glaze over his eyes showed his sightlessness, but his skill at moving, and telling what what going on around him showed that even the sightless could see.