Only the strong can... survive. [Koda]

[Promise]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/t7z5eo.jpg] Ritan Forest. A truly beautiful place to relax, look for a pack, or maybe even just make new friends. To go along with the beautiful scenery, the day was beautiful, as well. The sun was shining high up in the sky, the birds were singing their cheerful songs, the grass was soft to the touch and reaching toward the Heavens. The only problem on this beautiful day, seemed to be the fact that it was just a little too hot. Oh well, one would eventually get over the heat of the day. Life seemed to be moving so quickly, so far. It had been months since she had last seen her father. For that, she was greatful. All along, she had known her father's plan. The plan to wipe her off of the face of the Earth. Though, she could do nothing about it. After all, she was just merely a pup then, and still is. To her, nothing had seemed to be going right. Not until now. She could finally be at peace during the day, but once night fell, she would be forced to go back into hiding. Oh yes, she feared her father. Why shouldn't she? He was trying to kill her. Kill her for something she didn't do. Oh no, she couldn't change his mind. She had tried and failed. Her paws led her through the forests of Ritan Forest. She didn't know what she was doing here, what would happen, or who she'd meet. Though, did anyone ever truly know who they would meet? Of course not. Her white coat felt the touch of a soft, cool breeze, as it blew through the forests and rustled her coat. Her steel gray eyes glanced around the forests, before she found a small patch of openness. Within there, she allowed her form to slowly collapse under a tree, where she decided would be a nice place to rest for now. She was always on the lookout for others, maybe someone that could help her. Maybe, even someone who would be a friend. A sigh fell from her lips, as she laid there. Of course, Lili had heard many rumors about this place. Especially the one that stated that the shadiest of creatures would end up here. If anything, her father would more and likely be around. Though, she couldn't find herself caring, at least not yet. Not until nightfall. Without a sound, she lowered her head to her paws and closed her eyes slowly. She just wanted to take a rest, maybe even a short nap. Though, she would make sure she didn't fall into a deep sleep. As she slowly fell into a light sleep, her breathing calmed as her sides lifted and fell with each breath.

[Koda]

Koda strolled casually through the Ritan Forest. A place he hadn't come before but was definitely exciting to be able to finally explore it. His tall dark ears picked up the sound of something moving a little ways off.
Lifting his nose to the wind, he tried to scent who or what it was the the breeze was unfaithful and blew in the opposite direction. No matter. He would investigate and find out what lay at the end of this scent trail anyways.
Koda lowered his body to the ground a little as he slunk through the trees, hiding behind bushes and trunks of plants as he got closer and closer to the location of the scent.
Finally he was on top of it and he poked his head out from around the side of a wide tree trunk, his light blue eyes immediately spotting a young Akita pup laying under a tree napping.
Slowly and very quietly, Koda slunk towards the puppy who looked to be not much older than himself. A sly and mischievious grin was plastered on his face as he got closer and closer to the dog.
When he was right next to her, he spoke rather loudly.
"Hey there!" He barked, jumping back a foot or so in case the pup decided to swipe at him.

[Promise]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/t7z5eo.jpg] Sounds. So many of them seemed to be coming from every direction. Scents. Just as much sounds as the scents that came with them. Of course, she had smelled the scent of the other canine, but hadn't dared to go look for the cause of it. Though, she knew it wasn't her father. Oh no, she'd remember his scent anywhere. As she lay there napping, she didn't seem to notice the other pup that snuck up on her. 'Hey there!' The voice seemed to yell at her, in a bark. Jumping up quickly, her gaze looked toward the source of the voice, as her paws finally managed to land back upon the ground. She was rather glad that there were no low hanging branches upon her. Her steel gray eyes swept over the figure that stood a foot away from her. "Hello," came a soft, yet polite response. Her tail curled over her back until the tip of it came to rest upon the left side of her rump. That seemed to be it's favourite spot to rest. As she looked at the other pup, she noticed he was around her age. Tilting her head, she allowed her gaze to sweep over his form. Trying to register him in her mind, so she would know who he was later, if they were to part and meet again. Though, the only thing she didn't know was his name. Which, she would have to wait for. "You scared me," she added. Though, it could have just been seen that he had scared her. A small laugh escaped her vocals. Carelessly, she lowered her rump back to the ground, as she sat down. Her gaze never seemed to leave the form of the pup. "I'm Lili. And you are?" She asked, carefully. She didn't know why she spoke her name first, but oh well. It's not like it mattered who said their name first. Her ears flicked back and forth carelessly, as she listened for any sounds of danger. Her nose, however, inhaled his scent.

[Koda]

Koda grinned when the pup seemed friendly. Finally somewhat that didn't think he was just some annoying young pup. He smiled at the female before sitting down on the ground in front of her, his long dark tail wagged against the grass behind him.
Light blue eyes scanned her, looking her over and making himself familiar with her scent.
"I'm Lili. And you are?" Came her reply and his pink tongue lolled out of his as he listened to her before replying.
"My name's Kodiak but you can call me Koda. All my friends do." he recited his usual greeting.
Though now that he thougth about it, he really didn't have any friends. Sure he had acquaintances but he wasn't sure if any of them could really be considered his actual friends.
The thought of being friendless perplexed him because it was a new concept for him and he was pretty sure he didn't like it. But he pushed those thoughts out of his head and brought his attention back to the young female that sat in front of him.

[Promise]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/t7z5eo.jpg] The grin that spread across Koda's features seemed to be almost contagious, as it threatened to make Lili smile. If she had smiled, it would have been the first smile to fall upon her features in months. As he sat down, she noticed his tail wagging back and forth against the grass. Though, she quickly turned her attention back to his face. She noticed that he had light blue eyes. Light blue was her favourite color, but she would never tell that to anyone. She also seemed to notice how he looked her over. She was glad it wasn't the way her own father had looked her over when they had first met again. When she had spoken, she saw his tongue fall out of his mouth. Though, it didn't take him long to reply to her question. 'My name's Kodiak but you can call me Koda. All my friends do.' A small smile threatened to appear, as she listened to him announce his name. Lowering her gaze, she pawed at a few blades of grass. Though, it didn't take her long before she looked up at him again. "It's nice to meet you, Koda," she replied, happily. For once, she felt as if she had nothing to fear, at least not yet. Her gaze moved toward the sky. It almost seemed as though she begged for night not to come. Though, it always did anyways, no matter how much someone begged. Another sigh escaped her vocals, as she looked back at him. "Not to get into your business or anything, but where are your parents?" She seemed to ask, out of the blue. Deep down, she actually kind of hoped that he wasn't an orphan, like her. But, she knew that most pups that went unaccompanied, were orphans.

[Koda]

He saw her fighting a smile and that just made him grinned wider, revealing his small but sharp white teeth. His light blue eyes sparkled as he smiled at her, enjoying having company his own age.
Usually there were hardly ever pups out on their own. Cause when pups were on there own it was most likely because they were orphans, which he was and he was guessing she probably was too.
These days it was hard for a pup to survive on one's own without having help. He had lost his family not to long ago. Both his mother and father had been killed mercilessly while he had been hiding nearby, watching the whole thing, knowing that there was nothing he could do to stop the cold blooded killer of a dog that had taken his only family away from him.
But Koda tried not to think about his parents that much anymore. It seemed that it was easier to forget they ever existed than to remember the horrible memory and feel the pain all over again.
"Not to get into your business or anything, but where are your parents?" Her voice broke through his thoughts and he couldn't say that he wasn't surprised by her question cause that was usually the first thing that any dog he met asked him.
"They died a few months ago. Both killed. I can take care of myself though." He replied, putting on a determined and tough look to hopefully make him seem stronger than he actually felt at the moment.
He wasn't sure if she would want to talk about where her parents were and he almost asked her about them but stopped himself and decided that if she wanted to tell him about her family then she would.

[Promise]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/t7z5eo.jpg] His grins and smiles just kept threatening to make her smile. Though, she tried hard to keep a straight face. A few moments of quietness made her realize that he was deep in thought. Tilting her head, she watched him, as she waited for a reply or anything. Though, it only took a few moments before he seeemd to come back to the present. 'They died a few months ago. Both killed. I can take care of myself though.' His voice entered her ears. Shaking her head lightly, she allowed a small smile to appear on her face. He seemed so determined and tough. "I'm sorry.." She started, but her voice seemed to drift off. Well, it was true. She was sorry. She was sorry that anyone ever had to go through losing their parents. At the moment, she seemed reluctant to say anything else. She even seemed reluctant to talk about her parents. Oh, she missed her mother, but she could go without her father. The no good cheating b.astard. "My mother died a few months after I was born. She was killed by a disease," she commented, rather quietly. Looking away, her gaze moved toward the sky, as she thought of her mother. She knew her mother was in a better place. A place where she would never have to be hurt again. "My father, however, is still alive and well," she added, hesitantly. "He ran away after my mother had died and left me to die, but I didn't. Which, he wasn't very happy about. Now.. I don't know what to do.. he wants to be my father again..." She said, as her voice drifted off again. Shaking her head once more, she looked back at him. Fear shined in her eyes. Fear of her father...

[Koda]

Koda's determined and strong look remained on his face for a long moment, but it quickly slipped away as she told him about her family.
"My mother died a few months after I was born. She was killed by a disease, my father, however, is still alive and well, he ran away after my mother had died and left me to die, but I didn't. Which, he wasn't very happy about. Now.. I don't know what to do.. he wants to be my father again..." Was her reply to his short answer.
His heart ached for her and he searched for something to say. Which was worse? Having a father that was alive and wanted you dead or having a dead father? Having a father that wanted you dead was easily worst. And while Koda thougth his family story was sad, hers beat his by a long shot.
"I'm sorry, I can stay with you for awhile if you want. . . ya know I could help protect you and stuff." He replied, his voice serious which was a rare occurance for the young pup.
Light blue eyes glanced over at her as she looked up at the sky and a small smile lit his face as he got an idea.
"I'm really scary ya know. Especially when I get going, then there's no stoppin' me!" He added, a playful tone in his voice to help lighten the mood a little. Koda always liked to make others laugh. That was the only way he knew how to make others feel better. He wasn't much of a mushy sorta sensitive kinda guy but he sure knew how to make anyone laugh.
As if to demonstrate his mad fighting skills, Koda lept into the air and did a backflip before slicing the air near him and spinning in circles then rolling across the grass and leaping to his paws again.

[Promise]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/t7z5eo.jpg] When she spoke of her family, she noticed how Koda's determined and strong look quickly faded. 'I'm sorry, I can stay with you for awhile if you want...ya know I could help protect you and stuff.' His reply was serious, as she could tell from the sound of his voice. A smile touched her features, as she nodded her head lightly. "I'd like that, very much," she replied to his words. Things seemed to be changing for the better, now. But, how long would it all last before her world came crashing down upon her again? No one knew. Her gaze moved toward him, as the smile remained on her face. 'I'm really scary ya know. Especially when I get going, then there's no stoppin' me!' She heard him say, as his words rang in her ears. A playful tone could be heard within his voice. She knew he was going to do something to prove it, so she waited. Though, it didn't take long. As he lept into the air and did a backflip, followed by his paws slicing the air, she continued to watch. Even when he had spun in circles and rolled across the grass, before leaping back to his paws again. A soft laugh escaped her vocals. "Oh yes, your very scary," she teased, a playful tone within her voice. She stood up and padded closer towards him, as she thought about everything. Though, once she realized how close she had gotten to him, she quickly backed up. Lowering her head, as if in apology. She hadn't meant to get that close. She knew they were just acquaintances. She had never really had a friend before, except for one. But, he had left her and never came back. There was the also the time where she had thought she had found a home. Of course, that was not to be. She wondered, though, if she could consider Koda as a friend..

[Koda]

Yet another grin crossed the young pup's muzzle as she smiled back at him and accepted his invitation for him to stay with her. "I'd like that, very much," Was her reply and then came his wild display of his crazy intense fighting skills and his tongue hung out of his mouth after he finished his flips and rolls.
"Oh yes, your very scary," She added as he finished his acrobatic moves and sat down in front of her again.
When she came closer to him, he smiled once more liking the thought of having someone close. But she moved away in embarressment and he shrugged it off, pretending like he hadn't noticed how close she had gotten to him accidentally.
They had just met after all and they were acquaintances now so he couldn't assume that being close was normal. Although to him it felt as if they had always been friends. Like they were friends now. Even though they hardly knew each other at all, he found that he wanted to learn everything he could about her no matter how long it took. He was willing to stick around that long.
Thoughts of his new found pack popped into his head and the realization hit him that he couldn't always be by her side. The Skeleton Pack needed him and he needed them. He couldn't survive out her on his own forever. Plus he wanted to learn how to fight even better than he knew how to now.
And by being a part of the Skeleton Pack it was almost a guarentee that he would learn more and survive longer and live a better life than he would on his own.
If he was on his own he would spend most of his time trying to find a meal big enough to fill his stomach through the day and night. Nights would be dangerous and if he ran into the wrong dogs and lost control of his sarcasm like he had a tendency of doing, he could end up in big trouble. And so far he had been lucky enough to not have gotten into any bad situations yet. But his luck most likely wouldn't last forever, as much as he wished it would.
"Are you in a pack?" He blurted out without even thinking about what he was saying.
What if she was in a pack that didn't get along with the Skeleton Pack? He could get kicked out just for talking to her. And he really didn't want to have to choose between his new found best friend and his new found 'family'. Or maybe she didn't have a pack and would want to join the Skeleton Pack. I guess it was okay if she didn't join it, he could still see her if she was a loner or something.
Packs definitely had their advantages and disadvantages, though when Koda had joined the Skeleton Pack, nothing seemed to be a downfall to joining but now he saw the problems. Finally he just shrugged it off, things would work out the way they were suppose to. They always did. And he wasn't going to sit around and worry about stuff that may never happen.