The Good News Is

[Arche]

Spring had come, and in fact, it was in full bloom as the large male moved slowly north of his father's territory. He had followed the river home, the same river that had taken the life of his mother, but he could not quite bring himself to approach the pack borders yet. He had to build up the courage to face his father again. Was his family still there? Did the others survive without their mother? They had been old enough, but he had been gone for so long, how was he supposed to know what had happened to Airila? He sighed softly, shaking his head slowly and stepping forward, oblivious to the flowers that his large paws crushed beneath him. His ears pinned backwards, annoyance flooding his features as he breathed in the thick scent of the flowers that surrounded him. How could the world be filled with such peaceful beauty while he was stuck in such inner turmoil? How was it fair?

But as he moved further forward, he already knew the answer. Life was not fair, and the cosmos continued to endlessly remind him of such. He had lost his mother, he had lost his dear Deva, and he had no idea if his father would allow him to return home. What right did he have to claim his father's lands as his home anyways? Was Airila better off without him? Another sigh escaped him, his head shaking back and forth as he attempted to pull himself away from his doubts. He would wait as long as he had to, he would prove to his father that he deserved to be a part of their pack once more. No matter what it took. With this new found confidence and determination, the male pushed forward once more, his tail swaying gently behind him as he lifted his head and inhaled deeply. There were scents here, faint, but obviously present among the powerful odor of flowers. Prey, tiny and creeping beneath the grasses and among the roots, he could hear mice.

It would be a poor meal, more of a snack really, but he had to admit that his mouth salivated at the thought of the creatures that scurried back and forth throughout the field. He lifted his head higher, tilting his nose towards the ground and perking his ears as he listed carefully to the sounds around him. A scuffle, a shift in grasses, a small squeak, and then he pounced, landing heavily on the poor creature and lowering his head to devour the small rodent in one bite. It tasted good, but it was nowhere near the amount of food needed to sate his enormous amount of hunger. But he would have time for hunting later. Time for filling his stomach and relearning his pack lands after he finally returned to his father and his family. If they would have him.

Words: 484
Tags: Rikez
Muse: Low
Notes: n/a

[Rikez]

Rikez relished the wind as it whistled in his ears and tossed his tail like a banner behind him. His breath panted in time with the thump in his chest. His legs burned as he stretched them for the first time in weeks. To his right, a froth of white rapids churned against the banks. He could easily see across to the other side, and crossing seemed impossible for the brute. No matter. He had no desire to cross the treacherous water. The memory of his near-drowning was still fresh in his mind. The angry storm. His free-fall into the black waves. The helplessness as the strength of the sea tossed him like a doll. Even now, he could still feel the stiffness of salt and sand in his coat. Usually jet-black in appearance, Rikez's coat was dirty and unwashed. Even with the breeze blowing across his senses, he could smell the distinct tang of the sea in his nose.

He ran with no destination in mind. This strange new land was nothing like the dense forest he grew up in. Here, he was surrounded by rolling hills, each one cresting before falling away into the next. The grass beneath the pads of his paws was soft and green. It was not like the muted, shadowed greens of the forest canopy. It was vibrant and the land was open. The sky was blue overhead and the heat of the sun had warmed his pelt. He felt a pinch in his chest as he bounded over the top of a hill. He was simply too vulnerable here. He had to keep moving.

As the dark-colored brute crested a final hill, the land turned red. A vast meadow stretched from Rikez's paws to the horizon in a blanket of red blooms. Trees dotted the landscape, standing tall and awkward among the sea of flowers. Rikez skidded to a stop, his scrabbling paws sending plumes of red petals into the air. He sneezed and tossed his head as pollen tickled his nose.

How strange, he thought as he bowed his head to inspect a flower. I have never seen plants so bright.

The crimson meadow swirled with fresh new scents that immediately clouded Rikez's mind. They were a mix of musty pollen, perfumed plants, and a hint of prey. Rikez's stomach gave a lazy growl at this realization. He could not even remember when his last meal was, but he did know it was before he arrived here. How many days had he traveled until he had found the river? Three? Four?

The bright plants stood as high as Rikez's shackles. Although they covered the meadow completely, they did not look dense enough to hide large prey, but there was bound to be something creeping under the miniature red canopy. With auds swiveling forward, Rikez crouched and waited, and listened.

---

Count | 486
Tagged | Arche
Muse | Decent
Notes | He's not tripping or high, hes just not used to so many flowers in one place. XD

[Arche]

Blood seeped slowly through his jaws and down his chin as he swallowed the poor creature that had been his snack, but his tongue soon slid from his mouth to lap up as many drops of the metallic tasting liquid as possible. His eyes closed to savor the taste for a few moments, but when they opened once more, they were greeted with more than the sight of flowers. There was another wolf in the area, several yards away, sniffing at the flowers and obviously finding them just as uninteresting as he had. Then again, it was almost impossible to be less interested in the red petals and pollen as he was, but he was sure others found them just as boring at least sometimes. He tilted his head slightly, observing the stranger silently for a few moments before clearing his throat and taking a small step forward.

He had not seen the other wolf around here before, but then again, he really had no claim on the territory and had not spent a lot of time here since he had left his father's pack. Although the step he took was solitary and did not encourage further steps from him, his head did lift slightly and his ears perked with interest. He might not be officially accepted back into his father's pack, but that did not mean that he could not get to know the wolves that surrounded the territory. After all, his father would allow him home again, right? He frowned slightly at the thought, his guilt tearing at him as he thought about the possibility of being denied access to his remaining family because of what he had done to them. Could they possibly turn him away?

With a deep breath, he focused back on the task at hand, the stranger that he now shared the open, flower-filled field with. "Hello, Stranger. I am Arche, son of Toiro of Airila." He said, introducing himself proudly as the son of the Airila Alpha Male. If his father still considered him family or not, he did not know, but he was stubborn and confident enough to try and try again until he finally succeeded in re-joining the pack. He knew that wolves without any intention of joining his father's pack roamed this area from time to time, but he approached the situation as if he were a true Airila wolf and this stranger was a potential new pack member. With the growing powers throughout the island, it never hurt to be optimistic and prepare his family for the future that Anikira was heading towards.

Words: 436
Tags: Rikez
Muse: Low
Notes: Oh my goodness....I am sorry this is horrible. I swear, I wrote it three times and my brain is completely dead today O.O

[Rikez]

"Hello, Stranger. I am Arche, son of Toiro of Airila."

The sudden voice startled Rikez, and he let out a snort of surprise. Immediately, his defenses were up. The muscles in his legs coiled beneath his fu. His snout pulled back in a ghoulish snarl that transformed his face to that of a demons. His bright eyes flashed over the shifting sea of red until he spotted the other wolf, standing with his head above the flowers, only a few yards away. It was another male, slightly larger than Rikez all around and definitely more built. Rikez's mind was whirring as he took in the sight of the brute. He could see the stranger's muscles beneath the dense creamy coat, see the way he was standing openly with his head up and ears perked forward. Through the flowers, Rikez could just make out the brutes tail, held confidently but without a sign of threat. He had said words Rikez did not understand. Strange names and introductions. Who did he say he was? Arche, was it?

"Don't trust. Never trust outside this pack." Rikez's father's words pushed themselves to the front of his mind in a painful flash. Rikez gave a slight yip and shook his head aggressively, shaking the thought away. "Always act first. Ask questions later."

Even after weeks of being free from the rein of his father, Rikez was haunted by the alpha's presence. It came in the most unlikely of times, startling Rikez as he hunted quietly by himself at the opening of a forest hare's den, interrupting his thoughts as he was drifting off to sleep at night, feeding him the advice he had grown up obeying. Rikez dug his nails into the grass and blinked until his father's voice was gone. The strange wolf was still watching him, waiting, and Rikez had to force himself to speak. Hackles still raised and face still contorted, the black brute managed to speak. "I am called Rikez," he practically growled. As his voice escaped his throat, Rikez felt a strange sense of relief. How free it felt to disobey. How relieving it was to think for himself.

---

Count | 382
Tagged | Arche
Muse | Decent
Notes | Not my best, but hopefully you're able to follow it!

[Arche]

The male stood stoic, watching the dark stranger calmly, even when his lips curled up and body took on an aggressive posture. Withholding the laugh of amusement that threatened to bubble up through his body, the much larger wolf tilted his head curiously and let his tail lift ever-so-slightly. This was not his territory, he had to remember that. The tail lowered slowly once more, back into a non-aggressive posture as the other wolf finally opened his mouth enough to speak. Ah, so we can pretend to play nice. The thought passed through his mind slowly, but he swallowed the words as he observed the stranger from afar. "I mean you no harm, Rikez. It is unclaimed land that you tread on, I hold no claim to this place." He said, doing what he could to alleviate any threat that he might have posed to the obviously uptight and somewhat jumpy wolf before him.

"My father's pack has a territory near here. I have been gone from my family for a long time. It appears that we have crossed paths on my journey back to them." He said, briefly explaining what his purpose was here. Perhaps this wolf was looking for a pack, and by the looks of him, he could at least use the shelter and food of one. Although the black wolf was indeed shorter than him, he was not exactly too much shorter. At least not compared to other wolves he had seen in his time. He was, however, much thinner, almost sickly looking in the larger male's opinion. His softer side urged him to offer the stranger a meal, but standing here with the remnants of the rodent's flesh in his teeth, he realized that he really had nothing to offer.

He sighed softly, glancing around at the flowered canopy that covered the many rodents that he knew called this place home. "I have no food to offer, though I do know that there are many rodents within this place. It is a perfect home for them." He said, looking back up at the other wolf and slowly lowering his rear end to the ground. This would leave him vulnerable, at least slightly, and it would also show the other wolf that he meant no harm. He was not typically particularly talkative, but today he was preparing himself. He needed to get his mind fully back into the mindset of a pack wolf that owed allegiance to his father. He would never fully be able to convince his father that he was worthy of returning if he could not believe it himself.

Words: 437
Tags: Rikez
Muse: Medium
Notes: n/a

[Rikez]

The larger wolf spoke frankly as he tried to make nice with the bristling black wolf. Rikez waited, frozen in a snarl as Arche stated some nonsense about his father's pack. Rikez tried to focus, but the larger brute's words were going in one ear and out the other. His large amber eyes were fixed on the other wolf's stained muzzle. The slight tang of blood was in the air, and it was clear that Arche had just been eating. The evidence of it was still in his canines.

As Arche mentioned food, Rikez snapped back to attention, and his muzzle relaxed slightly to a simple grimace. Food sounded so good right about now. With all the activity Rikez had pushed himself through in the past few days, his bones were positively jutting from his frame. Never in his life had he been so thin. His hips protruded from his middle in an almost sickly appearance. As much as he wanted to snap in this newcomer's face and keep running, Rikez knew he couldn't. The meadow was simply too good of an offer to pass up. As long as Arche sat there in front of him, he would have to make nice, if only for the promise of a full stomach.

Seeing Arche sit, Rikez straightened and relaxed his tail to a medium height. “Maybe we can hunt for a time together,” he said, his ears flicking towards the large brute. Surely he could stand being in the company of this wolf for a short while.

Rikez turned and padded through the sea of red flowers. The stems folded in his wake, and his tail batted at the plants. He lifted each of his paws gingerly, uncharacteristically trying to navigate the strange terrain. The result: The black wolf looked absolutely ridiculous as he lifted each of his feet in an attempt to tread lightly through the meadow.

Black auds twitched at each new sound that presented itself beneath the canopy of petals. He could feel the shift in the expanse of red as the wind tossed the bendy stems from side to side. Rikez caught glimpses of the grass as the red flowers moved. Suddenly, a flash of brown caught Rikez’s eye. Without a moment of hesitation, he lunged. The black brute practically stumbled forward, his jaws closing on empty air with a snap.

Rikez’s head spun as his meager meal scampered away.

---

Count | 410
Tagged | Arche
Muse | Low
Notes | n/a

[Arche]

He could see the snarl fade, though at the same time it was obvious that it was not the other male's preferred action. The wolf before him was painfully thin, and even as he silenced his snarl and invited Arche to hunt, the larger wolf doubted that he would be successful. He was much too thin and likely too malnourished to actually catch anything. He nodded silently, though, watching the stranger turn and attempt a hunt. It was a rather amusing sight, but at the same time, pathetic. The black wolf lifted his paws awkwardly, as if trying to tip-toe through the meadow and not even disturb the blanket of flowers that covered it. This was unsuccessful, and even as he spooked a rodent and dove towards it, the creature escaped without any trouble. The multi-colored male resisted the urge to sigh audibly, and instead pushed himself to his feet to join the 'hunting party'.

He moved in the opposite direction of the black wolf, intent on actually catching something. Rikez had already likely frightened away all the prey in that area of the field, so there was no point in wasting his time trying to find anything there that was not already posed to flee from him. Instead, he moved slowly and cautiously in the other direction, hoping that he could find more than a mouse in this area. Suddenly, as if without any warning, he froze. There were no visual signs that the black male could likely see, but from within the red flowers, Arche had spotted a hint of tawny, a light brown that seemed larger than a mouse, but smaller than anything other than a rabbit. Perfect. Now just don't screw this up. His mind told him, as if taunting him and doubting his abilities. His ears perked, even though his thoughts made him want to pin them backwards and against his head.

The flowers in front of him shifted, showing him with even more precision where his target was hiding. But he only had moments, for as they moved once more, two ears poked from the petals to alert him that the prey had indeed realized his presence. It all happened in seconds, but to the wolf, it felt like minutes. Arche lunged, darting after the rabbit that simultaneously fled from him. It took a bit of effort, and at least a few strides towards the trees, but he managed to pounce, paws crushing the poor creature as his jaws closed on the tender flesh at the same time. Success. He nearly grinned as he picked up the animal, teeth clenching slightly to snap the spine, blood seeping from between his teeth and down his chin as he turned to face Rikez once more. He was not in need of this meal, but the black wolf might not survive the night without it. He nodded slightly, trotting back in the other male's direction and tossing it at his feet while keeping a somewhat reasonable distance between them. He knew that this wolf needed his help, but did not necessarily want it. He had no intention of rubbing it in his face, so instead of sitting there stupidly and watching the other male eat, he instead turned away once more, heading off into another corner of the field to catch himself another snack.

Words: 558
Tags: Rikez
Muse: Medium
Notes: n/a

[Rikez]

Anger coursed through him like a sickening venom, burning his pelt from the tip of his ears to the pads of his paws to the very fine hairs at the end of his tail. The stupid animal had evaded him, and no wonder. He was being clumsy and foolishly loud in the tall plants. Any prey with half a wit would have been able to scamper away before becoming his meal. Looking up, he fought the urge to snarl and toss his head. It was bad enough that he had scared away every living thing within a few yards of himself. Making a scene was childish and wouldn’t put food in his stomach.

Further away, he saw the larger brute, Arche, stalking through the red flowers like a pro. Even from a distance, Rikez knew he was padding silently after prey. Even as he watched with his bright amber eyes, he saw the other brute freeze, fixated on something. Rikez couldn’t see what it was, but in a flash, the other wolf had made his move. And a kill. With a dead rabbit hanging from his maw like a trophy, Arche made his way back to where Rikez stood watching him enviously. However, all of his petty jealousy evaporated as the rabbit hit the ground at his feet with a soft thud. With barely a nod, the larger brute left his kill at Rikez’s feet and padded away through the canopy of red flowers to give him some privacy.

He stood for a moment over the fresh kill, unsure whether or not to accept Arche’s offering. Taking this meal mean owing the other wolf, and if there was one thing Rikez did not want right now, it was to not owe anyone anything. His stomach turned over as the smell of the dead rabbit hit his senses. In moments, he had bent over the rabbit and tore into its small body. As the bloodlust took over, he ate without remorse, his jaws snapping at the food. He relished the meal, the first meal he had eaten in a week. Warm blood tickled his chin and his ears flattened against his head as he tore into the brown body. This was what it was to be a wolf. The bloodlust of a true hunter, he thought as he braced a paw against the side of the rabbit, his teeth pulling a strip of meat right off the bone.

When he was finished, though not nearly full, he felt satisfied. Already, he could feel the nourishments of the rabbit in his muscles. His mind was clear of fog, alert and weary once more. His pink tongue lolled from his mouth, tasting the metallic aftertaste that surrounded his jaws. A small voice was whispering inside his mind. By now, he was used to the haunting voice of his father echoing through his thoughts with enough conviction that sometimes, Rikex thought his father was right there beside him. But this voice was different. Familiar, but soft, it drifted to the foreground of his mind like an afterthought. ”Like a team, brother,” it said. As quickly as Rikez heard it, it was gone. Puzzled, he looked around him to make sure it wasn’t Arche. But how could it? The larger brute was yard away, almost invisible as he crouched among the red flowers. The voice of his brother, Muk, although it sounded incredibly real, had just been a figment of his imagination.

---

Count | 583
Tagged | Arche
Muse | Good!
Notes | n/a

[Arche]

He was hunting again, stalking another rabbit to quench his own hunger now. He crouched carefully, staring with unwavering focus on the furry creature in front of him. Green eyes blinked for the briefest of seconds, catching the creature's sudden movements in the next. That was when he struck, bounding forward and landing expertly on top of the creature that crumpled beneath his paws. His jaws closed on the flesh a second later, eyes closing as he enjoyed the taste of the blood that ran slowly down his chin. It was delicious, and he devoured the creature in full right then and there, completely oblivious to the other male's actions behind him. Finally, when his meal was finished, he lifted his head, licking his chops and turning around to face Rikez once more.

It took him only a few moments to walk back towards him, closing the distance he had put between them when he had wandered off to catch food for himself. "Have you been to the borders of any of the packs near here? I can promise you that Airila has wonderful territory for hunting." He said, offering a friendly smile as he finally came to a stop a few feet away from him. He slowly sat down, unsure of what the male's plans were. Already, though, he could tell that the other wolf was slowly gaining more strength from the meal he had offered him. His tail slowly curled against his leg beside him, resting in a relaxed position as he tilted his head in curiosity. It had been a while since he had allowed himself to enjoy a conversation with another, and though their interaction had started out with Rikez snarling and threatening him, he hoped that they could perhaps become friends some day.

What happened right now, however, was entirely up to the black wolf beside him. He was not yet ready to approach his father's pack and seek acceptance once more, but perhaps he would soon gather the confidence from spending time with Rikez. Perhaps a friend was all he needed to convince himself that he was truly worthy of his father's legacy. He swallowed slowly, leaning his head in Rikez's direction to clean his own chest of some blood that had dripped from his mouth and onto his fur. Approaching Airila covered in blood would definitely not do, but today did not seem like the day to re-join his pack. Perhaps tomorrow would find him with better luck and a stronger will.

Words: 419
Tags: Rikez
Muse: Low
Notes: n/a

[Rikez]

He was still pondering the strangeness of hearing his brother's voice when Arche approached him again. He had clearly made another kill, the evidence of it all over his maw. Seeing that Rikez ate the rabbit, the large brute smiled and said, "Have you been to the borders of any of the packs near here? I can promise you that Airila has wonderful territory for hunting." There it was again. Airila. Clearly, it was a name of a pack. But why would a pack need a name? The concept was foreign to the black wolf. Unsure whether or not to ask the other wolf, he just waited, watching Arche as he sat in front of him. This wolf was clearly confident. Relaxed, the larger wolf’s tail curled up next to his leg and he settled in, tilting his head. Rikez was almost envious of the ease at which the other wolf had introduced and spoke to him. Why was it so difficult for him to do the same?

”I haven’t seen any wolves,” he finally said. He was surprised to find that his voice was raspy, probably from swallowing so much seawater recently. As he spoke, the black brute felt himself relax enough to lower his rump onto the ground. The stems of the red flowers stood around him like a veil, brushing against his sides and dancing in the light breeze. Thinking of packs, Rikez thought through the haze of the past few days. Honestly, he had actually ignored pack boundaries and territories on his way to where he now stood. Running in a maddened frenzy through the trees and over the hills, he had stopped for nothing, not even the thick scent of a boundary line. ”Why is this pack, Airila named?” he finally asked. ”It seems strange, to name a pack.”

Rikez's tail moved with a soft shhhh across the ground as he spoke. Surprised at his own ease around practically a stranger, Rikez suddenly realized he was enjoying this time. He wasn't sure if his guard had ever been this low.

---

Count | 350
Tagged | Arche
Muse | Low
Notes | n/a

[Arche]

Much to his surprise, though he had been working towards this, the male before him relaxed enough to even allow his own tail to sway among the flowers while he finally spoke in relaxed tones. This drew a small smile from Arche's face, though he kept himself from getting cocky or over-eager by inhaling slowly and exhaling even slower. ”I haven’t seen any wolves.” The black male's words did not exactly surprise the larger wolf, for he himself had not seen too many wolves on his own travels through the island. He knew there were several packs that lived here, Airila, Kairos, Ultoris, Valyn, Descai, and he was sure there were even more forming. It was amazing that so many lone wolves still wandered the lands here.

”Why is this pack, Airila named?” The mention of his father's pack made his ears perk, though Rikez was not asking about the meaning of the name, but the meaning and purpose behind naming a pack at all. He smiled, the gesture full of patience and calm for the other male's lack of understanding of the island. "You must not be from the island." He said, stating the obvious and shifting to settle more comfortably into his current sitting position. "There are several packs that call this island, Anikira, home. We use their different names to differentiate between them. Among other things." He said, knowing that the packs could easily be told apart by more than just their names. They each had their own beliefs and mannerisms, which he was sure this male would learn about soon enough if he stuck around on the island longer.

”It seems strange, to name a pack.” He must not have lived in a place with many other packs, which honestly did not exactly surprise the multi-colored male. He, himself, had lived his life here on Anikira, for his father was the leader of Airila and he had been born within the pack's lands. He had explored some, but he had never exactly left the island himself. IN fact, he had never heard of a wolf leaving Anikira in order to find their way to the mainland. Hell, he did not know if it was even possible. Many wolves that came from the outside world were involved in boat or plane crashes, both disasters that he had thankfully never been involved with. But he knew they existed, knew they were possible, and hoped that none would ever bring destruction to their home here on the island.

Words: 419
Tags: Rikez
Muse: Medium
Notes: Not very long, sorry.

[Rikez]

“You must not be from the island.”

The larger brute’s words hit Rikez like a stone and dropped into the very bottom of his stomach. I am on an island, he thought. Of course, it made perfect sense that he had washed up on the shore of a highly populated wolf island. he sat quietly, too shocked to speak as Arche continued to fill him in on the island, oblivious of the fear that was growing in the black wolf’s breast. It was called Anikira, he learned, and it was home to no less than seven packs. It must not be a terribly small island, at least, he thought bitterly. Just his luck to be trapped here with wolves he would most likely rather avoid.

Arche smiled, and Rikez had to fight the flare of annoyance that warmed his paws. He is only trying to help, he reminded himself. Stay level-headed. There’s nothing to gain from snapping at a stranger. But that was just the thing. The annoyance the black brute felt towards Arche reminded him of the tension he used to have between his siblings. The fighting that was constantly forced upon the three siblings had started mere weeks after the pups’ eyes opened. Every day their father would snap at them, spurring then on and inflicting injuries of his own until they fought each other. It created resentment in the wolves, anger towards each other as well as for the brute that brought them up in such a way. Looking at the large, green-eyed wolf sitting in front of him, Rikez took a deep breath. If his father were here, he would be snarling. He would grab the black wolf by the scruff and toss him aside like prey, saying, ”Any wolf who shows an inkling of kindness is weak, and a fool.”

This is my chance to start over, to hold back the anger and not act on it, Rikez thought with conviction. This is my chance to prove my father wrong.

The wind ruffled Rikez’s dirty coat, and as it shifted a scent came with it. His auds immediately perked up, twisting to hear behind him. ”Did you smell that?” he asked urgently. Hopefully, Arche wouldn’t mind that the black wolf had not really responded to anything he said. They were about to tackle a bigger problem.

---

Count | 398
Tagged | Arche
Muse | Low
Notes | No rush on the reply, Rita! (:

[Arche]

The large male easily noticed the fact that the other wolf had not responded to his words in any way, shape, or form, but he did not let it bother him. As the black male finally spoke, he lifted his head slowly to catch the scent that he knew was dancing along in the wind. Rikez was right, there was something out there, and far too close to them for comfort. It smelled like a feline, what kind, he could not be sure quite yet. The scent was faint, but he could tell that it was getting stronger, therefore closer. He pushed himself quickly to his feet in a motion that he automatically assumed was anything but graceful, but they had more important problems to deal with. He turned quickly, looking around and inhaling deeply to pinpoint the location of the animal. "It is probably a cougar, hopefully a young one. I remember my parents warning me about them around here when I was a pup. They're pretty fierce." He said, frowning as he glanced over at Rikez and let his tail hang limp behind him.

But soon he was facing the trees once more, tail lifting slightly so that it stood out almost straight behind him. He was prepared, though he did not look forward to a fight with the creature he knew was hiding in the cover of the trees. Hopefully they could take a young cougar down easily if they worked together, but if it was a full grown adult, they were both in for a world of hurt. But, before he could spot the creature, he lowered himself slightly, hoping that by crouching within the tall grass and flowers he would be harder for the feline to spot. If they could catch the cat by surprise, they might have a higher chance of bringing it down or chasing it off without getting themselves torn up too much by it's long claws. "Have you ever encountered a cougar before? Their claws are nasty, try to stay as far away from them as you can." He said, offering advice to help just in case the black male had never encountered the cat before.

He was not about to back down, though. The cougar was between them and his father's pack, and he had no intention of tucking tail and running just because a young cat got in his way. Hell, if he could prove himself this way, maybe he and Rikez could bring the cougar to the borders of Airila as an offering and to prove their worth. Plus, he was eager to see what the black male was made of. He already had assumed that he had at least some fighting experience, but he wanted to see if he could handle both fighting the large cat and working together with him well. It would be impressive, but he had learned over the years that underestimating others could often end up being a great weakness. "Are you ready?" He asked, turning his head to look over at his companion, tail swaying slightly behind him and muscles bunched and ready to pounce. Their only hope was to catch it off guard, and if they attacked first, they might be able to take it down rather easily.

Words: 547
Tags: Rikez
Muse: Medium
Notes: Sorry I'm switching up the speech color, trying to get a color I like and can easily read...

[Rikez]

As Arche stood, Rikez followed suit, lifting his tail to match the other brute’s. The scent of the cougar curled into his nose, sending his mind reeling. His pupils dilated ever so slightly and his toes curled until his nails bug into the soft meadow. He was grateful for the rabbit now. He could feel the energy of the meal in his muscles and his mind. He and Arche faced the nearest group of trees, barely a dozen yards away. They stood next to each other, the lighter wolf taller, Rikez leaner. For Rikez, running was out of the question. It went against everything he had been taught. Never back down, his father would say. Even if the other brute wasn’t willing to stand and fight, Rikez definitely would. Alone.

"Have you ever encountered a cougar before? Their claws are nasty, try to stay as far away from them as you can.”

At the other wolf’s words, a warmth spread through the black brute’s chest. Unlike the usual burn of anger or jealousy, this warmth was slow moving. It spread like a second pelt around his heart and elicited a small smile to turn his lips. He means to fight alongside me, he thought, surprised. ”I have never fought one before,” he finally said. ”But I’m confident that it stands no chance against us.”

Arche turned and smiled at the smaller wolf, and Rikez felt the brute’s energy in his own limbs. They were crouched, ready to pounce, and as if he could read the larger wolf’s mind, Rikez knew he meant to attack first. ”Are you ready?”

”I’ve never been more ready in my life.”

With a push of his back legs, he threw himself forward with strength he didn’t know he had. The red canopy of flowers was practically beneath him as he pushed forward. He could only hope that Arche was right by his side, because there was no turning back now.

---

Count | 332
Tagged | Arche
Muse | Medium
Notes | This could have been better. Sorry that it's so short!

[Arche]

”But I’m confident that it stands no chance against us.”

The large male could not help but smile at Rikez's words, and as he did so, he felt almost as if he was standing beside a brother, ready to take on the world. He felt like nothing could stop them, and it made his heart swell slightly and his tail even wagged gently behind him for a moment. When he finally did ask if Rikez was ready to attack, the answer made him smile once more, ears perked and eyes trained carefully on the trees. ”I’ve never been more ready in my life.” He watched the black wolf take off, heading right for the trees and directly at their brown-furred target. He leaped after him, feeling the adrenaline course through his body as he threw himself forward and at the cat.

The creature was unprepared, oblivious to their presence, until they appeared through the trees. It hissed and snarled, leaping towards a nearby tree in an attempt to get away and gather itself for a counter attack. But Arche was ready for this, and he was sure that as soon as he blocked the cat's path, Rikez could help him bring it down. Not only was the cat dangerous to them, but it was also a threat to his father's pack, his home that rested so close to this area. He skidded to a stop between the cat and the tree, snarling savagely and lifting his lips in a threat to the feline before him. The cat, obviously unhappy with her current situation, leaped at him, claws extended and teeth ready to pierce his skin. But Arche had seen these cats before, he was ready for her attack, prepared to leap to the side and hopefully leave the feline open and distracted for Rikez to get in a good strike. They did not need to kill the cat, exactly, but he had every intention of at least scaring it south, and as far away from Airila's pack borders as possible.

He kept his eyes on both the cat and his friend, but he had no doubt that the black wolf could take care of himself. Instead, he was more concerned with his own flesh and avoiding the claws that were swiping and extended in his direction. If he got caught by one of those, he was in for some serious pain and discomfort. He snarled threateningly as he dodged the cat, skidding to the side and nearly running right into a tree in his attempt to escape the claws and teeth. The cat, however, was prepared for this, even in her inexperienced youth. She followed, cornering him against an enormous tree and hissing as she advanced on him with claws extended. Arche snarled right back at her, prepared to fight and strike wherever he could, but his only hope of avoiding injury would be Rikez.

Words: 485
Tags: Rikez
Muse: Low
Notes: n/a