Entrance (OPEN)

[Deleted]

Silence reigned in the forest; with sundown came the disappearance of most of the birds and rodents, tucked away in their nests and dens to avoid the nightly hunters. Unafraid of bats and owls, a solitary figure wandered aimlessly down a deer path, slender paws hitting the grass with barely a whisper. Carrying his malnourished frame low, the smaller-than-average beast glanced left and right with grey eyes matching his fur, though they contained a brightness that revealed his health despite his thin body condition. Despite his thick coat, it was clear that his ribs pressed tightly against his skin, and his hip bones jutted sharply above his back, as did his shoulders. He had eaten enough to survive for the past six months, but not enough to strengthen his young body. Regardless, he continued on, searching for nothing but his next meal.

From his left swung a rogue branch, displaced by the sudden breeze, sharp but warm, that blew from the south. Dramatically he darted to the right, ducking and swinging his thin hips around to face his attacker, eyes wide with fear and confusion until he realized that it had only been part of the tree. Out rushed his breath in a soft and relieved exhalation, his body following suit and rising as his muscles relaxed. 'Damn trees. No respect,' he thought to himself, lifting his lip slightly in a doggy grin before continuing on, shaking his head. 'I should relax before I run into something really dangerous.'

No sooner had the thought left his mind, a scent entered his nose--familiar, musky, with a hint of blood and other bodily fluids--particularly the ones used to mark a territory. "Oops, he muttered quietly, freezing where he stood to take a better sniff. He inhaled deeply several times, sniffing the air as well as the ground, in a small circle. It was the same scent, no stronger but more clear, now that he had an idea of what he was smelling. "Definitely wolves, then. Excellent. Exactly what I was looking for." His voice dripped with sarcasm, though he wasn't entirely opposed to stumbling upon a pack. It had been a year and a half since he'd socialized with anyone, and at the very least they might feed him better than he fed himself.

Though he made up his mind right then, Auron chose to sit down for a moment, tail straight out behind him, head high. With an unpracticed tongue he began to groom his legs, pulling burs and bits of leaf from his fur with his incisors between licks. Showing up in pack lands as a raggedy stray was one thing, but not being civilized enough to groom before an introduction was simply rude.

[Rikez]

Ebony paws touched the ground without even a whisper as the black brute stalked through the trees. As he passed through a shadow, his deeply amber eyes flashed yellow before returning to their natural state. Auds strained forward on his skull, the hair fibers vibrating as he took in every sound of the forest around him. Since his meeting with the timid femme on the beach, Rikez had spent most of his time just outside the scent-markings of her pack’s borders, feeding off the land and brooding over his own misfortunes. At night, he often visited the beach where he had first washed up on this foreign land. He would sit in the sand and mutter to himself as he watched the moon rise up over the waves, reflecting the sun’s glowing light onto the surface of the ocean in broken strips that wavered and danced with the sea. Watching the ocean in its calm state always made the black brute ripe with anger. How he survived the relentless beating of the ocean storm and come to this beach, he would never know.

The foliage rustled a few yards away from him and he froze, his front leg bent slightly in mid-step. He didn’t have to wait long to see what had caused the disturbance. Moments later, a young doe stepped from between two trees into the open. Her short coat was brilliantly dappled with white spots, and two large ears moved constantly on top of her slim head, flicking and rotating. As Rikez watched, she arched her brittle neck to the forest floor to feed on the soft lichen growing there. Her scent was strong in the black brute’s nose. She was upwind of the wolf, her scent blowing straight to him. She was unawares of the danger at hand. Rikez knew the moment was opportune.

He did not think. He moved, his paws pushing off the forest floor in a rhythmic thump. Lean muscles rippled under his inky black coat, muscles that he had slowly been gaining since washing up a thin and helpless wolf on the sands of the beach. Alarmed, the wide-eyed doe bolted. But it was too late. In three more long strides, Rikez was on her, his jaws closing on her flank, locking into her flesh. It was over in moments, the doe’s lifeblood spilling from between the black brute’s jaws and onto the ground at his feet. He relished the feeling of the doe’s pulse slowing and then dying in his jaws. This is what it means to be a true wolf. This is power. Rikez fed on the doe’s body as the bloodlust took hold of him. He buried his muzzle deep in the doe’s flank, teeth tearing through flesh and muscle until they found the soft insides of the animal’s internal organs. As the adrenaline faded from his senses, the ebony wolf slowed his eating. Every bite was to be savored. This was the best he had eaten since being driven from his family pack weeks ago.

Suddenly, a sound drew him away from the concentration of his meal. It almost sounded like the frightened yip of a pup. Confused, he raised his head and stood. The doe’s scent was so strong that he couldn’t make out any unfamiliar scent in the air. Could another wolf be near? Silent as a shadow, he padded forward in the direction of the noise, his head held level with his haunches. Blood dripped in a drizzling trail behind him as his fresh kill dripped from his stained maw. Peering around the trunk of a tree, he saw the newcomer. It was another brute, smaller than Rikez and with a coat of dark grey, like soot. He was sitting on the forest floor, head bent as he worked his teeth through his fur, grooming himself. The black brute stepped forward, letting his presence be known. He had nothing to fear from this tiny brute. He even went so far as to chuckle darkly as he came out from behind the trees. He knew that he looked ghoulish, with his snout wrinkled into a snarl and his muzzle dripping with the lifeblood of the doe.

He was a walking nightmare.

---

Count | 719
Tagged | @auron
Muse | Excellent
Notes | Mwahahaha

[Deleted]

Auron had groomed a majority of his front legs and was just beginning the ridiculous-looking process of arching his neck and licking his chest when another beast walked calmly through the trees toward him, causing an immediate reaction. The male's pupils dilated instantly, the hair along his back stood straight up, and his body crouched low, eyes open wide with fear and submission clear in his posture. This new male was larger than him (as most other wolves had to be), and clearly had either a harsh personality or a cruel one, for he walked with confidence and spoke as if he intended harm.

Grey eyes took in every feature of the jet black wolf, from his blood-soaked and snarling muzzle to his massive paws, and it took everything he had not to begin trembling like a whelp in the face of such an intimidating creature. It had been a year and a half since Auron had set eyes on another wolf, and though he remembered the cruelty of some, he had not been faced with this many sharp teeth or such hard eyes since dealing with his father as an adolescent. Memories flashed by and were gone the next instant, but remembered fear and pain soaked through his body like a cold rain. As the brute let out a devilish chuckle, Auron's blood cooled just as quickly.

"Oh," he said softly, voice steady despite the terror that flooded him. "Uhm. Hello. Hi. Hello. I uh... I suppose you're the one I sniffed out just now." Auron's baritone, mismatched to his slight stature, stayed strong, though the content of his speech was timid and awkward--then again, it always had been. When you don't speak to another creature for so long, it seems foreign to hear your own words out loud. As he spoke, Auron shifted himself back into a more relaxed posture, sitting up properly, though his tense muscles were clearly visible through his plush gray fur. This male before him was terrifying, sure, but he did not hold the air of a ruler, and the smaller male felt no need to be submissive to one with no power. He was acutely aware, however, that this black wolf was not likely to become a friend, based upon the way he presented himself.

This was a wolf who chose to appear as he did solely to cultivate fear, and the logical part of Auron's brain told him to stand his ground as long as he could. Perhaps by keeping a level head, he could avoid a confrontation--being as small and weak as he was, even if he were to be interested in a fight, it would end quickly with his death--and if he could not, his slender frame was well suited to fleeing. It would be wisest, he figured, to dash further into the pack lands and hopefully find refuge with the wolves located there, but who could say if they would welcome him? They were just as likely to kill him as protect him, and if they were smart, they would simply leave him to his current adversary. Auron couldn't contain the small gulp as he contemplated his potentially shortened life span, and he knew it would not be missed by the wolf staring at him as though he were more food. He only hoped to get through this interaction alive and mostly unharmed.

Word Count|| 580
Tag|| Rikez
OOC|| Sorry 'bout the lack of dialogue, Auron is brand new to me so he's kind of a dip at the moment. x)

[Rikez]

Rikez grinned ghoulishly, letting his pink tongue fall from his mouth to swipe up some of the dripping gore that coated his maw. He moved forward slowly, each ebony paw stepped down on the forest floor with a purpose. What a feeling it was, to involk fear in others. It was something he had craved since he was a pup. He lived a life in fear of his father from the moment he was old enough to open his eyes. That fear was something he never wanted to have to face again. And what better way to do that than to force others to cower at the sight of him? He could tell he had an immediate reaction from this small brute. He stopped grooming himself and scrambled to attention. He had stormy grey eyes the exact shade of his pelt, and they were stretched so wide that Rikez could see where his eyes faded to white alone the very edges. Yes, fear was a powerful thing indeed.

"Uhm. Hello. Hi. Hello. I uh... I suppose you're the one I sniffed out just now." The smaller brute's voice was lower than Rikez expected it to be, not quite a bass, but definitely low enough to throw off his appearance. Rikez was pleased to hear the wavering in the other wolf's voice, a subtle trembling. To his surprise, however, the grey brute seemed to relax slightly once the words had left his muzzle. He sat back and blinked at the larger, darker wolf, waiting for a response. Rikez scoffed, a sharp puff of breath leaving his black nostrals in a spray of blood. At last it had stopped trickling down his chin and begun to harden to his fur, making the hairs of his chin stick up in miniature clumps. At least he had the guts to speak. Rikez peered at the grey brute. He is either brave... or stupid. He had two options, it seemed. Attack without prompt or question, or he could play out a conversation, as this wolf clearly seemed to have tried to do already. Lifting his head proudly, Rikez made up his mind.

"I am called Rikez." He spoke loudly, in more of an attempt to seem fierce. Just because he was not being reckless and attacking this smaller brute did not mean he couldn't later. After all, there was no harm in having a proper conversation first. "I belong to no pack and no one." He added, making it clear he was not here to be friends.

---

Count | 426
Tagged | @auron
Muse | Decent
Notes | n/a

[Deleted]

He was peculiar, this male. Auron by no means thought that the world was full of polite, well-behaved wolves, but he had never encountered one who seemed so determined to be rude and crass. His manner was harsh, his voice unwelcoming, and even his entrance was clearly meant to upset any poor creature he happened across. When the word 'loner' came from bloody lips, Auron understood better; wolves who were proud of their lone status needed to have something that kept them alive, and one of the best ways to stay alive is, of course, to intimidate or maim every threat that happened across their path. It would, typically, be effective in getting rid of problem wolves as well as skiddish ones, and likely keep a pack from traveling over a border to investigate.

Though he wasn't the bravest wolf out there, Auron was a firm believer in giving others a chance; foolish, perhaps, but running from every set of teeth was not the way to find his place in this world. He would only do that by taking chances, and since he had happened upon what appeared to be a populated area, this would be the best place to take care of that. The problem was, he wasn't sure he wanted to start with this particular beast. While it was a good sign that he hadn't been attacked yet, the gleam in this stranger's amber eyes was slowly but surely leaking more uncertainty into Auron's blood. Outwardly he showed no more signs of fear, but a wolf as practiced as this one would surely sense it bubbling beneath the surface.

"Nice to, ah... make your acquaintance, Rikez. Call me Auron," came a steady response, though he thought better of making the traditional bow--exposing the back of his neck and taking his eyes off this wolf was not something he was willing to do, and certainly not expected of one loner to another. "I'm here on my own, too, but I'm sure you figured that out. You look smarter than the average traveler." Flattery might not work on a blood-thirsty killer, but it never hurt to try and butter up a potential adversary, right? Even if it did, Auron had become quite fast since he had lived on his own; what he lacked in strength, he made up for in speed, and all you needed to get away from a killer was speed.

Auron was quiet for a moment, debating whether or not he should attempt to steer the conversation a certain way. Even if Rikez immediately disliked him, it was better for an awkward conversation to continue than an attempted attack. It had been long enough since he had dealt with another wolf that he wasn't sure he could accurately pinpoint the moment things would go sour, and he felt they were destined to do so. The distance between the two was enough that it would take a practiced leap to span the gap, but if he failed to react quickly enough, he might not entirely avoid injury. Erring on the side of caution, he cleared his throat slightly and continued to speak. "I don't mean to be nosy, Rikez, but I'm awfully curious about this place. Have you met any native pack wolves from the area?" He debated asking if the other wolf hailed from a pack nearby as well, but kept that question locked away for now. Bringing up a potentially rough past would not be wise.


OOC
Word Count || 599
Tag || Rikez
Muse || What is muse??
Notes || Berp

[Rikez]

As the ebony wolf stood strongly before the smaller brute, he found himself surprised. He had expected this wolf to turn tail and run the moment he laid stormy grey eyes on his bloody muzzle, but he had been wrong. In fact, despite the slight tremor in his low voice, the other brute was holding up pretty well. If Rikez didn’t know better, he may even think he wasn’t scared at all. "Nice to, ah... make your acquaintance, Rikez. Call me Auron," The other wolf introduced himself formally, and Rikez had to keep from scoffing out loud. Auron. A strong name for such a petite brute.

The other wolf went on then, saying "I'm here on my own, too, but I'm sure you figured that out. You look smarter than the average traveler." He had known this wolf was a loner. Loners had a scent that was different from pack wolves. They were completely themselves, not yet tainted with the similar scents of pack life. Once living in a pack, most wolves began to all smell alike. Since he had been alone for weeks, Rikez no longer held the scent of his family in his coat. And if that hadn’t been enough, the ocean would have surely gotten rid of any final traces. He now reeked of dirt and sweat and pure brute. The compliment gave Rikez a strange sense of satisfaction, and he grinned darkly as the other brute went on. "I don't mean to be nosy, Rikez, but I'm awfully curious about this place. Have you met any native pack wolves from the area?"

As he pondered answering the grey wolf’s question, he thought of the only other wolf he had encountered so far on this land. Alina, she was called. The smallest femme he had ever laid eyes on, the russet and tan-streaked she-wolf had been the first living thing Rikez saw upon waking. He had been washed up and nearly drowned on the sands of the beach that bordered this forest to the West. And he had run from her. Even now, he couldn’t bring himself to think too much of her. She had reminded him too much of his dear sister, the sister he had left behind with their tyrant father.

Rikez shook his head until his mind was clear once more, the memories of his sister and the beach wiped clean like a slate. ”Yes, I know of one pack near here. They call themselves Airila, but I have no interest in them.” That last comment was more for his own benefit than the other wolf’s. He did not wish to get tangled in other wolves’ affairs, especially not from those spineless fools.

---

Count | 461
Tagged | @auron
Muse | Low
Notes | Sorry this is really all over the place. >.<

[Deleted]

Auron watched his companion closely, not trusting that he would get out of this encounter without having to flee an attack, despite the fact that Rikez was not being overly hostile. His grand and bloody entrance to the clearing, however, stuck firmly in Auron's mind, and he was determined not to be caught off guard. There was little chance of befriending this showy male, but friends were not a concept that the grey brute was overly concerned with. All he was truly after was the certainty that he would have a next meal--which, even when in a pack, could never be a one-hundred percent chance.

Suddenly the other wolf's attitude shifted slightly, and Auron cocked his head gently to the side. What was that change? Was this Rikez pleased with his compliment, enough for it to be noticeable for a split second? No smile crept across his bloody muzzle, but there was definitely something that clearly displayed that he was happy about Auron's minute but pointed compliment. If something like that could keep him alive, hell, he would continue to pepper kind words into his speech until he could slip away unharmed and at a regular pace.

Brief words were then spoken, telling Auron the name of the pack--Airlia--and that this stranger had no interest in joining them, though that was not exactly what he had been asked. It was safe to assume that any further questions would be met with as little cooperation, but that would not deter him from asking. After all, he would never find out what he wanted to know without asking. "I imagine you had some sort of dealing with them that makes you say you are uninterested," he responded, turning his head back upright as he spoke. "Perhaps that they are not as... seasoned as you are. Not as skilled in the art of frightening newcomers."

That last comment was, maybe, a little less of a compliment than he intended, but it might still appeal to the beastly nature of this Rikez. It was a long shot, but Auron's rusty social skills were doing the best they could under the circumstances. "I wonder, though, if they would be open to another member. Did they ask you to join them or did they match your hostility with theirs?" The longer the two of them talked, the less fear he felt bubbling beneath the surface, but it was being replaced with careful observation and could easily revert right back to fear, as well as escalate to full-blown terror, should the tables turn that way. So long as Auron's ears were perked forward and his attention did not waver, chances were this would be a wholly good experience rather than a tragic one.

Word Count || 474
Tag || Rikez
Muse || Getting better
Notes || n/a

[Rikez]

The grey brute listened closely to the words leaving the black wolf’s muzzle. His grey auds were leaning forward atop his head, twitching slightly as they listened. His limps were still stiff as they propped the brute’s body up, and Rikez could tell the other wolf probably had a back-up plan in case he needed to escape fast. Not that he was going to attack, but it wouldn’t hurt to keep the other wolf on his toes. "I imagine you had some sort of dealing with them that makes you say you are uninterested. Perhaps that they are not as... seasoned as you are. Not as skilled in the art of frightening newcomers.” The other brute’s words made Rikez think of that petite femme from the beach once more, her calm nature and the way she had stayed even as Rikez spat at her.

He thought of how she—Alina—had looked at him, with pity.

For a brief moment, sorrow clutched the black brute’s heart in a chokehold as he remembered how he had run from that beach, leaving the smaller female behind him. He had howled to the skies as he retreated into the woods, too cowardly to leave a proper goodbye, not even sure if he had deserved to give one. All this running, and for what? To waste his time with strangers in the woods.

No backbone, he thought bitterly with a toss of his great back head. He could not allow himself to feel that way, with any weakness. It did not matter if he felt sorry for himself. He was not like these wolves. He was seasoned to the fight. He had done terrible things to the wolves he thought he cared about. He was a monster in his own right. ”No one in this godforsaken place knows how to be a proper wolf,” he growled in response. ”No one is willing to fight tooth and claw. You all are so willing to roll over at the slightest inkling of confrontation.” Rikez directed that last comment to the other brute directly, his amber eyes flashing coldly as he pushed his emotions back down, deep enough so that they would not feel, not interrupt his thoughts.

The grey brute continued to speak. "I wonder, though, if they would be open to another member. Did they ask you to join them or did they match your hostility with theirs?" So now the intentions of this brute were clear. Rikez raised his head, nodding slowly as he realizes this. He was trying to get information out of him.

Maybe he had more backbone than I originally thought.

”For a wolf like you, I’m sure you would fit right in,” Rikez growled, flicking his tail once back and forth. ”I encourage you to go seek them out, and more importantly, I advise you to leave me alone.” He knew that this wolf had not approached him. In fact, this wolf called Auron would have never come up to Rikez uninvited, but the black brute was done with this exchange. In one agile movement, he turned and disappeared into the trees. He left the grey brute at a trot, which soon turned into a steady lope, and then into an all-out sprint. He ran, once again leaving someone behind.

When will the running end? He thought bitterly. When will I stop leaving everyone behind me?

---

Count | 575
Tagged | @auron
Muse | Low
Notes | Okay, this thread is wrapped up unless you had something else to add. I’m terribly worry for the hoppy thought process throughout this entire thing and the sudden ending.

[/i][/div][/font][/div]
[/div][/div]