Within the Mists [OPEN]

[exx]

A thin mist clung to the floor as it enveloped the forest. The hazy fog covered the roots of each tree and much of the underbrush that was situated at the bases of the towering giants. No birds sang, no creatures livened the air with their constant russtlings. It seemed as though the forest lay dormant, still and flawless in it's silence. It was much like a landscape, a picture painted from the imagination of a renowned artist. It did not seem like a living, breathing forest.

But there was life in the woods. Four ebony paws fell inaudibly to the earth in a swift rhythm, the legs that controlled them moving rapidly, fueled by pure instinct. The body that the four legs held aloft was slender and lithe, covered in fur that looked to have been kissed by the midnight. It belonged to a wolf. Bu the looks of it, it belonged to a female. Young, perhaps only three years. A long tail trailed behind her, not hed loftily like that of an Alpha, but held so that it could not be seen over the dense fog, and that it would not trail on the rough ground and cause a disturbance in the silence that engulfed the woods.

Piercing green eyes searched the landscape, ears firmly erect upon her head. Why was the forest so quiet? She mused, careful not to utter one single syllable aloud. Afraid to break the dominating silence, she continued to pad on without sound, and halted at the base of a rather gnarled-looking tree. The obsidian-hued female situated herself at its roots and sat back. How long would it be until the sun showed itself through the dense branches that covered the sky?

[imp]

“Smelly, smelly, smelly.” A small voice commented as he wandered along the ruins, careful not to step on anything protruding sharply from the ground. This place smelled of humans. Everywhere! It was so gross. Humans were so selfish stealing this place for there own and then destroying it so no one else could enjoy it’s once beauty. There had to be a better smell than the scent of humans wafting through this testing site. In a rather enthusiastic manner the pint sized wolf took in a big breath of the air threw his nostrils and held it in his lungs for a few moments. It wasn’t long before the air escaped in a sneezing fit, dust tickling his nose and triggering such a reaction. With a pout he knew immediately he didn’t like it here. There was no food, the air wasn’t any good, and there were no signs of shelters. His heart dropped even further. There was no sign of life from where he was standing. Eyes watered around the edges and a whimper was released from his mouth. “Imp sees no friends.” he choked out, trying his best not to sob.

With a drooped tail and lowered head the male continued to roam around the ruins until something tickled his nose that wasn’t dust or ash. It was another wolf. His heart began to thump so loudly he could only imagine the whole world heard him. “Imp smells a woof.” His tone quickly became ecstatic as he ran towards the direction of the scent, with a little skip to his run. In the back of his mind a little voice warned him that this could be a vicious person. All he knew, it could be another nasty loner trying to rip his tail off. Right now though, the little bugger was willing to take a chance. He needed to see another for one second. Just one little itty bitty second!!

“Wooooof…” he nearly yelled loudly, as his amber eyes darted around desperately. “Woooff… where are you?” Imp suddenly feared that it had sensed him and ran away. This brought a small smile to his face, just for a second. Another wolf running from him? That would be too good to be true. It was like a human running away from a cute little bunny that decided to hop on by. Shaking his head swiftly, he tried to rid his mind of such distracting thoughts. Focus Imp. Focus!! He’s running came to a halt when he saw a black female on the distance searching the terrain like he had been earlier. “Hello!” he quickly chirped, slicing his greeting through the peaceful silence. With a grin on his face he carelessly approached, currently not nervous around her. Males weren’t that great around him, but usually females were open to company. If she snapped at him, he’d leave. He wouldn’t happily leave, but he wouldn’t want to make her upset.

As he tail swayed like a banner behind him, his ears remained perked up with interest. Notably he did slouch and lower his already low body in a habitable submissive position. The coward inside him was still present, but right now his loneliness outweighed his fear.

[teek]

Teek's yellow-green eyes peered around through the heavy mist, barely visible through his squinting lids. His nostrils flared as he sniffed at the damp air, trying to catch a scent of prey. The sour smell of carrion was the first thing to reach him, but he couldn't care less. He had grown used to scavenging for food, and very skilled at stealing it, too.

Teek could see the spoiled meat lying on the ground not far from where he stood now, and he licked his maw eagerly. There wasn't much, but it was something. The small wolf's stomach rumbled menacingly as he slid forward through the fog, his black paws gliding cautiously over the tangled roots and stones toward the unidentifiable animal carcass. Teek hungrily tore at a piece of the meat, his eyes darting around as he hastily wolfed down the meager ration.

Soon enough, only a small pile of well-gnawed, splintered bones was left where Teek's meal had been. He kicked at the mess and stalked away, his tail twitching and his nose in the air once more. The runt halted abruptly, for yet another scent had come to him now. It was the scent of a femme.

Teek swung his head around and saw, at the base of an old tree, a lone black femme. For an instant he cringed and remembered an encounter with a black dame of similar stature, and wondered if she was that same she-wolf who had so mercilessly pummeled him.
No, her eyes are different.
Teek recalled the she-wolf's icey blue eyes and a smug grin crossed his face. This femme's eyes were a brilliant emerald hue.

Hoping to impress the dame, Teek puffed out his chest and straightened his posture before lifting his maw and sending a high-pitched howl through the misty air.

[kit]

His feet were covered in ash from the charred ground, with every step he took ash was kicked up from the ground, nearly choking him if his head was too close to the ground. His cracked and worn down paws were no match for this hot, sooty, cracked ground. He has been through a lot, traveled over mountains, walked over the hottest soil you could ever think of, survived without food for the longest time, yet this hurt. Ash was no packed into the cracks and blisters on his feet, it was a very uncomfortable feeling.
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[imp]

Ears lowered and the smile grew dim as a high-pitched howl rang through the air. He wasn’t one to be sad at another’s arrival, but when it came to another male, one that was looking to flirt with a female, Imp felt like the third wheel. He knew the two tall wolves would start using charming words and exchange blushes and smiles. Soon they wouldn’t even notice him anymore, way below their normal straight on perception. No. He refused to be ignored. Looking up at the female, he decided she’d probably not want another hotshot trying to flirt with her anyway. Most females actually didn’t like charmers like the mane wolf who was approaching. Imp could already tell he’d have a lame pick-up line and it was his job to make sure this female didn’t have to suffer such a torture.

For a second he shifted his sliding smile into a gleaming one as he turned back towards the lady. “Imp will be back, lady,” he said, his tail wagging behind him in a pup like fashion. Then before she could answer he ran towards the male – even if the distance was short, his small strides made it difficult – to confront him. His composure was still submissive and the smile didn’t stray off his face. Imp could not be mean or angry with anyone, unless someone asked him to. A frown or pout was rare, and usually was the result of loneliness or hunger. Otherwise, he treated everyone respectable and kindly. If they dared to yell back at him or threatened him, than they would look like the bad guy. Imp wasn’t kind for that purpose, but it was an obvious plus.

“Hello, mister!” He usually didn’t approach head on like this, afraid someone might try to hurt him, but with that female near by he was less cautious. He was sure if anything bad happened she’d assist or he’d be able to run back to her in time. “The lady said she doesn’t want to talk to you,” he informed, a little distracted by his puffed up chest. Without asking he propped his forepaws on it, curious if it was deflate like a balloon. “How do you do that, if Imp may ask, mister? Why do you do that?” He didn’t see what was the point. Maybe he had breathing problems or something. At that thought his eyes saddened. He felt rude asking about such a condition and quickly apologized, “Oh, Imp's sorry mister. Did you get kicked in the ribs too many times?” His eyes looked sincere and sympathetic towards him. Again, it didn’t quite click that what he said might be taken as an insult.

As he waited for an answer he sat down in front of the other male, scratching his ear, and analyzing him slowly. It was hard to tell from his perspective, but the male was pretty short as well. He was a good foot taller, but he knew wolves that were two feet taller than Imp. That made his smile grow. This tiny male was going after a female a foot taller than him? Imp had never tried hitting on a female before, thinking pairing up with someone was a little gross. He remembered his brothers telling him females had cooties. He’d gotten over that little fact, as he no longer avoided them for their illness. Still, mates were kind of weird and foreign to him. Plus, the size difference would just be too odd.

[teek]

Teek's long, majestic strides, which were not that long at all, toward the femme were interrupted by an odd sight that the maned wolf observed out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head and looked, as if dazed, at a small figure that appeared to be making straight for him.
Is that- is that even a wolf?

Teek's large ears cocked forward in a very confused but fascinated way. As the tiny wolf's legs swiped at the air, he neared Teek and slowed to a halt. Even Teek, in his lack of height, found himself looking down his long snout at the little thing.

"What the hell-" he began, but the little animal had begun to speak, its voice high-pitched and squeeky.
“Hello, mister!” The little dog's yapping was an amusement to Teek, who could not help but choke back a hysterical laugh. His ears bounced on his head as the laugh erupted from his chest and rang into the air, his racking body casting waves of the insult into the foggy air.

“Oh, Imp's sorry mister. Did you get kicked in the ribs too many times?”
As the little creature spoke again, Teek nearly died of laughter. He lay on the ground, his legs pawing and swiping at the air and his eyes were squeezed shut. From his maw came hiccups, snorts, and great deal of maniacal cackling.

After the fit subsided, Teek regained his composure and turned back to the little wolf, snickering.
"What you say?" he sighed, his chest still heaving in a silent guffaw.
"How's the weather down there?" he started again, finding his backhanded compliment quite hilarious.

[imp]

At first all Imp could do was blink at the other wolf’s sudden eccentric behavior. It was odd how wolves could just fall over in a laughing fit when he was around. Maybe it was his kind nature that made them so uncontrollably happy. Nonetheless he naively smiled as the male rolled on the ground, thinking he had done another good deed for the day. To some extent he was a bit sad the male had to ask him to repeat himself. “THE LADY SAID SHE DOESN’T WANT TO SEE YOU MISTER!” he yelled so it would penetrate the male’s thick skull. “You look rather short, m’lord, Imp didn’t think he had to yell in order for you to hear.” he said with a crooked frown. He hated raising his voice. Those who raised their voice were usually tempered, and Imp was far from that.

As the male broke down again with laughter at his next comment Imp began to laugh too, trying to join in whatever was amusing this new visitor. His laugh was quite bell-like and adorable. Unlike how the male was perceiving his voice it wasn’t all that squeaky, it was quite sweet and matched his size. It was nowhere near low and masculine, but it fit him appropriately. As his laugh began to end the male added, “It is quite nice down here, m’lord. But wouldn’t you be able to tell? You aren’t that far from the ground.” Again, Imp didn’t see the insult in his words. He didn’t look at his size as a disadvantage or a flaw. Yeah, he couldn’t hunt very well and wasn’t a great fighter, but he accepted what God had given him. Dwelling on such a thing would make him unhappy and Imp didn’t like being unhappy. It was so depressing.

He knew it wasn’t going to be easy to make the male leave as he had figured before. With these laughing fits it would be weeks before he actually went anywhere.

[teek]

Teek's outburst ground to a sudden halt as the smaller wolf continued to speak. “It is quite nice down here, m’lord. But wouldn’t you be able to tell? You aren’t that far from the ground.”
The oversized flaps of skin Teek called ears flew forward in shock, then slowly found their place flat against his skull. His glittering eyes narrowed and he glared mercilessly at Imp, and his breath came in quick puffs.
"I AM NOT SHORT." Bellowed the maned wolf, sticking out his chest and rising to his paws. He snorted and turned away from Imp, his tail lashing angrily.

From an onlooker, he could have been mad. Insane, even. His eyes, huge and dialated, darted back and forth and his lips twitched in a snarl of rage. The cowlick on his head swayed a bit as his ears flicked against his skull. Suddenly Teek bounded away into the mist and didn't stop until he was out of sight of anyone. Once he was alone, however, he dropped to the ground and slumped, his soulders and ears sagging pitifully. Teek sniffled.

What are you whining about? Tear him to pieces. You could do it easily.
Teek raised his head a bit and his eye twitched.
"Go away." He mumbled. "Leave me alone. I hate you." But the voice in his head did not go away.
You are no wolf. You're a coward. A short little midget coward. Good-for-nothing.
Teek shook his head violently and suddenly reached around and snapped at his own tail. Tufts of fur littered the ground and a few drops of blood with them.

He called you short.
"So did you!" Teek shook his head again, as if trying to shake something loose. Closed his eyes. When they opened again, something dangerous glinted in them. The madness of his own being twinkled and danced in his yellow-green eyes and he lurched forward and stalked back the way he had come.

The small wolf padded like a ghost through the fog, hidden. Silent. The air around him was an unearthly calm, and not even the birds were singing. Suddenly Teek stopped at the top of a small ravine and looked down. He could faintly make out the shape of the small Iranian wolf he had met not too long before.

Teek whispered something inaudible, and a wicked smile passed over his face. He took a step back, and vanished into the fog.

[santo]

The subtle clanks of outlandish debris disturbed the silence that had once veiled the test site as an outsider struggled to find proper footing. Crows remained still as they witnessed the creature’s intrusion upon foreign ground, shifting their unearthly eyes on occasion. After coming to the realization that the outsider had no plans in halting, they gave their uncanny caws of alarm and descended to the skies. As the mist cleared, the outsider’s form began to take shape. A wolf, it appears. At first glance, it looked to be an impurity among the fractured soil, since its markings matched those of its surroundings. This wolf was quite different from an ordinary patch of dirt, however. Its slender frame teetered in an unstable movement as it attempted to locate a solid ground. It was surprising the slight breeze hadn’t caused the wolf to lose its footing. Eventually, the mortal finished its evaluation and continued onward.

Who was this outsider, you may ask, and what was its purpose for treading upon these foreign lands?

He has been given many titles, but prefers the name Santo. Today marks the twenty-eighth day of silence. Not a singular word could escape his lips. He himself couldn’t believe it. It had seemed to be so much longer than simply days. If he were asked, Santo would explain how living with limited communication was – and is – a living Hell. That is, if he were able. The thought caused a snort of frustration to emit from the male. If only he knew another’s thoughts, most importantly, his brother’s. However, today was a good day and nothing would be gained with his thoughts of self-pity. The sun was shining… Well, it was somewhere behind that layer of fog, and there must be some sort of benefit for that situation. There probably was, but Santo is currently too preoccupied with sniffing the ground to discover it.

”I AM NOT SHORT.”

[/i]

The wolf temporarily halted his excavation, his ears flicking forward to the cry of another’s voice. Santo was not alone…? A smile streaked his features as his snout raised from the earth, ashes coating what had once been a moist, leathery nose. It had been the first time a stranger had given him such delight. He preferred to… not necessarily ‘trap’, but confine himself to surroundings that are familiar to him. Then again, the need for another’s company seemed to prevail over what he had once felt. His stride quickened in the direct of the other’s presence. Although this male did not speak in an overly friendly tone – in fact, he had seemed to be rather angry. One may even go as far to say this brute had been completely enraged. This had not entered Santo’s mind. He hadn’t thought far enough to factor the other’s current mood in his decision. At least he wouldn’t be alone.

Santo paused a moment. He had been certain the source of the sound had not been too far... Or was he mistaken? Had the stranger departed so soon? Santo’s expression became one of disappointment, but before losing his hope entirely, he gave the area one last skim through. Nothing but irregular soil and half-dead foliage… Perhaps a disregarded piece of metal or glass, but nothing… - wait, what was that? Santo shifted his glance as another’s frame formed. Another’s… rather petite frame, that is. Well, he supposed this wolf had a reason to scream the words, ‘I am not short’. Little did Santo know, there was more than just this wolf. See, most would realize that sane wolves would not randomly shout to the skies – there would have to be another to cause it. However, Santo was a bit slow in that department and, at the moment, the number of wolves didn’t seem to matter. Just as long as he wasn’t alone.

Continuing his tread forward, Santo began to fill the gap between himself and this midgitted wolf, considering he felt quite confident with his safety. Absently, Santo preceded this friendly behaviour with a greeting, but all that had been produced was a slurred, undecipherable mass of sounds. A grunt of irritation followed. 'Damn. This will take some getting used to.'[/blockquote]

[imp]

At the male's sudden yelling Imp's ears went back and his confident manner withered under trembling legs. A whimper was quietly released from his mouth and his tail shot under his legs pathetically. Imp hated yelling. Imp hated anything that was loud or scary, and even if this male didn't look overall intimidating he reacted as if he was one of those large wolves that tried to beat him up. It was amazing how he could make himself even smaller as he cautiously took a step back from the other. He didn't care about the other female anymore. She hadn't said anything to him since his greeting and he wouldn't be surprised if she left without hesitating to say good-bye. Classic. Everyone hated him. Everyone wanted nothing to do with him. He was just a burden to the entire Anikira society, a useless tool that hadn't been used or thrown away yet. It was obvious everyone else had a large (no pun intended) advantage over him, and he wasn't the type of wolf that many would think was likely to survive a few more months alone. That's why he needed a friend. Just one friend he could cherish and follow loyally around. He'd help them, and by being there for him they'd help him.

To some relief the small wolf was happy to see the other male run off in any angry fit. Yep. Imp was meant to be alone. Contact with others was against the laws of... physics or.., social things... He didn't know, but something made him like an unattractive magnet to everyone else. Unlike some males or females who could reel people in, he just repelled everyone away. The wolf was very tempted to follow the male so he wouldn't be alone in this depressing darkness, but his fear of being attacked for such actions made him stand shaking in place. With another helpless, begging whimper the male took a seat, eyes falling boredly to the ground. Glumly, he moving around a few pebbles with his paws, drawing circles in the dirt, and trying his best to figure out what he would do now. His heart dropped at the thought of another sleepless night alone.

Ears pricked up slowly at the sound of another approaching, causing a nervous shiver to go down his spine. Was it the angry male again? If so, what was he going to do? Maybe he could turn and dash off as fast as possible, as he sensed as the other male departed he had been upset. If he was coming back it could only be because he wanted revenge for whatever Imp had done to insult him. Rising to his feet he turned his body ready to run off when a strange slur came from the creature approaching his defenseless form. The sound startled him, making his jump slightly, and he could only imagine what beast it could have came from. Forcing himself, he hesitatingly began to turn his head until it was looking at the new male. This emotional experience was taking a toll on his body and he felt himself on the verge of tears. As his eyes watered he scurried over to the other male and without any permission stood closely to him. “Imp is glad you’re here, Mister!! There is this scary wolf that wants to hurt Imp!” he cried out, burying his head into the male’s leg. “Imp thinks he wants to hurt him… and he doesn’t know where the wolf is hiding.” His eyes occasionally search the area around them both before lying back ontop of the male’s leg.

In the back of his mind alarms were going off to get off the newcomer, but he countered that alert with the hope that this male was kind. If he saw the predicament Imp was in maybe he’d understand and try and help him. He couldn’t rely on himself to be able to shield the mane wolf’s attacks. In his defense, he was letting his guard down and being so close in hopes it would warm a part of the male’s heart.

“Imp doesn’t want to die…” he said, tears streaming down his cheeks. He was being a little overdramatic, but in his point-of-view he was as good as road kill.

[teek]

Teek's paws grazed the ground softly as he loped soundlessly down the sheer incline. His belly brushed the dirt and ears prostrate, and the bantam wolf quickened his pace as the earth leveled before him, his eyes peering poisonously through narrow slits. With each breath, Teek's nostrils flared and the brume reeled in humble gusts around his maw.
About a river's width before him, two dim configurations loomed in the fog as the petite brute drew nigh. With a keen eye, Teek observed as two obscure forms became one, and a deranged smile sidled its way from the corners of his lips.

Fear.

Teek's pawsteps stalled and he sauntered laggardly toward the two wolves, his eyes flickering with venomous intent. His promenade was full of dignified might and intimidation, yet his ears were casually slung forward in a amicable way and he chortled to himself.
What are you going to do to him?
A petty voice wailed in the twisted black mind that was no longer Teek's.
"Shut up. You're weak and I'm going to take care of things now." Teek hissed through his teeth, and beamed when a whimper reverberated in his darkness.

“Imp doesn’t want to die…”

"If it is Imp I speak to, I must apologize for not properly introducing myself before. My name is Teek." spoke the approaching figure in the haze, the yellow-green eyes infixed heedfully on the smallish quavering Imp. Teek drew close and stood several tail-lengths from Imp and the other wolf, his stance indicating that he meant no mischief. He smiled warmly at the terrified wolf, and grinned inwardly at the malign notions that came to mind.

[santo]

Santo found himself rather perplexed with the male's frightened expression, appearing as though the stranger was about ready to bound away at any moment. Was it Santo's presence? It must be... There could be no other logical reason for the male's fearful reaction. Well, it Santo's mind, anyway. It must have been his failed attempt to speak, and maybe his size was also a bit intimidating. Ha. How ironic. He couldn't say that had occurred before, considering the average stature of his breed, and Santo did not know how he should feel about it, either. Was this something to be proud of, or was this wolf scared half-to-death because of it? Then again, he supposed no wolf could be much smaller than he was... Shouldn't this wolf be used to others towering above him by now?

Before Santo was able to discover an answer, it seemed to come right to him. With tearful eyes, the male approached, apparently with no fear and began speaking of this 'scary wolf'. Not only did he have a lack of vocabulary, but he also seemed to speak in a fairly strange manner. One of which Santo has yet to hear. This Imp spoke in third person. It had Santo slightly dumbfounded for a moment, his current confusion appearing upon his features, but what others saw as an annoyance or abnormality, Santo found quite interesting. Did all wolves speak this way, or was this trait exclusive to Imp? In all truth, Santo had no idea. He had abandoned what had once been familiar and he still has much of the world to uncover. With his current knowledge, most would guess he wasn't capable of lasting much longer than he already had. Perhaps this... Imp character was just what he needed.

Santo had been so concerned with how Imp had spoke, he completely missed what he said. Apparently it was something about this 'scary wolf'. Santo could only imagine a two ton beast thinking this little wolf their next meal. His glance shifted from the surroundings, to Imp, who had now thought of his leg as a pillow of some sort - if his stiff, bony leg could be considered as such. What a turn of events. Santo had always depended upon another's presence, but it seems to be just the opposite in this situation, and Santo had no idea how to react. Imp appeared to take some comfort from it, though, and at the moment, Santo didn't mind in the least. His thoughts were focused on what could possibly cause this small creature to become frightened to the point of tears. For all he knew, this 'scary wolf' could have Santo as a side dish. Like Imp, Santo was also not prepared to die. Unfortunately, the drama given by Imp caused Santo's imagination to wander to unearthly beings. Giants, even. Things that could crush them both with a single strike. "Imp doesn't want to die..."

'Oh, shit. You're gonna die...? What the hell is after you?'
He only came up with dead ends for answers. Little did Santo know, it was only another wolf that was smaller than himself. It would have saved Santo much paranoia and to have acquired this. Perhaps a bit of freight as well. And the moment another voice entered his senses, he nearly lost his wits. His head turned ever so slightly upward as it craned to view the area behind him, expecting a freakish, blood thirsty beast towering above them, ready to - there was nothing there. Was he imagining things? 'No... I'm certain I heard a voice-' There, the wolf, he saw it. After lowering his gaze and allowing his eyes to adjust to the mist's blur, the image of a wolf became clear. No, it was not a two ton beast. No, it did not appear to be blood thirsty. As far as Santo was concerned, it looked to be a normal, maned wolf, speaking of apology and introductions.

Could this possibly be the wolf wanting to 'hurt Imp'? His eyes fixed upon Imp once more, giving a questioning look, as if to say, 'You're kidding, right?' because in honest truth, Santo believed he was. Or, this could simply be the wrong wolf. What ever the reason was, Santo wasn't buying it. His facial features expressed those of general confusion; raised brow, slight frown, lowered ears, limp tail. He guessed he had the right to know what the hell was going on and hoped the message went through to both wolves surrounding him, since, well, this was his only means of communication. If this failed, he may have to resort to charades. God forbid.

[imp]

The sounds of paw steps in the distance made the male shiver more against the larger wolf. Why couldn’t that wolf just leave him alone? Tears continued to stream down his face as the scent of the male got closer and closer. Before Teek would even get close, the other male’s leg he had been resting his head on would probably be soaked. As the other male didn’t reply to his pleas he felt more and more defenseless. Maybe he was one of those bystanders that threw him into the lion den for his own amusement. He’d probably just stand there laughing and laughing as the mean mane wolf tore his limbs off. “Bad images… bad images.” he muttered to himself, trying to rid those thoughts out of his mind. The last thing he needed was his last moments in his mind. “Imp must remain positive…” he sniffled, but found trying to comfort himself useless.

Eyes shifted away from the other wolf’s leg towards the angry wolf that was apologizing for his actions. His words appeared sincere, but he didn’t dare let go of the other male. As if he was Imp’s life raft he wouldn’t let go until he was certain he was safe. A few more whimpers left the tiny male’s mouth as he decided what to do. He could still dash off now, or he could try and make some kind of alliance with the two of them. His loneliness was beginning to sink in again, and he knew he desperately needed some friends. “It’s-… it’s alright.” he sniffled towards the other male pathetically before adding, “And Imp’s name is Imp.” The male didn’t seem to register his own strange answer, nor the idea that saying his name in third person was odd at all.

Looking up at his ‘savior’ he tried his best to understand his facial expressions. Why was he confused? Wasn’t this other male an obvious threat to Imp? “Imp thanks you mister for helping him. Can Imp do anything to serve you for your kindness?” he said, shaking away the last of his sadness and replacing it with a ray of sunshine. It wasn’t odd to see him suddenly change moods in such a large swing. Like mentioned before, he was a happy wolf. Sad spells like this didn’t last long.

(sorry it’s so short… I have no muse right now with Imp. x.x )

[teek]

A huge, twisted smile appeared on Teek's face as Imp stuttered and trembled in terror. Lips peeled back slowly, stretching from ear to oversized ear, revealing rows of neat, shining fangs. Teek kept his teeth very clean. So pure white in fact, that one whose gaze fell upon the sinister daggers might not look away until the teeth were stained with one's own blood.

The yellow-green eyes glazed over with a horrifying amusement, glinting hysterically as they lay fixed on the small wolf. If he could gain Imp's trust, then Oh! The wonders! His past experience with manipulating the minds of others hadn't been very sucessful, for most of the wolves were a few tails larger than him and could easily take advantage. But Imp wasn't. Teek's new playtoy was perfect. For once in his life, the maned wolf could be in control.

Small whimpers echoed in the back of Teek's mind, quickly silenced by an inward growl. Somewhere inside, a rueful and frightened Teek lay in the dark, wondering what would become of Imp. Poor Imp. Yes, the smaller wolf had called him short, but once he got a hold of his mind, it would be over.
"I'm not insane..." Teek sobbed quietly, regretful he had ever let him out of his mind again. This wasn't the first time he had escaped. Teek only hoped it would be the last time.

"Could I make it up to you somehow?" Teek growled sweetly, cocking his head slightly and letting one ear wilt a bit, the other sticking high in the air. The grin was still plastered on his face, and his eyes bored into Imp's skull and had no intent of leaving.
"We could hang out.. or something. Acquantances?" Then he leaned very close, his nose almost touching Imp's. His eyes, wide open and staring wildly, locked onto the other's, trying to break into that stupid little mind. To grasp his sanity and yank out from beneath him. Teek's breath, hot and stinking of carrion, ruffled a small patch of fur on the bridge of Imp's muzzle.
"We could be friendssss..." he whispered, nearly hissing at Imp.
The grin stayed plastered insanely on Teek's face, and a small strand of clear spit dripped to the ground. Teek's tail gave a great twitch.

[santo]

Santo blinked once, twice, perhaps a third time, before shifting his eyes from this scary wolf, who had dubbed himself as Teek, to Imp. His leg, now damp with the other's tears, continued to act as a sort of pillow to Imp, providing some sort of protection, he guessed, if any at all. At the moment, Santo seemed to be the innocent onlooker in all of this---the odd one out, it seems. Granted, he was not there when the two had first met, so he did not know what to expect. He would have to wait and see how it plays out, he supposed. But he was anxious, his lengthy tail fidgeting beneath the tense atmosphere, with his ears soon following suit, and this was far, FAR from his not-knowing-when-to-shut-up state. 'My, my, Santo. The things you drag yourself into.' The situation seemed innocent enough, but Imp's actions had thrown Santo off guard, and he no longer knew what to make of this... Teek. Santo hadn't been the sharpest tool in the shed in the first place, and he had always been stumped when it came to making decisions for himself. Quite indecisive, really, probably a result from the guidance he had had, and no longer has. 'But that was Before. This is After. You cannot think about Before when it's After, or you'll become a pathetic, self-pitying Santo, who only thinks of Before and doesn't focus on After.' At least, that's what he's convinced himself, anyway. Not far from the target, most would say.


“And Imp’s name is Imp.”


This forced Santo from his thoughts momentarily. The strangeness of it all caused a smile to crease his lips. How strange, this Imp. What a peculiar bunch Santo has found himself accompanying. One appeared to be sadistic or, at least outta his tree, while the other didn't seem to have the sense God gave a billy goat. Compared to these two, Santo looked as if he were the mighty holder of all that was good and true. A small chuckle escaped him as he turned his attention toward Imp, catching his next words: “Imp thanks you, mister, for helping him."---'Well, if my soaked leg counts for anything, then you're welcome'---"Can Imp do anything to serve you for your kindness?” Santo seemed a bit stumped at this one. Serve for his kindness. Santo did not know he had done anything particularly kind in the past few minutes, so he saw no reason why Imp did.

In response to his question, Santo shook his head ever so slightly, then more rapidly to clarify the fact that he had no real need for serving. Though if he insisted, Santo may not be overly hesitant to decline. I mean, you know, who could possibly be so humble to not wish for a servant? Of course, Santo wouldn't treat Imp as such. Imagine, for a moment, a wolf with a companion---a pet dog, so it speak---that follows this wolf wherever he had pleased, maybe a few foot rubs here and there. Well, you know, not literally, but I think you have the point. Santo could find no other words to describe it other than 'wicked awesome'.

Now, there was the matter of this scary wolf... Or Teek, as he called himself... Santo could not classify his behavior as---how do you say?---normal, or sane... And there was that movement he did just now, having his snout situated in the smaller animal's face... Santo could guess that was not a very pleasing image for Imp. There was something wrong with this picture. It would be much more likely if Teek was a masochist rather than sadistic. 'Really, wouldn't the other wolves just... beat him up? I mean, he is... You know... Small.' Then again, Teek was a few---not many---inches taller than Santo himself. 'Well, of course he's taller!! Look at his legs. What the hell is he walkin' on? Stilts??' For once, Santo was glad he was not speaking his thought aloud. He probably would be, too, if he could. My God, all hell would be let loose then, since Santo didn't have the switch normal mortals had to tell them to shut the frig up and start running.

Considering both of the wolves' strange actions, Santo has concluded that he is surrounded by a bunch of idiots, and what ever this place was called, he has officially renamed it Heaven. He could tell he wouldn't be able to stick out like a sore, speechless thumb with this bunch, and that was all he could ask for. He just hoped this Teek wouldn't spoil it...