The Soul Sucker

[lan]

Lan looked ahead in absolute amazement. Before him was what seemed to be water, but it no longer appeared that way. It was so engrossed in this faded orange liquid that it resembled the looks of a solid. But if anything was dim enough to simply waltz upon something so peculiar must have had their death awaiting for the chance to strike. The foliage surrounding it may have been living at one point, but it wasn't now. Just charred, discolored remains. It looked as if the very soul had been forced from the twigs that had once been over boding trees. This small pool of contaminated water was like a black hole, absorbing whatever life dared to near it and holding them captive beneath its depths.. Intertwining the lost souls in an infinite Hell. The occasional bubble breaking the surface must be their failed attempts to escape its grasp.

His mind was blank when the thought of how he had gotten here arised. Most likely similar to the rest of his travels; he had only wandered to the area. But now that Lan was here, he found the sight rather interesting. Though, even with his sparked curiosity, he wasn't planning on over taking his stay. The lit fuse would surely burn dry. His attention wasn't capable of focusing on the specifics for a long period of time, no matter how exciting it had been at one point. Perhaps this is the reason why he wasn't able to have a pack stick, but there were probably other reasonings, which he ever so carelessly passed by.

Lan rested his slender frame upon the water's edge in a sitting position as he peered into the pool's depths, but a light mist prevented him, stinging his eyes. This mist also caused the pained feeling in his chest with each breath and his body's attempts to cough out the intrusion only went in vain, leaving him nearly gasping for lost air. Now that Lan had approached, the slight, dull fog that hung atop the pool was now visible. It loomed above, creeping toward each end of the pool and completed the defiled image nicely. His exact thoughts appeared across his expression; What... is this?

Most would take the hint Mother Nature has given and depart from the scene, but Lan was unlike most. Without giving much thought, his forepaw extended until the tip was immersed in the mixture of liquid, but before he could even allow a cry to escape, his forearm retracted from the burning sensation. "Ow," he mumbled, slight astonishment in his voice. "That... That hurt!" He held a steady gaze upon his paw, now bare without the hairs once enveloping it as he stared in disbelief. Since when does water, the provider of all life, damage to the slightest of touch?

A flash of realization spread across his face, beginning at his snout as a smile enfolded and continued to his eyes, a mischievous glint arising from their hidden depths. "It's a soul suck'a," Lan announced, a hint of pride filling him with the title attached to his new discovery. The speaking of his thoughts aloud was an action to hear the sound of a voice more than anything else. The eerie silence holding the waters and surrounding lands captive can begin to peel the very layers of his character away, like he were an onion, until there is nothing left but the vulnerable center.

[roka]

Steam shrouded the atmosphere in a great cloud of blindliness. Silence defined the peace that ever so eloquently united both beast and angel as one. However unfamiliar territory was something that one never really got used too, no matter how hard you tried. Tried to leave behind that itching sensation that yearned for home, for the commonplace. The sights of a recognizable tree or boulder, acres with the familiar grass, green and covered in bouncy cloves with the fewest yellow manes of a dandelion sprig poking their heads up from the terra. Trails with the scents of known others and aspects. The scents, yes the scents. Almost, if not more important then the sights. How you knew who had been where, what was what, and what had been born and what had died.

Natural.
Native.
Home.

For him--it had never really been an issue. Leaving it behind. Not a grand one. Not that he liked, or wanted, or needed to think- convinced himself otherwise.
That place had been home. Not what it was now. Not the smoggy pit of filth, holding his past, his -
But he would not be like the others who stayed and watched that familiar place be destroyed and in turn went with it. He would survive, even if it killed him.

...

Golden light spilled down from between the thick clouds, running a river over the shady depths of the unexplored land that lay so vastly before Roka’s patronizing eyes. This place was different from the ones he had been in before, where nothing but the stink of other wolves hung like an iron curtain about the place. In fact, the smells of other lupes seemed hollow in this place, old. Stale. The whole land was seemingly vacant of the parasites.

Different.
But not bad.
Not yet, anyway.

A grin cracked his silver maw, impish in style, and he flicked an erect ear, the digits almost as wayward as his smile. A smirk that told of things to come, would come, definitely come because hellhesaidso and that was that.
Quite simple.

Roka’s eyes flit curiously around, taking in his surroundings. It was so…. comforting. To be alone in a physical self-imposed-hell, instead of being limited to the one he kept his mind trapped in, it was the perfect place for him to stay for a while (except the fact there appeared to be absolutely zero food).
Roka raises his nares to the air –catching, to his surprise and disappointment, a trace of another wolf. No solitude here he thinks sourly, seriously considering turning around and leaving. But this was the first place he’d come across that was like this – unclaimed, unspoiled (except for that horrible stench that envelopes all the surroungings). His nares study the limited information they have, tentatively walking toward the direction he could best guess the other was - a wolf that, as far as he could gather, had no other wolf smells on him, assumable to be a loner. Perfect, no one will miss him. Take your solitude Roka’s left eye flashes as a haunting voice echoes in his head – tempting him. His bloodshot or bloodstained, or somehow changed into the phenomenon it was, eye. It was red, while his right eye remained that beautiful melting honey color he’d been born with. His golden eye softens with pity, and Roka shakes his head fiercely as if to shake water from his ears. No, he was in control of his actions – he had no one to blame, he was responsible for his weakness. He would not give in to his darker side.

And he muttered a word, with a kind of infinite finality that seeped into every blasted, unfamiliar nook, "So".
Come on then.
A challenge.
Come and get me.
I'll be waiting.
Determined.
Heh.

The other wolf smelled near enough by now to have heard if it was being attentive (which presumable all rogues are at all times), though he was not yet in sight. Roka did the right thing, this time, not taking a few easy steps to find the other and… His red eye seems to smolder at the thought – knowing it would have its chance soon, even if not on this potential victim, it would wait…

{ooc}
Status: incomplete complete
Word Count: 800
Mood: content (in his small victory over himself, & in his surroundings), optimistic (he's practically called the other wolf to him, at very least alerting it of his prescense, and he is positive he can control himself)

sorry for the crappy post - it's my first w/ Roka XP i hope they improve as i RP with him more{/ooc}

[lan]

Silence.

His voice faded into nothing and he was left once again in the agonizing stillness. The faint rustling of the trees as the slight wind blew through their bare branches were the only sounds entering his ears. And the occasional burst of water from beneath the pool's depths - if he was lucky. A bird's small chirp reached his hearing and in one jolting motion, Lan rose to his feet as his head swung 'round - But, no, it was only a trick played by the pool. A bubble, almost microscopic, had broke through the surface, creating a sound similar to that of a small bird. Damn water.. Why must you torment me so? He held his gaze upon it, as if in warning. Though, he knew his glare would only be unnoticed. The pool of toxic waste was not alive, how could it react to his warning? Being without another to annoy may take some getting used to.

The silence continues.

His mind is currently debating whether to depart from his newly discovered toxic waste bin - The Soul Sucker. But in mid-argument, his glance shifts to the center of the pool, watching through narrowed eyes as it expels the deadly mist. No, that is what you want me to do, isn't it, Soul Sucker? No reply. Don't deny it! I know of your plans.. Nothing but a bubble came from the pool. But that action was enough for Lan to continue his meaningless conversation. Sorry, Soul Sucker. I am not dim enough to fall into your trap... A sudden gust of wind blew against his slender frame, playing with the hairs across his back as it weaved through the lifeless grasses before falling silent once more. Oh, so that's how it-

Without warning, a snap rung throughout his head. The snap of a twig. Now this was not a noise made to torment him. The water could not possibly weight enough to snap the very ground itself. Another must be arriving to revive him from the sickening silence..! A smile regained its place across his snout. Ah, your plans have failed, Soul Sucker. His thoughts voiced their words mockingly, as if the pool had been actually attempting to drown him within its depths, using the silence as the fatal weapon.

His ears pulled forward as a whiff of air entered his nostrils, but the stench of toxic gases overpowered anything else. Before he could investigate any further, his body broke out into a fit of coughs once more. Then, the silence landed another strike and engulfed the area in its element, as if time itself had froze. Only the subtle inhale and exhale of his breath could be heard. But, wait - There was something else... Someone else. The beings' breaths joined his own, intertwining the two as one to overcome the muted, but deadly opponent.

Lan regained a standing position to approached the other, one foot in front of the next, in front of the next, in front of the next. For all he knew, this breathing could be from a two ton beast, but what is life without the risk? He continued forward, the crunching of the limp undergrowth following his each step. As his head craned 'round the trunk of a slim tree, his own eyes met those of another wolf's - one yellow, one red, as if the wolf had two halves. Only a few feet separated the two and Lan could now clearly see that this other being was a male wolf, slightly larger than himself with a darkly-colored pelt draped across his frame, much different than his own, white coat.

"Hello wolf I have yet to met." Lan announced, using one of his strange greetings to forever break the silence as he revealed himself from the protection of the tree - or twig, considering how brittle it was. He, unlike most, disregarded the usual caution and set his mind right to the point; deciphering who this male is and what his intentions may be.

EDIT: Fixed up the last paragraph 'cause it didn't make sense and I rushed on it, so I added a sentence to sum up what I missed.. xP

[roka]

A desolate, moaning wind crept stealthily across the lands, its bare fingers inhabiting every nook and cranny in the landscape as it slid over the poisoned lands The tough, bristling grasses that sparsely carpeted the dry ground clawed at the air, as if endeavoring to clutch at the wind, bring it down, cease its endless, lost meanderings through the abandoned terra. The territory was bleak, as if it were a scene of aftereffects of a war, or a graveyard. Which it was. The war between mankind and nature, men had won their conquest – as they often do – and left all the results behind. The graveyard of the foliage that used to strive by the lake, before the water source was tainted with man’s poisons. Fittingly there had seemed to be just as much life stirring in these lands as in a graveyard, with nothing but the spirits of the wind to inhabit the forsaken grounds. The golden light filtering through the thick cloud cover dipped the terrain in drear and gloom, marking the place as one of desolation and despair. It was the sort of landscape that would easily lead an onlooker to believe in a place devoid of happiness and life, where the only creatures capable of survival were those that lived upon the misery and anguish of others.

Soft, steady pawsteps caused the brittle grass underpaw to crackle and hiss softly, as if each step that this creature took was unwelcome upon these lands, as if it were a sacrilege just for this beast to tread these grounds. Duo tinted opticals swept once again across the horizon, familiarizing themselves with the eccentricities in the topography. Finally, the unrelenting eyes focused on one point in the distance, and the muscles, warm with running, shifted, bearing their owner towards his destination.

The creature, moving in a leonine, gliding gait, walked only a few steps before halting, eyes locked on the point in the distance. The object of his eye was coming toward him.

His figure cut an imposing figure against the dull background, his stance proud, head, ears and tail high, showing no deference, despite the fact the he was upon foreign territory. The golden/scarlet gaze surveyed the stranger before them as he approached, something grim glinting in their dark depths. The smell of the other wolf was strong on the wind, and growing stronger…

Throwing his proud crania back, his tapered snout tilted to the roiling clouds above, his maw parted, letting a haunting note draw itself of its own accord from his vocals. The melody was lilting, yet held a subtle defiance, a challenge. The wind seemed to grow excited at this display, reaching its cold hands down to grasp at the silver masculine’s fur, tossing it in the wind, causing his thick tail to flutter like a sinister banner behind him. The wind hissed through bare branches and the tough grasses, accompanying the masc in his song. Persisting for another minute or so, it soon faded away, before the breeze had ceased, carrying on the air for miles around. Roka let his chin drop, a small smile playing on his dark lips as he waited.

Roka had lost sight of the mysterious stranger when he’d raised his head toward heaven – but almost immediately a head appears from behind one of the scraggly, sickly trees. Roka blinks in mild surprise, but his stance does not alter. Both males size each other up instantly, and within seconds the stranger has broken the silence that hung heavily over these tainted lands

Hello wolf I have yet to met

Roka’s ear flicks backward, startled once more by the way this wolf had come right up to him – no caution, no thought. It was brave, or stupid. They’d know soon enough if it’d been a mistake. But Roka is relatively stable right now, steadfastly determined not to live like he’d been living for any longer. His head cocks in a friendly manner, showing he meant no harm And you are? he inquires in his deep yet soft voice, his tones rough from long disuse.


{ooc}Status: unfinished finished
Word Count: 715
Mood: determined, mild, in control{/ooc}

[lan]

His ears flicked forward as the the wolf's song ascended to the skies, only listening as the tones rose and fell with the wind's current, as if the wind itself had a voice and this was what it had to say. As the wind's strength weakened, so did the power of the song, but it continued a moment before giving its final breath and falling silent. Yes, a story difficult to decipher, but still there for all to read - or hear, in this case.

The male, who Lan had guessed produced the howl, thought himself highly, as if he deserved respect - at least, in his own eyes - judging from his posture; elevated head, rigid tail, ears pulled forward, as he stood promptly, opposite Lan himself, the slight winds tugging at the male's fur. If this wolf perceived himself as the oppressor, so be it. Lan wouldn't shove dominance in the other's face and even though he disliked having it done to himself, Lan allowed it to slid, as if gone unnoticed. After having a few encounters with dominate wolves, he's realized they're rather ornery with their position - like a child who hasn't been taught patience. Why do they persist on deciding their own behavior before even seeing what the other's was? Lan always enjoyed putting those type in their place, but it was high risk work. Was this brute worth the risk? At the moment, most likely not. He hasn't yet proved anything to Lan, except the fact that he can be arrogant, which had already lowered Lan's view of him. Instead of receiving what he had wished with his erect stance, the male had gotten the opposite.

Lan already knew of his position; the pretender, the double-crosser, the one who disobeys. And if this male told him otherwise, he wouldn't hesitate to show his 'true colors', which were anything but white. For now, the situation seemed to be subtle enough to continue before Lan is able determined his position. Although - with Lan, there were only two choices; the prey or the predator. There wasn't anything in between. There was no 'kiss and make-up'. Flee or pursue. That was it. And luckily, for his own sake, the male hadn't taken a misstep - yet. If he had, Lan would only watch - like an innocent bystander, as any further actions from the male lead himself to his own downfall.

Lan concluded the other's surprise as rather amusing. The male was only following the paths recently treaded by his various other victims. They would regard his actions as stupid and immediately pull him from their radar, marking him as an idiot. Determining this after only first impression is what would be considered stupid because what they did not realize was the fact that Lan was anything but foolish. It was only an act preformed to gain another's trust, so the abuse can begin. No, his strikes were not those that scarred the hide. His slim frame wasn't built for that. No, his were only for laughs; for his own amusement. On occasion, though, his choice of victims aren't the prime prey. They're either overly touchy, breaking down at the sound of his words. Words, he scoffed. They were just that, words. Nothing more. Lan did not listens to another's insults and tunes them out. Or better yet, shots out an improved comeback, so why shouldn't everyone else? As you can see, Lan isn't capable of understanding another's view. His own was fine enough, thank you.

Or, his victim's can be lithe. These are the ones that conclude his words as threats and react accordingly. He's come to loathe those under this category. They reply to his words with action. Those kind are always with the action. Kill a few here. Murder more there; Oh well, they brought it to themselves. These lowly beings who only think of themselves as highly are the true hypocrites. Viewing those surrounding them as inferior. Not knowing a thing about them and think they aren't worth the life they were given. Thinking they're godly enough to judge who received the privilege of living. Life shouldn't be a thing you're lucky to have - it's the one thing you're free to have.

Lan wasn't either of what he knew was crossing the male's thoughts at this moment; could he really be this stupid? Or was bravery affecting his decisions? He's heard it too many times. So much, he knew the thought as it passed the other's mind. Stupid; certainly not. And bravery was another of those things he disregarded. Unlike the common lion, Lan thought nothing of courage. You're brave? Great! What the hell do you want, a medal?

With his head tilted, the male voiced his first... greeting, he guessed. Although, he headed straight to the point with his 'And you are?', neglecting the usual 'hello'. But who was Lan to talk? These were his intentions as well. "Lan," he responded simply, pausing to allow the male to absorb the new information. "But I do believe I asked first." He added, a small smile spanning his snout as he hences for the other to give his name. But before the male could hope to answer, Lan blurted, "Mind if I ask a question?"

((OOC from Admin: This thread must be abandoned by Friday, March 21. Otherwise, the chemicals in the air will kill your wolves *prods the plot*))

[roka]

{ooc}I am soo sorry for the wait on this post – my computer has been having major issues and as soon as I’d started replying like two days ago it crashed and I have just been able to get back online. I lost what I had, but I handwrote this reply and then typed it up when my computer decided not to die on me after all XP
A lame apology, but I truly am sorry.{/ooc}

As the beautiful, antiphonal singing that’d sprung from Roka’s chest faded away to oblivion – the plangent minor keys of his heart – he returns his duel-toned eyes to the earth, assessing the situation. He pulls his stance to one of strength, power, not to put on a show – but as a fair warning. If this other male wanted to assert dominance over Roka, if just might flip that tiny, sensitive switch in his head and send him on another uncontrollable rampage. We can’t have that happening again now can we? But the stranger disregards the motion, as if unnoticed, which was both good and bad. He needed to understand that although Roka had the kindest intentions – he was still rather unstable. Roka needed experience in dealing with others, so his self-control could grow back, and by letting loose that howl – that challenge- he’s prepared himself with the fact that this stranger might be just another kill on his conscience. But everyone has to start somewhere, this was a practice round to see if Roka could handle being around others again –after two years of self-imposed solitude.

How his heart longed for allies, friends – but how his deeper soul shrank in revulsion from it – trying to once again claim dominion over Roka’s thoughts, once again wet it’s pallet with the blood of the innocent. It was not done eating away at all that was good within it’s host, it would never be satisfied until Roka was but a puppet of destruction once more.

Roka’s perceptive eyes notice a slight repulse from the other, but he doesn’t regret his assertive first impression. If the other thought he was arrogant, fine. Roka craved companionship – but he also feared what he was capable of. If he could never be close to anyone again in return for their safety, he’d do it. He would sacrifice his own happiness in order to protect them, protect them from himself. Roka notices as something imperceptible flashes through the stranger’s eyes, but he does not react (how is he to know Lan is plotting Roka’s downfall, jumping to conclusions about his character, judging him and preparing to test him). Roka’s red eye doesn’t look sinister, simply sad. His golden eye, as always looks warm and tender – his true nature, a reflection of his past, before he’d succumbed to the darkness that’d permanently marred his features by staining one of his beautiful eyes bloody red. His eyes, a rarity among his kind, gold, real gold, not merely light brown: those flecks of yellow were the luster of sun through honey – or golden coins in candlelight. And half of that glory had been lost permanently.

Lan the other male complies, and Roka tilts his head slightly in recognition of that small fact, that rist step toward deciding whether they could be allies, as all males’ minds inevitably worked in that way of judgment. But I do believe I asked first the one who called himself Lan adds, pressing for Roka’s name with a smile. Roka feels slightly odd about this Lan, this other who was on the outside very forthcoming – but just felt…wrong somehow. However, he does not trust his judgment, unsure about how much of it was influenced by that darker side of himself – that side that thirsted only to wreak havoc upon the body of this Lan – and thus Roka goes along, opening his mouth the relinquish the most precious information that was his name only to be interrupted. Mind if I ask a question? Lan blurts, and Roka shuts his mouth with a soft click, nodding mutely and flashing that glorious, sardonic grin – urging the other to speak. He was curious, wanting to know more about this Lan, not minding that he himself had spoken only three words in this conversations (you can’t call it a conversation, in this monologue XP) but that was preferable, he did not honestly remember how to socialize – two years of being a loner, outcast, all alone, had robbed him of his ability to keep up a conversation easily, and so it was a relief that this Lan seemed intent on doing most of the talking.

But suddenly, something was burning him.

Something had crept into his throat and was burning all through his chest.

Roka’s calm façade drops to pain, even edging on panic, as he sidles – oblivious to the cause of this sudden, swiftly intensifying pain. Jaw splits as tongue lolls, swallowing and gagging – but nothing could dislodge this fire that felt as if it was consuming his insides in flames. Duo toned eyes flash toward Lan, appearing as if the red one was demanding an explanation, while the golden one begged to make it stop. All caution forgotten, Roka’s mental defenses are lowered to focus on the imminent danger. But more imminent a danger now would be a relapse from Roka…

Definitely a mistake.

And would Roka be criticized for his latter actions as he’d been judged for his first. Could he be looked down upon by this Lan because his first reaction to excruciating pain was to resolve it?

More pressing though, to not get out of here soon would be another mistake. If not thanks to the fatal chemicals in the air, thanks to Roka’s lapse of control – and the release of that which should never again be tapped into…

{ooc}Status: unfinished finished
Word Count: 1084
Mood: cautious/content (at first), panic/pain (most recent) [heh, i chose words that started with the same first letter, alliteration i believe it's called XP *slaps own nerdy self*]

PS I had Roka be affected by the poisonous gasses in the air so they can leave this thread in a post or two [by Friday ]– maybe move somewhere more ‘safe’ to continue their conversation? =]{/ooc}

[lan]

But perhaps this male could be different. Perhaps he is capable of creating an unfamiliar category in Lan's jumbled, yet coordinated mess of a mind. He does not know why he must force another's character into one, overly simple word and fit it into what he refers to as categories. Only five had been established; Those deemed as Unstable and another for those with... Explosive manners, which both were unsuitable for his joking uses. The 'Victim' category holds a large area in his mind and the range for the Enemies even larger, while the Friend space remains pitifully empty. After his brother's passing, it seems it hasn't collected anything but dust. Though, for Lan, this fact was fine. What was the use of these companions when he was not in need of them? The strangers he met during his wanderings were satisfactory. They may not be exceptional - comrade wise - but Lan hadn't asked for anything above average. Sure, he wouldn't mind accomplishing a few things now and again, but the thought of being a wolf some would follow hadn't crossed his mind and seemed to be quite laughable. He couldn't exactly place someone who would follow his action and word, which were not those worthy of being copied.

But, perhaps not. The possibility of this male being an addition to another of his categories was most likely. It seems no matter how flawless one appears, Lan uncovers an action to criticize. His mind is blank when the reasonings to this... habit he has arises. Already, he has discovered two in the male opposite him and they have only been acquainted for a few minutes. The proud stance the male possessed was not anything new. Each wolf he had come across with this posture had been in the same boat as this male. The fact that he hadn't spoken more than three words since their meeting had taken the second position. Lan had never taken kindly to the sort who only allow him to speak. He may as well be voicing his thoughts to a blade of grass. Another's opinions sparked his interest also. Just because he appears to clearly enjoy speaking doesn't conclude that he does not wish for the other to speak, but Lan was always quick to judge. There was something else, too... Though, Lan couldn't exactly place it. His eyes.. More importantly, the irregular red tones intercepting the yellow that had once been. It had a foreboding presence, as if in warning. The reason for this warning, Lan wasn't yet unaware. But the yellow - the golden eye seemed to be just the opposite. It appeared as though in a never ending turmoil with this red that had tainted its partner (the other eye).

Lan's glance held its steady gaze upon the male as he admired the oddly colored eyes. Both so rare in wolven kin. It was as if this male was two personalities combined to form one. The sudden impulse to discover the cause of this reddened eye overcame his thoughts. However, he restrained the urge to freely present his mind for the time being. It was most likely a sensitive subject for the male and Lan has not yet gathered an acceptable amount of information to conclude a position. Perhaps the male's title would be a fine place to begin, even though he may not be able to recall it on a later date. His memory was horrid when it came to names - which may be the reason for Lan's overly simple one.

Disregarding his earlier question, Lan was about to ask the other male what he wished to be called, but before the words were able to form, the other exploded into a fit of coughs and gaging. Lan, slightly startled by the male's sudden outburst, retracted a couple of paces as an immediate reaction, the undergrowth beneath him compressing under the sudden addition of his weight, causing a crinkle from the dried foliage below. Soon enough, Lan's surprise faded once he came the realization that the male's actions were not failed attempts to attack, but the question continued to drift in Lan's mind: 'why?' Was he coughing simply for the sake of coughing, or was this a relapse of a disease he should know about?

Then, something clicked. Lan, a wolf with a clean bill of health, had been ceased by uncontrollable coughs only moments ago. Was this what the stranger was experiencing, but on a higher level? Before being able to answer himself, it came for him. Additional pressure had been rising within his head. So much so, it began to throb, as if it had its own pulse, but instead of being the provider of life, this pulse only brought pain. Even his vision became an undecipherable mass of colors as he recoiled further from the male, grimacing from the overpowering headache. Never experiencing large amounts of pain, Lan found this as near intolerable. He thrashed his head back and forth, hoping it would have some effect, but if anything, made the throbs more severe. It even restrained his hearing, since he could only near a high-pitched squeal in the duration of each throb, like a mouse on helium.

"It's the mist," Lan informed, quickening the rate the words left his mouth before another beat of the pulse set in. He didn't wish for neither male to fall to their ends in such a place. Lan wouldn't allow them to become a sacrifice to the pool that steals souls. "From the Soul Sucker," he added after a throb had passed. But Lan began thinking there was something missing... Something he had forgotten... "I mean, the contaminated water." He had disregarded the fact that this male may misunderstand his 'language'.

Lan began to piece two and two together as he came to the realization; this mist could kill them both, but Lan's hoping the male didn't need a blunt explanation. It was true; there was no need for him to advise the gray wolf of anything. However, it seems Lan is currently in a competition with the toxic waste. A tug of war. The Soul Sucker was pulling to drag them down - into its depths of infinate Hell, while Lan acted as a barrier and held his ground. This spark of compassion may only be temporary, but he wasn't leaving until the stranger made his first move - to be sure he wouldn't be defeated by his opponent.

(OOC: Now it's time for me to be sorry... xP Didn't mean to take so long with this. Wasn't able to finish the post and do homework at the same time... Anyway, if you're unable to get on today, I'm goin' to ask Xin if we're able to continue until your post. Then we'll move to a better area x]

lol Yes, alliteration. Billy bobbed in the brown bog. Sorry, that was random... xP)

PS: ATM, I think they're going to form an allience (Lan wants to figure out how Roka's eye turned red) but after he figures it out, he's probably going to screw it up... XD

[roka]

Instability
Fighting, must fight
Cannot…. Let…..win-NO!

Roka’s eyes shut as he mentally fights a new danger, possibly even more imminent than the toxic fumes. His eyes fly open suddenly, savagely, and they flash a pure bloodred. Perhaps it was the light, perhaps they were bloodshot from the intense pain flaring up in his chest, or perhaps it was happening again. Perhaps he’d lost his carefully disciplined control.

A feral tumble of snarls ripple through his mass, seeming to come from something not within himself. How could one so complacent and nonthreatening suddenly lapse to such a… demonic ..sounding roar? Eyes boring holes through the ground, claws rigid, as Roka stares unseeing down. The muscles in his neck are defined, bulging, as he fights for his control. He’s fighting an unseen battle, unaware of Lan’s thrashings and turmoil.

It's the mist Lan’s voice informs, and the two personas are overridden in their battle by a united goal – survive. From the Soul Sucker Roka’s eyes flit up to meet Lan’s, genuinely perplexed. The Soul Sucker…. No visible sign of what’d been going on moments before, only a unified purpose. Find this Soul Sucker and make the fire in his chest stop. I mean, the contaminated water . Roka’s eyes widen in realization, glancing to the misty liquid, a sickening pee-yellow – obviously tainted by something, something… fatal. The Soul Sucker, was it? Eyes return to Lan, evaluating. There seems to be something in the others’ eyes, compassion, sacrifice. These emotions are stale, forgotten, or simply absent from Roka’s arsenal – yet he recognizes them. Lan would leave with Roka, and not until Roka has left.

A moment of hesitation, as he tries to comprehend how this move would benefit Lan, what are his motives? But the pain is too strong, and Roka takes another step back, away from the lake – the Soul Sucker. His eyes squeeze with a flash of agony, and he turns heel and lopes away from this place, never to return. If Lan followed him, he wouldn’t mind. He could use an… alliance, but it would never be more than that – he wasn’t ready for a friendship, maybe he would never again be…

{ooc}Status: incomplete complete
Word Count: 442
Mood: complex, pain, internal war, mildly disoriented
gahh shortest post ever, i seem to have lost all muse for this location - good timing i suppose XP.
where should they meet next?? i have plans for roka and his... mental development
{/ooc}