drowning in the waters of death

[raisa]

The grey wolf moved on, her head low and tail tucked in. Both ears were pulled back, her ears had finally healed up which she was glad of. Snow was swirling around the moving figure as she moved on, just wandering on and not really paying attention to where she was going. Her front paw landed in water and she yelped as she pulled it out and stepped back. Brown eyes looked through the snow at the water.

Even though the waters didn't appear to move, they were warm and clear with no ice on it. With a confused look she moved to the edge and pawed at it again, it was warm. Although it would be nice to warm up in the waters, it would freeze her coat when she came back out so the female didn't mve into the waters, instead she just laid down near the edge to enjoy the warmer air around the body of water.

Her head jerked up and muscles tightened as something dark flew at her through the snow. Head jerked down and to the right as it came in close. The upset of her balance sent her tumbling and her lungs were gasping for air as the sudden shock of hot water hit her skin and flooded through her nose and down her throat. The muscles under her pelt struggled, tighting and springing as she tried to get her feet under her, but was only amnaging to get herself deeper into the water.

Finally mud was pushed between the pads of her paws and she shoved herself up. Long muzzle broke out of the water and she spit and spuddered until clean air broke into her lungs. For many long minuites she stood this way, her head held up out of the water, just her ears up, all pointed skyward as she breathed against the weight of crushing water. Finally her brown eyes opened and she walked out, her whole body was weighed down by warm water and even shaking didn't help much. Already the chill was seeping in so she moved back to stand up to her hocks in the water, the snow covering her back, but the air and water was warm so she wouldn't freeze right away.

[zethrox]

A brute that had not wander these lands in many years wandered aimlessly towards the lands south of where he called home; Kamari. Zethrox was not sure where he was going or what he planned to do, but there were things that needed to be taken care of. His family had all been murdered and left to rot. Not that they were good wolves, he reminded himself, remembering the terrible deeds that had befallen the pack wolves years ago here when his band had ruled the lands. He would never wish such a fate on any wolf, and to think that he had delivered such horrible punishments to innocent wolves was a disturbing thought indeed. He had managed to place the guilt behind, but every morning, every spare moment, the memory of his actions filled the crevices of his mind, engulfing him in the burning sensations that had fueled his very existance. Zeth was a changed brute, but he could never hope to remove those wretched memories from himself. Not without a permanent bout of amnesia, that is, he thought, almost bitterly.

As Zethrox exited the northern forests, the territory became more distinct, reminding him of the years ago that seemed just like yesterday. Kamari had once been the home of a prosperous pack, but no more. Not only had the humans wiped the wolves out, but the rogues had helped, herding the helpless wolves into the research areas to avoid capture themselves. He shuddered, the folds of skin covering his yellow orbs as he winced. Although none of the deeds had been his idea, he still could not forget the looks on those wolves' helpless faces as the humans caged them. Nothing could ever get rid of those thoughts.

As the brute reminesced dangerously, he entered what was unknown to him as a claimed terra. He did not wish to press his luck with any wolves, and he sure did not assume he would be so close to his son without his knowledge, but fate had brought him here. As he trotted through the rapidly cooling air, his auds caught the sounds of splashing, struggling. His gaze immediately flickered in that direction as he bolted towards it, the hot springs of the territory drawing closer with each lengthy stride. A grey femora was flailing in the water, fighting against it with all her strength. He would not get there in time to help her! However, to his relieve, she managed to fight her way from the water's grasps and crumpled onto the edge of the hot springs.

"Are you alright?" These three words, spoken softly and kindly as he approached the femme, were his way of making his presence known in an unthreatening way. He had the strong urge to dry the femme, to get her away from this cold air before she caught hypothermia. It was not all that unlikely in conditions like these.

The eastern timber brute gazed down into the water at the femme who stood somewhat helplessly there. She needed to get away from the water, not stand in it. And she definitely needed to be dry and fed a nice, fresh kill to help her regain strength after such a spill. In this land, he did not know of any places. But he would do his best to help her, to get her away from the threat that was nature itself.

[raisa]

She shook again and looked around, wishing the snow would stop and that she wasn't totally soaked to the skin with water. She whirled in the water at the sound of someone nearby. Flaps of skin were pulled tight up over her teeth as she threatened the one who had shown up. By no means would she back up that threat, just right now she didn't know what to think or do since her mind was swimming right now. The female took a few steps back, her head lowered and not a hair raised on her spine.

The gray wolf shook again, wishing she could manage to get dry and keep warm at the same time. None of that seemed possible right now though. She didn't know this land, but she knew the snow could kill her in her current state as of right now. Dark orbs turned back to the large gray male as she brought her attention back to the here and now instead of in her mind. After all, she still had to reply to this male at some point in time, she might want to pay attention first.

Neck muscles allowed her head to drop towards the surface of the water and her jaws parted to allow her to lap up the warm water. It hit her stomach hard, but she didn't care right now, a drink would give her some time to try and think through her reply. She got enough water, but kept lapping up water, just letting it dribble back out for a while longer before she lifted her head and swallowed what was left in her mouth.

"If I was alright I wouldn't be standing in the water, shivering, and soaked. So no, I am not ok because I have to hope my coat dries soon so I can leave here and not die from the cold." The female wanted to sit down, but before she put her rump into the water, the female whimpered and did a circle. She looked at the snow around the hot spring with a longing look. If only she was dry! Even if her undercoat was dry she could leave, but she was soaked all the way through.

"Who are you and why does my health even matter to you?" Now she was skeptical of the male, her head was low, jaws closed now as she watched the male, wondering what he wanted out of this. No one would just randomly help her without a reason. With a shiver the female looked into the water and watched as the falling snow melted on the top and some before they reached the top so they landed and small circles began to move out around the fallen drop. With a small sigh to herself, once more the female looked up at the male, wondering why he cared.

[zethrox]

A quiet sigh escaped Zethrox's blackened lips, his crown bobbing lightly as the femme lashed out at him. It was nothing less than what he deserved, but he couldn't help but wonder why this femme was so bitter towards him when he only sought to help. She, by the looks of it, was stuck, and he was a way out. When, then, did she hold such fierce animosity? "My name is Zethrox. I hoped that somehow I could help."

He was light with her, as sincere and kind as possible. He did not wish to upset her more, and he flinched back slightly at her harsh words. "I'm here because I care. I may not know you personally, but I only wish to be of help to others." This statement almost hurt to speak, because although it was true, he had not been so lucky as to have these feelings his whole life. It had only been a couple years ago that he had realized the true meaning of loving others and the awful mistake that he had made by leaving Rixes all those years ago. And now who knew what had become of his children and family?

"If you wish, I am strong. I could carry you from here, get you away from the cold." The offer was quiet and almost strained. He would help a perfect stranger, yet all throughout his youth he had refused to offer a helping paw to even the closest ones to him. His mind was spinning, filled with anxious thoughts. If he could make up for his actions before, he would do his best. But knowing that that would never happen, he would just have to try his hardest to make the lives of those around him better off than if he had never had a part in their existence.

"If you do not wish for my help or my company, I can leave," he offered quietly once more. His crown dipped slightly to the femme, the obvious scars of battle that marred his maw and face revealed even deeper. He was not proud of his wounds as most wolves would be; each one of those marks symbolized a wolf that had fallen prey to his killing paws. Each one dragged him further into reclusion, away from the real world. The brute's multi-hued coat quivered lightly at the slightly warming temperatures. His eyes glazed over slightly as the thick fog rolled in, cloaking his surroundings in the misty shroud. He was not impressed; such visibility was just asking for trouble, and with this femme soaked and trapped in the pool, she was a sitting duck for any dangerous wolves. Wolves like me. He had passed the phase years before, but how long would it take until the feelings passed him? He gazed to where he knew the femme stood even though he could no longer see her.

In his deep, aging voice, he offered, "Whatever you wish, I will do."

[raisa]

Paws shifted in the water and she did a few more circles, her dark eyes looking out over the dark lands, wishing she would run and not have to face the demons who were telling her to run, not to trust the one at the edge of the waters. Zethrox, she turned her head and watched him after the male had spoken, now she knew his name. Why was she wanting to flee? It didn't seem as if he was going to kill her or something. When he offered to carry her away from the water, the female locked up, her muscles tight under her soaked pelt and dark eyes daring him to try and keep going with that.

She was not about to let a perfect stranger take her anywhere. While her dark eyes remained on the wolf, he began to fade and she thought it was some sort of trick and lifted her lips in a growl, but when she looked around and couldn't see anything else, she knew that it was just fog and the male was still there, just hidden. Maybe she should run, flee as far as she could and hope that she lived. The little voice that was whipering in her ear was now dacing and telling her that she was going to die either way. Raisa had to make a choice and stick with that choice.

Once more the male spoke and she jerked her head up in his direction. What should she do? Paws moved the female around the edge, keeping a rough idea as to the location of the male as she pondered her options. It wouldn't take much for her to be killed left alone so her only choice was to go. Did she want to try and trust the male or flee herself? No, she didn't know the area and would freeze before finding a place to stay warm and out of the snow. After about five laps, the female left the pool of water, feeling the chill quickly as she searched out the male. Finally she found him after almost walking right into him.

As her body shivered to try and keep warm, her dark eyes looked at the male, still worried about her choice, but knowing this was the only way she might live. "Fine, you win, I will accept your help." Her teeth then bared to show him that she meant her words that followed. "But do not try and put me on your back. In fact, for the most part, just don't touch me." She had already lost one male, that hunt had changed her life and she didn't want to hurt another again and so the only way she knew how to do that was to hold them off at a distance when she met others. This male was no different.

[zethrox]

The scarred brute could smell the fear that the femme felt. He dipped his crown to her in an attempt to show her respect, to prove to her that she was no threat. He had no foul intent, simply to help a struggling femme that was apparently in trouble. However, the weather was starting to warm up, and soon enough she would be able to handle herself. Obviously, she did not want him here. Zethrox watched curiously as she paced, then dragged herself from the pool. It took every ounce of his self control not to rush to her and help; she did not want it.

As the femme opened her mouth to speak to him, Zeth nodded plainly. He could tell that she did not trust him, as she most likely should. He was a strange brute, and that often led to trouble. It was about this time that the brute noticed the scent markers nearby, and his heart lurched dangerously. Pack territory, he thought, his nostrils flared. It had not been so when he had first entered the lands, but if he were caught here without permission, an older brute such as himself would be a sitting duck. "Miss, we need to be moving," he informed her with a hint of urgency in his voice. "These lands are recently claimed. If the alpha finds us here, we could be in serious trouble." Although he was a brute and was supposed to fight for his honor, Zethrox did not wish to challenge authority. He had only just arrived here, and it would be stupid to fight the alpha of a pack, especially at his age. As for this femme, he would do his best to make sure she was sent on her way healthy as could be. He only had her best interests at heart, even if he had just hardly met her. In the past few years, the brute had developed a seemingly heart of gold. He would have to find a way to make up for his past deeds, and the main thing he could do was assist others as best he could.

"I don't believe I caught your name...?" He inquired quietly, as if wondering if the question was acceptable. She was overly cautious of him, and he would not be surprised if she refused to respond to his inquiry. He rested a half dozen paces from her, giving her plenty of room to avoid any conflict. He would wait as long as he felt it was safe before pressing the matter of his exodus once more. It was not worth his life to protect a wolf he had just met, and most likely an alpha would go after a brute such as himself first. He bore wounds from his battle. And worst of all, he shared a similar scent with one of the dreaded wolves of this continent: Ardemu. I have to find my son, he thought with determination. Perhaps he would be able to show his offspring the error of his ways. If not, he would have no choice but to lay him to waste.

For all the mistakes Zethrox had made in his life, this was not going to be one of them. He would not allow more innocent wolves perish because of his vile blood, because of his stupidity as a young. He would go as far as to blame himself completely for what Ardemu had become. If it weren't for his poor role as a father, perhaps the brute could have turned out differently. And, possibly under different circumstances, he could have been much like his newly changed father...

[raisa]

She shivered against the wet coat and watched the male as he took in the scents around. A quick sniff conformed the male was not lying to her about the lands being claimed. Dark eyes turned to look at the brute next to her, why was he worried? If the alpha showed up he could be honest and just say he was helping her find a warmer place to dry off after leaping into a pool of water and freaking out. She wouldn't place blame on the male just because he stoped to help and she was an idiot who had a hard time trusting. As her dark eyes watched the scared male, she had to try and find some reason for her being a jerk to this male. He had done no harm to her and posed little to no threat. He was worried about being on another's lands so why was she holding back from paying any kind attention to him?

Raisa was almost to deep in her tangled mess of a mind to hear his question, but her sore ears caught the question. "Well, I guess I really have been an idiot..." Words were growled under her breath after the female lowered her head and dropped her gaze. Better late than never, right? No, she had been nothing but plain rude and he could of just kept going and not bothered with her, left her to find a place to dry off, to die in the swampy waters, or for the alpha to find... With a sigh she took a few steps towards the male, keeping some distance, but not requiring so much space be kept between the two now that she had managed to kick her mind in the butt and pay attention.

"Sorry Zethrox, I have put a bad smell of my breed just because I was being a jerk to you. I'm sorry sir, there has been no reason for me to act in the manner I have, all you have done does not seem for your gain." Paws lowered her slender frame to the ground, still shivering some as her body tried to warm itself back up. Then silence, her breathing echoed in her ears and her tongue moistened her lips as the female laid there in a submissive stance, hoping he could forgive her attitude towards him when he had showed up. A kick in her mind made her think, she still had yet to tell the male her name. This couldn't get any worse, could it? "Raisa, that is my calling..." She left it at that then, allowing the male to take it in and process it to take it however he decided.

ooc : Sorry not only about the wait but the horrible reply, I took to long to respond, I'm sorry...

[zethrox]

Zethrox smiled as the femme seemed to lighten up some. Her aura had been so tense and uptight, as if he were prepared to attack her. The brute was no such threat, and he was relieved that she seemed to trust him, if only to speak with him at a distance. As she growled about her stupidity, he shook his head. She was not an idiot, just a little overcautious, which in some cases was a blessing. "That is not so, miss. Caution can be your best friend at times." Zeth was not a dangerous wolf, but there were plenty of them out there, and many of them would not be afraid to prey on innocent femmes.

The scarred brute dipped his head to the female as she continued to apologize. "There is no reason to be so apologetic. You were right to question my motives, as such measures assure your safety. I am not the most dangerous thing out there by any stretch of the imagination," he informed her, the statement heavy with truth. His son was one of the most dangerous of all the wolves on the continent, and he was pleased to have stumbled across this female before anyone else had the chance to get to her. Finally, she introduced herself as Raisa. "Lovely name, Miss Raisa," he smiled kindly. The older wolf was happy to remain in the company of other wolves. He was not often in the company of logical or normal comrades. It seemed like not too long ago he had been under the heading of "dangerous," and now he was doing his best to prevent the continent from being ravaged under Ardemu's paws. How to approach the situation was the hardest thought for Zethrox.

"I did not really intend to stick around here long, as I do not feel like challenging an alpha. I have been in these lands for quite some time now, but it is not worth trying to explain to a fresh, young alpha," he explained to Raisa, noticing that she seemed to recognize his hesitance to remain. "I try to avoid fights as best I can. At my age, it could do me in."

One question dwindled in Zethrox's mind. What had Raisa been doing, standing around in the hot springs in the middle of winter? The ice and snow had melted away, and the weather was not chilly, but he simply could not comprehend the logic in her actions. "If I may ask, why were you in the hot springs?" he inquired, a puzzled expression gracing his face. There was little that he understood about the wolves that were younger than him. Although he was not necessarily logical all the time, there were some ideas that did not even occur to Zeth. Sure, the water was warm for a short period of time, but was it really worth it to saturate your coat to warm up temporarily?

[raisa]

"That is not so, miss. Caution can be your best friend at times." She eyed him oddly, and thought to herself just a few words on what he had said. Caution may be a friend, but it can also hinder a possible friendship... Nothing left her jaws though and the female waited to hear what else he had to say, keeping herself still as she listened. He spoke about how she had the right to question what he was after, but she still did think she had been a little harsh with him. Surely this male wouldn't of done something stupid on claimed lands now would he?

A small smile was returned when he gave her one, he might of thought her name as lovely, but for Raisa, it was just something holding her back. When he began to saw why he didn't want to hang around much in these lands, she nodded and started walking, but froze in her steps when he asked her why she had been in the hot springs. With a sigh, she rolled back on her paws and looked over her shoulder. "I can do two things at once. You can just walk and I will talk." She went on with walking then, going with some silence before starting in, not even looking back to see if Zethrox was following. If not oh well, she was only going to tell it once.

"To be honest, it was by accident that I ended up in the hot spring. The snow blinded my vision pretty good and I stepped into the spring and pulled back. I'm not as dumb as I look, I did not go into the water, instead I just rested next to it since it was just a tad bit warmer next to the water than in the driving snow. Something dark flew at me through the snow, I got scared and leaped to avoid it. Paws then slipped on the muddy bottom and I was head over heels in the warm water. I didn't have plans to go into the water, I knew that it would slowly freeze my coat and kill me if I got out after that so I just stood there once I had gotten my footing once more."

Raisa kept walking after she had finished speaking, where, that she had no idea. As it was she didn't even know if she was walking deeper into the claimed land or not, she was really hoping that she was leaving and not staying. After a few more strides, then she tipped her muzzle around and dark eyes scanned for the male, wondering if he was laughing inside at her walking away or because some object flew at her and freaked the female out enough to send her into the water.

[zethrox]

((OOC: I am sooo sorry! I hadn't realized that you'd replied. Well, hopefully this will be a good post to make up for it.))

The aged brute walked silently at the femme's side, listening to her explanations for both her actions and how she had wound up in the hot springs in the dead of winter. As they drew closer to the border between the free lands and the claimed territory that they currently occupied, Raisa stopped. Zethrox strode a couple more paces before looking her dead in the eyes. "Miss Raisa," he started, smiling slightly. He had not expected such an obscure reasoning for her mid-winter swim, but now it made sense.

"I would be more careful in the future. Those waters tend to swallow wolves up," he chuckled lightly. He was not making fun of her, simply trying to lighten the mood. Zethrox knew that she felt horrible about accepting help from a brute like himself, and it would not do any good to make her uncomfortable. "Accidents happen. Mostly to me, but they do happen." He grinned, gesturing to the slash across his eye before proceeding. "It is lucky that you did not freeze to death. Most of us would not be lucky enough..." He trailed off. Most of his family had not been lucky enough to survive, but that was his fault. If Ardemu had not been born, if he had not forced Rexes to be his mate, he would still have a home and a family. A blood thirsty, dangerous family, but a family all the same. Fate can be cruel. I had hoped that my brothers would realize the errors of their ways, he thought wistfully.

Realizing that he had paused abruptly and the pair had been standing in silence for a few tense moments, Zethrox chuckled under his breath. He would not allow himself to dwell on the past anymore; what's done was done, and there was nothing he could do to change that. They were only a few paces from a safe passing into the free lands. There, he could venture aimlessly and search for his son. Perhaps his boy would listen to him and change as he had. Most likely, he would have to take matters into his own paws. This was something Raisa did not need to know, however, and he was careful to keep his maw sealed. Chasing a blood thirsty son was personal business.

Zethrox rose to his paws once more, striding briskly towards Chamoru Plains. "If you would like to accompany me, I would welcome the company," he added with a small smile. Maybe she would turn him down. That would be safer on her part. But if she didn't, he would have a companion for a while longer, and being in the presence of others had a calming effect on the brute. Maybe he could keep himself sane. Maybe he could solve his conflicts with Ardemu peacefully. And just maybe he could start a new life here.

Just as he reached the border of the territory, the brute's auds twisted immediately. There was some sort of commotion not far away, and he was puzzled. Not only were wolves quarreling, but the scent markings of the territory were fading quickly. Zethrox twitched lightly, caught up by the sudden opportunity. He could not be challenged if he were to reclaim the pack. That way, he would have a home base to search from and possibly others to follow him. "Too tempting," he murmured quietly. The alpha could not be a threat to him. The wolf was obviously a young one that had marked the lands, or he would have been wise enough to reinstate his claim. Now that it had faded, the territory was as free as the air he breathed.

A howl ripped from his maw. "To those within the lands of Kamari, a new claim has been laid. These territories now are under my paws," he echoed with excitement in his eyes. He was not exactly the youngest wolf, and he knew that he would not keep the claim long, but it would be long enough for him to search for a proper youth to take his place. For now, he would reign over the lands. And now to settle the discontent in my territory. His eyes flickered to Raisa suddenly. "My offer still extends to you," he restated quietly before heading deeper into the lands.

((OOC: Zethrox will NOT be the permanent alpha of Haishin. He is merely a stand-in until the pack gets reorganized with another character. I did not want the pack to fall apart as Zahir did with the death of Alya. This is a temporary solution. Trust me, I don't want two alphas!))

[raisa]

She slowed and stopped as the male moved in front of her, allowing a small smile to form in responce to his own. His next words would of hurt before she allowed him to help, but now she grinned back. Dark brown eyes turned to look back from where they had come, she could easily see how a wolf could go in and not return, she had felt the air being sucked out and no footing to be found. A shiver ran down her spine as she thought about the past little bit before turning back to the male who started to chuckle a little.

When the male began to walk again, without really thinking she picked up the pace again before she caught his words. At least then she wouldn't fall into water without someone to help her out. That brought her own little grin to her muzzle. "As long as I am not intrupting whatever you are doing or in your way than I will." A confused look came to her face as the male stopped, sniffing around. Were they not at the border? Raisa was able to figure out what was wrong when only faint smells reached her nose.

As his howl tore through the air, she leaped sideways, at first startled by the sudden loud noise, but settled down and scolded herself for being so dumb at times. His eyes turned to her and she stood rooted to the ground, not sure what to think about what just happened. "Uh..." She then watched the older male as he headed off, still stunned from what had happened. They had just been talking about how they had to leave so the Alpha wouldn't come beat up on them and now...now Zethrox was the Alpha.

She nervously stepped in the direction he went and growled at herself, it wasn't like there were ghosts or something. A low whine left her muzzle as the female looked around, trying to decide if she wanted to follow or not. He could be gone for awhile and it would be dumb for her just to hang around out here and expect him to come back. They didn't know each other very much so why would he? Finally, with a whimper and her tail tucked between her legs, the female bolted after him. She had to follow by scent as he had already dissapeared from sight. Where he was or where he had been going was something unknown to her. All she could hope was that his words were true and he wouldn't ask her why she had followed him.

ooc ;; alright, I'm going to bring her into Unforgivable Mistakes, but keep her back since I still have Zhen to rp in that thread, I could do it I'm sure, but this way she will be there, but not much in the mess going on