The snow was thick, heavy, blinding. Nearly impossible to travel though, but the valley ended, and a forest began. The forest was dense, dark, ominous. Canopies sheltered the land below from the storm, and just light snow tickled through the trees. This place was eerily familiar, like Vee had been here once before... A long time ago. As He and his son moved forward, tracking any source of Avani, Vee stumbled across something he would have never sought coming.
The Albino brute stopped in his tracks, it was a scent all too familiar, it burned to remember. Pale nares paused inhaling, red eyes wide with past nightmares. 'It couldn't be... Could it?' Orbs searched across the winter wonderland, any trace of evil shadows would make his worst fears come true. Vee then came to realize, outskirts of the Aldgar lands was where he was born. This forest was home to his black hearten coal coated family. But this place also has a dull, lingering scent of his long missed mate. It wasn't her though, her soul, her blood.
Shadows lurked in the forest, all too familiar fast, agile black figures appearing and disappearing. Vee wasn't safe here, Auden wasn't safe. They had to leave, but that would fail a mission he had. Alive or dead, he had to find Avani, he needed to know, once and for all. Red eyes glowed fiercely as they tried to get an aim on the three figures, Vee knew he and his son were not alone. Vee's heartless brothers remained where they grew up, their scent was marked everywhere. No doubt.
Six bright yellow eyes were distinct from the darkness of the forest. A pair for each brother, all stared at the Albino. Vee stood defensively over his son, He wouldn't allow his brother to see his offspring that resembled himself so much. "Key." Vee shouted, the eldest of his brothers and the leader of their band. Vee wouldn't hear their laughter, their plans to bring him down, but he could feel it in the pit of his stomach. "Show yourselves." Vee waited, his eyes burning to see the faces of his three brothers once again.
Key was the first to emerge from the shadows, standing in the snow's light from an opening in the canopy. Claw stood to Key's left, while Burn was on the right. Vee identified each brother, Key was always the smallest, but the most intelligent. Which is why he lead their group. Claw had scars battering his black face, he was the most intimidating by his large size. Then there was Burn, who just his very presence made you feel fear, like your body was on fire. Vee's expression was serious, he had grown all too much. He was stronger, less fearful than he was back then. Vee was an Alpha of a wonderful pack in the desert, he knew his brothers haven't accomplished much.
"Well well, if it isn't our runt brother." Key spoke, Vee watched his lips. Brows furrowed as a pale lip curved into a silent snarl. "What are ya doin' here? I thought your pathetic ass would'a died within a week of ya bein' on your own." Claw harped, grinning evilly. "I'm still here, aren't I?" Vee murmured mutely, the three brothers laughed amongst themselves. "Last time I remembered, Vee... You were deaf?" Key stepped forward, a sneer crossed his devious face. "I can't hear you, Key. I have never been able to hear you." Vee tried to cover Auden as best as he could with his forelegs, to keep his son out of their sight. Burn stepped forward then growling loudly, the vibrations Vee could sense. "What are you doin' here Vee."
Vee couldn't respond, there were problems. If he told them that he was looking for his mate, there would be consequences. Vee wasn't here for just anything, only Avani. Vee had to tell, they had to be the reason she was missing. "Avani, my mate. She was last seen here. Where is she?" Vee spoke assertively, with authority. Demanding an answer from his brothers. "The little desert lass? Oh... We took care of her.""Where is she!" Vee didn't want to believe Key, he needed to see her for himself. Key shrugged, then licked his lips with a grin. "You mean... What is left of her."
Vee's breath cracked, red eyes looking around desperately for any source of his mate. Claw's eyes traveled down, spotting little Auden cradled under Vee. "'Ey look Key, a little one servived." Key locked eyes with Vee, a sneer formed on his face. "This is your child? Where is the other one." Vee growled, fur rising along his spine. "You wont lay a paw on my son." Vee's teeth were bared, there was no way he could take on all three of his brothers and protect Auden. They had to get out of the forest and go home, there was no other option.
All three brothers approached Vee and Auden, a hungered look in their eyes. Vee backed up, grasped his jaws around the loose skin on Auden's scruff. The very action sent Key over the top, Claw and Burn right on their leader's haunches. Key then roared, stopping and snapping at his brothers. "STAY OUT OF THIS! This is my fight, you both stand by." Claw and Burn snarled and snapped back at Key, but listened to his demand, reluctantly sitting on the sidelines, a rim of spiked hair trailing down their backs.
"I don't want to fight you Key." Vee spoke after releasing his grip on Auden. Key shook his head, his chest heaving in and out for what Vee could only assume was laughter. "I don't care what you want, little brother. I should have gotten rid of you while I had the chance. Our bloodline only consists of the darkest of Tundras. You don't belong here Vee." Vee growled deeper, hovering over his son. "Auden... Find a safe place to hide..." Vee stepped forward, standing nearly ten feet away from his ravaged brother.
"As Alpha of Zahir, I will not die here. I have a pack.. A family that need me." Vee shouted defensively, though his words would fall on the deaf ears of his heartless brothers. "All the more reason to kill you." Key leaped, jaws apart as his target was the vulnerable organ in Vee's neck. Vee reacted quickly, tucking his chin and turning his body so Key would strike his shoulder instead. It didn't take long for his snow white coat to become painted with crimson, Vee could feel the warm liquid ooze down his left front leg, and decorate the snowy landscape he stood on.
Vee wasn't a fighter, but he had to protect his son at all costs. Key had a lockjaw grip on Vee's shoulder, and wasn't appearing to let go. Snarling loudly, Vee twisted his body and sank his fangs into Key's hip. Both brutes didn't let go from one anothers' hold, no matter the pain inflicted. Vee had withstood his childhood with pain similar to this, though both brothers had grown in strength over the years. "Back down Vee! Just let me make this quick!" Vee's vision was opposite, Vee blanked Key out of his line of sight, and being deaf only encouraged it. Vee's jaws tightened, then let off as he got a better grip on Key's back limb. Vee could feel Key's body shuddering with pain, though his own body was mimicking his brothers.
Moments passed, and the two wolves were evenly matched. Claw and Burn paced around, wanting to join, but nothing was happening. Time was frozen, the only thing moving was the blood dripping from their pelts and their jaws pulsing. Vee clenched his jaw as tightly as he could, the leg bone he bit on began to grow tighter, as if it were going to snap. Key only had a grip on the shoulder muscle, Vee was on his bone. Vee didn't want to disable his brother with a broken limb, but that would make it easier for a getaway. With his mind made up, Vee clamped down with full jaw force and snapped the tibia.
Key howled with pain, it reverberated in the air. Vee let off as soon as Key let go of his shoulder, Vee darted backwards, watching his brother limp around in agony. "I- I'm sorry!" Vee shouted, baring his teeth at Claw and Burn as they began to approach him. Vee backed away with each step they took forward. Vee couldn't watch Key's words, his red eyes were too busy watching his other brothers. "Kill him you fools! Get HIM!" As Claw and Burn launched themselves forward, Vee jerked around and ran, his eyes focused on the bush Auden hid.
Vee quickly picked up his son, a firm grip on the scruff and began to sprint. Auden was much too old to be carried, but too young to run on his own from a duo of massive, killer brutes. But Vee didn't let go, he knew he was probably hurting Auden from the grip but it would save his life. Sprinting out of the forests, the valley became bright as the white snow nearly blinded him. It was like a blizzard, wind and heavy snow almost impossible to travel in. Vee was growing tired fast, but never slowed. Burn and Claw on the other hand, had given up the chase right as the forest ended. They didn't leave their land to fight and kill their brother.
Once minutes became an hour, Vee couldn't run any longer. Letting off his grip, little Auden was tossed a short distance and the white brute collapsed into the snow, his shoulder aching and oozing with blood. The running wasn't good for him, but they were long gone from the black wolves. Vee looked back once, there was no sign of black. Vee panted hard, his breath fogging up the landscape in front of him. Vee was in pain, physically and mentally. But he was more concerned about Auden, and the tragedy he just witnessed. Vee closed his eyes, only for a moment.
"Vee... Vee... Please wake up." There was a voice he could hear. But it wasn't Alya's voice. This voice was more innocent, more elegant. This voice had a strange accent, Vee couldn't understand who was speaking. "Who...." Vee groaned, his eyes being forced open. There wasn't anyone there, only Auden's shivering form. Vee's body was being covered with snow, but he was too exhausted to get himself up. "Vee, you have to get up. You will freeze if you don't get up." The assertiveness in the feminine voice, Vee did what he was told.
Pushing himself off the ground, the snow making him feel heavy. A few good body shakes, and he felt much lighter. Red eyes continued to look around for the source, but there was nobody. "Vee... You must go home now. Your pack needs you. Please Vee... For me.""Avani." Vee knew it was her, it had to be. He couldn't hear voices of the living, and Avani wasn't seen visibly. She was gone, dead. Her spirit still lingers in the land she died on. "Come home... With me." His voice was pleading, he needed her presence with him, always. "Adroa, My God, sent me here, Vee... My life has come to an end. I am just glad to know you are alright. But I cannot stay. Keep our children safe, I love you Vee, I always will."
"Don't go..." Vee whispered. But there was no reply. "Avani. Come back... Avani..." Vee paced forwards, he looked around desperately for her. "Avani. Please. I love you..." There was nothing left, Avani was gone. But in a way, Vee was thankful he got to hear her for the first and last time. He knew for a fact she was gone, but she will never be forgotten. Vee's eyes remained on his son. There was a piece of her in Auden, their child. The temperature was dropping, Auden and himself had to get home. "Auden... We will go home now..." The white brute slowly limped forward, walking against the wind. It would be a long, treacherous journey home.
[OOC: I know I PPed Auden a bit, and I'm sorry my post is so long. I needed to get that done with though. :3 You can post here, but then I'll make another post back in Zahir.]
