Best I Can [Goliath]

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OOC: @zenith Sorry this took a while to type up. I'm not used to having a minimum length of 300 words, so I had to push myself a little bit for a post this long. But here it is!

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The dark male worked his way up an increasingly steep hill, pausing briefly to look back at the forest he just left behind. He had waited by the Airila pack border after calling for a few days, catching small animals when they ran by if he was able to. He was not the best hunter, having never actually been wild before. After those few days, Khellus had given up on anyone coming to greet him and simply left the border, heading east, until he left the forest. When the brute broke through the trees, he found an area of hills, and decided to explore. Currently, he was working his way up one of the larger of the mounds, wondering if he would run into anyone.

Without the cover of the trees, the sun warmed his black fur further, almost making it uncomfortable. Fortunately, as Khellus reached the top of the hill, the land in front of him darkened in shadow as a cloud passed over the sun. However, it was still clear that when the sun came from behind its temporary cover, the other side of the earthy mound would remain covered in shade. He quickly bounded down a ways, settling himself down to rest about halfway, where a few bushes provided extra cover.

Letting out a deep sigh, his silver eyes glided over the land in front of him, scanning for any signs of another wolf or some prey. Sadly, there was nothing he could see. Waiting in the cover of the bushes for a while longer did not change that, either. Grumbling quietly to himself, Khellus pulled himself to his paws, continuing on his trek. Eventually, after climbing over a few more hills, something glittering in the distance caught his attention. Looking closely, he could see that it was water. Driven by his dry mouth, his tiring paws carried him quickly between a few more hills before arriving at the river. Crouching down, he lapped at the water, smiling slightly at the cool taste of it. Satisfied, he rose and sat back, his tail lying lazily behind him, his ears listening carefully for the sound of anyone approaching.

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OOC// No worries, eventually the word count will be a piece of cake for you. ^^

BIC// Goliath had not come far from Lake Ia’gha, the wide river diverging Northward from the enormous body of water and sprawling a serpentine path through the hills that the colossal brute currently called ‘home’ in Tiayr. The title for his residence was arbitrary, of course, as he was a loner without an established territory – but a bold and reckless loner at that, indifferent to boundaries and the laws of other packs. The beast of a wolf was a law unto himself, and rightfully so, with the impending strength and unflinching confidence that could rival the power of any alpha that presently hailed themselves as superior.
That would soon change, Goliath mused with voracious intent, the brute as impassioned as he was covetous – soon, he would have his own pack, far more impressive than the feeble clusters that currently dwelled on the island, and from his greatness, his followers would know a far grander sense of power and concord than any other shepherd could give. Strength was the ultimate safety, and solidarity was the ultimate defence; the former, he had in boundless supply, but the latter was something that still needed constructing from the ground up.

Marking a nearby tree stump with his scent, his hackles lanced in crisp awareness when a foreign scent came from upstream – the smell was faint, likely from a distant source, but the quality of it was… somehow wrong. It was lupine, yet it was not. It tasted unusual and unclean, almost how Datura had reeked when she came to him from the sea; whether a gift from Fenrir or a coincidence of the tide, she was a sign and a foretoken of the untapped power he held. In a day, she was his – in a year, he could possess anything and anyone, and in a lifetime, there was no knowing what greatness he could achieve. The world was his to take – enemies and allies awaited him, each one raising his infamy and importance, and he embraced their oncoming with wild anticipation.

Travelling north along the river’s bank, Goliath kept his head raised observantly as he divined the scent’s origin, eventually spying the dark shape of another of his species in the distance. Though his brisk pace did not falter – if anything, it accelerated – his attentive expression became deathly still, held firm in unmatched austerity. This creature was new here, but that was all that could be fathomed from his peculiar scent. Not only did his stench stand out from anything on Anikira, it hinted very faintly of something unknown and, therefore, unwelcome.

His ears did not flatten in contempt of the stranger, but nor did his expression ease or soften in hospitality. The unwild and synthetic aroma surrounding this creature confounded the beast that stalked towards him from his uphill vantage, head inclined upwards in a show of dominant self-assurance. As he loomed closer, he spoke unflinchingly. “What dismal place have you wandered from, stranger? Your scent is appalling.”

His nostrils twitched in emphasis of his words, spoken as a roar over the wind to meet with the male who still remained a distance away from him, but close enough to hear the rolling timbre of his voice. He sized the creature up, assessing the threat he posed – the male was significantly smaller than himself, that much was obvious, even at a distance. This was not something that struck Goliath with shock, as he was accustomed to towering over most of his kind. The stranger’s height was perhaps taller than Datura’s, yet his frame was considerably more padded and thickened with muscle than his female companion. His decision was made - he would not go a mile out of his way to antagonise this wolf, but on a subconscious level, he would not be able to temper his over-assertive nature, which often seemed brash and charmless at a first encounter.

WORDS: 642 | Muse: Gooood | TAGGED: @ginaneko

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The water was cool and tasteful as it flowed from the river and across his tongue before being swallowed. It was exactly what his body craved on a day like this as the sun warmed his dark pelt well beyond a comfortable temperature point. While his eyes were mere slits as he drank, he was well aware of what was around him. He was learning quickly to keep alert, as he was unfamiliar with the lands and his odd scent spread like a wildfire, attracting sometimes unwanted attention. Unfortunately for the male, this seemed to be exactly the case today. His ears twitched atop his head as a foreign voice traveled through the air to him.

Lifting his head and licking the drops of water from his muzzle, Khellus turned his head so his grey eyes were looking at another male who was not far off. Though the other was a distance away, he could vaguely see the disgust running across his face, emphasized by the twitching of his nostrils. As he was thinking only a moment ago, it seemed that it was his scent that drew the stranger to him. He sighed as he stood and fully turned his body, talking a few half steps closer, if only so he could see the other better as he responded to the rather unfriendly question posed to him.

”I feel as though you already have a vague sense of what my answer is, stranger. If anything, providing a proper answer will merely spark more questions for you.” He waved his tail behind him, though it was unclear to anyone watching whether it was too ease the tension that seemed to be building between, to wave off his sad excuse for an answer, or to show that he did not care if the confrontation became violent. It was a simple tail wave, but it was open to interpretation. ”If you must know, though, I clearly do not come from this island I am sure you call home. No, I am from a great distance away. In fact, the concept of where I come from is probably going to be even more foreign to you than my scent is. I will leave it at that, unless you wish to know more. If that should be the case, you will have to inquire yourself.”

He turned back slightly to face the water, simply gazing as it flowing by, thinking back to where he was from. Not the zoo in Portugal, but where he was born, where his mother and siblings probably still were. He longed, he realized, to return there. It was where he was happy, where there was a peaceful and even blend of being wild and cared for. This new land already was proving to be far more different than he would have ever thought.

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As the lofty brute approached the stranger at the riverside, one of his mannerisms in particular began to grate at him before words had even been shared between them. The other darker brute sighed – sighed – before turning to address him. Goliath’s piercing eyes sharpened even more, if such a thing was possible; the apathy practically emanated from this stranger in waves, his movement languid and indifferent as he stood to prepare from the beast’s approach, which must have apparently been a very sore inconvenience for him to actually indulge his disinterest with an audible sigh.

The dank whites of Goliath’s teeth flashed momentarily at this rogue’s blasé attitude. When a wolf refused to show submission, apathy was as much of a stark defiance as it would be to bear teeth and snarl in challenge. Goliath could not understand the reason behind this creature’s lack of concern – even the bravest and wisest of souls reacted accordingly when presented with a clear threat. He could have tolerated aggression; he probably would have esteemed that more. In fact, even cowering from under his daunting stare would have offered more merit to the nomad’s intelligence. Total barefaced indifference was a thing he was not accustomed to, and it did not lend this male any favours in proving his cleverness, or clearly, a lack thereof. The stranger chose neither fight or flight – he chose to do nothing, standing limp as a fish, and that disturbed the hulking brute who himself relied so inherently on raw basal instinct.

I feel as though you already have a vague sense of what my answer is, stranger. If anything, providing a proper answer will merely spark more questions for you.

The stranger finally opened his mouth, and Goliath was not surprised when his answer merely pirouetted around the query that had been posed. His question had been as straightforward as any question could have been; yet this male had quite pointlessly evaded it. He snorted, disregarding the words that were spoken thereafter – if this fool had any intention to share where he was from, he would have taken the opportunity to do so when the question had been thrust at him. He seemed more intent on accentuating his bold disinterest with cyclical responses that held no actual meaning. There was more talking, which was met with a rather derisive stare from the stoic giant.

I will leave it at that, unless you wish to know more. If that should be the case, you will have to inquire yourself.

Goliath scowled in response, his enormous frame undulating with irritated tension. “I do not ask questions twice – I doubt that your answer would hold my attention now that you’ve sullied my interest.”

His head heightened in observation as his gaze roamed critically over the other’s dusky fur, evidently searching for something. “Although, I must enquire… is there some lethal asset hidden beneath that pelt of yours, or is your apathy towards me born of nothing more than ignorance?”

His tone was smooth but aggressed, insinuating that this male was in no position to be behaving so… impassively. Wild animals that knew their place could not afford to bear indifference towards anything, unless they wished to end up dead, sooner rather than later. He was blatantly referring to the difference in size between the two, and its lack of acknowledgment on the other wolf’s behalf. This stranger seemed so sure of himself, convinced that his demonstration of indifferent tail-wagging and coy disrespect would leave him unscathed in the face of a much larger creature, whom clearly should have been shown some semblance of submission or reverence as disbursement for leaving him intact. It was within his right to daunt this inferior mutt, but for now, vexed curiosity got the better of him, and he barely paused a moment to allow a reply to his rhetorical mocking.

“Your behaviour is equally as bland and appalling as your stench, but my scolding is not without advice,” he spoke darkly, stepping forward so that the distance between them was no longer a safety that this male could hide behind. His head lifted reproachfully, his eyes filled with judgement. “Humiliation is where you’re headed if you haven’t the decorum to tuck your tail and lower your eyes in the presence of someone who could so easily tear you apart with barely a lash of effort.”

Perhaps this stranger was not purposefully telegraphing disrespect or indifference – he admitted he was from far away, so his foreignness was his only saving grace. For once, Goliath was reigning in his temper well. Though he was admittedly quick to anger, and oftentimes quick to resort to violence, in this instance he made no further advancement, waiting to see if this wolf would heed his words and correct his stance – a mercy that most were not granted. Should his humble advice slip past this male unnoticed, his teeth would fast become unsheathed, and his reprimand would no longer be civil and verbal. This stranger, strong in his own merit but frail in comparison to the giant standing before him, wouldn’t stand a chance.

WORDS: 852 | Muse: Grand | TAGGED: @ginaneko

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His mind and body were in two completely different scenarios. His mind was back at the preserve in Montana. It seemed so distant now, more so than it had ever before. Not necessarily distance-wise, but distantly in the past. It had only been, what, two years now? Three at the most? But it felt like lifetimes ago. He ached for the times he would brawl with his siblings, his mother’s watchful gaze hovering over the tumbling pile of fur, legs, and tails. It was a time when he loved who he was and where he was. When he was transferred to the zoo, it all changed. He couldn’t be as happy and rough as he wanted to be. He was restricted by the older and larger wolves and the watchful eyes of humans, always hollering and squealing about the pack, if it could be called that.

Oh how he wished his body was where his mind was. He was snapped from his slight trance by the growing tension and anger that seemed to be flowing from the other male. It was then that Khellus realized he probably should not have been so… nonchalant about everything. This wolf, he now realized upon closer inspection, was far larger than he was, and had clearly been in the wild for his entire life so far. He was hardened by the ways of wild wolves, the starvation that must come in the winter, possibly even battles for land and food with others. He didn’t have any of that. He was a newcomer in this unfamiliar place. He was in no way a wild wolf. Yes, he had instincts, but he had long ignored them. In captivity there was hardly any need for them, at least for him.

Standing once more, he moved his grey orbs to rest on the other brute, though this time he felt a little more hesitant. He thinks I can’t hold his attention? He’s in for a surprise then. He squared himself a bit, a short snort bursting from him from minor irritation for being underestimated. ”If you must know where I’m from to give this awful stench that you think I have, I’m from a wolf preserve and zoo. I was never actually a wild wolf. I was raised by these weird creatures you have probably never heard of called humans. So I guess you could also say no, there is nothing lethal about me. I’m just an ignorant fool who doesn’t know how this wild stuff works. So I apologize if my behavior is not to your liking.” His voice slowly rose, turning into a growl.

As he finished his rant, which some would have said was rather childish and uncalled for; he walked in a couple small circles in an attempt to calm down.

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OOC// Hey sorry about the delay, I was tied up in the claiming of Ina'mos and starting up Kairos. xD

BIC//
As the smaller male snorted, a derisive sound that heightened Goliath’s already flared temper, the Kenai brute let his scowl widen into a baring of teeth. As much as the other loner had not heeded Goliath’s words, his exposed fangs assured that he would also take little heed of whatever meaningless words might fall from the male’s mouth.

If you must know where I’m from to give this awful stench that you think I have, I’m from a wolf preserve and zoo. I was never actually a wild wolf.

This concept made no sense to Goliath, whose understanding and awareness of captivity was no more extensive than that of a tree stump’s. Wild was everything to him – beyond that, there could be nothing else. This strange male became stranger and more alien by the moment, and Goliath was not afraid to make his scorn apparent through his contemptuous stare.

I was raised by these weird creatures you have probably never heard of called humans.

He was wrong. Goliath was more than acquainted with that word – although this revelation was not a pleasant one. Datura, his companion, had filled his mind with horrific and terrible stories of the humans that menaced her history; it now made sense why this stranger’s stench was an offense to his nose. He reeked of humans and their caustic ruin, and he seemed to revel in it. Immediately, the enormous brute’s hackles pricked in condemnation at his final words, which were brimming with sarcasm and growled with sheer disregard.

So I apologize if my behavior is not to your liking.

That was it. A low, chilling laughter rumbled from his throat, his tongue flicking from either side of his mouth in wily and disturbed enjoyment at this fool’s brazen behaviour. Despite the maniacal glint in his eyes and the countless number of sharp and deadpan responses flocking his mind, he said nothing, but slowly, his tail began to wag and a disconcerted smile overcame his features. His countenance was menacing, but terribly calm. Nothing could have forewarned this inexperienced whelp to the assault that was to follow, who in his own ignorance had circled away from Goliath after his petty outburst, placing him in the most vulnerable of positions. The fool had completely exposed himself, almost inviting an assault upon himself.. His eyes were elsewhere for barely more than a moment, but that was all Goliath needed to launch forward and close the gap between them in two hulking bounds, his jaws bared wide to grapple for the male’s limp tail.

This fool should have listened – he should simpered for mercy, tucking his rump and dropping his gaze obediently, and now it was very likely that he would lose the luxury to again disrespect another wolf. In his eyes, insolence was an unforgivable atrocity, and penance was the only rescue from it. If Khellus saw it fit to misuse his eyes and tail in a blatant disregard for submission, then Goliath would atone for his iniquity, and graciously remove them from him.

 TAGGED: @ginaneko