Sound The Bugle [Goliath/Joining]

[Kiva]

Her rare silver pelt no longer glistened under the sun's bright rays as she walked. It was dull and even filthy, making it appear as more of a dark gray than a bright silver. Instead of being muscular and healthy, her frame was nothing but skin and bones, hanging lifelessly off of her. Her once bright blue, almost white, eyes were sunken and never left the ground. Her extremely rare making, the thing that made her herself, was barely even noticeable anymore because of the condition she was in. It was clear she had no will to live left in her already dead mind.

"Murderer, betrayer," she called herself as she walked, boney and weak legs carrying her forward at a slow pace. The hardest part about her past was the fact that she had killed her brother. Even though it was to end her pain, she had still taken all the life from him like some kind of cruel, heartless, monster. Since she had arrived on the island, she had not eaten a single full meal. Instead, she would eat only a few bites left over from old kills made by others. She had gone from being a brilliant huntress to being nothing but a scavenger. She had already lost about fifteen pounds and the number continued to grow with each passing day.

Even though in her younger days, she used to love flirting with males, having pups, and raising strong alphas, she knew those days were over. Despite the fact that she honestly wanted nothing less than to have as many pups in her lifetime that she could possibly could, she knew no one would want her now. She was frail, weak, and dying. She was a killer and a murderer. She would never again know what it was like to have a mate or to be a mother. She had lost everything.

Even though she had once a mighty alpha that stood alongside her brother and ruled over her own pack, she knew she would never have that chance again. She was not in the right frame of mind to run a strong pack. She also had no desire to be a lone wolf. She had been in packs her entire life and that was the one thing that would not change simply because of the tragic incident. The only option she had was to join a pack and she was fully expecting to go from the position of alpha to the lowly omega. The thought made her whimper but she told herself she deserved it. As she made it to the volcanic island, she collapsed by the water and drank a few mouth fulls. Even a few miles of walking at this point was too much for her to handle. She laid quiet for a few minutes before gathering what was left of her courage and howling quietly to alert the new alpha of her presence.

[Deleted]

The howl hadn’t been necessary – Goliath had already sensed that something was off, the unfamiliar feminine scent luring him closer to the Liandry falls. His massive shape trampled through the brush and leaf litter as he shadowed the misfortunate creature that had trespassed upon his territory, uninterested in attempting a stealthy entrance. His approach was brash and loud, the very branches of the trees seeming to part for the approach of the hulking brute; and why wouldn’t they? He was the sole ruler of this island – the sovereign of anything that dwelled upon it, alive or not. Though very little had changed in Goliath’s mind upon ascending to his standing as alpha, it was needless to say, the power had gone straight to his head, and his newfound brazenness was stifling.

As he approached the falls, his arrival anything but covert, his eyes fell upon a pale figure hunched nearby the water’s edge. At a glance, he had assumed that it had been Aaricia – his ears perking at the revelation – but he immediately recognised that this creature was far too lanky to be his petite sister, and his face blatantly showed his disappointment. His mouth twisted into a sharp scowl, his vivid eyes sharpening at the measly femme who appeared so emaciated it was a wonder she hadn’t already collapsed into a corpse. His tongue flicked outwards in depraved curiosity, observing her figure as though each slope and protruding bone was an unseen marvel. Her figure was undeniably tall for a female, a thing that brought great distaste to the giant, but her form was withered and sunken in the most remarkable way. In the perfect way. Her limbs were thinned by obvious starvation, and her overall appearance was svelte and brittle. Such scrawniness would have repulsed any other wolf, but to Goliath, her misshapen gauntness was a thing of rarity. His eyes were alight with predatory appreciation, and as he approached, his stature heightened with ease and natural dominance.

“I trust that your reason for trespassing was worthwhile,” his voice resounded with a dark timbre, an ominous smile creeping along his muzzle and contorting his lips into a most unsettling shape. “Because your life now depends upon it.”

He advanced upon her quickly, closing the void between them with disconcerting eagerness, expecting her to be too weak to protest against the intrusion of her space. “Speak now – or I will bring to completion what nature has already started of your wilting.”

TAGGED: Kiva

[Kiva]

Aug 30, 2014 12:23:59 GMT -5 Anima said:

Even though the silver feme had little to no will left to live, her dignity was one thing that she wasn't letting go of as easily. Even though she was nothing more than a depressed, weak wolf who had just lost everything, her inner personality hadn't changed. She was used to being full of dominance and pride, never bowing down to any wolf other than her brother. She was used to doing as she pleased, when she pleased, and how ever she pleased. The only reason she no longer acted the way she was used to was because she knew she was to frail to follow through with anything.

As the seasons change, remember how I used to be. Now I can't go on, I can't even start, I've got nothing left, just an empty heart. I'm a soldier, wounded so I must give up the fight. There's nothing more for me, lead me away...Or leave me lying here. As she waited for the alpha to reach where she laid waiting, theblyrics played through her head in a meloncholy tone. She remembered how she used to be, how full of life she was, and how her coat used to glisten. She was no longer that wolf and she wandered if she ever would be again. She had lost everything, she had nothing left, and the only reminder she had was an empty and shattered heart. As the footsteps of the alpha began to be heard, she knew he would either lead her into his lands or leave her laying there. She almost wished for the ladder.

As the alpha approached she forced herself to stay submissive, knowing this was not her pack. She watched him closely, eyes never leaving his form. As he spoke of killing her, it had no affect on her what so ever. If he wanted to end her life, she would greet her death with open arms and a smiling face. "I would like to join your pack," she got right down to the point seeing no point in wasting time. Now that she had made her purpose clear, it was up to the wolf standing in front of her to make the final verdict.

[Deleted]

The silver female’s submissive stance was immediately noticed by the oncoming brute, and though the change in him was marginal, her passive reaction was enough to appease his abrasive nature for now. The scowl distorting his lips slackened for something more casual as his eyes considered her debilitated form once more.

It was evident that this creature was weak, her stature a painful mess of skin and bones – but it was clear that weakness was not born into her, for her underlying size spoke of muscle. As she wearily turned to watch his approach, her gaze unchanging even upon discerning his size, he noted a faint marring around her eye that spiked his attention. The colouration was peculiar, and the further he inspected the birthmark, he found that it was no mere stain; it actually held a shape that snaked evenly around her brow. His brows furrowed in examination, returning the hard-bitten countenance to his face. His threat had seemingly fallen upon deaf ears, her impassive façade unaffected by his stark words. His expression remained grim and somewhat disappointed by her dull reaction, and as she spoke, his eyes met hers with formidable intensity.

I would like to join your pack.

Goliath wasn’t sure if he had heard her correctly, but the conviction in her eyes paralleled her certainty. Had he not just threatened her life? It was a most bizarre response to want to seek refuge with a beast who had given her nothing more than a hostile welcome. A slow, tasteless smile crawled into place along his ebon lips.

“Surely you are mad to regard imminent death so casually – and if so, you are in good company,” his tone was sharp and silken, but held a dark promise of camaraderie. If she had lost her mind, then she would not be the first to do so on this island, and almost certainly not the last.

“There is always a vacancy in our ranks for a new womb,” his eyes roved over her with a devilish grin, his blunt words absent any shame at all, for such insecurities never crossed his mind. If she believed that her rightful place was here upon Ina’mos, then he implored her to stay – it was clear that she had been drawn to him, as most things born of adversity were drawn to greatness. Such was the nature of things. Birds knew to fly to the highest peaks of the trees to feel true safety, and cubs saw a mountain and wished to conquer its summit. Greatness came in many forms, and his enormity and strength were inevitably going to compel other beings to cross the water and carouse in the proximity of his power.

“Tell me – how does one receive a mark such as yours?” he blatantly commanded her to speak, gaze returning to the abnormal crescent marking over her eye. Despite his hard-heartedness, he still possessed an untouched curiosity of the world, and was quick to become rapt in things that eluded his ambition to know all and everything. New and unusual anomalies were rare, but tended to frustrate his imperious nature, as he could not simply bully a meaning from them. His chilling stare bore straight into this foreigner’s eyes, impatient to know of her origin.

TAGGED: Kiva

[Kiva]

The silver feme had been taught from a young age never to back down when in the face of fear or death. She had been told to remain calm and steady, especially to remain level headed, and to keep any negative emotions on the inside away from the threat. She had learned that showing those feelings of weakness only made the situations worse as they fueled that fire that had ignited inside the predator. Staying unaffected however showed that she could handle whatever situation was thrown at her and that she was not weak. That was exactly what she did when the male threatened her. Though she did grow slightly nervous, she kept a calm exterior and continued to watch him saying only, "I have no reason to fear whatever death ultimately awaits me." The statement was blunt but honest and to the point.

His next statement puzzled her slightly due to the fact she could take it more than one way, or even both. Did he simply mean womb as a female and that the pack would always have room for them or did he speak of womb as a mother saying that the pack could always use females that were able to bare pups? She wasn't sure which one was right or if they both were, but no matter which one was, she wouldn't complain about it. Either way, she had just been invited to join his pack which is exactly what she was hoping for. Not to mention the fact that her favorite thing in life was being a mother and raising strong and healthy pups. If this pack needed a mother wolf, she would very gladly accept. Although, she knew she would have to regain her strength by the time breeding season rolled around or else she would be too weak. "Well then I definitely would like to join, as well as you are alright with it."

When asked about her mark, her head lowered slightly. It was a permanent reminder of a once great and powerful family that had been all but completely lost to her. Her family consisted of alphas among alphas, packs among packs. They had very few loners and even the ones that were had found mates and had pups. She and her brother, each marked with that of a crescent, had made up one of those packs until the incident. The fire that caused her to lose the last bit of her family. Now her family was all back on the main land and she was here, forced to look at her mark every time she look at herself. "It is a long story and one that even I am not too sure on all the reasons behind."

[Deleted]

I have no reason to fear whatever death ultimately awaits me.

Her words, spoken with such frankness, did not surprise the multi-hued alpha, whose composure remained cynical. So – she was a believer of fate, a thing that was stated so obviously by her withered physique. Though taller than most females, her health had waned beyond mere starvation; her eyes were dulled and lacking in any lustre at all, and her passive stance was held not only in submission, but in surrender. It seemed that she had already accepted her fate, and did not fear the death that loomed closer with every toil she placed upon herself. Goliath’s snout inclined slightly, reviled by the thought of forfeiting one’s will to fight for life. To an extent, he believed in fate, but he gave it no merit beyond expecting the triumphs that it might bring him. If fate wished him dead, then he would fight against it, rising again and again, and he would survive. Even he, a beast born of deific proportions, feared death, and it was this defiance alone that made him so powerful. Any fool to suggest that death was not a thing to wage war against was just that – a fool.

His eyes narrowed at the silver femme, but the stern words in his mind were given no voice. He could have easily insulted the dismal creature and ridicule her noble belief, but speaking with such merciless contempt was a thing that would earn him no followers. Her martyrdom ultimately would not affect his own survival, and so he left the argument untouched, despite the prickling in his teeth that begged for a vicious release. As an alpha, his arrogance was an indulgence that was to be left behind with his youth, or he would soon find himself stripped of his crown – after all, an alpha without a pack was no alpha, but a conceited recluse. Though the Gods were brutal, they were tolerant, and he would become greater than them all.

Well then, I definitely would like to join, as well as you are alright with it.

Goliath’s head lifted regally in acknowledgement, placated by her persistence. His newfound patience was already being rewarded, and if loyalty was to be his recompense, then he would continue to keep his aggression in chains – upon a first encounter, at least. He doubted he would be able to maintain the façade for long.

It is a long story and one that even I am not too sure on all the reasons behind.

Immediately, his mouth forged a grim line, clearly unimpressed by her response. Was a straightforward answer so difficult to offer, or was this female truly that simple-minded? Goliath felt the initiation of a snarl on his lips, but he quelled it with a grating sigh and a deep, gravelly grunt. If he was to be her safeguard then he would have to earn some semblance of trust from the feeble mistress – his persona was not without variability, and in the intervals between cruel taunts or unheeded hostility, he could be civil. Hell, some day she might carry his pups, if his greed had any part in it, so he didn’t want her to so quickly assume that he was a monster. That revelation would come much later.

“I understand. Our origins confound us all,” he spoke calmly, though a caustic bite was still tangible. She would soon learn that his followers would do well to not disappoint him. “Walk with me. Let me introduce you to this sacred land.” His vast body turned and he began to walk, his lengthy strides almost quaking the soft, pliant earth underfoot. He fathomed that if he were to share his own story, then perhaps she might be inclined to open up with her own – and if not, she would at least know of the importance of the soil at her paws.

“Everything you see now once belonged to the prophet of the god Fenrir,” he began inscrutably, not caring to slow his pace to meet her smaller steps, even if she had to jog at his side. “This great wolf was born on an island that was once far from here, in a southern land named Kal’dyne. The god spoke to him often, and promised greatness – but his words were not empty as are most premonitions from the divines. Fenrir shook the earth with fire and brought his home closer to the island known as Anikira, forging a bridge from the eruption that joined the two lands.”

Goliath’s steps paused to regard Kiva with a solemn, uncharacteristically sincere expression, his voice losing the pretentiousness. “At first, the god’s intentions had been unclear, unleashing the prophet upon Anikira without direction or motive. A storm drove the giant wolf into a cave, where a creature more angel than beast had also sought shelter from the unforgiving rain. Fenrir’s meaning became clear to the prophet, and the two divine beings interlaced to create new life - a litter that was to deliver Fenrir’s glory to the world.

“They came to this island – a haven that had been forged by the very same volcano that brought Tas’alea and Anikira together. This was no mere coincidence, fair one. It was to be the beginning of something glorious – but the prophet’s folly led to his own demise, and his kingdom soon fell, the Angel and all of their followers with it. Destroyed. Damned. He believed that he had been the one chosen by Fenrir, but his mind had become so demented by the god’s influence to know that he’d only been the vessel. Fenrir’s true gift had been the firstborn son – and he had moved heaven and earth itself to bring his blessing into the world – but seeing the madness that he had created, Fenrir abandoned them all.”

His gaze scanned meaninglessly through the land around him, something akin to indifference written on his face. This story no longer brought him desolation and despair, nor fanned the pits of his hatred. His own creation was nothing to be ashamed or guilty of. This was his origin, and the sole thing he knew with certainty to be true and real, in a world discoloured by his lunacy.

“Fenrir discarded the mess that he made of us, and that is why I have returned to overthrow the past and supersede everything that my father could not be. It may take time for you to believe, but I swear on the death of my family that these words are true. I am far more than the first son of the Prophet – I am the god incarnate.”

The sight of him alone was testament to what he claimed, an imposing brute defined by lean sinew and hardened by muscle. His strength was a thing unparalleled; a thing no common wolf could ever attain. He was no immortal in the literal sense, but a god made manifest into the extraordinary by an ordinary creature. Any other mortal beast could not possibly know the turmoil of possessing such power, gifted to him from a god – it impinged upon the mind, warping and skewing it with divine and terrible insights, until it reached the brim of madness. Such was the downfall of his father, and the root of Goliath’s need to redeem himself in his stead. He knew his mind was a three-headed beast, inconsistent and ferocious, but he would not deny his irrationality as his father would have. No, he was aware of his demons; he knew them well and had befriended them long ago, and he would not be destined to repeat Belial’s mistakes. He was in control – in every way that is father was not.

TAGGED: Kiva

[Kiva]

When Kiva was born and throughout her childhood, she was indeed, a huge believer of fate and destiny. She used to lose herself in day dreams of what her destiny might bring her. She would imagine her mate for life and all the puppies that she would one day have and of the amazing mother she would be. She would dream about leading her own pack and all the victories they would have. However, things changed when her old mate left her and their pups. She knew then that destiny and fate was but a figment of a pups imagination. The world was cruel and the only one that could make anything happen was yourself and anyone around you that you let have an impact on your life. The fact that destiny does not exist was proven again when the fire happened and she lost her pack, pups, and her brother who she was forced to murder. The only thing she knew for sure was that one day she would die, as everything does, and after losing every single thing she ever cared about, she had no reason to fear that. If she lived, she would be in constant pain and if she died she would be with her brother and her pups once more. It was obvious which outcome she preferred.

She noticed his eyes narrow but she didn't care at all. She was sure she would receive a lot of those looks for her alpha like personality and for the shape she let herself get into but she would never let them get to her, why should she? She was allowed to have her own feelings and beliefs and so was he. It truly was as simple as that and if he disagreed with her opinions then they would just have to agree to disagree. She could tell just from being around the alpha that he had a dark personality, one much like the personality that her brother always kept hidden, at least while the children were around. Arrogance and violence, a lust for danger and a love of adrenaline. If he thought those traits would scare her, he was beyond wrong. She had lived with them for years and they had no affect on her anymore. If he wanted her dead right now, she would let him kill her. However, once, if ever, she regained her strength she would fight back and rather she won or lost, she would go down with dignity. However, she knew that he would know better than to start fights for no reason. He would only be digging his own grave and she knew her alpha was smarter than that.

She watched him closely when he lifted his head, expecting him to talk again, either a definite yes or a definite no. However, she wasn't expecting him to stay completely silent. She was slightly surprised by the lack of certainty he gave but she decided that since he didn't actually say no, he meant a yes and he was now her alpha. That thought made her tense up on the inside but she was determined not to let it show. She needed to let go of the past and move on from her alpha position, at least for now. Holding onto it would only hinder her. Right now, she had an opportunity to become part of a strong pack and become a mother to many pups which is all she ever really wanted. This was not at all something she needed to pass up.

Kiva was waiting for something bad to happen when she saw the expression that the male gave at her response. She knew he was looking for an actual explanation but that was one thing she was not willing to give up. She was told from the time she was born that her family's past must be kept secret and that only those within the bloodline should ever hear anything about any part of it. It was critical that she follow that rule and she had no intentions of ever breaking it. If he wanted to know where it came from, he would have to guess or live with the fact that he would never know. When she saw that he was not going to push for an answer however, she quickly relaxed, thankful that he knew when to let things drop.
She nodded as he spoke, though she had nothing to say in response. His statement was true and she knew that better than anyone. Her family lived in pretty much secrecy for generations upon generations. They had settled on land that had very few other wolves and what outsiders were there had been pushed out as the packs in their bloodline grew and pushed forward. She was happy when the conversation went in a whole new direction and gladly walked beside him, making sure he always remained at least slightly in front of her. She became lost in her own thoughts again as they walked though she still managed to take in what was around her.

Her ears perked up with more enthusiasm than she probably should have shown when he began speaking. She instantly wandered if the words he spoke were true or not but she knew better than to ask. The last thing she needed was him thinking she was calling him a liar or catching onto the strong interest she had. She tried to act like she was listening but like she wasn't overly interested in it. However, it was very difficult for her to do. She knew she had much she could add to the history which he was speaking of but she bit her tongue and kept quiet, not daring to say anything.

She continued to listen while pushing her true interest down. There was more here than meets the eye and the more he spoke, the more interested she grew in her alpha and his past. The question remained of if he making all this up or if it was the truth but still she kept quiet. She would keep a close eye on him and time would tell her the answer to her question. She wished she could seek the advice of her brother but knew that was obviously not an option any longer. She would just have to be patient. However, if his story proved to be true and not made up, there would be much for Kiva to talk to him about.

Kiva nodded knowingly to his words as she had heard variations of it before as a pup. She knew a lot about mythology, she really didn't have much of a choice. It was what brought her family together and was the center of anything and everything that they did. There was little as important as mythology when it came to her family and bloodline. Stories had been passed down from generation to generation for hundreds of years. Everyone in every pack knew all the stories and the pups were told stories starting the day they were born. That was why it was so hard for Kiva to wrap her mind around what she was being told. It didn't make sense to meet another wolf who's family was as laced in mythology as hers was.

She looked around when he did, her thoughts going a thousand miles per hour. Maybe her alpha was not as different from herself. In personality, they were polar opposites in a way but in history...it seemed they shared a lot in common. She sighed softly remembering her own origins, though she fought hard to resist the urge to share it with him. He might be her alpha but she had only just met him. He had a while to go before he had her trust, especially enough trust for her to break a century old rule.

Her ears perked again as he resumed speaking and her eyes widened, glistening with a new found spark. If the words he spoke were truly true, then maybe destiny was real after all. Maybe fate did bring her to these lands. Maybe that's why the fire happened and her brother was killed because otherwise, she would not have joined this pack. She nearly whimpered aloud as she felt herself bursting at the seams. She tried to convince herself that his words were not true, that he had a wild imagination, that he was lying to her, that he was absolutely crazy, anything to make her believe what she was being told was not the truth. But her mark was how she knew that the things she was being told could very well be true. She had to swallow hard to force herself to remain calm.

Her bright blue, nearly white eyes scanned over him taking in everything about him. His size, his muscles, his build, his coloring, every little detail that she possibly could and the more she inspected him the more she believed things and the more her mind spun out of control. She wanted...not she needed to know every answer to every question she had. She craved the knowledge that was eating at her mind. She didn't want to wait for time to give her answers. She wanted them now. She needed to know if she had truly been called home, back to the gods who made her bloodline to work for them or if her alpha was truly a liar which she was still hoping for. She trembled inwardly with excitement and curiosity. She wished more than ever that her brother Cato was her, she needed his guidance his advice. But he was no longer there, the gods knew they had to get rid of him in order to get their hands on the silver feme...if her alpha was being honest. She really didn't want the conversation to end, she needed to hear him say more so she could better judge if he was for real or not. But she knew that if he was being honest, she needed to become herself again, both in mindset in and in strength. She had slipped too far from who she was made to be and if her alpha was the real deal, they would not be too happy.


OOC: 1727 words and the muse I have for them is amazing!!

[Deleted]

The more he spoke, the further this femme seemed to writhe in eagerness, poorly hidden beneath the trembling of her emaciated frame. His words had inspired her in some way, spurring an internal conflict that she was keeping concealed, but he watched her intently as though at any moment she was going to spill forth whatever war was trapped inside her.

Nothing. She said nothing – she simply returned his stare, her attention roaming his impressive physique as though searching for some form of assurance. A faint grin touched his maw, lingering somewhere between a genuine smile and a besmirching leer, and his eyes moved elsewhere to what dwelled around them. He was wasting his time with this femme whilst she was in this state – though he found a strange fascination in the way her brittle form seemed to rattle with fragility as she kept pace beside him, he knew that would have to change for her body to be able to cultivate life.

“I know this is a great sum of obscurities to understand at once – take the time you need to come to terms with it, and know that I have not wasted a single in breath lying to you. Find composure in knowing that you are safe here, and when the time comes, you will bring sacred offspring to this land.”

His voice was calm and steady, but held the tremor of a far graver matter. “If you remain as you are - unfit to bear young - your place here will be reduced to omega. Let that be your incentive to change.” His voice was apathetic, knowing that she was in no position to defend herself and her meagre state. Punishment – incentive – the word itself made no difference to the core of his meaning. If she wished to have any purpose or value to Kairos, then she needed to rebuild herself from the ground up, or be cast aside as a withered spinster.

TAGGED: Kiva
|OOC| Feel free to reply, otherwise we can let it finish here, Luna. ^^