Beautiful Remains (Anima/Zitao)

[Anima]

The white wolf padded into the snow covered meadow, lost in her thoughts in much the same way she had been when she first came to this pace though for vastly different reasons. Last time she was here, she had been claimed by her master and made her pet. It was where a lot had happened with them even though they didn’t stay just in the one location. It had been a solid two weeks since the white wolf had seen her master and she knew she was in some deep trouble. He had a given her a day off, a day, as in one day, and she had gone and against her better judgment turned it into fourteen days. So only naturally, her mind was spinning. Why had she made that choice? Why couldn’t she be a good pet? How badly would he punish her? Could she beg for forgiveness? Would it work if she did? Question after question ran through her mind and her heart threatened to beat out of her chest.

Once she had made it into the meadow, she lay in the snow, easily blending in, and tried to calm her nerves. The cold solid felt good against her fire hot veins and she closed her eyes for a minute. She hoped that her master, if he did punish her, would at least lead her away from a place so open to the public, and somewhere more private. She knew that could be even worse as no one would be able to hear her cries and so he could make it even worse but she’d rather take the chance than be punished somewhere where other wolves could end up watching.

Once she had mustered up as much courage, or lack thereof, as she could, she stood back up and shook the cold from her pelt. Slowly she raised her head to the skies above and let a low a submissive call, quiet enough that no one in Airila could hear it. It wasn’t until after her howl that she started shaking and she had to take several deep breaths to calm herself back down. If she ran now, he would surely follow her scent to the pack. Instead, she prayed he wouldn’t be mind but she knew luck was never on her side when it came to disobeying her master and getting away with it.

[Deleted]

Lies. Betrayal. Deceit. The words spun around Zitao's head as he stalked through the forest, magnifying the fury that had already been planted in his mind. One day. That was all he had allowed. One day, and yet the day had stretched into fourteen. Had he gone to look for her? Of course, but the lands were vast and sprawling in this area, and finding something you had started so far away from was nearly impossible. He had thought she had learned her lesson, but no. Not only had she extended her stay away from him, but she had lied. That was what was the greatest acid burning against his mind. He could understand fear. He could not understand betrayal, especially when he had given her no reason to lie. Luna. He should have guessed it. He had wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, to show her that hard work and obedience made trust. He had been foolish. He would not make that mistake again.

A voice carried through the trees, a song familiar, even though it was spoken with quiet submission. As if that would save her now. She would be lucky if he didn't skin her alive before even hearing her explanation, though her excuses would be amusing. He legs were unsteady as he made his way through the treeline, eyes scanning the white landscape, looking for the source of the sound. He hadn't even managed to stumble upon an animal to let out some of the darkness piled against the walls of his consciousness. It was all saved up for her, pulsing and dripping poison. Anima. I am coming for you, and when I find you, you will wish that you had never left. 

There she was. A lone figure against a backdrop of whites and greys. Zitao loved the winter. He loved the aching cold, the sharp colours, the death it brought. He also loved the sharp contrast of red on white when he spilled blood against the cold ground. Which, coincidentally, he would soon get to indulge in. He stalked towards her, the only sound the soft crunch of snow compacting beneath his feet, until he was close, close enough that she would have to be dead not to feel and the ways of anger pouring off of him. "Little bird." he said flatly, his voice low and void of any emotion, "Where have you been?"

[Anima]

Each second that ticked by while she waited for her master gave the white wolf more and more time to think back on and regret every decision she had made between the time he gave her the day off to where she then stood. Why had she even agreed to take the day off? Looking back, it was easy see that she may have gotten some brownie points for declining the offer and remaining by his side and doing as she was told. Then there was the regret of staying away for so long. She knew that dangerous, she knew she would pay for it, and yet she still did it. Now however, she wished she hadn’t.

His scent was the first thing she caught a hold of and immediately she felt her submissive side rushing out. Her tail tucked tightly, her eyes looking as far down as they could, her head hanging, not daring to look up. She crouched down trying to make herself look as small as she could and that was how she would stay, barely breathing, until he could get to her. The sound of his footsteps crunching through cold grass was the next thing she picked up on. Instantly she started shaking and she tried pleading with herself to calm down. She needed to keep her cool, that was not the time nor the place to lose it. After that, she finally saw him. She watched his paws march towards her in a harsh and terrifyingly calm pace and she swallowed hard. She could feel him standing, towering, over her, his hot breath hitting the nape of her neck, making her want to roll over and submit right then but again she begged herself to stay calm. He asked her where she had been and all at once her mind began racing. She couldn’t, wouldn’t, mention the pack to him, not then, not ever. But, what could she say that he would believe? Finally, she thought of something and she rushed to get the words out, “I traveled south and I got lost, it took me a while to figure out where I was and then to get back here.” She spoke as seriously as she could, hoping and praying that he would buy it.

[Deleted]

Zitao wasn't exactly sure why he had trusted her. He wasn't sure what he had expected, or how he would have found her if she truly went into hiding. Sure, he could be stubborn and determined when he wanted to be, but Anima was not someone he found himself begging to spend much time on, especially not after meeting Xion. No, he wanted to have her with easy access, so that she could be ready to serve at any moment's notice. Perhaps it was pity that had urged him into such a rash decision, or maybe she was simple a mess that he didn't want to clean up at the time. Whatever the reason, he had learned his lesson. It  was now time to teach Anima hers.

He could feel the fear and submission vibrating off of her, the air shaking as she trembled in whatever dignity remained. It couldn't save her now, not when anger bubbled a fiery broth in Zitao's stomach, threatening to send him truly over the edge. He took his time, both letting the tension in her build and the wave of rage subside within his own mind. Her cowering form was doing nothing to sate the blood he so desperately wanted to shed. He needed to feel her breaking apart beneath his teeth, to see with his own eyes the damage he could cause, and the power he could leech through teeth and claws and pointed words. His little bird had been flying free so often, her song had been lost in the sea of his mind, and he wanted to remember the tune. Even if she tried to hold it in, he would get it out of her, even if he had to rip her open and squeeze the air out of her lungs himself. 

There was a breath of silence after his question, and Zitao narrowed his eyes at her, ready to believe nothing that came out of her mouth. It was a simple question, asked with the dangerous nonchalance of someone foaming at the mouth, their mind ready to snap at any moment. He knew that neither of them believed the calm innocence that he was portraying, that it was all an act leading up to the climax of this little dance they were performing. When she did manage to get her words out, they fell out clumsily, her mouth sputtering the empty promise like it was taking it's last breath. "Really?" he sneered, circling tightly until he could feel his fur brush against her own, "And what did you do down south? Did you have fun? You must have, seeing as you had all that time to do whatever you wanted. One day, Anima. I give you one day, and you throw your freedom back in my face. Do you think I am so soft as to easily grant such a fortune? Should I refrain from such opportunities in the future?" He stopped his movement, shaking his head disappointingly, "You think that I hold a tight leash on you, but it is yourself that winds the cord tighter around your neck. Even now, as I give you the mercy of having the chance to explain yourself, you turn it back against me." He did not know whether she was really telling the truth or not, but by the way she was acting, Zitao wouldn't be surprised if what she said was simply to cover her own ass. He spun, leaning down to look directly into her eyes, their faces inches appart, "What do yo have to say for yourself?"

Ooc: Wow I'm so sure I responded to this a long time ago, which is why I didnt notice I hadnt until now... Sorry love
Also, I am writing this as I slowly fall asleep, so sorry for many any mistakes ~

[Anima]

Trust. To the white she wolf, that was an abstract idea, something that, up until the fire, had always come naturally to her. Since Tala was a pack that consisted of her family, it was something automatically given and never lost. Or, if it was lost it was only on very rare occasions, for instance, when her brother Tsume left Tala to join his father's pack because he grew envious of their other brother, Kiba, being next in line to become Alpha. Even wolves outside of the pack were fairly easy to trust except, of course, the midnight black she wolf, Xion. She was, indeed, a special case. However, ever since the fire, trusting others had become harder and her master was a prime example. She didn't trust him, not one bit. She may have battled with herself internaly over rather she should be submissive or not, but even then, trust was still a complete zero out of ten. That was why she had always been surprised that he trusted her, not that she would ever complain. The more trust she had from him, the longer her leash would be and it would be that long leash that would, she hoped, lead to her ultimate freedom. She didn't know why he had given her a day off, nor would she ask any questions, but she would use it to her advantage and that's exactly what she did, until the thought of her punishment  eventually brought her back to him.

Now that she was back as his pet and he was standing over her with rage radiating off his deadly calm form, her submissive side was farther out than it had ever been and she trembled on her knees before him, terrified of what was to come. When he took his slow sweet time responding to her, her fear only grew and intensified. He was only ever this calm when something major was about to happen. She desperately hoped he bought her story for she was sure that if he knew about Airila, her life would be over.  And it would not be quick or painless.

At his really, she simply nodded, to afraid that if she said much else he would catch onto the fact that she was actually lying and that was not at all what she needed to have happen. When he circled, the feel of his fur mixing with hers, she froze, not daring to move. She could swear she heard the air itself scream danger, danger. She wasn't sure how to answer his question of fun, rather she should say yes or no so she stayed quiet, her ears laying flat against her head in submission. But when he spoke of taking away that freedom she shook her head, "No master please, it won't happen again I swear," she pleaded. If he had her on too tight of a leash, she wouldn't be able to get to her pack and as a huntress, that could end her in trouble which wasn't what she wanted. The words that came spilling out between his clenched teeth next left her wide eyed and trying hard to stay calm. "But I'm not master, I promise," she said as covincingly as she could. She couldn't help but jump at his sudden b movement and instantly started tripping over her words, "I'm s-s-sorry m-master."

[Deleted]

When you see him look him in the eye

Look him in the eye and he won’t dare to follow

Her legs trembled. Her words stuck to her teeth, shaking as they stumbled carelessly through the air. She was helpless, scared, as vulnerable as a newborn, and yet, Zitao felt nothing. No mercy, no logic, only hunger. Hunger to hear her screams like he had before, to taste blood coating his teeth. The monster had awoken, and having been starved, pounded against the back of his eyes. 

He sleeps atop a bed of raven’s legs

Curled up rats napping by his head

"No" he breathed, closing his eyes to rid himself of the pathetic sight. He could feel control slipping through his fingers, and wondered when it was that he had finally given up control. Vaguely he wondered if he would feel the recoil of his actions, if it would keep him awake for nights, burning his chest until each breath burned his throat raw and his lungs filled with blood. "No, it won't happen again. I'll make sure of it."

You wake up with a hatchet over your head

You wake up with a hatchet over your head

As the words left his lips, he opened his eyes, turning to face her. Slowly, robotically, he lowered his trembling jaws, parting them to encase her fur and flesh. He stood like that for a second, breathing in her fear. They were both trembling, but for different reasons. Anima, a once obedient pet, his little bird that had broken from her cage, she trembled in fear. Zitao himself, he who would clip her wings so that she never flew from him again, he trembled in excitement.  I want to hear you scream, little bird. Scream for me, beg, cry, let me leave no surface of you untouched so you can finally remember. You. Are. Mine. Zitao's jaws clamped shut at the thoughts, his mind whirring as the first taste of blood slid past his lips. he did not tear away the skin, only let go and clamp down again, teeth tearing skin and grazing muscle. His work, though savage, was delicate. He did not want to permanently damage his pet, only show her the repercussions of her actions. The most pain from the least amount of damage. It is how he had always managed the sweetest songs, sung for hours until they finally sputtered off into gurgles. Zitao wouldn't take it that far with Anima, but he was ready to push every limit she had. Her past punishments would feel like splinters compared to what she had coming. 

I can see you running I can see you running

Gone in the blink of my eye

Gone gone gone in the blink of my eye

We will see how sorry you are.
Sing for me, little bird, and make it a beautiful song.

Words:402

Ooc: yikes