Spook (Calantha)

[Venom]

Loping silently through the forest was a lone creature, blending in well with the darkness thanks to a pitch-black coat. The wolf had a peculiar way of moving, but it was efficient and quiet as any other; his missing rear leg on the right side clearly did not affect him as much as one would think, though it did cause him to be a bit slower than most. Luckily, the forest was deserted at this time of night, and it was unlikely that anyone would notice him.

That was why Venom chose to travel here under the cover of darkness, for this territory was very near where he had been caught killing a fellow wolf. A spunky little coyote, barely half his size and hardly a speck, had been the one to confront him, which lead to that large white wolf following him as he fled. It had been an infuriating situation, one that he had fumed about while skirting other lands and attempting to run without suspicion, but ultimately he had escaped both parties unscathed. The coyote, clearly, would not have done much damage, but the wolf could have easily inconvenienced him in several more ways than he did.

As the brute thought back to the series of confrontations, he slowed his pace, setting his nose the ground in curiosity. A vaguely familiar scent reached him, though he was having trouble placing it. There was precious little here that he would recognize, and it took several moments for him to realize that the scent was, in fact, that of the diminutive female coyote who had so annoyingly interrupted his kill. A devilish grin slid onto his features as he came to a stop, ears erect and twitching slowly to detect the sound of feet moving through the quiet forest. Though he heard nothing, he could not rule out the possibility that her delicate little paws might not make enough noise for him to hear. Besides, she might not have been as close as her scent suggested. If she were a member of this pack--laughable, as a coyote had no place among wolves--it was possible that the scent lingered from her passing through.

The thing was, though, that the scent did not float away on the breeze, but rather became stronger the closer Venom stepped to the coming edge of the forest, causing him to pause again and consider his options. He could sneak up on her, take her by surprise, and kill her easily enough. Alternatively, he could announce his presence and scare her, and either run off or kill her regardless of how his ploy came about. Lastly, he could remain hidden in the forest and spook her while staying out of sight, driving her mad with fear.

All were delicious options, but Venom found himself wanting to see the look on the poor thing's face as her nightmare came into view. The male had a feeling that his deed from weeks before would not have been forgotten, and it would certainly be a treat to see the terror flashing behind those doe-like eyes. Having made up his mind, the slim wolf continued to weave through the trees, his movements swift and sure as well as silent. A clearing came into dim view, revealing the small form he confirmed as his quarry with a quick sniff of his sensitive nose.

Amusement danced within him as he took several more steps forward, no longer bothering to keep himself soundless as he stood his full height, more obvious in the clearing as the moonlight reflected off his luxurious fur. "My my, what a delicacy I've stumbled upon," he purred, voice full of malice as he bared his teeth in a wide grin. "My darling, you really shouldn't be out so late. This forest is full of danger."

Words || 648
Tags || Calantha
Notes || We can go back and forth a couple times before Rikez comes in to save the day. (: Also I typed this up because I was bored so don't feel obligated to respond immediately.< 3

[Calantha]

Calantha had never been afraid of the dark.

Really, she’d always enjoyed it more than anything, safe in the security that the shadows offered her tiny figure. It was on nights like this one, when she could not sleep, that the coyote took to the comfort of the darkness. She’d slipped from her place in the warm dens settled at the base of the mountains, unable to rest with such heavy thoughts plaguing her mind. Her small paws had carried her quietly down the rocky slope into the cover of trees, and from there Calantha had simply wandered, troubled by her silent grief.

She’d been thinking of Auron again, as she tended to allow herself to do when she was alone. The agony of losing her friend was still fresh in her cracked heart, the pain sometimes a dull throb, and other times a keen sting that demanded to be felt – like tonight. The weight of it made the coyote’s shoulders hunch, her head lowering towards the ground as she moved. Her saffron-hued orbs flashed with weariness, both mentally and physically, her frame seeming to shrink beneath it. Someday, she supposed, she would be able to think about the kind male without feeling such tremendous sorrow…but she did not think it would be soon. Never before had Calantha dealt with the death of one who she cared for. Grief was foreign to her gentle heart.

As she’d wandered, the coyote had come to a clearing nearer to Airila’s borders. It was here that she felt it: the prickling along her spine, the twisting of her gut, and somewhere in the forest, a scent that was vaguely yet terrifyingly familiar. It was as if her sadness had conjured the monster who she’d tried so very hard not to think about, and even now as her slender body froze, her mind refused to believe it. No, she thought as a large, dark shape slipped from the shadows. I’m dreaming. Even as her eyes slid over the missing limb, the cruel jade gaze, and the frightening smirk upon the brute’s dark maw, she still almost did not believe what she was seeing. She was supposed to be safe here, in Airila. He was supposed to be gone from her life forever. The very sight of him caused the memories that had plagued her to swirl in her head, whipped into a frenzy like beasts at the smell of blood. She could see it all over again: Auron hanging from the ebony monster’s jaws, gasping for his last breath.

"My my, what a delicacy I've stumbled upon. My darling, you really shouldn't be out so late. This forest is full of danger.”

Calantha knew she should run. Almost without realizing it she took a step backwards, her muscles bunching in preparation to turn and flee. He was much larger than she; her only chance was to outrun him, to call for help and prey her cries would wake one of her pack mates from their slumber. And yet…the very sight of him set a flame within her, rage coursing so heavily through her veins that she began to tremble, lips peeling away from her teeth in a snarl that felt foreign on her normally soft features.

”You have already taken something precious from me,” she growled, every strand of fur along her body bristling. She would not attack him, for that would be foolish, but Calantha found she could not stop the words from sliding past her maw, full of hatred and anger. ”And now you come seeking more?” Her lips curled further, her entire posture radiating insolence as she took two more steps backwards. ”You disgust me. It should have been you confined to a grave, not him.”

TAG: Venom
WORDS: 630
NOTES: She's very brave, very stupid...or both xD

[Venom]

The look of fright and fear upon the coyote's face was as sweet as a sunrise to the dark male, and the step backwards that she immediately took lit a fire deep within him. Venom thrived on the reactions of others, had always preferred fear-mongering to smooth-talking, and this was the reason. She was helpless, terrified, and behaving as such gave Venom such a feeling of power that he could hardly keep himself still.

But he did, for if he had moved too soon, the effect and his prey would be gone. There was a subtle dance to do first, especially so in this case; the coyote was small and swift, and though he had adapted to his three-legged lifestyle, he knew that he was not the beast he once was. True, his personality and mindset had not changed, but it was a fact that three legs were not as quick as four, and he had no hope of catching the small female with such distance still between them. Thus, his body remained relaxed and where he had originally stopped, though it would not remain there for long.

Suddenly a snarl was on her lips, and Venom raised a single eyebrow at her, taken aback and amused all at once. She spoke as well, and though the male knew the nature of her grievance--it had not been long since he had killed her friend, after all--he was surprised to hear just how much this odd creature seemed to care about him. Certainly she was not this brave, to face a monster his size and seem to be standing her ground. Stupid, perhaps, was more accurate, but feelings, as he knew, could make a being do things they normally would not.

This time, when she took two more steps, Venom mirrored her at the same pace, though his steps were longer, effectively bringing him only a bit closer to his quarry. If she was too focused on her anger, she might not even notice the difference, but Venom was not counting on that. Even in a heightened state of fury, she was sure to realize he would do everything possible to make it easier to kill her.

"Is that not what life is?" he said softly, his grin still showing his teeth at her. "Always looking for more and more, never being satisfied? Contentment is what kills the spirit. As to what kills the body, well..." Venom trailed off for a moment, glancing dramatically around the clearing, then back to the female, his look more deadly, his grin having vanished. "Everyone must die sometime. Who are you to say it was not your friend's turn?"

His gaze had turned steely, all amusement apparently gone. It truth, he only wished to terrify her more, make her think that the end was near, though he still was not quite in the right position. Indeed, if she left now, there was no chance of him catching her; he would certainly give chase, if only for the thrill of scaring her more, but it would not be a chase that ended in him eating. He would need to pounce once and land his teeth upon her immediately.

After a few seconds, the wolf barked out a sudden laugh, the light returning to his eyes as he smirked widely in the coyote's direction. "This is not place for a serious discussion, now is it my dear?" he said lightly, turning his body and moving slowly, very slowly, before beginning his old routine of circling. It was very simple intimidation, moving in a circle around an enemy, though whether the female would allow it was the question. Even if she followed him with her front, it would be easier for him to sneak closer if she was distracted by his forward movement. "Unless you'd like to say more about how you wish I were dead. I've thought the same thing about myself, you know. If your reasoning for saying such was to hurt me, I'm afraid you'll have to try a different tactic."

Words || 698
Tags || Calantha
Notes || She dumb. It's okay though she gets to live.< 3

[Calantha]

He was backing her into a corner; Calantha could see it clearly, for with each step she took away from him, he took one forward. And yet the rage that coursed through her, coupled with her ignorance concerning fighting and evading, made her flounder for a moment. She did not know now if she should run, but it was too late; he was speaking again, moving to circle her, his words falling like acid rain upon her ears, which lay splayed against her narrow cranium as she did the exact thing she should not. She moved the front of her body to follow him, her eyes staying firmly planted upon his dark frame, his fur slick like oil and equally as appalling to her. She did not realize that each turn was bringing him closer to her, for she was trembling too badly, her attention focused on his poisonous words as they seeped into her ears and trickled to her stalling brain.

”I did not say it to wound you,” she growled, still ferocious despite her seemingly impending doom. ”I said it because it was true: I wish you were dead. I have never wished that in my life, and yet here I stand, praying to my gods that you will be struck down before my eyes so I can celebrate one embodiment of evil being whisked to the eternal flames of hell.” She did not care if she was making sense anymore; Calantha was practically panting in her fury, little sides rising and falling rapidly as she glared at him, struggling to find the words to describe how deeply she despised him. ”You kill for nothing. You kill because you can. You do not even consider whose lives you take, nor how precious they are to others. You do not consider who will mourn them, who will think of them on the nights that they cannot sleep. You do not comprehend love or caring or heartbreak, and for that, I do not envy you. You are a demon, and you may rejoice in that, but I feel only pity for you.” She knew that he would not care, but it was what she felt in her heart, and she wished for him to know it. But at that moment, she realized how close he had drawn, and how very foolish her grief had made her. Her eyes widened a fraction, her tail tucking, and without further consideration Calantha whirled and ran.

I am faster. I am faster. I am faster. It repeated over and over in her head, reassurance turned prayer as she fled. The underbrush whipped at her legs as she went, and for a moment she thought that she might escape, for she felt as if she were flying. And then suddenly she felt the pull of something around her legs, an awful snagging feeling, and she was falling. She landed muzzle-first, her body following shortly afterwards, mouth clamping down upon her tongue. Her blood tasted like fire and fear in her mouth as she whirled, finding that one hindleg was caught in a vine that snaked forth from a bushel. With a piercing sob of fury and anguish that echoed through the forest, Calantha lunged forward, tiny teeth gnawing at the tendril of green that would damn her soul to the same place that Auron’s had gone.

There was no escape now. Perhaps there never had been.

TAG: Venom
WORDS: 571
NOTES: SUCH FEELS. So we can either let Tori reply after your next reply, orrr after Calantha's next reply after Venom roughs her up a bit. Up to you c:

[Venom]

Every part of him enjoyed this dance with his prey; Venom was a cruel beast, and it pleased him to no end to watch the coyote make mistakes. Even her harsh words, barked out at him as though she could hurt him with sound, were utterly amusing to him as he snuck closer and closer under the guise of nonchalance. As she spoke, the wolf simply listened, his ears perked forward, his legs in constant motion, a ruthless grin upon his face. She was every bit the fool he had guessed from the start, and it would be easy, so easy, if only he could get a little bit closer. She would die quickly, without fuss, for his body could easily overpower one as small as hers.

Suddenly her words were finished, her eyes wide, and her feet were carrying her away from him. A guttural snarl left Venom's lips as his quarry dashed away, and though he knew there was little hope of catching up to her, he began his pursuit. Three-legged though he was, the faster Venom ran, the easier it was to keep his body moving, and so he pushed himself, perhaps farther than was necessary. There was zero chance of him catching her; already she was out of sight, and he relied only on the fact that she was undoubtedly heading in a single, straight direction. It was the nature of prey to panic, and panic the coyote had, to an extreme degree. If she did not weave in and out of trees and dash this way and that, he could perhaps bring her back into his clutches.

After only a short time running, the male heard a piercing cry ahead, and excitement filled him as the coyote sprang back into view, having gotten caught in a vine. She was several yards away still, but Venom bounded forward and pounced, his slim body flying through the air and landing upon her as she twisted to free herself. It was a brief collision, and once Venom's front paws smashed into her small side, he was off her again, having wanted only to deter her from gnawing the vine from her leg.

The wolf stayed close, his chest heaving from the effort of chasing her, and he darted toward her face with his teeth, snapping his jaws shut purposefully on empty air and rushing backwards again, his laugher filling the air. "Stupid, stupid girl," he growled, eyes alight again as he danced around her, nipping at various body parts as he whirled about, intent on playing with his prey even more now that she had given him a reason, and a chance. "Your death was to be quick, my dear, but now I fear it will drag on far longer than you'll prefer," he purred, his voice full of glee.

As he moved, his movements were quick and practiced, for he had done this dance before. It was easier when he had been with his brother Kimset, but there did not matter; the coyote had doomed herself for him, and aid would not be necessary. "It's been a long while since I've tasted the flesh of a coyote. Especially one as fiery as you," he hissed at her, before diving toward her neck and grabbing hold of the fur there, shaking his head to disorient her before darting away again before she could set her own sharp teeth upon him. "I wonder if I will even bother to taste your flesh, or if I will devour you as quickly as I can. Depends on how sweet your blood is upon my tongue," Venom added, sticking out his tongue to mock her.

Words || 629
Tags || Calantha, Rikez
Notes || Let's leave it up to Tori. (: Let me know if this doesn't work for you!

[Rikez]

High above the trees, a single raven circled like a hawk intent for prey. Her beady eyes flicked to and fro, following the path of something far beneath the canopy. Her wings flapped rhythmically, using the air's current to her advantage and her claws stayed tucked close to her body. As the dark shape of a slim, three-legged brute moved below, the raven fell lower and lower. Then, the brute clamped his jaws on the scruff of Calantha's neck. With a sharp cry, Huginn dropped like a stone towards the forest.


Rikez had woken in the mountains. At a higher altitude than he was used to, the air was bitter with the promise of winter. Calantha was gone, and although he had not asked her to stay with him here, he missed the warmth of her fur pressed against his side while they slept. It's best he returned to the trees to resume his duties of protecting Airila territory, however. Spending more than a night in the mountains was unwise. He was sure he didn't have anything to prove to Arche, but he was new to being a warrior, and it was best if he took his job title seriously. In one swift motion, the black brute stood and stretched, his paws reaching out in front of him, claws scraping gently against the stone. Then, he made his way down the mountain and into the trees.

The forest was littered with fallen leaves, and each step he took was a step deeper into a world of color. Reds and yellows flitted around him as the branches relinquished their cover. Huginn was nowhere to be found, but that didn't concern him. He knew she would be close, probably hunting. At the thought of hunting, Rikez's stomach gave an audible rumble, and his ears flattened to his head irritably. He would continue his border control to the east... after he had eaten something. With ears alert for the noise of potential prey, the black brute slunk between the trees, paws trending lightly on the layer of crunchy foliage.

He smelt the fear before he knew exactly who he was smelling. It came at him like a cloud, bitter and thick. There was no mistaking it.


The raven burst from the canopy in an explosion of feathers and went straight for the brute's eyes. She screamed as her claws reached forward towards those green orbs, bright against the dark fur of his face. He was a demon of a wolf, supported by only three legs and reeking of bloodlust. She had surprise on her side, but had no defense against his gaping maw and pointed teeth.


Rikez's mind could only think one thing as the fearscent invaded his nose. Calantha.

The name had barely whispered itself through his mind before he was running forward. His mind was red, his breath panicked. He knew at once that she was in danger. And he wasn't there to help her.

He moved faster than he thought possible, so fast that the moment Calantha came into view, he was going too fast to stop. She was lying on the ground, panting. The smell of blood was already hanging in the air, and Hunginn's cries were sharp and unrelenting to his ears. She had gotten here just moments before he did. With one powerful thrust of his hind legs, Rikez leapt clear over Calantha's small body and landed with a spray of dirt in front of her. The hair along his back bristled, and the fur around his neck made him look larger than he really was. His muzzle was wrinkled into a ghoulish snarl, sharp canines visible between dark gums.

Calantha's attacker looked just like him. Or rather, he did at first glance. Standing at nearly the same exact hight and sporting the same thick, inky black coat, the brutes could have been twins. The only difference was in the eyes. Rikez's bright amber gaze flashed dangerously into the sapphire orbs of the other brute. His nails dug into the dirt as his limbs tensed. But he didn't attack yet.

"What the hell are you doing?" he snarled. Behind him, he could feel Calantha stirring, and a new wave of fury rippled through him. "Who are you?"

---

Count | 725
Tagged | Calantha Venom
Muse | Excellent
Notes | I hope the Huginn flashbacks weren't terribly confusing. I am so excited for this thread omg

[Calantha]

A crushing weight landed upon Calantha only moments after she’d fallen, her jaws releasing the vine and snapping shut painfully instead. The air was forced violently from her lungs, leaving her no opportunity to cry out, even as he rolled away from her. For a moment she thought he might spare, but before she could move, the creature’s jaws were snapping shut just inches away from her skull. She cringed, saffron eyes flickering closed as she yanked at the vine, praying it would release her from it’s grasp. Please, she thought, a list of her gods and goddess flickering through her mind, but it seemed as if they would be intervening tonight.

Venom’s works surrounded her, sticky and poisonous, his mocking laughter and taunting jibes seeming to ring in her ears long after they’d faded away on the wind. He was picking her apart with his threats, and for a moment she was tempted to beg him, but then she steeled herself against the desire. She would not stoop so low; she would not give him the satisfaction. She would die as Auron had, brave and strong.

His teeth sank into the fur of her neck and she cried out, lips peeling away from her teeth as she spun to snap at him – but her canines closed on nothing but air, for he’d danced away again. He hadn’t hurt her terribly, but he’d broken the skin, and she felt hot blood trickling into her fur. She knew that it would only get worse. He would take his time with her, as he’d said he would, and she would regret ever wandering away from the safety of Rikez.

There was a piercing screech that ripped through the silence, a rustling of leaves, and for a moment Calantha did not look up, for she could not stand to hope. But then she did, lids flickering open and yellow eyes turning in time to see an ink-black shape flapping around the monstrous brute’s head. ”Huginn,” she breathed, relief and fear fighting within her. The bird had given her precious time, but she was so small, and if the black brute managed to get his jaws around her… Calantha’s stomach rolled and she whipped around to take hold of the vine once more, gnawing through it with her teeth. If Huginn was here, then perhaps that meant…

As if she’d conjured him with her thoughts, Rikez burst forth from the foliage from somewhere behind her, leaping over her and coming to rest firmly in front of her as a snarl was torn from his throat, followed shortly by a question that was more of a demand. The tiny coyote was so relieved that she could have wept, but the time for that would come later; she pushed herself to her paws, ignoring the stinging pain along her neck as she remained just behind Rikez. ”He killed my friend,” she told him, eyes firmly planted upon the green-eyed monster, hatred and a fraction of fear still showing in her eyes. She'd never told Rikez of how she'd lost Auron; the grief had been too fresh, too new. ”Right in front of me, days ago.” She did not know the brute’s name, and she did not want to; she only wanted him to be gone from her life forever. He was a nightmare personified.

TAG: Venom + Rikez
WORDS: 551
NOTES: Sorry for the wait dears <3

[Venom]

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The curdling screech of the bird was the only warning Venom got before the creature was upon him, sharp claws raking the delicate skin below his eyes. With a furious snarl he dropped to the ground and rolled away, leaping back to his feet as the attacking animal pestered him. His slim paw swiped at air, but naturally the airborne bird easily dodged his clumsy attempt to swat it. Angrily he turned his stinging eyes back to the coyote, wondering what sort of voodoo had allowed her to conjure a winged savior. "Your death will not be swift," he seethed, blood dripping menacingly from the wounds upon his cheeks as he began to stalk forward.

Suddenly another black wolf burst from the trees and planted himself firmly in front of Calantha, his face a picture of fierceness, and Venom paused, observing the ball of rage before him as though he had walked up calmly instead of making the entrance he had. The male clearly was here to protect the female due to personal reasons, not pack ones, and that in itself kept the three-legged brute where he was. Family was one thing, but chosen mates were another thing entirely, and there were many reasons for him to resist attacking this male as well.

They were similar in appearance, though the more aggressive of the two was quite obviously younger and entirely whole. Even if they were matched in size, the yellow-eyed wolf had anger to fuel him, and Venom was not so determined to kill the coyote that he would risk being killed himself. The bird was a curiosity that the older wolf had lost track of for now, but somehow he felt that it was more a part of this than he cared for.

Between his snarls, the angry wolf barked out words, causing Venom to smile. The hot warmth of his own blood oozed its way into his mouth, temporarily staining his teeth. "I was just having a little fun with your friend," he said softly, nothing threatening about his tone, only his piercing gaze and tense stance. "You've interrupted our game, you know. The good part, even." Mocking laughter molded his tone as he fearlessly faced his quarry and her savior, though he had no intentions of making any moves just yet.

In fact, his best move would be to turn tail and run, as he had done with the loner whom the coyote was now referring to, her voice full of regret and sadness and as much anger as she could muster. There was no denying that she had a fierce spirit, but what worried Venom was not the spirit, it was the body that was now protecting her. While he could easily defend himself from most dangers, including furious wolves, Venom was simply not sure it was worth it in this case. But leaving before taunting the pair was unlike him, and so, at an unsafe distance within pouncing range, the older male stayed.

"I've killed many in my time, dear child," Venom said maliciously, training his green eyes on the minuscule coyote with an intimidating gaze. "And I will kill many more. Your sweet, darling friend was weak and pathetic, and he deserved to die. I followed him for days before I put him out of his misery. What an empty life he led." The words were cutting and cruel, and while Venom made sure that he was aware of the other wolf, his attention was upon the coyote only. Instilling fear in her was the only thrill he had left on this day, it seemed, and he would mock her until she or her defender attacked.

Words || 627
Tags || Calantha , Rikez
Notes || OHOHOHO
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[Rikez]

It took Rikez longer than it should have to realize why the dark wolf before him looked... off. With a shiver that traveled from the raised fur of his neck to the very tip of his ebony tail, Rikez saw that the beast before him only had three limbs supporting the weight of his body.

What could have possibly happened to this wolf that caused him to loose an entire leg? Rikez thought as his stomach gave a sharp twist of discomfort. And how did he possibly survive? The unnatural black demon before him perched atop his remaining legs, unfazed by the handicap. Bright green orbs flashed from a face of pure black. He stood about the same height as Rikez, though the three-legged brute stood calmly, giving him a smaller appearance against Rikez's stance and expanded fur. Then... the other brute smiled.

Calantha stood then, her thin legs pushing up against the ground so that she could stand behind him. Her blood still flowed from the gash in her neck, but her eyes gleamed all the same. "He killed my friend," she said. Her voice was shaking, but her words were like venom. Like fire. They punched the air like darts. "Right in front of me, days ago."

Rikez growled, low and menacingly in his throat. From the heavens above, Huginn spiraled down in a graceful arch, landing with extended claws on his shoulder. Her gleaming ebony talons sunk into his pelt until they contacted with the flesh of his shoulder and held on, adding a familiar weight to his body. She held her wings high and screamed to the sky, reflecting the pure furry Rikez felt pulsating through his veins.

When the three-leged wolf spoke to him, he did so quietly, calmly even. There was no anger in his words, only a chilling frankness that spooked Rikez more than if the other brute had been aggressive. "You've interrupted our game, you know. The good part, even." Then he turned his gave away from Rikez completely, and ignored him to speak to Calanatha. The monster wolf was bold in his words, and they were sharper than a stone. Rikez could see the way his words inflicted pain on his mate; He could see it in the slight dip of her ears and the loss of fire burning in her irises. But he would not let anything break her. She was too strong to be bullied by a rogue.

"ENOUGH."

Rikez's roar caused Huginn to flutter in alarm on his scruff. Never before had an anger burned so passionately through his veins. His past was filled with anger and pain, yes. But this was for a different reason. His anger was not for his situation, or his inner turmoil. This was driven by his love for Calantha. Both his love for his mate and hatred towards the three-legged brute tore through him, until he could barely distinguish one from the other. He had a purpose. He was no longer afraid. He was no longer in pain from what his father had put him through.

He was a protector.

He leapt at the other black wolf without warning, maw wide and canines glinting against dark gums.

---

Count | 557
Tagged | Calantha Venom
Muse | Decent
Notes | I apologize for the long wait! 

[Calantha]

In an ideal world, the monstrous creature who’d tormented Calantha would have turned tail and fled at the first sight of Rikez. In an ideal world, perhaps he would have sprinted directly off of a cliff, or into the belly of a volcano. But it was not to be. Even a Rikez stood before her, protecting her, offering her silent solace, the three-legged brute did not run. Instead, words continued to drip from his maw, smooth as honey but certainly toxic, the very sound of his voice making Calantha’s heart beat hard against her chest. A game, he’d called it, as if they’d been playing tag or partaking in a friendly hunting competition. It was unnerving how boldly he stood before them and spoke, when only moments ago she was certain he’d been contemplating eating her alive. Truly, he was a fiend, a creature pulled directly from her nightmares.

As she thought this, his gaze turned to her, swift and sudden. Without meaning to, she froze, his words pinning her in place as effectively as if they were arrows. Weak. Pathetic. Deserved to die. She was shaking her head before he’d even finished, denying his words as memories of Auron enveloped her. She could remember him that first day they’d met, sprawled in the meadow beside her, so gentle and kind when she’d expected cruelty. He hadn’t cared that she was different; he’d still befriended her. And now his life had been robbed from him, had been reduced to nothing, all because he’d happened to wander into the sight of the devilish brute who’d decided Auron did not deserve to live. Calantha’s heart seemed to break all over again, her ears splaying, gaze falling. She suddenly felt so very small, and somehow so very heavy at the same time.

And then Rikez’ voice rang out, loud and ferocious, ringing in the silence. Calantha jumped, saffron gaze dragging upwards to land on her packmate just as he sprang forward, jaws parted, ivory teeth glistening like stars in the darkness that surrounded them. Already her heart was beating so hard in her chest that Calantha feared it would punch through her ribcage, her eyes widening in alarm as she took a single step backwards. She was scared; scared that the monster would hurt Rikez, scared that she could not help him should he need it. She was too small, too helpless, too weak – just as she’d been when he’d killed Auron. And yet she knew that this time, she could not simply stand by idly and wish that she’d done more. At the risk of her own life, she would help Rikez should things turn south – even if she could only serve as a mere distraction for the stranger. With this in mind, the coyote stood rigidly off to the side, with anger, ferocity, and love flickering in her determined gaze.

TAG: Rikez + Venom
WORDS: 479
NOTES: <3 

[Venom]

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[attr="class","pltxt"] Venom would have said more, but his words had already accomplished more than he could have hoped for; the small coyote was slowly but surely realizing the futility of her life, and her friends, and perhaps by the time this was over, she would also realize how fruitless life itself was. She was young, as was the wolf who protected her, but Venom would teach them the reality of this cruel and terrible world. After he left--for he would leave, and likely soon--they would comfort each other, try to destroy his words, but they would fester beneath the surface and hut them every day. That was the beauty in quick, sharp words; they continued to dig deeper and deeper until there was no denying them. Even the most positive wolf would not deal well with the way Venom spoke when he intended to harm.

As the dark wolf before him shouted in frustration, the older wolf smirked at him, noticing wearily that the bird upon his shoulder was moving, though it was only in response to an extreme outburst. The look upon the other male's face spoke of fury and pain, and Venom knew his time with these lovers was drawing to a close... but he could not help but speak, especially when the smarter thing to do was leave. "Your bravery is admirable, if only you would apply to it a less foolish situation," he said coolly, a flash of insolence in his eyes as he kept his gaze, now, upon the brute; he was the dangerous one of the two lupines he faced.

And that danger suddenly was leaping at him, jaws wide. Venom very nearly laughed, but instead darted a little forward and to the side, avoiding the majority of the teeth as he presented the edge of his right flank--the one missing a leg. His own jaws aimed at the other's right shoulder, and then he was past the male, whipping around and stepping backwards, careful to be aware of the coyote's presence as well. She was further from him now, as was ideal, for it would make escape that much easier. "And here you are, continuing to disappoint," he cooed softly, narrowing his green eyes as the dark ball of fury before him positioned himself again. "Surely you cannot care so much about this little... nibble."

As he spoke, the stinging in his stump of a leg came to the forefront of his mind, but he did not bother to assess the damage. It was of little consequence now, and he would pay it no mind until he had a moment or two without anyone else around. Venom had intended to take damage, for there was often little he could do to avoid it; seasoned killer though he was, it was a simple matter of logic to see that three legs were not quite as fast or strong as four. But Venom had made it this far, he had persevered, and he had made stupid decisions and lived through them. Today would not be any different than those days had been.

One difference between today and the others, however, was that the older male did not feel like fighting for his life. There was no winning here, for he would need to first kill the male--which would be an impressive and life-threatening feat--and then he would need to, again, catch the coyote. Even if he felt he could best this male, he had the fury that came with love on his side; Venom had been there once, and it was amazing how much strength came from protecting a loved one. No, this was just above his comfortable threshold, and much more work than he wanted. "Have your little moment, then," Venom hissed in hushed tones, all the while slinking backwards, body crouched but on full alert. "You needed worry about my return. Happily ever after, yes?" And with that he turned tail and bolted, the harsh and ridiculous sound of laughter following him out of sight.

Words || 692
Tags || Calantha, Rikez
Notes || Tori let me know if you want me to change anything! I figured Rikez would land his teeth on Venom pretty easy and also I hate fight posts so Venny ran away like a little bitch hahahaaaaa
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[Rikez]

It was the first time he had tasted the dull tang of copper in a long time. His teeth had just barely grazed the three-legged wolf before he had darted out of his reach, teeth stinging into Rikez's shoulder as the monster brute used him as leverage. He was surprisingly fast for a brute with one less limb, but Rikez was faster. He spun around just as the brute got past him, teeth bared and muscles tense. The bloodlust was pounding through Rikez's mind like a migraine, all instinct as he faced the threat. It did not matter if Calantha saw him like this. He was doing this for her, and he would not hold back.

And yet... the three-legged brute in front of him was so calm. It was infuriating how relaxed he seemed, even as a silly grin split the brute's maw. What a crazed... sick animal, Rikez thought, his mind racing with adrenaline as his deeply amber orbs stared the other wolf down. The green-eyed wolf had a way with words, that was clear. He used them like daggers, sinking them deep into Rikez's pelt. He could only imagine the pain Calantha was feeling. It had been her friend. It had happened right in front of her and he was mocking her.

Rikez practically roared as the other brute insulted his mate. He could see the trickle of blood coming from the moster's wounds, but it wasn't enough.

"LEAVE." he barked, spit flying from his jaws as he snapped his teeth together. He wanted this brute out of his sight. He wanted to be with Calantha. Safe. Far from this ugly brute and his cutting words. "You needed worry about my return. Happily ever after, yes?" His final words as he turned his cowardly tail and fled into the trees. Rikez barely registered what was happening. It didn't matter, really. Calantha was the only thing that mattered.

Rikez stumbled forward, almost blind in his rage. He blinked madly, shaking his great head as growls rumbled along his throat like rapids, bubbling and tearing his vocal chords. "Calantha, he said, bending down to meet his muzzle with hers. "Calantha, are you alright?

---

Count | 374
Tagged | Calantha, Venom
Muse | Decent
Notes |It was great, Sammy. Last post by me!  

[Calantha]

The moments after Rikez leapt for the monstrous brute were a blur to Calantha, who stood still but uncertain on the sidelines. The snap of jaws, the blur of bodies, and then the creature was leaping away from Rikez, and blessedly Calantha as well. His words seemed never-ending, even when he was seemingly in danger, and Calantha’s ears splayed against her skull. And then once more his sickly green gaze was upon her, a color that might have been lovely upon another wolf but that was repulsive to her due to the creature that they inhabited. A nibble, he called her, and Calantha might have laughed had it not been for the thunderous roar that tore from Rikez’s throat – just as the stranger turned tail and fled.

For a moment, she did not move, her yellow eyes watching almost numbly as Rikez began to move. And then he was before her, his muzzle brushing against hers, and something in her was breaking as the stress of the entire ordeal finally settled upon her shoulders. A quiet sob tore from her throat as she leaned forward, swiveling so that her side pressed against Rikez’s, her muzzle buried in the thick fur of his chest. He was the sole reason that she was alive, for had it not been for his intervention, she would not have stood a chance. And even though the voice of the dark monster still echoed faintly in her ears, it was easy to brush them away with Rikez’s steady form next to her own.

”I’m okay,” she said, despite the way the small wounds to her neck stung in the cool air. ”Or…I will be.” Every part of her seemed heavy now, her body exhausted, and after a moment she stepped away from him – though still not very far. She wanted to sleep, to allow her dreams to purge the last miserable few hours from her mind, even if only for a short while. ”Let’s go back to the dens.” It was a quiet suggestion, and though she did not say more, she allowed her need for his company to shine in her saffron orbs. Then she was turning, sticking close to Rikez’s side as they moved. The whole way, Calantha fought the desire to turn and glance over her shoulder despite the way that her fur seemed to itch and crawl. For now, with Rikez at her side, she was safe.

TAG: Venom + Rikez
WORDS: 403
NOTES: Short and crappy but I just wanted to get it up so we can officially end this thread <3