At Deaths door

[Brennil]

Brennil whimpered and collapsed to the ground, he had lost all hope. He slowly rolled onto his back, groaning with the pain and the effort, he then looked above him to see that the tree's canopy of leaves was the only protection he had from the glaring sun above, he was grateful, his body temperature was slowly beginning to return to normal and he felt a wave of relief wash over him. He may just live.

The flies however soon returned to his open wounds and would not leave them alone, infesting his body. Brennil did not care anymore he wished his mind to be empty, to rid his mind of the throbbing pain that continued to travel throughout his body.

Brennil felt his eyes droop, slowly close and then for only a few moments he enjoyed the calm, the peace that overcame him as he watched the shadows of the leaves dancing on his eyelids. But gradually all was lost to darkness as he finally fell unconscious. There was silence, then, like a flash of lightening, he was struck, bombarded with flashbacks of him fighting, viciously attacking another wolf. Pain struck his body repeatedly as he felt the cold steel-like claws pierce his flesh, he could hear another wolfs howl in terror, a females howl, he struck his opponent, sunk his teeth into his throat, feeling the warm blood enter his mouth he soon began choking on the liquids bitter taste. Brennil awoke gasping for air, yelping.

Brennil leapt to his paws, his eyes frantically searching his surroundings, suddenly paranoid wondering whether the wolf was still nearby, but slowly he began to realise it wasa a nightmare and the incessant pain, the weakness began to dull his senses once more.

It was however in this sudden searching that he finally saw the sinister looking castle that lay not far above him, he felt a chilly breeze sweep through his body, he shivered. Brennil could sense this was an evil place yet he felt compelled to enter the castle. Brennil could sense that it would soon rain and he knew he had to find shelter. Brennil began to realise that if he stayed out in the open he would die, and whatever lay in the castle could not be worse then death...

Brennil began to limp towards the castle at a painstakingly slow pace, his nose pointing to the ground, no longer caring about his surroundings he now only cared about reaching his destination.

*sorry this post is a little longer than i first thought lol*

[Anca]

[shadow=gray,left,600]grey furry paw struck the winter chilled earth after grey furry paw. the ground softening slightly at the promise of spring, the ice and hardened ground succumbing to the slightly rising temperatures, giving in to the spring thaw. with each day that passed the sungod Fenris grew more powerful, soon it would be his time to rule.

Anca, with a pelt of light grey and eyes of ice blue, was pacing herself as she jogged through the forest surrounding the Stone Castle. she had nothing better to do, and missed her brother. she had no idea where he was, and Transylvania was a large place to look for another varg.

the wind changed, and carried with it a multitude of a thousand new scents. Anca lifted her head up to the breez as it passed and drank in all the scents. aswell as the scents of lera and her surroundings and the scents of he habitats from where the wind had passwed through, Anca could smell the sick smell of wolf blood upon the air. it sent a shiver down her spine, and it was coming from somewhere near the stone castle. either the Balkar were up to no good again, as they were drawn to that castle like flies to a rotting carcass, or maybe some poor varg was hurt somewhere needing help. for this was the scent of only one varg's blood. that she was sure of.

Anca's undying curiosity compelled her muscles to gatehr herself into a leaping spring, then she raced towards the scent, long legs carrying her faster and faster, flying past the blurred trees she only had one intention - getting to her destination and finding the hrut varg as soon as she possibly could.

claws scraped and clacked on cobbles as she effortlessly sprang up the stone steps to the castle, here she found some blood, and sniffed at it experimentally. her ice blue eyes still searched in vain for the source of the blood. they had to be around here somewhere.

'hello!' she called.[/shadow]

[rain]

[shadow=blue,left,300]Rain was exploring the outside of the castle. She had never explored it very well before, other than just walking past it. She looked at the entrance, and slowly began to make her way towards the castle's entrance. As she walked she caught the scent of two other wolves not far away from where she was, and she looked around to see if she could see where they were exactly at first.
As she padded into the castle, she gave a short yell, "Hello! Anyone in here?" She looked around more, and slowly continued to walk around the area. She kept looking around to see if there were any other wolves close to where she was at. "Hello!" she yelled out again, hoping another would here her. [/shadow]

[Brennil]

Brennil was lying on the cold stony ground that was the entrance to this foreboding castle, the very stench of the place putting knots in his stomach. He wished he had never set paw in the place but he no longer had the strength nor the will to move again, he felt his life being slowly drained from him, like his very spirit was feeding some unspeakable monster that still lingered in the remains of this cold, dank prison.

Brennil could hear the echo of his heartbeat echoing in his head he could sense it was getting fainter and weaker, soon he would close his eyes and he knew that if he did they would never open again. Brennil for the first time in a long time felt afraid, there was so much he didnt understand, he felt it wasnt his time yet.

Brennil decided to make one last effort, he began to repeatedly tell himself over and over again 'get up' get up' drilling the command into his brain. But as he moved one paw to steady himself he whimpered, the pain had made his body seem ten times heavier than before. He couldn't even remember the last time he had fed himself he realised in this desperate moment, he couldnt remember anything. Well he could remember one thing, that howl, that females howl, it had contained such despair and horror. Who was she?

Brennil could now hear his own breath, wheezing, he could barely get a lungful of air past his lips. His vision began to becom hazy, and all the question that were now begining to run through his mind were questions he had to accept were wones that wuld remain unanswered. His last effort was when he crawled his way into the castle,now he would have to die, either that or someone would help him...Brennil weakly laughed, how strange that even in moments such as these you can still find hope.

Brennil suddenly stopped his weak chuckles to suddenly realise he had heard something. Had it been a voice? Brennil ignored these thoughts, he was hallucinating now....no that was a voice! Two voices! Both calling out, did they know he was here? Brennil tried to yelp, whimper, howl, anything as a way of replying, to make them know he was there. But it seemed that even his voice had forgotten its function. Brennil lay there, his whole body tense, rigid, waiting and hoping that they would keep searching for him.

[Anca]

[shadow=gray,left,600]Anca's ears pricked skywards as she heard another faemme yell for attention, and after the silence after their cry faded, a strange farway meloncholy chuckle.

the smell of blood seemed vaguely masculine, and the note in the call sounded healthy, the calling varg was not the one she was seeking. she put the injured varg first on her list of priorities and ran up the few remainign steps of the slope and across the wooden drawbridge into the cobble courtyard of the castle, where her eyes landed upon the wounded figure of a male lying in a daze upon the floor. his form covered in blood and open wounds. Anca let out a yelp of concern and rushed over. she nudged and licked his maw to give some form of comfort and let him know that someone had found him. then raised her grey muzzle to the sky and let out a bark to the other wolf.

'im Anca' she said to the wounded male, 'try to stay awake.' she gently licked up wound in effort to clean it and chase away the flies that were trying to land, feed or lay eggs. digusting creatures Anca had no time for. she had never done anything of this sort before, and she was no pack healer, her maw was already stained in this mann's blood. bloodied as her mind wondered whether she was doing the right thing or not.[/shadow]

[Brennil]

Brennil gasped slightly in shock as he heard a voice whisper into his ear 'stay awake'.

He slowly opened his eyes his eyelids had become slightly stuck due to the warm sticky tears that had uncontrollably fallen from them, he looked up to realise he was now staring into the warm, kind eyes of a female wolf. T he voice echoed in his mind and he realised that in this very moment, in his most desperate hour of need, no voice would ever sound that beautiful again.

Brennil smiled meekly at her, and with all his might uttered the words 'Thank you' his voice raw and barely audible. He could now dimly sense that she was licking clean his infected wounds, and then it suddenly hit him were he was,the castle. Every muscle in his body tensed with fear and hate. Brennil then remembered the other wolf he had been waiting for, before he had lost all consciousness; his whole body having practially shut down due to nervous exhaustion. where was that other wolf now?

Brennil felt that wave of paranoia wash over him again, his muscles began to spasm, twitch with nerves, he didnt know what was wrong with him but he knew he wanted to get away from the castle, the smell of his own blood, of death overpowering.

Brennil looked hopelessly at the female wolf one of gratitude still, but now with a hint of panic in his eyes.

[rain]

[shadow=Blue,left,300]Rain looked up as she caught a scent of something, the smell of blood from a male wolf. She tracked the wolf down looking for where he may be lying. Something in her mind kept telling her to keep going, as another part told her to turn away. She decided to keep searching, and she felt she had made the right choice. She had always hated the thought of a wolf alone and injured with no one to help them.

She padded through the castle following the scent of the wolf. She kept looking around, and soon she approached an area where two wolves were at. One was a female and trying to help an injured male lying on the ground. She padded up towards them, and looked down at the male. "Keep awake, and stay breathing." she said towards the male. She turned to the female wolf, and saw she was trying to clean the male's wound. Rain started to chase away any flies she saw that were trying to get near the wolf. [/shadow]

[Anca]

[shadow=gray,left,600]Anca looked up helplessly at the faemme who had joined them, then looked back down at the mann with an even more helpless look in her eyes, he had started to spasm, and there was nothing she could do.

'what's your name?' she asked admist cleaning his wounds, trying to keep his mind occupied, maybe thats what he needed, to take his mind off his current situation, conversation to take his mind off the pain, this horrid place, and his injuries. 'im Anca,' she said, then realised she had already introduced herself. 'but i've already said that, and this is...?' she looked up questioningly at the other faemme, waiting for her to add her name. 'anyway, we're here to help you, and you're going to be alright' she said calmly in the most soothing voice she could muster. she could taste his blood on her pinky tongue, and it was making her feel nauseous.

'do you want any food? water?' Anca felt she was being silly, this wolf could probably hardly talk. maybe if she jsut talked? 'i ahve a brother, his name is Moth, do you ahve any family? or a pack? Rain? do you ahve a family or a pack?' Anca looked up, and almsot shurgged, she was on the verge of panicing herself. she had absolutely no idea what she was doing, andf was most probably going the wrong way about it all...[/shadow]

[Brennil]

Brennil heard the female wolf Anca panicking, her voice clear yet hurried.

He looked up to suddenly notice the other wolf, whos arrival he had only previously, and for some strange reason had feared and at first as he watched her he thought the wolf was dancing around him only to realise, with somewhat relief, she was kindly swatting the flies away from his wounds.

Brennil lay there and relaxed, the company of these two wolves was soothing in way and their good will towards him seemed to counter the bad atmosphere that still seemed to emanate from the castle that constantly loomed above them.

Brennil began to feel Anca's words seep into his mind her warm voice circulating in his head, they seemed to null the pain in some way so he lay back and allowed his strength to slowly come back to his tired body.

Brennil was a strong, proud wolf one who wouldnt wish to be found by strangers in such a vulnerable position as the one he suddenly found himself in now, so as Anca's questions were still being asked, he muttered 'wait', but not sure whether she could hear him he lifted his head very slowly from the cold soil, his head seeming to be weighed down by his very need to be what he once was, he turned towards Anca and the accompanying wolf and repeated his command, hushed yet sincere, 'wait'.

Brennil had felt his senses returning to him and now he knew that he had to stand up, knew he had to do something for he still felt that tinge of panic and dread about this strange place.

Brennil not sure whether the other two wolves had stopped what they were doing began to force himself to stand summoning all the strength that had only just returned to him and slowly ever so slowly he lifted himself up onto his front paws. Brennil grunted and groaned, his muscles straining under the weight. He then slowly leant back onto his back paws to find himself in a crouching position, his back legs wobbling, threatening to buckle but after a few moments of baited breath he found he could stretch and comfortably stand.

Brennil smiled triumphantly. He was proud that he had stood up in what seemed to him such a short space of time. Looking at the fellow two wolves he bowed his head with respect and gratitude, took a few steps towards the castles entrance/exit to only feel a wave of nausea come over him, his legs collapsing beneath him leaving Brennil once again lying on the floor.

Brennil giving out one last desperate sigh closed his eyes and allowed unconsciousness to overcome him......

[Anca]

[shadow=gray,left,600]Anca stopped as she heard him whisper something the first time, it could have been wait, gate or something else. she definately heard it the second time, and stepped back to let him room for whatever he was going to do. she waited patiently whilst he tried to stand, and grinned in triupmh for the varg as he stood, obviously he was better than she had originally thought.

she walked closer again with her tail wagging, pleased that he was going to be fine, but let out a yelp of concern as he toppled to the floor again. he nudged him his her grey muzzle, bloodied with his blood from cleaning his wounds and whimpered softly. he was unconscious.

'Rain, he's unconscious' she whimpered turning to the other faemme, 'what should we do?' [/shadow]

[Brennil]

Brennil was happy, he was laughing, he could see her face, so beautiful to him; almost goddess-like. He gazed into her eyes, seeing his face reflected back in them he could see himself, young, vibrant, strong and just...happy. Brennil laughed playfully and chased her through the woods, her laughter bouncing from tree to tree, the birds singing in appraisal, for her laughter truly was like listening to a sweet lullaby. Brennil didnt want this to end..but he couldnt help but notice that they were entering a rather dark, sinister looking area of the woods, and he felt threatened.

As he ran he quickly looked around him, he could see a fog was forming, beginning to rise from the forest floor, he didnt want to lose her, he decided to stop and call for her as he suddenly realised her laughing had stopped, the birds were no longer singing.

'RAMOTH?!'....no reply....he looked, he searched frantically, where had she gone? He began to run and didnt stop running, he cried her name out over and over again but again no reply. As he continued to sprint in this one direction he began to notice, his running pace was decreasing rapidly, his body begining to tire, his muscles screaming for oxygen, his legs felt like they were ploughing through pools of quicksand. Brennil felt his heart banging against his chest what was happening to him?! Panic made him realise as he seacrhed his surroundings that everything was black. A black curtain was beginning to descend om him and he could already feel himself suffocating.

Brennil collapsed to the ground muttering her name over and over again as his last breath was taken from him...'Ramoth.....'

Brennil awoke, gasping for air. His eyes rolling in his head, panic and loss overwhelming. Despair and anger soon took hold of him and slowly he crawled his way to the gates, the castles gate that will lead to freedom, he was not going to die here in this place were too many memories were coming back to haunt him.

Paw by paw he pulled his whole body towards the exit at an excruciatingly slow pace but he was going to make it even it meant death he was at least not going to die in this wretched place.

Brennil realising that the other two wolves must be watching him in pity, fuelled his effort to keep moving, for pity was what he hated the most. Brennil finally after a long crawl his underbelly cut to shreds, lay on the forest path and waited for his strength to return to him he was going to walk away from this place, not crawl. Not anymore. He had the right to know to remember what had happened to him...he had to know....

Brennil lay on the ground for what seemed hours, after this long interval he sat up and with a detemined face, his heart seeming to hve stopped beating, his body no longer of flesh stood, no grimace or sound escaping from his lips. He walked towards the castle, whatever evil lay inside, he was going to face it he had a feeling that whatever he had forgotten, all his memories, were trapped in that castle, he no longer feared death for he had seen it face to face and he had seen beauty face to face, and he knew that the beauty of that wolf whos image was still imprinted on his mind was worth fighting for.

Brennil walked steadily up the slightly sloped ground, his legs however were still weak his wounds still sore but now he chose to ignore them, strong will was all he had left. He sat before the two wolves who he was still grateful for and said, 'hello, my name is Brennil i wish to thank you two for helping me before, i would surely have died if it were not for you two, i am indebted to you both.'

[Ramoth]

Panic filled her to the brim, her eyes stung with the urge to cry. Her folorn howls had gone unheard, or perhaps just unheeded as she threw them with wild abandon up towards the sky in the hopes he might hear her. She had known from that first moment something was wrong. It was impossible to describe, her sixth sense had just brought her to a halt and she knew, every fibre of her very being knew that somewere out there Brennil needed her.

She was growing desperate, she just had to find him, her Brennil needed her and she wasnt there for him. Agony lanced through her at the very thought of not being there when he needed her most. Her small agile form raced through the darkness of the woods, no longer did she bother with organised searching, and zig-zagging, now she just ran as her senses told her. If it was her sixth sense that had known he was in trouble, perhaps it would know where too. It was her only hope, she could see no other way to find him.

She didnt notice the darkening feel of the woods, the increasing silence around her as she headed, unknowingly, straight for the castle. She forced her body on faster, urging every ounce of speed from her lithe, small frame. She didnt bother to dodge round obstacles and instead leapt clear over them, sometimes having to leap up, and stand for a fraction of a second before leaping back down off the other side. Nothing slowed her breakneck race through the silent forest in her haste to find the one she loved. Her breath came in ragged short gasps but still she pushed onwards.

She felt the hair across the back of her neck stir slightly and for the first time she took in her surroundings, the utter silence. She shivered slightly, wondering where her reckless chase had brought her, but still something urged her on forwards. She padded forwards at a brisk trot, her body held low, her muscles tensed, ready for another burst of speed if danger showed. Her ears flicked back and forth at every noise. Ramoth was too small to fight her own battles and besides, she was an incredibly peace loving creature, avoiding violence whenever possible. She barely knew how to fight, Brennil had always been there at her side to protect her when there were any problems, but now... it was he with the problem and she wasnt there for him.

The castle loomed up ahead and she stopped, staring up at it. Somehow she knew he was there somewhere. Tipping back her head to the sky she howled once more. It was a howl of relief, it was a howl to let him know she was coming and it was a howl of thanks to the gods for helping her find him. She trotted hurriedly through the forbidding gates, lifting her nose, testing the air, trying to work out where he was. Her heart missed a beat and her breath caught in her throat as she caught the scent of blood. She knew without having to think it was Brennil's blood. Suddenly fear that she was too late constricted her chest and she bounded forwards once more, barking into the empty air. "BRENNIL?! My love!! My darling Brennil I am here!!"

[Brennil]

Brennil slowly stood and bowed his head to the two wolves who still sat before him, a sign of showing his respect and gratitude, it was something he did not do often.

Brennil sighed wearily and faced the isolated castle, he could practically hear his muscles creaking under the strain of his body as he turned towards his destination. He summoned all the strength he could find and slowly plodded his way towards the hill which would take him to his memories, to the monstrous presence that seemed to be trapped within the stony prison.

Brennil grit his teeth as his stomach churned with fear, as he began to feel nauseous, as everything swam before his eyes, he was already beginning to lose focus. All he could smell was the dried patches of blood that seemed to cover his entire body. If you could call it that. His once muscular, powerful body was now nothing but a shadow of what it once was, his fur seeming more mangy then thick, his bones now protruding, no strong muscle seeming to be evident. He seemed to be wasting away, more of him disappearing as he drew closer to that oppressive castle.

Brennil now at the foot of the hill sat back down his body already weary and he could still see the other two wolves, they seemed to be so close by. Brennil looked up at the sky trying to retain consciousness, the clouds above dark and depressing he could not seem to find light, hope. But then the image of Ramoth flashed across his mind once more and he felt his soul lift, he suddenly remembered his purpose and taking another heartfelt sigh he took one step upwards, then two then three and soon he found himself bounding up the hillside, his face becoming determination itself, his face grim yet hardy nothing was going to stop him fro entering that castle!

Brennil by the time he had reached the top however, stumbled and lay down on the cold ground, he felt like all the energy was being sapped out of his body, this place truly was evil but how and why he didnt know. He picked himself up again now allowing his groans of pain to be heard, and stared at the castles large entrance. Brennil couldnt help but shiver, his weak body seeming to reject its surroundings, he wanted to be anywhere but where he was now. Brennil turned round almost saying a quiet goodbye to the world that he felt he would never see again, then bowing his head, he strode toward the gloomy interior of what he thought to be, his tomb.

Then, all of sudden, he stopped, one step away from entering, he heard a howl, a howl that seemed to resonate and echo within his very body. why did it seem so familiar? Brennil began to wonder whether he was hallucinating in his ill state and decided to ignore it, ready to take that final step he suddenly stopped again. That image of Ramoth's face would not leave hm alone, Brennil began to hope, began to wonder.

Brennil ran back to the edge of the hilltop and looked down below. Nobody other than the two wolves seemed to be there he sighed and almost laughed at himself, she wouldnt be alive, he lost her, she was dead because of him. Brennil turned his back and was about to leave when he saw from the corner of his eye another wolf enter the castle's grounds. He looked down below not quite sure what he was expecting to see, only to suddenly feel his heart stop beating. For just those few seconds. 'Ramoth....' Brennil gasped in shock.

It couldnt be, no he was imagining he had to be....Brennil didnt know what to do he wasnt even that certain it was her as he was only seeing this wolf from a distance. Then he heard hisname travelling on the breeze the only words he caught were, 'my love' and his own name.

Brennil knew. It was Ramoth.

Brennil ran, rolled , stumbled, down the hillside calling her name. " RAMOTH!!" he cried. Tears falling from his eyes no longer ashamed to let them fall, he laughed joyfully as he ran toward her. She'd found him after him wanting to find her! As he ran toward he found himself not only surprised at her sudden appearance but his energy he now seemed to have relentless energy that would not cease until he was in the comforting presence of his once long lost love.

"Ramoth!!" not even thinking he pounced upon the poor defenceless Ramoth and licked her muzzle and nuzzled her neck shouting for all to hear "YOUR ALIVE!!" this cannot be real i thought you were dead! oh if this is a dream i do not want to wake!" Then realising what he was doing he became self-conscious and stepped off Ramoth, "im so sorry...im just so glad..." Brennil barely able to see her through the tears shyly licked her once more on the muzzle.

[Ramoth]

Ramoth suddenly caught sight of the two vargs and her hope dwindled. Perhaps she had just imagined it all, her hope at finding him had just created imaginings. That spark of hope withered and died as she slowly padded towards them, her head dropping slightly. He was alone and without her and she wouldn't find him. Now now, not ever. The agony of the thought of never seeing him again filled her, she wanted to cry, to howl out to the world, let them all know of the pain that threatened to rip her apart.

That was when she heard the faint shout of her name. She frowned, it couldnt be... hope once more stirred in her breast and she lifted her downcast head, turning her eyes back up to the great castle. There on the hillside, racing down towards her was a black varg. It was Brennil. She half laughed, half cried from the sheer relief of seeing him alive and at least well enough to be on his four feet.

she laughed aloud as he threw himself at her, letting herself be tumbled and licking his muzzle just as enthusiastically and lovingly as he licked hers. Her eyes sparkled with life and happpiness at being reunited once more with Brennil.

Ramoth stood once more as he stepped off her and laughingly she licked his muzzle affectionately, nuzzling up against his neck, "There is nothing to apologise for Brennil..." She smiled at him lovingly, her happy smile never fading from her maw.

It was only then that the smell of Brennil's blood returned to her memory and she finally noticed the wounds covering his body, and the gaunt look of his frame. Worry filled her and she carefully licked at the nearest wound. "What happened? Oh my Brennil, what did they do to you?"

[Anca]

[shadow=gray,left,600]Anca understood nothing of what was going on now, for she knew nothing of this varg's past. she was a stranger on the outside of the circle as all these events unfolded, and this varg seemed alot better, seemed to forget his injuries as the faemme appeared. Anca was glad, at least he seemed better now, maybe he had refound his reason to live? she didnt know. but as the faemems last question penetrated her awareness Anca looked down guiltily, she had done nothing wrong, but she was aware of how it all looked. she, the daughter of a Drappa, was easily capable of fighting to make someone maybe look like Brennil did, and she did not know his fighting abilities. and here she stood, looking down att he cobbles with her muzzle covered in blood. it stung her pride that it looked this way, and a fierceness grew inside her that she knew belonged to her brother, for that was how he usually acted. on rashness and emotions such as anger. her lip twitched almost to a snarl but she contained it. she licked her maw slowled and carefully and looked the faemme in the eye. all the worry she had felt for the mann was gone, he seemed safe now, and now she could retire to a place where she could be herself again, and wash away the blood.

in fact, Anca knew of jsut the place. remembering it from the time when she had her brother had had many adventures whilst exploring the castle. some Anca didnt want to remember, but she didnt feel no fear of this place by daylight. she stalked over to the stables, where rainwater had collected in a trough, falling in from a hole in the roof. she lapped at the water and dunked her muzzle into the stagnent water, taking it out and pawing at it with her paw in attempt to clean it. the blood that had been drying was now mixed with water, and dripping onto the dusty cobbles. and very soon she had herself clean. then she turned, and went back to the courtyard. she dipped her head ever so slightly to all who graced the castle with their presence, and slowly slipped back the duo and out into the lands of transylvania.[/shadow]