The Ragged Shadow...

[zeik]

Paws thumped hard against the ground as a wolf darted across the landscape. Here, it was barren and grassy, and desolate. The sounds of hooves behind him made his heart race as he bolted across the land. Beyond was a forest, and safety from his attackers. He could feel them on his tail, catching up, slowly... but surely. He felt the woven rope loop over him and he picked up speed to escape it, but it looped around his waste and reminded him more of how little food he had as the coils surrounded him. Another looped around his neck. He could always loop around and attack them, but he prefered flight, though up to this point it seemed that he wouldn't escape simply by fleeing. He whipped around and lunged for one of them, but another grabbed him from behind, and they spread out so his movements would be limited by the tight ropes. Another came around his neck. He counted how many were around him. Three on his neck, one at his waist... that made four.

They were very tight, and he had a hard time breathing. One of the creatures slid down off of it's horse, as he had heard they were called, and approached with another rope and a long spear. This must've been it... This must've been when they killed him. He was convinced, readying himself. If he would go down, he'd go down fighting. The creature slowly pushed the spear towards him. He lunged, biting the stick, but the creature simply shook his jaws loose and slipped a rope over one leg using the spear, walking around so that it looped under then over the other side and walked back to his spot, handing the rope to another, then did the same with his back leg. What were they doing? Weren't they going to kill him? He held the last rop and mounted his own horse, jumbling something in strange, sharp, deep barks at the others and the horses pulled back, tightening the ropes. The ones around his two legs pulled his legs out from under him and made him fall reluctantly. He scrabbled, trying to free himself, but it was all in vein.

The strange two-legged beasts approached. They gripped his muzzle and legs so he couldn't move, a few staring in wonder at his black pelt, their long toed paws tracing around his red hues in wonder, as they hadn't seen one like him before. His fur was ragged and slightly unkempt, and he was skinny, very skinny. His blue and brown eyes shifted at the strange wrinkled, naked faces of the creatures that they called 'Man,' and he wondered what they would do. Would they kill him? Set him free? Make him their slave? They barked at eachother, pointing and stroking the red hues of his coat in question, making gestures that were unfumiliar to him, their pink lips curling back as if they were baring their teeth at eachother, but there was no conflict. Finally, one pulled out a sharp, black fang from his side and grabbed at his neck. No... he couldn't die.... not now... not when he was so close... to finding her...

He suddenly leapt into action, his fangs scoring the hand of the one with the black fang and they all jumped back in surprise, howling in fear. He attacked the men that were holding the ropes and made them release. I'm Free! He was about to bolt when he felt a sharp pain in his side, like the tearing of bear claws raking powerfully into flesh, and realized that it was a spear. He whipped around and attacked wildly, without realizing who or what was around, all he knew was if he didn't fight and kill, he'd die. His fangs ripped into blood and flesh, then into more, then leapt and tore into more. More... more... more... all he knew now was blood and flesh and fighting...

There was nothing else in this desolate bloody world anymore, not now, not anymore. He stopped, panting. The shapes that had pursued him, and attacked, were drawing away, and those who weren't so lucky, lay dead and bleeding over the ground. He lunged towards the other ones of the man creatures and they startled, grabbing their frightened horses to calm them and stayed away from him. Now they were the ones that feared for their lives. Now, they were afraid of him, and that was how he liked it. He turned, stumbling away. He was weak from hunger, and now, he was bleeding. Every step he took he felt the life draining out of him. No... he thought, Don't take me yet... not when I'm so close... not when I've almost gotten her... He dragged his heavy paws onward into the forest, blood droplets dotting his pathway as birds watched and followed from the trees, waiting for him to drop, waiting to feast on his flesh. He felt the spear rippling painfully, lodged between his ribs, but it wasn't as painful as his fear of loosing the she-wolf's scent. Nothing was.

He could feel the scents of other wolves, their very presence, and they were close, very close. Was this their territory? He couldn't draw on enough strength to be sure anymore. His mind felt foggy and his head light. He didn't realize that he had partly dropped, dragging himself, the spear dragging along the ground loudly. He found a small hollow in a log, barely covered, though his scent wouldn't, and neither would the scent of his blood, and he collapsed entirely, too exhuasted to go further, though he still willed too, his body wouldn't respond. He was loosing his life. He could feel paws against the earth near him rather then hear them, but they didn't seem to matter to him. His thought's were on his mate now, that was all he thought of, more even, then himself, and now she was slipping away. I'm... sorry.... I... failed to find you...

[Drathlic]

Aloft a craggy ledge that jutted out awkwardly from the mountain’s side, a young male varg lay, his large paws hanging over the edge and his proud muzzle pointing out towards the land below. Dawn was breaking and sunlight spilt out over the falling canopy, adding to the beautiful autumnal colours that now masked the forest. Cyan hues, which were in fact the ruddy pelted males most dashing and youthful feature, glanced down at the stunning scenery, his auds erect and alert as his moist nasal twitched incessantly, picking up even the slightest alteration in scents on the breeze which wove through his thickening winter pelt.
Life had been incredibly quiet as of late within the pack, and each member seemed to have avoided one another as though in hiding. Though a sun or two ago the Beta male of List had in fact run into his Alpha’s youngest daughter Aiyu. She was certainly unique amongst her siblings, and the only one Drathlic happened to like. Shy, timid and easily bowled over, the ruddy mann simply saw himself within her and felt now that he would keep a close eye on her – willing her whenever possible to go forward in life, to stay strong and prove her two older siblings wrong; she is a strong and powerful varg. At least, with the pack’s nurse (previous Drappa and storyteller) guiding her along in life, Aiyu had a good chance of proving herself worthy to List. Just as Drathlic had proved himself; against all the odds.

Thoughts reeled inside his head, doubling over on themselves as with every occasion he came to the same simple conclusion. His previous court, the Beta female of List, had disappeared now for so many moons he had begun to loose count. Though Silent and himself had never fully announced their love for one another, Drathlic remained troubled by her absence, and longed to lay his cyan hues on her own gold pools. Yet, after stumbling across a long lost friend he had once held dear to his heart, old feelings began to stir and grow within him. For over a moon now he had toiled with the idea of choosing her to be his mate, despite their positions within separate packs, the loyalty they felt towards them and his own unaltered feelings towards his old court Silent.

As the thoughts had been consuming his mind once more, the ruddy male started suddenly with the distant cried of men and horses. Pushing himself up onto his legs, the mann peered out across the land, listening now intently to the stirring below. He knew that there was a human village on the List borders, but he knew they were not a large community and had never once heard or scented horses around their turf. Could it have been invaders?
Curiosity got the better of the warrior and he turned swiftly on his heel, descending the mountainside on nimble and assured paws, each step well calculated and firm. And on finally reaching the rocky terrain at the mountain’s roots, the ruddy male was panting light as he shot off into a run, galloping across the leaf littered forest floor. Though sooner than he had expected, the noises began to grow faint and soon altogether disappeared, and then the strong odour of blood and varg hit him. Slowing himself down into a gentle trot, the brute continued forth, his auds pulled back against the scent of lost life, his head shaking furiously back and forth as past memories began to flash before his eyes and he tried in vain to push them away.
A varg, young though fully grown in seemed, came into his sights and Drathlic slowed once more to a walk, his tassel automatically growing erect with dominance and his eyes now firmly locked and focussed on the injured mann. Approaching slowly he lowered his head and scented the perimeter of where he had collapsed, judging that it was in fact this male who had encountered the men and their horses, and now he lay inflicted by their weapons.
A growl tickled his throat as his hackles began to bristle; awareness now that if the men were to return to claim their prize, his pack was going to suffer badly for it. With a frown he lifted his head and stood back, surveying the scene once more. “Who are you varg and why do you trespass the borders of my pack? What’s happened to you?” he asked with a defiant tone – which often went against the gentle nature of Drathlic. As much as he wished to help this brute, the safety of his pack came first – no matter what.

(sorry it seems a bit rambly. I really liked your post - nice RP work ^^ please delete your previous post though, just to keep this thread tidy)

[zeik]

The black wolf didn't answer for a while. His mind reeled painfully as he clung onto the small spark of life he had left. He slipped into a restless sleep for a little while, though it was short.

He ran on and on tirelessely, never feeling hunger, or the need of sleep. He could feel her... sense her... beside him, running, her soft velvety fur alongside his. Flowers bloomed, opening up alongside his paws as he ran, on and on. The moon shone brightly, his sillohoutte visible against the light orb of the night. Everything faded away in an instant and he realized it was only a dream. His head hurt for a long time and for a while, he didn't realize anyone was there. His nose suddenly picked up the strangers scent and his body, dispite being tired and beaten, moved forcefully as he whipped around on the other wolf, startled. His lips curled back slightly. He hadn't heard the first question that Drathlic asked and he felt trapped. If this wolf was looking for a fight he certainly would be beaten. The spear's end scraped against his bones, like nails on a chalkboard, and sent a quiver up his spine.

[Drathlic]

After enquiring the varg to his name and his reasons for being here, the land fell silent once more. Nothing stirred around the pair and the only audible sound was the raspy breathes of the stranger who lay in a bloody heap before the Beta male of List. Drathlic let out a slight growl of impatience as the varg refused to respond and he lowered his head once more, approaching cautiously towards the mann’s head. It appeared that he had fallen unconscious, and it seemed it had only happened within the few seconds the pair had come across one another, for the ruddy brute was aware of the other being conscious at the time of his questioning.
Suddenly the other stirred, creaking to life with agony and anguish. Drathlic backed up once more and held up his head, hackles remaining static and his tail erect. It didn’t take the ominous varg long to realise that he was not alone, and with surprising speed managed to pull himself up and whip round, backing himself up.

Drathlic was now on high alert, suddenly feeling very protective of not only himself, but of the pack. Blood oozed sickeningly from the opposite varg’s side and Drathlic’s cyan hues wandered down to the wound for a mere moment before flashing them back up to the stranger’s two-toned gaze. He growled deeply and took another step forward, approaching the varg slowly yet not in a threatening manner. “I do not mean to harm you; all I want is for my pack to be safe. Now please answer my questions – who are you, why have you come here and what’s happened to you?” he spoke once more, tone deep yet he held himself together, trying his best not to frighten the wounded male.

(sorry it's not my best, but hey)

[zeik]

The unusual male studied Drathlic for a long time, his eyes moving about, trying to clear his head. He seemed a little more comfortable then when he first awoke, but still remained on gaurd causiously, eyeing Drathlic carefully.
"You don't need to know my name," He answered warily, "I am a traveler from far off in other lands, and I'm searching for something... someone. I was hungery," The male continued, shifting. He was indeed very skinny, and it was easily apparent, though he didn't seem to mind all too much. "...So I stole food from the Man pack, and they came after me, trapping me with woven ropes and attacking me with spears. I killed many of them and found my way here. Then you arrived." He explained simply. He shifted, his unusual red hues changing in their shade many times as they light hit them.

[Drathlic]

Again an uneasy silence fell between the two varg, and Drathlic remained where he stood, staring straight into the stranger’s eyes. As tempting as it was for him to avoid the eye contact, Drathlic had now managed to overcome his fear of dominance over varg he never knew, and in a situation like this he had to hold his guard to a peek. Though the morning had started out calm, a gentle wind was picking up and ruffled the pair’s pelts, whipping the stench of blood into the ruddy Beta’s muzzle. He wrinkled his lips with distaste and shook his maw sharply before forcing himself to ignore it and laid his hues on the brute once more.
At last the mann spoke, telling Drathlic his story and yet leaving out the name. It annoyed him somewhat, but he pushed passed the feeling – knowing it would only cause more trouble. A frown creased his brow as he twitched his brushy tail in thought. Surely now the human village – if it had been the one on the verge of List’s boundaries – would consider this war against the pack for such theft and slaughter. They would be in grave danger, and none of the pack had met up for many moons now to be able to truly know each other like they did before.

Panic began to settle in the pit of Drathlic’s gut and he took a slight step back, lowering his head a little. When suddenly awareness of the fact that he wasn’t actually alone hit him he growled deeply, scolding himself for acting in such a manner. His frown furrowed deeper as he spoke to the stranger, keeping his tones level but firm. “If this happened to be the human village that lives on our pack’s borders then you have put us all in serious danger stranger. If it had been any other member of my pack they may leave you hear to die and suffer for it. But I shan’t. As little food as we have already within this treacherous terrain, we have plenty of hallows and caves for you to rest and recover in. So if you want a chance, then follow me,” he replied stiffly, knowing that if Gryffin or Sudak disagreed with his decision he could be severely punished. Yet he was not offered this varg a place within their pack, he was merely offering shelter and the chance of life. Was it so wrong of him?
A second of thought passed before Drathlic nodded courtly and turned off towards the pack’s heart once more, padding slowly so that it gave the injured mann a chance to keep up. Turning his muzzle over his shoulder he watched, flicking his tassel once more as the cogs within his mind ticked over.

-Hope folk don't mind me harbouring him. We took in Alkiera...and well this could make for good RP if we get the human village up and running again-

[zeik]

The Black male struggled to his feet, limping along after Drathlic. He winced from his wounds, but he already seemed a little better. In truth he had mostly felt exhuasted, mostly from running, and now he had been able to catch his breath. He winced whenever the long spear caught on anything and scraped against his ribs but didn't complain and followed silently. He was a very long, skinny male. Not like he was starved, though he was very skinny that way as well, but his general make up was lithe and skinny. He was still tall and very long, and he wasn't neccasarily weak either.

A few muscle's rippled under his coat and his pure red tail flicked back and forth slightly. His eyes seemed dull, and of course he was exhuasted, though it wouldn't of been any surprise. He looked up as a bird cawed at him from a tree, but he paid it little heed and kept on. He yawned, revealing several rows of large, jagged fangs. He was small, but it was obvious his bite wasn't.

[Drathlic]

The pair continued in silence for a while, only the sounds of their footfalls and the shuffling life around them to be heard. Every now and then the regal varg would grunt in pain due to his injury and Drathlic would peer over his shoulder, hoping to see that the varg was coping alright and that he wouldn’t need an extra paw top help; though he had the feeling that the brute would never accept help less it injure his ego further. After a while, the ruddy male flexed his auds backwards and let out a light growl, glancing momentarily over his shoulder to allow the brute to know he was speaking to him. “It won’t be much further till I find you a place to rest,” he informed, turning his muzzle back towards where he was headed, cyan hues peering up at the looming mountain before them.
Only moments before it seemed he had been running from his precious perch where he could watch the land below in silence and peace. And now, he had stumbled into something new and exciting. He wasn’t used to it, and ever since Alkiera had been allowed right of way within the land to heal herself, the pack had been relatively quiet; other than a shift in the hierarchy of course. What he was going to do with the stranger he had no idea, but Gryffin and Sudak needed to be informed. Otherwise it would be his head if they discovered him without being told beforehand; or at least, the stranger’s head would surely be one to suffer first.

Another growl tickled his throat as he slowed upon coming towards a large pine tree. Scenting it carefully and licking the patch where the scent had been placed, Drathlic nodded slowly before turning his body to face the stranger once more. With slightly hardened eyes, he needed to let the brute know that this was a serious matter, and if he refused his request, then things wouldn’t work out so easily for him. “Now, in payment for our hospitality, it would be greatly appreciated that you now tell me your name. Otherwise, there will be no help given,” he stated simply, falling silent to allow the brute to respond. His tail was held rigid and his auds perked. As each day passed he seemed to hold an even more dominant demeanour.

[zeik]

He stopped, thinking for a moment. He could always give a fake name, couldn't he? No... no matter if he didn't give his real name or not, he'd still be found. He could just brush off Drathlic, but then he may be forced off the lands, and then his quest could hit a dead end, permanently. He sighed to himself, eyes flicking back to Drathlic. "Ziek... my name is Zeik." He responded.

He felt a little stiff, his muscles cramping slightly. Sleep sounded like the most wonderful thing in the world right now, besides finding that he was looking for of course. He looked off to the side a bit distractedly as a squirrel rustled through the undergrowth, watching it hop down from a tree trunk and hop along through brambles and such till it disapeared.

[Fiory]

Kissing the shadows of the undergrowth, lightly grazing through the pine and sicamore brambles strolled a familiar figure within this territory. For three long years, she had called this place her home, guarded it and protected it with her life. Beginning oh so long ago as a younger subordinate, ranking higher as age caught up with her to the rank of second in command, until the death of her sister forced her paw into the leadership role for quite a long run. The matriarch recently speaking had humbly stepped down, and no longer carried the role of Drappa though she considered it her duty as varg, her obligation as stargazer and her responsibility to maintain List as she had for so very long. As the cool breezes turned warm, and summer's heat faded to chill the land, the she-wolf had stayed. Now as fall began to freeze and winter began to steal the earth, a soul continued to wander aimlessly, belonging no where else but here. Her sunshine gold hues watched the last summer roses die and the maple leaves turn from emerald to crimson several times in her life, and yet she seemed to always remain somewhat the same. Thin agilic body made for dodging and running, slipping in an out of shadowy crevaces aided by that blacker then black coat of fur only stained gray and blue along her spine from the last winter's incident and as age began to catch up to her.

For now, the meandering she-wolf had been content perched atop a ridge listening to the wind gently flow through her auburn gold ears, her eyes closed so the light of the day would not blind her while she sunned herself of the little warmth Fenris would have to offer. Something however, began to unnerve her for a time, and her ever wandering paws soon righted themselves beneath their owner traveling back down the peak they had saught to climb many moons previously, to follow an unknown trail and an unknown rising scent. A new feeling, a new soul had traveled within the storyteller's cherished territory and the curious female was near eager to meet the newest member of her land. A song danced in her heart, a smile on her muzzle, that loping gait ever silent across the freezing land as it always had been. Her ebony coat kissed the shadows once more, never disturbing a branch, as if she had already passed and were becoming more phantom like as the days went by. Perhaps the aging femme was seeing her world through new eyes, through ever kinder and wiser eyes, for when she accidentally happened upon a hare trapped neatly and cleanly within a human's snare, her jaws merely opened to snap the rope binding the lapine, before closing once more and her gait continued. Confused though not wishing to endanger her luck, the doe hopped away swiftly, the small trickle of thread left on her hind leg dragging neatly behind her. Perhaps she was just not hungry, though you could never guess with her thin figure, esspecially around winter time when at times her ribs would begin to show and her skin would tighten across her bones. For now, it had not been quite the harshest of winters yet so her thin frame though beginning it's annual assent, had not fallen that far yet.

It wouldn't take long for the pitch female to reach her destination at last, loping in silence behind the young beta of her pack, and his newly accompanying companion. Blood hung thickly in the air from this young male, and although she had not heard all of his story, he carried himself as if her were downtrodden, in search of a precious thing he may have lost, if not forever. A gentle flick of her golden rod ear was given before her light and airry voice trickled out so both mann vargs could hear, a chuckle in her honey suckle vocals and a grin upon her aging and graying muzzle.

"Collected a stragler young Drathlic? Does Gryffin know, or do you have yet to inform her?" Not like Fiory minded at all whether Gryfin knew of her Beta's bold move or not, though it would be a good question to ask. Fiory, the stargazer of List and the elder amongst the pack, would always until the day she left this world, would always hold concern for strangers to her territory in high regards, for it no one else would help the sick or the injured, the Fiory surely would, and therefore the femme loped proudly behind her Beta male Drathlic, and his younger counterpart with a smile of pride on her muzzle; It was clear, those golden hues that spent so much time pondering the stars and heavens, could see herself within the beta male's actions and that alone spurred a sense of satisfactory pride within her. She just hoped that this young companion's stay would be welcomed by her Drappa and Dragga like it was by her Beta...

[Drathlic]

Nodding with satisfaction, Drathlic gave his thanks in silence to the ragged stranger. ”Zeik you told me, and Zeik you will be spoken to as,” he growled deeply before he lifted a paw to return back on the walk. However his movement froze as the sight of an elderly faemme made her way towards the pair. The ruddy male’s blood froze as he observed Fiory’s gentle smile and listened to her sweet vocals. He had hoped that the stranger would have been hidden long enough for him to go in search of Gryffin at least before the other pack members knew of his smuggling of an outsider.
Flattening his auds as if it were an automatic reaction to her previous authority, Drathlic’s tail wavered in a rigid position before lowering slightly. Though the ebony faemme was no longer Drappa of the pack, she was in fact the oldest member of List and still one to respect – whether or not Drathlic was technically higher in rank now. His instinctive sikla traits were beginning to surface at a most inconvenient time.

Diverting his cyan gaze to his paws, Drathlic shifted himself so that he was by Fiory’s side rather than in front of her – it simply didn’t feel right otherwise. Growling lightly he responded with a shake of his muzzle. ”I only just found him on our borders this morning. He’s in pretty bad condition and seeing as we once gave hospitality to Alkiera I figured it would be alright. But I wanted to get him safely to the cave in the mountain’s roots before going off to find Gryffin. You don’t think she’ll mind, do you?” he asked in hopefully tones.
For showing such dominance and confidence only moments before, Drathlic’s muzzle began to feel hot and flushed with embarrassment as he was now acting like a fool of a sikla. What kind of Beta was he going to be?


(it's so bad, but not had a lot of inspiration for this thread in a while. hopefully it gets things moving)