Six out of ten, better luck next time //open//

[Lucius]

//getting back into the grove of things, feel free to join me- though I'm a little rusty//

North to South
-empty

The heat of the day bore down on the world like a furnace, drying up the foliage all around, causing the waterline in the riverbed to fall dramatically. Many Lera of the land would take it easy during the day, chilling out underneath what shade they could find, not venturing very far from whatever body of water that was convenient to their location.
Golden hued oculars fell upon the dry, brown earth- heavy footsteps stirred up the dust that lay atop. Heavy panting came with the scratching of clear nails upon the dry crust of the earth- as his sweaty nose dripped carelessly. Sunken, golden oculars bore ahead, the grey hued mann looked both excited and exhausted about something. Exhausted, because for moons now he had been traveling aimlessly, and had been caught in the dry spell miles from any body of water. However, now he was excited- for the first time could the mann inhale the heavy scent of moist, humid air- he knew it, knew there was water about, somewhere near. Lucius smacked his tacky gums noisily, the last taste of moisture was the flesh of a field mouse who himself was about to parish and wither away.

Alas the brute’s torture had ended as his eyes set upon a stream of gold flowing steadily, interrupted abruptly as he heaved his dehydrated body violently in the cool liquid. Lucius had felt like he melted on the spot, feeling every pore of his body sizzle with comfort and relaxation, his paws kneading the bottom of the river with great pleasure. Lapping the water up greedily, never in his young life did the mann feel so replenished as he closed his eyes, his body silently swaying to the current as the waterline came just inches from the dorsal most part of his body. Flicking his audits carelessly as the small gnats buzzing about, Lucius suddenly became aware of the loud buzzing of the locus to the sweltering temperatures.
It was funny, how something so potentially annoying, could be so therapeutic.

Soaking, Lucius was “stuck in the moment” so to speak, remaining completely relaxed, only stiffening his body when his hackles began to prickles instinctively. “come out, come out- don’t hide,” Lucius murmured in a silky voice, eyes remaining closed- he had no idea if the lurker could hear him, but surely- they didn’t linger undetected.

Running on
-Bravado

[Zane]

OCC: No worries, I'm rusty as well. We can be out of practice together ;] Reusing some previous lyrics...just ignore that lol.

____

I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell
I know, right now you can't tell

Heat waves rose like wispy souls, digging from their earthy graves to reach for the heavens. It was a crisp summer day, enjoyed by most and yet somehow detested by the lithe black wolf. It was not the light that he loathed, but rather the intense heat that was brought with it. The way in which it saturated his pelt like a thick blanket, making 'uncomfortable' the only state available to him. His tongue lulled lazily, excess amounts of drool spilling around it. More so even then was normal for him. Light orange yellow eyes glinted softly in the sunlight, catching what rays still managed to penetrate the shade. He was holed up, pushed back against the tree line and it's broad canopy. But still it was not enough, and beyond anything the wolf knew he would suffer for however long the daylight lasted.

Still, it wasn't in him to let the day pass uselessly. Something had to be achieved and the wolf only hoped such an opportunity would cross him rather then require any kind of tracking down. And so it was that a new wolf soon came his way, walking assuredly and clearly suffering from the heat as he was. The shadow of a varg watched in silence, ears twitching with interest as the stranger moved toward a nearby stream. Acting as if it were the the greatest thing possible, the grey wolf near tumbled into the waters, lapping and splashing in full enjoyment. The corners of his dark mouth twitched as he watched before curving into a somewhat crooked smile. Surly this was the opportunity he had been waiting for.

And then, as if on the wings of a misguided prayer, a voice came to him. Come out... the voice called. Just the invitation he was looking for. Uncurling his streamlined body, the black wolf crept at last from the shadows. "As you wish.", he hissed quietly, licking at the strands of saliva still stretching from his wet maw. The wolf moved peculiarly, slinking about as if in a perpetual stalk. He crouched low on his otherwise lanky legs, head swinging ever so slightly from each side and shoulder blades jutting sharply from his back. "The water is nice, isn't it.", he called as he neared the stranger. "On a hot day such as this?". As he spoke the wolf's words revealed another oddity. His voice seemed stretched and prone to slurring, causing each words to come in a lazy hiss. But for a moment, besides such traits, he seemed completely normal. Ears alert and focused on the stranger, mouth turned in an expression that was not overly welcoming but also lacking any hostility, and tail held low, waving lazily behind him.

It wasn't until he truly turned to the stranger, until his eye caught full in the light that perhaps a bit of the wolf's core was revealed. For a strangeness lurked there, a twisted and coiled 'something' that ate away at his mind. Something that for the moment, remained content to simply shine softly in the wolf's lantern-like eyes. "I'm called Zane.", the male added in that same slurred speech. "Lucky we should meet on this day. Lucky destiny chose to cross our paths." Revealing his teeth in a face splitting grin, the wolf now called Zane bent slightly to sample the waters for himself. Pink tongue lapping hungrily at the cool depths, Zane sighed dramatically before turning once more to the stranger. "Lucky you.", he purred. "Lucky me."

But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me

[Lucius]

//'tis fine, my lyrics are lame- I just had the song stuck in my head : p//

As if to say, As if to say-

A masculine slurry, hiss-like reply seemed to break the chain of locus chirps- or at least made Lucius less aware of them. The grey hued mann almost didn’t expect an answer to his reply, usually those who lurk just out of sight weren’t exactly all that willing to show their hide- usually. Not because of Lucius himself, but rather there hadn’t found many social vargs about, especially since the temperature began to painfully soar. However, that was not the case today, as Lucius was pleased to see. Sunken golden lanterns seemed to gleam as he turned his head towards the bank, his ebon audits erect and perched atop of his crown. Slinking out of the darkness the male’s dark sleek pelt gleamed under Fenris’ hot rays, his tongue lolling from his agape mouth, slopping spit with every step the brute took.

Lucius shook his waterlogged pelt lazily as this peculiar brute proceeded to advance forward, as he spoke once more. This time, Lucius raised a brow to the annunciation of each word. It was if there was something not right in the brute’s head, almost as if he were slow or just cooked from the heat- other than that, he seemed perfectly sane. Lucius gave a small outward grin. “Indeed,” he growled in an unthreatening manor; “some comforts come in only the most obvious of elements.”

With a second glance at the mann, the two’s gaze connected- Lucius didn’t know why, but is sent an uncomfortable feeling down his spine, making his hackles prickle. It wasn’t so much his laxed, peculiar posture that made Lucius a bit edgy- but rather the look in his orangish-yellow eyes. There seemed to be something- almost lacking, yet something lurking at the same time. Lucius took another gulp of water before looking back up, smacking his lips noisily and observing this very particular brute. “Lucky, you say, eh Zane?”

Lucius almost purred, his audits flicking busily again as he took a few steps towards the bank, his poise laxed, yet still his legs remained tense and on-edge. He knew better than to completely let his guard down to a stranger- or rather, any varg he didn’t completely trust. Havoc had taught him that. “I’m guessing I should follow in suit- after all, it‘s only polite. The name‘s Lucius,” the slate male replied “Destiny may have nothing to do with it- maybe pure coincidence. But I guess that‘s a little too deep- no one really wants to ponder that which isn‘t meant to ponder.” Lucius responded again, as he advanced once again, only until the waterline could just lick his knees on his forelegs, his belly dripping water noisily back into the river. “Tell me, Zane- I’m ever so curious, where does one reside?”

As if to say,
he doesn't like chocolate

[Zane]

Running his eyes over the stranger, Zane picked apart the details of him until all seemed etched inside his mind. A mixed pelt of black and various grays ran the length of the wolf, giving him a grizzled appearnace and making him look older then perhaps her truly was. Bright yellow gold eyes shone from his face, deep set but alert. Gleaming with their own interest and intentions. A small smile stretched across the grey’s maw before he spoke, his voice calm and unthreatening. Zane’s own dark lips twitched at the stranger’s words, threatening to spit into a full ringing laugh. It wasn’t that his speech was funny, more so the subject of such words. The way in which they hinted so closely at the black wolf’s own dark actions, even if only within his twisted mind. That was often how it was though. Him living mostly within himself, reacting to those thoughts alone. And the other, whomever it was on that day, wondering if they’d finally strayed too far into the dark.

”Yes.”, he murmured at last, amusement still shining in his eyes. ”Funny how one can find relief…or comfort as you say, from the most common of things. Hmm..”, he slurred pausing for a moment, as if truly thoughtful. ”One must simply know how to coax that feeling from the shadows…how to draw it forth.” And now his smile did extent, pushing up high on his face and causing the skin around his eyes to crease in pup-like delight. For the wolf was grown, an adult by the laws of nature…but when he spoke, when he alluded to his inner heart, an almost childlike persona took over. Zane’s bright eyes would widen with memory and wonder, captivated by whatever he was picturing in his mind. Reliving the moment in detail, allowing it to wash over him again as if anew. ”Oh yes”, he said as the grey spoke again. Zane stepped forward then, as the words left his mouth. His face took on the expression of one about to share some great secret, some key to life’s mystery. ”We are very lucky indeed. One cannot play alone, after all.” He winked, one orb flashing shut in a manner that may have been called mocking by anyone else that knew him. ”And I do so love my games.”

He was pleased to see the stranger move toward him, closer and closer until the two stood only feet apart. ”Lucius”, he said repeating the stranger’s now shared name. ”How unique. And how right you are…one must not overstretch their mind.” Though in truth, the strange wolf was a great believer in destiny. Not so much in the aspect of love and happiness, but rather in respect to his own actions. Because he did not kill wholly for the carnage of it, did not hurt for pure joy. Rather whatever existed within him, the blackness that ebbed beneath the surface, it was this that pushed him toward such evil. Destiny, it was the destiny of those he targeted to be taken in that way and whatever was left behind…that was the masterpiece for his eyes as well as the ‘gods’ that were so revered. And if he enjoyed this, this ‘job’ that was bestowed upon him…surely that only made him better at his tasks. Zane was a wolf of many delusions and this was but one. His kills were beautiful and cherished, filling the gap of his soul that might have otherwise been filled with the love for a mate or family. He would not see the ugly and sadness that made him a monster in the eyes of others.

Again the wolf moved forward, standing in the shallows now dripping water loudly from his saturated pelt. And again Zane smiled, white fangs appearing just below his upper lip. ”How nice.”, he hissed in response. “Curiousity and politeness all rolled into one.” This time it was the serpent’s turn to make the advancing move, creeping forward until the two of them stood nose to nose. ”My new friend”, he breathed, hissing hot breath at the male’s face. ”I hail from the Balkar.”