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 Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:57 pm
Faint black paws dropped against the ground, stepping lightly nearly without sound, and as they slide, the lanky form that carried them seemed to sway to a hymn only he could hear. Gren often immersed himself in some wafting tune that rumbled through his mind. It was his way of relaxing, his way of whisking away his world out of reality, but was also an opportunity for his mind to stop and think. And so he did. Glancing back with silver specs, he stared at the little figure waddling after him. Immediately a smile was brought to his maw, but as he turned back forward, looking over toward their destination, he wondered about the youth and just what sort of family he had built up. Was it even a family at all. While he didn't spend any time around his friend Shezaam when Chocolate was in the picture, he did have the chance to observe his children with their surrogate father from his usual distance, and thought it interesting how the other male played a role in their lives. He was referred to as 'Daddy', while Gren was Father. Did this make his connection with his children any less paternal?
This made him question his role. While he agreed the best approach was hands off, he did wonder just were his boundaries lay, and considering these were now Shezaam and Chocolate's children, just how much could he intrude as the biological father. His kids were all he had. Long ago he had given up on the notion of a partner, having seen that dream not only float away on the wind, but first shred into itty bitty pieces by the fangs of the one wolf he wanted to spend his life with, and now that he was gone and God knows where, Gren had no choice left to him but solitude. His children and Shezaam were the only connections he had left to the world. Without them, would he even exist?
Lying in their world was difficult, especially to pups. The more he thought about it the more he knew he would portray some sort of subconscious emotion and Elijah would hone in on it. Immediately he brushed the thoughts from his mind and refocused on the mission he now had, and that was to spend time with his son, wanting to be more than just the sidelines dad. Swinging his head back, he gave the orange pup a rather amused grin. "We're almost there," he murmured delightfully.
The little body following him pounced along with him, often mimicking his father's motions making a game out of it. Dancing, and music especially, was in his blood -nature dictated it- just as any other instinct instructed the pup. He didn't get to see his father much these days. The ebony wolf mystified him, and the more time he got to spend with the wolf the more and more he grew curious about who he was, and how he lived. Mocking his antics was one of the few things he could observe from his father and keep with him even after they parted - a memento of sorts. At least today he would be able to spend more time with him, learning a thing or two about this wolf who was almost a stranger.
His large awkward paws carried him along, shifting with a slight beat and tapped against the ground with a flavor of tune. Each scrape of his paw, each pivot into the dead foliage created some sort of tune that only magnified in his head, sounding more of a collection of music that was unique to him alone. It was special...and his father had given it to him.
Hearing Grencia's voice settled him back into reality, and with bright emerald eyes he observed their surroundings, wondering exactly what it was that he had in store. "Where is there?" he murmured.
"Where is anywhere?" the black male answered.
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Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:37 pm
They were being followed. Like an emaciated man stumbling along a dusty Arizona highway, the vulture of a wolf wavered behind, watching carefully and intently. He hadn't traveled here with the intention of taking a hostage...it just kind of happened. Yep, that would be his argument...it just kind of happened. This wasn't his job, well, specifically anyway, and if it was discovered he traveled outside his pack's territory he was sure to get into trouble with his alpha. While this would usually frighten him into compliance, his drive to step beyond the border reared its ugly head for the finale time, and giving into his distraught lust, the small male knew this would be the last time he would satisfy this particular itch. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe he would be praise for bringing new blood into the pack. Sure he wasn't Loki, but he could be a thief too, right? Well, at any rate, he was about to find out.
He had honestly stumbled up on the pair and as he had spotted them in the distance he had a silent battle. Was it his right to go after the pup? Certainly as a Brotherhood member he didn't need to waste time on such questions, not needing to think about the answer. But he was different...far more simple than his other pack members. He wasn't weak by any means, after all, not only did he act as mother to the blood of the Brotherhood, but he was the mentor as well, and was capable of teaching anyone that approached him a few tricks that they would need certainly in this mysterious pack. He could stand on his own. But he hadn't set out of the territory to find himself on such a level as Loki. But...but he wanted someone, anyone, to teach, nurture, and talk too. He was ignored by the other pack members; his rank assigned him this sort of treatment in their specific hierarchy, and it was his rank that also didn't allow him to pull the heavy cloak over his ears with pride like the rest of his pack. He was only treated as an equal as long as pups were around.
Keeping downwind from the pair -silence was his ally- he continued forward, weaving through the brush as he followed. He would and he could do this. He would have to...he needed too.
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Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:40 pm
They continued walking until a light breeze accompanied them, brushing past their maws and tingling their senses, alerting them to the intriguing taste of salt upon the air. Now, Elijah had been born into Agua Azul, the sea ridge pack as rocky as the landscape with which they lived, but even so the pup rarely ever was taken near the den site and along the ridges of the pack. The ocean was something he had perhaps seen once at a young enough age that the memory was faint. His father's adventure was a treat indeed. As soon as he realized where they were headed, his tail started to thump against his hips, wiggling so hard in excitement he hardly appeared his usual cool self. "So where is the ocean?" he asked, pouncing up beside his father and looked him in the eyes.
Gren grinned. "If that's what you'd like to make of it, sure," he answered. They came to the edge of a rocky cliff, looking out at the blue tinted waters, the hues fading and graduating into different shades of greens, cerulean, and aqua. The very ledge brushed Gren's forepaws as he sat down, but as Elijah approached, he made sure to keep him a little farther back, not wanting the pup to get to close, because even though a ledge was some twenty feet down, he knew how fatal that could be for the youth, and how difficult it would be to retrieve him regardless of injury.
"It's awesome, Dad," he spoke elatedly. His tail still wagged against the ground, picking up leaves and dust as it moved, even hitting Gren beside him. "How do we get down to see it?" The green eyes swiveled up to hear Grencia's answer.
"That will come later," he answered, looking down at his boy who gave him a thoughtful, but perplexed, expression, "but right now I thought we'd spend some time looking at it first. I'd like to teach you something." The older male paused, pulling his gaze away from the boy. He could sense the confusion in the pup, but waited to add more to his intentions. Elijah looked between him and the water time and time again, half expecting something to suddenly pup out of the larger wolf's mouth, but as they sat, he understood that his father wasn't looking to hold a conversation. When his maw finally opened something different than words spilled forth. A long haunting howl vibrated through his throat, echoing out into the air as if consuming the very energy round them in order to project itself. Higher it swept before falling back down, dancing, lilting, wandering along as though each note contributed to the larger body, building a story as it floated along. It was a minute or two before he lowered his voice to speak. "It's your turn. Give it a try."
"But...how do I? How do I start?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 11:09 pm
Oooo...could he do this? He would have too, he was a member of the Brotherhood, he had honor and pride for his clan he was in charge of upholding. If Loki had the power to make pups kill their own siblings in order to join his pack, he could take a simple pup from a distracted father. He had to do this...
As the pair paused along the edge of the cliff, he hid himself well, camouflaged by his dark pelt and the cloak about his thin shoulders. The ragged thing looked almost as ragged as him. Black nose muddled about the ground, inhaling ever so slightly, but lifted sharply as the howl trumpeted. He nearly jumped as the sound vibrated around him, sending chills through to his core. Could he really do this? What was the meaning of such a howl? What had caused the grim marked male to cast his head out and let out the forlorn compass for the tune?
The questions hardly rapped against his mind as he padded a few steps closer. He couldn't let such distractions pull him away from his directive. Positioning himself some feet away --still downwind of the pair and virtually as silent as a corpse-- the cloaked canine watched carefully, plotting his actions in order for success to be ensured.
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Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 8:42 pm
"Well, you just let it out. Let all of your thoughts and emotions out in one long howl. Feel the power through the souls of your paws, remember the words other wolves have told you, and let the music in your heart take you where it will," he answered him, looking down to his son lightly before glancing back out of the myriad of hues that so attracted his gaze.
The orange pup stared up at his father, his eye large with admiration. Was it really that simple...or was what his father said far more complicated than just a bunch of words? He let in a deep breath, thinking briefly over what it was that he could sing over, and how he could express it. He finally settled over an idea.
Without further pause, the little pup upturned his head, giving a defiant smirk as his maw unhinged and projected. The howl was...squeaky. His age was certainly a factor in the sound of his voice, but the adult male beside him could hear the potential within, and was proud of the effort the little one put into the song nonetheless. It was beautiful; as powerful as a choir of children glorifying the Lord in a catholic cathedral, and Gren was proud of his son. The boy's song was of bravery, of adventure and of youth...it matched him well.
"Wonderful, wonderful," he answered, giving a hard nod as Elijah closed his maw, looking up at his Dad with a wide smile upon his face. He was about to open his maw when something sounded behind them, and instantly the fur around his neck bristled. Sharp eyes stares into the brush, focusing intently while he lowered down closer to his son. "Wait here...when I say run, you run, okay."
"Okay."
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 12:18 pm
The cloaked creature slithered onto his belly; his paws gripped the earth ready to fling toward his target or dart off into the woods if the need rose, but for now he was still and silent. His ears flicked lightly as he watched them, his eyes ever transfixed on the youth, and even more so as he opened his maw. How sweet. But this wasn't the time to grow sentimental over the little fluff ball, not when he had a job to do. He grew perfectly still to the point even his breathing hallowed, and as he lay there, he calculated his next move.
'They've noticed I'm here,' Elapse thought to himself, listening as the ebony father put his nose to the air, sampling it while his ears shifted about, trying to catch wind of what it was he had heard, if he had heard anything at all. 'I need to do something, otherwise this can drag out forever and I'll never get my chance.' He stayed still for a moment before shuffling about until he found what he was looking for. When the larger male's gray eyes turned the opposite direction he immediately flung the stone, wrenching his head to the side in one fluid motion, and listened as the rock broke through the branches of the foliage.
Now all he had to do was wait.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 12:32 pm
"Stay down," he murmured to the boy, who did exactly what he was told. The thin adult slunk toward the source of the sound, his fangs displayed but a growl hardly echoed through his lips. His looks were menacing enough. His eyes focused on where the stone had fallen, wondering immediately if the size of the sound was nothing more than a squirrel, or some other smaller rodent, perhaps even a feral cat, but as he contemplated these possibilities, he dismissed them all and looked instead to where he thought the original sound had flowed from. The way the rock had fallen sounded to him as if something either jumped to that new spot, or had been thrown there strategically.
His days as a soldier had honed his senses, or maybe paranoia, but he found it was always useful to be skeptical, knowing full well that investigating every oddity through had saved his hide on more than one occasion. He crept slowly forward, his solid black body lowered and streamlined beautifully.
Elijah watched his father, having done exactly what he was told, and crouched down beside a bush, having not needed to move but a few inches over to the shelter. He was still visible, however, unaware of this. A certain thrill took him as he watched his dad. In his eyes, his father could do anything and knew that he'd be able to handle any sort of threat that was to come their way. He thought it odd though that his dad was going in the wrong direction. Wasn't he supposed to investigate where the sound had come from?
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:04 pm
'Oh, no no no no, he's coming straight for me!' Elapse realized and felt the fur about his neck bristle the closer the other male came. He needed to move, now! Looking back to his target he was thankful that the pup had been abandoned there and was practically out in the open for the taking. If he was fast enough, he could get this done without much of a fight. Without second thought the cloaked wolf flung himself forward, leaping over brush and bush headed straight for the little figure whose eyes widened the closer he got. Not even two seconds had passed before he was on the little creature, tucking his fangs into the scruff of the pup and raising him up off the ground despite his weight and paws swatting at him.
He almost forgot about the father until he felt the hard ground beneath him and the pup no longer between his teeth.
"Run Elijah!" the black wolf hollered, pulling himself up from the mess to catch up with the already sprinting pup. He didn't think to stop and put an end to the problem, instead he put his mind to going after Elijah and getting him out of there before the other wolf could do the same. He knew what clan this wolf was from; Gren had heard whispers of them for months now, but he never figured he'd run into one considerably distant from their pack territory or even the Shezaam's den site. How many were there? There seemed to be only one in this area at the moment, but how many were elsewhere. Did they already have the girls? His heart pounded roughly in his chest, propelling him forward.
The teal tinted wolf found himself found himself on his feet once more. Even though he was dizzy, he got over the sudden shock of the attack swiftly and watched as the pup ran off and the father passed him. Without a second thought he bounded forward, aiming for the male and the edge they were so close to. He needed to get rid of the father first. If he could do this, he wouldn't have any issue finding the pup once again and snatching up the defenseless thing. A snarl ripped through his throat as he came upon Gren. Though he wasn't too much smaller, and not even a fast wolf in comparison to most, the black male had suffered enough through his previous insurgency that he wasn't up to his old specks. Elapse took advantage of this and immediately latched onto the male's hip, dragging him back.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:30 pm
A small yelp came from Grencia before he clamped his mouth shut, having not ever let the enemy hear his cry before, and he wasn't about to start now. He whirled around, fangs aiming for the wolf's neck, but instead caught his ear and tugged at it to force him to release his hip. His mind worked without stop as he tried to figure a way to get rid of this cloaked menace, and as he fought to rip him off, he noticed the ledge his son and him were previously enjoying themselves by. Killing this stranger didn't faze him, not in the least; anything would do as long as he got this wolf away from his son. Letting go of the bloody ear, he moved instead to attack the cloak. He would drag him and throw him off the ledge if he had too.
The wolf nearly cried out as his ear was grabbed, but he didn't release the hip, even as he felt hot blood trickle down the side of his face from the source of the burning pain. How did the thief do it? He hardly returned with even a scratch? How did he manage to get around the parents? Or was he just that skilled...was that why their alpha praised Loki and not him? Now he understood how difficult this job was; maybe that was because he was going about this all wrong, or maybe because this was his first time, but all the same, he hoped to end this quickly, not wanting to be thrown into any more pain.
As the fangs moved to his cloak he released the male, not about to have his precious insignia ripped further into oblivion. It was the symbol of his pride, the symbol of everything he stood for and just as the pup was precious to the father, his cloak was precious to him. Even if it was the source of his shame (an omega like him would never be allowed to show the pride of putting it over his ears), but it was far more than that, far more valuable.
He snapped at Gren's jaws, forcing the wolf back, but only for a second.
The raven male moved away from the snapping fangs before flinging himself forward, forcing the wolf to the ground with his size alone. They struggled there, fangs clashing about muzzles, claws ripping at each other's bellies, until he finally found the source of his struggle. Ripping at the cloak, he started tugging toward the cliff, practically choking the omega. The hard stone beneath his paws helped him drag the wolf away from the trees and into the sunlight, closer and closer to the edge.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:38 pm
The wolf scrambled to his paws, finding it difficult as he was being pulled along. His feet clawed at the ground, trying desperately to find some balance with which he could pull himself up with, but the father along the got, the harder time he had. When he finally found his feet they were close to the edge. Below he could hear the ocean. Wide eyes narrowed with a spark, a sudden fire within the smaller wolf who through a gasp of air found himself growling once more at the male, and this time able to rip away from his pull. He'd find several new holes in his beloved cloak, but at the moment all he could think of was getting rid Gren. The blood about his face had gone ignored, as well as the various other scraps and cuts that riddled his body. Gren should have flung him over when he had the chance, he shouldn't have ever let him have the opportunity to get to his feet, and this mistake he'd live with forever. The black wolf lowered to fling at the other male, hoping to push him off the edge completely with one final blow. Elapse was doing the same.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:51 pm
They met in the air, a dance of fangs and claws, each defending with whatever reasons whirled them forward. Gren sank his fangs into the shoulder of the other male, and claws at him at the same time, pushing him back with every bit of hope that he would be successful. In his youth he would have already had taken down this nuisance, but the battleground had been something he avoided for long enough to dull his reaction time, to weaken his body to a point where he was a strong wolf by usual standards, but nothing spectacular as he had once been. He would make this battle magnificent if he had the choice, but there was nothing magnificent about a bloody death. He knew this, he had lived it.
Elapse let out a frustrated cry as his shoulder was grabbed, but his voiced as silenced as he sunk his fangs into the side of the wolf. He tried to swivel around, keep himself away from the ledge, but as he was forced back, he could feel half of the ground beneath his back paws disappear. Fear rippled through his frame and in a panic he sprang forward, moving away from the ledge and pushed Gren into the perfect position. Releasing him wasn't a problem, but now he had to force him off if he wanted to get anywhere. He wasn't lucky. Instead the ebony wolf had lost balance as Elapse ripped away and found himself pulled over the ledge, gravity tugging him down with tendrils of force. Elapse was dragged to the ledge by the wolf's weight; he was, after all, the only thing keeping Grencia falling completely. Whining at the pain of the fangs, he could almost hear the muscle rip at his shoulder, and hot sticky blood dappled the ground where he clung, desperately trying to keep himself up instead of falling along with the other wolf.
Then suddenly a horrid pain flooded his shoulder, while relief brushed him at the same time. A large chunk of skin and muscle had fallen with the wolf, now leaving him alone at the edge, trembling.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 6:00 pm
Large paws padded tirelessly, trodden through the foliage away from the cliffs and away from where the two wolves were battling. A pink tongue lolled out of the mouth of the youngster, while wide green eyes searched for some place he could hide, or even better, reinforcement. Elijah belonged to a pack as well, and though he might not have been in favor of the current alphas, his mother was the daughter of the leads and he had some ground within the pack. And not everyone in Agua Azul was cruel. As long as he didn't run into the Queen's lynx friends or his crazed uncle, there was a strong chance he could find someone who would be willing to give aid.
He didn't get his hopes up.
Wild eyes searched continuously until his paws slowed and his panting increased. While he could continue, there'd be no way he could keep up this pace. It was in a bit of luck that he found a hallow tree some feet away, the knarred branches and large roots would give him just enough cover to rest in and soon enough his father would come and find him there. He was certain his dad was able to hold off the stranger, certain of it.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 6:18 pm
The wolf shook out his fur, growing annoyed with the sticky substance that was clotting his fur in uncomfortable clumps. But there was no helping that, and there was some odd fascination he had with the blood as it poured through his wounds. Was this pup really worth the trouble? Maybe if he could train this wolf to the best of his ability, sculpting him into a fine and valuable member of the pack he would be forgiven for disobeying the law by retrieving the pup. And besides, he wanted pups, he needed something to care for, that would listen to him and think him valuable, even if it were only for their childhood. What was a little pain compared to that? Didn't mothers suffer much worse during childbearing, he could handle this.
Turning from the cliff, the limping creature trotted off, following after the scent of the youth, able to follow it precisely with little trouble. This pup needed a lot more training and he would be responsible for it. He trailed slowly, traveling lightly, even painfully at times, until he grew numb to the feeling.
When Elaspe came upon the hallow he paused, looking in carefully and locked eyes with the green specked creature who stared back at first with fear in his eyes. His small frame was shaking. His dad didn't find him, his dad, who could do anything, had failed him. What had happened to him? But instead if drowning in fear, he felt a fierce little growl crawl up his throat. He snapped at the larger adult, ready to defend himself if he had to.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 6:25 pm
"Get away from me!"
"Come along kid," he murmured softly more or less impatient and didn't want to frighten the pup any more than he already had. He failed as a thief. Loki did this all the time without hardly any remorse for his actions, and more often than not made the pups do something horrific in order to prove their worthiness. Elapse was far more civil about the process and wouldn't expect Elijah to do anything like what Loki would do, not until he was ready and willing to do so on his own. "I'm not going to hurt you."
Without a seconds wait he dove in, grabbing the pup by the neck and pulled him out. His paw settled on the body until he could get a better grip, and then smoothly lifted up the struggling pup with careful jaws. Turning, he padded off, moving in the direction of his packs territory, having gotten what he had come for.
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 7:33 pm
It was some time before the wolf was willing to contemplate lifting himself up. His body ached over every square inch, and even worse was his hind leg, the same that had been bitten into and had stained the stone he lay upon. Slowly, groaning, he slid onto his belly, unable to accomplish much more at that time before taking another moment to recuperate. He panted there, glancing up at the ledge where he previously stood. Where had the Brotherhood gone? For that matter, how long had he been there? It was when his mind thought of Elijah that he lifted his head, panic burning through him as he lay there. "Elijah...Elijah, no," he muttered helplessly, whimpering through his words. What was he to do? The ebony wolf was certain his leg was broken, and for that matter he wasn't even sure how to find a way off this little ledge.
He had been lucky. Had not the ledge been there some fifteen feet down, he would have plunged into the ocean below. There'd be no escaping that with his life; at least now he had a chance. It was some time later that he finally pull himself onto his feet, hardly placing down the injured leg, finding the pain of the pressure unbearable. Glancing about, he limped forward, shaking slightly as he moved. The ledge wrapped around the cliff, disappearing beyond the curve for how long he wasn't sure. All he knew was that he needed to move, to tell someone...
But how could he face Shezaam? What of Elijah's siblings? And Chocolate? He had failed his own son, was unable to protect him even though he had given his word. Now he had to reveal his weakness and to the very wolves he wanted to see him like this the least. He shuffled along...heading home.
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