[J] The Exodus: V 2.0

[Werewolf]

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.RP: Phib/Amelie/Rage "After threats fade."  

[Werewolf]

Quote:

RP: Ava/Phib
"He's crazy."

As much as he willed it, summer did not seem to be passing as quickly as he’d like. It lingered in hot, humid boughts in the late night and early morning- and then a burning come midday. Although the occasional rains brought some relief, they did little to ease, and even less to fix the humidity which caused his thick coat to bunch unpleasantly. But as in all things, Phib balanced his time of groaning under the force of the earth with keeping himself busy. And there were always things keeping him busy.

The long black wolf moved in a slow, intentful manner with his ears arched forward and the end of his tail swaying at the height of his midsection. He had a mind to go seek out a pair of lones he’d heard Logan had taken some sort of attraction to. He had no problem with the relationship- should there have been one, but he liked to know who his wolves were involved with. That and the fact that he didn’t need much pressure to go visiting some ladies. But half expecting Audi or Amélie to bound up anytime soon; he paced more then he walked in any particular direction.

Always things to be done. That’s how it was with him and yet he feigned wanting some time for peace. Hah- That was a lie. Peace was fine, but these little dramas kept him going and buzzing. It didn’t do well for his grey hairs however- he’d had to have gotten at least three moving around like this.

Such a brooder. A voice slid across his mind. It was faint- and more likely that she was far off in the opposite angle he was. On the beach, She remarked, and he shook his head gruffly. Why have a conversation when she knew what he was going to say?

And although he didn’t answer her, he did pull a grin across his muzzle. It was pleasant company enough.

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Independance, Avariella decided, was a beautiful thing. She missed her uncle Zedekiah a great deal, a great deal indeed, but the first time she made a kill all by herself she knew she was self-sufficient. She couldn't be more proud. All the meat she could catch, all to herself. Moreover, she hadn't seen another wolf in ages. There wasn't a soul about to bother her. Yes, life was sweet.

She was a little older and a little wiser now than she once had been, though she was still a bit of a grump and most definately still a lover of solitude. She had also managed to retain most of her childlike curiosity, though she now approached it in a cynical way. At the time being, she was following her nose and the trail of a curious and unfamiliar smell. Her only real hope that it was at least something she could catch and eat. Insistantly, her stomach growled at her at this thought. She ignored it. She wasn't about to take orders from anybody, not even her own body.

In the distance, at the head of the trail, she saw a flicker of black. Now certainly that must be whatever it is she's after. Ava dropped low and wove stealthily between trees, tracking every sign of movement with her brown eyes. Finally the trees began to thin and she came upon a clearing. It was there, from behind, that she caught full sight of what had once been her prey. "Oh crap," she uttered under her breath. She tried to slink backward into the woods before the scar-laden male could detect her.

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He’d become faintly aware that someone was sneaking up on him about a minute before the female made her faulty flush. (Mostly due to the fact that a certain seer had started giggling in his head). Phib had tolerated the presence for the moments, walking steadily on in the same patterned manner he always did- but since he was downwind, he did angle a pale green eye in the direction of the approaching creature. A flicker of grey-ish black, then nothing. Possibly Audi- but she never took to p***y-footing around him; or anyone for that matter. Whatever the creature was, it didn’t strike an alarm in him, and a faint grin crossed his maw as he strode.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of her suddenly jumping out, cursing, and dancing away in one surprisingly quick motion. Phib had felt it better not to acknowledge it- but she had moved fast enough for him to compulsively turn his head all the way around. Subsequently ruining any amount of stealth either of them seemed to boast.

She was still slinking when he spoke, and he swayed the end of his tail in interest. “Change your mind?” his thick voice rumbled somewhat amiably. From here he could see that this was a strange sort of wolf- he hadn’t seen her before. Not that he boasted to know all the wolves in the wood.


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Ava scowled when adressed. Drat. Spotted. Oh well, the lucky streak couldn't have lasted forever, and besides... she clearly needed to re-learn the smell of other wolves so as to avoid such incidents in the future. She straightened herself up, made herself taller, and stood her ground solidly. "I was hoping for some prey, not some aimless rhetoric," Ava grunted. Her muscles were locked solid and her tail didn't even move. It could therefore be said that her stance reflected her inner demeanor.

Her eyes, however, darted about rapidly. She was scanning this wolf all over, trying to get a read on him. Months in the wild alone had made her people-reading skills quite rusty. She really didn't know what to think of him. Clearly he was in a position of some power in a pack, though. This probably meant he had at least somewhat of a commanding presence. The scars also seemed to indicate that he may have some enemies, whether by his fault or otherwise. She really couldn't glean anything else from him, though. He was about as interpretable as a sheet of slate. This frustrated Ava to no end, though she tried not to show it.

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Phib quirked a grin. A nice response- he hadn’t expected someone so young to confront him with the same kind of speech he might have given. A faint rumble curdled in his throat, and the old king sat himself down, his tapered black ears jutting forward. “Well, I’ll say your tongue precedes your jaws then. But as it may, I am not much to eat. I am curious to ask why you might have mistook another of your own for food, however.” His voice drawled, and it was a bit hard to tell if he was faking the peasantry or lost in thought someplace else.

She didn’t smell of other wolves either. It was typical of vagabonds- but not quite to the extent she was. In fact, even now, he could only faintly smell himself near her. He’d never scented a wolf that seemed so miraculously clean of other lupine contact. It was odd– but, it gave him the answer he was looking for. He was more interested in what she’d say in response to him.


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He was sitting now. To Ava, this was a bad sign. Clearly he meant to stick around and actually, god forbid, converse with her. She wasn't going to shake him fast, at least. That was now clear. With a sigh and great reluctancy, she emerged fully from the wood, seating her own self down on the leaf-blown trail. She kept her eyes locked on the other wolf at all times; Ava sometimes tended to have some trust issues. Not that this one seemed about to make any sudden moves. He was obviously aging. Perhaps, Ava thought, she could use this to her advantage at some point.

She did not so much at smile at Phib's quirky speech. Her expression remained solid and stern. "I'm not exactly what you'd call 'well socialized'," she said bluntly. She could care less what he would think of her as a proud loner. Heck, maybe he'd be scandalized and take his leave of her. That would be wonderful. "I don't care much for company," Ava went on in this line of thought. "I never really cared about anybody, actually, except for my parents, who are dead, and my uncle, who has left me on my lonesome. I don't blame him, really. Thank him for it, actually."

She could see his nose twitching and his eyes grazing her. It made her uncomfortable. She knew she was being studied. It was a peculiar role reversal for her; usually, she was the one doing the studying.

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Phib chuckled somewhat, and shook his head offhandedly. “Quite the vagabond, I see.” He knew the type- or at least, he had been around more then once. He’d never been the kind to try to dissuade them from their ways. But, he did have a certain affinity towards females which made him linger a bit past his welcome. “But- not caring about anybody. Is that the cause of willpower, or simple lack of company?”

He knocked it aside, deciding that perhaps that had been a bit on the rude side, even for him. “But, it’s no concern of mine. I am Phib- yourself?”

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Ava rolled her eyes a little. Typical of other wolves to try to pidgeon-hole her, or to define her in one word. People were always trying to label each other. She shook her head. "Vagabond, please," she scoffed. "I think of myself more as an independant, at the very least, but then again I prefer not to define myself." She shuffled a bit uncomfortably inplace, shifting her weight from one side to the other. Being stuck here, making conversation, was making her dreadfully restless. She wasn't one to just get up in the middle of a conversation and leave, however; her uncle had raised her too well. Sometimes she wished he hadn't.

She decided, very pointedly to overlook the pushiness of his questioning. Instead she greeted his introduction with a curt little nod. "I am called Avariella," she said, very stiffly. "If I decide I like you, you may call me Ava." Here, her eyes narrowed a bit. "I don't like you just yet," she assured him. If he intended to make her like him, he sure had his work cut out for him.

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“Do defining words hurt you?” He remarked. “Hard to describe what we are if we dodge simple terms. I mean no harm by it.” He didn’t really- although he supposed he had it coming. He had been a bit rude.

“But, regardless it’s good to meet you Avariella.” He dodged the slight urge in his mind to call her by the familiar. But he gave her that in compensation for his remark earlier. “You need not like me, my dear.” The black wolf drawled with a slight chuckle. "I can't say you wouldn't be the first."

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Ava sneered and held her head high and proud at the very suggestion that words could hurt her. "Hurt me?" she said. "That's ludicrous. I simply find them irritating and frequently inaccurate. We wolves are far too complex to describe in simply one word. A vagabond? Maybe... but more than that..." She trailed off a little. She knew she could be confrontational, but she hated to act too prideful or vain. It wasn't that she thought she was better than others, no, she thought herself quite equal; she simply couldn't stand everyone else's little fidgets and habits and quirks. They irritated her.

She was pleased that he had at least the decency to call her by her proper name, and she thanked him for it by offering him a proper nod in return. This one was a bit more graceful, more like a bow. She did laugh a little, albeit cynically, when Phib told her she didn't have to like him. She felt herself loosening up at any rate. She eyed his scars and quirked a brow, proclaiming "Well that's for sure."

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An interesting girl; but he couldn’t mistake the sense of rebellion to being too intellectual. “Are we so complex?” He motioned a bit rhetorically, as he rose to his feet and stretched. He’d better watch himself, or else he’d end up babbling like Amélie did. The concept of his own unlikeableness was more then enough to please him.

He felt her eyes upon him. The scars? Perhaps- but what she thought of them probably wasn't right, which brought a slight snigger to his tone. He got less scars from the real battles he'd had in the past- the ones he wore were all but one for trivial matters-- and perhaps his chuvanistic resolve to not fight with females.

"So- you spend your time avoiding others for lack of company. Any reason why? Not biding your time I hope."

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Ava groaned loudly and pawed at her face. "Again with the rhetoric!" she cried. "What is it with you and the rhetoric!?" Ironically, there was a chance that this question, too, was rhetorical in that she didn't really want an answer. She didn't care why he spoke in rhetoric so often, she simply thought it bizzare... and a little irritating. It was all so idle. She shrugged, though, and let it roll off her shoulders. No matter.

She was, however, a little offended at his insistance to know why she desired to be alone. Heck, that was one of the reasons right there; when you were alone, there wasn't anyone around to ask you stupid questions. She grunted and shuffled backward a little from him as he stood. "The reasons I choose to keep to myself are my own, no business of yours," she snipped and hunched over. It was a defensive stance.

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Phib quirked a grin. “I’ll tell you the truth- it’s because I’m an a*****e.” It was, really. Well- rhetorically speaking, anyways. “With quite a bit on my mind. Best to keep some of it out of there and just speak it.” He purred with a slight drone, and tilted his head to the side. Ah- it would have been better to blame Amélie for it.

“Of course.” He resounded to her sharp gesture, speaking somewhat as though he had no idea she had taken the defensive posture, or was angry at all.

And just as easily- “So many young bitter creatures. So much to be angry at down the road." He tsked.

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Ava did laugh a bit, guardedly, at his comment. As much as others annoyed Ava, she did rather like someone who could admit they were an a*****e when they were an a*****e. She was a wolf much endeared to honesty, considering how blunt she was herself with others. "Well, I'm an a*****e too," Ava said, "but you don't hear me blabbering on and on... then again... not much on my mind. I'm living the good life, as far as I'm concerned."

But then he made an offhanded comment that was obviously directed at her, and where she had finally started to ease into a good demeanor, she now frowned again. "Hey, I have plenty of reason to be bitter," Ava retorted. "I just don't like to talk about it is all." And, as she'd said, she really thought it was none of his business. It really wasn't anyone's business but her and her uncle Zedekiah.

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“Oh- always things on my mind. In my mind.” he quirked. He felt a slight pull in his head flinch, and it brought another thick grin to his face. Silly girl- he could tell when she was poking around in his head by now. “But, I’m used to the talk- and I can’t say I mind drama. Always things to be done.” That and the fact that he simply didn’t hold his tongue.

“I don’t doubt it.” He spoke, shifting the end of his ear. “All the more reason not to be bitter so early. There’s a saying about life- but, I’m sure you know that one.”

Lazily, he stretched the end of his paw, and twisted it to the side. Don't toy so much. the female uttered in his head again.

'Oh- hush.' he thought to himself, and gestured towards the female.

"You talk rather well for someone who doesn't appreciate the conversation." Phib grinned. "There's nothing wrong with not liking people. But you loose a lot not being around them."

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Avariella watched Phib's various twitches and fidgets with curiosity, but said nothing. It was sure making her a little uncertain of her unwanted company, though. Maybe this guy was crazy. Hard to say, but he did seem to tune out a little bit every once in awhile. Things on his mind was right. Maybe the one true thing on his mind was madness. She was so busy watching him with uncertainty, in fact, that she almost entirely missed what he said.

She shook her head hard to snap back into reality, but retained a sort of deer-in-the-headlights look about her. It was painfully apparent that she was distracted as she spoke. "I'll be bitter if I want to be," she droned. "You can't tell me how to be."

Even still, he continued to act a bit strangely, and yet when he complimented her she had to smile a bit. "My uncle raised me well," she declared. "He was a good wolf. Haven't seen him in a great long time, though. We parted ways." She had meant to conclude here, but then hastily threw in as an afterthought, "We parted on the best of terms, mind you. Uncle Zedekiah had enough confidence in me to know I could take care of myself. And I have, too." A lopsided smirk traced the edges of her muzzle; this was her true expression, her true face. "I don't think I lose so much. After all, I was having a perfectly peaceful day before I ran into you." She laughed then, and she stood with ease.

She had only just allowed him a glimpse of her true self, and that, she decided, was quite enough. She nodded once more to him in a bow, and said, "And with that I bid you farewell. Good day, Sir Phib the a*****e. I hope never to see you again." That said, she scurried off into the woods again, racing to catch up with the sweet solitude that she had already long lost track of.  

[Werewolf]

Quote:

RP: Amelie/Zacarius
Go with God.

Underneath the brackish water, tiny pulses of a hazy red light glittered in the hot afternoon sun as fat fish moved along the bottom of the river. She couldn’t see it- but she felt the lines reflected by the water stroking across her face as she peered hazily into the pool. It had been a long time since the small grey female had seen much of anything- but faintly in the back of her mind she could see just faint hazes of shapes glowing in the darkness.

She was getting a lot better at this.

With a smile, the dainty creature stretched, her body bowing against the water’s edge. It was a bit slippery, despite the sun worn grass, and the muck caused her to slip somewhat as she adjusted her position. Blindly she flailed out and caught herself against the edge, her feet just barely sinking into the cool water. It prickled the fur on the back of her neck as she pulled herself out, solemnly peering back in the water. The splash had scared the fish away, and with nothing else living near enough, Amélie resolved herself that the other sight lesson would have to conclude for the day.

Impishly, Amélie licked off some of the water and mud, before arching her head upwards. Something... was pulling in the distance; although she did not know quite who.

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Zacarias trotted happily through the grass, occasionally passing through the small spot of shade a tree would create. He wagged his gray tail behind him in a contented manner, staring at his orange and gold paws as they touched and lifted off the soft earth. It had rained only two days previous, and he enjoyed the spongy feeling underneath his paws, bouncing slightly with each step, just for fun. The odd wolf looked up from watching his paws as he approached a river, yellow-green eyes falling upon a pale female. He flicked his ears and stopped where he was, not wanting to be attacked if he could avoid it.

He reclined to his haunches and grinned, waiting to see what the female did. Playing with the dirt underneath his paws, still amused by the spongy feeling, Zacarias wagged his tail excitedly behind him, feeling rather like a pup playing with the ground. He lifted his orange and gold face again to look at the female, and let his tongue loll, he'd been walking for quite some time, and just not he realised that he was incredibly hot, and tired.

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The squirrel he stalked ran away when it heard his paws squish the mushy grass beneath him. Growling slightly in annoyment, he continued onward in search of new prey. Though he was still quite new to this and everything else there is, he was quickly improving in his hunting skills. He had to, for both Kaida and his own sake. While his sister was left behind to watch their small home, he was out hunting.

His nose flared up as he could smell the scents of two different wolves nearby. Cautiously, the small pup hid behind a tree, observing as the pale colored female made a large splash of water. While the other one, a male, excitedly approached the female. Caiden's puppy curiosity was hard to hold down, but for his own safety he had to stay hidden behind the trees.

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The pull seemed to fork into two, and she had to fracture the connection so she could recreate it and keep the two feelings separate. It was a tracer more then anything else- like the faint hazy glows, she was getting better at keeping control of how much she heard from others. She attributed it mostly to compulsive luck, rather then something she was doing. She never made a choice whether or not to pick something– sometimes it just fell in.

The only thing she hadn’t gotten control of was empathy; although she did not discourage it as much as she perhaps should have. The happy feelings rolling off the hidden male brought a smile to her face, and the end of her tail swayed. “Hehe.” She giggled to herself, and went about what she was doing as if she did not notice him.

Amélie probably would have let the other on his own, as she felt some caution from him- but, when the other stated to come closer, the small female had a hard time keeping her personable nature aside. She liked to say hello– particularly to young ones, and people who meant no harm. Which, would have been all fine and dandy (Phib would have noted), if she didn’t just as unabashedly greet those who did mean harm too.

For as pleased as she was, she turned around somewhat shyly- or; maybe it was just an awkwardness of movement due to her eyes. She did not look at either in particular, or direct her head in a particular manner to imply either of them. For the moment, the child seemed still out of view.

“Hello there-“ Amélie called, her ears flattening in an attempt to imply her nonaggressive standing and lesser rank. “-such a busy river. I think I may have been scaring away the fishes already though loves.” She admitted apologetically.

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The slim gray male nodded his head in the females direction as she called out. He wodnered why she didn't look at him, not knowing that there was another wolf, a pup, nearby. He smirked smartly and wagged his tail some more, happy that she was talking to him. "Good morning." He beamed, gray tail wagging behind him quickly. "Fish? Ahhhh, I haven't come to hunt, just passing by on my way back to the lake miss." He said curtly, smilign warmly again. Wait a second, he thought. Love....s? So, there was another?

He cast a backwards glance over his shoulder, trying to see if the other was bhind him, then he lifted his orange and gold face, trying to catch the scnet from the breeze, regrettably, there was no breeze today. He looked back to the pale female, and smiled again, pushing himself against the soft ground to lay down, ears flicking as he lay one leg over the other one.

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The other male seemed a bit distraught over the possibility of an unknown other being about, and gently the wolf shook her head and docked her ear to the right as if pointing to the hidden child. “It’s alright.” Amélie spoke, and puffed her faint whiskers forward in thought. “You are going to the lake?” She repeated. She had a habit of doing that, and she had a feeling it was Phib’s fault. She knew he did it often when he was buying time to think about something– now she was just doing it out of habit.

“Do you live there?” She questioned, her head craning to one side. It gave her the odd impression of being something a little less then canine- like a bird, or some kind of cat.

Phib might have found it redundant for her to ask questions she could find the answer to. But there was a lot of value in hearing someone say it.


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Zac cocked a brow at the female as she moved her ears. He laughed quietly and then waged his tail a little more. "Yes, I live at the lake. Well, I did before. I haven't been back here in years...Travelling, y'know?" He said quietly, a sad look coming across his face for a moment. Straightening up, he forced a warm smile and flicked his ears. "I'm Zacarias." He offered, wagging his tail again. That was such a bad habit of his, wagging that gray tail...Oh well, he shrugged again, watching the female carefully. She didn't appear to be hostile at all, but Zac trusted no one but God. He gave a small nod as he ran the name through his mind, out of respect for his creator.

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Amélie nodded her head respectfully, catching a faint gleaming of sadness somewhere in the other male’s thoughts. She pushed it away before knowing too much, but made sure to amend herself somewhat so she would not bring about such a feeling again. “Traveling- is very good, yes?” She stumbled, her eyes closing briefly. “I’m not so good for it on my own, but I have walked quite a bit in my time.”

“Zacarias?” D’oh. She was going to tell Phib about this, that was for sure. At least she hadn’t picked up any other of his habits, and just the thought of it brought a soft laugh in her throat. She tried to swallow it down, hoping that the other would not misunderstand her reasoning for it. “I am Amélie.”

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He smiled again, that tail of his wagging away behind him, as usual. He shifted his weight to the other side and then laughed along with her, even though he had no idea what she was laughing about. "It's a pleasure miss." He said kindly. "Yes...travelling. It's interesting sometimes. I recieved a message telling me that I should travel, so I did as was commanded." He smiled, proud of himself because of the message. It wasn't very often that wolves got messages from the creator, and he would've boasted about it to someone who didn't seem as humble as this lovely female. "So...would you care for a walk? I'm not much of one to sit around and chat, I prefer to keep moving..." He said, trailing off because he feared sounding rude. It didn't matter that he didn't like sitting in one place too long, he'd have to get over it eventually. It was her choice really, as she'd been there before, and he was really intruding upon her.

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The small female smiled affectionately, and shook her head somewhat. “I’m afraid I am a bit hard to be walking with.” She got around alright by herself- but when it came to following she could be have a bit of trouble unless she was able to lean on them. It was hard to tell if this male would appreciate her leaning or not. "Running into things and such. Unless you wish to be walking slowly."

“But– a message?” Amélie peeped, and blinked her wide blue eyes. “What kind of message?”

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Zacarias was confused by the female, she didn't like walking? He shrugged it off and pulled himself into a sitting position, flicking his ears for a moment as a small fly buzzed around them. He snorted at the bug irritably and then shot Amélie an apologetic glance. "A message from God." He smiled proudly, wagging his gray tail, again. He lifted a paw slightly, then enjoyed the sensation it created when he placed it back down on the soft, damp ground. "I am very proud to have been a part of his plans for our world." He said, grinning boradly, obviously enjoying being able to talk to another about God.

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Amélie blinked slowly, twisting her tail in thought. “Oh!” She peeped, but, inwardly felt herself start to consider what exactly he was talking about. God? She’d known a lot of wolves- but she’d known very few who had any particular set of religious beliefs. Which might have been why she could not help but feel somewhat dazed at the idea of a god speaking to a wolf.

Particularly when she knew there were more then a few seers that could copy that trick just as easily. Had she been so inclined, she probably could have made a few wolves think they were speaking to something otherworldly as well.

Cautiously, Amélie shifted. “How do you know it was a message from someone like that?”

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Zacarias smiled warmly again, this time not bothering to wag his tail. "I felt it in every single one of my bones miss." He said quietly, yellow-green eyes shimmering with happiness. He was extremely proud of himself, he felt singled out, but in a good way. God has chosen him to speak to, and he wasn't going to let someone else question that. It had been a very rough time for him, and to get the message from the only other he'd ever trusted, or held faith in, had turned his life around. Sure, he still wandered along most of the time, he never really ate well enough, and he sometimes just needed to sit and cry to himself, but God had spoken to him, he knew that's what had happened. He finally went back to his habit of wagging his tail, grinning contentedly at the female.

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She nodded affectionately, and had it not been for her blinded eyes, it might have been possible to see a somewhat skeptical nature in them. She had been wrong to think that this wolf would ever have any doubt. But she hated to think another seer could have been toying with him.

But her skepticism was not drawn on by the fact that he had faith. Amélie loved faith; and she didn’t mind what people believed if it was good and true. But how easily did zealots get shaken when something did not go quite the way... yet, maybe she was underestimating him.

“What did the message say?” Amélie questioned again. Perhaps that would shed a little more light. “To travel?”

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Tail still wagging excitedly, Sac was extremely content with the discussion. Although the female seemed like she didn't want to believe him, he was happy talking about it, in fact, he would've been happy talking about anything, due to the severe lack of interaction he'd suffered through for the months he'd been travelling for. "Yes, to travel. He...wanted me to find something for him. Although, don't know what I'm looking for, but when I do find it, he assures me I'll know." Zacarias smiled. "I was born to do this...I know it, by my name." He continued, clearly getting incredibly excited by the topic of the conversation. "I've been through so much suffering for God, but he'll pay me back, I can feel it. All this work I've done will not go unheeded, that I am confident in." He said, flicking his ears and closing his yellow-green eyes for a moment.

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Amélie frowned, and did not hide it. “Then...you only work so you can be rewarded?” She asked. “What if there was no reward? Would you do it with love all the same?” This time, she was not too skeptical. This was a different matter. “Sometimes things don’t have quite the reward we want when we wait for one. And for a matter like God- who’s to say what sort of reward it might be? Better to do the action and not expect anything, and do it for the sake of faith rather then reparation.”

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Zacarias felt confused again. He didn't understand what she wasn't getting. "He told me I'd get a reward for finding it...." He sighed. "I guess it doesn't matter. Nobody else can have a connection like mine...I guess I phrased it wrong. I would die for my God, and I am not working to reap rewards, I am working to help him, to help everyone. I know that what I'm doing is important, I may not know how, but I can feel that I'm close, SO close to finding it..." He trailed off, tears rolling gently down his muzzle. He wished he hadn't gotten so worked up as he felt them falling to the already moist ground, and he felt ashamed, and embarassed for crying. It was hard to endure so much, and have everyone see him as the oddball, or, in this female's case, apparently greedy. He wasn't seeking rewards, he was looking forward to them, yes, but not completing this task only to recieve them.

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A wave of guilt flooded across her chest, and she glanced aside. She believed him as well as if he had said nothing- but, it was true he’d have no way of knowing about that. She didn’t even know why she had asked it– but, she had wondered. Did that mean she had doubted a person’s goodness? That made her somewhat sick to her stomach, and she shifted her ears nervously. She didn’t need god to give her a mission, although it was much in the same. So why was she so skeptical?

“I believe you–“ She stammered, flinching under the sadness. “No need to be crying, you’re not greedy. I only ask what I hear, yes? If you do not expect a reward, then I think you shall succeed in your quest. Too many of them are broken when we aim for something more.”

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[Werewolf]

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arrow RP: Cellen/Nix/Phib "Strangers."

 

[Werewolf]

Quote:

RP: Amelie/Tyr/Evey

It was a delicate dance- it always had been between them. She stared blankly into the direction the halo departed as her elder sister slowly walked away, Amélie’s dead eyes hovering just upon the slowly retreating hips, and striped tail. The black boot- all traces of familiarity they both called their own, and yet had to share. Had the former not been so scarred, it might have been hard to tell them apart. There was a breeze blowing, and she felt it creeping up her spine. The darkness in her eyes was beginning to take over the brightness that her mind struggled to see, and the hazy halo of a wolf in the depths began to sink into the darkness.

Slowly, she turned- the start of the long waltz, and began to weakly stroll away, her voice hoarse and her face slackened. Was there no dealing with her? What cruelty had she done to Ryukkii? – had she ever? Only the harshest terms she received, and when she offered a reprieve the other female acted as if it was of no interest to her. She refused to believe that her sister was so unhuman that she did not have needs. She could not allow herself to believe in the existence of any creature who absorbed everything around her, and gave nothing back.

Now there was nothing but silence.

For what it was worth- the words they had shared between them had always been slim at best. But their was no denying that they were bound. Just walking from her, Amélie felt the joints in her ankles burn, and she had to flatten her ears to shoo it away into the back of her mind.

She would not take anything less then redemption. But for now, Amélie reflected cautiously on how that would ever be accomplished. She was drawing blanks- and she was running out of ideas.

Dazed into her thoughts, the small female moved- for the most part, unaware of what else the forest moved. Only a slight pulse in the back of her mind toyed, moving herself away from tree obstacles, and small roots.

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Evey trotted along quietly, tossing a glance over he shoulder to make sure that Tyr was always at her feet. It'd been a long treck, made even longer by a young pup, but they'd finally made it south. The sun set slowly in the night sky, and Evey was thankfull that they'd made it before night. She'd spent far too many nights worrying that Tyr would get up and wander off while she wasn't looking. A potential den hightened her spirits as she came to a stop.

She could smell them now, other wolves. One, in particular, that hadn't quite headed off to hunt or off to bed. This wolf was a small female, and from what Evey could see she held no significant threat. But there was something strange about her.

Keeping Tyr close Evey called out to the wolf, "Good evenning! My name is Evey... this is my nephew Tyr..." she lowered her head submissively, not the most confident wolf in the world. "Do you, by any chance, know of a place that'd be safe for us to stay tonight?"

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The tawney pup followed behind his aunt obidiently. She really had no reason to worry, he had no want to leave her side. Whatever wonders he had seen since he had left his home were daunting enough to just walk by, too strange to investigate for now, and much to dangerous seeming to abandon his protectors side for.

Tyr didn't want to be here. He really didn't, it was a childish, silly thing, but he wanted to go home. If he did, he would die, but he couldn't even comprehend that, his young age made many things seem impossible.

As the sun sank low in the sky, and the overwealming smell of wolf that had assulted his senses since they had entered these lands increased, he grew more wary, standing almost close enough to his aunt to trip her.

A wolf. The first besides Evey he had seen in days and days appeared, a small, silvery thing. He had never met a stranger before. It almost intrigued him enough to prompt speach. However, he decided it best to let the adult handle the situation.

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Amélie paused for a moment, taking a soft breath through her nostrils and allowing it to hang in her chest for as long as she could hold it, before slowly letting it fall. She sometimes did it when her mind got too frantic, or when she couldn’t sleep- but sometimes it helped settle her thoughts. Phib wouldn’t be happy to smell the burnt flesh on her fur. Actually- Phib hadn’t spoken much directly to her since that incident with Kiros and Beere. She could tell he wasn’t angry with her... but he was troubled, and that was perhaps just as bad.

This morning he had bothered her about where Cellen was at– something which ended up rather embarrassing, as upon searching, she’d realized he’d been off with a lover for most of the night. It had been rather funny, and she had been happy...

But, this wouldn’t set things at ease, now that she had invited the wolf back to the door, so to speak. Why... did things have to be like this? Between the three of them? So much that went unsaid!

It was only then, that her mind snapped back at her, directing her attention to someone speaking at her. “Oh!” The small female gasped, her deadened eyes widening in the fading light. What had she said? How had she let someone come up to her without the faintest tickle in her head? She couldn’t let her thoughts get so focused like that. Quietly, she prodded the other female’s mind for what she had just said to her, and retracted before she found anything more. Shyly, she took a soft step to the side with a slight tremble. She wasn’t quite ready speak, but she willed the words out of her mouth before the other female thought she was uncaring.

“I’m sorry- you startled me, love.” She smiled, her tail slowly swaying. “Child...?” Her mind settled back more evenly, and now indeed she could tell a younger one was amongst the other female.

A pang in her heart; but it was the same response most children gave to her. A smooth smile crossed her features, but even she couldn’t will the slight sadness away from it. “I am Amélie, yes? I’m glad to meet you. You need...someplace to stay? Are you in trouble?” She ushered cautiously, her ears perking forwards- although her tail kept nervously tucked beneath her belly.

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Evey's mind settled when the other wolf introduced herself so kindly, so naturally. As if she knew that Tyr and his aunt were no trouble. Evey smiled inwardly at such a small, young wolf calling her 'love.' It sounded like something that her sister would have said.

"Well, we've been travelling for a few days. We came from the north. You see, our pack, well, it went hunting one day and the glaciers claimed them." Evey nudged Tyr's ear with her nose sadly, both of them sharing the pain of loosing his mother. "I know that my parents came from somewhere around here, so we are looking for our relatives. But for now we really just need a place to stay. Seeing as it's dark... and he's probably tired..."

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Tyr blinked, edging forword to stand a little closer to the strange new wolf. He hadn't met anyone besides his pack before, and his mother told him other wolves were dangerous. She didn't seem dangerous to him though.

She talked strange though.

"I'm not tired," he finaly said, softly, with the slight rasping of one who hadn't talked in awhile. Recently he had taken to observing rather then talking, although he had never been loud. He had no siblings, so the rambunctious action of typical pups was mostly lost to him.

"Why do you talk like that?"

The question was blunt, probably rude to no end, but he didn't seem to notice. Tyr seemed to lack a certain... social grace.

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“Relatives?” She spoke softly, her head tilting to the side in a dainty fashion. “I might be able to help you find them.” Amélie admitted- although as to how, she kept to herself. “But if you need a place to be staying, we are not far from the border area to my mate’s lands– there are some old fox dens on the very edges if you wanted to staying the night.”

It was more of her nature to offer a better selection- but, the pack had grown so much in recent times that Amélie couldn’t even remember if some of the inland dens were open or not. As it was- she doubted the family pair wished to stay longer then the night, which was more then fine. “He would not mind,” She smiled, and softly padded to the side.

Amélie paused for a moment, having only just taken a moment to consider the sadness the other female felt. It burned at her chest, and she respectfully folded her ears against the dome of her skull. “I...” She started, pushing aside the empathy. “I am sorry for your loss- sad things, yes; happening.”

“But... life moves on. I don’t doubt your family would be glad to see you safe.” She finally concluded, her small tail gently swaying.

The pup’s voice reached her ears just as soon as she concluded. She wanted to direct her eyes towards him, but even with a faint haze to tell her approximately where he was in perspective with her head, it did not tell her where to point her eyes. She smiled faintly, and shook her head slowly. “Sometimes, we talk differently to make sure we don't lose our voices."

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"Tyr!" Evey exclaimed, surprised at the young pup's rudeness. But Amelie didn't seem to mind.

“Sometimes, we talk differently to make sure we don't lose our voices."

Such a wise remark startled Evey, and for the first time she was aware of Amelie's lack of eyesite. Amelie had never made eye contact, and now she didn't even look at Tyr. Evey tried to ignore if, knowing that all wolves have their quirks, and nodded thankfully to Amelie's offer.

"We'd be very greatful for a den," she answered. "And I do hope that they are glad to see us..."  

[Werewolf]

Quote:

"Pagan Faith."
RP: Syrus/Amelie

Clack, clack, clack. His teeth on the old, dry deer femur made an oddly hollow sound - like two birds clicking their beaks together. While the bone offered little to no nutrition with the meat and marrow long gone, Syrus found some amusement in chewing on; it was certainly more enjoyable than running around in noonday heat. Wrinkling his nose, he chomped hard on one end of the bone until it splintered and broke. The lone wolf opened and closed his mouth in rapid succession until the little bits and pieces and fled his tongue and instead littered the dirt before, with a sneeze, he returned to chewing.

All in all, it was an alright day so far as weather went. A little hot, but that much was resolved by hanging out in an outcropping of grass near the river's edge. Doing nothing but lazying around all day was swiftly becoming a bad habit for Syrus now that he wasn't wandering around all day, and to be completely honest he was propbably getting a little fat because of it.

Ah well; if he got too fat he'd never be able to catch a meal. That was, he supposed, one way to lose weight.


--------------------

Amélie stretched, the hot sunlight running up and down her spine in faint prickles. Even blind, she could tell it was bright out. There was a kind of wincing sensation in her still living eye tissue, and she kept her eyes closed even after she concluded her stretch and brought herself back to her feet. It didn’t really bother her sight one way or another. She poked her eye a lot less when they were, which needless to say, was never an enjoyable occasion.

Standing in the middle of the wood, someways off lands, she felt time rolling across her at the same pace the heat was. It might have been because she was not doing anything...but, there was a faint, and distinguishable pressure behind her ears. Something was urging her to do more then she was. Her own will? Or was it just a flea? As if to check, she forked her back foot upward and turned her head towards the earth, and softly clawed the back of it. With the itch relieved, she was left simply contemplating what it was Fate wanted her to be doing.

The forest was quiet, even for a hot day like this. She could feel the faint bursts of thought from a squirrel in the distance, but otherwise the seer felt nothing in the hollows of her body. Hollow- her mind got stuck on that word for a second, before the faint sound of crunching grew in the distance.

Hollow bones.

Smiling softly, the small female turned her body, and moved in the direction of the sound. Amélie knew Phib would have preferred her to take some more caution- but after the boar incident, she was feeling somewhat braver then usual. Slinking beside a tree, the small grey creature birthed herself, her ears craning forward in interest. “Hello there-“ She called sheepishly.


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Maybe it was all the attention he'd been sparing for the bone, but for whatever reason Syrus hadn't actually caught smell of the other wolf's approach. Or maybe it was because he was downwind; that could be it too. Blinking, Syrus slowly disengaged his teeth from around the width of the femur, bright eyes turning to peer blankly at the stranger. For a long time, the old male said nothing at all. His ears flicked back and forth and he squirmed slightly to rub a scratch on his belly with the dirt itself.

At length, he raised his head and returned the greeting. "Hello, sunshine." There was something in the tone, rough and easy, that suggested Syrus called everyone by some sort of name, whether he happened to know them or not. "What brings you here?" Well, it could have been the water. Rivers tended to draw just about anyone, especially on a warm day like this one.

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A small smile pulled across her small face as the other male had addressed her. On such a hot day, being called sunshine might have been somewhat less then a compliment, but Amelie did not try to hide the fact that it pleased her. She pulled forth from the halfway of the tree, and cautiously moved a bit closer. Her caution was less of a fear of the male then stumbling over a tree root and making a fool of herself. “Hii,” She spoke again, her tail swaying amiably.

“Sorry if I am being interrupting;” She excused, her wide blue eyes fluttering open now that the bright sunlight was not upon them so harshly. She didn’t think she was, but it was always good to note in case she was. “Such a hot day makes for a bit less comfortable places to be. But I am just out a bit for a walk.”

“I am Amélie.” She offered, her head nodding somewhat. He was an older male, she noted. Being somewhat childish herself, she had a tendency to pull towards older creature.

----------------------

"You're not interrupting," Syrus assured her cheerfully, pausing a moment to give the bone two more quick chews. There was something slightl addicting about it... Hmm; he'd have to look into it later - after he finished chewing this one, anyway.

"I'm Syrus. It's nice to meet you, Amélie-sunshine." Grinning sharply, all teeth and lolling tongue, he let the old hollowed out bone flop from between his paws, off it's end, and back into the dirt. For the time being, anyway. "Perhaps the goddess wanted us to meet, eh?" From the male's tone, he seemed to take for granted that she would know what on earth he was talking about. Goddess, Fate - maybe it was all the same.

-----------------------

Amélie smiled, and seated herself. How odd! Well, not odd per say- first a wolf who claimed to speak to god, and now this one who followed a goddess. Although she could not say she followed either- she did enjoy the aspect of faith that the two seemed to bring to the woods. She herself, and Phib for that matter, followed a sort of nameless force. Whether it was god or goddess didn’t matter- but she felt a presence that she defined only as Fate. It guided her at times, and scolded her in others. But faith alone was enough to please her.

“I think we’re all meant to meet in some way or another.” She responded affectionately. She liked this fellow- his voice was a bit rough, but he seemed a kind fellow. Something almost like her Phib- but a bit different too.

Her mind reflexed, and shifted, for a moment prodding at the other, and focusing on something in the distance. It turned and flooded in much the manner of the river in the distance. “What brings you here?” She questioned, the end of her tail swaying.

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Syrus grinned wider, panting slightly from the heat as he pawed the hollowed bone, no real conviction behind the faint swat of his foot pads. "Ah, a good sideways answer, Amélie-sunshine. You speak like a stream, you know - a good flow over the rocks, but not too over strong." Someone, apparently, liked his metaphors. Momentarily pleased with his own cleverness, Syrus stalled in answering her inquiry. The short, worn claws on his forefeet clawed faintly at the bone, toying with the splintered end momentarily.

"Perhaps nothing," he said finally in answer, glancing back to her. "Whim or chance, or some force of the goddess' hand - it's difficult for one to tell at times when She is simply watching with one eye and actively playing a part." Thoughtfully, he rolled his attention briefly to the hot sun overhead. The heat beat down in waves, rolling across the grass, skittering over the surface of the water.

--------------------------

The small grey creature smiled. “I don’t mean to be sideways with my answers.” She knew what he had meant but, she did not wish to come off dodgy either. Such an opinion of seers was often kept, and she tried to pull from it. “But, thank you.”

“Sometimes I think a part of life is just having faith that she is watching.” The female offered, swallowing a slightly scratchy feeling in her throat. “Do you amble where you please then?” She smiled.

---------------------------

He nodded, taking up the bone between his paws again. "I go where I feel compelled to," he answered. In truth, his own way of speaking was a little vague and roundabout, skittering around topics of conversation like a smell on the wind does around the trunks of trees. "And you, Amélie-sunshine? You smell of other wolves; perhaps you have a pack which you must travel with, or others you are obligated to den beside."

Perhaps it was more or less than obligation; these days it was difficult to tell or to comprehend why some packs numbered the way they did, or why certain wolves chose to entertain the company of others. From what Syrus had seen, there were quite a few in the area that seemed to make little or no sense. Or maybe he was just getting senile.

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[Werewolf]

Quote:

"Sisters."
RP: Echo/Ophelia/Amelie

It had been about two days since they, her sister and she, had ventured into these lands and found a den. Their den wasn't much, pretty much just a shabby hole at this point, but Echo knew that at some point they'd make it better. If they were to stay here, they would most definitely work on the den. But for now...

She came out of the den slowly, her tail cricking with uncertainty. But after a few moments she was all fine and dandy, stretching out her tired limbs and attempting to clear her head of its morning drowsiness.

Once she was done stretching and everything, the runt craned her neck around to peer back into the den she had just come out of. Laying in there, somewhere in the darkness, was her twin sister, Ophelia. Smiling, Echo turned her head back around to simply look around the forest. Things had been going rather well these past few days, and she was glad with the outcome.

Sighing with contentment, she merely sat there listening to the forest around her. Things seemed good at the moment.

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Nothing had happened to possibly suggest to Ophelia that something wrong was happening. In fact, other then the strange encounter with the alpha, Phib, she had otherwise learned to deal with the odd lands. They smelt too much of salt, but they were a lovely mixture of wind and warmth, and even Ophelia had to admit the food was plentiful. But it was not enough to stop her from pulling her fur out.

It was a strange, nervous habit she’d started to acquire. For now, she took it mostly from her hips in small faint tugs as she vented her nerves. What would they expect from this place?

Outside the den she heard Echo shift, and not wanting to appear as nervous as she was, Ophelia slowly strolled out into the sunlight, the faint shadowed pattern of wolves stroking her ears and shoulders. “Good morning Echo.” Ophelia murmured pleasantly, but there was an oddly nervous squint to her eyes.


Elsewhere, a small female was returning from her walk on the beach. It had been a somewhat lonely walk- most of the pack seemed busy elsewhere at the time, and Phib, exhausted from some event or another had been asleep for half the day. She had not spoken to him yet, but from the faint inklings she had received from him, she would not like the news he brought.

Troubled as to what it might have been, Amélie slowly moved through the brush. Perhaps she’d visit Ryukkii. An odd thing to think about- but, she liked talking with her sister, even if it usually ended with bickering. Phib certainly would not like it, that was for sure.

But before she made up her mind one way or another, the seer became faintly aware of a different kind of mind pull- somewhere to the left of her. Blindly she moved across the leaves and dew-wet atmosphere of the early morning, until she came upon a rather new den.


A female stood out in front of them- and from the faint pattern of her mind, Amélie couldn’t help but feel she had met the other before.

“Good morning loves.” She called pleasantly, and swayed the end of her tail.

Somewhat irritably, Ophelia hmphed from behind Echo.


-------------------------

Echo had noticed a little that her sister had began to do something with her fur, but for the most part she remained silent about it all. She thought that if she tried to ask, things might just get worse. She knew already that Ophelia wasn't exactly happy with the way things had been going lately, and she didn't want to make things worse by prodding into something that probably didn't mean much at all.

So when her twin came out of the den and murmured a greeting, the smaller wolf simply smiled.

"Good morning, sister," she whispered, tail flicking back and forth slightly to show her delight in having her sister by her side again. Things were always better when they were side-by-side, together with one another. Echo couldn't think to have things any other way.

But when Amélie approached the pair, all concentration was lost to her. Something fizzed in her mind and she whined slightly, ears folding back. She recognized this female. This was that one wolf that couldn't see and yet knew exactly where she was standing somehow. This was that wolf she had randomly run into in the freelands whe she had first run away from her parents.

"Sister.." she mumbled, unable to take her eyes off of the seer. "I've seen this wolf before."

------------------------------

Ophelia turned her head towards the other wolf, and narrowed her expression. A wolf from this pack? She was however, somewhat relieved to know that Echo knew of this one...if, however, that was a good thing. “Is that a good thing?” Ophelia thought to Echo, blinking slowly. Well? Would it be?

But luckily enough, this female didn’t seem too intimidating at all. She was Echo’s size, if not smaller, and had a strange frail look about her. Was she...blind?


As the two sisters spoke to themselves, a small smile across about Amélie’s muzzle. Yes! She had met this one before. The little one who spoke only in her mind. Her sister, too, could speak to her! Amélie’s occasions of meeting wolves with telepathy were few and...well, never. So, she took the occasion up immediately, and began to stroll a bit closer.

“Yes, I remember you.” Amélie smiled, her tail wagging. “I am Amélie-“


Ophelia arched her brow, and eyed the other female. Odd...but, she chalked it up to coincidence. It wasn’t like the other could hear Echo.

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Echo froze when the other small female grew closer and seemed to speak words that went well with what she and her twin had been murmuring about in their brains. For a moment she had a momentary remembrance. This female... she could...

But then it was gone. Frowning, she tilted her head slightly at the seer. "Amélie..." she repeated, glancing at her paws for a moment. It didn't sound at all familiar, yet she remembered seeing this wolf somewhere. Had they not formally introduced themselves to one another? They had met somewhat around the time that Echo had run from her parents...

Thinking back again, she remembered something vaguely about her being scared and possibly running away. Was that what had happened? It would explain about her lack of knowledge concerning Ame. And it would make sense, being as she was terrified about her parents and all.

"Ophelia... you don't think..?" she whispered in her brain, glancing off to the side and at her sister. How else would this new female's words fit in with their whisperings?

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Ophelia jerked somewhat to even consider that sort of possibility. What kind of wolf could read another’s mind? She eyed the female standing in front of them, and slightly leaned against Echo. “No, I’m sure she can’t. That doesn’t make any sense.” Well- neither did they, but they’d had a lot of practice.

With a slightly awkward chuckle, Amélie turned her head. Oh, it hurt sometimes. As it was, Amélie tried hard to never reveal herself as a seer. Too many things happened when she did. But at this particular moment, she felt strangely tempted. Shyly, she strolled forward, the end of her tail gently bobbing.

“Um...” The seer mouthed, cocking her head to the left. She blushed somewhat, as much as a wolf could, and glanced away. “...well...I can- I spoke to you before, yes?”

-----------------------------------

Echo, however, wasn't so convinced. There were a lot of things in the world that didn't make sense. Their parents' motive towards their offspring, the way Logan randomly appeared and was kind to them like this, that alpha and the way he acted the way he did even when Ophelia opposed him. So many things that didn't make sense in their life, what was one more thing going to do?

"I don't know, sister. I have a feeling..."

Glancing back at the other small female, she became quite confused. So Ame remembered her also, but then, they didn't exactly speak to one another. She didn't, after all, know the seer's name. And she was pretty confident it was the same way for the other.

"Before..." she tried to say, but it simply didn't come out right.

To her sister, she sighed and whispered again. "I've seen her before, but I didn't know her name until she said it just now."

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A shiver curled up her spine, and Ophelia locked eyes with the blinded female. Something which was a bit difficult, as Amélie’s eyes shifted from place to place with about as much purpose as a snowflake. Ophelia had to admit- she didn’t get it. Did Echo meet her or not? And yet they had said nothing to her, and still the other was speaking as though they had.

“Do you know my sister?” Ophelia spoke sharply to the grey creature, who seemed to tremble at the sound of Ophelia’s sharp voice. A tremble...she’d never seen her voice inflict that kind of reaction, and in her surprise she took a few steps back behind Echo.

Amélie smiled meekly, and wriggled her tail. “Yes, I do- we met before.” She remembered it well. It was the day that she had heard China Blue’s calling. “Echo.” Amélie replied. “You are the little girl who picks her words carefully.” Now- that might have been an overstatement, but, perhaps accurate.


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Echo tilted her head slightly when the other said that she knew her and even knew her name. It was strange... she didn't remember telling this female her name, and yet she knew it. There was something very strange going on here, and it was beginning to frighten her.

Trembling slightly, she pressed herself firmly against her twin for comfort. Her brain fizzed again as she searched the female, her eyes flicking back and forth in uncertainty.

"Echo," she repeated, nodding her head slightly even though the seer wouldn't be able to see it. "Words..." she whispered, lowering her head slightly. Her curse always made her feel so... what was the word? It made her feel insignifigant almost, like she wasn't normal and never would be.

"Sister.. I feel something, in my mind," she said softly, glancing over towards her twin again. "It's like a sort of fizz. Do you feel it too?"

Looking back towards the gray female, Echo let her ears flick this way and that. She really didn't know what to do about this female. She was simply strange, but then not so strange where she was scary and where she'd be something to run away from. It was all just complicated.

----------------------------------------------

Amélie frowned, feeling a prickling at her spine. Oh dear- it wouldn’t do to scare the poor girls away. But now she had been too enthusiastic- she had to say something. But what could she say without causing the girls more trouble? Just by being near them she was having faint flashes- overbearing parents, a strange male-...

“I-“ Amélie spoke, her eyes lowering.

To Echo, Ophelia turned whispered quietly. “No...Echo, I can’t feel it–“ She didn’t understand what Echo felt, but if this other wolf was indeed psychic, perhaps it was because of Echo’s mental ability. She had long believed it was Echo that was the source of their connection. Ophelia could never speak to her on her own accord- Echo first had to open the door. And now, this wolf was interfering.

“I’m sorry.” Amélie spoke, and shook her head. “Please, do not be bothered, yes? The noise will go away, I’ll not prod further. But I’ll not lie loves- I can hear you fine.”


-------------------------------------------------


The runt stiffened slightly when she was told by her sister that she was the only one who could feel the fizz in her brain. It didn't help when the seer mentioned something about prodding and somehow seeming to know when it would stop and go away. Then she said that she could hear them just fine. Did that mean with her ears or...?

Her eyes widened slightly as she gaped at the other female. It couldn't be! She had thought she felt something in her brain, but she had thought that perhaps it was merely a feeling, caused maybe by some emotion that went bad in her or something. She wasn't sure of it. But this new wolf's words sort of chased away any uncertainty she had about it all.

"So.." she began, taking a hesitant step forward. "Can you hear me right now?" she asked, tilting her head slightly in a questioning manner.

She didn't care about anything else at this point, like the prodding and such. It was just amazing to hear that someone else could possibly hear her.

-------------------------------------------------------

Encouragingly, Amélie’s tail wagged slowly. “Yes, I can hear you Echo.” Her voice was ginger in its smoothness, hoping that the revelation would not be too horrifying for Echo. She could feel a kind of attachment to the other female. She was a gentle creature, despite the scars that were riddled across her body. She shared quite a few of her own scars as well.

All of this was a bit too much for Ophelia. She stumbled a bit to side, and curled around Echo from the back, peering at Amélie from where she now stood. What was this girl? Was everyone in this pack so damn mysterious?

“I’m sorry if I’ve startled you.” Amélie spoke again gently, and for some reason, Ophelia knew she was being spoken to.

Opehlia furrowed her brow and took a step forward, slowly considering. “What are you?”

--------------------------------------------------------

Some wolves might have been horrified to hear that some stranger could hear their thoughts. But not Echo, not this wolf. She was actually delighted that someone else could hear her thoughts. Having no way to really talk on her own for all of her life, it was a relief to know that she wasn't as confined as she once thought. Not only could she speak freely to her sister, but to this kind female as well.

Smiling, she sat there with her tail wagging back and forth slightly. She now held no fear for this female, and actually felt a sort of connection, simply due to the fact that they could speak with their minds.

Though, she thought, this Amélie's mental connection must be stronger. That was probably the fizz that she had heard and felt. Echo had only been used to her sister's sort of weak connection, but this seer's connection was so great that it caused a slight disturbance in her mind. It all made sense, and she was glad to finally get these things sorted out.

The smile still upon her face, she glanced back at her sister as she asked the other what on earth she was. For some reason, the runt knew the answer.

"She's a seer." She had to be. How else would she be able to listen in on the twins' silent words?

--------------------------------------------------------

Being a seer was something she rarely owned up to, but with Echo, she felt an excited fluttering in her chest- perhaps a leftover from the other female’s own excitement. How often was it that her gift was so readily accepted? A grin stretched across her face, and with a soft and affectionate whine, the small female trotteted closer to the other females. “I am.” She spoke softly, her deadened eyes brightened with the feelings.

A seer? Ophelia had never heard of such a thing, except in faint pup-tales. She had never thought something like that might have existed. Although with some afterthought, she admitted she probably wouldn’t have believed the bond between the twins either. And yet it was. Perhaps this female existed like that.

“Amélie...” Ophelia repeated, remembering the name. “...Do you live here?” She questioned slowly, her yellow eyes sharp.

Amélie smiled, and gently nodded her head. “I do. My mate runs this area. But I am just Amélie.”

Her mate...Phib? She had to admit, she was not what she expected in the black male’s choice of women. Surely he would have been able to get someone else? Maybe he was attracted to the fact she was a seer...?

----------------------------------------------------------

Echo felt a sort of puppy excitement run through her mind and body. It was just that pleasing to her that finally, after all of her life of only being able to really talk to one wolf and one wolf alone, there was someone else who could hear her. It just made her overjoyed. She couldn't have been happier at that moment when she learned that this new female could hear her thoughts.

Her tail now wagging back and forth uncontrollably, the runt moved closer to Ame, almost touching noses with the other. Whining like a little puppy, she smiled then slowly began to sniff her face. After a moment or two of this, she first tugged on the seer's ear then giggled and nudged her playfully with a wet nose.

"Ophelia... she can hear me!" she said excitedly, stopping in her puppy antics for a moment to glance over at her sister.

"Your mate?" she then asked, turning her gaze back on Amélie. "Is he big, with some scars on him, black too?" she asked. Though, she wondered, had this wolf ever seen her mate? She was blind, but had she always been that way? Hopefully not, otherwise Echo would feel simply terrible.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Delight flooded across Amélie as the other female greeted, her, and she returned the favor with equal childish enthusiasm. She couldn’t decide what was more thrilling- the fact that Echo could speak to another person now, or that she had finally done some good in being a seer. She had begun to wonder, if perhaps her abilities chaos-theoried things into being worse then they needed to be. But now, at least, the bad thoughts fell away.

Even Ophelia seemed happy. Although she didn’t return the puppy excitement either of them gave, she smiled wearily from the mouth of the den. A more clingy sister might have been jealous- but Ophelia knew how hard it had been for Echo, communicating to others only through repeated phrases. It was too bad this Logan fellow of hers did not share the same connection to her...

Once Echo pulled away and started to ‘speak’ again, she noted that her comment was somewhat withdrawn after the omega took into consideration the other female’s blindness. Amélie grinned, and was quick to attempt to dismiss. “So I remember him being.” Amélie gleamed. “Although- I assume he’s a bit greyer now,” she added with a touch of mischief.

Ophelia shook her head. “I can’t say you look much like an alpha.”

To that Amélie simply giggled and shook her head. “I don’t think I can be saying that much either, love. I’m not. Just Amélie.”


---------------------------------------------------------------

Echo simply couldn't help herself. It was just too good, finally finding someone else who could hear her thoughts and actually speak to her. So with her tail still wagging, she giggled again then promptly sat down, raising her right forpaw to sort of touch the other female's nose for a moment. Grinning, she let her paw fall back to the ground as she nuzzled Ame one more time before getting up and bouncing back towards her twin.

"Isn't it great, sister?" she asked, sort of 'bowing' down and letting her rump go up into the air while her tail wagging repeatedly back and forth.

Standing back up properly, the small female perked her ears and glanced towards the seer again. "Yes, he was a bit gray," she laughed, sitting down again and calming down a little bit from her puppy excitement. She didn't, however, mention anything to this wolf about how her mate had scared the living daylights out of her. She figured that be best left as a secret.

"So you are his mate, but not the alpha female?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. That was strange. Weren't the leaders normall mates? "Is there a female ruling with him?"

------------------------------------------------------------------

“Hehe. He’s very self conscious about that.”

Amélie thought that question over carefully. Was there another female to contend with Phib’s rule? Anya looked like a likely candidate, but there were times when she seemed too silent. Mozelle would have made an excellent choice, but she had a feeling Mozelle had tired of the leadership role. Audi certainly ran Phib through circles, but her desires were aimed at leaving as soon as Ran and Tahara cleared out rather then doing anything with the group.

“At the moment, no, I am thinking.” Amélie admitted. “There are some candidates, but no one has stepped forward yet to try at such a role. It’ll come though, I do not doubt.”


---------------------------------------------------------------------



Echo giggled, rather child-like, when Ame admitted that Phib was rather self-conscious about having gray on his otherwise jet fur. She understood it somewhat. Her parents weren't happy with the fact that their own fur was graying. She supposed adults didn't like getting older when it involved new colors like gray in their fur.

When the seer answered the question about a female leader, she was rather stumped. Was it possible for there to be only one alpha leading a pack? How big was this pack anyways? She had only met this Ame, Logan, Phib, and Malik. But Phib had mentioned another wolf, and there were probably loads of others too. And there was only one wolf leading it all?

Shrugging, she merely decided that it must just work with this pack. "Well that's interesting. I've never known a pack could be run with only one leader," she admitted.

"So... you think someone will take it eventually? What will happen then?" She pondered over this. Would Ame be cast aside for some female that was willing to take the lead with Phib? She hoped that wouldn't be so. It'd be terrible for the seer.

Yet then she got distracted thinking about the members of the pack again. "Do you know Logan?" she asked, mostly out of the blue.

------------------------------------------------------------------------


Amelie nodded her head. “I think it’s the manner of all things for life to be rearranging itself. Someday a female will take charge- but, she won’t be me.” She smiled respectfully. She was not a jealous girl, although she was somewhat shy to the idea of another female rivaling Phib’s rule. Phib let her get away with a lot, despite the general consensus that he controlled everything she did. An alpha female might not be so forgiving. And her worse fear- she might see Amelie as an obstacle in taming Phib down.

But, that was some mystery woman. She could not see Anya, or any of the other females in the pack behaving in such a way.

“I know him, but not formally.” The small female noted. She knew most wolves in the pack- whether they knew it or not. “It’s a large pack, and I do sometimes get lost in it. We’re numbering thirty, I hear. Phib is a good man, despite what he might want people to be thinking. He can manage people well.”


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Echo merely nodded to it all about a female possibly taking over one day. It was probably natural for someone to come forward at some point in time or another, but she wondered just how Ame would feel about it. She couldn't say from wisdom or experience, but she figured that it might be a bit depressing for one to simply stand by and watch one's mate work so closely with another.

But, that was for later, she supposed. There was no use worrying or whatever else about it all now.

Then, when she got to talking about Logan, she couldn't help but notice that her heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name. What was that? Her stomach tightened a little and she flicked her ears back nervously. What was this feeling?

Attempting to get around it and make herself forget, the omega merely shook her head and forced a smile. Her expression, however, faded into one of surprise when the number count of the pack was revealed. "That many?" she asked, barely able to hide her shock. That was quite a lot of wolves. Perhaps they were all more in the heart of the packlands and that was why she hadn't seen any lately.

"He must have great control for him to be above that many wovles," she agreed, glancing at the ground for a moment. So many wolves...


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Echo considered this for a moment. What she got from Ame's words was that Phib was simply a natural leader and, as she would guess, wolves instinctively flocked to the best leader in hopes that their lives would be improved with a bit of order. Seemed easy enough to understand.

When the subject of Logan continued, the butterflies didn't seem to go away. They fluttered 'round and 'round her stomach, making her become quite twitchy and nervous.

"Yes," she replied first, looking down only at her paws. She didn't understand this feeling!

"My sister and I first lived on the outskirts of these lands. We didn't know there was a pack so close, though. But then I met Logan and he wanted to bring us back here..." Her heart flipped when she mentioned his name, and she glanced about nervously, as if someone could see her heart racing out of control whenever he came up in the conversation.

"And.. I agreed to come with him and my sister naturally followed. I think it's bad for us to be apart. At least for me," she murmured, not quite sure where she was going with this anymore. She seemed so flustered now. "I need her."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amélie nodded her head sympathetically. “Yes...I think sisters are very important...” In a way, they were alternate versions of yourself. People you might have been. And in that, Amélie found both love and a crushing fear. She loved Ryukkii. She had so many good qualities, other then being predominantly...well, evil. She was smart, and clever. She had a great wit, and she was reliable. Why did she have to be so selfish? They could be-

She shoved the idea away, for it made her sick to her stomach to think of things that never would be. How wonderful it would have been, in her mind, if they had all lived together and been a happy family. Phib, Ryukkii, Czenthros- had they really been so terribly different?

Ophelia smiled at Echo, although somewhat embarrassed. She only wished she could be a better leader for the both of them. Hopefully she had made the right decision by coming to this place. This was however, the first time she was beginning to feel a slight warmth towards the land. The female seemed nice enough.

“It must have been hard for you, living on your own.” Amélie spoke reflectively, although she already knew the answer. “It won’t be like that anymore, not here.”

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Sisters are very important," she agreed, arching her neck slightly as her gaze remained on her paws. Her sister was the most important thing in her life at the moment, and she doubted that it would ever change. They were twins, bound together by that fact and by their connection. It was a relationship she wouldn't give up easily and would readily defend in any situation. They were sisters, and always would be.

Her gaze flicked up towards Ame when she mentioned that it must have been hard for the two sisters to live out there on their own. In truth, it had been rather hard. But they had gotten through it and hopefully the seer's words would ring true; hopefully their would be no more hardships for them.

Nodding, she spoke softly in reply. "Yes, it was hard. I can't hunt, really, so I was no use I think. And... I hope you are right."  

[Werewolf]

Quote:

"Enemies."
RP: Phib/Sosay/Phantom
(+ Sashta/??? )

The doe was starting to realize that the wolf behind her was chasing her for the hell of it. She couldn’t be sure; the ways of predators were of a peculiar kind to her clan- but she could have sworn the wolf behind her was slowing down to accommodate her winded pace. It wasn’t like she was going to stop and ask the fellow exactly what he was getting at. For all she knew, he was taking sadistic pleasure in running her to death. But for the life of her, she kept running, her lean and agile legs hitting the earth like thunderclaps. Faster- when he slowed, she tried to pull off, but his fake slow pace sped back up, and back they were in the run around.

Son of a b***h.

Phib knew this was probably one of those times that Amélie was going to be the one giving him a thrashing. But, for his credit- he had no interest in eating the doe. In fact, he’d already eaten prior to this. This here was sort of what he’d like to call “aggressive exercising.” His bad leg had been stiff lately- and like most stubborn men, his answer for fixing a bum leg was not giving it rest, but by beating the s**t out of it so it remembered who controlled it. By now it was throbbing, but he was still caught in the instinctive thrill that kept him close behind the doe.

Her tail was flashing, and she rammed around a sharp corner. Phib stumbled behind, skidding to the left and docking across the opposite side just before he rammed into a particularly angry looking bush. Bush avoided, he kept moving- the doe had for some reason moved to a deer slump, and they were both running in a straight linear fashion.

The sides of the slump were getting a bit taller now, and Phib could faintly recognize that out of the corner of his eye. He had a feeling he had an idea of the deer’s game- but there really wasn’t much he could do about it. He wasn’t about to risk a hoof in the face just to get her to change directions.

Suddenly, she lurched to the left, and in one bound, cleared the top of the slump, and began to gallop off. Phib ran up the side of the slump- but with the incline, he had to slow somewhat. By the time he made it to the top about a ten foot increase in distance had occurred, and Phib decided to say the hell with it.

Rather pleased with himself, the black wolf panted, allowing breath to return back to his frame, and absently, he licked a slight nick the bottom of his foot pad had received in the run.

-----------------------

Sosay watched as the blur of brown he assumed was a deer dashed across his line of sight. The spotted wolf stood on a high rock overlooking much of the area, and did so in such a way it was as if he was the alpha of the largest back in the world.

But for the time being, Sosay wasn't proud, he was angry. To be fair, he was ALWAYS angry. It was just his way, even if most didn't know it. Oh, the stories he told. They were in good fun, and so many had been amused by them considering they weren't stupid enough to believe everything he said, even if it DID always somehow manage to make sense.

Audi, Audi, Audi. The name alone haunted him. Hence why his entire form cringed everytime Phantom spoke it. Which was often. Often and only to annoy him, Sosay knew. But he'd get what he deserved.

Bounding downward, he hurried, weaving around trees and rocks and making his way smoothly to Phib.

Never one for a simple 'hello', the young male made his presence known from behind the black wolf with, "You know, it's bad luck to chase something you don't plan to kill. Deer talk to each other, and they'll say you're a coward."

----------------------------

Breath was cold in his throat, and he had to swallow once before he could respond to the voice beside him. It was an unfamiliar voice at first, before he turned around completely and noted the unmistakenable black and white harlequin pattern. It was not so surprising- Audi was growing, it seemed only logical that Sosay would do the same. But with Audi the progression had been slow- this, was the sudden evolution of his memory of the strange child. Although still somewhat winded from his long run, a faint smirk crossed about the wolf’s broad muzzle.

“Ah- and if they think I am a coward, then it shall serve me all the more the next time I am hungry. But you are right, chasing deer is bad luck for me. But, of another kind.” Oh, would Amélie have a spasm. So much for any romantic inclinations he might have had slated for that night- but even still, he couldn’t help but keep the somewhat sadistic grin crossed about his face.

Now that he was directly facing the other male, Phib noted that there were a few other changes about Sosay that had not been there before. For one- he didn’t have to look down as much to see him. But past that was something a bit different- he didn’t have the look of much childish innocence about him anymore. Even when he had been young he seemed serious; but, he’d still been a pup. Now there was something else.

“It seems I’m getting older.” He responded almost unfortunately, and craned his ears forward.

------------------------------

"That's not surprising. You know, the higher power that rules over us ages your body an extra month for everything you chase, but don't catch. That's why it's bad luck to chase deer just for sport."

The cheerful smile on his face would have--and did--fool everyone who hadn't seen the dark, sadistic side that was rarely displayed. A side Phantom knew exsisted, but had barely begun to experience as far as Sosay was concerned.

There was never anything innocent about Sosay, but the fact he was no longer a puppy truly did make a difference.

"Is she well?" he asked seriously, that playful glint in his eyes forced away.


--------------------------------

Phib shifted his brow considerately. Although he’d never had a chance to hear Sosay’s knack for storytelling, he took the comment to be of a more joking nature. The kid still had an odd way about him he was not sure if he liked- but for now, he seemed an ally. “Then it’s very good I don’t believe in much.” He quirked. “But I’m sure the gods would find better reasons to age me then tormenting deer.”

Phib decided it was the smile. That was what was somewhat off. It seemed that between him, Phantom and Sosay, half the game was pretending formalities.

“She is growing up.” He spoke reflectively- and with something that might have been a kind of humored fondness. She was a handful, that was for sure. She had been a bit more broody recently. Asked a lot of odd questions about Amélie, but he decided she was simply being rebellious. Not that she was ever, well, not. “She hasn’t changed much. Taller, of course. She can be broody, but she is very clever." He summed up what felt like half a lifetime of growth. He could only imagine what Sosay's interests in her were, but surely, she appeared to have no greater friend at the moment.

Despite her death threats- he had always been fond of Audi. If only she would steer her life away from falling back into conflict with Phantom [and Ran, as it may.] And for that, he was somewhat troubled.

He too easily became soft around women.

-----------------------------------

Just like that, his lighter nature was back. "Those who lack belief weren't suppose to be here." It was a bit hard to understand exactly what he meant. Honestly, Sosay himself believed in no almighty being. He believed in his father, his mother, and the fact that his heart beat and his lungs allowed him to breathe.

But there was a reason he was here: To see the lovely blood red on that light blue shade he'd come to hate so very much.

"I'm glad to hear that," he said truthfully. It seemed Audi was doing surprisingly well in Phib's company. Oh, yes, she was clever. Not as much as he, and really she was more impulsive. Attack first, ask questions later. Not his way, but one of the reasons he liked her oh-so-much.

"And what if she returns to Phantom and he sends her out for you?"

---------------------------------------

That couldn’t help but bring a chuckle from his throat. “Well, she won’t be the first woman to have tried to kill me.” The thought of it brought a slight tingle to the scars across his face. “I have hope that if she chooses to come after me, it won’t be at Phantom’s bidding. As I have told her- there are so many better reasons to try.”

Perhaps he took it a bit too lighthearted. It was a very real possibility that she might come for him, or someone else in the future. He paused a moment, and noted that he had never really dismissed the idea from his mind. He would hope however, it would not come quite to that. If Phantom wanted to send someone after him, it had better be the ghost himself and not a woman.

A bit more seriously now, he confirmed the statement with a stiff glance. “No, it wouldn’t be the first time. But my opinion can take a few scars for the sake of a girl.” He made efforts to never fight them- even when they did attack.

----------------------------------------

"I don't quite agree with the outlook you seem to have on females. They're so much more fierce than we are. Don't you know the only one Phantom cowers from is one?"

Frankly, he didn't blame or dare talk down about the Ghost because of that. Raja was one scary b***h, eyes or no. She'd rip your throat out for a simple misunderstanding and lose no sleep at night over it. Not that she really slept at night... Or in the day. Maybe she didn't need any.

He smiled in an odd way and breathed heavily out his nose. His expression stayed that way, but his eyes burned with hate at the voice.

"Having a little conversation with the enemy, are we?" Phantom's voice chimed, the pale wolf coming from the right and sitting down off to the side between the two other males. "Lovely. And I hope you're well, Phib."

------------------------------------------

Phib shook his head somewhat, the same, somewhat smug mark crossing about his face. He did not try to dismiss the fact that he was probably guilty of chauvinism. A particularly caring person might have considered bringing up his father as point and example- but Phib had really never thought much on the mentor his father had been towards his dealings with women. He didn’t doubt women were fierce. They were certainly smarter. But he had not yet met a woman that could out fight him- and nor did he believe one should exist. Women were so much more lovely doing what they did best- controlling him, pushing him-

“Oh, I don’t deny they are fierce.” He remarked. “Never that.” Ah- Rose. The first thought such a conversation brought up. He still could feel the hate he’d thought he’d had...but, it was settled now. But for all she’d done, even she had not tried to outfight him. There were better ways to control him.

Phantom’s voice rolled across the top of Phib’s ears before he finished the thought. If anything good could be said about the male- he had a nice sense of timing. He’d never once awkwardly met up with Phantom, say, walking around a tree.

His face remained placid as the other male spoke. Amélie was not about- and when she was absent from the situation, he handled the matters to a much more delicate nature.

“Of course.” Phib’s thick voice drawled. “As can be expected. And yourself, dear Phantom?”

------------------------------------------------

"Why, I'm wonderful. Kaho tells me things are progressing well with my lovely little seer potenialist." For once, nothing he said was a lie. Things with Meskeet were going well, which put him in a rather good mood. Unless of course Kaho was lying, but he wouldn't dare even attempt to get away with that.

"And," he added. "I have a lovely little new toy. I think she's very interested in seeing that posession of mine you have under your care currently."

If there was one thing that could cause Sosay's little act to completely cave, it was that. "AUDI ISN'T A THING!" he barked, a loud snarl following.

"Oh, she is," Phantom insisted cooly. "You just think she belongs to you. Don't try and act like you're better than I am, boy." His eyes flickered and returned to Phib. "Ran's a rather interesting little thing, isn't she? I wonder what she really thinks of your little mate now. She is a seer, I've heard. Quite an interesting situation all of this is."

-------------------------------------------------

Phib compulsively flecked an eye towards Sosay as he had an outburst, and flinched the corner of his lips. He’d have to learn to be as calm about Audi as he did with other things. Although for the moment, he weaseled the idea away. He had always thought Sosay probably had an affection for her- perhaps it went a bit further then realized.

One thing he did not understand was the gamble Phantom played with Ran. Although he had a care for Ran through his care for Sashta, he otherwise had only small instances when he had met with the shaman, and never once had he spoken to her on his own. It was in his prefferable interests to keep her as out of this as possible, for the sake of Amélie- but, if Ran continued to pursue this life, then he could not say he was terribly stabbed by her servitude to Phantom.

Amélie, however, would not take that so well. His heart fell for that, at least. “I’m afraid Ran’s choices are what Ran chooses. If she is blinded enough to mistake Amélie for an enemy, then I don’t know what more can help her.” Phib remarked simply. And as for Audi, although he didn’t mention it- he personally would bet slots on her any day, once she reached adulthood. “Although I am sure Amélie will be disheartened to hear such a thing. I’ll not pretend that won’t change much in her mind.”

He didn’t like involving Amélie into this match of power. But as it stood, if Phantom felt he was throwing his weight around by boasting the amount of magically enthused wolves, he only recently matched Phib’s own count. Although he kept that to himself.

"I do hope however, you are not counting your stars in having Ran's employment...?" He ammended, his brow arching smoothly.

----------------------------------------------------

Sosay regained his composure and mentally provided himself with a list of reasons why he was better than Phantom. That daughter of his head said one of them had to die because there couldn't be two Phantom's, but what did she know? She was his disgusting little grey and blue spawn who shouldn't be alive anyway.

"Oh, goodness no. Ran is merely for fun. I have something so much better than her for things like that." Turning, he loudly entered the bushes behind them. The leaves ruffled as he swiftly moved back at, his head jerking roughly and sending the puppy he'd held between his jaws tumbling to the ground.

The tiny thing made no attempt to move, merely whined and pawed at the ground.

"This is what I plan on using. Isn't he so cute with that little heart on his head? You'd think he'd come from Sashta and Reicher, just like most of his siblings. But no, she's got a new little friend now, I hear. Anyway, this poor little thing... He's deaf. Couldn't even hear me coming. I wonder if they even care he's missing. Sashta's probably very disgusted by him."

------------------------------------------------------

Had this not been the second time Phantom had brought forth such a child, he might have felt a bit more abrasive towards the situation. He kept his composure steady, although he was mentally chalking up a very raw kind of hate for this male. One day, there would be a time between them when this game would no longer become interesting. These fake smiles and slide of hand. They both knew it was a joke. And yet it continued, and for the moment, Phib preferred it that way.

“You seem to have a knack for enlisting the children of Sashta.” Phib remarked, although he could not help but pity her. Both for having Phantom get his hands on a third child and...well, for the boy itself. Had this not been a situation with Phantom, his expression towards the boy might have been different. “I imagine you’ll need to get creative with this one.”

Deaf was he? Still- he failed to see how this great and mighty warrior would eventually be of use to Phantom. In fact- his face even drooped somewhat to look the boy over. Bless poor Sashta, this was worse then Gareth.

But it didn't hide the fact that under the smooth talk and stern expression, Phib could be somewhat derailed by the sight of a (most exceptionally) pathetic child in such a situation. He kept the rest of what Phantom said in the back of his mind. Who was she with now? Whoever it was had better be a bit more considerate of the fate of their children.



----------------------------------------------------------

"I do," Phantom admitted. Many of his tools were Sashta's offspring, and how he enjoyed working with them the most. Aside from her brother. Tahara was the reason Ran had come to him.

Despite what anyone may think, it wasn't he who enlisted her. She did so herself, an attempt to uselessly convince her uncle's spirit to rejoin her. "Sashta was my mate for a long time before she came here and met Reicher, so I'm rather interested in things that involve her."

Interested, obsessed. Same thing, right?

"Which, Sosay, is why I've kept you around." He offered a broad grin toward the spotted male. "I wonder what Audi would think of you if she knew that you were just enlisted by her mother to watch her."

Sosay growled, but said nothing, and so Phantom looked back to Phib. "I think we'll be going now. Do give Audi my well wishes. Such a pretty little thing she is."

--------------------------------------------------------------

Phib docked the corner of his ear in a subconscious attempt to keep Sosay from doing anything further. Now wasn’t the time- particularly when Phantom had the child. It was unlikely there would be a time to retrieve him- and honestly, Phib wasn’t sure if it was necessary yet. There was something about a boy with a heart on his head that just seemed to bode trouble for Phantom. Or at least...his image.... Deaf wolf could be a hard fight though. Ukkefekke had been mostly deaf and certainly not of the right mental facilities. But for now, it was a child. From what it seemed, not even speaking yet.

“All this for a woman.” Phib concluded, but not in the tone of voice he had used previously. It was more reflective- and perhaps, even faintly sympathetic. He wanted to ask why. Why Sashta, of all other women? But perhaps that would be for another time, or life.

“She is.” Phib commented stiffly, his voice falling back to a more customary rough thrum. “But I’ll not say she’ll particularly enthrall herself in the pleasantries.” One thing was for sure- She wouldn’t like hearing Ran had shacked up with Phantom.

As the pale wolf turned, Phib felt the hair on the back of his ear prickle. There were times when he did wish he was another wolf. And not someone used to these pointless games.

Once he had departed, Phib turned his eyes back upon Sosay.


----------------------------------------------------------------

Though Phantom had said 'we'll', he didn't order Sosay to follow him like he had every other time, nor did he gather the puppy he'd so carelessly tossed on the ground back up.

When Phib's eyes moved to Sosay, the youth had already been staring at him for a few seconds. "You'll tell Audi nothing or I'll kill you myself," he said in a voice that left absolutely no question on the matter. "Phantom aside, I don't play games with anyone." Phantom and Baldr aside, actually, but it would be pointless to mention his brother since Phib undoubedtly new nothing of him.

Sharply, he turned, only to stumble back when he made contact with another wolf the same colors as himself.

"I was wondering where he went," Sashta said in a growl that didn't seem to be targeted toward anyone present, just a noise of pure aggravation. "I assumed it was the Ran thing repeating itself."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

He had not seen the fury in Sosay’s eyes coming, but he returned the male’s glance with a sharp glower. “You think too less of her, if you think your position with her hinges on something like that. But mark me boy- you won’t be the one killing me.” No- he had an idea of where it might come, somewhere in the future. But perhaps he thought on the good side of things. Life might be cruel enough towards him to simply allow him to live forever. “I hardly see why it would come across me to tell her such a thing regardless.” From where he stood- the less Audi considered Phantom, the better.

For now, he treated the outburst simply in flailing for Audi. If he were Sosay- he might have worried more on how such qualities might come across rather then that. Audi seemed to have a desire to be independent. Did this anger and clutching towards Audi imply a second generation of Sashta and Phantom?

Thinking of it in that manner, his expression softened. But he didn’t know quite why.

Speaking of whom- Sashta’s voice returned his eyes back to the ground; and to his surprise, the boy had been left by Phantom. Exactly what was he getting at? (Although Phib noted he probably would have forgiven Phantom if he had suddenly decided a heart might not endorse his image.)

"Mm." Phib noted, gesturing towards the child. "He's had himself an adventure, but, I don't think he'll be much the wiser to it. Hello, Sashta." She smelt faintly of milk and motherhood- and concluded that to that, Phantom had not been lying.



--------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hello," the mother wolf echoed. The puppy seemed rather happy when he recognized his mother, and got onto his shaky legs and wobbled over to him.

"You should head back, Sosay," she instructed. The male gave her a slight glare, but nodded his head and bounded off. Purple eyes watched until he was far away. "I apologize for the trouble I'm sure was caused," Sashta said sincerly, and left it at that. Grabbing her puppy by the skin on his neck, she bowed her head and swept off as the others had done.

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Well, once again Phib was left somewhat confused- but he was getting used to the particular feeling after many such occasions between the group. A lot of people seemed to be gambling more then was logical. Ran...that, was unfortunate. But he had been suspicious of her since she had attacked Audi. No doubt Amélie would be troubled. Yet she was the kind of girl who could see redemption in people like Phantom. Illogical as it was- but, there seemed to be plenty of places for it.

“No trouble.” He spoke, feeling the other female rise. With all parties now departed, Phib decided it was time to head back as well.

Although he made note to check in with Audi before completely doing so, if anything, out of compulsive nature.
 

[Werewolf]

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.RP: Amelie/Meskeet "Crazy."  

[Werewolf]

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.RP: Phib/Cassidy/Cali "New Home."  

[Werewolf]

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.RP: Phib/Ame/Malik "Danger Rising [Chapter 4]."  

[Werewolf]

It turned out Audi wasn't as hateful as she liked to think she was.

It also turned out this realization was driving her insane to the point she'd nearly throw herself off a cliff.

...Maybe not.

The female sighed deeply and batted at the river. She wanted to whine, cry, be upset, and it was very, very hard to resist not doing or being those things. Well... It was hard to not make it obvious to the world.

"This is stupid," she told herself stubbornly. He tried to kill me... More importantly, Meskeet definately wasn't acting like this. But then again, she stood on the opposing side. She'd probably be out for revenge...

Still, the point was, she didn't have any right to feel so torn about something she'd wanted to help, did she? Besides, she hadn't actually killed him. Biten and scratched, yes, but she hadn't pushed him. No one had.

"Then how come he's still everywhere?" she asked of the waters infront of her, batting her paw at them again. It was because there was just so much blue. In the water and in the sky.

How could someone forget with all the blue around here?!

"It's an ugly color, anyway..."

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They had made up again, just as both of them had predicted, for the moment forgetting that although they were more similar then most people probably imagined- they had one bitter difference which caused such schisms between them. She was too extremist- that was the problem. She lived in this magical world where nothing wrong ever happened; or if it did, you looked away and looked back again and pretended it didn’t matter. He couldn’t accept a world like that- although he’d do what he had to to protect her foolish beliefs. Not because he ever thought that such a place should exist, or did exist- but it was nice to think that it could. Illogical, but in his agnostic method of believing things, he liked to think there were fractions of haven weaseled away in odd dusty places.

The old king shifted, his black pelt pulsing once over his shoulder blades in the movement. Autumn had practically taken over the woods overnight, and it had reminded him that he had been a bit too focused on his own lands as of late. Phib knew things had stirred- and not just because Amélie tossed around in her sleep, or that his wolves told him so. Things were quieter then a wood should have been, and the wind a bit too loud against his ears.

He stalked quietly and listened to it, keeping a steady eye trained as he moved. Scents here and there- but nothing of interest. He wasn’t sure if it was a relief to find boredom, or if it should have concerned him.

Luckily, as most things Phib often did- they ended up leading him towards the trouble he was looking for. The river caught his attention first because it was loud- but a strangled and frustrated voice cut out above it. At once his ears hiked, and he curved his large form around one of the trees- noticing the familiar, but absent form of Audi hunched over by the water.

She’d always been somewhat of a brooder- but he couldn’t recall a time when she’d been static. Either she was throwing herself off of trees and trying to fly, or she was running about with wild threats- but he’d never seen her still before, the only movement being the slow stirring of the water with her paw.

“Hello Audi.” Phib spoke amiably, although his voice came out somewhat more tired and old then he would have liked.

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Audi had noticed it, too, and for some reason it amazed her. She had always felt Phantom was a problem to a small group, including herself and a few others. The rest, she figured, were allies to him or knew nothing of the Ghost.

But now that he was gone, how could she not notice? The forest did seem overall quiet, and a tension that had always been there--one she felt guilty for, in some way, missing--had vanished. The birds sang louder and she'd seen more wolves prowling about.

He was a bigger threat than she ever realized, it seemed. To humanity itself, and yet she couldn't shake the awful feeling every time the voice in her mind told her it: He's dead, you know.

The familiar voice came, and she tensed so noticeable one might have thought it was Phantom's ghost addressing her.

"Phib," she mumbled in greeting.

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Phib quirked his brow in amusement, although he was not particularly sure why. She seemed somewhat- down? It wasn’t really that. But she hadn’t exactly hurled the enthusiastic death thread he’d always imagined would proceed their next meeting after she left. But he held back from speaking as he crossed the bank, ignoring the slight sting on his left paw as the cool stones crossed against the sore on it. It was still ripped from the jagged rocks on the beach- but by now, it was the only reminded of his scuff with Croaynl.

He sat himself down beside her, and glanced down at the water she had been looking at. He didn’t see anything interesting- although he had half expected something from the way she had been looking at it.

“You look taller.” He remarked with a slight pull in his lip. “Although somewhat apathetic. How are you?”

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It had surprised Audi herself she hadn't thought of a chain of insults and promises of death to throw at him the second he'd said her name. Raja had told her not to say she'd kill someone unless she was absolutely sure, and now that she'd actually seen someone die... Maybe she really wouldn't say things like that anymore.

It was true that the water had nothing for Phib to see, but Audi saw it. Or more correctly, them. Two hateful, dark, bright red eyes that leered back at her.

For a while after Phib spoke, she said nothing. Nor did she at all protest the closeness that would usually be unwelcomed by others, save for maybe Sosay, and now, Raja.

Though she didn't answer the question, what she did say was likely more important.

"He's dead..."

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His ears tipped forward for a second in quiet registering, but his expression didn’t change much. He barely noticed that she hadn’t really answered his question- in a way, it was all he really needed. Reflectively, he turned his head towards the other side of the bank. He was no seer- so he couldn’t read Audi’s mind and figure out who she was talking about. But he knew that as fanatical as Audi had once been over Phantom- there was no doubt in his mind that he was who she was speaking of.

But Phantom being dead? It didn’t surprise him in the way that caused your body to flinch. It was sort of a flat feeling, as if he wasn’t exactly sure if he had heard it right, or if he had understood who she was talking about. Perhaps she had meant Sosay? But, no- he got the meaning. He couldn’t imagine anyone else she would be talking about without precontext.

“Does that bother you?” He spoke simply, and looked towards her. “That he’s dead?” He didn't ask how. Did it really matter? Although if he had known- he probably would have disapporved of the situation.

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With Phantom's death, as odd as it sounded, Audi felt as though she'd lost a lot of herself. A large portion was that courage, or almost wreckless carelessness, maybe, that allowed her to look someone in the eye and tell them what she thought no matter what.

Because, now, she wasn't willing to look at Phib. Had it been Sashta, Kaho, Raja, Sosay... She wouldn't have wanted to look at them either. The reason, she guessed, was because of her answer.

"Yes," she whispered, and almost immediatly the guilt flooded into her stomach and cletched her heart as if someone was literally squeezing it.

He'd tried to kill her. He'd kidnapped Valen, the one brother she actually liked. He ripped out China Blue's throat literally. Raja didn't like him. Sosay didn't like him. Meskeet did like him.

There was no reason for it. It didn't make any sense at all.

But, yes, Audi was 'bothered'.

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Phib had gotten the idea that it bothered her- but he had wanted to know if she knew it bothered her. Or hell- maybe he had no idea what was going on. But as things progressed, he seemed to feel he was on track, so he did not worry so much about misinterpretation. So Phantom was dead then. This time it did bring a slight flinch- but no so much for Phantom, but the fact that every enemy gone into death was bringing him one closer to his own.

The black wolf made a sound with his throat that seemed to either agree, or at least take into account Audi’s response. “I see.” He spoke, watching her expressions. Or lack thereof, as she seemed to stew over something. She looked faded and guilty.

“Well, I am sure it was no surprise to him.” Phib remarked. “I don’t think anyone takes power without realizing that it will kill them eventually. And it’s rarely because of old age.” His father had been an exception- but, Phib had never taken that as apart of Hrothmund’s great legacy. If anything, his father probably would have prayed for a fable’s death rather then a mortal’s slow rot.

“It’s not wrong to feel sorry someone is gone.”

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"You're such a liar," Audi laughed. She laughed like Kaho had been laughing since it happened. Nothing amused her, but the sound came anyway. Of course this was wrong.

It was wrong. Wrongwrongwrong.

Phantom... That wicked, cannibalistic b*****d. He deserved it--no, he deserved worse. He deserved to die slow and have every inch of fur ripped off him until he bled to death.

Instead, he'd died like some sort of hero to the more demented of wolves.

It was almost as disgusting as her being upset.

"Of course it's wrong, Phib. It's nothing but wrong." And then silence came again, and like before, Audi casted her paw across the water. Finally, she asked, almost to quietly to hear, "Aren't you mad at me?"

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He smiled. It was true- he was a liar; [well, when he couldn’t make the truth sound good enough!]- But, that wasn’t the point. He wasn’t lying this time. And he didn’t usually lie about advice anyways.

Her laugh was hollow, and he squinted his brow. He didn’t like to hear that kind of laugh- particularly from such a young girl. But then, she’d always been a serious girl.

“No, I’m not mad.” He spoke. He wasn’t sure what she was implying he’d be mad about- but, he was sure there were plenty of reasons. “And it isn’t wrong. Oh sure- he had it coming. I have it coming- everyone eventually has it coming. I would have killed him if the time arose. It takes a lot to invest hate in people. It isn’t easy having it gone.”

"And- I've hated a lot of people." He remarked. Really- a lot of people. "It seems I've outlived most of them." He spoke somewhat apathetically, and he let it trail. There was something tragic in that. He was a man that liked his warring, although it was a corruptive kind of want.

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A sad smile crossed Audi's face, and for whatever reason she shook her head. Phib hating someone... It just didn't register, and she didn't know why. Except with Phantom, who almost everyone had some reason to hate. But hating anyone else? She couldn't picture it.

It may have been because a lot of memories of him she had, he was with Amelie, and there was no way she could hate anybody. So, could Phib really hate so many people and be with someone like that? Heh...

Before she could stop herself, she said it. "I told him I loved him, you know." The suddenly very small form cringed. To her distress, she kept going, "He attacked me for it. Almost killed me. I'm not even sure if I really meant it or not, but..."

Her next breath sounded like a struggle, as if she was barely resisting breaking down into tears. Which she'd never do, no matter what, in front of someone. Espescially not Phib.

"I'm going to follow Raja now... She's really strong. I know you said you don't think any female could beat you, or something like that, but I think she could. I think she could've killed Phantom by herself. It's going to be hard, because Ran is going to be there, but I don't..." A small choking noise came from her. "I don't know what I'm doing anymore."

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It would have amused him greatly to think that Audi would be surprised at him being such a bitter old wolf. True- maybe hate was a harsh word. But after some thought, he decided that he really did hate quite a few people. He was perhaps more discriminating nowadays- but when he had been young, he’d hated a lot of people. They got less and less as people got more and more predictable and less and less alien. Phantom was not the first wolf he’d ever met that had been a phantom- these things liked to repeat themselves. But, he did argue with Amélie. She seemed to think he only hated people because he thought it was right to hate certain people. And he did- but, it was all terribly confusing anyways. Regardless, Phib certainly strongly disliked many people in his day.

Words started to gush out of Audi’s mouth, and it caused the black wolf’s expression to waiver from serious to somewhat pained. He felt too easily around women. And it also stirred up a bit of anger to think that Phantom had attacked her for such a thing. Well, at least he was dead. Privately, he did have to admit- there was a part of him that was going to miss pondering what the other wolf’s movements would be. Now he’d have to stumble onto more enemies to worry about. He could never be at peace unless his mind was in a million places.

He was usually pretty good with coming up with things to say. Lots of public speaking and a rather nicely tucked ego had always made him a good speaker- but, it was hard thinking of something to say to Audi’s ragged confession. They were words you could feel and understand- but not so easy to say something that made them less sharp.

“You were devoted to him, at least for a time.” He spoke. “It’s hard to throw that away.” He could only imagine her as a child, so eager to go back to Phantom, and then to have that great opinion of him torn down.

A crack appeared in his face as he smiled, and shook his head. “Ah- women. I’ll disagree with you on that point, but that’s for another time.” In his opinion- women were not the stronger ones in a fight. And nor should they be. Didn’t they realize they could control men so easily without ever needing to lift a paw? That was the joke of it all. “But; don’t follow someone just because they’re strong. People aren’t strong forever. But if you think she is worth your good opinion, then follow her. If you're willing to be around Ran for her, then let it be for something other then what Phantom was.”

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"I don't know why females like you so much, you're really stupid and obnoxious about us." Honestly, Audi did feel that way. It annoyed her if he really felt he couldn't be beat by a female simply because it was a female.

At the same time, she liked Phib. She didn't feel she should, but had always felt that way about Phantom, too, and Phib was much more sane. Not the most sane, maybe, but steady in that area, at least.

"Raja's a good leader," she confirmed, half to herself. Raja was a great leader. Blind, female, it didn't matter. She was built like a tank and could destroy anyone similar to one who dared stand against her.

Suddenly, the youth stood and stepped away, then turned from the older wolf and laughed an honest laugh. "We're not friends, Phib, but we're something like it." Something she didn't understand, like many things lately, but unlike those things, something she didn't really feel the need to.

And those were the words she left him with, moving swiftly back to her pack.... To her home.

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A pleasant chuckled pulled from his chest. He’d give her that at least. “I must be quite charming then.” He taking a moment to lick his nose in a coy manner. It really was a miracle that women liked him, honestly. Nadia had never figured it out. Khadda had said it was because she could never figure out if he was being noble or an a**. He’d always remembered that- mostly because it was the only time he had heard his once frail mate say such a “dirty” word.

His sister, of course- well, that was another story in it’s own.

“A good leader is someone to follow then.” He spoke. Raja- had he met that one before? It sounded almost familiar. He did hope that Audi would not tag along simply for the strength she held in such high regard... but, there was something about the older Audi that seemed a bit more steady footed then the other one. Perhaps she’d do better under a female, he noted. She hadn’t exactly had many of them growing up.

If her laugh was a truer laugh then the ones before- his smile matched it. It made him look older when he smiled like that, and he probably would have stopped doing it long ago if he knew about it. “Something like that.”

He liked it that way.