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 Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 10:50 pm
Strider turned, just to see that the female had gotten away but was already getting chased by the monstrous bear. She did not look steady at all, so there was no way either of the two could take on a bear this size, not matter what his pride said.
Stryder shook his head. He had to do something. He growled, softly at first, readying himself on his haunches. It quickly became a large howl as he launched himself into a fast sprint towards the bear. He was in the air, launched with his hind legs' muscles with his front paws' claws stretched. He smashed his right fore paw's claws into the back of the bear's head, bringing its head to meet the earth's dusty floor.
Stryder looked up at the female. He growled, and noticed something about the leather around his muzzle. He moved his jaws, and found that the leather had stretched a little but only enough for him to speak some.
"Let's run!" He spoke in the grainy, unused male voice. A voice that had not been used in so long, he didn't even know it was his. With a look to see that the bear was still a little out of it, he nudged the female with his paw on her own paw and started to run.
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 10:58 pm
Venda was in such a daze she didn't even realize the voice that spoke was that of her previously mute companion. She simply ran and ran for it following the sound of the males footsteps while listening terrified the bear would give chase. All she really heard was the pounding of her own frantic heart. Finally she slowed down and moved at a brisk jog. "I...I think...we lost it" She nodded and perked her ears listening behind them.
She turned her head to the sound of footsteps. "You can talk! Did it claw that contraption off?" Her voice was excited for the male she had met, yet she hadn't thought to ask his name yet, she still thought their escape and time together made him a friend of sorts.
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Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 11:17 pm
Stryder panted and slowed down as the female slowed. He calmed his beat and his ears moved back. He could not hear the bear following and saw that she thought to listen just as he had.
Stryder nodded when the female spoke of his voice coming out. "Y-yes. There was an accident back there. I snagged on the ro-"
Stryder quickly thought about how embarrassing it would be, to admit that he was a little careless today. In his unused scratchy voice, he said "It got snagged on the bear's claws. It's not off, I've never found a way and the nice dark two leggers could never take it off. It's been loosed a bit I believe, that I can speak. I'm still unable to use my jaws correctly, or else the bear's blood would've spilled on my teeth."
Stryder had not been speaking quite directly to the female, especially when he lied about how the leather muzzle had loosened. He looked back at the excited female and sighed. "No, I just lied. I did not mean to, but I couldn't bare the thought of how embarrassing to tell you the truth. Truth is, I snagged it just a little on a rock when the bear had come crashing into the clearing. I turned my head to see if you were unharmed and hit the rock... when i should not have been so careless..."
Stryder trailed off and ducked his head, "I feel ashamed for that carelessness... and for lying to you." He tried to look at her while with his head slightly bowed and then continued, "My name... it is Stryder. If you are still willing to know me, would you please tell me the name given to you?"
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 7:59 am
Venda was worried at first that the bear had claws the side of his face, she frowned a bit before relaxing as he told the truth. She gave him a wry smile and nodded softly. "It's nothing to be ashamed of...I trip over things all the time..." Her skin warmed and she flushed beneath her fur "Once I even...uhh ran into a tree..." She gave a soft snort of amusment at her own antics despite how ashamed she had been of them before. Slowly Venda had come to embrace the loss of that which she could not restore, she was glad however that the male could now speak.
"I'm Venda, and it would be my pleasure to call you a friend Stryder." She smiled her tail wagging a bit. It was nice to finally know there was someone nearby, someone who she could trust, a friend. The very idea of a friend was quite nice, she was tired of being alone.
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 6:20 pm
Stryder's tail wagged, happy that the female, no, Venda was still willing to be a friend. He had given a soft, sad whimper about the tree-running and chuckled as she saw some amusement in it.
Stryder felt sad. He could speak a little now, as before the muzzle was never able to be removed, even when the dark two leggers wanted to take it off. Their sharp stones did not work, and his claws produced the same result. Maybe it was fated that he be with Venda when the bear came, so that they could be friends. He only wished that she would have been fated to regain what was once lost.
Stryder felt even more sad, knowing that he still liked his privacy. He didn't mind not speaking, but had to still mourn the loss of not being able to use his jaws. He was happy that he could communicate now, especially with Venda.
Stryder moved forward now, now that he was sure that they were friends and nudged Venda's head softly, slowly. In his scratchy voice, "Venda, thank you. It is good... to know a friend and to know your name."
Stryder sat on his haunches and wagged his tail. "Have you met any other packs? Not the evil ones, or the new pack?"
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 4:20 pm
Venda was quite pleased despite the mishap with the bear, they were both still alive and not missing anything that hadn't been lost already. To top it off she had a new friend, and just the word friend brought her to a pleasant state of mind. She smiled as he approached and returned the nudge with affection.
"I'm glad to have a friend in you Stryder. Mostly I'm glad that you've regained your voice...though it seems like it needs a little cultivating." She gave a soft laugh and smiled in what she hoped was his direction.
She sat down and tilted her head up in thoughtfulness. "I know the pack that dwells by the sea, there is another pack that seems to be mostly family in this area as well...and then there is this dangerous pack nearby. There are other packs further out, up the mountains, and across the meadows in the sparser forests. I have not traveled further then that circumfrence."
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 9:53 pm
Stryder's ears dropped just slightly. He wasn't at all sure he wanted to meet with the new dangerous pack. He panted slightly, wondering. Maybe Venda was thirsty? Or hungry? There was sure to be some stream to drink from nearby. Maybe even a rabbit or two.
Stryder grunted, "Well, Venda. Are you thirsty? Do.. you know where we can get a drink?"
He whipped his head around, maybe a rabbit? No... it was just the wind.
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 10:05 pm
Venda raised her head and nodded softly "A cool drink sounds wonderful, but the only water I can smell...is in there..." She moved her nose to where the scent of the pack markers was strongest. She feared they may have already overstepped the boundaries when running from the bear.
"What is it?" Her ears perked and swiveled nervously as she heard him whip his head around. Had he seen something that she couldn't?
Chernabog waited and watched, prepared to slay those who had come onto his land, he would have considered recruitment, but the female was obviously handicapped, and the male didn't look so hot either.
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 10:20 pm
Stryder peered around and smelled once more. This did not smell good at all. Had they crossed borders? The pack markings... smelled different. They shouldn't have gotten over this much... could they?
Stryder smelled once again, hoping his nose was only working up from the run from the bear. He inhaled and then exhaled. No... no it was true! The pack markings were definitely different. There was definitely some blood... to the scent in the air.
Stryder readied his muscles just in case and slowly turned, "Venda... We've passed boundaries on the run."
This was not good. A blind, female lone... and a lone male without the use of his jaws in the dangerous territory. Even worse, Stryder still felt a little winded from the bear run. He moved closer to Venda, trying to guard from the unseen, dangerous and dark presence. How could it not be dangerous, in this territory and with the scent of blood? The blood was neither Venda's or Stryder's.
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 10:37 pm
Venda tensed and moved her tail to touch Styder, needing the comfort of something she knew the feel for. "How far in are we?" She inhaled and frowned, often such strong scents overpowered her sensitive nose and made it hard for her to pinpoint things.
"Too far..." Chernabog growled out as he slipped from the shadows and infront of the two wolves.
He stopped his growling and looked at Stryder a long moment before giving a wicked grin. "Brave enough to bite the hand that fed you, yet foolish enough to let them harness your jaws...Stryder, and you were once so great." He chuckled.
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 10:46 pm
Stryder flicked his tail back, trying to assure Venda. He knew this wolf, but when? He couldn't look away though, not from this alpha. It would be dangerous, if not life-ending.
Stryder growled and replied, "And yet, I know not of your name... great Alpha to be speaking to me of the days when I was fully muzzled and captive. I may not have the use of my jaws, but I can take down others just the same. If you know of me, you would know I've fought others when I couldn't even speak and or growl."
Stryder continued, "We didn't mean to step too far into your lands Alpha. I didn't want to chance taking on a great monstrous bear that had come down from the mountains. I knocked it a little to get it down so that we could run. We did not mean to run into your territory."
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Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 2:50 pm
"You do not remember me? I'm not surprised, we were both rather occupied against our common foe at that point. I am Chernabog, formerly the Great King of all our kind within the two legged lands. Now I am Alpha of The Reign of Terror...the pack on whose lands you currently stand upon." His eyes flicked over Venda.
"I will spare you Stryder, you seem to have suffered enough at the hands of your former captors...I will take the female as tribute and allow you passage and water."
Oh how Venda wished she could see what was going on, did Stryder and this frightening sounding male know each other. She heard Stryder refer to him as an alpha and dipped her muzzle concerned. She gave a sudden shudder and a step back as she heard his last words. Her nose moved in Stryder's direction, would he betray her for his own safety? She trusted him as a friend to find some other alternative for them both.
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Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 6:43 pm
Stryder flicked his ears up and snarled. The alpha dared to call him out and do that? Even if this alpha was Chernabog, no wolf would be able to say that without some repercussions. Even if Stryder was tired and weaker from being a lone wolf with muzzled jaws, he would not take this as if he was a pup! He'd not be told to do anything from Chernabog, he was no omega and Stryder would not let Venda be treated like one either.
Stryder grumbled and growled, "Yes... I remember you Chernabog. We fought well against our common foe. That was a wonderful battle.
However! Venda and I... We did not even want to encroach upon your lands... but you dare ask me to let you take her?"
Stryder readied himself, knowing full well his life... and Venda's were easily at stake. He narrowed his eyes, and heightened all of his senses. "I will not let you take Venda, my friend, and allow you to treat her as an omega!"
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Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 7:22 pm
Chernabog let a wicked grin spread beneath his mask and let out a soft chuckle.
"You seem to have misunderstood...I didn't ask, nor did I offer to make her an omega in my pack...I simply said I would take her as tribute."
His tone was cool, confident, with a hint of amusement. Chernabog was curious to see what Stryder would do to defend the female, and she wondered if they shared more then friendship.
Venda stayed silent, not wanting to make matters worse for Stryder, but she calmed when she heard his defense. A soft smile would have managed to cross her muzzle at his brave words, had Chernabog not spoken after.
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Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 7:37 pm
Stryder snarled at Chernabog's comments and quickly glanced at Venda. He glared at Chernabog under his cloth hood and said "You may be the alpha... and these are your lands...
"However I will not let you take her!"
Stryder continued to ready himself, getting balanced just in case. He growled, continuing, "I'll fight you if I must, to allow Venda to leave here unharmed."
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