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 Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:00 pm
As often as he did, the large male stepped off the land he had rightfully claimed and darted into no man's land with an open mind, focusing on his objective. What brought him so close to Reign of Terror was part of his directive, however, it wasn't one of their ranks he was after. No, they were spared for now. Regardless, the rumors of the destructive pack had long reached Aguta's ears and his distrust for the alpha created a slight eagerness to do away with Chernabog. Of course he didn't believe it would be that simple, and he wasn't about to become a vigilante for free. No, the price had to be right for him to do anything of the sort. Taking a life may not have cost his physical body much, but his dreams were haunted and even his waking eyes saw the shadows of those he had disposed of, and because of this, he required compensation.
This payment could come in any form. Being a wolf, there was no such thing as a currency, and human items meant little to the stoic creature. Usually food, territory, or hunting passage onto land that was not his own were his to claim after accomplishing a job, but there were times when compensation was not so conventional.
Padding lightly, his ebony paws blended with the limpid darkness of the night. No harvest moon hung above to assist in lighting his path. Instead he was accompanied by the icy breath of a quickly approaching winter, a time he both scorned and adored. Snow wasn't exactly the best for completing a job, after all, it left evidence quite noticeably. However, the humans were an amusing specimen during this time, and often sparked their glorious flames which Aguta was mesmerized by so passionately. Lifting his head, he dipped his nose into the air, sampling the scents casually while he paused.
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:12 pm
This seemed a fine day to die, the air was brisk and reminded her that she was still alive, could still feel and think of her own accord. An omega she may be, but her heart beat with indomitable strength. She raced through the snow her tail brushing rapidly behind her as she tried to cover her tracks. She leapt into the icy river waters gasping softly as her paws slipped and crashed through thin layers of ice before being submerged in the frigid slush water.
She ran, and ran, she feared what would come, for they would notice soon that she was not curled up docile and trembling in the back of the den, and when they noticed...she would pay. Her nose caught a scent and she raced towards it, finally the edge of the lands of the Reign of Terror. She broke past the invisible line and continued racing onward across the meadow and into the opposite forest until finally she tripped and fell, hunger, thirst, and sleep taking her and pulling her down, down, down.
~
When she woke, one eyes slid open slowly, her nose twitched and she struggled to her feet. There was a wolf nearby, not one of RoT's members, perhaps it was time to ask for help...she would do anything to avoid the pack and their wrath. Anything.
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Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 4:00 pm
Black nose continued to sample the air, stumbling across a rather unique scent that caught his attention. Whether or not the creature was from Reign of Terror didn't concern him (although he would rather turn his paws as to avoid confrontation), but the smell coming from their territory had lingered away from the path. It was obviously a female, but every other stat was something the male had to investigate on his own. The only question was if he wanted to spend his time doing just that when he had other obligations to look after.
Regardless of his decision, as he continued padding, weaving between brush and fallen log, the large wolf seemed to be unable to shake the presence of the other wolf until she was in his sight not to far ahead. Cocking his head sideways for a brief moment, the male watched her steadily. Small, thin, the sight of a vagabond, if not in a worse condition, she seemed to be, and a threat he had only imagined.
Raising his tail slightly, the male lowered his head, becoming stream-lined and thought provoking in appearance. What was she doing here? Was she a member of the near-by pack, or was she a stray passing through fearfully? Aguta wondered if addressing her first would be appropriate. Did his questions even matter? "Where are you from and where are you headed, she-wolf?" he asked suddenly, seemingly verbalizing without thought. It wasn't often he stopped to talk with wolves he had come upon, but her sight was curious.
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 5:58 am
Selene jerked at the sound of the males voice, her heart thundered in her ears. Was this the end, or was this the help she had so desperately needed? Could she throw down what was left of her shredded pride and ask for help? Would anyone help her against a pack like the Reign? The questions burned in her mind, and her violet eyes filled with a burning desire to know the answers.
She crouched low and turned to face the male that had addressed her, oh may the moon help her for he seemed as imposing and dangerous as any of the ones in her pack. She took him in and inhaled his scent and cringed, if he wasn't an alpha she would be shocked for he reeked of subtle power.
"Please, do not turn against me...I have only just escaped the Reign of Terror..." She quivered and her muscles tired as they were bunched in preparation of flight. Would she run to the ends of the earth to escape the Reign, or would anyone have mercy on her and allow her to hide?
"I do not know where I go...only that I never wish to return there." She gasped out the words softly uncertain what the males reaction would be.
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 12:40 pm
Watching her curiously, the male's narrowed eyes flowed over her lithe form, taking in every little detail he possibly could. She was small, and appeared to have been roughed up more than once by an obviously stronger wolf. Her account for her being here answered his curiosity. She wasn't a member of Reign, but a hostage? Intriguing. And she had managed to escape? This was even more of an interesting fact to the male who had heard tale of those who had entered RoT usually never came back out, and yet here stood a tired female seeking assistance in her dilemma.
Now the question was if Aguta would give it to her. He had no obligation to assist this stranger, after all, and he was considerably busy at the moment anyway. Besides, helping a valued commodity of the neighboring pack would surely bring trouble to his own. Not that Tomkin couldn't handle it, but Aguta was left with the decision of risking the fledgling pack for someone he owed nothing to.
Finally he spoke, calm, placid, and with a hint of skepticism, "Do they know of your disappearance? How long have you been gone from their watch?" The questions seemed abstract, but the male was trying to measure just how much time he could offer her. If a lot of time had passed it was safe to presume they had already discovered her escape, and if any of them cared, would be on her trail. Leading her back to Tomkin now wouldn't be a wise decision.
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 9:48 am
Selene waited, her legs quivered beneath her prepared to flee, yet she remained rooted in place for something about this male made him different in her eyes. He had that edge of power, yet he did not have the look of cruelty that so many of the reign did. Dangerous...but maybe not to her...maybe. She hoped.
"I have heard no outcry...I doubt they know yet or I would already have been overtaken. I have been running for what feels like forever but in truth perhaps less than half the day has waned."
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 1:28 pm
While he heard her reply, his mind was working, focusing on several subjects and weeding through what was possible and not. He contemplated the result of letting her go here and now to fend for herself. Aguta also considered what could, and likely would, become of his pack by taking in the weak female. But as he watched her shaking, small, and writhing form, the male felt a strange stirring. It wasn't compassion, but something different. Instinct maybe? Helping a stray from a different pack was not common among wolves; they'd sooner kill an intruder rather than risk territory and life. But Aguta knew this female's life was at stake, and if she was not yet trailed perhaps there was a possibility he could not only take her away from RoT, but gain a little something in return.
But what would this female have to offer him? The wraith never settled a deal without there being some sort of reward. He was a mercenary after all.
"Come with me," he said suddenly, darting his eyes away from the dark teal female. Moving away from her, the large male turned his smooth body back diagonally to Tomkin's border in the distance. It would be several miles and he was certain the female was tired, but if she wanted shelter, she'd have to fight her waning stamina.
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:57 pm
Selene didn't hesitate for a second, she was instantly beside him following as close as she dared to mask her weaker scent with his stronger one. She glanced around nervously wondering what fate she was to face now. Still just about anything had to be better then RoT.
She glanced at the male beside her and spoke softly her voice was tender, and clearly perfect for addressing pups or sick wolves, but of no use in speaking against a capable adult. "I am Selene..." Her lavender eyes darted to his face a moment hoping he would share his name as well.
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Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 8:58 pm
She was keeping up with him, this was a pleasant revelation. If she was able to keep in line with him now, maybe she wasn't as weak as previously perceived. She stayed in line nicely. As Aguta flung over brush, log, and ground alike, weaving between trees, his vibrant eyes darted about him, watching every corner of the spectrum as they moved. Heading northeast, he headed still diagonally from his network of caves he referred to as the pack land, knowing that if they continued a few more miles in this direction, they would come upon a river which they would use to swipe away their scent.
Glancing down to her, he observed the female for a moment. Her small voice didn’t matter to the male. All he focused on was what was said. "Selene, hum? We'll have to come up with an alias soon," he commented. This was nothing special; he did not intend to hide her name for her sake alone, after all, each member of his pack had their own code name, as did he, and he used them as a safe guard. If anyone would snoop about Tomkin searching for her, at least a name would not be the dagger to fell her.
"You may refer to me as Wraith," he commented, adding to his previous statement.
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Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:26 am
Wraith, it suited him she thought to herself while she ran alongside him. Her body was positioned slightly behind him, more an unconscious act of rank then any lack of ability to match his stride. Her form was slender though and where there once may have been muscle lack of food and cruel treatment had left her a whispy creature.
Her lavender eyes glanced over at the large male beside her every few moments, what would come next? Salvation? If she was at last going to be safe what would the price be? She imagined that she could pay any price, give any oath as long as it kept her from the grasp of the Reign.
"Your name is well earned, you move through the land with familiarity." She murmured softly.
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Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 3:10 pm
He regarded her statement but hardly answered her. Instead, he continued to run, his pace simple and swift. When the scent of the water hit, Wraith slowed and tipped his nose into the air, sampling their environment before continuing forward, searching for the edge of the water. It wasn't long before they saw the roaring crystal water, which poured with a vivacious strength through ragged boulders. Knowing the current would be too dangerous for himself to cross, let alone Selene, they slowly started their trek along the edge, moving to find a natural bridge or the slower current half a mile away.
Some moments later, they traveled lightly to a thinner piece of the river, and there Aguta observed their passage across. Raising his tail, the male moved forward, keeping his balance as his dark paws touched a set of slick stones at the bank. "Stay close behind me. We'll cross here," he said, glancing back to her before whipping around forward. Moving, the male quickly walked, feeling his paws dip into freezing water and between mire and stone. When they were atop the boulders, they steadied themselves with gripping claws, never pausing long before continuing forward.
As he pulled himself across the bank, he climbed up the muddy sides and into the woods where grasses brushed over his wet legs. Gray-blue eyes darted back, watching Selene carefully and waited for her to join him.
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Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 10:44 pm
Could she make it? She wondered to herself as she followed him into the calmer part of the river. The icy water gripped at her legs and she felt them buckle beneath her. She shoved herself onward following the large male that cut the path ahead for her. Her paws slipped on the wet stone and she caught herself from slipping. She almost moved to grab Waith with her jaws to keep herself from the fall, but instead she shoved herself up and onward.
Her legs trembled beneath her as she followed him harrowing pace, the mud slipped from her fur leaving it with only slight streaks of dirt brushed away by the grasses. Her chest heaved and her stomach snarled at her in protest of further abuse but still she followed behind Wraith like a small teal shadow.
As she joined him her lavender eyes darted about hopeful that they would soon stop for brief respite. She wondered then what words would be suited to thanking him for his aid, and if that aid included a hiding place, protection, the offer to join a pack once more. How she longed to see her pack alive and well once again, to curl up with the pups and tell them the ancient tales passed on generation to generation. Now what new tale did she have? Only one of fright and warning, for Chernabog had destroyed her entire pack in one night of horror. She closed her eyes against the painful memory.
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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:32 pm
Watching those bright lavenders close, the blue-gray in turn narrowed as they examined her expression and condition. Though he didn't know what was currently going through her mind, he could see the physical pain and that was enough to convince him to rest for a little while. "We'll stay here for a few minutes. There's no trace that anyone is pursuing you, so I believe we'll be safe," he told her softly and sat back on his haunches.
They would now have to turn to their west to retrace back along the river before cutting once more into the woods. The trail set before them lay before his eyes; his mind was contemplating their plan of action. Caves littered the land of Tomkin. Aguta, who had traveled every one he had discovered, found that a few were in fact tunnels to other caves whose mouths were positioned elsewhere in the pack land. Even a few crisscrossed. Knowing of a few, he would lead Selene into one, cross into another, backtrack, if it would be manageable, and then set forward toward the pack meeting den. There he would keep her.
Her becoming a member hadn't crossed his mind. Instead, he was focused on the here and now, and more importantly what he could gain from this little experience. He doubted she had anything to offer him, except pride in that he had helped someone in need of it. That didn't amount to much to the assassin. The male turned to look at the dark female.
"You may stay in Tomkin for as long as need be. However, there will be a price for your accommodations. What do you have to offer, if anything?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 7:11 pm
Selene halted and sat down quickly trying to regain what little strength she had left within her. Her sides heaved caving in against her ribs from malnutrition, she licked her lips. She watched him uncertainly wondering what he might be thinking, his question caught her off guard.
"I have naught to offer but myself, in whatever way I could aid you I swear I will. Your kindness is...it's too much, there is nothing you could ask that I would deny." She nodded certain that whatever this new pack might need she would be content to provide.
"I understand the danger to you and yours, I can be of use though...before the Reign I was in a pack, I tended pups."
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Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:09 pm
Aguta made himself comfortable as well, however, his ever watchful eyes, hardly focused on one thing at a time. Instead, they darted about, searching through their surroundings every now and again while his nose sampled the air. His ears were also observant, and not just to the woods. He had listened to her words, pay close attention indeed; he was listening to not only her plight, but was interested in what she had to offer and deduct what he could get.
Her eagerness to repay him was interesting. At least she had a great sense of gratitude, which he found a valuable prize. But that was not what he wanted. If he would take her in as a pack member, she had to offer something for the pack, and clearly she wasn't applying with a resume stating she was capable of the packs purpose, assassination. Instead, he was pleased to hear what she had to say. A pup sitter huh? While they didn't have any pups to populate Tomkin with yet, he assumed that in the future, her position would be quite valuable.
He also had his own agenda.
"Pups hum? That's a good quality for any pack," he commented. "However, Tomkin does not have any pups for which you could tend as of yet."
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