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 Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 8:01 am
 Burnt orange hued eyes, seemingly void of all emotion, stared hollowly over the territory that she had begun to call her own. There was no alpha, therefore no pack, but this small plot of land was hers and hers alone. Not that she was there often to claim it. She was a wanderer by nature and with her followed stories of death and decay, as she was often seen at sights of disasters and unfortunate deaths.
But as of right now she really was in her little "home," resting beneath the comforting shade of an aging oak tree, which kept the sharp rays of sun from heating her already dark and heavy coat. The former Northerner was deep in thought, though on a glance it did not appear to be so. Her black and white wings were folded neatly at her side and her tail, banded with gold, was curled about her haunches. Her paws, also banded, were folded over one another as she rested.
Death embodied, that was what others considered her, though that was far from the truth. The darkly hued helix closed her orange eyes slowly and savored the warmth of the summer afternoon, something she rarely enjoyed, especially when she was an adolescent up north. Ah, things couldn't ever get any better than this, that was for sure. She could still feel the cold, the ice, the pure and utter helplessness she had felt when she had been in the clutches of the ice and snow. That fateful night when she "died" in the north, and whatever happened between then and waking further south, near the neutral borders, she had no idea. Avalanches were dangerous things and here she was, having been through one, sitting healthily many seasons afterwards.
She would be on the move again, soon, but for now... Well, even the most devoid or fearsome creature had to stop to smell the roses sometimes.
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:18 am
Kane was in neutral territory hunting. An old buck lead him right into Moonrift's territory without him realizing it. He leaped for the creature's back. The buck reared up his back legs and kicked. A cloven hoof hit Kane's injured leg. With a pained yelp Kane landed on the ground and watched helplessly as his dinner leaped away.
Cursing he inspected the wound. He was bleeding yet again, he lapped at it irritably. He couldn't return north until this wound had fur growing over it. Else he would get frost bite faster than you could say 'Frozen Puppy.' He didn't want to loose the foot! Recently he'd been trying to heal faster by eating good. Hence the large buck being hunted instead of a young doe.
He was just looking around when he froze. He wasn't alone. A helix rested under the shade of a tree. Unable to run away quickly enough, he was caught red handed. Why couldn't he pay attention while hunting?
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:24 am
Her cool, uncaring demeanor seemed to change as swiftly as the wind and she was up on her paws. The trinkets about her paws clattered together as she did so and pure hatred seemed to radiate from the eyes that had seemed to be void of life just moments ago.
An intruder.
Her territory was small, but she guarded it fiercely while she was in the neutral areas. It tended to bend and sway with neighboring packs and had even been relocated on occasions, but this spot. This was what was free and this was what she had taken as her own. The little rip was hunting in her area. She flexed her feathered wings and loomed airily as she quickly approached the injured adolescent. Blood was thick on the air, he had a wound. Useless creature.
"What are you doing here?" Her voice was sharp and seemed to slice through the hazy summer afternoon. The insects that were chirruping seemed to silence almost instantly as she demanded information of the younger helix.
"What are you called, trespasser? I ought to tear you a new one right now."
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 9:54 am
He was about to say some kind of snappy sarcastic reply that is until he got a good look at her. He stiffened, eyes widening. No way....it couldn't be. Could it? It was supposed to be fake, just a story and yet... this looked just like her. The helix his own mother had warned him about during the times he was being a bad pup. 'Be good or we'll leave you out here where Moonrift will find you! She comes back from the dead.'
Her sharp voice cut through his daze. Everything about her spelled aggression, he noticed she was indeed acting like a Northerner. It WAS her! Oh he was DEAD! He noticed her Beta posture right away. Okay, how did they do it? He remembered all he'd learned about lower-than-thou body postures. She was angry and if he didn't act fast she would do away with him, just like in the stories!
He had never felt so afraid in his entire life. Moonrift had him right where she wanted him. He submitted for the first time since early pup hood. Ears back, tail tucked between his legs, crouched low to make himself appear as small as possible. It wouldn't take much intimidation for her to make him roll over and present his belly to her. He tried to stiffen his muscles up to stop a slight trembling that had begun. He couldn't stop the fear scent though, which only make him more scared. Northerners exploited fearful weak creatures, and right now he fitted perfectly in that category.
"I, I, I..." He kicked himself mentally for stuttering. "Kane." He avoided the first question. To admit to prey stealing would probably be the end of him. At the mention of tearing him a new one he whimpered apologetically. "I didn't know! I didn't realize!" He spoke quickly.
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 10:10 am
There were only two reasons why the youngster would of submitted and stammered as much as he had already, at least in her mind. One, he was either omega material, or two, her reputation was at work. She didn't know if it was the first or the second, but she didn't particularly care as she watched the male grovel before her in an attempt to spare him from her swift wrath.
Fortunately for Kane, while she often came off as aggressive (and she really was), she wasn't one to strike out randomly at the future of their species. At least to those who showed healthy fear and respect. In fact, she often didn't outright slay any creature, but she often bluffed that she could and she was one of considerable size and strength. His fear scent fueled her aggression and old habits often died hard as she glowered at the red and white male. it wasn't uncommon for the harsh northerners to strike or prey on the weak and he was a prime target...
But there was a gnawing at the back of her mind and he so did remind her of the young pups she often sat before that fateful afternoon, even if he was out of his puphood.
"You didn't realize." She sneered and circled the adolescent, her trinkets clacking together as she did so. "Didn't know. Didn't realize. That is the sort of thing that gets whelps killed."
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 10:49 am
He couldn't lower his eyes in submission, even if he wanted to. Instead his head turned, unable to take his eyes off her as she circled him. Her taunting cut at his pride, making him feel like mere prey. "I'm sorry, okay?!" He snapped, then remembered what Verdauga had said about his temper and just who he was talking to.
Recovering from his moment of insanity he started shaking again, submitting once more to her status. This time he rolled onto his back, baring his belly and neck to her. He hated it with a passion but he knew he had done wrong. She had rank over him, was a living legend. He wouldn't challenge her even if she were wingless. He tried to hide his injured leg by covering it with his other leg. She probably smelled the blood but maybe if she didn't see...
"...Moonrift...it was an honest mistake. I ask your forgiveness." He looked up at her, completely at her mercy. She, who had come back from the dead would decide now weather he lived or died.
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 10:58 am
A growl rose in her throat as she paused. Her tail stiffened and raised and her hackles did the same as she sized up the young male, who know showed his neck and belly in submission. Although he had been insolent, she was glad to see him changing his tune, even if this didn't show on her hardened, furious features.
"Not all creatures turn a blind eye to mistakes. One must always have his wits about him, no matter the situation. No matter injuries." A burnt orange eye cast towards his covered leg. She had smelt blood and he was doing what he could to hide the injury, she gave him that much at least.
"And forgiveness is hard earned at best. Who is to say a whelp like you wouldn't continue to cross lines and boundaries. To hunt prey in other territories. Hnn?" She moved closer to him, toying with him as if it were a dangerous game that they played, and held her claws for him to see, examining them as if she were trying to decide what to do with the younger helix.
She didn't intend on hurting him, though her outward display would beg to differ. One must uphold one's image and a little display of aggression could go a long way in keeping face.
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 11:26 am
Kane listened, hanging on her every word. Being a living legend he was naturally fascinated with her. He was about to ask her a question when she mentioned his leg. He rolled on his side, laying on the injured leg to cover it.
Now he felt like a tiny helpless pup, she drew closer, showing him her sharp claws. He flinched involuntarily, would these claws cause his end? It was almost ironic how he would be dying. He'd survived harsh Northern winters, and even a bear trap but he would die by a single female's claws. At least it was a famous deadly Beta female, he could salvage some pride from that.
Deciding he didn't want to die on his back Kane rolled back over and stood, trembling. His head and tail were still bowed in submission but he wasn't laying back down. He'd die fighting if he had to die. He already knew he'd lose but it had more honor than a submissive death. "Would you....teach me how to do that... so that it doesn't happen again? I'll do what you say, I'll take orders and obey and be a good student..." He trailed off, wondering why he was asking Moonrift of all people for lessons. Did he have a death wish? He shrunk away from her furious glare. "Or just leave...." He highly doubted she'd allow him to leave, he wasn't going to run either. He wouldn't be a coward, even if he currently felt like one.
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 11:42 am
Silence followed his words and Moonrift's intense eyes roved over the male as she studied him.
...
...
...
"You're funny."
After several moments a wry grin spread across her maw, an eerie thing in appearance. The trembling male was of high amusement to her and he certainly seemed to be learning his lesson. There was still anger beneath that dark, bristled coat, but her amusement seemed to rise above that.
"Students who do not obey their masters find themselves between a rock and a hard place. It wouldn't be like taking lessons from an omega, by any means, whelp." She sneered, but there was a playful flash in her orange eyes.
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Posted: Fri May 01, 2009 8:07 pm
"I wouldn't want to be taught by an omega anyway, I'm not becoming one. I'm becoming either a beta, like yourself, or an Alpha." Kane said this bit dead seriously, though without the usual chest fluffing and pride he displayed. He couldn't feel proud, big, or important around her.
"I've been traveling to slowly earn my rank, else I'd be back in the North." His eyes held questions, she was a legend. How had she come back from the dead? He didn't ask though.
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 6:51 pm
"Really, now?"
Her hardened gaze shifted over his frame once more. He stood solidly, but seemed to know his place well enough, and she liked that about the brightly hued Northerner. She could see much of that same, cold personality that was characteristic of Northerners, like herself.
His eyes were full of curiosity, but he held his tongue. She liked that even more.
"So, what? You follow me around. I tell you things, you watch and learn. You do as I say... Sounds like an interesting time, no?" She shifted and stretched a wing, before tucking them tightly to her side.
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