|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:25 pm
 Domovoi had never considered himself a very lucky wolf - that sort of belief was something you earned really in his family, and not yet had one won it - so the second he had been allowed in and given a den of his own, well, forgive him if the guy couldn't believe it at first and merely stared. Then a few mroe seconds later he was giving many forms of thanks over his shioulder while rushing in, weary and eager to rest. Maybe a day or two would suffice . . .
So here he was: Agual Azul. Domovoi knew a bit of foreign language and could deduce through common sense what it meant. Agua Azul: Blue Water. It was actually what he was dreaming of at this time, being knee-deep in water that ran without urgency like some gigantic river that stretched, length-wise, for many and many of his steps, and even more beyond that! The meadows on either side of the river were imbued with soft colors but with vibrant life beating within each stem that erected itself from the soil. It might have been early afternoon or late in the morning, he did not know, but such an all-powerful peace was on him that it did not matter.
When was the last time he had felt so good? So unconcerned, so free and at ease with himself? Clouds passed lazily overhead. through half-lidded eyes Domovoi turned to view the sloping hill in the distance, spying a familiar but blurry figure atop it; white, yet with vibrant markings he would have distinguished anywhere. He tilted his head curiously and tried to catch her attention, but she didn't answer. Instead she merely stood there, watching from an invisible barrier, a color-dotted form of white in a sea of soft greens. Something tainted his peace there . . . a sense of disappointment and anxiety . . . The omega twitched in his sleep almost irritably, shifting to his other side to get more comfortable. Lemon Lime was nearby, snoozing quite peacefully despite her other occupant movements.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:54 pm
 Delusion had let the Lynx and Servant settle in for long enough - long enough for Lime to fall asleep anyways, well and Servant too by what she could see from peering into the den. But that was a problem easily rectified, and Delu just couldn't wait to get the wolf away from his over bearing protector. Slinking silently into the den she regard the Lynx for a few moments to make sure she was well and truly asleep before turning her attention to Servant.
The subservient wolf was twitching in his sleep and Delu actually had to skip backwards rather quickly when he suddenly flipped over, picking up one stocking paw to keep one white toe from scraping it accidental. This sneaky stuff was actually quite amusing and Delu was tempted to keep it up for a bit longer, perhaps see if she could manipulate him into flipping over again with a few choice tickles using a piece of grass. But no...there wasn't anytime for childish games - who knew how long the Lynx would stay asleep and Delu wanted some time alone with Servant.
Using her paw she reached out and tapped the sleeping wolf in his faded orange thigh a few times,scooching backwards in case he woke up violently, I mean there was still that inner monster to think about. It would probably be bad if it got let loose prematurely. "Servant...seeeervaaant" She whispered quietly, casting glance at the Lynx to make sure she kept sleeping. If she showed signs of waking delu was poised to flit out the entrance quick as a jack rabbit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:17 pm
"Servant . . . seeeervaaaant . . ." Mere whispers in his little dreamscape. They triggered a wind that, for some reason, prodded his thigh with insistance. Maybe a spirit come to visit? He wouldn't midn being the wind's servant either, even if he did feel free. The wind had served enough purposes in its own immortal life to deserve a bit of servitude back after all! "Mmfgg . . ." Domo's prodded leg recoiled away, then stretched out, his half-conscious mind wiht its own agenda than the dream's. Already it was forcing itself awake, ready to get on with the long day with Lime (maybe Lemon if he was lucky) and hopefully have better luck finding food.
The servant began to straighten the rest of his limbs and stretched, slow to leave the warmth of sleep and even more mournful to leave his wonderful dream alone. But if indeed Lime was waiting, it would be best if he just plodded along and let the walk ahead wake him as usual . . . His paws already felt the dull ache. Domovoi yawned and rolled onto his back, blinking blearily. Eh? What was above his head? What was that scent -
- Ohthatsright. Riiiiight. Agual Azul. But who was . . . Domo semi-sat up, his bottom half splayed as his top half curled over it, ears twitching forward as he tilted his head. So much purple . . . And a bit of lime green. ". . . O-Oh! Princess!" he yelped and scrambled to get up and at attention, accidentally displacing one of the lynx's far-spread legs. Lemon Lime merely snored softly on, instinctively rolling away.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:37 pm
"Shhhh!" Delusion hushed the wolf as he clumsily tried to gather himself up, wincing as he shifted Lime in his hurry. "Your going to wake her up!" She whispered at him in admonishment, a worried gaze cast to the Lynx, sure she could easily explain why she was here if the Lynx woke up, but that would completely moot the entire point of this visit in the first place. she had to admit the wolfs startled awakening had been amusing however - later...later she would laugh at it. Right now she had other things to do and with a significant look to Servant she skipped backwards a few steps before ducking out of the den.
She waited only a few moments before dipping her head back down to peer into the darkness again and cast a look at Servant. "come on!" She hissed at the wolf..."Quickly! Quickly!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:56 pm
"Mnnnngh . . . ?" Sleep just didn't want to get off his back, least of all his eyes whose sight kept going in and out. Maybe just a few more minutes, just to get some mroe shut-eye. But of course Domovoi wouldn't have felt right at all for dismissing a princess's very orders - indeed, if Lime caught word of his refusal for his own selfish reasons, well, his fur would end up pale fleshy pink and naked once the lynx was through. Gulping and then yawning once more, the servant crept after Delusion, looking away from the bright light of morning until his eyes adjusted. "S-Sorry, my lady," he apologized with a wince as they walked away, shuffling his paws until he coudl fully trust his sight. "I was just very tired. so much travelling lately and so little meal. Last night's was too much for my p-poor stomach to handle . . . N-Not that I didn't like it!" he quickly added, hoping not to offend her again. But what did she need with him already?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 5:15 pm
Delusion didn't waste much time as the wold shuffled out of the den, he'd been sleeping for a while now - how hard had the Lynx pushed him for him to be so darn tired - and obviously she hadn't fed him well either. Probably didn't want him to...overthrow her or something.Delu just refused to believe that a Lynx could keep control of a wolf for very long without such measures.
Delusion was eager to draw him away from the Dens, putting some distance between him and the Lynx might make him talk more. Speaking of which - her ears flicked - he was babbling right now and she hadn't been paying much attention, too lost in her own thoughts, something about his stomach and the meal last night. Delu brushed this off as insignificant talk and continued to lead him farther, once she figured they were well enough out of earshot she turned to the wolf. "I thought I would show you around " She told him "Get to know one another better..." She continued in a cheery voice. she would need to gain his trust first of course - he might be a meek seeming creature but Delu wanted to shift his loyalty from the Lynx to her. She didn't think this would be hard - what wolf would consider a lynx over a princess after all? None.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 5:40 pm
Show around? His hung head raised curiously, bi-hued eyes blinking. A tour sounded nice . . . And it did mean that Lemon Lime got her beauty sleep and wouldn't nag him about anything for a bit longer. It didn't appear to be such a bad exchange for being taken away from the dream, and for the moment he nudged away the tribal-marked white wolf at the back of his mind with a nod, trying to smile. "That'd be nice," he replied. "Thank you, my lady. S-Sorry for not waking up right away at your call." She actually wanted to get to know him! It was a nice change from Lemon Lime's "personal" bonding, and his tai lwagged a little. "Is the pack very large?" He wanted to begin learning as soon as possible about his new home.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:12 am
Delu was pleased to see her words cheered him up somewhat - or at least his head raised a bit and his tail wagged a tad. It was a start right? Though his smile looked a bit off - a little forced maybe. No matter Delu thought to herself - he was probably just afraid she was going to strike him or something, like Lemon had. Stupid Lynx...you might get followers out of fear, but Delu was certain that love made them more loyal. Just think of all those fairy tales - the loyal guards always loved their princess and were willing to lay their lives down for her cause while the wicked forces might listen out of fear but were constantly bickering with one another.
She couldn't have any inside bickering in her army now could she? That just wouldn't work at all and the unmentionable evil was going to be hard enough to stop without adding any other problems into the mix. Yes she would make this wolf like her, make him loyal..make him tell her this secret phrase and make sure that when the time came he'd willingly go forth to fight for her cause. It was a good plan...nay a perfect plan! The Royal Tactitioner couldn't have done any better himself.
"Oh...it's a fairly good size" he told the wolf "But I will let you in on a small secret, can you keep a secret?" She asked him in a low and serious tone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:02 pm
Fairly good size? What did that mean? Eeep . . . Does the princess have a lot of soldiers at her disposal? They must probably be so big and tough in comparison, Domovoi thought, and gulped. I hope I can keep up. But then Delusion's voice dropped to a conspiring tone that made him wonder further, unconsciously leaning forward to hear her incoming words. "A secret?" Domo parroted with a blink. "Well, if the Lady trusts me with a secret, then I'd be happy to hear it. If Mom doesn't hear about me keeping secrets at least . . ." And at this his ears drooped. What if Lemon Lime didn't like her servant learning things she didn't? After all, she loved to keep him in the dark about things until the last second just to watch him react as quickly as he could to keep up. The risk made him antsy.
"Y-Yes, if Lemon Lime doesn't hear that I'm keeping secrets from her, I can listen. Can you promise she won't, m'lady?" Domovoi implored her earnestly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:20 pm
"Yes a secret" She told him as he parroted the word back and leaned towards her, her own voice quiet and whispering as she hunkered down with a quick gaze left and right to make sure no one else was near. The coast seemed clear however, which Delu had expected - that was why she'd chosen this particular site after all. Her attentions turned back to Domo as he started talking again - yes yes she trusted him enough with it, she wouldn't have told him she was going to tell him if she didn't now would she? She had a feeling he was far to meek and subservient to go about blabbing away if she told him not to. No matter, she kept these thoughts to herself for now, her link with Servant was still small and she didn't want to unduly scold or chastise him unnecessarily.
"Oh no!" She assured him with a slight bob of her head "I most certainly won't tell the Lynx Ser.." and here she trailed off for a moment, Servant seemed like such an awful thing to call someone - even if well thats what they were. Delu blew out a slight breath as she studied him "I don't much like calling you Servant...or boy..." she told him after a few moments "Don't you have a real name?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:35 pm
Hmm . . . Maybe keeping the princess's secrets were part of the job? But that didn't make sense. Technically he was just a hired guard, right? But wait, guard and confidant could go paw and paw too . . . Domo felt honored at the thought that Delusion would be so willing to trust him with her secrets so easily, barely several days of meeting one another. Such a personable princess! See, she even looked beyond the given title (if it could be called such) Lemon Lime had bestowed upon him ages ago for his true name.
"It's Domovoi, ma'am," the servant replied without having to pause and contemplate like he normally did, feeling unusually good about himself at that point in time. With no lynx to put down his good mood and remind him of his place in the dirt, it appeared that Domo could easily enjoy himself with simple questions about himself; just her attentions made him warm inside, like he was an actual wolf worth looking at! It wouldn't last long, but for now he immersed himself in it. "B-But you can call me whatever you want, m'lady. Domovoi's a strange name anyway." Well, so was Delusion, but at least that was an actual word, and he considered it "unique" instead of "weird" like his own.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 4:58 pm
"Domovoi' Delusion repeated thoughtfully trying the name out for herself after he told her. It was a rather long name - perhaps it meant something? If it did she didn't know what and Ser..Domovoi thought it was weird so he either didn't know either or it didn't have one. Unimportant she told herself, refocusing her attentions on hat they had been speaking of before. "Very well then, how about Domo?" She asked him "Unless the Lynx would find that reason to get angry with you..." She considered after a few moments pause. Maybe she should keep calling him Servant in the presence of Lemon Lime - keep the cat in the dark so to speak. That was probably a good plan. "Yes...to keep you from getting into trouble about Lemon I shall call you Servant when she is around, but Domo when we are alone" she stated with a slight nod of her head. Delu was rather proud of herself for thinking this through so very well.
But.
Back to business. "But back to this secret Domo, you see - the wolves in the pack are actually common wolves, just plain old ordinary peasants - they probably would have lead unassuming lives had the great disaster not happened, the disaster hich threw my family into hiding - yes they know we are Royal Wolves, but they will act like they don't...and" She cast another look about, carefully looking into the shadows "and..it is very important that no one finds out we are here" he told him in a conspiratorial whisper "so you see why I must trust you with this,it is fine to call me my Lady or Princess in the pack lands - when we are safe, but in front o strange or new wolves we must pretend that I am nothing but an ordinary beast. Can you do that Domo? Can I trust you?" She asked him earnestly.
It really was important that he understand and agree to this - she needed his help if she were ever to lead an army against the unmentionable evil, but she couldn't chance her families hiding place being revealed either. And well..she thought giving him a bit of trust might ensure more loyalty from the boldly marked male.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 5:27 pm
Personable, smart, pretty (as royalty always was pictured in his mind) - why, didn't he just have the luck to meet a princess who had such qualities! And such great irony that he and Lemon Lime came across her just before entering the packs. How would things have changed if they had not crossed paths? Fate was such a strange beast, giving gifts some days, taking them away the next, ignoring one altogether even the day after! He had to be grateful on the good days, pray on the bad ones, and suffer silently the indifference in between.
Keeping this in the back of his mind, Domovoi listened and nodded at several intervals, interest piqued. "The great disaster"? What had happened to force such noble blood to the bottom of the social ladder? He wanted to know, yet many months of practice allowed him to hold his tongue. He had to learn quickly that prying where it was not acceptable to was not only a faux pa, but an invitation to pain in the case of Lemon Lime. By the tale's end, however, the omega had been won over mostly, ever hating the mere thought of bringing distress to those he worked under. "Of course, m'lady," Domo answered with a nod, saddening afterwards. "You have my word, though I-I'm sorry to hear something terrible happened . . . Can I do anything to help?" he asked, as he would have even if he had not been conscripted to be her guard.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:01 pm
Well that was sweet of him Delu thought to herself as he offered his help. Of course she intended him to help her - someday. Probably not in the manner he meant right now, but that was for a later day, for a time after she learned this secret phrase. She was pleasantry surprised by the wolf - why he must have more common sense then some of the others she'd spoken to, not even a hint of disbelief about her story! She'd remember that.
"It was some time ago" She told the wolf quietly "Before I was born...but I wish to make things right someday, and I might need your help then, but for now I only need you to keep the secret" She concluded in a warm smile. Delu thought she'd made some pretty good trails towards making Domo trust her, building some loyalty between them, shared secrets built camaraderie she knew - but she was smart enough to keep from prying any further right now, No if she pushed him to hard he'd close down on her and she'd loose the progress she'd made.
Thusly the she-wolf gave him a bright look and stood, taking a few steps back down the trail "Now, how about we get to that tour?" She asked him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:26 pm
A slightly crestfallen look appeared on his face. The storytime had to end so quickly? But, but, he wanted to know, and he had been hoping Delusion would entertain him more . . . And then Domovoi had to blink at his puppish attitude, appalled that he would take such liberties with wha the did and did not want, even if it wasn't spoken aloud. How dare he think his wants above a princess's agenda for even a moment! Stupid! He shook his head slightly as an outward expression of the quick inception, arguement, and consequent punishment executed within seconds.
"Secret, right! I won't tell anyone, promise," Domovoi said again, feeling bad for his hidden thoughts and in response doubling his resolve to help her. Not again would he whine about his own wants, no sirree! He trotted lightly after her, tail wagging a bit again as he smiled genuinely. "Yes, please! If it's really big, we need all the daylight we can get to cover ground." Maybe on the way they could catch a meal too! that'd be a great way to prove himself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
