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 Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:31 am
 This place was hell. Strychnos' own personal slice of rotten luck. As he laid at the mouth of his den he grasped at what few fragments of happy memories he could recall. They were more of a nostalgic tingle in his chest reminding him what happiness was rather than actual pictures in his mind. A feeling he possibly could have fabricated at night while he dreamed of better things perhaps. He despised this pack but also came to realized over the years it had ensnared a part of him here. A part he could never bring himself to leave behind. His sister. She fawned over their traditions and teachings, wanting to excel despite what wreckage she left in her wake. No matter what scars she left.
The moon had swelled in the sky over the nights that passed since his sister had returned from her slaughter. He could still taste the blood in his mouth as he carried his mother's raw pelt to the stream for a deep cleanse. What little of it he could tear from his sister's trophy anyway. Strychnos could hardly recall her, but maybe that was a good thing. In his twisted mind it meant that she hadn't hurt him enough to land her on his blacklist. The chilled breeze of summer's end rushed over the dire, and he tugged lightly with his teeth at his comforting pelt, trying to pull it up over himself all the more. It was late, the pack rested inside, and here was Strychnos, plagued with the duty to watch over and protect those who he loathed.Word Count: 266
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Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:31 am
 Bloodroot on the other hand was doing what he'd always done in the quiet hush of night when he knew he'd find no rest in his own den. He observed. Not for enemies like he did on his routine scouts around the pack grounds, but his own brothers and sisters. A silent shadow hidden in the back of the caves, or even sitting in plain sight across the way from his target in a small group. It was an acquired pastime, and one that reared it's head tonight as curiosity peaked. Hanging back a short distance to the right of Strychnos, Bloodroot was seated to look straight ahead of him into the dense woods, yet his good eye was turned to peer straight off towards the other male. He was an odd one, even more an outcast in this pack then him, and Blood would be lying if he said he wasn't the least bit curious about the other males motives. Feeling the biting wind of a summer ending cut through his dense coat, the scout stood and carefully made his way over to the warhound.
"You should be inside sleeping like your sister." His gruff voice sounded just behind Nos when Bloodroot passed before he turned to settle down on the males left. His blind, and damaged eye turning to 'look' his way before he actually tilted his head slightly to peer at the other with his striking purple gaze. "Yet here you are. Why?" His question was simple, and to someone who paid little attention it was rather straightforward. Yet his tone held a light curiosity. He knew of the other males hatred for the pack, after all it was an easy thing to spot by the scars that littered the hounds frame. Punishment, each for a different reason. At least that's what Bloodroot assumed, seeing as he bore the same marks, and so if he was right, his question held another meaning. Why was he here?
Word Count | 329
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Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:31 am
He was meant to be keeping a watchful over the den, but all his senses were pointed in the wrong direction. While he scanned the rustling trees and the shivering bushes out there in the black abyss of night ‘Nos hadn't taken notice of the slightest crunch of pebbles and dirt beneath Bloodroot’s weight. It kept up on him until words brought awareness to how close the other actually was. Like a startled snake the warrior recoiled a bit from the source, ready to strike with those bared canines of his until he came to notice the calm disposition of a familiar face. A face that was known but not exactly liked. Bloodroot was Vervain’s little pet. His favorite toy that he dressed up in feathers to try to distract from that hideous feature. At least that was how Strychnos saw it. The disfigured wolf came to rest beside the watch dog with his unclear intentions. Never had they spoken prior to this but even without words it seemed like the two had already made assumptions about one another. “We have a lot of enemies. Shouldn't you be grateful that at least one /pair/ of good eyes is guarding the den?” His voice was low, anchored and dragged by how deprived he was of a good night’s rest. He hadn't exactly had one since Strychnine came back with that pelt proudly displayed on her back. It haunted him even in his dreams. “You should be sleeping at the feet of your precious alpha. Yet here you are. Why?” The dire regurgitated the other’s words with obvious intentions of mockery. Strychnos knew why he was up, but he wasn't so keen on sharing his weaknesses. He had to be of sound mind, always giving the illusion of being a brick wall, impenetrable by sadness and regret. Word Count: 305
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Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:31 am
Bloodroot's mood soured at the other's snide comment as the hard reminder of his handicap was placed over him once more, but even in light of that his outward appearance was soothe and flat. Yet even through the writhing anger that festered in his gut, he remained unmoving aside from the subtle tightening of his jaws. Jaws that wanted to do nothing more than to rip into the other wolf until he rolled beneath him pleading forgiveness. Honestly, it wasn't as if Strychnos was saying anything new, or unique and soon that flare up of anger settled down into a sense of resentment. He would remember that, store it away for the future where he knew he would get to show him just how wrong he was to judge him. Just like he would have shown Father. So instead he simply turned, easily displaying more of his scarred face that he was neither proud of, or disgusted by to fixate his gaze of the trees. Studying the subtle shake of the foliage around them as the frigid wind carved it's way through the land. "Honestly Strychnos, how can you expect your word to hold any bite when it was you who was caught unaware only moments ago." There was a slight tilt to the corners of his lips hinting at a smile though it never grew into anything more, not did his tone change in the least to show amusement. "Even with your two eyes." Slowly he relaxed his jaw, and shifted his weight into a more comfortable position. "As for me, I couldn't sleep. Decided to take a walk around the den site. How fortunate of me to find someone else awake. I'm honestly beginning to think you never sleep, though it's a wonder how anyone can manage to with that sister of yours chasing away the silence with that snoring of hers."
Word Count | 314
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Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:32 am
With eyes as cold as the chill breeze whistling at the mouth of the cave Strychnos continued his facade of scanning the area. He may have been sweeping his gaze over the area but his mind hardly processed that. Instead it focused on the heat beside him. The words that stole every bit of his attention and made Strychnos fidget with visible frustration. While a coy smile laid beneath that calm collected mask Bloodroot wore ‘Nos felt his lips lifting into a semi-snarl. A look that laid his irritation out for the other male to easily read. “I suppose I should have known better than to turn my back on the pack, hm? What should my punishment be this time? Maybe if I’m lucky I’ll look as pretty as you when they’re finished with me this time. Will Vervain will put flowers in my pelt then, Bloodroot?” He knew he should stop. Words like this may very well get back to their ruthless leader and off not then they would circulate among the pack and loyal followers much like his sister might take matters into their own hands. He settled himself down, trying to ease his rigid posture but no matter his attempt the war hound’s muscles were tense with stress. It was no wonder he laid awake at night. “Don't you mean, unfortunate? Wouldn't you prefer no company to bad company?” The sturdy mountain of muscle that Strychnos was shifted to drop his head. He rested it upon his his large paws but couldn't bring himself to shut his eyes despite how badly his body yearned for some rest. His eyes held a hint of sadness as they glossed over at the mentioning of his sister. A person from his forgotten life, and now she would be the only one. “Or when she chases down your family to wear them as some sort of decor.” Yes, that would probably keep most wolves awake though he was lucky enough to be the only one affected by his sister’s selfish tendencies. “I don't need as much sleep as you would think. It leaves me more restless and on edge. Perfect for what i’m assigned to do.” Word Count: 365
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Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:32 am
That faint smile that touches his maw wavered with Strychnos' visible anger, almost threatening to fall into a full blown grin though he easily reigned it in. Normally he would rather have stayed away from anyone else, leave them to their own thoughts as he tried to figure them out, and though he wasn't sure why exactly he choose to speak with this male. He couldn't say causing him some kind of distress didn't amuse him greatly. Especially after his previous comment, and the ones that still seemed to spill from that fury stricken wolf. "The worst thing you could do is turn your pack on the pack, Warhound." His hair had started lifting along his shoulders, an unwanted reaction to the anger the male kicked up within him at him with his biting words. It instilled a fury in him that he bottled quickly, storing it away for later. Though his voice deepened, his tone holding a slight rumble of a threat to it as he spoke. "They'll just as happily tear into you with unbridled fury for the smallest thing, as share a meal with you when you're down. Nothing out in those woods is as frightening as the wolves you sit an protect. You of all people should realize that." He would turn his head slightly, so his seeing eye could peer over the bridge of his muzzle towards to other. That single bright orb bearing down on the other as he laid, head down to stare straight ahead. He couldn't say he pitied the wolf, no. No he held little care for what he was currently going through, but he did understand. Even if he would never openly admit it. "Especially after what your sister did to your family. If that's not evidence enough. I don't know what is." His ears tipped forward as an owl screeched nearby, drawing his attention briefly.
Word Count | 316
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Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 11:32 am
Of course Bloodroot would side with the pack. He was a minion of the alpha. His precious little pooch. Strychnos didn't know why it irritated him so much to think that somebody like Bloodroot could be favored over him. He was superior in every way, wasn't he? His brute strength was what put him on the front line of raids, or at least that's what he had lead himself to believe. The hound rested his head still, only moving a muscle to swivel his ears towards a screeching owl. At least there were birds about. It was when the animals fled completely from a territory that you should be worried right? However, Bloodroot was also right about there being threatening dangers all about. Both before him and behind him. Of all people ‘Nos should have definitely known that his pack was ruthless. Being a wolf of a different mindset the other’s found his indifference towards the pack insulting and haphazardous. Most of the scars littering his body were from his own pack rather than a battle. In a sense he was an outcast, but proud to go against the current. Still, that pride didn't ease his loneliness. The dire felt his brows furrowing involuntarily with despair, and the quiver in his lip was enough cause for him to turn his gaze off to the side in avoidance. “She was foolish, just as always. Running off on her own to take on an entire pack. They weren't even prepared. It was a dirty play…” Strychnos tried to hide the tremble in his low bellowing voice.
Word Count: 264
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Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2017 1:14 pm
His breath caught silently in his throat as the other spoke, less for the words and more the tone. There was definitely something worrying there. "And yet that is no different from how the pack would handle any other family group that is lucky enough to cross paths with us. In a way, your sister did Aeternum a great service. She tied up loose ends and proved herself to her new family. For both of you." He was baiting him. Anyone could see the dark shadow that hung over the warhound. Though whether it was feeding the anger or sorrow in him, Blood didn't have a clue. All he knew was it was dangerous. "You should be proud." He'd turn his head again to look down at the large male that laid stiff and still on the ground beside him, and for the first time in quite awhile he felt a brush of sadness and pity spark deep in his gut. He'd been in this situation before, many times in fact. It was a pain that never seemed to go away.
Drawing in a deep breath, he slowly let it out as his ears swiveled atop his head. Turning back to listen towards the dens that littered the side of the mountain for any sign of movement before he stood. This time turning to actually peer towards the dark caves. Shaking out his furs, the scarred male backed up a step to move to Strychnos' left. "Yet.." His tone was softer as he spoke, a slight break easily portraying his hesitance. Though it was something he quickly caught and attempted to cover up with a slight huff as he sat beside the male. This time his seeing eye having a clear view of the other male. "I am sorry they had to die." It was rare of the pack to leave surviving families, and thus it was something that not many adults in Aeternum were able to understand. After all the pack was all they had. Yet to those who still felt they had someone outside, it was crippling. He wasn't sure why exactly he felt the need to speak to this male, perhaps it was simply because no one was able to say it to him. "Though you have to get a hold of yourself. You've always been an outsider in this group, not sure if it's by choice or not. But if any of the others see you like this. I can't say it will go over well."
Word Count | 420
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