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 Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:30 am
The brindled wolf padded over the soaked grass, droplets of water brushing against his dark coat, collecting in little beads on his fur. The rain had stopped for now, at least, but the wind was sharp. Fortunately, his winter coat was still thick, and he didn't feel it as much as he might have otherwise.
Pausing, the male wolf glanced around himself critically, examining his surroundings. He didn't know this place, but then, he had travelled to a lot of places he didn't know. And not one of them had the stink of his quarry about it. It had been months since Valerius had last seen or smelled the golden wolf, but he'd carry the memory of it to his grave. The fact that he had so far failed to carry out his revenge; that he'd grown up dishonoured and not the proud warrior he should be grated on him; twisted him up inside. But if there was one thing he'd learned, it was how to be a survivor.
He'd made it this far alone, and he'd make it twice as far again if it led him to Caradoc. Truth be told, he didn't hold much stock in honour anymore. He was disgraced, his pack was dead and he had only one burning desire left. Nothing else really mattered.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:36 am
Helios was in a rather cheerful mood as he cruised the forest, following along worn game trails and keeping his eyes and ears open for a sign of others doing the same. He was enjoying this far too much - with the danger he was in he should have been a little more worried but he felt confidant, happy. It was like a large game of hide and seek with higher stakes than usual.
Of course Helios did not believe Zagreus could or would really do him any harm yet - he was too weak, lazy. He might take a little umbridge to Helios taking over his lands but the big golden male assumed it would be a rather easy victory, to be honest. Still, best to be prepared. He wanted a few others at his side - males preferably - but those who would submit to his control. He didn't want them taking his prize, afterall.
He stopped as he came up again beside the stream which ran through this land, knowing he was close to the heart of the territory. He sauntered down to the edge and began to drink, not aware at all that anyone might be nearby.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:52 am
Reaching the edge of a nearby forest, Valerius began to pick his way through the snagging tree roots and small bushes. The wind rustled at the bare branches of the trees. Over the wind, the brindled male could hear water trickling nearby. A stream of some sort. Maybe he'd find something to eat nearby. All creatures had to drink, afterall.
Approaching the stream quietly, Valerius kept his senses open for any sign of movement - a rabbit, a vole, anything. He realised that he was in a bad position - upwind rather than downwind, and began to move to correct himself. It wouldn't do for a potential meal to smell him before he'd even noticed it was there. However, just as he was moving, he caught a flash of golden fur through the twigs and undergrowth. It couldn't possibly be.. after all this time, his target was right in front of him All attempts at subtlety broken, Valerius stared at the golden figure, a cold rage rising in him.
Everything he'd nursed, every thought of how he was going to get his revenge on Caradoc came rushing through him. It wrenched at him, tore at him and then came flooding out. With a savage growl, Valerius burst through the undergrowth, scattering dead leaves and mud in a wet spray. Nevermind that Caradoc was bigger than him - he'd been in fights with other lones during his exile. Some of them had been bigger, and he'd won. He'd spent every instance of his waking life planning for this, and now he'd win. He had to.
Then, the other wolf's scent hit him like a wall. It was different - it wasn't the smell of Caradoc. Now that he could see more clearly, this wolf was different. Same colour, different wolf. The source of the brindled wolf's rage changed from revenge to frustration. The gods had toyed with him again!
He had a mind to take it out on this other wolf anyway, Caradoc or no. Valerius had stopped his charge, but he was obviously still hostile. A low growl formed in his throat. "Who are you!? Speak!"
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:06 am
Helios' fur prickled, his head flew up, his one good eye opened wide as he saw the other male come towards him. He was almost ready to lunge himself as the other male stopped. Despite his lazy demeanour Helios was a big wolf and had been in his fair share of fights. He didn't particularly like them but he knew that sometime his dominance might depend on them and so had spent a little time getting to know how.
His teeth bared, ears flared forward, fur bristling he stared at this other in front of him. An odd, brindled coat. Helios had never seen that type of colouring beofre - though it vaguely reminded him of Erin's spotted back. The male in front of him was young, barely past adolescence he thought. He was a relatively skinny wolf, too. Not really a contender for him.
Helios wondered if this might be another of the pack's wolves. He did not remember this one, though, from Persephone's descriptions and he didn't have the smell of these lands on him fully. An outside, then, and yet here he was challenging Helios like this. Interesting. Fiery young male. Perhaps Helios could bend him to his purposes if he proved amenable. First, though, he had to get rid of this tension.
All of a sudden the big wolf relaxed, letting himself stand straight and proud but not in a terribly threatening way. "I am Helios, if you demand my name then at least return the courtesy" he smiled a wolfish grin.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:14 am
As Helios stood up and introduced himself, Valerius remained where he was, his hackles raised and ready for a fight. He might not be Caradoc, but he did look an awful lot like him. Maybe they were related.
At Helios' request, a twisted, ironic smile crossed the younger wolf's face. His rage had subsided a little, pushed down where it burned quietly within him. "No need for courtesy when honour is lost. Call me Valerius if you like - I don't care."
Valerius padded around the golden wolf, keeping his gaze fixed on Helios in case of any sudden movements. "What's your link with Caradoc? Long-lost brother? Cousin? You're too old to be his spawn, clearly"
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:19 am
Helios had to stop his teeth grating, his grin becoming a grimace as this bloody upshot whelp circled him nonchalantly. He was certainly an odd one, certaily had some grudge in him. He believed he had lost honour, eh? Perhaps Helios culd use that. But no, not yet. Not until he had found out more.
"Well, Valerius." Helios began slowly, choosing his words carefully. He didn't want to antagonise him. Not only did he not really want to fight this young male he wanted him onside. If he could release this anger on the Glen pack it certainly would be to his advantage. "I don't know who Caradoc is, I have not ever, I belive, come across another of that name. Why is it you associate me with him?" Helios' eyebrows raised, one green eye tracking the pacing movements of the wary male.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:31 am
Valerius stopped, studying the larger male intently. From what he could tell, the larger male seemed to be telling the truth. Either that, or he was a good liar.
"Why? The resemblance is uncanny. You could quite easily have shared his father. You look like one of the Catavellauni." There was a hint of frustration in the young male's voice, although he was trying to suppress it; to push it away. He'd failed again. Another gods-be-damned wild hare chase with no prize at the end of it.
Valerius stared at Helios levelly again. It was a long shot, but worth a try. "If you *do* know Caradoc, or ever meet one by that name, then you can tell him this. Tell him that I will have my revenge for what he did. Tell him that I demand blood for his actions, and by the gods I *will* have it."
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:41 am
Helios stared at the other, pondering for a moment, before he spoke. "I have never heard of the Catavellauni, Valerius, any more than I have heard of your Caradoc... It seems he has done you some great injustice" the blonde male continued, his head dipping a little as if in sympathy. "My pack was some way from here and it is them I have come to revenge. They were torn apart by the male who leads this pack and, like you, I am seeking revenge."
Helios' smile might have been described as wan as he recounted this tale, the lie he had constructed and had come to half believe about Zagreus. "If I do come across your Caradoc I will give him your message but I have never seen another wolf who looks much like me.." of course not, who could match his good looks in these woods?
Helios began to wonder how he might get the younger male on side, helping him. It seemed he had some sort of vengance in his mind and thus might be a little harder to sway towards staying. Helios began to mull over this as he watched Valerius.
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Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 9:54 am
Valerius stared at the golden male for a moment, his expression guarded. He didn't know this territory, and if Helios was telling the truth, it sounded like the leader of the pack deserved the same fate as Caradoc did. Perhaps it would be wise to find out a little about this land, lest he run into a fight he could not handle. Valerius had not come this far to lose in a fight with a wolf he did not know nor care for.
"Perhaps a wolf with some honour left then.. I have not seen that for a long time. That is, if what you tell me is true, of course. What is the name of the pack here, and who leads them?"
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Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 12:56 pm
It seemed he had caught the young male's interest at least. "I don't know what they call themselves, to be honest. I didn't care to find out the name of so treacherous a bunch. Their leader, though... his name I can't help but know as he is the one who has caused the most harm to me."
The blond male looked off into the distance as though it were the past and he was seeing ghosts of that time in front of his eyes. "His name is Zagreus" he said slowly. "He has a mate but I don't know her name." Helios also admitted, making it sound as thought, somehow, it were a better thing not to know it. He didn't really imagine she had any deal of power - surely Zagreus, the gloating git, would not tolerate any threat to his power over his little band.
This was one of Helios' major problems. Despite being wily, manipulative and able to see how he might influence the decisions of others he was not able to really imagine a viewpoint which was not as self-absorbed or greedy as his own. That meant that when he looked to others faults he was really, often, listing his own..
"They are not huge in number, either" he continued, telling the young male in vague terms what he had gleaned from his time with Persephone.
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 2:43 pm
Valerius paused to consider this new information. It was always useful to know about any wolves in an area. The more that he knew, the better he could gauge the threat to him. If they pack was small, then he could probably make his way through the territory without much trouble. While Valerius understood the situation that Helios was in, being in an uncannily similar situation himself, in truth he was far more concerned with seeking his own revenge. Perhaps if he headed east, he would find the one he sought.
"Then I wish you success with your revenge. Since the one I seek is not here, I shall leave," Valerius replied curtly. The brindled wolf turned, intending to leave the golden wolf to his task.
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 3:07 pm
Damnit, he'd judged a little off on this one. The young male seemed more determined on his revenge than Helios had figured for. The blonde male skirted around in front of the brindle male quickly. "Valerius, wait.." he said his good eye gazing with an intenseness greater than had been there before.
"We are all in need of friends in this world, allies if you prefer. If you help me perhaps we can... arrange something together to get this Caradoc within your grasp." it was all said quickly, in a hushed voice as if speaking a great promise. "You and I we could both have our revenge and both have it all the easier for each others help..." The golden male plied every word with sincerity whilst having none of it.
If he could get Valerius to help him then he might help in return, if he had time. His hankering for revenge would probably send him off out of Helios' way if the older male just dagged his heels enough. It'd all be easy if he could hook Valerius.
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 3:50 pm
Valerius paused in his tracks for a moment, silently considering the proposal that the golden wolf offered. On the one hand, he had no interest in Helios' affairs, and he was determined to take Caradoc down by himself. On the other, Caradoc wouldn't be one to play fair. It had been through underhanded, dishonourable means that his nemesis had destroyed his pack and everything he cared about. To get to Caradoc, he may have to get through various lackeys first, and Helios could help to even the fight.
After what seemed like an age, the young wolf turned and gazed back at Helios.
"...What would you have me do?"
It was not an acceptance, not quite yet. But Helios had caught the brindled wolf's attention now.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 3:34 pm
He had hooked the young male now, he thought, all he had to do was to seal his interest. His voice stayed low, conspiritorial. "I want Zagreus destroyed... the rest" he shook his head "maybe some of the younger females can be spared, any who'll come over to our side quick enough. Anyone else will have to be dealt with." His look was hard but also almost sad - as if he didn't care to do such a thing but that it must be done.
That being said, he came around to the actual question "You... you I'd wish perhaps to lead a small group through to the back end of the camp.." Helios needed a small, fast force who'd be able to sneak up behind the camp as he came up the front of it. Causing that kind of confusion was what he aimed at: he didn't think he could take the pack on in a pitched battle but picking them off whilst things were all in disarray was a whole different matter.
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:41 pm
"If I do this, then I want your assistance in finding Caradoc in return," the brindled wolf replied, deciding to lay down his terms from the outset. He did not seem appalled or shocked at what the golden wolf was suggesting. The time that had passed since his pack had been destroyed had only served to harden him further. Valerius had reached the stage where all he existed for was to achieve his revenge. Should he die in the process, then so be it, but he had no intention of going to join his ancestors without taking his nemesis with him.
In order to take down Caradoc, he would have to hone his fighting skills and become a true warrior. He had some experience gained during his time as a lone wolf so far, but this would be another test for him. He did not seem concerned that he would not be up to the task - the arrogance of youth saw to that.
"Where is your group?" Valerius asked. "I haven't seen any sight or smell of any other wolves around here." Helios had mentioned a 'small group', but if they weren't here, and these were not his packlands, then where were they?
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