Spineless

Subject: Spineless Mon Nov 16, 2015 10:46 am

The small, dark shapes that had so long sat, -out of reach, mockingly far-off on the horizon, were now collosal grey beasts, scaling the black clouds and dwarfing the dead trees that clung about their feet, trying to thrive up the mountainside but failing to do so, as the spindly forest thinned up the rocky precipice.
Weaving left and right- wavering off from the dusty path that snaked its indecisive way out ahead, Night was far from lost, in his mind, at least; he'd come into contact with the inhabitants of this new land, and now he moved with a new-found purpose, one that he held deep within himself until the time were right to share it.
From one side of the crags, an eerie chorus, a clamorous uproar of unheard songs and singing souls rose into the blue smoke of the cold air. This pack's howls were strong and unfamiliar.
From the other side, an equally chilling response reverberated back and forth through the pit of a valley.
The small, malnourished wolf had some strange presence in the way that he carried himself; usually wolves in such a hopeless condition just... wouldn't be so brazen, so impudent as this. But Night held his dignity, whether it were because he had nothing left to lose, or because he felt that his past gave him good grounds to be so outgoing at this point, he was unsure. -There is a very fine line between brave and stupid, and Night believed he did not fall on either side of this line, for he was that line.
Similarly, and almost poetically, here he was, stood on the jagged borderline of two territories, the line that marked where two packs were situated. Night was frail, but here, -stood upon the backbone mountains, he was not spineless. He was the line... and he'd been that line, blurred as it was, before, when a rift was torn between the members of his old pack. What that meant, again, he was unsure. He had a decision to make, however, as he remained idle there in his place, the southerly breeze rippling through his thick fur, carrying scents of the home valley to his awaiting nostrils that flinched, drawing in the splendour of nostalgic joy as thoughts and memories of the previous summers flourished like wildflowers in the back of his restless mind.
In the still silence, Night felt his dark pelt bristle, his snowy white hackles raised and something within him seemed to ignite. This silence, his cue, he shattered as he raised his black muzzle to the sky and let out that deep, mournful howl. What a soulful, sorrowful song was his. He smirked, stood tall and awaited a reply, the smallest shape stood atop the grandest landform.

Subject: Re: Spineless Tue Nov 17, 2015 2:49 pm

Time. A rift. A void. Days blending, becoming one. Or so it was, until she decided know more. It came a day when she decided to move on, to break the shackles of her dark suppression that holds her still, numb. She accepted what was, what now is. She has a purpose and can no longer sit back as time passes her by.

The jagged mountain, dividing what was once whole. Back when, before. But now is a landmark that shouldn’t be trespassed by either side, that fine line.

She knew where and where not to step, to trespass; what a horrible word to use for what used to belong to all. The night was alive with song from the nightly insects to the rustle of wings flapping up ahead. The Nyati pack had be quiet of late, with the latest report from the government, Aleria was deeply concerned for their neighbors.

She made her way up the mountain with ease, her lithe lycan form golden against the drastic night she could hear the songs of the other pack and something inside her eased. They were here. Alive. Perhaps she worried for nothing.

Her ears swiveled as she heard the distinct sound of something coming up the mountain and soon to follow was another song to mingle in with the chorus around them.

She paused on the other side of the precipice, whoever it was, was just three trees over. She listened to the hauntingly beautiful song of the new comer and those of the pack down in the valley below while she remained silent. A strange feeling came over her, but she pushed it aside not knowing what it was about. She would analyze it later once she was close to the Kostas den. Although not trespassing, she was rather close the other pack and would rather not have to face them all. What a night that would be….instead she moved to investigate the new wolf. Her ears pinned back as the feeling that she should do something settled over her again.

Subject: Re: Spineless Tue Nov 17, 2015 7:45 pm

An odd presence shrouded this bleak summit as Night felt his left ear twitch, the subtle noise of movement wrenching him back to the present. He licked his lips, letting his clover pink tongue be revealed for just a moment before turning and lowering his heavy head to the floor, ever keeping his venom-green gaze riveted forward as he moved tenuously through the thin veil of trees. Their roots rose up somewhat from the black foliage and were a tripping hazard, to say the least, but Night's tread was careful and cautious, and soon he found himself gawking through the blackness to see the outline of something resembling a young she-wolf, the gentle moonlight outlining her featureless silhouette as the nightbreeze rippled through a heavy mantle of thick fur.
Night had met the others who called this land home, and his individual carried a familiar scent that reminded him of the alpha who'd come square with him in the thicket and his gentle daughter. Maybe it was this that caused him to feel more at ease, or maybe it was that now, here, this was a stranger cloaked in his very essence, -shrouded in the velvet darkness of the night, and above, the heavens twinkled in the same way as they had done all those moons ago. She reminded him of someone. Someone he knew long before.
Night reserved his words for now, and didn't make a sound, although he'd prepared the breath to do so. Instead, he heavily exhaled, and straightened his posture, bringing his fluffy tail around to brush his flank. He stepped forward in one tender pawpad, but didn't allow this heavy foot to take his whole weight yet, as he was already close, so close, almost uncomfortably so, as his icy breath crystallised into dewy beads which clung to the bristling fur of her neck. He blinked. He blinked. He blinked.

Subject: Re: Spineless Tue Nov 17, 2015 10:49 pm

A swirling black cloud broiled up from the ground, temporarily obscuring the twinkling stars above. All this before the cloud refined and resolved itself into his form, shrugging his cloak open, even darker shadows swirled out, darting to be between the new male and Aleria. They were not overtly visible, but where the were had a harder, darker tinge to it. "Take it easy friend," Blade spoke, his words serving a two fold purpose. One to warn the new male, and the other to advise Aleria, his friend and pack mate, to the presence of them both. Standing there, he watched the male, letting a simple air of protectiveness radiate from the darkness, a sort of, watch yourself feeling.

A sudden surge of icy cold wind howled along the ridge below and up to the point they stood upon. This caused Blade to shiver for a moment, before drawing forth some of his lycanthropic blood. Thick black fur sprouted on his body, beneath the cloak to supply a touch more insulation against the biting cold. "What can we do for you?" He asked, a smile on his lips, feeling better now that Aleria had at least been alerted to the presence of them both. The hilt of his sword hidden beneath his cloa, but never the less every bit at the ready as were the shadows that called him master, the inky blackness he cultivated from his home.

Subject: Re: Spineless Thu Nov 19, 2015 2:46 pm

She slowed her pace as the night around her seemed too thick. Unnatural, yet the insects still buzzed and nightlife continued on, the howls of the packs on the other side a distant noise in the background. The males scent was everywhere. She must be close, but she couldn’t see him yet. Was he an enemy to them? Would he become yet another obstacle they must face?

She stopped a moment to scent him out, to try to locate his presence. Blades voice seemingly coming from nowhere scared her, but she didn’t yelp or jump. She tamped down the involuntary reflex; only a quick uneven tremor of her heart beating betrayed her before its normal rhythm continued. Only then did she feel the coldness at her neck, the breath of the male that she wanted to investigate.

So he had snuck up on her and she didn’t even hear him. You’re slacking Aleria, she berated herself, but instead of moving away, she only moved a hairs breath so that she was turned facing the male, not really giving either of them room. “Well hello there,” her eyes meeting his. Whether she felt safer because Blade was there she didn’t know, but truthfully the male could have killed her before Blades arrival. She gave him her full attention, her eyes holding nothing back, showing curiosity.

Subject: Re: Spineless Thu Nov 19, 2015 5:41 pm

Breathing out slowly, letting a tiny wisp of frosty air escape from a crack between his lips, which spread out across one side of his dark face in an amused smirk, Night's eyes flickered to the male who had materialised from the black nothingness before him, holding him in his gaze. He withheld his words for now, though they danced on the end of his parched tongue. His ear flinched and he swallowed, the movement stung a little bit as friction scraped at his tight, sandpaper throat. The breath that had escaped him became a low, whispered chuckle as he raised his head somewhat, so that the moonlight caught the glint of his chartreuse eyes. Leaving them hanging, Night circled round to the other side of the two strangers, and let his head swing a little as he found his place, so that he was facing them. Night did not only thirst for water, as his hot tongue scraped the roof of his mouth when he spoke. He also thirsted for that something that he'd left behind two long summers ago... company, which is what had brought him here, on a whim, to where mountains sprouted up ftom barren land to shroud the vast world below in their grand shadow. Night's voice was deep and soft, the words flowed, joined together like good handwriting. There was a slight purr to his warm whisper as his gaze flickered from one stranger to the next, locking eyes with them both.
"Hello..." He felt the grin slice across his face, -and wondered if it showed. "I am Noctis Lucis Gelus. You can call me Night." At this, the small wolf spared a glance at the blue-black sky. His words trailed off into a low hum as he, yet again skulked his way around. He came square with the second stranger, the male, and smiled, with only his eyes.
"Now, I'm not sure...friend. What can you do for me?"
His puzzling words were alight with childlike wonder, as he remained still, only the slightest glimmer of expression burned in his eyes, -a solitary star in the unblinking eye of the night.