Eager For Excitement

[Thrice]

It was late afternoon, and the long shadows of a group of silver birch trees fall mottled on a patch of rocky ground. A tall, lean wolf stood in the shadows, leaning over a rabbit he’d just killed. The carcass was torn up, most of it already eaten. He tore off one last piece of rabbit flesh before abandoning the carcass to the crows. Stretching with a quick glance around him, he then moved past the trees, to a small clearing where he began to pace.

The wolf was darkly colored, with lighter fur around his snout, paws, and tail. He looked like a living, breathing shadow when he passed through the shade… When the fading light hit his face it became apparent that he was scarred from his forehead, across his left eye, and all the way past his cheek. The scars on his body were less evident, being hidden by his long fur.

He moved stealthily despite the fact that he was not hunting- it seemed to be simply the natural way he moved. The long grass tickled his legs as he moved. With a sigh he flopped down to rest in the dimming afternoon sun, the grass around him forming a nest of sorts. He could just see over the top of it.
“Karnas,” He snarled loudly at the quickly darkening sky and then howled.

He felt indebted to Karnas, suddenly eager for some excitement. This was his territory, now, his duty to form a pack of Dark Wolves- and defend it from… others.

[Luro]

OOC: Since no one else is around. I might as well introduce myself. I'm fighting for Nasatho's Cult, but.... meh.

Another wolf howled to announce his presence, and padded near-silently through the birch trees of the Silver Forest toward Thrice, the Dark Alpha. My equal, the gray wolf reminded himself. As he came to the clearing and caught the scent of the rabbit, the scarred wolf's yellow eyes glanced around nervously, then he devoured the rest of the carcass. He swallowed the last bit, and without bothering to wipe the blood from his lips with a paw, continued into the clearing where he noticed the black Alpha.

He dipped his head in submission, then raised it again. "My name is Luro," he said quietly. "I'm a wanderer from the forest, last of my line. I mean you no harm; I have challenged for Alpha of Nasatho's Cult." He hesitated. "Even when times are evil, leaders seek allies amongst each other." He sat a few branch-lengths away from Thrice, then wondered if in fact that was the wolf's name. Word of tongue was not trustworthy.

"You're Thrice, are you not?" he asked.

[Thrice]

The fur on his back rose slightly as the stranger approached, and he stood up, ready to bare his teeth. He stopped, though, instead nodding cordially to Luro's greeting. His posture and stance was friendly, if a little strained. And his tail position was high and dominant, not surprising since this was his territory.

"Yes, Thrice is my name," He replied cordially, blinking slowly as he nodded once. He had a rough voice, although not entirely unpleasant to hear.

He thought about Luro's words for a while. His pack wasn't exactly formed yet, but in time, it would be, and he could see how having an ally would be profitable.

Besides, it seemed appropriate for darkness and death to be allies..

Finally he nodded.

"I think it is a good idea. Why shouldn't darkness and death be friends?" He laughed, a harsh sound.

[Luro]

Luro laughed with him. "Of course!" he said. "Two dark packs should get on well together - provided I do win the Dark wolves. The other challenger's a wanderer... I don't remember her name but I hear she ate her own followers as they died." He shuddered, but whether pleasurably, sickly, or somewhere in-between, he wasn't sure.

The sun finally slipped beyond the horizon. "Karnas rules," he said half-jokingly to the Alpha next to him, talking about the moon and its guide. The night was falling swiftly, and a cool breeze ruffled Luro's gray fur. His spine tingled in the wind as it reached his old scars, from when he was a pup.

His brother and sister struck down... the loner laughing horribly at the half-grown wolves... his other brother, Kindu, standing up while Luro barely moved... Luro jumped, trying for the murderer's throat... he got a hold, while Kindu lay unconscious... blood, blood everywhere... He howled suddenly, silently praying to Nasatho to help him avenge the lives of his siblings.

[Thrice]

"Good luck," Thrice replied, flicking his ear forward. He was beginning to take a liking to Luro, something that hadn't happened in quite some time. Friendly talk was very pleasant compared to what usually happened when he met another wolf.

Thrice bared his teeth in a barbaric grin and smiled in agreement. "Indeed he does. Nasatho isn't so bad either." He joked, glancing to the stars appreciatively. He fell silent at Luro's howl, still studying the skies.

[Luro]

"Oh..." Luro looked sheepishly at Thrice, then rolled his eyes to be more nonchalant. "Er... yes. My family was killed...." The strong gray wolf didn't want to explain his past, not again. He didn't want to relive the horrible memories of... no. He wouldn't.

"Are there any packmembers?" he asked, to change the subject. Luro was nervous about that howl, and a little embarassed. But he was glad he was getting on with Thrice. He would be a good ally to have if something would happen with Suka's pack. Luro's mouth suddenly had a bad taste thinking of the Lightlovers, as some of the Shadow wolves called them. Well, a few.

[laura]

The lone pup stalked through the forest, eyes of green darting this way and that searching for whatever was classed as dinner. Tiny paws stepped in the footprints of larger wolves, Blade narrowed her eyes and wondered if there was left overs of a kill she could sneak. Hunting was something she was never taught for there was no one to teach her. It was so much easier to simply steal off others, theiving was a skill she learnt of her own accord. Smelling the blood of rabbit, she lowered her small body and stalked closer to the carcass. Lowering her muzzle, she found two mouths had fed off this. Gnawing on some of the bone, she glared angrilly. There was no meat left, not even a scrap. Blade was content to chew quietly on the rib cage, just the taste made her feel better. Her stomach ached, she needed food. Her auds were perked and listening to the males speak, if they didn't hear her, she'd be fine.

OOC - is it okay if I post here?

[Nasatho]

Unfortuneately, one of the wolves did hear her. Luro looked up from his position near Thrice to hear a rib snap as the pup munched on it. He shivered, for it was getting dark, and stood up. He was alert in every sense, tail raised like a flag, ears swiveling to pick up another sound.

OOC: Okay, so short post. Oh well. And yes I am Luro too.

[laura]

Blade ducked her head down, auds flattened upon her skull and tail tucked in around her. The snap of the rib seemed to echo for a short moment and she stopped breathing to be able to hear that much more clearer. She slunk around and behind a tree, not a twig snapped, nor did a leaf rustle to her touch. Poking half her head out, Blade could see that one of the males had heard it quite well too. He was listening for more. The scent of pine filled her nostrils, reminding her of all the different forests she had seen while on the lonesom prowl of her so far life. But with these thoughts floating to mind, her peircing eyes still never left that of the male's forms. The risk was too great.

[Luro]

Luro gave a friendly sound halfway between a snort and a pant, to show he wouldn't hurt her. He saw the pup's head peeking out from around the tree, and grinned at her, tongue lolling out, before sitting, cocking his head, and turning to Thrice again.

[laura]

Blade stalked out from behind the thick truck, noting all the supposedly friendly actions displayed by the male. Her auds were pinned, lip quivering slightly revealing her needle like fangs. Her tail was parallel to the ground, showing she was not afraid but not being cocky and acting as if she had dominance. Coming no closer than she already was, all she did was let herself be exposed, Blade let a high pitched puppy growl slip from her throat, refusing to return a friendly sound to the male. Eyes locked onto the second male, glanced up him then down and back up again. Every so often, her intense stare flickered between them.

OOC - tough pup! lol

[Luro]

OOC: Oh, yeah. Not really much to post right now, but I'll try.

Luro narrowed his eyes passively and averted his gaze from the little she-cub. "Come on," he said, a bit of annoyance audible in his voice. "If you're going to come out, you might as well now." He turned his attention back to Thrice, growing bored with the pup. For some reason, just her presence annoyed him... it was as if she was nagging him, hovering around Luro's frame...

And then he remembered. He was her age. He was tough like that, always jostling with the other pups. Then they were thrown out, and he was even tougher, colder. He and his sister Darak killed the loner after their siblings were murdered, but then she died... she was just like him, Darak. Just as tough and cool... just like this pup....

A thunder clap in the distance yanked Luro out of his memory, and he cast an agitated glance at Blade before turning once again to Thrice.

[laura]

"Can never be too careful.." Blade finally said, padding closer then sitting down slowly. Her tense body relaxing yet still atentive. She sensed his annoyance with her, hearing and seeing it but more evidently feeling it. She was used to it. No one had ever shown compasion to her, so she never showed any to anyone else. She wasn't even sure if she knew how.
Her muzzle raised as she sniffed the air for the scent of any others and when she could not find any, she was satisfied.
Blade didn't even know why she was here still, maybe she secretly longed for a pack, a family but was too stubborn and cold to admit it. The nagging feeling remained, day by day it got stronger and she pushed it back down each time. It got harder and harder to keep there.

OOC - lol it's fine, i have no idea why she's here o.O

[Luro]

OOC: Okay, I really WOULD post right now, but I don't have anything to say. So I won't.

[laura]

OOC - all good, i'm going have her leave now anyway

With out anymore words being said, Blade decided to simply leave. She offered them a respectful nod each then turned tail. She melted into the bushes and out of sight, wondering where the best prey would be. Since she was only a pup it would have to be something rather small like a rodent or small bird. She had never dared tackle an elk, she'd be a dead dog if she did.

[Luro]

OOC: Thanks for the inspiration.

"Wait!" Luro rose immediately, seeing that Thrice seemed to have little to say, and ran toward the pup disappearing into the forestry. He slowed to a lope until he stood abreast with her. "Stay awhile. I could help you, if you needed anything. The Cult needs pups." With a start he realized that the statement could have sounded very different than he had intended. Brilliant, he thought. The Cult was known at first to sacrifice... she can't think that! Why he really wanted her was because he was lonely... he connected with pups for some reason, probably because Luro had never had a real youth.

From a pup, the gray fighter had been a cold-blooded killer. Then the fight was starved out of him, and he learned to kill only in moderation. But bloodlust is a dangerous desire, and sometimes it was too terrible to stop. Luro had killed... No. He couldn't let his memory go on. Not now.

OOC: If you haven't noticed, Luro's kind of disturbed.

[laura]

OOC - he is a bit off the deep end but that's why i like him lol

Blade eyed him suspeciously, her rump lowered slowly as she sat once again.
"And why would you need a pup?" Blade asked with a hint of curiousity, using all her inner strength to not sound rude. She knew nothing of the Cults reasons and history for the sacificial purposes of puppies. She let her mind wonder on what he wanted. Companionship seemed the only explanation that she could deem worthy. Blade considered the offical reason and decided that for once, she would not let the oppotunity pass her by. The experiance of following a adult wolf's example could well benifit her. Blade was determined to let him answer her question before she confirmed her well thought out decision.

[Luro]

"Not a pup, really... I'm one of the challengers for the Alpha position of the territory. I've seen the female - Arinu, I think she's called - and she looks tough, but she looks a bit passive. I'm almost positive that she's picked clean by the next day."

((Picked Clean: birdfood, basically. Dead. I wouldn't kill her rather than have her in the pack, though.))

Luro paused to look at the pup. Blade seemed to be wise beyond her years; strong, courageous - not cocky about it, though - and well off in where she should and shouldn't venture. She would be a fine warrior someday, perhaps even an Alpha. It would be a pity to waste that energy and wisdom on Suka's Wolves. Even as Luro thought it, the goddess's name sent a bad taste creeping into his mouth. Suka was everything the two dark gods were not; especially Nasatho, his idol.

[laura]

He had her attention, he looked down upon her with some sort of recognition. She found this very flattering and since he didn't say it out aloud, she detected that he was sincere. Blade looked him over once again and was happy to stick with her decision. Her first instincts hardly ever failed to let her down. Blade just liked to be sure.
"Lead the way then." Blade replied. She stood, her auds swivelling a little bit behind her as she heard a stray noise but abandonned her interest in that fairly quickly.

[Luro]

Glad that the young pup had consented, Luro held himself high, proud to show Blade his packlands. It occured to him that he didn't know the pup's name. "What did you say you were called?" he asked, padding away from the clearing and howling quietly to Thrice in farewell. "And perhaps when I see you again," he called over his shoulder, "we will be equals!"