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She/Her
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EST
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208 posts
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Hold my tea, I got this.
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Historian
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Post by Abyss on Sept 14, 2023 3:20:10 GMT
[googlefont="Poiret One"][googlefont="Lora"]  ARTEMIS Suit of the Sanzin NEVER FALTER, NEVER LET THEM BLEED YOU OUT It was rather effortless to feel pity for those with dark coats, those who couldn’t dwell in the light of the sun for too long, lest they be overwhelmed by heat exhaustion. Especially in the warmth of Summer, when the sun was most unforgiving. Though, it was also undeniable that when a valley found itself lost amidst a drought, even those with light coats who could withstand high temperatures found themselves suffering under the day sky.
Despite the risks, a creature still lounged amongst the tall drought-dried grasses atop a warm stone. Though the large white wolf could feel the heat of the boulder burning against her skin beneath her pelt, she still laid leisurely atop it, face lifted and basking in the sun. At least when roasting beneath the hot sun one didn’t have to worry about losing all feeling in one’s paws, like in winter.
Her relaxation was silent and peaceful, but a familiar scent carried on the wind found her nostrils. But rather than feel disappointed that her rest was about to be interrupted, the source of this scent was instead a comforting one, one that she welcomed.
Golden eyes slowly opened and peered to the side, watching as a tall muted-brown and gray being approached with striking silver eyes meeting her own. “Ah, greetings Othis. Perhaps you’d care to join me?” The beastly Suitess lightly tapped the warm surface of the boulder beside herself, gazing almost longingly at the handsome brute. While Artemis greatly appreciated time alone, this particular Ace’s presence was one she always valued.
Her sights turned back forward, looking over the grasses before them. She had come to this place specifically, as just the day before this same pairing had run these fields, chasing down a monstrous bull bison separated from his herd. While Artemis respected the great beast and acknowledged that he held an immense amount of power, even compared to herself, she also respected him in death, as she had watched her pack and her kin feed from his body amid the densite. Such a loss was unfortunate for the valley, but his sacrifice had not been in vain.
“I do believe the pack rather enjoyed having a fresh and abundant carcass to feed from. Such things are becoming harder to come by with the herds fleeing for greener fields.” A low sigh intermingled with a growl grumbled from her throat. She would never admit such things to the pack, but it was truly hard for Artemis to decipher what exactly she was to do about the drought. While the pack could handle the lack of food for a short period of time, it was thirst she found herself more worried about. As powerful as she believed herself to be, manifesting waters not of the ocean was not an ability she possessed. “If this Summer grows any worse, saltwater will be our only solace.”
"Speaking." Thinking. I'LL BE STILL STANDING WHEN THEY TRY TO BRING MY CASTLE DOWN I'LL NEVER BOW DOWN, HEAVY IS THE CROWN Abyss |
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EST
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Plotter
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138 posts
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Nov 13, 2024 17:47:40 GMT
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Loner
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Post by Jay on Sept 15, 2023 7:10:54 GMT
[googlefont="Poiret One"][googlefont="Lora"]  OTHIS Sanzin Ace of Spades WHEN THE DAYLIGHT REACHES US AND WE SEE WHAT WE'VE BECOME It was business, per usual. Othis had been awake with the moon most of the night, lounging in the open plains underneath a starry sky. A simple pleasure he was unable to experience often, but that was how he preferred it since over-indulgence often led to apathy. It had been especially enjoyable; a welcome break from the endless summer heat that was making him more irritable by the day. An issue he struggled with most of the morning as the scorching sun began to touch the valley. He has spent most of it in the shade of a rocky outcrop, relishing the few crisp breezes that brushed through his silvering fur. The sun was inching higher and higher, however, which eventually prompted the Ace to move on from his once-shaded spot. His first instinct was to head to the forest, a usual haunt, but a smell halted him in his tracks, one he hadn’t expected.
On the horizon, he could easily spot the figure in white lounging on a rock in the sun. A bold move, he thought. Instinctively he made his way over. He had completed his daily rounds of the territory earlier in the morning which left him with little to do, a feeling he loathed, and he thought it best not to waste his availability on trivial matters. The Ace made his way towards Artemis and before long she turned to look at him, catching his gaze. She greeted him with a tap against the boulder beside her, an invitation he accepted without hesitation. “Aways.” The response was mechanical, an instinct practically, but there was a touch of warmth to his otherwise icy tone that indicated his gratitude, perhaps, reaffirmed their friendship.
With a respectful dip of his head, he made his way up with ease, stoically ignoring the heat that emanated from the rocky surface, and licked at his paw pads. He took a spot next to her and lowered into a more comfortable position, reliving his paws of his weight the heat made almost burdensome. With an exhale through his nostrils, he looked at her with attentiveness. It was seldom he was able to simply enjoy her presence without the strain of their responsibilities to occupy them for days on end.
The attentiveness of his eyes grew as she spoke about their successful kill. He hummed in agreement, closing his eyes. “It is rare for us to indulge like that. We were fortunate, but it seems soon our luck may run out.” Ever the pessimist, he couldn’t help but be on edge. With the herds migrating to escape the heat, prey sources were diminishing rapidly which were causing their hunting parties to inch farther out of the territory. It was as energy-wasting as it was risky since the heat and low resources were pushing other predators to their breaking point, increasing their hostility and boldness. Othis saw the Sanzin as equipped to handle such competition, but bigger predators who staked their lives on a kill were rarely worth the danger.
His signature frown deepened when Artemis mentioned saltwater being their only solace. It was a painfully frustrating reality. “It could serve as a good momentary solution, but making it our livelihood could end up doing long-term damage, I fear. Too much of anything is bad.” He paused, gazing out towards the plains in contemplation. “Perhaps the answer isn’t something we can see. Maybe, should our luck run out, we turn our attention to the ground. Forests adapt during long periods without rain. Their roots dig deeper into the soil.” It was an unorthodox idea, but something the Ace would be willing to try. In trying and uncertain times, adaptability was key.
He turned to meet Artemis’s golden eyes, his own glinting with dark curiosity. “But I can’t help but wonder… how much freshwater the Vertok mountains hold.”
"Speaking." Thinking. WE CAN'T HELP IT, NO ONE EVER LEAVES THE SHOW IT'S A SIN CIRCUS AND WE'RE JUST THE CAST Abyss |
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She/Her
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EST
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208 posts
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Hold my tea, I got this.
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Historian
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Post by Abyss on Sept 19, 2023 23:14:38 GMT
[googlefont="Poiret One"][googlefont="Lora"] ARTEMIS Suit of the Sanzin NEVER FALTER, NEVER LET THEM BLEED YOU OUT From the day that the large white she-wolf's fangs bore into the neck of the previous Suit, Artemis knew that the Sanzin would never fall. Not while her heart still beat in her chest. In her mind, she vowed that no other packs, no other beasts, no living thing would ever bring the Sanzin to its knees. But heat was not living, nor was water. A beating heart could be overthrown and beaten, but no being could fight the forces of nature. It was a reality the she-wolf despised, especially in moments like this.
While it was strangely herself who most often saw things in a brighter light, such thoughts were difficult to conjure when she couldn’t help but agree with her companion. In her half a year as Suit, the pack hadn’t faced any major challenges; their luck had been present. But the first hurdle had arrived, and luck was not something they could rely on.
“In this case, indeed. While growing resistant to the effects of saltwater could be rather beneficial for us, I can’t say it would be a pleasant experience.” Artemis allowed herself a moment to think, but her thoughts were interrupted by Othis’ voice once more, her gaze glancing to the side at him as he spoke. Golden orbs grew a tad wider in surprise at his proposition. “Water beneath earth, you say?” She blinked a few times, considering his words, and she found that he had quite a good point. Despite the undesirable heat that had already killed many of the leaves found within the trees, the trees themselves had been seemingly unaffected. Even at the densite, the trunks of the trees stood tall and held firm, only their greenery growing weaker. As there had been no rain, they had to get their resources from somewhere...
As he turned his own eyes to her, she turned to his, finding a satisfying gleam in those dashing eyes that she fondly recognized. At his statement, a grin formed on the Suitess’ maw, followed by a hearty laugh. Not a laugh of mockery or sadistic enjoyment as her laughs often were, but rather a genuine laugh of amusement, one she cared not share with any other than a select few, Othis among them.
“I admire and appreciate your connivery as equally as your creativity. The idea of water unseen below us is certainly an idea I wouldn’t have reached myself. But I too find myself wondering just the same prospect as you. A perfect representation of why you stand by my side.” She released another small chuckle, gently nudging the older brute with her shoulder. Her head turned, not towards the sea or the fields, but towards the distant mountains. “We can assuredly experiment in the ways of water within our own lands, but~...a small convoy of Diamonds investigating the layout of the mountains could be quite beneficial. In the utmost secrecy, of course. What the Vertok does not know cannot hurt them~.”
The Suitess turned back forward, lifting her chin towards the sky, basking in the light that laid in a blanket over her snowy coat, faint reds and golds flashing with movement. Though a smile had crested her maw previously, it slowly faded, a deep breath flowing from her nostrils. “Half a year and this is my first challenge. A force of nature out of my control.” She lowered her muzzle back downward, opening golden orbs to stare forward into the grasses. “I do not doubt our ability to persevere through this drought. The Sanzin is far too stubborn to fall to something so dull as dehydration or starvation. Still, it is rather tiresome.”
"Speaking." Thinking. I'LL BE STILL STANDING WHEN THEY TRY TO BRING MY CASTLE DOWN I'LL NEVER BOW DOWN, HEAVY IS THE CROWN Abyss |
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EST
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Plotter
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138 posts
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Nov 13, 2024 17:47:40 GMT
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Loner
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Post by Jay on Sept 23, 2023 7:15:12 GMT
[googlefont="Poiret One"][googlefont="Lora"] OTHIS Sanzin Ace of Spades WHEN THE DAYLIGHT REACHES US AND WE SEE WHAT WE'VE BECOME Silver eyes that lost their razor edge watched Artemis curiously as she spoke, but the man’s scarred jaw remained clenched, barely reassured. “It would give the Sanzin an unprecedented edge the mountain mongrels and forest monks wouldn’t foresee. After all, who drinks salt water? Only the mad. A caliber befitting the likes of the Sanzin.” Both a dig on and a compliment to the Sanzin, Othis enjoyed toeing the line. But he pondered it, past the frustration that had him wanting to dig his claws into the rock. Unpleasant in the present, by a stroke of luck it would give them an evolutionary advantage. “It’s a double-edged sword. It might kill us faster than it helps us, but in the long term, it’s beneficial. Only, something we may not see in our lifetime.” Tenacity alone wouldn’t speed up the process, which made it a gamble of life and death.
When she spoke, his eyes found her again and stared unblinking as she processed his proposition. When silence followed he prepared to elaborate before a laugh sliced through the lull in their conversation. When she nudged his shoulder he leaned back on his elbow, brows lifting with a hint of amusement, but he felt a slight swell of pride that both he and Artemis had chosen each other wisely. That was how it should be. Nothing short of perfection. “It is a shot in the dark but a wager worth placing. I will see to it that it’s added to the Zeros’ training regimen, digging for groundwater. It could be a valuable asset to equip in their arsenal.” He was always considering ways to broaden their scope in more ways than simply physically. The mind was as invaluable as any combat skill, a weapon just as sharp.
“An investigation,” Othis echoed, pleased that they were thinking along the same lines. “If that is your will, consider it done. Although orchestrating raids is not my specialty, it will be a delicate operation. I can hardly leave it to just anyone.” His eyes slid to the side, glimmering with the lethality of a blade. “I can scarcely consider their territory precious, but sometimes among the trash lies a treasure.” A callous smile found its way onto his scarred lips, an expression seldom made but made easier by their shared opinions.
Noticing the subtle shift in her demeanor, the Ace turned his attention to Artemis again. He felt the same. No matter how many times he expressed his disapproval or disappointment towards the Sanzin, it was his pack — his home, and he would sooner die than watch it crumble. “That is why I am here. As long as I draw breath, neither you nor the Sanzin will fall.” It was only natural for him to provide assurance but his words were heavy, weighted with resolve as if the world were on his shoulders. He never took such sentiments lightly.
"Speaking." Thinking. WE CAN'T HELP IT, NO ONE EVER LEAVES THE SHOW IT'S A SIN CIRCUS AND WE'RE JUST THE CAST Abyss |
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