Abyss
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Apr 28, 2024 16:25:57 GMT
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Post by Abyss on Mar 13, 2024 1:11:45 GMT
[googlefont="Aboreto"][googlefont="Spectral"] [attr="class","hollowrandompostingicon"][attr="class","cp cp-aloe-vera"] [attr="class","hollowpostingnametitle"]HOLLOW There was a momentary silence that passed in the air before the brute had spoken. Just a moment in which his gaze had met the gatherer’s, briefly catching a glimpse of something, perhaps relief, perhaps distress, or maybe a mixture of both. But there was something else there that remained even after he had inquired about her business, something vaguely reminiscent of apprehension. Hollow had heard himself described as intimidating before, whether as an off-hand quiet comment, or stated right to him. And he wouldn’t deny such claims. Even in his own mind, his demeanor could be accessed as chilly at best. But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Scary or otherwise, it stopped none from continuing to seek him out when in need of medical attention.
As he spoke his question, the femme squeaked, almost mouse-like, as though he had somehow startled her despite knowing that he was standing there. He could have assumed incorrectly, but it seemed as though she had been looking for him in the first place, so her behavior was slightly strange. Not strange enough to question or doubt, though.
Her voice was soft and her movements slow, confirming that she did need some form of assistance, though from a distance the only clear sign of such was the moderately raised paw. With her confirmation, the healer’s paws brought him towards her, Razun the hare making small hops forward at his side. Upon reaching her, from an outside point of view it may have been a little bit funny, as both Hollow and Razun needed to peer downward to gaze at Flora and her own bunny tafa. While his rabbit greeted her own, the dark healer rotated his paw, hooking it beneath her lifted one and gently raising it just a tad, trying to avoid touching the bottom of the paw itself. He lowered his neck to get a better view, having to tilt it just a bit so he could see the problem.
When she first spoke that she needed help and had a paw lifted, his guess was something along the lines of a sprain or maybe a cracked pawpad, but he found a rather large but also thin sprig sticking out of the pad instead. A thorn of some sort, its plant of origin not something he could figure out just from this view alone. As not much of it poked out of the pad, he figured it was either a small thorn that was more of a nuisance, or it was long and went deeper than was ideal.
“Do you by chance have a clue of how long this thorn is? Or how long it has been stuck here?” He glanced to the side for just a moment, intending to meet her gaze from more of a distance, but finding that his leaning had brought his face…a tad closer than he intended. His eyes flicked back to the pawpad, considering. Thorns weren’t too much of a problem, as long as they were removed and not left to cause further pain. The only tricky part was trying to get it out if it managed to go too far in. Luckily, as far as he could tell, if it remained right where it was, he could adjust it just enough for it to poke out further, giving easier access to either grab it with his teeth, or get some assistance from his tafa.
[attr="class","hollowrandompostingicon"][attr="class","cp cp-aloe-vera"] [attr="class","hollowpostingfootertitle"]THE DARK SCHOLAR [newclass=.hollowpostingnametitle]background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #2b543f, #78ba8c); -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; -webkit-background-clip: text;font-family:aboreto;font-size:95px;color:white;z-index: 1; position: relative;margin-top:-140px;text-shadow: 0 0 10px black;[/newclass] [newclass=.hollowrandompostingicon]font-size: 150px; color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.0); -webkit-text-stroke: 1px #42604b; background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #131716, #3b5a4a); -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; -webkit-background-clip: text;opacity:0.8;[/newclass] [newclass=.hollowpostingfootertitle]background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #2b543f, #78ba8c); -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; -webkit-background-clip: text;font-family:aboreto;font-size:45px;color:white;z-index: 1; position: relative;margin-top:-110px;text-shadow: 0 0 10px black;letter-spacing:2px;[/newclass]
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Abyss
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Apr 28, 2024 16:25:57 GMT
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Post by Abyss on Mar 13, 2024 1:10:14 GMT
[googlefont="Aboreto"][googlefont="Spectral"] [attr="class","malakaipostingicontop"][attr="class","cp cp-deer"] [attr="class","malakaipostingnametitle"]MALAKAI Even though he tried to keep his focus on the idea of going out into the territory, it was actually a relief when the Rook began describing the pronhorn, giving the pup a better mental image of what they were like. There was just a moment of hesitation, where a prickly feeling poked at his spine when the male spoke of them being heavy. Luckily the hunter didn’t let those ideas linger, continuing on about the deer-like animals. Silver eyes blinked in surprise at the comment that both males and females had horns, though some confusion followed after.
“Rut?” He echoed the word back, almost disappointed in himself that he wasn’t sure what that was. Then again, Kai had never exactly sat down and had a lesson on the daily livelihood of deer before. That was probably a lesson he would enjoy, of course, but he wasn’t sure how many adults would actually indulge him in that sort of weird topic, especially as a pup.
After his rushed, and rather awkward, exclamation of going out exploring with Caveras, the dark auburn pup’s fur fluffed out in embarrassment, which was only further messied by a huff of hair, a few little tufts poking up from his head. He hadn’t wanted to make the older wolf think he didn’t actually want to go out, cause he did. Yeah, the idea of running into a lynx, or any other non-wolf predator, was far from ideal, and pretty terrifying, at least he would actually have another wolf there with him that could help. An adult wolf could probably scare off a lynx easily, unlike a couple of helpless and stubborn pups…
Though his thoughts began to drift back towards the ever-present issue of his adopted brothers and their newly-developed hatred for him, he was easily taken back on course as Caveras began to describe the kind of place he was from. His bright eyes were locked in on the older male, listening intently as he talked of a faraway valley where the ground was flat, the grass was golden, and the mountains were red. Granted, the valley in its current state was covered in golden grass, but still. He tried to imagine mountains, but red, and it was a strange thought. For just a minute, Kai began to wonder if there were faraway lands where the landscape was all kinds of crazy colors. Maybe in some places the grass was blue, or the trees were white, or the water could be orange instead of blue. All kinds of strange locations popped into his head, places that probably weren’t real…but they could be…
His attention was caught by the word ‘sister’. Kai already knew that he wasn’t very up-to-date with most of the adults within the pack. He knew all the Vertok pups, he was vaguely aware of their families, but beyond them, he had no way of knowing who was family, who were mates, none of it. He tried to recall off the top of his head if he had ever seen a female wolf in the pack that sort of resembled Caveras, but he couldn’t remember. He wanted to ask about her, maybe she was in the Vertok and he just hadn’t met her or known who she was. But he didn’t want to get too off track.
“An open prairie and an open sky…I bet it was really pretty looking up in a place like that. And all that space to just...run.” Admittedly, as much as Kai loved knowledge and learning, one thing he didn’t know much about was the sky. Since the Vertok’s homecave was…well…a cave, it wasn’t easy getting a view of the sky from inside. And Kai wasn’t normally a night-dweller, save for tonight of course. But one thing Kai did know about was running. He had been racing his fellow pups basically since the day he could walk, but once you grew so much, running at full speed in the cramped space of a cave was difficult. So the idea of an entire meadow of open field and open air where you could just run and run, it sounded great. He couldn’t help but smile a tad hearing the warmth in the Rook’s voice as he talked about his homeland. Internally, Kai almost wondered if he would one day get to see that place. But that was if he ever left this valley…even if that did happen, it was a long ways away.
[attr="class","malakaipostingiconbottom"][attr="class","cp cp-deer"] [attr="class","malakaipostingfootertitle"]THE LOST SON [newclass=.malakaipostingnametitle]background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #13404f, #b1dbdf); -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; -webkit-background-clip: text;font-family:aboreto;font-size:95px;color:white;z-index: 1; position: relative;margin-top:-140px; -webkit-text-stroke: 1px #bdd8df;[/newclass] [newclass=.malakaipostingicontop]font-size: 150px; color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.0); -webkit-text-stroke: 1px #668891; background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #315560, #939393); -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; -webkit-background-clip: text;opacity:0.8;[/newclass] [newclass=.malakaipostingiconbottom]font-size: 150px; color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.0); -webkit-text-stroke: 1px #425a60; background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #50899b, #b3d0d3); -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; -webkit-background-clip: text;opacity:0.8;[/newclass] [newclass=.malakaipostingfootertitle]background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #1c353c, #649eae); -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; -webkit-background-clip: text;font-family:aboreto;font-size:50px;color:white;z-index: 1; position: relative;margin-top:-110px;letter-spacing:2px; -webkit-text-stroke: 1px #bdd8df;[/newclass]
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Abyss
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Apr 28, 2024 16:25:57 GMT
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Post by Abyss on Mar 11, 2024 23:25:47 GMT
[attr="class","malakaipostingicontop"][attr="class","cp cp-deer"] [attr="class","malakaipostingnametitle"]MALAKAI His thoughts were jumbled and he found that the more he thought, the less focus he had. What if he didn’t find his brothers? Did they even still consider him their brother? What would he say to them if they did find them? What would he say if they didn’t? What if they didn’t even want to talk? What would they think seeing him with some strange wolf? Would they think he was betraying his pack? First his brothers and then his whole pack? What was he even doing following a loner he had just met? He was out in the territory by himself with only one wolf who he didn’t actually know that could be just acting nice and in reality is actually trying to gain his trust just to lead him into a trap and-
‘I have a couple of brothers, too.’
Oh my god he really is leading me into a trap.
The little male’s paws stopped in their tracks and he shook his head. No no no, stop, his mind was getting to him again.
This is exactly why I don’t leave home!
He heard the loner make a comment about how one of his brothers liked plants, and confusion replaced the panic, for just a moment. Until he realized he was falling behind. Being with an adult is better than being alone. He trotted quickly to catch up, hoping that he seemed like he had been listening, which he felt bad for not actually doing so at first. He did actually tune in as Axel spoke, actually bringing up a good idea, a possible lead to finding them. For just a moment, he actually got his hopes up, as this could be a good way to find them. But the realization set in quick, and his ears drooped a tad.
“I mean…they…tend to get in trouble a lot. They…like danger…and other predators…and places that aren’t all that safe…” He glanced up at the loner, an awkward smile pulling at his maw. If he had thumbs, he would’ve raised one awkwardly. “D-doesn’t really bode well for us, d-does it?” He managed an uncertain chuckle, glancing at their surroundings. He tried to think of something, anything, any other detail about them that could help them.
“They…they like to explore places they haven’t been…even if it’s far from home…so…the territory borders. They could be going along the borders. But…I…haven’t been to the borders, so…I d-don’t really know..where..they..are…” It didn’t really help much that he wasn’t as knowledgeable about his own territory as he wished he was. But maybe Axel could help him figure it out. Or maybe they’d run into a packmate that could help. There was always that chance that a Knight would be out patrolling the borders, or a Rook could be out hunting. Maybe they’d get lucky and find Caveras.
Zawki
[attr="class","malakaipostingiconbottom"][attr="class","cp cp-deer"] [attr="class","malakaipostingfootertitle"]THE LOST SON
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Abyss
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Post by Abyss on Mar 11, 2024 23:23:26 GMT
[attr="class","malakaipostingicontop"][attr="class","cp cp-deer"] [attr="class","malakaipostingnametitle"]MALAKAI Kai had always been a very curious pup, thoughtful in his surroundings and observations he made, stories he was told, lessons he was given. While he certainly wasn’t the most well-versed pup in the ways of Vertok history and lore, he liked to think that he knew a lot about his home and some of his packmates. Though, as the cedar-furred Rook spoke, the boy’s ears flicked as a particular detail caught his attention. Of course he knew that not all wolves were born within the same circumstances, as not all families were the same. But it was strange considering that a wolf being a Vertok member didn’t always mean they were born within the Vertok. He had said that he wasn’t from a mountainous area like the Vertok. Did that mean he was from somewhere else in the valley? Or even outside of it? A wolf being born in a different part of the valley was one thing, but the idea of a wolf from a whole other valley?
He wished to ask questions, but he didn’t want to be rude and interrupt. So he listened, his mind finally drifting away from the dark reasoning that had brought him here in the first place. Perhaps a distraction, and admittedly a calming sense of comfort, was just what he had needed.
“Pronhorn…those are like deer, right? I don’t think I’ve seen those wh…” While they’re alive… It was better to leave his thoughts where they ended. The last thoughts the boy needed to cross his mind were ones of carcasses. He lightly shook his head, focusing back on the conversation as best he could.
Going out there…sometime soon…Kai hesitated, silver eyes flicking down to his paws, which he could just barely see against the gray of stone. He did want to see the territory, and the animals (the herbivores specifically), and the plants. He did want to explore the land in which he lived, as strange as that would sound coming from someone who could hardly step outside the homecave without shaking in his fur. But if there had been a lynx hunting in the territory, and rather closer to home than he was comfortable with, maybe it was better to wait.
“I…I do want to see, but…I…I think…it would be better to s-stay home…j-just for a little while.” It hit him in that moment that his tone and wording may have portrayed him as not really interested, his head lifting quickly, wide silver eyes looking for the older male’s in the dark. “I-I do want to go though! With you! A-At…some point…” Maybe that was a little too forward…he felt an awkward prickle poke beneath his pelt.
He looked away quickly, thankful that the dark and the auburn tint of his fur would hide the little burn of warmth he felt along his muzzle. Though he felt a small tinge of embarrassment, his mind began to wander, returning to the prior topic. He didn’t want to change the subject completely, but now that the idea had been presented to him, he couldn’t help it. “You…said you aren’t from mountains. So…where…are you from?”
Burn
[attr="class","malakaipostingiconbottom"][attr="class","cp cp-deer"] [attr="class","malakaipostingfootertitle"]THE LOST SON
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Abyss
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Post by Abyss on Sept 19, 2023 23:22:38 GMT
[googlefont="Aboreto"][googlefont="Spectral"] [attr="class","navipostingicon"][attr="class","cp cp-aloe-vera"] [attr="class","navipostingnametitle"]NAVI Exploring came to the tall and lanky woman by instinct, never one to stay in one spot. She still hadn’t been in the valley very long, but she had made it a point to try and go everywhere she could, only sometimes returning to the oddly mangled tree near the mountains she had unofficially claimed as her own. She had ran the almost endless grassy plains on the hunt for antelope with a pack brute she had met, she had peeked around what seemed to be the main river that ran through the valley (though it didn’t have as much water as she had been hoping), and she had found pack scent markers near the mountains (probably her hunting companion’s pack she guessed). But in her exploring, she had spotted one area in particular so far that she found interesting while following the pack borders.
Light paws carried her towards the mountains, sage-colored eyes in search of what she had spotted the other day. It had been dark by the time she spotted this the day before, but she thought it better to come back when it was day time. She just needed to remember exactly where she was when she spotted it.
Though, in her searching, rather than find her destination, a scent filled her nose, one that she didn’t recognize. Navi scanned her surroundings, glancing between the fields to her left and the woods laced with pack-scent to her right. But she found the source to be straight ahead instead: another wolf. All she could really see from this distance was darker brown and some pale, gender or details hard to distinguish.
“Hey! You explorin’ too?” She trotted forward towards the other wolf casually, almost as though she already knew them even though she didn’t. As she got closer, it seemed to be a male, but it was hard to say until they should speak.
[attr="class","navipostingicon"][attr="class","cp cp-aloe-vera"] [attr="class","navipostingfootertitle"]THE FREE SPIRIT [newclass=.navipostingnametitle]background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #831a00, #ffcd30); -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; -webkit-background-clip: text;font-family:aboreto;font-size:95px;color:white;z-index: 1; position: relative;margin-top:-140px; -webkit-text-stroke: 1px white;[/newclass] [newclass=.navipostingicon]font-size: 150px; color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.0); -webkit-text-stroke: 1px #e6ca85; background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #831a00, #ffcd30); -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; -webkit-background-clip: text;opacity:0.8;[/newclass] [newclass=.navipostingfootertitle]background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #831a00, #ffcd30); -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; -webkit-background-clip: text;font-family:aboreto;font-size:45px;color:white;z-index: 1; position: relative;margin-top:-110px; -webkit-text-stroke: 1px white;letter-spacing:2px;[/newclass]
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Abyss
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Post by Abyss on Sept 19, 2023 23:20:07 GMT
[googlefont="Aboreto"][googlefont="Spectral"] [attr="class","navipostingicon"][attr="class","cp cp-aloe-vera"] [attr="class","navipostingnametitle"]NAVI For just a moment, the auburn-furred she-wolf felt accomplished as the somewhat smaller male agreed with her sentiment over his previous nickname, and his statement of her creativity. But it was short-lasting as he continued. Her face shifted from amused and proud to confused, if not a tad offended. Her maw opened in a shocked sort of way at his words, turning her head with a fleck of sass. A paw lifted from the ground and crossed her chest as she spoke, as though calming herself. “How dare you insinuate thatta tree sprite has questionable creativity! I’ll have you know that I came up with them names all on my own. Dingo may not be good enough for ya, but Dhole is all original. Ain’t never heard of anythin called a dhole...I think...” Her words gave off the impression of being insulted, yet her voice was full of sarcasm, the offense clearly playful rather than serious. Though, as she reached her final sentence, she faltered a tiny bit, uncertainty crossing her face, attempting to go through her entire dictionary of animal names in search of the word dhole, but finding nothing.
After a minute of failure, she started laughing, shaking her head. “Meh, I tried. Can do better than that, though, I’ll tell ya that much. By the time I see ya again, I’ll have more ready.”
As the conversation slipped further into information rather than playfulness, she listened intently to what he said, considering the red marks that she had seen. If she remembered right, all of the marks did look pretty similar, but as she had said, she assumed them to be border markers. Then again, they had been scattered. Unless there was a pack with some pretty confusing borders, she doubted they would be so random. Or maybe she was just constantly trespassing. Who knows.
“Hmm...it ain’t too outta the ordinary for loners to show up inna new valley and try ta stake a claim. Could be as simple as there’s somethin buried wherever there’s marks. Hard to say.” He spoke the word Vertok, but no she had no recollection of ever hearing it. The name of a pack, probably. “You think they belong to these Vertok guys? Or somebody else? Never heard ova pack usin stuff like that. Then again I haven’t been here long, could be the norm here and I wouldn’t know.” She shrugged casually, glancing around them to see if she would happen to spot a red mark on any of the surrounding trees she may have not seen before.
[attr="class","navipostingicon"][attr="class","cp cp-aloe-vera"] [attr="class","navipostingfootertitle"]THE FREE SPIRIT [newclass=.navipostingnametitle]background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #831a00, #ffcd30); -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; -webkit-background-clip: text;font-family:aboreto;font-size:95px;color:white;z-index: 1; position: relative;margin-top:-140px; -webkit-text-stroke: 1px white;[/newclass] [newclass=.navipostingicon]font-size: 150px; color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.0); -webkit-text-stroke: 1px #e6ca85; background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #831a00, #ffcd30); -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; -webkit-background-clip: text;opacity:0.8;[/newclass] [newclass=.navipostingfootertitle]background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #831a00, #ffcd30); -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; -webkit-background-clip: text;font-family:aboreto;font-size:45px;color:white;z-index: 1; position: relative;margin-top:-110px; -webkit-text-stroke: 1px white;letter-spacing:2px;[/newclass]
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Abyss
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Post by Abyss on Sept 19, 2023 23:18:00 GMT
[googlefont="Aboreto"][googlefont="Spectral"] [attr="class","hollowrandompostingicon"][attr="class","cp cp-aloe-vera"] [attr="class","hollowpostingnametitle"]HOLLOW His time had been spent in the best way that a healer could ask for: surrounded by plants. An early morning of padding slowly through the gardens, eyes ever watchful as he counted what herbs and flowers had made it so far through the heat, a large hare along his side. A part of the tall brute was relieved that the night and early morning was not quite so humid or unbearably hot as it was during the day. As well, tall trees on all sides giving plenty of shade was also a welcoming environment.
The air had been quiet, peaceful. He did not speak, nor had anyone else. Hollow had passed a gatherer on occasion, offering a simple respectful bow of the head before continuing on. But he was a man of few words, and given how much time he spent within the gardens, many knew of this and allowed him his peace. Of all the places in the territory, the gardens were one of the few where the black healer felt he could fully relax and just allow himself time to breathe.
By the time the sun had begun to rise and show itself, his tafa and himself were making their way back to his den within the Healer’s Circle, a few small flowers held gently between his teeth. Although he wished to remain in the garden for longer than he had, he had plans for the day that required his attention.
The next few hours had been spent in his den, planning and organizing. Thankfully, none had come to bother him or present him with some wound that needed tending, which was always a good thing. It gave him more time to experiment. When he finally exited his den once more, Razun by his side as always, the sun had already risen high in the sky, beating down on the valley with little mercy. Once more, he found himself grateful that at the very least he could handle the humidity while in the shade rather than direct sunlight.
He found himself walking along the river that ran through Au’Dar territory, scanning the edges of the water in search of something, though it was unclear exactly what. It was only when he felt a poking at his leg and a scent suddenly finding his nostrils that the Healer stopped, pale honey eyes lifting to find another wolf standing not too far ahead of him. It took a moment of consideration to identify the cream and red-furred she-wolf, but the name Flora came to mind. Though he spent much time in the gardens, she was one of the many Gatherers that he didn’t often encounter. Perhaps he simply visited the plant-inhabited grounds at times when she was not due for attendance.
A moment to examine, he noted that she had a paw lifted and she was quick to lock eyes of honey and hickory.
“Are you in need of me?”
[attr="class","hollowrandompostingicon"][attr="class","cp cp-aloe-vera"] [attr="class","hollowpostingfootertitle"]THE DARK SCHOLAR [newclass=.hollowpostingnametitle]background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #2b543f, #78ba8c); -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; -webkit-background-clip: text;font-family:aboreto;font-size:95px;color:white;z-index: 1; position: relative;margin-top:-140px;text-shadow: 0 0 10px black;[/newclass] [newclass=.hollowrandompostingicon]font-size: 150px; color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.0); -webkit-text-stroke: 1px #42604b; background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #131716, #3b5a4a); -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; -webkit-background-clip: text;opacity:0.8;[/newclass] [newclass=.hollowpostingfootertitle]background: linear-gradient(to bottom, #2b543f, #78ba8c); -webkit-text-fill-color: transparent; -webkit-background-clip: text;font-family:aboreto;font-size:45px;color:white;z-index: 1; position: relative;margin-top:-110px;text-shadow: 0 0 10px black;letter-spacing:2px;[/newclass]
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Abyss
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Post by Abyss on Sept 19, 2023 23:15:42 GMT
[googlefont="Poiret One"][googlefont="Lora"] ARTEMIS Suit of the Sanzin NEVER FALTER, NEVER LET THEM BLEED YOU OUT It was difficult to tell initially, but it became more clear that their plan was working. Slowly, but steadily. The grand beast was beginning to turn, each dodge of her fangs causing it to further veer sideways in avoidance. With herself snapping at its face on one side and Othis snapping at its back legs on the other, it was only a matter of time before the bison would be backtracking towards the densite. Perhaps the ungulate had realized their plan, intentionally making its turn as slow as possible. Or perhaps their methods weren’t having as much of an effect as they intended. The beast needed more coaxing.
Almost on cue, she glimpsed the dark eyes of the bison go wide for a moment and a low but painful bellow echoed from its mouth. The white ghost acted quickly, leaping towards the beast with jaws agape, finding a smidgen of purchase on the its cheek. The bison let out another deep almost squeal, throwing its head to the side away from her. She lost her grasp on its face rather quickly, but the combination of her action and whatever pain Othis had caused had forced the beast to snap to the side in a bucking motion, now running right back in the direction they hoped for. Now all they needed was to keep the beast going in this direction and take it down once it was closer to the densite. A simple plan, in theory. But in action, it wasn’t quite so simple.
Artemis had allowed herself to fall back some, still running at the beast’s flank, but a tad slower to allow herself a moment of breath. She glanced to the side in search of her hunting companion. Words were unnecessary, as the overall plan was clear. But how they would bring the beast down was a more challenging question. The beast had already proven that, despite its old age, its balance was still intact enough to keep it standing and running. But no matter how strong its balance, how long could an old creature such as this truly keep going before it grew tired?
Golden eyes followed and examined the hooved brute, the smell of its blood a satisfying catch amidst their running. Already she had reopened old wounds the bison had endured previously, on top of both herself and her partner creating new wounds. Old age and loss of blood. Perhaps bison had large lungs and allowed plenty of stamina, but there was only so much one could do. It would not be long now.
"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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Abyss
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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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Post by Abyss on Sept 19, 2023 23:13:16 GMT
[googlefont="Poiret One"][googlefont="Lora"] ARTEMIS Suit of the Sanzin NEVER FALTER, NEVER LET THEM BLEED YOU OUT The beastly she-wolf watched silently as the small dust cloud the tumbling pup had caused settled, and though she had heard the thud of his body against the ground, his head lifted and peered at her, seemingly unfazed. He did appear momentarily stunned, but it faded quickly as she saw his eyes find her shoulder. A grin formed on his face and he jumped to his paws, his voice filled with excitement. It almost made her chest warm seeing the accomplishment in those little eyes. But it faded quickly. A tiny scrape would gain him no favor or advantage in a true battle.
The Suitess’ golden gaze hardened at the white pup, considering. While Artemis was never against the idea of spending ample amounts of time away from the densite, she also knew that the sun had already begun to start setting when they first arrived here. A quick glance to the side revealed that it had gone further, and dusk would soon set in. In her mind, their first initial training had gone quite well, but given the small victory the pup had just gained, it would be difficult to end the session where it stood. Perhaps one last challenge would suffice.
“Dusk shall arrive soon. We both have dens to return to. But I shall allow you one more chance to give all the strength you can.” Large paws took a few steps backwards away from the pup, her eyes remaining locked on his. “There will be no break to speak. Once you charge forward, you will not stop. Do not lay, do not wait, do not hesitate. Should you become out of stamina or should you be pinned, only then will our session be over. Understand?” Her voice was firm, challenging.
She only waited a moment for an answer before she turned away from him, both in body and head, eyes no longer on him. Perhaps being unable to meet his opponent’s eyes would boost the pup’s determination. “At your will.”
"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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Post by Abyss on Sept 14, 2023 23:56:41 GMT
Out of all things that the young mahogany pup appreciated in the short life he had lived thus far, physical affection had always been at the top of the list. As most pups did when they were young, he valued that warmth and that connection, though it seemed that many grew out of that rather quickly, where he did not. When he was a tad younger, he could never sleep unless his body was curled against his mother’s soft fur, safety and comfort covering him like a blanket. And though she didn’t do it often, in the few times when his sister had snuck over and pressed her pelt to his, he couldn’t have been happier. But all of that warmth and comfort had disappeared, as had the ones who gave it to him.
When Zero and Shepherd had taken him in as their brother, he gained at least some of that back. But, for multiple reasons, there were so few times when Kai openly admitted that he sought their affection. He did, even when he didn’t say it. But it was never the same. And now, as little as it had been with them as it was, he had returned to having none.
What he felt from his brothers had never been the same as what he felt from his mother, or even his sister. He hadn’t felt the same way in so long. But in that moment, curled up against the side of Caveras, Kai found himself feeling what he had yearned for all along. Perhaps it wasn’t exactly the same, partially because this wolf was not his mother, and partially because of the circumstances. But he still felt...safe. Far safer than he did sleeping on his own.
He listened to what the Rook said, and while he wasn’t going to admit out loud that every meat-based meal he had eaten since the incident he had ended up throwing back up shortly after, it was a considerate thought. He remained silent, still listening as the bigger wolf continued. He nodded lightly at the question; he knew that a lynx was a cat, and he knew that what attacked them was a lynx, but he didn’t know much of them beyond that. They were solitary...so there wouldn’t have been more than one. At least he knew his dreams weren’t accurate, to some degree. But at the mention of their size, he had a moment of thought, considering how big the lynx was, and how big he may one day get. As he was, he was small, but would he eventually grow to be the same size as Caveras? Bigger? Smaller? And when he did grow, how big would he be compared to a lynx? Not that he would ever seek one out to find out, but he still wondered.
The silver-eyed pup almost smiled. “Me neither. I’ve never known how their brains work, or if they have any.” He didn’t quite chuckle, as his maw did not fully form into a smile, nor was there any sound, but he huffed as though he had. Even as his mind worked through the harsh reality that his brothers hated him, it was still...not quite comforting, but perhaps simply familiar, to gently poke fun at them in a brotherly-love sort of way as he always had. But he returned to being quiet, taking in what the other said.
They may hurt others along the way...it wasn’t until that moment that Kai realized the fact that he didn’t actually know much about either of their families. He knew that Zero had sisters that he didn’t associate with much, and any time Shep talked about his family it was just insults and hatred. He’d always seen it from their side. But a part of him began to wonder what their families thought of them. Had the two of them already hurt others before him? Was this something he should have expected?
The pup could feel his mind beginning to overthink, rethinking any times he could picture in the past when something may have happened that he didn’t catch, or something that was said that he should have questioned. But a small puff of air against his head pulled him from his thoughts, little silver eyes blinking a few times as there was a gentle feeling of something pressing between his ears. This time he didn’t flinch, though it was still a tad disorienting being unable to see what was happening in the dark.
His ears twitched hearing the other’s voice so close, but his eyes widened at what was said. Going...with him? Out in the territory? Patrolling? Multiple things ran through his little mind in that moment. Getting to see more of the territory, but not wanting to be out in a territory where a lynx had been a few days prior. Getting to explore with an actual adult who could keep him safe, but not having his brothers to explore with. He felt conflicted, but he thoughts turned back to something else Caveras had said, almost an echo of something his mother often told him when he was young.
‘It turns out alright in the end.’
‘The storm will pass.’
He considered for a moment. His first instinct was to try and patch things up with his brothers as quickly as possible. But...Caveras said that they must have a lot to work through. And he knew that he did too. Maybe...it would be better if things were worked out...separately. For now.
“I.....yeah...I think I might...” He did his best to push the darkness from his mind, and though it didn’t work greatly, he still imagined a more positive aspect of the idea. While Kai very much did not enjoy being face to face with a predator, on numerous occasions he had enjoyed watching other animals from a distance. Other animals that wouldn’t eat him. Only once he had been quiet enough to see a mother deer and her fawn grazing in the woods. He also heard stories about big herds of animals out in the meadows.
“Do...do you ever go to the meadows? P-Past our forest? I’ve...heard that there’s lots of things to see out there, but...the other day was...my first time being near it...and...I...didn’t exactly...see...much...” He had been too preoccupied huddled in a ball on the ground to see any part of the meadows, unable to move or think. But the idea of getting to see them, in his right(ish) mind this time, he almost felt excited.
"Speaking." Thinking.
1085 <3 (C) ABYSS
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Post by Abyss on Sept 14, 2023 23:55:06 GMT
Though it was quite clear that the wolf before him was more excitable and energetic than himself, Kai still found himself caught off guard each time the larger male made a sudden movement. He seemed pretty happy about the fact that the Vertok was kinder to outsiders, but that made sense.
The shaky pup’s ears flatten, disheartened by the answer he was given. A part of him had desperately hoped that the loner had seen the boys, even just a glimpse, but he hadn’t, which meant that Kai truly didn’t have any leads. At the start he had been afraid for himself, as he was choosing to leave the densite by himself, something that he never did. Shep and Zero were alone, but at least they had each other if something happened. If something happened to himself, he had no one. But the longer that he searched, he started to worry for them instead. Especially now that someone who had been in the territory wandering around hadn’t even seen them. It wouldn’t be much of a shock if they had actually fully left the territory, but...without a trace? Not even a scent trail?
But a little part of him was relieved, as this new wolf had offered to help look for them. He was a stranger, sure, but at least Kai wasn’t alone anymore.
“I...uh...they...I-I haven’t seen them all morning...I don’t know where they went. They weren’t at the den...”
Suddenly feeling more lost than he had in all of the time he had been out here, by instinct he padded quickly after the loner, keeping his head and nose lower in search of any possible scent or clue or anything that could tell them where the boys were.
"Speaking." Thinking.
289 It's not long, but eh >.< (C) ABYSS
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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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Post by Abyss on Sept 14, 2023 0:09:08 GMT
[googlefont="Poiret One"][googlefont="Lora"] ARTEMIS Suit of the Sanzin NEVER FALTER, NEVER LET THEM BLEED YOU OUT With her body steadily positioned and eyes keenly following each movement the pup made, she considered what he may attempt. He was a pup, and a Vertok pup at that. The chances of his experience in battle being further than just simple play-wrestling was slim to none. And given that she had to explain the idea of making your path unpredictable, what plans could this youngster truly manage?
As the white adolescent rushed forward, rather than follow his paws or his path, she watched those little eyes. As a (self-proclaimed) master in the way of reading others, she knew the eyes to be a window into the mind of another, especially the mind of one who hadn’t even reached a year of age yet. His eyes were trained on her muzzle, but she had just instructed him to avoid straight lines. He would change course, this she knew for certain, but in which direction, and how would he approach his next move.
Like clockwork, a brief shift in sights followed by a turning of the body. Her head snapped to the side, catching the pup in her gaze just as he pushed himself from the ground, launching himself towards her. As the distance between them was far less than previous, she knew that simply jumping over him would not work. Perhaps she could simply lift herself momentarily onto her back legs and watch as he simply sailed past her. But the last thing she needed was for constant failure to deter the pup from wishing to continue.
Instead, she quickly turned her body, popping her shoulder outwards as the pup reached her. While she did feel the thud that she expected as her shoulder smacked against the pup’s side, she felt something else. A very quick swipe of pain and a small wince. Not an intense pain, more so similar to that of the scrapes of a claw or maybe the tearing into skin of thorns. Having shouldered the youngster from the air, her eyes turned to peer at her shoulder, and while it was not much, she watched as the tiniest amount of blood stained a few strands of snowy fur. The pup had actually managed to swipe her with his fangs. If there was one thing that all adult wolves were certain of, it was that puppy teeth were a greater tool than one would expect.
Artemis looked to the pup, keeping her shoulder in view as she checked what state he was now in, if any. “I believe that to be a much better attempt, little owl.”
"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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Post by Abyss on Sept 14, 2023 0:08:45 GMT
[googlefont="Poiret One"][googlefont="Lora"] ARTEMIS Suit of the Sanzin NEVER FALTER, NEVER LET THEM BLEED YOU OUT Though her gaze was turned away, the tone of enthusiasm that carried in the ivory pup’s voice was not lost on deaf ears, the corners of her maw shifting into a small smile. The workings of the great white wolf’s mind were unknown to those below and to those equal, but quite often she found herself imagining things in great detail, a talent best kept to herself for her own leisure. As though she were watching a scene play out right before her eyes, her mind edited what she watched in truth, replacing each piece with whatever she wished. She saw herself, and she saw another nearly identical to herself, though perhaps a tad smaller, both mangling a bull elk to the ground with ease. A pleasant scene to imagine, though a voice pulled her from her visions, the hallucination of herself and her kin fading back to the circle of wrestling youngsters out before her. Though, for a mere moment, she noted the irony in seeing that even after the vision had faded, it was still two of her kin bringing another to the ground.
Her pointed face did not turn, but her royal golden hues peered downward at the white pup, considering her question. In her days of youth, Artemis had considered the same two paths as her young ibis: the path of a hunter, or the path of a solider. Along both of these paths were battle in some form or another, but both came to the same unfortunate result. Unfortunate for the dead, of course. But both paths held different truths.
“I chose the path of a Club so I may become a provider.” It was a strange answer coming from someone such as herself, her personality and reputation considered. But, as to be expected, there were pieces to the puzzle she intended not to share, at least not to this young one. “All living creatures require food. Without food, even the strongest of beasts can fall. A pack of wolves may stand tall, have strength in numbers, hold more power than any challenger. But, how strong is a pack truly if its wolves grow weak in starvation? No pack can live without food, and Clubs provide the Sanzin that food.” At this, the Suitess turned her head just slightly, still looking down at the young one. “But, further than just giving the pack life, I believe such a responsibility gives the Clubs more power than given credit for. Our pack may thrive in violence and shifts of power, but, should one challenge a Club, your next meal may not be guaranteed. Diamonds are providers of chaos, Spades are providers of protection, and Hearts are providers of healing. But, as one myself, Clubs are providers of life.”
Artemis slowly lowered herself, large paws moving forward and allowing the large ghost to lay, back legs neatly tucked beneath her and tail curled around her side. Though she was laying, she was not quite low enough to be at Helva’s eye level. Despite this, she still found her gaze locked with the pup’s, albeit closer than before. “One should not bite the paw that feeds them. Wouldn't you agree?”
"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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