Mountain of Dire Bound by Shackles & Chains

It didn't matter how you put it, the tawny man was lost. Beaten. Fucked up was an understatement. His pelt was sootier and dirtier than it had ever been in his life. He trudged on with aching muscles and bones. He had quite a few scratches on his body, and even a bite was visible and bleeding on his shoulder. Finally, he had made it back to the strongly-scented borders. The landslide which had occurred weeks ago, or so he assumed because he couldn't keep track of time anything, had taken him many miles away from the mountain. Tenzin was injured and troubled, and he had even left the pack without a lead guardian. But considering that the borders hadn't gotten any weaker, it was obvious that someone had taken over. His guess was Mapplethorpe, the oddly-accented wolf that made his pelt crawl. The other thing that made him a bit more troubled was that he left his business with Crowe and the other girl unfinished. He wondered if the man had made it into the pack after all. There was a fifty-fifty chance that he had, so the Laylani wolf convinced himself that there was no reason to care. If the wolf had made it-good. If he hadn't-then it didn't hurt him any! Now all he needed to do was reclaim his place as second-in command, guardian, overseer over the borders. That was his job and he would never let another wolf steal it from him. Finally, he raised his head and howled. Naira and Rhysis needed to let him back in. He made himself stand straight, his tail sticking straight behind him in a neutral position as he glared forward, towards the looming mountain trees. Spring had come and with perfect timing for Tenzin to resume his duties as a guardian, where the snow did not burden him as much and the wind did not make him shudder as violently. code by SWITCH | graphic by GREY | photo by DAWNTHIEVES.DE

Hiya! I was pointed to this thread 'on Naira and Rhysis' behalf;' since I noticed it's marked private for either of them, if you'd rather have only them in the thread or someone else, I will gladly withdraw my post. <3

mapplethorpe

aut disce aut discede

The Advisor of Nomads Pass prowled leisurely along his usual patrol trails. His queen had sent him away; and, instead of standing guard outside her den, he was ordered to check both his and her markers and mark them again. Her changing scent and edgier moods had readily clued him in as to why her request was to be done immediately without question. In her current state, she required additional protection and his utmost level of awareness about everything that went on within her lands.

He managed to reach the first of his checkpoints in record time, but rather than staying in the shadow of a crooked tree, he carried on. He had barely scaled the path that led to his second landmark when the scent of something familiar wafted his way. He breathed out to push the air completely from his lungs before drawing in another breath. His memory offered up the image of Tenzin's face and, lo and behold, the ex-Second's howl pierced the air. Mapplethorpe frowned, his auburn ears turning forward as he deciphered his monarch's name from the song's beckoning notes.

Instinctively his spiky-tail rose, curling up and slightly over the small of his back. When he came upon the sight of Tenzin Laylani he squared his shoulders from a distance, staring for a moment before seizing the opportunity to approach. Down from his lofty perch he snaked over the piled boulders and gravelly slopes, his filled out frame only partially striking until he held still and puffed up his chest. The younger man stood up straight, tall despite his physical condition but neutral above all else. The Advisor's lips pursed, the corners of his mouth evening out into a straight line all around his muzzle until he verbally addressed the male.

"Well, well, well... What have we here?" he questioned in a slick tone, a smug smile manifesting on his masked features. His bright yellow eyes critically eyed Tenzin up and down, narrowing as his nose picked up the reek of old blood amidst the potpourri of wilderness and dirt. The dirt, actually, he didn't mind - even he had been in such a filthy, almost sickly state when Rhysis had initially come upon him - but the possibility that he had been injured raised many a red flag. "If you want to speak to them, you will have to answer to me first..."

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