You dare challenge me?

@Aeolus - Challenge for rank II. Subordinate

Spring was on its way. Though winter's hold had not yet loosened, so much time had passed since the snow first came that it just had to be. Plus, the excitement of the season to come ran through every wolf's blood signalling the reincarnation of warmth and plentiful food. Not to mention the promise of new life in a few months time that had creatures of all types searching for their partner. It was all enough to bring joy to the sullenest of wolves, even the fact that the famine would end. But the spirit of spring had not bothered to alight on the second ranking male of Cut Rock River.

Hati's face was screwed into a perpetual scowl as he sprawled across a flat rock on his back, staring towards the bleak white sky. The dark look in his golden eye was one of cold calculation, of an internal war. He felt useless. Like a leech more than a protector of his pack. Since becoming a member of Cut Rock River he had provided a few scraps of meat, made a friend or two, supported his superiors, and other than that had merely taken from them. He had no purpose, nothing to live for except for the dull act of living. But he had not been raised to be content with such an existence, and that was why he now found himself staring up at the cloudless heavens, searching for his own purpose.

Without words there was little he could do aside from the simplest of tasks such as hunting and fruitless scouting. There had to be something more, but what? Was he supposed to settle for a weakling's role? Hati just couldn't see himself remaining the way he was. He was supposed to make this pack stronger but as of yet he had accomplished little to that end.

With a burdened sigh, the scarred brute arose from his resting position and shook himself, sending flakes of snow that had clung to his body flying in every direction. They caught the sunlight and glowed, showering down around him like bright crystals. Hati huffed and leaped down from the rock, reaching down to the river and lapping up the freezing liquid. Once his thirst was quenched he lifted his head, clear droplets falling from his chin. The coldness had not left his eye.

(This post was last modified: Feb 26, 2014, 10:51 PM by Hati.)

The time had come for a challenge to be in order. Aeolus liked Hati despite their bad first encounter but it was not enough to sidetrack him from the course of getting that rank. Aeolus had been seeking out the man whom he still did not know the name of and a small pain hit his eyes. Was this really the best thing for him to do? How would the other man react to Aeolus wanting to bump him down a rank. The dark pelted man came into view and Aeolus just stood there. How was he going to tell him? It was strange, he had never had issues with rank challenges before this so why would he be affected now? Aeolus knew why he was challenging.

Through everything that had happened, Aeolus wanted nothing more than to serve Cut Rock River as he had Pitch Pine Trail. Eternally. With more and more wolves seeming to disappear from the pack Aeolus wanted to prove he was there to stay. He wanted a high rank and he wanted to answer to only the leaders. It was strange to think that Ana and Astra were no longer leaders. It was even more strange to find that Maksim was leading with a wolf he {Aeolus himself} had known prior to joining Pitch Pine Trail. Kisla Tainn had found her way into Cur Rock River. He hadn't actually talked to her, but often did he find her scent around the territory and when he went to rest he sometimes saw her in the communal den.

"Hi." He said softly to the man as he tried to find the right words. "I'm challenging you for the position of Second. I know nothing bad about you with your job, but this is my ambition." He explained and he figured he would let the defender make the first move unless Hati found some way to let him know he would go first.

The presence of another behind him was sensed before it was smelled or seen. Hati could feel the tension that Aeolus carried with him as the tawny male made his way towards the river. Before the slightly older wolf could even open his mouth to speak Hati felt a sharp twinge of annoyance, already guessing at what was in store. This near-stranger had no right to try and usurp his new-found position as second in Cut Rock River. In the black wolf's mind, he had spent five years working towards this place, and there was not even an inkling of possibility that it was going to be stolen away from him. Not this day, and not any other.

Hati slowly turned around to face his pack-mate, the coldness in his eye hardening to ice. He was prepared for a violent battle, he was ready to shed blood to hold onto his rank. He expected a harsh declaration of challenge, and was extremely surprised at the gentleness of Aeolus's statement. It was strange, as though he were merely chatting with a friend. Did he regret what he was about to do? Was that possible? Hati narrowed his eye, a spark of indigence rushing through his blood. If this man wanted to challenge, than he should do it right, he snarled inwardly. If he hoped that his timid way of approaching this fight was going to tame Hati, he was wrong. Dangerously wrong.

After staring down his new opponent for a while, his hard expression fell into an amused smirk. He could remember the old days. The battles fought for glory, for food, for females. The excitement of facing a new enemy every day, completely clueless as to his level of ability. Was Aeolus strong? He would have to be, both physically and mentally. Hati had not fought his way to the rank he now possessed, but he would fight to keep it.

With the small smirk still twisting his lips and lighting his eye, Hati sat down nonchalantly, keeping his eye glued to his opponents' in anticipation of whatever strike might be made. He would have it known that he did not care much for this challenge. He was powerful even if he was half blind. Could his latest enemy handle it, or was he a weakling, a mere obstacle to subdue and move on from?

Aeolus watched as some sort of conflict went on inside his own mind. He was focused, his shoulders instantly squaring as he lowered his head in defense in case Hati decided he would attack first. But to Aeo's surprised and annoyance the man he was challenging sat down. The irritated Argyris knew better than to act on his anger so instead he plotted his course. "Unwise choice." He whispered as he launched at this sitting man. He was attempting a direct attack to get the silenced man on his back so Aeolus could demand the respect that would hopefully follow. He took a deep breathe and with narrowed eyes he hissed at the man. Aeolus himself would remain silenced for the rest of the challenge but he wondered how the man would react.

Aeolus was having no regrets. Hati was back to being the rude self he had been when Aeo first met him. His eyes remained narrowed, his hackles raised and his teeth bared to show his yellowed teeth. Hopefully after this fight he could request a role from Maksim. He wanted to be an adviser and he wanted to only bow to Kisla and Maksim. That was his ambition, quite a low one to many. He also had attempted to latch onto the older man's shoulder for no reason, but he wasn't sure the attack would be effective if it hit at all. Aeolus knew one small thing though, he had to win it. He had to prove himself wrong.

No longer was Aeolus calm and quiet. When he spoke quiet when he was mad he tried to intimidate. It was quite obvious that Hati was not a man to be intimidated by much.

To be truthful, it annoyed Hati that Aeolus showed no signs of anger or chagrin in response to the former's passive reaction to his brave speech. It always gave an incredible advantage when fury overcame sensibility, as well as a large dose of amusement. Hati had fought dozens of battles that were won only because of his ability to remain so aggravatingly calm and careless under direct opposition. Aeolus, it seemed, had more brains than the average joe, and too late did Hati realize that his initial move, from standing to sitting, could have been a grave mistake.

He chided himself internally, anger directed at himself flashing across his expression as his opponent rushed forward. With no time to react strategically, as there might of been had he been standing at ready, Hati leaped upwards. In this way, at least, he could not be forced onto his back: the most submissive posture a wolf could offer. He was not, however, expecting the wide open jaws (initially meant for his shoulder) that accompanied the attack. A strangled cry escaped his throat as they closed over his left hind leg, tearing off skin and fur to reveal tender flesh. Blood trickled from the shallow but painful wound and seeped into the snow, making the whole thing personal. Rage now seethed within him but he kept it at bay; he would not fall prey to his own tricks.

That was low, he hissed mentally, still suspended mid-leap. The jump carried him well over his opponent and he landed lightly, whirling around to face Aeolus at whom he shot daggers. A smirk curled up his lip. I was foolish to let him attack once, so I'll put this to an end right now. He lunged, jaws snapping but not to cause harm, as he tried to force Aeolus down beneath him.

Aeolus watched intently, his fighting skills not too shabby compared to most. He gave a smirk as he watched the man snap and he backed up from the wolf and darted to the side. He then hissed and attempted to use the man's old moves. He snapped at the wolf, though not caring whether or not he did harm unlike the other man, and attempted to force him to the ground where he would do a muzzle grab. He would beat the silent opponent. He just had to, for after all this meant the rank he believed that he deserved. As he had been fighting he had been thinking of Pitch Pine Trail and all his former family members who mostly were family members now. He had Naia, Lachesis, Capella, and he use to have Ana too.

He was no phenom, in fact, he was pretty old himself. But that did not stop him from trying his hardest to get this right. It was clear how badly Aeo wanted that rank and how he wouldn't let some little mistake stop him. He made sure he had every move planned out to eliminate these little mistakes he could make if he didn't plan it out. He saw his move as a closure to the past where he had been below Hati. He saw that muzzle grab as a new beginning. Though with the look on Hati's face, Aeolus was willing to bet the man would challenge again and again until Aeo died or Hati won. It would be an endless cycle of them fighting for the rank probably.

He wasn’t even sure how it had happened. One moment he had been in control and sure of his victory over this tawny wolf and the next he felt teeth around his muzzle and his rank crumbling into nothing but the past. Looking into his new enemy’s resolute orange eyes Hati understood perfectly well that this battle was lost, though he couldn’t comprehend how or why. But a new emotion, one he hadn’t felt in a long while, sparked in his heavily beating chest. No! This man had no right to take what was his away from him. His position was being pulled right out from under his feet even as he tried to secure it.

Surprisingly, thoughts of near despair were the first to flit through his mind. Perhaps Cut Rock River was not supposed to be his home after all. Or perhaps he was merely never destined to hold a worthy rank on this planet. He was weak, and he knew that. He had been defeated because of it. He had to get stronger. He had to become unbeatable.

Just like that the fear and regret dissipated and Hati lashed out with his front paws. It was a horrible miss but the aggressive action was just enough to help the man regain some pride. An amused sneer spread across his face and he began to circle his opponent, teasing Aeolus with fake rushes all the while wearing a perpetual grin. Taunting had always been a forte of his.

Come at me, grandpa.