Turtleback Lake 620,000 casualties

For a moment, Askan thought it had been Wren who had spoken. He thought he'd managed to pull his head out of his ass. But no, his mouth hadn't even moved let alone opened and from what Askan could tell, the loner was a male. Sure, not every male had a deep and grumbling voice like Askan, but even he could recognise a girl's voice when he heard one. So who the hell had said that? Askan twisted his neck around and it was then he noticed that they had company. That a pale tawny wolf was the one who had cut into their conversation, or more accurately their one sided argument. "Mind your own business." Askan snapped, though his voice didn't carry quite as much venom as before. He had no quarrel with this wolf, aside from the fact she was butting into something that had nothing to do with her. "Besides, it's not like I'm being unreasonable or nothing." And he wasn't. Askan wasn't asking him to leap into the froze lake, or something just as stupid like that. He simply wanted to know who he was and what he was doing here. That wasn't so unreasonable now was it? Surely not. He wasn't asking the loner to swallow his pride, he just wanted a response, he wanted to have a-somewhat- civil conversation. It was all his fault that Askan was getting so prickly. If he just played along then they would likely get along okay. By no means would they be the best of pals or anything of that sort but, they would be in a better position than this. And of course, the newcomer had to come along and make it out that he was the bad guy. How typical. How unfair. Askan tsked and turned his attention back to the green eyed asshat. "So come on. Be civil." He pressed, hoping that he would change his tune now that they weren't alone.

Dawnthieves.de

(This post was last modified: Jan 02, 2017, 04:09 PM by Askan.)

Wren

Wren was almost ready to bolt, taking one wolf thinking him a rude coward who refused to speak (let’s be real, Askan wasn’t completely wrong to assume that) over wounds he could not possibly hope to heal when Neha stepped in, snapping at Askan as she entered the conversation, a slightly confused yet thankful look on his face. The man seemed to calm down from that, back to a somewhat-civil tone though it still sounded condescending and rather rude in Wren’s opinion… the he was pressing him to speak again… Wren didn’t know how to get it across to this fucktard that he did not speak, like… at all, to anyone… for almost a year now.

His nose twitched as a frown caught his features. How was he supposed to tell this wolf? Neha seemed to get it, or at least get the point that Askan was being unreasonable and she’d only interacted with them for a whole of five seconds so far! How was he supposed to give signs to a wolf who refused to look for them or consider the fact that Wren couldn’t talk. His maw opened but no words came out. Maybe that would be some kind of indication? No sound at all. It stayed open for a few seconds before closing. What was it about pack wolves and talking, anyway?

Well, they were murderers, and thieves, and traitors anyway… the whole lot of them. Okay, now he was just being bitter but the point stood. Even if Wren was to talk, he had nothing to say to this wolf who was being so rude to him and completely dismissing Neha’s words when she tried to tell him to back down. He was trying to be civil here! The other man just wasn’t having it apparently. His silence continued with a certain level of salt towards the older man added into the look in his eyes.

Ashbash 2016 - Ian Schneider

Neha only allowed a slight narrowing of her brown eyes at Askan's retort. Not unreasonable he said? Tipping her chin up just a fraction, she replied smoothly. "Do you honestly think yelling and getting all snippy will get anything out of him?" She gestured with her muzzle towards Wren. One creamy brow cocked upwards, her lips drawn into a soft frown. "Have you ever considered the fact, that maybe, just maybe, there are other, gentler ways to get the information you want? For all you know, trying to force this guy to talk could be shutting him down even more." She sated in an even, calm voice. Neha was being perfectly logical, using common sense and throwing it directly in Askan's face. Maybe that would open his eyes. True, she may be butting in on something that didn't even concern her, but that's just the way Neha Vuesain was. Outspoken and opinionated, she would not let a fellow wolf get walked all over when they had done nothing to deserve so.

Noticing that Wren had seemingly decided to go about his own way of trying to explain things to them, he was met with a curious stare as he parted his jaws. Her brows furrowed slightly and she tipped her head to the side. "What's wrong...?" She began, not quite getting the full picture yet. As an aspiring medic, naturally the first thing that came to her mind, was if he had a possible toothache or a sore throat. She stepped closer gingerly for a better look. "Is your throat sore?" Carefully she reached out, only to stop as something occurred to her. "Wait a second...I think I get it now..." She had a theory going. Her guess was that his vocal chords might have never developed properly, or had weakened from lack of daily use. Despite her hunch, she would not share what she thought she knew with Askan. First, she wanted to see if he could figure it out too.

 

 

Neha can often be found close to Aleister's side and therefore may appear in any of his threads.

Askan pulled his head back, offended. He was not being snippy, not in the slightest! How dare she assume that he was at fault, how dare she pin the blame all on him! It wasn't fair. She had just swanned right in and started casting her judgement as though she knew it all, but she didn't. She was trying to be the hero, to save the innocent loner who was being bullied. But she was wrong, if only she could just shut up for a moment then she would realise that. But of course, she had to continue lecturing him as though he were a child who should have known better. Why was Askan always painted as the bad guy? It wasn't as if he had come here looking for confrontation. The loner had started it, even if he hadn't said anything.

Askan tsked, dismissing her reasoning. She could think what she liked, Askan didn't care. Sure, he could have tried to be more gentle and soft worded in his approach, but he didn't know how. He'd never spoken to someone like that before. Even with Percy, he'd never cooed at her and spoken to her as though she was feeble and could shatter at any moment. He spoke to her as though she were his equal and so in return she did the same. So yeah, maybe he was a little blunt and quite rude, but did she really expect him to treat this loner like a special snowflake just because he didn't want to talk. No damn way, it wasn't going to happen. Besides, how was he supposed to respect the loner if he couldn't even manage the simple task of being reasonable? Askan had offered him a proverbial olive branch, but instead of accepting it, he'd snapped it in two. Or at least, that's how the Yukon wolf saw it.

And yet, she seemed concerned for him. As though there was something wrong. Yeah, something wrong with his head. The newbie- a pack wolf- warbled on, her voice heavy with concern. Like he deserved such kindness. The loner had done nothing but he rude and bull-headed, and yet he was getting all the pity and support. Damn it. Everyone was the same, they were all so blind.

"There's nothing wrong with him." Askan insisted."He's just being stubborn."

(This post was last modified: Jan 13, 2017, 06:21 PM by Askan.)

Wren

She was like his guardian, a certain thankfulness showing in his eyes as she continued to stand up for him. He didn’t completely agree with her logic, implying that he was shutting down, but he didn’t mind because she didn’t know and at least she didn’t think he was being rude or anything. She was more perceptive than the asshole who’d started all this trouble to begin with, noticing that there was something wrong, at first asking if it was just his throat, his head shaking back and forth before he repeated the action, his maw opening but not a sound coming out, hoping to get that point across to her. She’d started to reach out once his jaws closed before she drew back.

Finally, someone gets it. She seemed to catch on, or at least, they both seemed to think she had… and then came the brute and his ever so arrogant tone as he shook his head at him. Wren wasn’t being stubborn… okay, maybe he was, but he wasn’t going to convey that to them. It was because of the man’s close-mindedness that Wren felt Askan was starting to completely piss him off and Neha’s presence was probably the only reason his tail wasn’t lashing and the only reason he wasn’t lunging for the man’s throat… Wren might be silent, but he could also be deadly at times.

Ashbash 2016 - Ian Schneider

If looks could kill Askan would no doubt be as cold as the snow he stood on. There was something quite strange around the silent little shit, something Askan couldn't place because he wouldn't say a damn word. The Rye wolf could see that the loner didn't appreciate his persistence or his insinuations, but there was more to it than that. Askan wasn't the only one/thing that made him seethe, there was something beyond the here and now. It was in his pose, the way he held his shoulders tense and solid like stone, the firm line of his scowl and the seething nature of his foresty green eyes.

The Yukon wolf would have been curious, if he wasn't so frustrated. Why did he have to be so... So... Askan cast another look at the stranger, as if to say 'how can you not see this from my point of view?!' He was used to other's perceiving him as difficult, but when other's refused to say the same of someone else. Askan felt as though had been called a liar, a sham. As though he was trying to kick up trouble and be mean for the sake of it. Just because he wanted attention. The thought made him sick. How could she be so blind? And how could he be such an unrelenting, self-absorbed, anti-social fuck?

Askan bristled and his lips curled back into a snarl. "Why can't you see? And why is he being so hard? It's like you're both going out of your way to gang up on me or something. What have I done wrong? He refused to talk from the start, I was being civil and I'm the bad guy!"

It was all a little too much for him and whilst it appeared as though he was a pup throwing a tantrum, it was more than that. Why couldn't they see? There was so much more to Askan than snarls and glowers. Adelayde had once said he needed to open up for people to truly know who he was, but why should he put his neck on the line when everyone painted him as the bad guy? It was unfair.

Waay late, sorry guys!
<3

Both ears flicked back to show her growing irritation with the older male. But for the time being, Neha would keep her composure and refrain from giving him a real earful. She may be bold about speaking her mind, but she could also be perfectly civil. Regarding the silent boy who appeared to be around the same age as she was, an idea formed in her head. Before she could propose it to him, the grouchy one spoke up again. This time he seemed more frustrated than before, his lips curled in a snarl. They were ganging up on him?! How ridiculous. All she was doing was trying to be the mediator and prove a point from the way she saw it. Her chocolate brown eyes narrowed as she sent Askan a clearly annoyed look. "Oh grow up, would you. Quit being so paranoid." Looking back to Wren, who she addressed in a more peaceful tone, she cleared her throat. "Do you...mind trying something for me?" Now she lowered her voice only for him to hear. "It's more of a test just to prove this guy wrong..." She added, with a small jerk of her muzzle in Askan's direction.

Once he had signaled that he consented to her little idea, Neha stepped even closer this time. Her body was relaxed, her tail motionless at her heels. All cues to signal that she harbored no ill intentions. "Now...what I want you to do is to attempt a howl for me." As preposterous as it may sound, as Wren already knew of his selected muteness, Neha had a reason behind it. From a medics perspective. "While you do that, I'll press my nose to your throat, to feel your voice box." She explained. A look over her shoulder at the pack wolf made her quickly dismiss the possibility of allowing him to partake as well. She wasn't entirely sure she could trust him not to get physical, what with how worked up he was moments ago. With her little plan laid out and explained, all she needed now was for Wren's cue to proceed.

 

 

Neha can often be found close to Aleister's side and therefore may appear in any of his threads.

I don't want to fall another moment into your gravity

The girl coming to his defense continued to surprise him, a tilt to the side of his head when she did finally ask a favor in return, a test to shut Askan up for good… yeah, right. You can’t argue with stupid. His thoughts raced in his head as she asked him to howl for her, or at least, try to. Was Askan happy now? No, probably not, because asshats loved to cause pain repeatedly.

Wren didn’t even need to follow her commands to know what would happen – very little, if any sound, would come out and he’d be in intense pain which would deter him from speaking again unless it was absolutely necessary. He almost didn’t do it, looking hesitant for a moment – it wasn’t necessary – and only a few select people might be able to draw words from him. Still, she seemed to want to diagnose the pain, like she already knew it before he even attempted to speak a word, so he’d obey, tipping his head upward as he tried to howl, a very soft and strangled noise lasting for a whole second before it faded away and nothing came out, pain etching across Wren’s phase and after a few seconds he’d lower his maw, drawing back as his eyes closed and his jaw clenched, his paws digging into the dirt as much as possible to follow the wince.

Ashbash 2016 - Ian Schneider

(This post was last modified: Mar 25, 2017, 06:54 PM by Wren.)