Cedarwood Forest Bad Influence

<blockquote>The weather was getting warmer every day and Valiant's thoughts turned to what would become of their plan once the snows had melted. He was trying his best to keep Hawke on side but every time he was forced to leave her he pushed her that little bit further away and knew one of these days she wouldn't forgive him and no amount of his charm would allow him to weasel his way back into her good graces.

<b>"Fuck!"</b> he growled out loud as he paced back and forth, swatting at the quickly receding snow. <i>Fuck Rhysis and his fucking slow moving plans.</i> The large silvery wolf was not known for his patience. First he had to crawl back to the pale woman on his guts to beg her forgiveness before returning to the pack to be challenged by the previous alpha. This was why he was glad when his parents had asked him to leave. <i>This</i> was why he on the verge of snapping.

He needed to tear something apart, and perhaps for the first time in his life he was keen for a hunt. If only there was someone around to help him do it. </blockquote>

Thanatos enjoyed the warmer weather by taking a walk around the land surrounding his new home. Thoughts of Jaysyek, Kainda, Rebecca, Vlarindara, and Gladius went through his mind. He had met all these females in the short amount of time he had been in Relic Lore. One was stubborn and challenged him and then submitted to him when he won the fight, another was very kind and went hunting with him, Vlar was blind in one eye like him and she seemed nice but thy didn't talk for very long. Rebecca was kind of..odd, there was something about her that he couldn't figure out. And then there was Jaysyek, she had hunted with him and had given him a new home.

The only males Thanatos had met were Rios and Rhysis. Rios and Thanatos had a little scuffle when a silver wolf tried to steal Rios' food and Thanatos got in the middle. Rhysis was quiet and appeared to be friendly but there was something about him that reminded him of his father. He didn't know Rhysis well enough though but there was just something with the way he acted that seemed..fake. Maybe he just didn't trust him because Rhysis was a male. Thanatos shook his head, emptying his mind of all the thoughts as he heard a voice not too far away.

It was another male, and a pack member. Thanatos knew there were a lot of males in Grizzly Hollow but he didn't expect to meet them this soon. Something seemed to be troubling the white male. Thanatos stepped closer and barked a small greeting. <b>"Rough day?"</b> He wagged his tail and smiled, trying his best to be friendly. He could feel his muscles trying to tense up out of reflex. He tried to stay relaxed, it didn't seem to be working too well.

<blockquote>He shook his head a wry smile crossing his face. He had stumbled across someone else who had been in a similar fit to the one he was throwing now and he hadn't been nearly so nice. The male seemed to tense, similarly to how Rhysis tensed around females. He guessed there was a story there but he was not the prying type.

<b>"Bit more than a week."</b> he muttered under his breath as he stopped attacking what was not going to give a fight back. He knew the caches were always in need of refilling. It seemed as if there were more people eating than those willing to refill them and he would happily sink his teeth into some poor creatures hide without hesitation. He took in the males relaxed stance and mirrored it with one of his own. <b>"Valiant."</b> he introduced himself with a smile. </blockquote>

<blockquote>The season of cold that had swept over the land had brought so much change to his life. Where only months before he had been a lost soul braving the world on his own, takng each day as they came and went with little concern for his wellbeing or that of anyone else's, the black and silver man now had <i>so much</i> to look forward to. A new family, a new role to fulfill, a place to be, <i>a place where he was needed to be</i>...In the beginning he'd had his doubts, truthfully; doubts that he could have anything to offer a pack in such need (as when he'd first met Grizzly Hollow there were only three souls, plus the kids), doubts that he'd even fit in if they did come around to accepting him, <i>doubts that Jaysyek wouldn't accept the loyalty and love he was willing to, and wanted to, give to her</i>...He was no leader, nor was he her mate, but he belonged to her until the end of time now.

As the once-broken man moved fluidly through the forest he now knew like the back of his paw, respectively, he thought of all those things and other things he hoped for. With the Hollow pack now solid in its numbers and spring just around the corner, there were <i>so many</i> things he hoped the turning seasons would bring to his family.

Snout to the ground, Kade took note of yet another new scent, strewn through the landscape along with several others that were unknown but he believed to belong. Lifting a leg, he was quick to mark over the novel smell, ensuring there would be no confusion concerning his place here.

With the songs of the black birds playing in the background, the male's triangle ears turned backward at the not-so-distant sound of voices out of view. Valiant's voice was clear - one he'd not forget, as it was burned in his memory alongside the images of his...wandering eyes. The other was not familiar, and the words it spoke were inaudiable from his position. Nevertheless, there was no hesitation in the steps he took as the brute moved closer to them both, and in no time they were in view. He called to his packmate and the newcomer, indicating to them his approach and position, eager to greet them both on a day nearly as beautiful as the light of Jaysyek's mis-matched eyes.</blockquote>

Thanatos smiled at the silver male. <b>"So what's the problem? If you don't mind me asking."</b> He was curious what had mad the male so furious but he also didn't want to push. Thanatos took a deep breath, all the tension leaving his body. So Valiant was this large brutes name. <b>"Thanatos."</b> He introduced himself as he smiled and wagged his tail a little. <b>"Perhaps we could go for a hunt? Or if you like, we can fight and you can use me to take out your anger. Something to get that anger out. Besides, if you took your anger out on me there isn't much more damage you could do."</b> Thanatos chuckled a little when he said the last bit. His body was already heavily scarred, a few more wouldn't bother him.

He heard someone announcing their presence as another black male heading their way. Thanatos didn't quite enjoy having another male around. He felt more and more uncomfortable the closer the other he-wolf got. He wanted to attack but he had told the beautiful Jaysyek that he was trying to change and that he wouldn't hurt any member of her pack. An image of her stunning eyes stuck in his mind as he attempted to control himself.

<blockquote>Valiant's tail wagged at the strangers suggestion of a hunt and outright laughed at his offer to be used as a beating bag. It was an unusual offer but not one he was willing to take the stranger up on. He looked like he could hold his own in a fight and the silvery male was still carrying aches from his run in with Borden. <b>"Women."</b> he said by way of explanation with a roll of his eyes.

His tail lowered and ears flicked back in respect at the approach of Kade. He was unsure if Kade was aware of Borden's plans to ascend the ranks to his former position but he didn't feel it was the time to mention it now while Thanatos was just beginning to settle in. <b>"A hunt sounds good. The caches can always use topping up at this time of year. Care to join us Kade?"</b> he questioned the other dark male. The more the merrier.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Tension within the male's body ran high as he neared the pair - Valiant, and a large, mangled figure. Cold eyes would quickly size the black male up, a curling of disgust to his lips. It was an awkward situation - something he'd become used to in recent days. Not only was Grizzly Hollow now <i>saturated</i> with unknowns, but he was well aware that Borden would be coming for him - or his <i>position</i>, rather - and was spreading a disease of distrust in order to divide the ranks. The position of leadership posed more threat to his wellbeing and safety than any of the wolves around him. Should he fear the man he knew was slowly but surely closing in around him? Because, frankly, he didn't. In reality, the only thing standing between the former alpha and the position he so...desperately strived to regain was a simple conversation.

However, such matters were expressly pushed away as his instincts screamed. Avoidant, to say the least, the newcomer made little effort to do much other than remain still. It was not past Kade that there was a definite air of aggression to his body language, and a smirk emerged on his emotionless face.

So that was that, then? From a single glance, the newcomer had, he supposed, passed judgment upon him. So be it.

Letting the annoyance roll off his back as a raindrop would, the male gladly issued his attention to Valiant's invitation, not before locking a hard gaze onto the buff man's company. <b>"Absolutely,"</b> he replied, without so much as batting an eye as he waited for some kind of response from the wolf who was trying so hard to keep his cool.

<b>"Is something the matter? You look as though I've...stepped on your tail..."</b> <i>I dare you.</i> </blockquote>

Valiant refered to the black man as Kade. He agreed to hunt with them but it seemed he wasn't very happy with Thanatos there. He noticed the look of disgust on the males lips. How rude. Thanatos turned his attention to Kade as he spoke. <b>"I apologize Kade. I am not yet accustomed to being around so many males. It makes me a bit uncomfortable because of my past. I can promise you both I'm not going to harm either one of you though. This just takes some getting used to."</b>

Thanatos looked between the two males. <b>"So are you two ready to hunt?"</b> He stepped back, letting Kade lead since he was higher ranked than Valiant and himself.

OOC: I hope you didn't mind if Silver dropped in.

Silver heard what sounded like voices, and the smell of Thanatos. Then, she noticed the other smells of Valiant and Kade. She wondered if she should intrude on there marrie making. Her delite in knowing that Thanatos was thee made it unconsebalble that she would not. She padded foward tell she could almost see them. The silver female stopped a little ways away watching them for a couple moments. She slinked her self towards them, not letting her feet hit the ground to hard. She wasn't hoping for a hunt yet they had said something about one.

<b>"I would like to join in this hunt, if you don't mind,"</b> she said politly her head hanging as to not make eye contact with any of them. She stood on Thanatos' right, but not close enough like her usaul self. She kept a good distance between them, her eyes only peaking up at the wolves before being pulled back down to look at the ground.

"If I had to chose between you and me, well it depends on my reason."
-Silver
Grizzly Hollow

<blockquote>He fought his hackles rising at the sound of a female voice. A familiar female voice. He had to play nice and while he was in no mood for female company for once in his life he would endure it for the sake of the hunt. More wolves meant bigger kills. In this he was grateful that Kade was the higher ranked of the gathered and he didn't feel obligated to respond, choosing rather to study the tops of his paws in detail. His fur was beginning to shed away in tufts towards the tops of his legs and while the shed would be quite unbecoming, he knew he would retain his comically fluffy appearance through the summer, there was just no changing some things.

He turned his nose to the wind, attempting to catch scent of any lingering prey. While his nose was not the sharpest, he had the strength to pull most larger prey down provided he had assistance in wearing it out. <b>"So whats on the menu?"</b> he questioned with a lazy grin towards Silver. <b>"From memory your nose was far sharper than mine..."</b></blockquote>