Ghastly Woods decerno

death claims all things. it is law, not punishment, to die
OMNIA MORS POSCIT. LEX EST, NON PŒNA, PERIRE
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Mapplethorpe

January 2nd; Late afternoon; Overcast; 9° F/-13° C.

Snow, frost, and ice everywhere but not even a track in sight. Though, Mapplethorpe was quite a reservoir for knowledge, once all his options and tactics in tracking and hunting were exhausted, then the rogue was truly lost... vulnerable to the hunger pangs and every other possible distraction - devices which almost successfully derailed his mind and rendered him blind and stupid. It was nothing short of frustrating. For the past six hours, faint trails caught his interest here and there but the overnight snowstorm did a superb job in covering up any visible trace of the comings and goings of deer, rabbits, and foxes. Bit by bit his feral instincts were returning, driving him to survive. To hunt, to seek, to use his nose and. Stop. Thinking.

His stomach gave an audible gurgle and he paused briefly to mentally scold it. It protested as he forged onward through the frostbitten vines, slowly but steadily navigating his way between the spindly, crooked trees that made up the Ghastly Woods. He thought about stopping to rest, or stand still for a couple of minutes to recoup, but the sudden movement of something dashing by out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. One sniff was all it took -

Sense. React.

All at once the hunter within him rose up. Tunnel vision zeroed in on his target's supposed path. His paws drove him after the fresh trail in long strides. His tail lashed out behind him, holding steady to make his spine and tail bones one long horizontal line. It seemed to happen in an instant, snow flew in all directions, blotches of red stained the forest floor, and Mapplethorpe was sprawled out on the uneven ground with his tail sweeping happily over the ground behind him.

The sinew on the hapless old hare were meager pickings. Even its bones seemed tasteless in comparison to the mice he had had a few days ago. His belly sounded out in satisfaction as he attempted to make a secondary feast out of one of the hare's velveteen ears. Absentmindedly, his body corrected itself, pulling his hind limbs in and straightening his forepaws. If today had the possibility of engaging him in another encounter like his most recent meetings, he would be ready to at least guard his meal instead of surrendering it to the nosy, curious or, goodness forbid, hungry.

It was all a blur. The terrain around him had melted throughout the day as the dark shadow of a male consumed the terrain. The mountains, he knew he would find her at the mountains. His entire body had given up screaming at him to stop- normally a wolf to run on instinct, he decided to turn them all off and focus on the only thing that mattered in his life; Naira. His meeting with Valiant had set him on the straight and narrow. A path he should of discovered long ago, but he had forgotten his way. Whether it had been by choice or selective, he had not found himself until yesterday, when his fluffy friend had taken yet another beating in his aid. The run had been bliss, not only exercising his muscles but his mind too as everything came flooding back to him. All that he was, all that he had done and all he ever would be had been churning around in his mind as he rain through much of the night, much of the day as well. He had not yet rested and most likely would not until he found her.

The forests had changed gradually, not by the flowers and scents for it was winter and the snow fell to cover all traces of greenery, but in the shape, smell and lay of the trees, the land and even the weather changed the closer he got to the mountains. Of course, he had no idea where the hell to really start looking, but the pull of his home, well what used to be his home for it had changed my according to Valiant, was strong enough beacon him back. The only trouble had been he was on the other side of the lands. Typical. Not only was his journey long, but it was dangerous too. He had many wolves after his head, two entire packs for he did not yet know that the Creek wolves had vanished, individuals here and there who he might have taught a lesson at some point alongside the natural dangers like bears and the like. Fortunately he had yet to run into one.

Despite the black mark upon his person, he ran without care of how much noise he made, scents he left. He couldn't care less about anything else except for finding his Naira... that was until a stranger's scent caught his nose and an essence of his female lay buried beneath the surface. It was a long shot, but whoever carried that scent must have at least bumped into her, perhaps very recently. Though he knew the mountains were the way to go, it couldn't hurt to find out if the stranger knew of a more specific location to hunt. Without further thought, he took off in chase of the male scent and for once, hoped that he'd find someone useful and friendly.

What he found was a male, the smell of a recent meal upon him laying upon the floor. He made his presence known, a bark emitting from his jaws so as not to scare the other. He needed to approach here on friendly terms for he did not have the strength to fight, to dominate as he might have done... running for hours on end worked wonders at zapping your strength after all and even he knew he must have looked tired as he slowed to a halt a good distance from the other, his legs feeling a little wobbly, adrenaline that died out some time ago making him sway slightly, alongside light headedness at having nothing to drink or eat for a day or so now. He prayed this meeting would go in his favour...

"You there. You smell of my female." he said in his southern drawl as he spoke up towards the other, ensuring there was more than enough space to not touch his personal bubble. "Do you know where I can find her?" he asked. It was a long shot, but any clue would be helpful to him at this moment in time.

death claims all things. it is law, not punishment, to die
OMNIA MORS POSCIT. LEX EST, NON PŒNA, PERIRE
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Mapplethorpe

A pleased growled vibrated through his being as he made quick work of stomaching most of the leporid's innards. He was about to slurp up what little morsels of muscle remained when a bark caused him to snatch up what was left of the hare, a still-intact spine and skull that had an ear and a majority of its pelt attached. Loose bits of fur fell from the corpse and Mapplethorpe, standing alertly on his thin limbs with his jaws clenched tightly into his catch, turned to lock eyes with a dark-coated man. Judging by how he held himself as he slowly approached, he had wanted something. Centimeter by centimeter, the rogue's body edged and leaned backward, panting as he opted to flee.

The tawny man watched as the stranger came to a stop. Maybe he didn't need to run; but, then again, maybe the rascal of a man meant to talk Mapplethorpe into giving up his meal. His lips drew up just enough to wrinkle the fur and skin on his snout to express his disgust. If it weren't for his choice of words, particularly the pointed "You there," he probably would have made a run for it. His ears swiveled forward immediately in interest in a wordless reply of "You have my attention, so... What?"

The statement that directly followed the hook made him cant his head to one side. His female. Slowly, he placed the broken hare on the ground and his tail twitched in fascination. A cunning smile crept up along his masked features and he flicked his tongue out to graze it over his bloodstained lips. "Which one was she?" he asked, his tone low but riddled with the sudden and apparent desire to wrack his newfound companion's brains. "The one with six allies or the one who thought I needed help?"

He guarded his kill with the utmost caution. He thought it was a good quality, not to be too trusting of strangers, but he didn't have the time to sit and compliment the chap, he had somewhere to be and he didn't have many hours of sunlight left. He would attempt the mountains if he made it there when darkness fell, but there was no guarantee that it would be safe enough to climb with little light. He had to get moving, but he had no doubt that they might meet again.

The answer he gave wasn't quite satisfactory. He didn't know what she had been doing, both options sounded viable. Valiant had mentioned storming his pack, but it was also in her nature to help everyone... It meant he had to waste more time wasting, but he supposed he should he grateful the guy was attentive to the details- he didn't want to go tearing after the wrong female after all, however he could have just given him the names of the two females he had fresh upon his skin and in his mind. Time was of the essence. "Her name is Naira. Naira Aq-" he paused for a moment, his expression fading slightly. Would she still be using his name? Maybe she had changed it to her own... shit. That was a numbing feeling.

He would have described her, but he felt it was just too painful to think of her face. Her warm golden eyes, her light delicate laugh... the seductive tones she spoke only to him. A shudder ran across his body- how he had forgotten her would haunt him forever. If he closed his eyes he would picture her without any trouble, from the markings of her coat, to the texture of her fur. He would never forget her again... even if she wanted him to.

"Please. I must find her." he added, the sound of defeat in his voice. A look of hopelessness, perhaps even loss upon his face. Something his enemies would no doubt laugh at, but the desperation in his heart would not be silenced. He needed her. Now.

death claims all things. it is law, not punishment, to die
OMNIA MORS POSCIT. LEX EST, NON PŒNA, PERIRE
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Mapplethorpe

"Her name is Naira. Naira Aq-" the stranger's words abruptly cutting out, made Mapplethorpe's brows lift. His short list of Relic Lore acquaintances crossed off Damayanti's name, revealing only one thing: the imminent Queen's name was Naira. Naira A. He allowed the man a moment to string his words together, to think and define just how desperate he wanted answers. "Please. I must find her." A toothy smile broadened along his muzzle.

A silent snicker made his frame tremble with delight. Naira Regina had a counterpart... and a wretched one at that. "Really?" he questioned once he composed himself again. "And why must I do that, My Lord? Have you fallen so far from your throne, so quickly yet too late, as to lose her? Pitiful!" He chuckled again, the airy sound seeming ghostly against the frigid winter air. With utmost caution, he drew close to the tall monarch's right ear, his nose just inches from the black triangle's base.

"She came to meeeee," he whispered, a manic grin still on his lips. "She... wants me." He tilted his head upward in attempt to just touch the man's ear before swiftly drawing away, bracing himself should the air of desperation give way for anger and annoyance.

(This post was last modified: Jan 02, 2013, 11:22 PM by Mapplethorpe.)

He laughed. The guy actually laughed. Yeah fine, he felt like a complete tool as it was pleading for information, but he would gouge out his own eyes if it meant she would be happy- begging was not beneath him when it came to her. What wasn't beneath him however, was eating faces. Tearing flesh from bone, breaking ankles so victims could not get away so easily; it had all been the day to day running of his upbringing and if begging didn't work, well one could always get the information another way. He didn't want to take it that far though, it would be time consuming and he felt as if time were running out. That it made a difference whether he saw her today, tomorrow or the day after. Of course, it did not matter. She was off doing her own thing and left him behind, but it mattered to him.

He remained still, impassive as the other crept forward. The way he spoke, his laugh... everything about his reminded him of a snake. A creepy, ugly-ass snake as he slithered on over. He felt his lip curl of it's own accord as he breached into his personal space, but he held his ground; yet could not disguise his hackles as they began to stiffen along his neck. When they were so close to touching, the other breathed the words to his forward tilted ears and he listened. He listened carefully to word he did not wish to hear. Perhaps it was the shock of the conviction that kept him from ripping out the males tongue, allowing him time to saunter off before he had the chance to react. Perhaps it was the sound of his heart shattering into a billion pieces that deafened him for a moment, but it was the bitter sting of the cold that hit him that brought him out of his thoughts, thoughts he did not wish to see, hear or believe as he narrowed he gaze back on the other. He would not play this game now... He could not, else he might fall to pieces on this very spot. Ignore it. Ignore it. he mind chanted, over and over again as he pulled himself together.

"You will tell me what you know of her." he said, composing his voice like velvet as he took a very deliberate step forward towards the other. Pulling himself up to be the king he was inside and out, every inch royalty, dominance the works and stood afore the scrap of a wolf, he would use his dominance to his advantage... hopefully. His paws took him forward, purposeful steps as he closed the gap between them. He would chase him to the ends of the earth if it came to it. Her scent was upon him, more recent than he had first thought now they had been so close. He the answers he wanted and Rhysis always got what he wanted. "Tell me what I wish to know, and I will not only spare your life, but feed you until you can no longer walk." he drawled. Perhaps an unusual offer, but looking at the size of the other, a meal would perhaps be the way to his heart... or whatever it was that beat inside him.

He hoped he would not decline the offer.... he would so hate to have to take a day out of travelling to hang him from a tree by his entrails.

death claims all things. it is law, not punishment, to die
OMNIA MORS POSCIT. LEX EST, NON PŒNA, PERIRE
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Mapplethorpe

The cogs began turning and Mapplethorpe's head swelled with delight.Had he succeeded with deluding the young man? The tickled grin met his goldenrod eyes, tense with anticipation. "You will tell me what you know of her," the sovereign instructed. The command did nothing but spur Mapplethorpe to chortle again. The dark king came forward but the rogue did not yield until the invisible fence that kept Mapplethorpe distanced from him was encroached on. Apparently not.

Like a puppet whose strings were cut, his slender body folded and his ears slicked back. The game was over, at least for now. A crazed laugh slipped from his throat as he awaited some form of punishment for lying or withholding such valuable information. Instead, a bribe was issued and instantaneously the masked brute's ears lifted and he briefly looked up to catch the slightest glimpse of the expression on the leader's face. The sentence echoed and reformed in his head, the words - feed you until you can no longer walk - ensnaring his attention. His stomach lurched.

"Yes," he offered, withdrawing his gaze with a rather tame smile. Hunger, his senses moaned as he could feel the rabbit churning in his gut. Food... Protection! Order... Order... A firecracker went off in his head. The linking of Naira and her handful of followers with this man could only point to the building of an empire. An empire rich in resources; a kingdom to thrive in, to relish and... rob. "Yes," he repeated again, looking up into the pair of steely irises. As much as he loathed the idea of serving and answering to superiors, he could not turn away the offer of food. For now the promise held him to the man, a deal of bestowed riches struck and accepted. With the stakes so great, Mapplethorpe had no choice but to reluctantly spare this king of any terrible mayhem he longed to commit - for now. Once he had acquired every and any means he strived for, then all standing decisions were to be called off. Never mind that his life had just been spared a few seconds ago... Everyone dies eventually.

"I met her in the thickets to the west, but she... she pointed to the Mountain."

(This post was last modified: Jan 03, 2013, 12:14 AM by Mapplethorpe.)

It was a long way from home that the dark wolf slunk today, little light filtering through the trees to accent the brown in his coat, nor to make his fiery eyes blaze. The maddened intensity with which the young male had sped by had piqued his interest. What is this? he had thought before following at some distance. Unlike Slimtail, this wolf still had his wits about him and would not go crashing into the middle of a meeting when he only needed to hear, not see, and so when voices began to murmur in the distance he inched forward, using the gnarled trees for cover while the conversation ensued. Six allies. The mountain... Slimtail’s news crashed back to him about the female who spoke of pack. Now he had his numbers and the location, his calculating mind ticked over. The pack with two queens it would seem, would soon have one... or perhaps they were splitting apart? Either way, another pack on the mountain did not bode well for his plans. Or would it? His lips pulled back from his teeth in a silent snarl. Something would need to be done about this. Something. Soon. Slimtail was not getting any better, the further they fled from their home, and he couldn’t help but feel he should return to his home to consult with the Great Spirit... although it was looking like he was running short on time. Gathering as much information as he needed now, he could only assume it was the mother that was going to such extremes, he withdrew to ponder his options. If she took the golden one with her, he would need to find them again... Perhaps it was a good thing he had sent Slimtail to tail her. At a distance of course.

{exit}

(This post was last modified: Jan 03, 2013, 12:31 AM by Slyscar.)

Permission to PP from Grey. <3

He did not drop his guard, nor his display of dominance, even as the other coward to the floor. He had a feeling he was all bark not bite but the words stung him. Naira came to him. She wanted him. He wasn't going to coax what he had meant by that statement. He would ask Naira just what her intentions had been. However, he couldn't let the comment go. He had to let the male know that he wasn't one to be toyed with and whilst his offer of food seemed to have gotten some information, he could not know how true that might have been. He would like to take this wolf with him to the mountains; if he turned out to be lying and Naira was not there, he would happily throw him from the top.

His eyes narrowed as he took his time to collect himself. He had been about to speak when a scent caught his attention. It was faint and not one he had ever tasted with his nose before. He could not yet take his eyes from the male, the art of surprise was perhaps all the other wolf might of had and he would not give him the opportunity. "Then we are going to the mountains." he said simply as if he had no problem deciding what this complete stranger would be doing with the rest of his day. Just to make the point however, he suddenly lurched forwards and snatched the colourful males muzzle within his jaws. With a push of his weight, he forced his nose to the floor, chin to the dirt and gave perhaps a little too much pressure. The look in his eyes was strong, focused, a look that clearly read 'No trouble or else. that he believed only a true fool would ignore.

Sure his point was made, he released the muzzle and allowed his coral tongue to slide across his lips to wipe the taste of the others fur and skin from his teeth and mouth. He'd been about to say something more but a tingling ran across his spine. He felt as if he were being watched and stepped backwards from the other wolf, clearing enough distance to react if he were to charge. If he ran that was his problem, he wouldn't hunt him down to keep his promise but if he stayed he might. Rhysis might not be a liar, but he certainly found it hard to keep promises- were he better, he and Naira might never have been seperated in the first place. Only time would tell.

He scanned the area around them but found nothing. The faint scent had come and gone upon the wind and his keen gaze spotted nothing. Whatever it was had gone... if it was even there in the first place. His mind hadn't exactly been the most reliable source over the last few months, it was bound to have hiccups even with his memory returning.
He glanced back to the other and quirked a brow. Unsure if he would follow or not- he waited to see just how it was going to go.

death claims all things. it is law, not punishment, to die
OMNIA MORS POSCIT. LEX EST, NON PŒNA, PERIRE
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Mapplethorpe

The sniggers and simpering ceased but the smirk remained, even after his new lead grasped his muzzle. His eyes closed as he felt the teeth clasp around his maw, and as the coal-coated male withdrew, Mapplethorpe allowed his eyes to study his superior's face. His concentration was broken, however, when the hint of another's cologne came and went. He followed the man's gaze and when it seemed he didn't spot anything, he gave a scoff. The pain radiating from his chin and the bridge of his nose started to sting.

As the leader returned his eyes to him, Mapplethorpe watched the inky brow lift up. "We're..." he started, processing the sentence that had just been uttered. "We're going to the mountains?" A crazed laugh fluttered partially from his throat as if the action had been merely been an involuntary tic, "What makes you so sure that we'll be able to find her?"