Magnolia Glen Battle Cry

@Albireo @Phineas - Rank Challenge for second/guardian? <3

Being under the command of a leader was one thing. Being under the command of a nobody was another and Rhysis simply didn't like it. Though he was not submerged in pack politics, that didn't mean he was happy to sit about not being the best he could be. So what options did that leave him? He could challenge Phineas for leadership - not an option. That wasn't to say he thought he might lose; on the contrary he was far too cocky to think that until it was obvious he was onto a losing streak - no. The problem was no other wolves were loyal to him and might easily just up and leave with Phineas; a pointless waste of his time and effort. So, that left him with his eyes on the target of being made second, submissive only to the leaders and that was something he could deal with.

With the skies overcast and hiding the morning sun, he made his way to the main clearing which seemed to be the local "hang out" for the pack. It would have been bright and early, had the sun been able to peek through the clouds, but he was geared up and ready to go. With a full belly and sealed wounds, he figured there was no time like the present to call forth the pack leader and the wolf who currently claimed the secondary spot. Tilting his head back, he allowed his deep tones to fill the air and called forth the pair and any who wished to witness him dominate; the guy was cocky. He hadn't even really seen who was in charge - maybe he'd be taking on a bear or maybe just a scrap. Either way, there was no point walking into battle with doubts about your skills. Rhysis was a fighter, that much had always been clear about his existence and it was his very best skill. He'd be surprised to find anyone in a fair fight would could take him down - or so his ego liked to boast. It appeared time would tell.

Once his call was finished, he lowered himself in the very centre of the area, tail coiled around his scar littered paws as he sat tall and proud; every inch the king he knew he was deep down. His tattered ears standing erect as he listened to the sounds of the animals who did not hibernate waking around him whilst his nose quivered in the fresh morning air, his breaths fell in mist as he exhaled calmly and composedly. He was charged, twitching with excitement from knowing he would have a good day today and the outcome would land in his favour.

(This post was last modified: Dec 11, 2013, 11:55 AM by Rhysis.)

Lifting his snout from the warm wrap of his tail, Albireo peered up at the sky and tuned his ears towards the sound that pierced the cold morning air. He didn't move at first, and temporarily considered letting the call go unanswered. They couldn't try to take his rank from him if they couldn't find him, right? But the bitter, greasy feeling of pride that permanently lived in his gut twisted at the thought of not smacking down whoever even thought they could challenge his status. Reluctantly he pulled himself up out of the warm, bowl shaped indentation in the snow he had scraped out for his sleeping place. With a stretch, he was off at a leisurely pace, not caring if his tardiness might irritate the challenger.

Stiff-legged and tail curled over the line of his spine, Albireo strutted into the clearing, stopping just at it's edge when he saw his dark furred packmate sitting plain as anything in the snow in its center. Al's dull brown eyes stared at into the steely blue pair which was just about level with him despite him standing and the other sitting. If Al had two braincells to rub together he might figure that once this wolf stood up, he would be big. And he might figure the big brute could stand much more than a bit of intimidation and likely more than a bit of muscle and a dash of cunning to take him down. Alas, such intricacies of battle were lost on Albireo, and he simply peeled back his black lips over his yellowed teeth and snarled.

Albireo
a tooth for an eye

One trash talk post each and then I'll ask for a staff roll. That alright? <3

His patience was growing thin, outwardly visible by the random flicking of his tail as he waited in silence. He wanted this over and done with so he could get on with the rest of his day. At first he heard no movement, saw no movement but eventually a scrap of a wolf appeared across the way; tiny in comparison to himself and as the guy pulled back his lips to flash his teeth, he felt himself chuckling deep within his belly. Oh please. Was he supposed to be intimidated? This was going to be a piece of cake.

"Hurry up. It would be nice to see you submit to me before the spring gets here." he called across to him. No hint of fear in his voice. If anything he was a little annoyed that he felt this would not be a challenge for him. It would have been good to flex his battle skills, to really go to town on tearing someone to shreds. He had a lot of pent up anger which needed an outlet. This would have been the perfect oppertunity - except this was a challenge for his rank, not for his life. Not quite as satisfying, but it would hopefully push back some of his angst if even for a little while.

Standing now. He prepared himself for the fight. He might have thought his win would come easily, but he knew to never under estimate your enemy. The trouble with having an enemy shorter then you, was your neck was more likely to be level to their mouth; such a vital area needed protecting to he pulled his head down and back to cover the area. Hackles raised along his neck and spine whilst his muscles bunched, ready to spring in case the other was silly enough to try a surprise attack. With his own lips pulled back, he revealled his stark white teeth and took a bold step forward as he clashed them together in an aggressive snap which was accompanied with his own ugly snarl.

Play time.

:x sorry for the wait!

Albireo's teeth clacked together, spittle flying as he growled louder, trying to drown out Rhysis' voice with a cacophony of his own sound. The tall, dark wolf had said something, but only the word "submit" made it to Al's ears and through his skull. That, he would not do. His soon-to-be opponent shifted, readying for a fight with growling and snapping and Al didn't even flinch. It was so pitiful, that this sorry wolf thought he could take Albireo's place. In response Albireo snarled back, "You'll be the one submitting today!"

Albireo squared his paws, legs spread out in a sturdy stance as he lowered his head to guard his neck and shoulders, brown eyes narrowed to slits. The posturing, the snarling, the musky scent of Rhysis right in front of him had his adrenaline flowing already, his once steady limbs starting to tremble as he could hardly wait to sink his teeth through that dark fur and into muscle. The tension in the air was thick, and someone would have to break it.

Albireo
a tooth for an eye

Blar blar. Trash talk was dull, though he wasn't exactly innocent of partaking in the sport. Though he didn't think he'd ever be as moronic of the villains in the stories he had been told of as a boy. You know the ones - where they capture the good guy but before they kill him they divulge their evil plan, gloat and inevitably the good guy escapes during said speech and kills the bad guy. No; he'd never be that silly.

The current second took his stance. He weighed up his options whilst in his current stance. His greatest advantage here was his height and weight. The other guy was a weed. There was no doubt about it. Being smaller would make him faster but... Rhysis wasn't worried. In fact, he was almost certain this fight would be over before it even started. The guy might talk smack, but was his rank worth his life? Rhysis had no qualms in ending it if it meant he got what he wanted.

Without further hesitation, he charged. He wasn't going for skill here. Instead he tore at the ground, kicking up the snow in his wake as he charged full strength towards the other. He didn't bother to even open his jaws - he wasn't going to bite here. Instead, he kept his head low and charged, aiming to thrust his shoulder and the entire weight of him behind it right into the other guys head. In a flash he had closed the distance, braced himself for contact and ...

Albireo had been ready for the strike- or rather, he had thought that he had been ready. One would like to think that time had slowed down, that Albireo could see the ebony beast in front of him coil, then lunge, to steadily fill his vision with a wall of black fur as a sharp pain bloomed across his snout and forced his head roughly back with a snap. But really, it all happened too fast for Albireo to even think about what to do. All too quickly his paws lost contact with the ground, bony limbs flailing as Rhysis' brute force shoved him over. For a fleeting moment Albireo was spinning as he toppled over backwards. The snow did little to cushion his fall, and Albireo found the wind knocked right out of him.

His eyes watered, his skull pounded, and a metallic taste appeared in his mouth as blood dribbled out of his bruised nose. He tried to get up but couldn't quite find the breath to do so, and even if he could the world spun with a disturbing cant that left Rhysis' looming shape the only perceptible object. Having few options left, with none affording for any sort of counter attack, Albireo did what he could: Grovel. Already on his back, he curled his tail up along his belly and folded his ears. His lips pulled taught right to the corners of his mouth, all teeth showing in a submissive grin with his tongue poking out the end. Like Phineas, Rhysis had earned Albireo's respect through might.

Albireo
a tooth for an eye

(This post was last modified: Dec 31, 2013, 07:46 AM by Albireo.)

Did you want to do one more each after this round so we can get thread points?

His shoulder screamed in protest as his entire weight crashed against it. The momentum took him stumbling a few steps forward but not nearly as far or in such a dramatic fashion as the other. Without a moment to waste he strode forwards where he examined the former second submitting from his heap upon the floor. Yes. It had been far too easy. Just as he had predicted.

He moved until he was but a few feet away and with narrowed eyes took the show of submission with a grunt. Why Phineas had chosen to rank Alberio over him was beyond him, in his mind he should have been put right to the top of the pack, not have to battle for the title like any other commoner might, but at least he had managed to sort out the staffing issues by himself and his ego was at peace for the time being - he need only submit to the alpha now and that was just how he wanted it. With a wrinkle of his nose, he lowered his head and snapped at the others peeping tongue. Not to bite, but to enforce his dominance as his ego demanded. It was not enough for him simply to have won - he needed to make a song and dance about it. Though he was no longer an alpha male, he still craved power and dominance so the feeling, though taken with ease in his mind, was one he would savour for a while.

Taking a few paces back, he allowed the other room to get up from the floor. In silence he waited to see whether he would scamper away or stay to introduce himself to his new superior. Either way, he had plenty of time to kill these days and it was of no concearn to him whether they hung around to chat or simply went about their business. "Caleb." he said, using his false name to ensure all ties to his past were not known. Having given the other space and his name, he left the ball in his court to make the next move.

(This post was last modified: Jan 02, 2014, 04:10 PM by Rhysis.)

Albireo waited with a surprising amount of patience for the wolf to back off, tolerating the snap and snarl that reinforced his new lowly position. As soon as he was given enough room to, he rolled up to a stand and gave his pallid pelt a shake to dislodge the snow that had embedded itself along the black tipped fur of his back. His tail was no longer a proud banner but instead a limp flag that curved towards his ankles. The sharp edge of adrenaline had faded, and the accompanying feeling of fury that had spurred him into the short lived fight melted into a smoldering irritation at his new superior. Still, with a bruised backside Al was in no mood to start a fight anew, but wasn't much in the mood for trading pleasantries, either. Not that there ever was a mood where Albireo was much up for chatting.

He let a silence stretch out between them as 'Caleb' gave his name, Al staring pointedly at anywhere but the larger wolf. Something in the distance seemed to catch his attention and he shifted, looking as if he might simply turn and walk away without another word, before he suddenly stopped. He glanced back towards Caleb, an expression on his face as if he had suddenly remembered something forgotten. "Albireo," he suddenly barked. He stood still, single forepaw awkwardly raised in an uncompleted half step and held there indefinitely as his muddy dark eyes stared at the other male.

Albireo

One more from you and we can wrap this up at last. <3
Short and sweet!

He nodded in response, tucking the name away for future reference. It seemed that Alberio wasn't a fan of small talk, and that was perfectly fine with him. Having caught his attention was he went to move away, Rhysis nodded in response and took a few paces backwards. "Well then Alberio, until next time." he said before he turned upon the spot and moved to leave the way he had come. Happy with his new position, he allowed himself the briefest of smirks as he vanished into the darkness of the forest.

Albireo set his hanging forepaw back down once Rhysis backed off a couple paces. He watched as the dark hide of his new superior disappeared into the forest, waiting until even the crunch of Rhysis' footfalls was silenced by the distance between them. Albireo finally released a shuddering sigh, ebony tipped shoulders rolling to release the knots of tension and soothe the stinging bruise that had formed there. He'd lost his rank and the status along with it, but if the opportunity ever presented itself he would be sure to try to take it back. For now, though, he was in no shape to be chasing after the big brute.

Albireo was left tired and hungry following the short burst of activity, and with no food to be had he settled for fulfilling the former. Not bothering to seek out his prior resting place and finding himself quite isolated now, Albireo curled up into the snow. Quickly the Cygni fell asleep, paws twitching as he dreamed.