Nightingale Palisade Bittersweet Beginnings

Cornelia She couldn't understand it. Weeks had passed by but her mind was confused, her heart would still beat somehow. After it had broken from the loss of her family and now the betrayal of the place she saw as home, Cornelia couldn't understand how she was still walking straight. No, that was a lie. She knew damn right why she was breathing, living and eyes smoldering in anger. Even with the scents of her old pack gone, with no familiar landmarks near her for several miles, she still could feel the itch on her bones. The urge to bite and rip everything apart. How did they dare to betray her in such fashion?! She had been the best Guard after Grion, she was their unofficial princess but most of all, she had never done a thing against them. She had thrown herself on her back, took the punishment of her damned Queen without a word of defiance. She had admired every ground the Queen had stepped on, loved the woman more than her mother. From a angel, a goddess she had become nothing more than the dirt on her paws. The insect she trampled in her walk. A small wry smile played on the black lips of the Timber woman. Although the blood of her silly King had been long gone from her tongue, she swore she could still taste the metal sweetness of his blood. He had been her first kill, who had known killing could have feel.. so good. Justified. As if the world was finally right again. The sandy woman sighed as she looked up to the dark night sky. The path of the ravine was steep and the river nearby roared to the passerby's. Cornelia had seen the wild water streaming down like a wild beast. Any animal caught into that would be screwed, so she had taken cautious steps in her travel through the ravine. She had killed a King, she was not going to die from water, she simply refused it. Cornelia grunted as she stared some more around the dark greens. Where was she? It felt like she was about to enter a new place. Unknown, unfamiliar but maybe this what she needed. A new start, again. However painful, she had no other choice. The anger and hatred was a monster roaring in her belly, but she knew herself. She was no venomous woman. It was not her way of life. If she didn't want to rot from her dark feelings she had to find a new home, a new place to belong. At least that was what she hoped she could do. "Speech." Maybe I walked this long way by myself

The king was on another of his walks. Taking himself far from home, he found himself indulging his thoughts completely while his paws were allowed to roam unhindered. Still, it was always the same venture East, and perhaps that was why the blue black leviathan felt at ease allowing his guard to crumble so. Unconsciously, he knew by heart the route this solitary venture would take him.

Over his predecessor's grave without hesitation much less ceremony, his heavy paws bullied the earth in steady rhythm. Down through the tracks, unfettered by the slick and jagged precipices which amounted to the only way down, he reached the bottom of the gully without pulling once from his thoughts to light those blue eyes with actual observation. The world around him was lost to him, it was unsolicited memory alone that had gotten him this far without a single misstep.

When his claws gripped the silt of the river's bed, and his wide tongue curled around the frigid mountain water, he finally stole a moment long enough to become aware. The magnate witnessed birds flying overhead, large geese whose myriad of honks and blares echoed throughout the palisades. A waterborne marmot's small, judging black eyes monitored him as the animal paddled by, hurried by the swift current. And across the way, a much easier to traverse slope of thick dark foliage harbored the moving body of another wolf.

The kaiser froze in place, the final quarter inch of his tongue poised just outside of his muzzle, a drop of crystalline water still quivering over the ledge of its salmon tip. Pulled now completely from his thoughts, the cacophonous birds far gone and the rushing waters the only other stimulant to nag his senses, he watched her to see what she would make herself be.

There is a rabbit\'s nest nearby. +1 Health

Cornelia What would she do, where would she go. Cornelia never had to plan anything of that stuff. Her first time alone she was why too busy trying not to die. But with a previous hunt she actually felt content to daydream about her future now that she was a loner once again. If she was very honest with herself the knowledge she had about the outside world was limited. She was no adventurer, she didn’t dream about exploring land after lands crossing mountains and plains. Life in her family had been great, the structure to hang onto and the satisfaction and warmth that came from her family had been enough for the young Cornelia. Did that change? She had spent two years devoting her life to a pack who hadn’t appreciated her but now she had no reason to live. She didn’t life for someone, anymore and she had no role or pack to guide her way. It was a grim thought but right now she was alone on the world. A young rabbit darted near the water, attracting the attention away from her lost thoughts. Instantly  she froze in her steps, her eyes following the young thing that was just a few tails away. No, she didn’t need more food. She had hunted yesterday, she could do without for a bit. There was no use to catch and hide it if she would be on the move for a longer time span. You’re lucky little meat on bones, she thought with a grunt. Cornelia wanted to move on when there was a black spot in her peripheral vision. It was too dark for a shadow, her mind told her oh so helpful. The hackles in her fur rose as her dark brown eyes sparked. A black wolf was on the other side of the river, a bit further but nothing that couldn’t be crossed with a few strides. Black as night, handsome features. King. He looked like the King who had spilled blood on the earth. A low growl rumbled from her throat before she could keep it. This was ridiculous. Her King had died between her jaws. She had drunk is blood and dropped his soulless body before the damned Queen. This male could not be him. Yet the Timber woman could not help to feel the monster in her body crawl under her skin, whispering in her ear. The woman snorted as she kept her head and tail high, although she covered her teeth back behind her black lips. She coldly looked at the black stranger, expecting anything and nothing from him. "Speech." Maybe I walked this long way by myself

His posturing had thus far been neutral. While the man had no qualms about extending his airs of dominance outside of his own domain, there hadn't been a true need to do so. He genuinely hadn't been anticipating company, and upon witnessing her presence he found no need to puff out his chest and throw around his intimidating weight. If she were to prove herself a threat, she had quite a bit of ground and water to cover before she'd even be close to striking distance, and that was if he stayed perfectly still through it all.

All this changed when her lips drew back and a violent sound escaped her chords and managed to reach him overtop the swift current. Immediately his blue black ears pressed forward, quivering at attention to catch anything more she wanted to grumble or bark his way. Glacial eyes took note of her posture, her size, exactly how confident she seemed to be with the muscles coiled round her bones. Analyzing her in completeness. Was this a proactive aggression? Was she merely being defensive, a wolf with no reason to trust the sun itself to rise each morning, or simply a bitch who would start any interaction with backlash? He wanted to find out, for today, the leviathan was in a mood.

Rising to his full height, he began his stubborn advance forward. His paws naturally sought the shallower footholds in the riverbed, making stepping stones of the quarry chunks placed by erosion of the palisades, while his arctic gaze never wavered from the woman across the way. It was slow but steady going; if she wanted to run before he reached the opposing shore, she might be able to escape him completely. If she were to turn from him, a deep and resounding bark would chase after her. Gent didn't care what nature she possessed, he wanted to confront it.

Unf gotta love @Gent

Cornelia Was it a mistake? The black male’s ears moved towards her, like pointing at a target as she felt his gaze fall upon her. As it was second nature the woman puffed our her chest, squared her shoulders as she showed that, no she was no little girl. The man might have natural size in advantage but she was not a sweet girl that existed to make cubs and play mother. She had teeth, claws and muscles earned by sweat and blood. It might have been an mistake to growl at him like that, for no reason. It was not his fault he looked like that bloody mug. However, the gaze that slowly went over her. Like he saw every hair in her fur and every scar that was engraved in her body, she felt a thrill. There was something on this male. He was not the average rogue that had passed by. She was used to eyes like that, but not from simple subordinates from her old pack. No it were the higher ranked that had that shine in their eyes as they estimated your worth. Was this guy some kind of royalty, maybe important within these lands? Cornelia had no clue, probably would never know until this was over. Whatever she had provoked it was coming at her. Steady walking like a mad man through the river. The river that growled and howled as it went down. She was no idiot, that current wasn’t a small stream. In order to keep steady, to not fall, you needed strong legs. He was not weak, hadn’t looked the part, and now his unwavering gaze locked onto her own dark orbs as he walked to her side. Was he going to attack her? What was his aim, his goal for crossing the river to her side? Her mind ran like crazy but her exterior simply stared right back into the blue hue that reminded her of the snowy days from back then. Her body tensed with each step he came closer to her, her eyes observing the way his shoulders moved under the black fur. How the water smoothened it down to show more muscle compared to the furry manes. She could die within seconds, fight for her life, or run for it. She could do a lot of things right now but her paws did not move an inch. Not because she was too afraid to move, she was not frozen and taken by fear. No, not at all. The timber woman looked at the man and followed him until he would move to her side and bring himself back to dry land. She was not going to back away but she wasn’t going to make it worse either. Her lips thinned out in a small line. She was ready for a fight, ready for a talk and ready to flee if that would save her life. May it cost her pride, she would live another day to heal another broken part. "Speech." Maybe I walked this long way by myself

No more aggression leaked from her being, but all the same she shifted, exuding confidence and bracing herself for his coming. He observed it all, every minute movement no matter how small, as he pressed forward. There was something about this particular choice of hers, this opted stillness in the face of an impending storm. Surely, she could not know that he did not desire violence. From a beast such as himself, so dark in features and so frigid in gaze, there had to be suspicions of ill intent. Unless, of course, the woman was stupid. Gent doubted this greatly.

Reaching the opposing side, the bank jutted up sharply, and he heaved his mass from the water's grasp. It poured from him in sheets, and continued to drain in thick rivulets as he continued his journey onto dry land. The stones of the shore shifted silently under his paws, the stoicness of his advance never once sacrificed. The blue black leviathan remained completely unreadable and utterly daunting as he continued forth, not a single clue of intent available for the woman to react upon. That was what he was seeking. At what point would she make her decision, and what exactly would that choice be? Would she ultimately run, or would proximity urge her to fight? Perhaps she would mirror him, keeping absolutely still until the very last moment.

The distance between them closed at a tense but steady pace, the mammoth boring down upon this unknown creature, unabashed no matter how close he drew. If she allowed it, he would stop with nothing but an inch between them nose to nose, and wait.

Cornelia The man lifted himself up on the dry land. Water collapsed from his figure when he left the river, wetting the ground where he stood. Those light eyes didn’t falter once from hers, any other would feel unnerved by the steel gaze of the man. Cornelia had to admit she hadn’t thought of this kind of reaction to be the effect of her growl. It were moments like these, when she stared right back into his eyes, that she didn’t think one could see the soul through the other’s eyes. Because this male had bright eyes but behind that hue there was something endlessly deep. She felt like she fell into an endless lake while falling against hard ice. She wanted to know what the man was thinking, in order to react, prepare a counteraction. But those eyes wouldn’t reveal a thing, not even the slightest hint could be found out of those eyes. And so he kept creeping closer. The timber woman inhaled as she could see herself mirrored into the blacks of his pupils. What would she do? Attack, run or stay frozen.  None of the choices seemed to weight heavier than the other. None of them was worse or better and it made deciding so much harder. Somewhere she was intrigued by this black stranger. The comparison with her old King completely vanished from her mind. He was so different, now the male was so close to her. Her old King would have attacked her the moment he had lifted himself from the river or ran away if he had stayed on the other side. In order to get back at her through his snake like ways. This male was right in her face, intentions hidden and walked up to her like a mad man. And for the first time she broke her stoic mask by curving her corner of her black lips into a small smirk. He was crazy mad, but if he was a mad man she was a mad woman. She could attack and one could see it as brave, as stupid and foolish. She could flee and be declared as a coward or smart. But she was none of all that, she was Cornelia. The timber woman stayed strong in her stance, her gaze locked but anticipating every second. Aware of her own pumping heart and every breath she took, while observing how the males black chest rose and fell on his own rhythm. How far was he willing to go, how far would she let him approach? Before she even had an answer they stood nose to nose. His breath was warm on her muzzle, his scent in every inhale she took. It was overwhelming but the woman stubbornly ignored her instincts to move back. There were so many wolf scents in his fur, his own husky scent being the most dominant. For a tense few seconds she let the sensations roll over her, experience them, get used to them as far as that was possible. The staring, the silence and the tense feeling seemed everlasting. A soft snicker rumbled from her stomach up to her muzzle. ‘You’re quite something, Mister.’ She said in a whisper but with the same smirk gracing her lips.   "Speech." Maybe I walked this long way by myself

gent is odd duckling
sorry this took so long

With each paw fall closer the behemoth drew, he became more and more interested in the woman that stood so indomitably before him. His mind churned to anticipate what was occurring within her own, knowing that instinct had to be screaming for her to choose between fight or flight. And yet she did not move a muscle, raising neither aggressions nor defenses in the face of his impending proximity. It wasn't until the final moments that something changed, her stoic features giving way to a crooked smile.

Gent's own features did not change, not even as they stood claw-to-claw breathing each other's exhaust. Not even when she spoke, and certainly no response was issued from his lungs. Instead, he focused on her being, on the rise and fall of her chest which he could nearly feel, on the sound of her heart raging against her ribs. Perhaps it was all in his head, or perhaps he truly could read her body so intuitively. None of it matter, for he still didn't know; why wasn't she acting upon her primal motivations?

For a brief second, his own lips curved into the smallest of smiles, before flatlining once again. The king walked forward, angling himself only slightly to pass the woman by. This time, he did not shy away from contact, fully pressing the length of his side against her own as he moved, testing what she would do in reaction. If allowed to travel the full length of her body, once flank to flank he would suddenly shift his weight to shove the woman before bounding a few steps away from her. If she were to draw away before this, he would turn around and chuckle, victory clear upon his features.

Cornelia What was he doing, what did he want and what the heck. Utterly confused but too stubborn to show it to the man she felt like a stone. Unmoving, not even a muscle except those she needed to breath. The warmth of his breath was strangely intimate, and she be damned if she would admit the man was quite handsome. He even smelled nice! But she refused to let her feelings break her stoic mask. She wouldn't give the man his victory just yet. Instead she lost herself in those icy blue eyes, darker fractals that reminded her of the night sky and lighter almost white shines that flowed in his eyes. His scent was rich with other wolves, the scent of trees and earth and so much more. Like time had stopped and both were only aware of the other. His heartbeat, the rhythm of his heaving chest, to the finest hairs on his face. Everything was so sharp, rich and everything broke as the man moved. A little smile, almost nonexistent but it was there. Gone like the flash of lightning. He moved away, or actually went to her side. Like she was shocked with electricity she felt the contact between their flanks. Coats pressed flat against each other, his touch scourging every bit of skin like a mark. The touch made her head dizzy with contradiction, one side told her to step aside while the other was oddly satisfied with the contact of the wolf. Deciding her satisfied part was biased and had no say in this situation any longer. Instead she swished her tail, grazing the man's chest and neck before she turned around with a light laugh. "You're an odd one." She spoke for the first time, her eyes full of amusement as she was fully aware of her loss. "Speech." Maybe I walked this long way by myself

(This post was last modified: Aug 26, 2015, 04:00 PM by Cornelia.)