Silent Moon Plateau round 'em up

Rank challenge for @Tannis .

He was restless here – and he was not sure why. Phineas’ initial words to him had not been forgotten, but the Argyris family seemed so broken now that it was impossible to even find them. The eldest daughter had gone missing.. and the next daughter was loping along the borders, as if it were unclear as to whether she desired to stay or go. Even the son seemed to be missing in action.. Yes, Nios Tainn had once more settled himself smack dab in the middle of dysfunction yet again. Sanity, it appeared, was not something that was common within the lands of Relic Lore.

And yet the ebony wolf desired to fit in further – and to do so, he knew he was ready to attempt a rise within the ranks. He had not seen the other two males that held rank above him that remained beneath Phineas.. and so, with his nose to the ground, Nios sought out Tannis – the wolf he meant to knock down. It was nothing personal – it was simply the desire to fit in.. and, in turn, his first attempt at a rank challenge ver. He had never bothered when younger – and his nomadic lifestyle up until now had prevented such an event as well.

Tilting his muzzle back, Nios allowed a howl to settle across the lands, announcing his decision and beckoning the unknown male forward. With his cry fading, the Tainn wolf continued his search – there were only so many places one could hide in Silent Moon Plateau.

There really weren't that many places to hide within Silent Moon Plateau territory but, oh-ho-ho, Tannis was still sharp enough to find them all. His favorite place as of late was this small hideaway which was created from a well-rounded boulder and a scrawny scrub pine sapling which grew crookedly up from the mountainside at an awkward angle. A call for him sounded through the air and the spindly brute lifted his head curiously. In all actuality, he shouldn't have been surprised, but with how oblivious he was to the rest of the pack, it had startled him that anyone would want anything to do with him. Perhaps if he got away from the upcoming conversation intact, he would try to make yet another attempt at socializing with the wolves under Phineas' command.

With one ear cocked forward and the other slicked back, the Andreas slunk about with his head level with his spine, already nervous eyes scanning every bit of mountain until the sound of someone moving about on his right caught his attention. His head snapped in Nios' direction, spying a bit of dark fur through the scrub pine. He descended the small foothill and let out an eager whine to announce his arrival. The howl had sounded close; logically, it made sense that this was the man who had summoned him.

He let out a sound that audibly sounded like a Hummmm? but really meant "Yes?" He could have gone off with an enthusiastic yip, to burble and submissively show his vulnerable underside in a desire to please, but his budding guardian/ward relationship with @Wren had discouraged him from doing either. Instead, both of his ears turned backward now and his tail, though lower than his rump, wiggled and waved as though he were a cub being called upon by his favorite parent. He had scented this man here and there in his ventures of hiding from one place to another and had known the younger wolf to also serve Phineas if only by the musk carried in his coat. Surely, whatever was requested of him, he might as well oblige. The tawny brute kept quiet, all too hopeful to serve.

He had yet to meet the man he would challenge, and so he was surprised when the golden wolf came before him. He was scrawny – smaller than Nios, who was dwarfed by his brother. The ebony wolf looked over him with hidden calculation.. a stoical mask fitted upon his features in the same way his father had taught him growing up. Nios Tainn was every inch Ruiko Tainn’s son, and because of this, he did not tiptoe around the subject.

“Nios Tainn,” he offered, giving a brisk nod to the wolf before him. How had it taken him so long to challenge? He did not belong near the middle of the tier.. and while his ambitions stemmed more toward the recreation of Copper Rock Creek, it did not mean he could not rise in rank. Rank challenges had never been something he had paid much attention to in the past.. but now that he was looking to settle?

“I am here to challenge you for your rank.” The words were not cold, but nor were they minced. His golden eyes scanned his potential comrade, and his own muzzle jutted higher – lifting himself to show his dominance. With that, Nios took a step closer, aiming to close the distance between them as his own tail lifted. Aggression was not shown just yet – such was not the nature of the beast. Instinct instead would allow the rather thin wolf before him to accept his dominance and submit – or else force would be given.

'cause its home, but it's gone

"Tannis Andreas," he offered in return after Nios had introduced himself. Though, he said little else, allowing for the dark man to continue. His sandy tail waved in avid anticipation, wondering if he might receive a task or some bit of news that might be beneficial for Phineas to hear. What came instead was something so stark and frank, “I am here to challenge you for your rank.” The smaller, lighter male took a moment to consider this, weighing the pros and cons of the opportunity that had just unfolded itself right into his jaws.

Then, in a rare streak of dauntlessness, he lifted his head. However, his posture still spoke of his nervousness and his ears remained back. Even his tail had begun to actually curl inward and up towards his underside. "Why?" It was a simple question, lobbying - not demanding - for a reason. He just wanted to know. Truthfully, as long as Nios wasn't planning on usurping the Argyris, taking the other Leader for his own mate, and killing off Phineas' children, he was probably more than willing to step aside. He could continue his observations and his lurking about while maintaining a lower rank, there was no issue with that. The problem was figuring out just where Nios' heart truly was. If the brute thought to overtake Silent Moon Plateau, Tannis couldn't be certain if he could manage to run away or, if he didn't, if he would be as loyal to Nios and his second-in-command, just as he had with the man who had initially accepted him within Magnolia Glen.

"What do you want with my place in the chain of command?" he pressed, his voice starting to level out as he leaned to the side and away from the Tainn. "Are you going to protect Celandine? Takis? E-Evy--" He faltered on the eldest princess' name, remembering suddenly just how long it had been since he had seen the dark royal. Perhaps it was too late; she had already gone off on her own, months ago, ready to take on the world. "Would you give your life for Phineas'?"