Round Stone Crest You will kneel in pieces

OOC: Backdated to 8/14 after this encounter with Eirian. For @Gent. 

8/14/2015
Weather:
64° F, 18° C
4:12 PM

Her creamy paws were eating away at the earth. They beat down over the forest floor with all the urgency of the image in her mind. An Asurn had found them. Her steady lope home had turned into a sprint at the sight of the small mountain growing above her. Having her back to that man was pretty frightening, and her legs had simply begged her to go faster until she couldn't hold them back anymore. The hair on her neck had stood as she felt his fiery eyes tracing each footstep. Now she was charging; zipping between the trees and hurdling rocks; expelling as much of the pent up adrenaline as she could from that encounter. Running up a mountain was practically foolish for how much energy it wasted, but the chemicals in her blood canceled that out. She wasn't tired yet. Not even close.  As soon Raela began her ascent her lungs just about burst. “GEEEEEEEENT!” She screamed; her voice scattering birds from the towering timbers above. She didn't want to stop long enough to even howl. Any leader or pack member would do, but she wanted Gent above the rest. He knew the most about this dark history of hers. It would be easier to tell him than any of the others why a wolf that had brought her no harm moments ago warranted this much urgency. His scent was easy enough to find as she drummed toward the west. She stayed quiet, lungs heaving with the effort to keep her dashing toward him. She was no picture of stealth; not even remotely. Hopefully no one was hunting.  She was closing in on him in a minute or two, but it felt like far too long. His dark frame appeared in the distance, and her lungs began their calls anew. “Gent! Gent!” She didn't stop running until she was just strides from him. The woman nearly stumbled to a stop; her breath coming so heavily she couldn't speak again yet. Her stressed heart was loud in her eardrums. Intense golden eyes stared up at the king while she fought to slow her breathing. “Gent, out past the border...” The air demanded she stop. “'There's a wolf... I know. He's bad news Gent... ” The gravity of the situation was plain in her airy voice.  Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra

            

Most days within his own domain were peaceful, seemingly a trade off having been made at some point, for the disturbances that did occasionally occur were always severe. By now, even when the day sung of serenity as he completed his patrolling of the borders, he was braced for quite possibly anything. Always, he would anticipate the worst, for the stress of it could be easily stomached by the monster and the souls that dwelled within his domain depended on him to keep them safe form the world's many harms.

As such, when Raela's panicked voice rent the air, there was not a second loss during the fluid transition between his easy gait and the rush at which he launched himself toward her. With both wolves racing as swiftly as their limbs would take them, the time between that first instinct and their convergence was absolutely minimal. His paws dug trenches through the earth as momentum of his massive frame necessitated in stopping as abruptly as he did, his face raised to Raela with alarm clearly reflected in it. His ears cupped forward to capture her words as she breathed them out.

Upon hearing that there was a vile character just outside of his domain urged him to rush forward, the find the unwelcomed visitor and instill an unshakeable fear into him, if not harm him given what he might have done to Raela. Yet as pressing as this desire was, he knew he needed more of the story before he went charging out.

"Is he still there? What do you want me to do to him?" he pressed urgently.

OOC: Lemme know if PP should be changed. - Stretching out the post a bit by stopping here; feel free to have them slow down once they get nearer to where she saw him. 

Obviously the message had gotten across quite clear. Without hesitation the black King appeared ready to launch himself at the vile man she'd mentioned. His speech came roughly through anxious lungs, and she was left panting while he seethed. While it was certainly a good idea to accompany her friend back out to be sure of Eirian's departure, Raela still wanted to give him more information. The patriarch seemed thirsty for this enlightenment as well; it was the only thing that held him back. “He's probably on his way out by now; he's smart enough to know that I'd tell you guys about him.” Another quick bout of gasping followed, but her breath was returning. “We should go to be sure. Call the pack back to the den just in case,” she urged, already forming her next words. The pups could not be out exploring while that man was around.  Now that at least that was settled, she could elaborate between deep breaths. “His name's Eirian; he's from my old pack.” She winced internally, fully aware that she'd have to reveal more than she wanted to to explain all of this. Her feet picked up a loping pace again; knowing full well that her leader would not sit here another idle minute. Now more than ever was she thankful for her stamina. “Agouti pattern but darker than me; fiery orange eyes; black markings on his front ankles.” She fired out the description as they ran; trying to give Gent as much information as possible. “He's dangerous. He'll kill a...” Her tongue almost slipped to say 'mutt' before she quelled it. Being around him had woken it all up. “They hate everyone except purebred timbers,” she revised, keeping her eyes on the hill as they descended at speed. “He'd kill any of the others if he could get away with it, including the pups.” Now she glanced at him, knowing full well the rage that even the idea of such a thing had the potential to bring out of him.  Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra

            

so that everyone is aware of this event, just read the bolded text in the first paragraph for the necessary info.
please <b>do not post to this thread</b>, it is not a meeting, just an ooc way of letting you know something that you may <b>assume</b> happened ic.
@Minka @Astraeus @Cessair @Alphinaud
@Kova @Calanthe @Octavius @Moraxia
@Marianna @Draven @Kino

Disrupting the entire pack so abruptly might have been a questionable move when still so little information had been given, and yet Gent's trust in Raela was so complete that he did not hesitate to follow her suggestion. Throwing back his head, he sent out a call that commanded all of Round Stone Crest to congregate at the communal den. Once this matter was settled and he not only had more knowledge about what had his advisor-to-be so shaken but was certain that the territory was safe and the man in question was long gone, he would come to them and explain what had occurred; that a lethal man named Eirian Asurn had been seen near the borders and border patrols were to be extra vigilant for the following few days in case he returned.

When Raela moved, so did he, ears continuing to drink in all the words she threw his way. When it was spoken that this man was willing to kill, Gent's eyes narrowed and his temper flagged. When the children were mentioned, his tail snapped behind him and his face twisted with a vicious snarl. His legs pumped faster as anger opened the valve to his adrenaline stores even wider. It wasn't until Raela slowed, and he as well, that he spoke.

"Is that what he wanted? Was to harm you, us?" he asked her through a growling tone as his lungs heaved deep and his senses searched the air for all traces of this mystery villain.

(This post was last modified: Aug 27, 2015, 05:45 PM by Gent.)

The king reacted to the mention of his essentially adopted children exactly as she'd expected. The display had Raela's ears pinned to her neck, but she took some comfort in knowing it had nothing to do with her. They charged down into the valley where she'd come face to face with one of the very wolves who'd helped chase her from home. Gent's tone had her fur threatening to bristle; his anger and tension was contagious; especially when she knew fully what the man was capable of. The whole thing had settled in her stomach like a rock. As he paced about the scene; drawing in the monster's scent she too attempted to help find trace of him. Her voice sang into the air a bit weaker than before in the wake of her friend's rage.  “Well, yes and no,” she started, immediately sensing that the patriarch would want to get right down to business. Without further hesitation, she dove in. “I don't think he came after us specifically, or even me, but he would still cause us trouble if he could. The pups are in the most danger; they cant wander off alone with him around.” Her eyes searched the King's face drenched in worry. She couldn't bear to witness what she knew he would do; what any true Asurn would do. “The pups are mixed breed, and what's worse is they're a mix of Plains and Mackenzie blood as well as Timber.” There were questions in her eyes as she watched his gigantic form. Part of her hoped to find the rogue and let Gent handle him; to calm all their worries. Her companion wouldn't know of what significance this information held without knowing of her family, and the woman realized this a moment later. Her eyes turned to the dirt; brows creasing with what she knew she had to relay to him.  “I'm an Asurn Gent,” she began, her ears folded with apprehension. “And Eirian is one of my cousins. The Asurns are a huge family of pure-blooded Timbers like me from the east, and they don't take kindly to other breeds. Killing a larger breed or a Timber mutt is honorable to them, and they've no mercy for the weak,” she spoke it as if it was completely ludicrous, and in her mind it was. “They have a mortal enemy in Mackenzies though,” she said, looking up at him. He looked more Mackenzie than anything else with his brutish size. Moving away from the thought, Raela cleared her head. The last of her information was quite relevant to his first inquiry.  “The fact that he's here is the most dangerous though,” she started, her tone lowering. “They have many splinter packs that answer to the first, and they send out small parties or single wolves ahead to scout new land.” Her head was lowering with the gravity of the real threat they posed. “He might take over a pack, or he might bring others here.” It was something the Crest wolves, and all the other packs for that matter would have to be very, very careful of in the future. Eirian was positively protean; he had proven that much before. They all were, when it suited them. Her golden eyes scanned his features; curious as to whether or not he'd taken it all in.  Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra

            

oi gents head just got a lot more complicated than i was expecting

As Raela spoke, Gent ceased his movements, turning to face her with a quizzical look upon his face. Yes and no? He listened to her speak as though her words were oxygen and he was close to drowning, each and every syllable of utter importance, as the king was still given the impression that his family was under immediate threat. Yet as dire as it all was, he found himself completely lost. What the hell did their breeding have to do with anything? Even still an admittance of her surname, of relation, still had him reeling in confusion but it seemed it had all been an uphill track. Rapidly, the momentum turned and as they sped down slop it all fell into place.

So Raela had escape a pack full of maniacs.

At the mention of Mackenzie being enemies, Gent could only scoff. His father's words passed through his head, and in agreeance to the teachings of his youth he had to wonder, how delusional were these Timbers to think they could eliminate a breed as physically superior as Mackenzies?

Wait.

The gears within his head abruptly grinded to a halt, and the man nearly didn't catch the rest of what Raela had to say. This was made evident in his face as the aggression faded from it and his pale eyes clouded with thought, thought that couldn't be denied any longer now. The connections were made between his father's decrees and the more extensive though still parallel ideals of Raela's past pack, Vitani to Eirian, murder of the weak... that was what it had been, hadn't it? His siblings had whispered their suspicions to him as a child, but he hadn't believed them. No, that wasn't even true. He hadn't cared. His own mother... Minka...

Too many correlations were being made within the king's head, and he couldn't stop any of them. Attempting to get a hold of himself once more, he tried to focus on what Raela had said to him. Splinter packs, invasion, murdering his children...

"They won't. If @Eirian Asurn approaches the Crest again, I'll kill him."

(This post was last modified: Sep 10, 2015, 02:24 AM by Gent.)

She stood with bated breath, waiting for Gent's reaction while finding herself completely unable to predict it. He'd proven her notions wrong before, and yet she remained concerned that an outburst would still be directed her way. What other ways he could react found her nebulously, and the woman could only stare. It seemed the Crest patriarch would offer her a mix of reactions as she watched his dark face shift from vexation to smug confidence to a seriousness she'd seen in him before. The subordinate could not will her lips to move as his eyes turned from her silently. It was an eternity before the glaciers found her again; still standing in nervous submission before him. There was a new hardness in his gaze.  “...I'll Kill him.” The words came crashing down like a fallen tree. Raela saw in his eyes that there would be no argument, and for once she was unable to bring one before him. As far as she knew her cousin was too far gone to be saved and hardly worth the pack's time even if he wasn't. The threat he posed to the little ones, to the whole pack even, was too large a risk to take with anything less than a death sentence. And yet her stomach turned as she took in his stony expression. What was she supposed to say? A long moment passed with her brilliant eyes shining back at her friend's before the wolf could force her muzzle down in a nod; though it was still nervous and apprehensive. This whole thing was a mess. He hadn't breathed a word about anything else she'd said, though, and Raela was left searching his face for some kind of retort. Surely the black king had a few words or thoughts about the whole situation. Did he already think differently of her? Did he understand? Yellow pools flickered questioningly over his countenance as she waited for more.  Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra

            

His eyes had settled upon her with the finality of his words, taking in her reaction. A great piece of him expected her to raise her voice in disagreement, claiming that surely a perceived threat alone did not merit a sentence so severe at death. Yet this did not come, the woman even nodding her head once to accept what he had decreed. The king continued to level her with his gaze, drinking in every submissive shift of her posture and the nervous anticipation that muddied her golden eyes. There was something still that she was expecting from him, and he found himself recalling the moment he had been standing in her paw prints.

"What is it?" he asked, ears tilted forward to receive an answer but he already knew what she was thinking. The king was constantly grappling with his own lack of security, and it was growing tiresome. To have doubts, to have so many enemies, to have concerns so far past his own borders and outside of his control. Each time he thought they were making progress, something occurred to pull them backward again and none of it was a simple solution. And here his rock stood, prepared to cower from him.

Gent stepped forward, craning his neck downward to press the flat of his skull against her chest and mindfully push her upward. He didn't want this Raela anymore, needed her to be gone so that the Raela who had so boldly stood her ground against him would return and help him be whatever it was he had to be to resolve all of this. Gent was beginning to fear to that as he was, he might not be enough.

His snout snaked past Raela's shoulder as he stepped closer still to press his cheek against her ribcage. Faintly, he could feel the beat of her heart, and he wished for it to slow so that its sedated tempo could better calm him. Why was this their shibboleth, why did they not yet hold full confidence in one another? Gent trusted her with every fiber of his being, and yet the memory of fearing her hatred - no, not even anything that severe. Simply her disappointment would be enough to shake him completely, and he expected it to come, knew that it one day would and the thought of it instilled fear within him. Was that what she felt now? Were they so alike? He could only be so lucky.

"Don't you know by now that you could never do wrong?"

(This post was last modified: Sep 18, 2015, 11:56 PM by Gent.)

OOC: Feel free to wrap this up now with PP~

Though his words seemed oblivious to whatever she desired from him, it appeared that on some levelthe King had a guess. She stared at him still, feeling overwhelmed by every part of this encounter and what had transpired before. At his confusion she looked away. Did he really have nothing more? He would kill Eirian and that was that? He moved forward, stepping toward her in a way that had become familiar, and she felt the tension easing some. He was not angry, it seemed, and not sullen. Pressure from his skull seemed to goad her upwards, and stand she did. Still, her tail was reluctant to move from her hocks even as his face slid past her in an embrace. There was a moment of only contact; with her head pressed gingerly against his chest.  And then, her dear friend proved once more that he always knew what to tell her. The sound brought her ears back to catch it in its entirety, leaving her eyes wide and stunned.  Never? Her mind echoed the thought in the same tones as she had uttered it to him the first time. In the face of everything she'd ever been told, here he was calling her... perfect, in a way. Tears threatened her eyes but for once did not fall. She pushed past the idea of denying his sentiment based on reality, and pressed her face deeper into his fur with sudden zeal. Autumn-colored ears planed out to the sides as she shut her eyes tightly. If she could hide here with him, hide from everything, she would. Perhaps he would let her. Perhaps that is what he always would be for her; a great wall of dark fur and rigidity to put her demons to rest and allow her memories to fade. There was peace in his strength. A soft, barely audible whisper of a whine escaped her, muffled by his coat. For just a moment she could be the little pup; sheltered by someone, anyone, against all of their hate and all of their disapproval. Gent was mightier than them all.   Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra

            

A young deer has been separated from the rest of its herd. Hunt Opportunity