Hearthwood River the law of return

Puppies, as it turned out, had a strange way of changing things.

While Kjors had not been content, the changing times had left him with a goal to work for, something to keep his busy mind occupied through the dying time and the snows that followed.  With spring came its own challenges, but now Bennet had arrived – along with a second pair of children not his own, but raised at his daughter’s side all the same.  Initially, it had left a sour taste in his mouth, burnt and alliaceous as he watched the scout’s children with nothing but wariness.  He need not worry much, for it seemed Karina had it all handled.  As long as he continued to bring her food and occupy the children when she needed a break, peace reigned.

But it had been peaceful for far too long.  Becoming the Queen’s advisor had never quashed his ambitions, only stymied them for a time.  Change had come in many ways – Maksim’s release from that which plagued him, Naia’s untimely demise bringing two lives into the world.  But this was but two, and the dragon knew well the law of threes.  He would not wait for the Mother to bestow the third upon Hearthwood River – luck would always favor the bold.

And so he came to the center of the territory (away from the dens, where the pups resided, for even Kjors wished them no ill), and craned his nose upwards.  He let loose his song upon the wind – rough, raspy, every bit the wild animal he was still, and he called Lachesis forth.  There was no question why he summoned the white wolf.

to have someone kiss the skin that crawls from you

KJORS SØRENSON

to feel your weight in arms I'd never use

For @Lachesis -- the time has come.

@Kjors again, so sorry about the wait love! <3

Things had slowly begun to fall back into place after the death of his close friends. It had been a struggle at first — especially having to deal with two alabaster bundles of fury — but it was coming together. He desperately wished that both Maksim and Naia were here to see his children grow, but he knew that they were watching over his children and the rest of Hearthwood. His leadership duties as of late had been conflicted with daddy duties, but he did not mind. The pack was small but fierce; he knew that even when he was busy fawning over his twins, that Hearthwood was in good paws.

However, with spring coming to an end and summer arriving with a wave of heat over the lands of Relic Lore, he was beginning to feel restless. While he had been pleased to see Lilya waiting patiently on the borders of Hearthwood, the river pack had not seen many new faces in the recent months. This was Maksim’s legacy — he could not let it crumble under his control. He would do everything in his power to ensure there was a future for the river wolves and his children. Which meant going out more in an attempt to recruit loners into following him back to Kingsfall.

The ghost had been about to head out on a patrol after visiting the children when a call disrupted his thoughts. His dark lips cut into a thin line as he changed his course, his spidery legs carrying him quickly through the trees to where Kjors was waiting for him. Lachesis was not at all surprised. In fact, he had been waiting for the day that the one-eyed dragon would call upon him. Now that Maksim was no longer in the picture, the only thing standing in the way of Kjors claiming the throne as his own was Lachesis. He was not ready to give up his position just yet. XIX had made a promise to his friend; a promise he intended on keeping. He did not want to disappoint his fallen friend.

“Kjors,” he greeted meekly as he stepped out of the trees, his chartreuse gaze fixated on the older, grizzly wolf. He remained where he was, posture held high as he waited for the dragon to explain why he had been summoned here (although he already knew why). 

stick with those who stick with you

 

It seemed to take an age for the reigning alpha to join him in the heart of Hearthwood River.  To some degree, he was a bit puzzled that no other member of the pack opted to be nosy about the proceedings – but then, perhaps they knew there was no space for idly gawking.  Whatever the outcome, the others would know soon enough.

“XIX.”

Kjors’ stance did not change, tail arched proudly over his spine as he stood tall.  The medic was only meant to be a temporary alpha until Maksim recovered – but the Mother had a strange way of fulfilling her plans, and Lachesis’ interim leadership had become something far more permeant.  The one-eyed dragon had waited some time, out of respect for the Baranski lord’s passing, but @Bennet was growing bigger every day – now was the time.  He would rise and he would give her the world.

To challenge was supererogatory simply for fatherhood – but this was also about legacy, about his father, about everything Benny should have had.  Everything he should have had.  And he was tired of waiting.

“We both know why Ah’m here, XIX, so Ah ain’t gonna waste yer time.  I am here for yer rank.”  The dragon clicked his teeth once, offering the lord enough respect – he had nothing against the wolf, personally.  He was simply an object in the way of the one-eyed brute’s ambition.  “On yer guard,” he rumbled before coiling, bolting towards Lachesis in a shadowy blur.  At the last second, he lowered a shoulder, hoping to ram the pale wolf and catch him off guard.

to have someone kiss the skin that crawls from you

KJORS SØRENSON

to feel your weight in arms I'd never use

@Lachesis - tldr;; Kjors informs Lach of his intent, warns him, and charges, dropping his shoulder in an attempt to ram the other wolf.

With Kjors' attack being a miss, Lach was able to leap out of the way -- is lunging at his side/ribs in an attempt to knock him off his feet. 
Also, I've never had any characters involved in fights/challenges before, so please please PM me if something doesn't sound right or if anything is close to PP. I've been trying to read the rules closely but I might miss something <333

Lachesis was pleased that they did not have any spectators. With Lachesis’ youth and speed against Kjors’ experience and size they were an even match, but that did not mean he wanted the rest of Hearthwood looming over their shoulders. While he was wary of the one-eyed dragon, the older wolf was more than capable of leading the river wolves. But that did not mean he would go down without a fight. Maksim had entrusted him to lead the pack when he had fallen ill and he intended to do whatever was necessary to protect the wolves that had become his family. The dragon was power hungry, that much was obvious, and without Karpos or another older wolf standing between Kjors and the throne, Lachesis was the only thing in his way.

Start your own pack, he wanted to hiss in response, but he kept his lips tight over his teeth, tail arched above his body as he listened to Kjors’ little speech. If the outcome of the rank challenge did not end in Lachesis’ favour, he still wanted to be a part of the pack — for his children, for Maksim, for Naia… at least, for now. Either until he challenged Kjors for the throne once more, or he decided to take the twins elsewhere. He did not want to be chased from Kingsfall with two bundles of fur in tow.

The one-eyed dragon gave warning before he lunged forward, his shoulder dropping in an attempt to collide with the ghost. His lips pulled away from his teeth as adrenaline kicked him; just before the dragon would have connected with him, XIX jumped out of his line of fire. As he landed the healer dropped his own shoulders and lunged forward, aiming for the towser’s ribs in hopes of knocking him off his feet. 

stick with those who stick with you

Perhaps he shouldn’t have warned the other wolf.  The thought was far too late, the dark smudge already in motion and rushing towards his opponent.  Without the announcement, there might have been more surprise, but then, Lachesis was no idiot.  He knew why the one-eyed dragon had summoned him, and he’d know what was coming shortly thereafter.  That the timber wolf offered him some show of respect wouldn’t have changed it.

Hairs seemed to touch as the pale alpha shifted to one side – so close, but no contact made.  Kjors threw on the brakes immediately, paws skidding across the forest floor as his haunches lowered, trying to put an end to the rush.  In that small fraction of time, his opponent had shifted just enough to launch his own assault.  A moment later, the male’s heavier frame crashed into the dragon’s side, sending him sideways with the force of it.  Some of the forward momentum carried him still, or Kjors might have been knocked off his feet altogether.

Stumbling back onto his feet, the wolf dove low, jaws snapping at the nearest hind limb.  He would grab and tug, send Lachesis back onto the earth as he’d attempted before – but if he could not push, than he would pull, and let gravity to the rest of his work for him.

to have someone kiss the skin that crawls from you

KJORS SØRENSON

to feel your weight in arms I'd never use

@Lachesis - You're doing great!  Kjors misses in his charge, Lach hits his side and Kjors slides by and makes him stumble (also, bruises him).  From this low point, he lunges for Lach's back leg, hoping to pull it out from under him.

There is a family of deer nearby. Hunt Opportunity

really wanted to get this up for you <3
kjors grabs his hind leg & pulls lach to ground. as lach tries to pull away from kjors, he turns and comes up from kjors' blindside to grab his neck fur/scruff and drag him to the ground.

When he connected with the dragon’s side he was almost as surprised as the older wolf. The ghost had never been a fighter and typically steered away from any type of violence. He had been fortunate enough — until now, of course — to never be involved in any sort of challenges, but it appeared his instincts and observation skills proved to be useful. On the reserve there had been no need for rank challenges as there had not been much of a hierarchy in place. They had worked together, peacefully, to accomplish whatever needed to be done. It was not until he had met Anastasia and encountered wolves in Relic Lore that Lachesis had learned what hierarchy was and why it was needed.

The momentum caused him to stumble back, allowing time for the dragon to aim his next assault. As he tried to pull back from the one-eyed wolf teeth met with flesh. A grunt escaped him as his lower half was pulled to the ground, his chest grazing the dirt. His lips curled into a silent snarl as he attempted to wriggle away from the dragon. He could tend to his own leg later; right now, he needed to put the dragon in his place. And he was certainly trying.

Instinct took over a second time as he tried to pull away from Kjors. Despite the searing pain coming from his leg, Lachesis could not allow that to hinder his own attack. Coming up on the dragon’s blind side, Lachesis lunged forward once more. His jaws stretched in hopes of meeting the fur on Kjors’ neck in hopes of dragging him down to the dirt, just as the dragon had just done to him. 

stick with those who stick with you

Such close quarters were difficult for any beast to battle in, no matter the package this earthly body had given him.  Gravity was good to him, for now, and Kjors wrapped ivory white knives around his opponent’s leg.  Clamped like a vice, he pulled – he wished Lachesis no inordinate amount of harm, but he was not about to pull punches for fear of injuring the younger wolf.  Copper blossomed across his tongue, and the swarthy mass did not sway from his assault, not until he sensed something move on his blind side.

But by then, even the shy of his head is not enough.

A muzzle grabs him by the scruff as if he were a naughty pup, and the dragon is forced to let go of Lachesis limb – perhaps he might have sprained or torn the limb had he continued, but at what cost?  A sprained neck?  Too valuable to leave undefended.

Allowing gravity to do its work, Kjors fell with the alpha.  Ears flattened against his skull, a meager attempt to protect the small, vulnerable bits of flesh, and a roar bellowed forth as he dug in.  Claws scraped against the earth as he pushed back up, and up, and up!  To spread his wings and fly, first he must shed these earthly chains.  Twisting to wrench himself out of Lachesis grip (ignoring the sear and tear of pain, later, later,) threw his open jaws at the other male’s face, to push him down, down, down.

to have someone kiss the skin that crawls from you

KJORS SØRENSON

to feel your weight in arms I'd never use

@Lachesis -- Thank you so much, lovely.  <33  Kjors is blindsided and gets pulled down to the ground.  He lets go of Lach's leg before he hits, not willing to twist/injure his own neck to hang on.  Once on the ground, he rips free of Lach's grip (at the cost of some hair/hide) and turns, trying to grab Lach's face to shove him down.

@Kjors <3
Kjors connects with Lachesis' cheek/lower jaw. Lachesis first pushes against Kjors before mimicing him, and rips himself free -- which will probably give him a nice scar ;) Aiming his attack at Kjors' muzzle in order to grab it and shove it into the dirt in an attempt to get Kjors to submit to him. 

As he turned to latch onto the dragon’s scruff the pressure from his leg released, but not without a jolt of pain radiating up to his spine. Deal with it later, he thought grimly to himself as he felt his jaws connect with fur and his body fall along with the older male. An odd sense of satisfaction consumed him as the metallic taste of blood splashed against his tongue. The dragon twisted and pulled away from the ghost, which caused an unexpected snarl to escape him. He wanted to end this, before either of them got severely injured.

Once they hit the ground Lachesis’ grip fell away from the dragon as he successfully ripped himself free. He could feel the male’s hair on his tongue as he attempted pushing himself away from the older wolf in order to catch his bearings. However, Kjors had other plans. Teeth clashed with fur once more, but this time it was the alabaster fur of the ghost. The dragon’s jaws met his cheek and lower jaw, and XIX could feel his skin tearing. Arnica, ergot, goldenrod, pineapple weed, yarrow… Instantly he began making a list of the herbs necessary to treat his battle wounds. His lips curled, half in pain and half in determination, as he pushed against the dragon. Kjors was trying to get him to submit and he would not do so without a fight.

Pulling a page out of Kjors’ book, the ghost dug his claws into the dirt in order to rip himself free from the dragon’s grasp. Ignoring the white hot pain that pulsated through his body, XIX launched himself forward, his jaws wide as aimed for the male’s snout. If he was successful, he would push the grizzly man’s muzzle into the ground, with his tail curled high above his body.

stick with those who stick with you

Would it ever be the dragon’s day?

Though his attack found its mark, Kjors’ upper hand was short lived.  No sooner had he grabbed the side of the alpha’s face did the man rip away, apparently unconcerned with the gashes left there.  He shouldn’t be, some corner of the advisor’s mind knew, not when his position was at stake.  Adrenaline surged through the smaller male’s body – pain, anger, panic, desperation – he couldn’t put a name to the swirl of emotions pounding against his ribcage before Lachesis launched forward and grabbed him by the snout.

Larger jaws wrapped around his own, and in a matter of moments, the self-proclaimed dragon found his face shoved down into the dirt.  He hit the earth with a soft grunt, shoulder twisting as his entire body fell.  This was it, he realized dimly, and allowed his entire body to go limp until the white wolf released him.  Were he to further this scuffle, someone would get more than a few scratches, and Kjors had an unpleasant suspicion it would be his neck snapped in the position he currently found himself.

Once he was released, the male grunted again, rolling his ears backwards as he stood.  Head hung low, but his tail hung lower, and he slunk forward just enough to lick the male’s chin once.  With his submission evident, Kjors made to retreat, disappearing back into the forest lest Lachesis stop him.

to have someone kiss the skin that crawls from you

KJORS SØRENSON

to feel your weight in arms I'd never use

@Lachesis -- Kjors is forced to the ground and he goes still.  Once he's released, he submits properly.  This is Kjors' exit unless Lach stops him, and if he does call to him, you can assume Kjors does indeed stop his retreat.  If not, one post from Lach and we can archive.  :3  I am sorry this took so long!!