Fireweed Rise Take the heart you thought you had

For @Arial. If any of the other Carrion Crew wanna join, you're more than welcome to <3
Takes place on the southern edge of the rise, so he's just entered the Lore

So this was it, huh? All ready and ripe for the taking, another tally on Shrike's growing list of conquests.

Shrike observed the Rise with a cold, aloof gaze as he slowed to a standstill. He'd travelled for weeks on end and this was the sight that greeted him?  He huffed and his tail lashed out to the side, all bristly like a pine cone. It certainly didn't seem a lot to look at, all green and red, and knolly, like any other place he'd passed through- and ruined- but Shrike knew that looks could be deceiving. That this expedition to the north could be well worth his time, he simply had to be patient. Admittedly, he wasn't very good at that, but he would try and bide his time, shrike strike only when the time was right.

At that thought, he pressed his lips into a thin line as his brows drew together in a scowl.  As proud as the former Commander was, he wasn't here looking for a challenge. He had enough trials and tribulations behind him, Shrike merely wanted to...slide back into older habits. It was time to do things his way again, for real this time. There was no use in pretending to be something he wasn't, Shrike would take and take till he could hold no more.

@Shrike - I apologize still getting used to her so this isn't the best

Lookin' better in black then the widows of our enemies

She was on his tail, that glum ‘my father is so boring’ look painted across her features, rolling her eyes as he scowled at what seemed to be nothing. “Father, are we ever actually going to do anything?” The defiant little shit questioned as she took a couple steps forward, getting a look at the surroundings he seemed so keenly interested in for herself. “Valor promised me you were taking us someplace worthy, not this dump.” Just goes to show you couldn’t trust a man to judge an adventure – they had horrible tastes. Her mother likely would have been more interesting… she probably would have taken her some place cool.

Speaking of Valor… she glanced around, confusion briefly crossing her features as she fully turned to look over her shoulder. “Where’d the punk disappear to anyway? I told him to stay right behind me.” She mused, mostly to herself… knowing him he’s gone off and gotten attacked by a gang of crows or something. She never knew what to do with him anymore… and he wouldn’t listen which knowing him, would get him killed. Let’s go with dad! He said. It’ll be FUN! He said…

Like any wolf who planned to get shit done, Shrike did not travel alone. Though Blackwatch Canyon had long since collapsed a few familiar faces still lingered in his life, like extras in the background of a scene. That's all they were to him, tools to be used, means to an end. As much as it frustrated him to admit it, he couldn't do this alone. New faces also had joined the fold, most noticeably his offspring. Considering how busy he'd been last spring he wasn't at all surprised that his efforts had bore fruit, what he hadn't expected was that they'd seek him out and actually find him.

"Mmm." He rumbled, glancing over his shoulder so he wasn't so exposed. Not that his daughter would do anything, not that she could either but she was such a wild thing. He almost respected her, almost but not quite. "What is your idea of worthy then?" He asked, barely restraining the urge to grab her muzzle and shake her about for her insolence.

Not yet.

"If he's lost then it's his own fault, the instructions I gave were clear." If some didn't show their faces within the next few days then they were a lost cause, Shrike would not seek them out, not even halfheartedly.  

"Do you think you're ready?" He hadn't been with his offspring for long but...his words ought to have started working their magic. All his promises of wonder and want, till their hearts were content. He could offer them what they wanted, as long as they followed him... "You might have to get your paws dirty...How does that sit with you?" He came closer, sizing her up, taking in the sight of her with his greedy green eyes.

All members of the Carrion Crew are welcome to join Shrike's threads at any time.

LOOKIN' BETTER IN BLACK THEN THE WIDOWS OF OUR ENEMIES

Her father was cold and calculated which left her briefly wondering just where all the spunk and aloofness from her brother came from. Who knew, perhaps they had the wrong father. He asked her what her idea of worthy was. “Someplace wild just waiting to be tamed, controlled.” She always did like a challenge. “This land here is just hills, no real cover... while we can easily see others, we can also easily be seen and observed by those who know the lands better than us.” She explained her logic further as she looked around. She knew he’d never back away from an open fight, and their whole purpose was to raise some hell, but there was no reason for them to not be smart about it, right?

He answered about her brother, and she didn’t respond. She didn’t agree, per say, and she would most definitely find where Valor had snuck off too later because someone had to keep his ass safe... but she also knew who held the power here. She could only push her insubordination so far. He asked if she thought she was ready and she simply smirked, her shoulders rolling back. “I know I’m ready.”  He pointed out what she already knew… getting her paws dirty, and that was when she tilted her head to look at him. “I’m counting on it.” She’d been paying attention, learning even if she hadn’t actively participated yet… she was ready.

Perhaps his daughter would be worth the time after all. Her words caused his ears to tip forward in interest as he weighed the words in his mind, if they were to be believed that her thoughts aligned rather closely with his own. She was a near spitting image of her Mother but it was his desire, his want that ran through her veins. Just like him, she wanted it all. They were birds of a feather almost, an amusing thought. It would be such a shame if something ever happened to her....

"This is only the beginning, dear." He reassured as he stepped forward, his movements sure and purposeful. "I was told this land is worth my time, Ari knows better than to lie to me." Shrike flashed his teeth in a dangerous grin. @Marianna saw first hand what he'd done to Reyes, she knew what sort of man Shrike was, knew what he could do to her if he so pleased.  

Shrike would take his daughter's word for now, he would see it for himself soon enough.

"Good. There needs to be more wolves like you, I'm glad you and your brother found me." That was a lie, hidden behind the softening of his gaze and an earnest little frown. She didn't know him well enough to read his tells, he'd made sure there was no one left alive who could.

"You smell that on the wind?" He asked, pointing north with a flick of his muzzle. A pack, not too far from here.  "How would you feel about doing some reconnaissance for me?" He had no idea when the other's would show their faces, but he figured they might as well dip their paws in the shallow end. At the very least they were more likely to trust her over him, the hulking black beast that he was.

All members of the Carrion Crew are welcome to join Shrike's threads at any time.

LOOKIN' BETTER IN BLACK THEN THE WIDOWS OF OUR ENEMIES

He assured her it was only the beginning, and she knew that it was the truth. Her eyes carefully surveyed the surroundings, including her father, for anything she could use. Unfortunately, he was a hard man to read, and she liked to believe that she was the same, though she’d suppose only time would be able to tell that. The compliment, she supposed, should have made her feel happy inside… but it just didn’t mean as much coming from him. It perhaps would have meant more coming from her mother, but it felt rather lackluster now.

He asked if she’d smelt it on the wind, and she took a deep breath in through her nose, the scents following the air as she traced the path he was talking about. A pack. A soft smile formed across her maw with a wicked glint of mischief showing behind her eyes. He asked her if she’d do some reconnaissance for him, and she nodded. Perhaps she’d locate her idiot brother @Valor in the process so he didn’t get lost amongst all the grass. She didn’t really trust her father – she didn’t know enough about him, and because of it, she wanted to keep her brother close in case things went awry. “Is there anything specific you want me to look for, or do you want me to get a general feel of the land and what they're made of?”

(This post was last modified: May 06, 2018, 09:27 PM by Arial.)

Please note this is a one time special event post, the coyotes will be controlled by players involved in the thread.

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

Snuggled up against her mother's stomach Calista couldn't imagine anything could possibly be bad in the world. As long as her mom was there the pup was always warm and had a milk supply always on tap, everything was absolutely perfect. Weird sounds woke her up from her nap, they almost sounded like voices but the child had no idea what they were saying and that scared her. What made it worse was the whites in her mother's eyes showing and the angry way her tail beat against the ground. Suddenly, the bigger coyote was on her paws and then none of her could be seen. Calista could hear the sound of her mother growling, something she had never heard before and the girl started to cry. What was happening?

We Aren't Afraid

Oohhh, this could be a lotta fun. @Procyon

"I want to know everything there is to know." Shrike said, his response immediate. Though at the very least he thought he should throw his daughter a bone, give her something to work with. "It's birthing season, packs will be awfully distracted. Now is a good time for us. Surely there is a pack out there that's had a litter they will struggle to provide for..." His grin was wicked, sardonic. That sounded very much like his own childhood. Perhaps doing the tried and tested was the best route, he knew what to expect.

It was then the Big Boss realised that they had company of the coyote kind.

Since Shrike was a loner, he far more familiar with the mutts than he'd like. With no borders to keep them at bay they often came and went as they pleased, picking at his kills as though it belonged to them. If he had the time and energy to spare he usually made a point of showing the mongrels the error of their ways...Not that they were capable of seeing, or breathing, by the time he was done with them. This one though, wasn't it awfully brave? It's tail was arched up behind it as they bared their teeth, hackles raised,  it would have been amusing if Shrike didn't find it so curious. Shrike was rather familiar with this sort of behaviour, she was defensive, something she wanted to protect. Something he might want to take.

"Well well well, what do we have here?" He asked the coyote, though he knew he'd get no response. Not one he could understand anyway. He then looked to his daughter, perhaps this was the perfect chance to see if she had what it truly took.... "It's awfully brave, snarling at us like that." He took a thumping step forward, where had it come from? Somewhere close, he could smell it. "Let's kill it."

Just because they could.

All members of the Carrion Crew are welcome to join Shrike's threads at any time.

There were very few things that surprised Procyon these days. Take, for example, that Shrike had wandered off the moment she turned her back on him – that did not surprise her in the slightest. The female ambled after him, knowing she would not lose his pungent stink as they entered this ‘land of riches’. Or, if you needed a second example: Shrike slithered away for all of a day or two, and he’d landed both himself and his offspring into a deep pile of shit with a defensive mother coyote and her newborn.

His last words fell upon her ears and the large gray gave a put-upon sigh, striding towards Shrike and his spawn with more intent than she’d carried herself with in the past several days. At his shoulder she came to a halt, ears cupped forward as her tail flagged high over her haunches – she gave no other outward indication that she cared for the coyote, however.

“Don’t be stupid, Shrike,” she drawled, ice cold eyes drifting towards the other female. An easy kill, he likely thought. A specious idea, at best – nothing in the world fought harder than a mother trying to defend its cubs. It was true of bears, it was true of mountain lions, and Procyon did not doubt for a second that if the black male attempted it, the coyote would make him pay for every inch of gain with his blood. If it were a true take over, fine – but this? This was because he was bored. “It will not be worth the cost.”

Your resident buzzkill has arrived.

sorry, adjusting to his character still

The male had lingered just south of the group as they moved on, the Right Hand taking an interest in surveying his surroundings in detail as they passed through the gates of the Lore. Ari had told them of the riches that lied here, just begging for the carrion crew to take advantage of them. Letting the others go ahead, he took up the rear in case anyone was curious or stupid enough to follow them. Perhaps he could get his paws bloody before the real action started.

However, he wasn't lucky to have anything come across him within the few days he was alone. Following the trail of Shrike, he finally found the Carrion Commander as the trio looked over a coyote and its cub. Overhearing the words exchanged between Shrike and Procyon, a devious smile crossed his lips as his hungry amber gaze rested on the mother and child. Together we could rip her throat out.

(This post was last modified: May 14, 2018, 04:39 PM by Borya.)

NOTE! Borya is currently traveling with Carrion Crew
-- so any/all of them can be in any thread with him fyi! --