The Deep Forest Down in the Deep

RE: Tzila, a badger has taken an unusual amount of interest in you. All welcome.

Now this was more like it. An endless, deep dark forest. Cloaked in shadows, even in the daytime. Through the thinning canopy of trees, hardly any light reached the forest floor. And the icing on the cake was the overcast sky. In Tzila's mind, the conditions couldn't be any more perfect. For a wolf named after the night, bearing a nature that favored the dark hours over the light, this forest was made for her. Her very own shadow realm. 

Her swarthy form, save for the tint of rust splashed on her ruff, glided silently over the earth. There was little color here, except for grays, gray-blues, blacks and browns. Among the many trees, she was certain there were ample places to hide. Not that she would want to, not in this place. A thin, bare trace of a smile lined her lips, silver eyes twinkling in the dim light. In her element and alone, she was at peace. But as fate had always been, that just couldn't last long. While she wondered what sort of variety of life may dwell in such a lonesome corner of the world, a scuttling noise from behind was cause enough for her to stop and glance over a ruddy shoulder. And sure enough, several wolf lengths away, behind her, was a badger. The stocky animal was pacing back and forth, from left to right, staring at the wolf inquisitively with dark, beady eyes. Her own narrowed, while a flash of white teeth warned the rival off. "The hell do you want you little shit? I ain't got nothin, so keep movin." Satisfied that her initial warning had been sufficient enough, Tzila turned to move on, only for the badger to resume it's steady pursuit, more intently than before.

Seemed fitting for two dark babes to be in a spooky location!

Pitch liked to observe. Any other fool might think that these parts were barren, nothing but a wasteland of tangle of trees and shadows, but Pitch knew better. She could see it all and it was glorious. The closest thing to her paradise on earth, an empire of her own. A pleased sigh rolled over her lips as she -almost lovingly- brushed against the trunk of a tree, it's bark staining her side green. She didn't even care, she knew this forest wouldn't spill her secrets; it was hiding just as much if not more than she was.

The forest wasn't silent, very few places truly managed to achieve that level of hush, but that was just fine. She enjoyed the creaking of old wood, orange leaves tumbling over the ground only to get snagged upon gnarled roots. Her ear then flicked as a rare look of disdain appeared on her features. Who dared disturb her? She caught the tail end of the stranger's words and her interest...deflated, sharply, like popped balloon.

And yet Pitch found herself moving, still brushing against the trees as she pressed forward till a dark wolf and it's...companion came into view. She blinked once, then twice. She supposed this explained the grousing then, but why was she here? What had brought the dark lady to such a wonderfully desolate realm? Orange met silver and yet Pitch didn't move a muscle. It was always so amusing to see how other's reacted to her habits and mannerisms. She'd been called a few distasteful terms before, a witch or she-devil being the most common ones, but they weren't wrong.

Pitch was monstrous, in her own way.

In the distance, out of the dark shadows, emerged a figure. Her silver eyes narrowed, squinting. Another wolf, just as dark as herself. Only her coat didn't have a trace of what might have been long dried blood, or eyes like moonlight. Inwardly Tzila smirked at their similarities...so much so that a careless glance could mistake them for kin. She scowled at the thought of her family. Of her parents...and most of all her pompous, self righteous brother. 

Behind her, the daring badger edged closer. Tzila was onto him though. Atop her head, her ears pivoted back, her dark tail giving a single flick. He wasn't fooling anyone. At the sight of not one but two wolves, he paused. Seeming to weigh his options. Her neck twisted, her head following suit so she could peer at the masked animal with a sneer. Not so confident now, are ya? Arcing to her left, she spared the other female a side glance. An invitation, if you will. Was she up for a tussle? Two wolves verses one badger. Together they could show him who the real mistresses of this forest were. 

A nearby creek is full to the brim with fish. +3 Health

Pitch wasn't a social butterfly by any meaning of the word, but she could read the stranger well enough. It was an invitation, an offer to spill blood. One Pitch had little interest in turning down. She dipped her head in agreement then inched ever closer, her wicked gaze lingering on their target, pitiful beast that it was. The thought of tearing it apart pleased her, not because she enjoyed violence for the sake of it rather, it was what she was built for. She was simply fulfilling her duty as a wolf, walking along a well trodden path that would one way or another lead to paradise.

The she-devil licked her lips in anticipation. She couldn't wait to tell her brother of this, oh he would be so proud.

She eyed her silver eyed counterpart, a simple side glance that conveyed a simple question. Who would have the first bite? Blood was blood, Pitch didn't care either way.