To Kill or Not To Kill

[Asphyxia]

[bg=ffffff][atrb=width,523,true][atrb=border,0,true] Rage and sorrow threaded itself through the other males spheres, his brow furrowed in fury, talons gripping the earth in raw emotion. Each breath the hessain took was ragged, deep and hard. His entire mass shook involuntarily, lips curled back as he let out an anguished snarl. “I want you to find her and kill her.” Acoustics tipped forward as Courajess studied his close friend. They had been best friends since whelps and had fought many wars together. Both males had aided one another and at one point, had saved each others lives from the slaughter of man. But now, as he stood facing his friend, concern laced itself around Courajess’s heart, glinting in his emerald spheres. “Sy..” Jaws snapped in his direction and although in any other circumstance, Jess may have snapped back, he held himself back from any returned response in such a manner. His friend was angry, hurt, in despair. All he could do was be a friend. “Do NOT lecture me. Do not tell me to think this through first. Do not tell me to be considerate of some stranger that comes into my goddamn lands and killed my mate!” Nodding his skull at his friend, he watched in silence as Syrox’s spheres squeezed shut, a deep breath expanding his ribs and chest before it whooshed out upon a sigh. Plume hung limp behind his friends frame, though Coura’s gently swayed behind his own. Muscles flexed beneath the mans alabaster cloak. “You want her dead.” The statement was clear. His friend had stated it in bold words without a question or second thought. “I am unable to leave my packlands. If such a danger can strike so close to home, even while I am on a hunt, I will be damned sure it doesn’t happen again. Do this favor for me, brother. Please.” As Syrox’s voice cracked again, Jess nodded in agreement to his friends words. It was not their way to hug. They were born and raised as warriors and nothing else. That they were so close as they were was nothing short of a miracle. But together, they had been born and raised. Nothing could break the brotherly bond they had formed over the years together, training and fighting in battles. Auds dropped back against his skull as he slowly turned to head off. “Courajess.” Glancing over his shoulder, emerald spheres latched with the grey orbs that glared back upon him, glassy and wet with tears. “I want her head.” A yawn broke apart the predators lips as he let out a long stretch. The sun had finally gone down and the rock surface he would be treading upon would be cooling off. The heat of the sun had lifted the temperature on the rocks to burning, and potentially deadly temperatures. The rocks had been too hot to continue walking along. But the great thing about the canyons were that plenty of shade was available to the massive wolf. Toes spread as talons extended, shoulders flexing and plume lifting into the air. As he slid back down to rest his belly upon the hard earth once more, his muscles relaxed and his nares spread to take in the scent of the cool night air. For what these lands provided in shade and dangerous creatures, they lacked in proper food and water. The wolf, well trained in living in different terrain, had adjusted easily to these lands, feeding upon snakes, the occasional bird and even a juicy jackrabbit he had captured earlier. The scent of the rabbit wafted through the air, its blood matting and clotting into its fur where he had ripped its stomach open to reveal the delicious insides. But he wasn’t hungry. Adjusting to travel had left him able to go for weeks without a true, full meal. So even now, his stomach was fine on the small amount he’d digested. Swinging his crown toward the lands beyond the hang-over cliff he’d found purchase beneath, he observed in silence. Cougars loved these lands. The temperature didn’t bother them, the thick fur upon their pads kept them from burning and the rocky terrain proved perfect grounds for them. But it lacked just as much prey for them as it did for him. Lazily, he lifted his heavy chassis from the ground. It was time to get on the move once more. From what he’d figured out so far, that woman was in these lands somewhere and he’d be damned if he didn’t find her. The bru didn’t understand why the maiden had killed his friends mate. It troubled him and before he killed her, he wanted answers. An explanation of some sort. Acoustics shifted upon his crown, skull cocking slightly as he peered studiously around the cavern edge to survey for any cougars that may attack. The condors here weren’t very friendly either and he avoided them to ensure his own safety. A large winged bird that could break bones simply with one bat of its massive tendrils and a powerful beak that could rip his flesh. He’d take a cougar on before he wanted to face a condor. The main fact of it was, cougars traveled alone. Condors did not. Where there was one, you would be sure to find at least two more. Pads shifted along the ground, upturning pebbles and kicking them across the rocky floor. The rabbit could easily be left for another predator, or hungry animal. Perhaps for some birds to peck at. His nose twitched, lips lifting ever so slightly as his tongue slipped across his lips. Pads carrying him along the rocky cliffs. Coming upon the edge of a cliff, the canine shifted his weight, slowly, carefully lowering his front as his forepaws found purchase upon some bed below, a path leading further down the canyon. It was time to find water. Even just a puddle of it would do. His banner swung behind him, helping the brujo to balance himself properly, pads carefully stepping at rocks to ensure they wouldn’t slip from beneath him. If he fell, it was sure he’d be dead. Spheres narrowed as he paused, halfway down the canyon side - at least this small part of the canyon. Gazing around him, he easily spotted the glowing eyes of a cougar as it stalked along the top of the canyons on the opposite end. The cat hadn’t spotted him yet, and he had no intentions of giving away his whereabouts. Carefully, slowly as possible, the arctic wolf lowered his body into a crouch, fur on his belly scraping the rocks beneath him. Talons dug into the earth for better grip, auds lifted tall on his skull. All attention was on this wild cat. Although he would take one on without a second thought, he had no intentions of taking one on at the very moment, much less caused by his own idiocy. Brow furrowed as he watched the cat stalk off and disappear, probably having decided to go off to one of the pack lands to find a meal. Sighing, the began standing up, losing his footing in the process. Hindquarters swung around as his forepads scrambled to keep hold. Capturing his footing once more, claws scraping along the canyon path and sending small rocks and pebbles flying, he let out a sigh of relief. Muscles grew taut beneath his flesh, jaws parted on a pant as he climbed his way toward an over-hang once more to rest there for a few moments. He needed to make a decision on where to go before he could leave. Otherwise, he’d wander aimlessly and get nothing done. Dropping down his haunches into a sit on the almost-flat surface, the man let his gaze wander, thoughts stirring his mind as he sat in silence. If he found her - when he found her, would he hear her out or kill her first? wordcount;; one thousand, three hundred-seventeen. lyrics;; cold - crossfade thoughts;; I'm not sure I like this post. My poor Jess.

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[Shadowed]

In darkness the young hessian Ehrgeiz lay, where the heat was not so insufferable and the day could not reach him, and the confinement provided a sense of security not found anywhere else in these lands. His paws were outstretched, his narrow body extended, while his sides grazed stone walls surrounding him. Soft shuffling and murmurs could be heard as the small, winged vermin that took the skies at night roosted deep within the darkness. The wolf took little notice of them, leaving them be as they had accepted his presence without protest since he'd found the cave; the wolf did not flinch as the tiniest of footsteps crawled over him with the slowest and surest of movements. The creatures sharing this cave with him had no interest in destroying him nor running him out, and Ehrgeiz had found a home in it. He had never imagined himself living peaceably in an environment surrounded by other species, but he had found it much easier and more tolerable than dealing with his own kind.

During the day, all the brute did was lounge in the crevice he called home. There was little else to do without causing his feet to blister and vicious birds to attack. The night was cool enough to allow him wandering priveleges, during which he needed to eat and drink as much as he could while conserving more energy than he used. Often it was a difficult task; sometimes, and more often than not, it was impossible. He was thin and his tongue usually dry and sticky, but it was a simple enough existence void of his own species. Besides, he had a lot of fun picking fights with the few other carnivores that roamed the land and skies; the cougars and the condors. If ever worse came to worse, Ehrgeiz could run as quickly as his lean legs would take him and take cover in his cave; it was much too narrow for a cougar, and the birds could not see in the dark, thus never dared to enter. One had been brave enough to chase him even after he'd disappeared into the darkness, and the winged creature had met its end, out of its element and completely helpless.

Grumbling, Ehrgeiz shifted to the other side of his body, tensing his muscles briefly before stretching out again with an enormous yawn. He was stirred from his dozings only when he picked up the sound of claws scraping against stone quickly and desperately; his head lifted and ears perked, before an amused grin spread across his muzzle. Had some foolish feline slipped off the rock ledge outside somewhere? He chuckled and rested his head down once more, but it was mere moments before he lifted it again. Whatever creature was outside had corrected itself before it fell and was continuing along the perilous, rocky edge. Brow furrowing, Ehrgeiz lifted himself to ebon paws lightly, picking his way forward quietly. Something scurried in alarm across his pelt as he moved suddenly, but he merely twitched it off. It would thread its own way off his body and hide in the smaller cracks of the cave until the commotions stopped once more. The wolf was too curious to sit still while something rummaged about outside his cave. However, as a scent wafted in on a rare drifting of air, his hackles rose with surprise and disgust. There was a wolf out there.

A low growl rumbled deep within his chest as he stalked toward the entrance of his cave, disguised in the dark, rock against rock. Keeping to the shadows, he peeked 'round the corner and could see someone with their back turned, resting in the meager shadows that the overhang outside had to offer. He knew of the wolf's predicament, and his ignorance, as he himself had once rested in that exact spot when he had first come to this wasteful land; he had found it only when he had noticed from far below that a stream of bats was exiting from somewhere right near his usual resting place. His decision to explore the curiousity had led him to a rather enjoyable prize. He did not want to let the discovery come so easily to someone else by revealing himself, but he also did not want this stranger to come around while he was out and try to claim this crack in the rocky outcrop for his own. Stepping forward, he made himself known with a more audible, throaty growl.

"It's not often that another wolf treads these lands," Ehrgeiz said irritably, giving the other wolf a detestable look before continuing on quickly, "In fact, you're the first I've seen. So tell me, stranger, what is it that compells you to come through these parts?" His tone was sharp and hasty, commanding attention without interruption and demanding a response just as quickly. Though the wolf had yet to do or say anything to him, he already felt his level of aggrivation rise, and he wasn't yet sure what he intended to do, whether the answer satisfied him or not. He'd never been forced to defend anything but his own body, and he'd always had the choice to run from harm; if he were to protect his home, he could not leave it and thus was quite susceptible to injury. Tensing anxiously, he maintained outward assurance with shoulders squared and tail high, his silvery-blue orb appraising the hessian without deference.

Ooc - Hmm, it seems like you might have had some sort of plot idea for Jess, so if I'm interrupting just let me know and I will go *poof!*. Just thought I'd try and force Ehrgeiz in somewhere while I had a burst of inspiration to get him going XD

[Asphyxia]

[bg=ffffff][atrb=width,523,true][atrb=border,0,true] “I’m sorry, my son. I didn’t think she’d have left. She was born and raised to her duty to me and I figured her loyalties would out rule her heart on this occasion. Unfortunately, her heart appears stronger than her mind.” The King gazed toward his son, pondering what had happened and the fact that Freiya had run off so easily. Her mind would have told her to do her duty and stay, but her heart refused to allow her an arranged betrothal and she’d run. Courajess lifted his own emerald spheres to meet his fathers. “This is beyond ridiculous.” His fathers lips curled at his sudden audacity, hackles raising slightly. “You figured that she would keep her duty to you after you decided to arrange a betrothal to her? If there’s one thing I admire about that woman, it’s that she’s not willing to let anything, including her so called duties, get in the way of what she wants.

[/b]”

“You cross the line, speaking to me like that Courajess.” His fathers large mug raised, but as it did, the graying hairs upon his visage grew all the more visible and Courajess felt pity. Pity that his father had gone to such measures with a female he had so respected. All for the whims of his Queen. Were his own duties to his Queen more important than those to his wolves? “Maybe I do, father. Do I cross the line still, when I tell you I don’t wish for the crown anyway? Do I cross the line still, when I tell you that I’m going off to find her?” A low warning growl met Jess’s acoustics, the auds tipping further forward to listen to his fathers next words that parted his silvering lips. “Yes, you do! It is your destiny! You were BORN for the crown! You were to take over my thrown when I pass. You were to ensure the pack moved on. You cross the line when you threaten my crown and then claim to be taking off after a woman who had left behind her pack.”

“Then I’m sorry that I have already crossed that line, father. I’m beginning to wonder if you and her family were grooming her, her entire life, so that she might take over your Queens place, next to me when you go. Why do I think that? Because you don’t think many, if any woman at all, deserves such a title.”[/I]

A wide yawn escaped the hessains jaws, parting them wide as he gazed about the surrounding canyons. He’d have to decide which pack to investigate for her if he planned to leave within the fortnight. But of the three packs, which was she most likely to attend to? Shifting his weight upon his haunches, the wolf tipped his crown in the direction of Tuatha, acoustics lifting forward, the beast inwardly sighed. Hackles prickled at the sound of anothers growl, plume raising more on instinct that aggressive dominance. Tilting his crown back over his shoulder, he let his hackles fall upon his shoulders once more, a smile tipping one corner of his large mug. Talons gripped at the hard earth, curiosity gleaming upon his visage. He wondered, blatantly, what the other brujo was doing in these parts, howbeit little information of his to claim it was.

The brute before him was a dark male, one that had clearly staked some form of territory here, and why in these lands, Courajess had no idea. The male didn’t seem so much aggressive as ready to defend and appeared slightly insecure in his quick defensiveness of his claims. Shrugging his shoulders into a gentle roll, plume lowered back to the ground, coiling about his haunches as his emerald spheres observed the male before him. The raised tail, hackles and the stance suggested the wolf may pick a fight should Jess not choose his words carefully, however, being the soldier he was, he saw no reason to pick out pretty words and create prettier truths. “I apologize if I’ve come across your cave. I’m actually in search of someone and have no intentions of intrusion.” Slowly, his body turned, haunches lifting for mere moments as he turned so that his chest faced the other male and his crown was straightened once more. Spheres twinkled mischievously as he thought of the female.

“I suppose if I’m the first wolf you’ve seen here, that you haven’t seen the woman I search for.” Letting out a sigh upon his tongue, the male shook his head slowly, “Ah well..” Nodding at the surrounding area, his observations propelled him to continue conversation with the stranger, if not simply until he made decision of where to go. “Perhaps you’ve heard of the neighboring packs. I’m attempting to make a decision as to where to go first to search for this woman. You appear to not be looking for company, so if you wish it, I will leave here.” His own stance was assertive, not aggressive. He didn’t wish to fight unless he had to. Instead, the male was leaving that to the female he promised Syrox that he would quickly put an end to. Shifting his weight, he gazed at the other male in silence.[/size][/center][/color]


wordcount;; eight hundred, seventy-four
lyrics;; none
thoughts;; This post was worse. Lol. Sorry Shadowed!
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