the summer swells in.

[Kaena Lykoi]

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http://digital-bonsai.com/katew/rp/kae/kae_bloody.jpg); background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:fixed; padding-top:230px; padding-left:15px; padding-right:15px; padding-bottom:10px;"> For Inferni's thread prompt #3, the crazy wolf who's been all "omg trespass." I think Anselm would work pretty good here, but any number of Inferni people could join up.     The Veritas was quite glad to wake up at some point in the early afternoon to silence. She was asleep in a dampened, moist cave alone and by herself. But she had woken to a strange sound, or rather, a lack of one—the rain. She opened her single golden eye and inhaled deeply. The world still smelled like water, but she could see the sunlight filtering dimly through the cave, flecks of dust dancing through the slim beam of light snaking toward her forepaw. The grizzled coyote stood, stretching slowly as she yawned widely, those sallow teeth showing for a moment as her lips drew back in a frightening expression that could have been a snarl. The hybrid woman moved after a moment, walking quickly into the warm sunlight and breathing a sight of relief to see a bright blue sky.     The clouds were finally gone, and they'd taken with them the rain that had plagued the new world lands here for what had felt like months. The first months of summer had felt more like spring; there had seemed no end to the precipitation. Even still, she could see evidence in hollows in the ground here and there, the swampy muck that Inferni's lowest-lying earth had turned into. Her face soured momentarily, and she almost considered turning back around and going back to sleep, but duty beckoned her to the border, and she set off slowly, wandering over the spongy territory and headed for the territory's nearest perimeter along the inlet. Her most recent venture to the coastline border had brought her upon Mason, and rather young coyote who had managed to survive for a month on his own.     The hybrid woman began her trek around the borders, weaving over and around that invisible line as she went. She traveled in her four-legged Lupus form, her head close to the ground and her shoulders rubbing against the occasional small bush or tree, leaving tufts of gray and white fur behind. Her scent would strengthen that invisible wall between their territory and neutral lands, she knew—and she was eager to keep the outsiders where they belonged, naturally. The woman was almost to the trees now, having discovered nothing interesting but enjoying the sunny afternoon walk nonetheless.     As she entered the woods, the ground grew drier and easier to walk upon, and her pace naturally increased. The silvery woman continued the same pattern of markings here, rubbing her head and shoulders against the trees as she went. A strange scent caught her nose, and interest showed in her body language, her ears pricking and that golden eye narrowing, her pace increasing as she walked at a quick clip toward the source of the scent. The coyote woman growled softly. It smelled very fresh, and the owner of the scent might still be close. She slowed, slinking forward toward the very edge of Inferni territory, happening across the pile of broken and smashed bones, stinking clearly of that wolf scent. He had walked on their territory, for sure—the whole area surrounding the destroyed bones reeked of wolf.

thanks to james for the header image[/html]