afterglow
#1
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During the war, Vieira had kept quiet and to herself. War was not something she was interested in, nothing something she was able to participate in, and she could no nothing more than sit back and watch. She took care of things in the cave, as usual, now that she was perfectly healed from her attack some time ago and now the war was over. Vieira was not necessarily bored about things but now she would have more time with her owner since things had calmed down. It was a different feel in the air and she could tell. Kaena was gone that morning for whatever reason and Vieira did her usual things, straightening up and cleaning and everything in between that she did ever since she came to this land.

When she was finished, she did not repeat her tasks and instead moved to her room where she sat. The days were warmer and she did not need more than one blanket covering her, so the two extra she had were folded neatly and she used one as bedding on the ground. Her fur was all right enough to keep her warm in the dark cave at night. Soon, she hoped, it would be as warm as Eterne at certain points of the year and her thin coat would do her good. She noticed the thickening of her fur over the last few months but now it was shedding off every time she touched it with the temperature rising.

Vieira sat crossed leg, quietly, and stared at her belongings; the blankets in the corner and her Rudolph doll sitting by her Legos. She did not have much for she did not need much and did not know the value of wanting material items. She could easily live without these things despite they had formed a connection to her, but it was not the point in this case. She knew, as easily as she had got them, Kaena could take them away.

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#2
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Hybrid's movement through the lands were slowly returning to a familiar rhythm. It was becoming more of a mechanical routine for him to wander through the territory, idling patrolling empty borders. The war was over now, and there was no one out there. Hybrid wondered if somehow, the wolves of Dahlia de Mai had forgotten about them. Perhaps they were too busy hunting down the leader they had exiled. However, it was doubtful; the main driving force of their blood thirst had been their leader. Now that they had removed him, nothing was left for the wolf pack. A small voice in the back of his head noted that if Inferni so desired, now they could crush Dahlia de Mai. But for whatever reason, that was not their goal. It never had been, no matter how much Hybrid desired it. He did not think even Gabriel wanted it. Even if Gabriel’s word was law, Hybrid still contemplated these things. Even if Gabriel could deny his request of destruction, his desire for it was still there, pulsing.

Somehow, Hybrid found himself returning to the caves earlier than he had anticipated. His long, spindly legs brought him to the entrance of Kaena’s den; soon, he found himself waiting outside of it. He had never been here before, but inexplicably, he had found himself desiring her company. Someone’s company, at least. Someone who was not a fool, and who could see the realities of the post-war period.

He was tired.

“Kaena,” he called out. He paused, wondering if he should say anything else. He was unused to this sort of greeting. He did not often seek others out or wait patiently. There were many things he did not do, and he wondered if he would begin changing his habits now that the war had concluded. There were many things he wondered about.

He frowned and peered inside the cave, snaking his head around the entrance. The cave was dark in comparison to the outside world. The sun shone brightly behind him. Hybrid turned around for a moment, re-affirming that the world was still there and the sun was still was still shining. He peered in again, noticing a room off to the back. He wondered if Kaena was in there. He took a step forward, then hesitated; he did not know what he was supposed to do now.

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#3
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Vieira had a habit of zoning out when she was alone, as if she were sleeping but still awake. Her eyes were usually open and all her senses worked, but her mind went into hibernation until she was needed. She had been rewired at such a young age to do only when told and to speak only when spoken to that when she had nothing to do, she went into a reserve. But she had to be ready at all times and when she was alone in Kaena's den with no stimulation, she often fell into this mode. Any small sound would snap her back to the world in which she would check her duties before she settled down and fell back into the mode.

But the sound that snapped her out was a voice and her body jerked in surprise. During the war, Vieira had stayed holed up with little communication to the outside world and it was nothing she wasn't used to. She did not mind it, she was not social and she was not good at keeping up a conversation with someone so the less time she was with others the better.

The scent filled her nostrils quickly and it was not she did not necessarily recognized but a scent from Inferni nonetheless. She slowly picked herself up, the bones in her knees cracking, and moved to the main room of the cave where she saw the male starting to advance but reconsidering. Her golden eyes fell to the ground immediately when the light shone on her form and her lips twisted. "Kaena is away, sir," she said quietly, her fingers flexing before the tapped against her thighs. "I believe she is on the borders," she speculated; in fact, the woman never told her but often times that was where she was or with Gabriel or... wherever else while she stayed back, hidden away from the civilization of Inferni. But why she stayed back was nothing Vieira had to worry about and something she left to the discretion of her owner.

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#4
420.
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He had not anticipated this. When he had realized where he was, he had the desire to see her. He had not even contemplated the possibility that she might not be in her den, or that someone else would. The appearance of this pale coyote surprised and perplexed him for reasons he did not understand. He had not seen her anywhere, and her face eluded him. Although Hybrid did not boast knowledge of the entire clan, and he really should be keeping tabs on who was a part of Inferni and who was not, he still felt like he had a fairly basic grasp of the members of the clan. He frowned, examining the girl hunched before him. For whatever reason, she kept her gaze cast downwards and her entire form hunched over. He had seen a flash of metal before she had dipped her head low, but could not figure out what it was, or what was its significance. He did not know her and he did not know why Kaena kept some woman in her cave. Suddenly, Hybrid felt nauseous as he realized Kaena probably kept this female around for the same reason he had locked Pilot in a shed. He supposed that if he desired males, it was also likely that females desired... females. The thought sickened him. There was no reason to desire some feminine form, and Hybrid wondered how Kaena, the warrior who had accompanied him on his kill, had fallen so low.

“Oh,” he replied curtly. He did not know what else to say now that he suspected Kaena of being attracted to women. What did this mean for this female? Or, perhaps, she was just Kaena's assistant, a friend, or someone waiting for Kaena to return. Hybrid hoped he was not jumping to conclusions. Of course, when he kept someone in his personal quarters, it was not for a friendly greeting. Hybrid grimaced again. No, Kaena could not desire the touch of a woman, and this woman... could she also be attracted to Kaena as well? The entire concept of women desiring women confused Hybrid, as he had never considered it before. He wished he had never even though that; it was stupid and ridiculous. He would just ask this woman what she was doing here. That would alleviate his concerns.

“Who are you? What are you doing here?” His tone was flat, and it sounded as if he wasn't interested. He was, but he did not want this woman to suspect anything.

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#5
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Vieira was not great at determining voices when they were spoken. She could tell the difference between content and angry, both which were a constant pat of her entire life. Either they were mad at her or bored with her and neither were all that great for her in the long run. But Hybrid's simple oh made her feel uneasy and her feet shuffled awkwardly, her fingers tapping on her tight with the need to do something. And naturally, he did not leave and instead asked about her just as everyone else. It was then she realized Kaena must not speak of her to anyone; was she ashamed of what she had? Though not a concern of her own until Kaena decided it, she pushed it away. When Kaena did not want her, she would take action and the outcomes would not be any good for her.

"I am Vieira Lykoi," she murmured softly, taking a step forward to close the distance so she did not raise her voice. "I live with Kaena," she said, answering the questions with the least bit of information. The term slave bothered some wolves and for that she had seen distaste in Kaena's face but she felt uncomfortable when she was not truthful, another problem she had with the prospect of punishment in her future. It was nothing that had ever been told to her clearly and something she had to judge for herself, an action she was not good at whatsoever.

She swallowed hard and her hands drew up behind her back, locking fingers and resting at her hips. "You can wait here for her if you need to," she offered. If it were serious, Kaena come take care of it when she came back and she could keep him company. With a stranger in the cave of her owner, she would have to be careful to watch him should he want to harm anything she had. His purpose for being here was not laid out before her and she could only assume he was a friend of the elderly leader.

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#6
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Her words soothed him. The relief was sudden and strange, but Hybrid welcomed it in a way he never had. She was a Lykoi; there was no way Kaena could desire this woman. She was Kaena’s own blood, so the matriarch must have been keeping Vieira here until she could find herself her own cave or suitable living arrangement. His lip twitched in contentment, glad to hear the woman’s words. For a moment, he did not mind that he was interacting with a female that was not Kaena. However, that feeling was quickly replaced with resentment: why had Kaena failed to inform him about the presence of a family member in her home? If Hybrid was to adequately protect the leaders of Inferni, he would also have to protect their family or those who played an important role within the clan. Although Halo had a greater duty to Kaena than Hybrid, he took his role as Hydra seriously. No harm could come to Gabriel’s family.

He considered questioning her relation to Kaena and Gabriel, but did not think the information would be all that interesting. Whatever she was, she had the word Lykoi in her name, and as the mother of Gabriel, coyotes bearing the name Lykoi were important, somehow. In some way. If he did not justify it that way, he would fail to uphold his role in Inferni and would dedicate himself solely to Gabriel. Somehow, he suspected that would displease the Aquila, so he weaved elaborate webs of relations to ensure his dedication.

Hybrid frowned, wondering why this woman was acting so strangely. Her voice was soft and her entire body was awkward. Could she possibly be uncomfortable here? In Kaena’s den, or interacting with Hybrid? He was still rather perplexed over his previous ideas of their relationship, so this only confused him further. He did not understand the complexities of social interaction; he understood the simplicity of the battlefield. He still did not know why anyone, be it himself or others, sought out the company of others. When Vieira asked him if he would like to wait, he did not have an answer for her.

“I don’t know,” he replied honestly. “I don’t know why I’m here,” he stated, flicking his ears forward, annoyed at himself for revealing this. He opened his mouth to add something else, but he did not know what to say. Social situations were strange and foreign to him.



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#7
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Her own knowledge of Inferni members were limited. The only canine she could related to, no matter how far of a feeling it were, was Snake. But she had not seen him in a while and she could barely recall the time he had been here. The only reminder she had was the stuff reindeer she possessed, having her recollect the soft blue bear that still had her attention. The other coyotes made her awkward, especially Rikka, but she was someone she had not seen all that much either. The majority of her interaction was with Kaena and even that was scarce. The war had everyone occupied and her locked away in hiding, not because she was afraid but because she was of no real use.

When he confessed he did not know why he was here, she felt all the more awkward. His presence had no reason and she did not know what to do. She could not tell him to leave, she did not have that force, and he could easily ignore her or hurt her if she angered him. Her jaws parted to respond, but she realized she had no words, and her lips twisted into a frown. The silence was awkward—even to her, since she often times preferred the quiet—and her golden eyes searched the floor to find his feet. "I'm sorry," she murmured to him, having nothing else better to say. "Is uhm... is there anything I can do for you, sir?" she asked, going to say his name but she lacked that information and nothing she was going to ask for.

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#8
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He still did not know. Somehow, he still did not understand himself; how he worked, why he thought, or what he did. Right now, right this second, everything about himself that he was normally so sure of was completely foreign to him. However, the sour taste of uncertainty was quickly replaced with the cool sensation of awareness. He was interacting with a female, and for no reason whatsoever. She was a female that was not Kaena and who had not yet earned anything from him, even the right to speak. Rikka had annoyed him and perplexed him; her thoughts were so foreign and her character so cowardly that he could not stand to remember their interaction. One coyote woman named Rielle had been tolerable. In fact, Hybrid had quite liked her. She was quick and had made an exemplary sparring partner. It was a shame she had not been able to partake in the war; she would have made an excellent soldier defending Inferni.


So now, when Hybrid was at a loss of what to say, he reverted to the familiar: war, bloodshed and fighting. Some might have considered it pathetic that he based his entire life around such a sinful, singular goal. But Hybrid thought it was noble and just, and would defend his role as best he could.

“Do you fight?” he asked suddenly, almost cutting Vieira off. He almost did not hear the sir, and he wished he hadn’t. He still did not know why she was using such a strange term to refer to him. He was Hybrid. That was it. And this was what he knew: how to fight.

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#9
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He did not even consider her offer, whatever he may have wanted, and went on about something else. The question made her feel awkward and she shifted in position. She was a tiny coyote, much smaller than the average canine, and worn from lack of proper nutrition as she grew. She would never be a right size and always looking underfed even if she had the amount of food she needed. But the question, do you fight rang in her ears. She swallowed hard again and parted her jaw, thinking of an answer that might have been suitable but all she had as a simple: "No, sir."

She had been in many fights, if that was what they were called, but in reality they had been punishments—or attacks such as Sicarus—where she had been (and always will be) on the losing end. She had no fight in her and probably never would. If someone wanted to take her life, she doubted she would fight back. Her life was worthless and everyone could live with out her. She was unable to fulfill the goals of Astaroth's need of children, she was unable to make Sivaro or Eris happy, and she felt to Kaena that she was nothing but a troublesome burden, an inconvenience in her life that she had to deal with.

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#10
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Vieira’s response caused a frown to crease Hybrid’s already heavily-marred brow. He did not know how to reply to such an admission of guilt that so very contradicted everything he knew. He understood that there were canines within Inferni that could not fight. In fact, he had heard Gabriel mention them possibly even by name at one of the meetings held during the Second Dahlian War. He knew there were coyotes that did not or could not fight, such as Rikka. There were also coyotes that chose to apply their skills in other ways, such as Anselm. He did not know how to relate to Vieira now. As with Rikka, they had simply clashed and butted heads. Of course, she had been too pigheaded to realize how much of a whimpering fool she was. Hybrid did not want to wait and see if Vieira would be the same.


“So then what do you do?” he asked airily. He held his head high, peering down at the pale coyote from narrowed eyes. His shoulders jerked in a awkward movement, as if he was trying to convey elegance. Pure arrogance allowed his words to drift to the woman on a breeze of apathy and distaste. Hybrid could not fully understand her role within Inferni unless it was explained in terms of violence. Did she sneak in to packs and gather information? Or did she quietly stalk the neutral territories, perpetuating myths about Inferni? Certainly, she had a role, somehow. He just did not understand it yet.

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#11
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"I'm a sl—" she started but took that back. Kaena had not been happy when she introduced herself as much, as if she were ashamed of the property she owned but it was not Vieira to decide that. She wanted to make the woman happy and avoiding it as much as she could. The title could be set aside and if she had to, she would announce it, but Hybrid had not directly asked the question. "I help Kaena out with what she needs," she explained and looked at her hands, then bringing her golden eyes around the den. "I help her clean and I cook and... and things like that," she explained but it was still vague. And then the garden she had promised to start but only when the weather was fine and the ground had dried enough for her to make things work.

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#12
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All Hybrid could offer Vieira was a blank, empty stare. She did nothing of importance and held a position that could easily be forgotten. Certainly, if Hybrid had not stumbled upon her today, he would have never known she existed. This demonstrated to Hybrid that she did not have a particularly pressing duty to fulfil. Ultimately, her existence was insignificant, and whatever she did to assist Kaena was probably marginal. He only wished he could find more useful creatures in Inferni, rather than these kinds of annoying wretches he kept stumbling upon. He wondered if she was a coward, like Rikka.


Again, he had another question. Why had she joined Inferni? No, that was too vague. He wanted to know. He had to know. With Rikka, she had danced around the subject. Hybrid would be direct this time.

“Are you a coward?”

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#13
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Are you a coward?

Vieira flinched slightly and looked back to the ground. Vieira was not a coward. She had no drive to achieve much more complicated things than making her owner happy. She did not have room to be anything else other than a slave. If Kaena told her to something, Vieira would despite whatever fear she had. It was not an emotion, feeling, or something apart of her that was out in the open to be discussed. Whatever fear Vieira might have would have to be overcome the second she was asked to do something relevant.

And for this reason, she did not have an answer. I don't know was not the correct answer and her ears twitched upon her head. "No," she finally said with uncertainty but she knew she had already proven herself to be pathetic. "Coward is not what I can be," she said and her lips twisted. "I am what I am told," she finally said, hinting in the direction of what she truly was and would forever be.

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#14
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Hybrid’s frown returned for a moment, wondering how she could be so certain she was not a coward. He had met a few females over the years, and they had been less than desirable. In fact, he had despised many of them. The only females he could immediately recall were the ones who he held some sort of grudging respect for or those he had truly disliked. His mother ranked very highly in the list of those he disliked. She had abandoned him enough for Hybrid to understand her role was neither to her family nor to Inferni.


He flinched when Vieira spoke again, not realizing he had let his mind wander. His frown deepened as he tried to remember if he had missed anything. What had Vieira looked like? Had she grimaced? He needed to know if she was telling the truth. There were no places for cowards in Inferni; Hybrid would make damn sure of it.

“How can you know? What are you... that you can know?” He asked, adding the second question on almost as an afterthought. Her admission, I am what I am told confused him. How could she be what she was told? Did she have no desire in her actions?

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#15
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During her admission, she realized there was no going back. If she were to upset Kaena for what she had done, she would take the punishment. But in being a slave, Vieira could not lie unless she was directly told her and even then it was awkward for her. "I am..." she started, her fingers twitching, tapping against her thighs lightly. "I am a slave, sir," she finally admitted. She did not raise her eyes to look at him in order to determine what he felt but continued to remain her place, submissive and with her eyes away from his.

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#16
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Again, Hybrid’s blank stare returned. He did not understand the meaning or the significance of the word. The statement rang hollow in his ears, and his frown deepened even further. His face was now distorted into a strange scowling heap, and Hybrid was no less confused. He could not understand why she kept her face hidden from him and why she had hesitated so much, either. What was this word, that it could hold such a power over someone? Although Hybrid only truly acknowledged the power of teeth and claws, he could see how other things held power over individuals. How some coyotes could talk someone to death, and how some could mesmerize another with nothing more than a glance.

“What’s that?” he asked at last. There was no remorse in his voice, and his tone was flat, if a little more curious than before.

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#17
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Hybrid asked about the term she used and she could not believe someone did not know what it was but then again, Silas had not. She remembered that. But Silas was not good with English and that was the fault. Hybrid seemed quite capable with the language but she did not know what to say. Her jaws parted to speak and she snapped them shut for a moment, flicking her tail and pushing the claws of her hands into her thigh. "It is... property," she murmured quietly and tightened her jaws, looking behind Hybrid for a brief moment to make sure Kaena was no where near. "I am property. I do what I am told," she said awkwardly, pressing down into her skin but not nearly enough to break it.

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#18
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"What? Why?" Hybrid replied stupidly. He did not understand why someone would want to become the property of another. Why had Vieira allowed someone to rule her so completely? Certainly, Hybrid had a strange relationship with Gabriel, and Inferni by extension, but Gabriel did not own him. In fact, Hybrid's loyalty was not free; it had been earned. He had never consented to become something Gabriel owned, like items he might keep in his den. Even Hybrid owned very little; his den was a barren hole in the ground. He did not understand how someone could own another coyote when he owned so little himself. He had no use for material possessions. The only things he kept were wolf skulls, and those were the property of Inferni now, placed on their sticks.


He frowned again, wondering why she looked so tense. Certainly, Hybrid tried to intimidate most he came in contact with, but he was not really trying to do that now. He did not understand her motivations or her behaviour. He would never be able to determine if she was a coward or not like this.



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