The headband did a decent job at keeping his lengthening locks from shrouding the boy’s unique sunset gaze, no matter the activities he busied himself with. His body was stiff and ached from use, but he did not think it was a bad thing. He had drifted around aimlessly for too long, and it should be natural for his body to react to rough changes in his life’s pattern. Perhaps he was secretly attempting to prove himself for a certain someone. But she was not a part of his life, so what was there to prove? Sharp fangs rubbed against his lower lip as he bit down on it gently, but inflicting physical discomfort brought no answers. Perhaps he needed to figure out the questions first.

The fallen Prince of Inferni had spent some time merely watching the animals, but was now returning to the room known as his, walking through the scarcely lit halls of dark stone. Clawed fingers ran along the hard rock, creating a lasting sound as he moved. What was loneliness? Was he unable to recognize misery because he did not know that things could be different? It was impossible for him to say, but he knew that he wasn’t empty despite the image everyone else saw.

Something overpowered the sound of gray claws against solid rock, and blushing hues of vivid sunsets rose and abandoned the dark path ahead in pursuit of the sight that could help the youth to understand the origins of the sound. He was instantly rewarded, though his pace lost its confidence as his eyes continued to investigate another male that looked like nothing he’d seen before. Itachi’s eyes were young and had seen very little of what the earth offered, and he would stare like a child without shame. Simple signs of courtesy were rarely worn by the young prince. If he found something worth staring at, he would do just that.

What was more impressive was the weapon held by the other. Perhaps this was another warrior of the pack. If so, then fortune surely smiled at the young traitor. The Lykoi abandoned his current direction and headed to the male in the common room instead. The sword the young member had stolen from his mother in Inferni was not present on the boy’s hip, but he felt confident approaching the other member regardless. He knew they had something in common already. While his blade was elegant and sleek, the axe was large and no doubt powerful. Itachi would never reach an impressive size and he would always be more lean than well-built.

”I am Itachi,” he said, introducing himself as he squatted down before the other. Depths of flawed red followed the blade’s movement.

What a strange name—it sounded more like a title, though one he was unfamiliar with. The blonde boy’s chin lifted slightly, a sign of silent acknowledgement and gratitude as the same courtesy was returned. There was no apology for startling the other, for it was not the Lykoi boy’s fault that he had been caught by surprise. Itachi’s approach rarely held words before he was close, and if he had managed to catch the other adult by surprise, then the flaw belonged to the man with one eye. Yes, only one eye shaded red, the second was hidden away by a black patch. What was the hidden eye’s story? But Itachi knew better than to ask without a cue.

Ah, yes, the lovely weapon. The younger male’s gaze travelled between the blade and its owner, struggling with fascination still. ”Are you a warrior?” the boy wondered, tilting his face slightly as he offered the question. To him the answer should be obvious, but he could not assume the other’s rank based on this sighting alone. He knew better than to take things for granted. One could get burnt for doing such things. Itachi had already stepped wrongly, and though it depended on the situation, consequence could not be avoided.

The answer proved positive, and the young male’s still lips curled the slightest at the reassuring word spoken. He had never seen anything quite like this male. Of course it was obvious to all what kind of creature he was. But that proved to be the tricky part, for the young Lykoi had learned early in life that appearances could be deceitful. Who was he to assume another man’s nature when there were other methods to retrieve genuine information? The axe was a mighty weapon that few would be worthy of wielding, but the same went for the sword he had stolen from the Triarii, and he did not deserve to own such a thing at all.

The man’s size was justified when he rose, standing tall before the hybrid youth. His young body was still developing, but he suspected he’d never match the full-blooded wolf’s size. Not that it meant everything. The hybrid’s mother was a deadly creature despite her petite size, and he was certain that he would find his way. Crimson gaze did not flicker from the older man’s weapon, but the youth was on unfamiliar grounds here. He knew well how he must look to the other. A mere boy with a veil of slight admiration clouding the unique sunset shades of his eyes.

The sword was not with him and his hands were empty. ”I seek to join the warrior team..” he spoke, lifting his gaze to the lonely eye of the other. He was already a part of that rank tier, technically, but of what worth was an empty title when the individual holding it was as inexperienced as he? ”Can you help me?”

Itachi had decided on leaving the stolen blade behind for one simple reason. He was not skilled enough to wield it. It was a beautifully crafted weapon that deserved better than to be held in inexperienced hands. Brows furrowed slightly at the simple question asked in response to the boy’s uncommon request. Suddenly the monstrous male broke into motion, and the words that escaped him revealed their meaning despite the foreign language. Ears moved to lean against darker blonde hues, but he knew that the only valid option here was to give into the pressure.

The young male quickly took the short route to his cave and retrieved the lovely piece of deadly treasure. He followed the fresh scent of the other warrior until the air he breathed was fresh no longer the stagnant of the caves. Young hands clutched the sleek black sheath where the finely crafted metal waited. The Lykoi disliked the thought of sparring with axe and sword, but if he refused to use his sword for training then there was the chance he would not get the opportunity to practise with a more seasoned fighter at all. He did not want to risk that.

Finally catching up with the other Anathema member, the younger male waited silently for instruction.

The boy remained visually oblivious of the narrowed eye of the other as he focused on the sleek sword resting in the younger Anathema wolf’s hands. It meant nothing. All he required was assistance to heighten his level of knowledge in the tier he had requested to be put in when he had come of age. While the flawed Lykoi’s loyalty and commitment to this pack was limited, there were goals he wished to reach while he stayed here, and this was a suiting method to fake productiveness in the name of his pack. His motivation was one of greed, simplified without multiple layers to disguise his need to justify his actions.

The young member moved to stand where the older gestured, and turned to face the compact man. He did not feel as confident as he should, for the man and the size of his axe were naturally intimidating. Lack of experience shone through as he did not make a move as the warrior deliberately moved his axe. A small bow of his muzzle was all that was offered the other. Coming from Itachi, it was a strong confirmation of respect, but there was no reason for him to expect the other to realize this. Fingers curled firmly around the blade’s handle now, for his early impression of this man suggested that this would not be a smooth and delightful dance on rose petals.

If there had been any expectations for this encounter, reality did not match his flat imagination. Black pupils shrank into mere pinpoints in a sea of vast scarlet, and it seemed a moment was all it took before adrenaline flowed thickly through dilated veins. The rush of blood roared in his ears like a stirred up sea, and the monster came after him without any sign of lament. The flawed Lykoi male could only see this as a mistake now; and there was danger here. He could feel the ground under him crunch slightly as he moved with urgency. Fangs were revealed with the recognition of threat, but his body signals were unconscious signs beyond his control, for all he could afford to concentrate on was the large axe coming his way.

His body arched slightly to magnify the distance to the warrior’s heavy blade as it soared past where the boy had stood moment’s earlier. But instead of digging deep into the youth’s side, it leaped past, but the young hybrid could feel the air pressure. Awareness of the sword returned to his fingers and he took a step forward, aiming at the larger man’s own side in an elegant yet inexperienced curve. Golden fur stood on end, and he was not fully committed to the attack he now sent at the man, for he was fully prepared to adjust the blade’s move to serve as a metal shock absorber if the axe came after him again too quickly. The boy was too inexperienced to prove effective in the presence of the well seasoned warrior.