The night had almost fallen, and the world was going quiet, save for a strange sound emanating from the depths of Glen Eyrie. It was a chilling sound, like nails being raked down a chalk-board, yet duller, deeper. Somewhere in the dark, an owl turned its head towards the sound, but seeing what was creating it, too flight into the night on dulcet wings.
Hackles raised, claws extended, Zalen no longer looked like the gentle beast he normally did. Now, instead, he looked like a black demon, green eyes glinting in the moonlight as he drew back black lips over sharp white teeth. Continuously, monotonously, the Alpha dragged the talons of his hands down the trunk of a tree, peeling away long strips of bark as he did so. His ears were pinned back against his head, and his pupils pinpricks, and his breathing like the sound of a growling dragon.
How dare that bitch harm one of his pack mates, one of his females! Fayne had been struck down for no reason, despite the reason that the blonde woman was mad and evil. Luckily, the fae had sustained non-life threatening injuries, but those scars would forever mar her body. He would kill the bitch!
Finally, hands aching and covered in sap, Zalen dropped down from his six foot plus height onto all fours, the growling rumble continuing his chest. His eyes darted suddenly into the shadows; there had been a glint of light there. He raised his lips again and snarled, and there, again, a blinking sparkle. His ears shot forward for a moment, and then flattened against his head once more, Leave me be! He said in a rasping voice, one full of pain and anger. But the glinting like continued, beginning as the glow a shooting star might cast upon a snow field, but then grow into a spark, and then a fire, and finally, the translucent yet bright visage of his great-grandmother. She said nothing, but stood by, as her descendant sat trembling in his rage.
The Gamma walked with wearied steps, his alabaster head tilted towards the ground and dark eyes filled with shadow. It was one of those days, the kind where he wasn't sure whether or not he wanted to stay so stagnant. His family - the family he'd grown up with, the family he'd created - was missing, and he desperately wanted to see them. Days like this one made him miss the dark caress of his Lea-Belle, his beautiful best friend who he hadn't seen in several turns of the seasons. It was strange to think that he hadn't seen her in so damn long, that she probably would never want to see him again. In all reality, in the reality he knew he'd created for himself, he knew that Linquilea hated him with every ounce of her bitter being. Shandom supposed she had that right.
He was in his Optime form, a towering white mass that moved over the lands with less noise than one might expect from a creature of his size. Shandom knew he was taller than most in this form, and perhaps slightly thicker as well, but the Gamma still infinitely preferred his four legged form. It felt more natural to him, more like he was himself and not this alien being that was infected by some strange illness he would never be able to shake. How had he ever lived in the Court? How had he ever called that home? It always felt strange for him to walk through the Dawn lands on two legs, but Shandom had come to realize that he was woefully ignorant of his bipedal stature. His enhanced clumsiness had been demonstrated numerous times before in front of Naniko, and as the face of New Dawn he didn't want that to ruin whatever perception other packs might have of them.
Shandom's nose caught wind of the Alpha Zalen and he changed his course, breaking into a brisk jog so to reach his black leader more quickly. A strange sort of eerie glow reached his vision before Zalen himself, and the Gamma was confused and quickly humbled before this strange apperation. Ears folded themselves to the back of his skull and tail was lowered as Shandom approached the Alpha and his ghostly companion, a low whine coming from his hunched form in greeting. He was taller than Zalen, but still conformed his body to show the adequate respect to the younger leader. "My Alpha... Shandom murmured, concern etched across his scarred face as his good eye shifted from the black male to the ghost. "Zalen...if I may be blunt, what happened?
Shandom image by James; table code from the mentors!
Zalen hung his head low, and had he not been so angry, tears would have gathered in the onyx corners of his eyes. He felt useless, felt like he had failed Fayne in not being able to protect her. Why had she wandered so far from packlands, so far that he could not have heard her cries? He would have come in an instant, rage incarnate, to protect her honor and body. But it had not been so, she had limped back to New Dawn, bleeding at the teeth of a dog.
A voice suddenly came to him, and for a split moment he believed it to be Ruby’s, but olive eyes shot up to look into those of his Gamma, Shandom… He said in slight shock, and then, eyes glancing over to see his ancestor’s ghost, who looked at the white wolf curiously, Do not be afraid, she is harmless. He took several steps forward, not bothering to even try and be dominant in front of the ivory male; he just did not have the strength or where withal within him.
Instead, Zalen walked towards his consul and rubbed the top of his head under the male’s chin, a sign of subordination and discomfort. Zalen had not done such a thing before any except towards his mate. But he needed Shandom’s comfort and guidance and trusted the man enough to give him that without judgment. A long, winded and eerie whine was then released from Ruby’s visage as she watched her great-grandson crumble before her.
There was something terribly off about Zalen, something that spoke of danger for the ones the Alpha cared deeply about. Shandom knew his feelings, how he must feel so torn apart if any packmember were injured, and the Gamma suppressed a quietly knowing sigh as he looked at the shadowy male. His spirituality told him that ghosts only appeared in times of great need and to those they cared deeply for - Shandom was overwhelmingly curious as to this ethereal female's identity, but he knew better than to speak before the apparitions of the higher world. Instead, the large white male dipped his head in deference to the fiery woman, a small smile curling across his dark lips. "I do not fear her," he murmured softly, voice barely intelligible. "She is with you - I can only assume that means she does not mean me harm."
The Gamma's words were cut off rapidly, though, by Zalen's quick movement towards him and sudden show of weary submission. Shandom was taken aback for a moment before he gently licked the top of the Alpha's black skull, acknowledging how distraught his leader must be for him to behave in such an uncharacteristic manner. The white male bestowed a gentle nuzzle to the shorter leader, pressing his cool, dark nose to Zalen's cheek and murring softly to convey whatever comfort he could. Words were not adequate here - in this New Dawn, such emotional distress needed to be addressed in the ways their instincts told them. Shandom was suddenly self conscious of his two legged form and wished to be upon four, but it would take too long, and this matter was far too pressing. Dark eyes shifted briefly to the crimson woman - her discomfort and worry for her charge was palpable in the spring air.
"Let me help you," Shandom eventually said, his deep voice quiet as he stepped slightly back from the ebony male. His scarred face was etched with worry for the leader he cared so deeply for, and he could not fathom what must have transpired to reduce the proud man to such a state. But if there was any wolf who could help, the Gamma supposed, it was he - Shandom had not been given his rank for mere show. No, the native Etient was experienced and wise, and had led for a long time in his youth.
Shandom image by James; table code from the mentors!
Zalen gave out a long and weary sigh, especially now that the Gamma had not scoffed at his weakness and submission. Instead, his advisor just wanted to hielp hi, which was all that Zalen needed. The dark Alpha sat down flat on his rear against the tree he had just been mutilating. He put his face into his hands and immediately Ruby was beside him, like a glowing, fiery bird. The ghost look at Shandom, but still said nothing; she was not strong enough yet to make words.
After a pause, Zalen looked back up to the scarred, ivory male, Fayne has been attacked. By that BITCH with the slave. She moves around the lands alone, unprotected, selling her filth, and yet she is untouchable. He snarled again, so very angry, and so wanting to kill that woman that it scared even he.
Then, his countenance changed, from anger to sorrow, And Ichika is gone… I do not even know what’s happened so X’yrin and the others. How could this have happened? What did happen? He looked up at Shandom, seeking answers in the man’s eyes.
Zalen then calmed, trying to pull the emotions inside him, and he looked over to the ghost. She looked at him, and then moved to set her muzzle down upon his shoulder. He flinched at the contact, and like a puff of smoke she disappeared momentarily only to reappear a ways away, watching them.
Shandom froze as Zalen told him what was wrong, and his kind face, so rarely marred by anger or any volatile emotion, twisted briefly into the familiar mask of rage that had so often dominated his features in his youth. He did not know Fayne, aside from seeing her in the pack den on a several recent occassions - the Gamma had been busy with his own duties and had been remiss about getting to know the girl. But his hackles raised and his teeth threatened to gnash in his mouth as he thought about her attack. How dare anyone attack a pack wolf! The audacity was repulsive and the white male thought about how easy it would be for New Dawn to take this woman down. One trader, regardless of how talented she was a fighter, would be no match for a pack. It was simply the way of things. She should pay for her attack, Shandom growled, the anger palpable in his throat. I do not know of her - I avoid traders and their humanized ways, this is the first I have ever heard of her. But attacking Fayne is unacceptable, if it was unprovoked, as I assume.
The Gamma was angry - the volatile youth he'd been wanted so badly to well up to the surface and find the blonde bitch to teach her a lesson. How hard could it be, anyway? Shandom was large in his Optime form, and though his years as a trained warrior were long behind him the skills were not entirely depleted. No, the Qi'Vaex man could hold his own as he always had, and this girl, this arrogant, trading bitch would pay for her crimes if he ever saw her. Later, he decided, he would make an effort to seek out Fayne and inquire further about the attack. He would not move against this woman without Zalen's permission, but he could not suppress the need to find out everything he could about this new adversary.
But he could not let the anger overwhelm him, and Shandom took a calming breath for a moment before turning his attentions to the reality of Ichika's demise. They had become smaller, in recent times, the Gamma sighed, shaking his large head briefly. And with such a change of leadership, I... I think it was hard for members, and one by one, they left. Packs come and go, and it is the way of things, but I hope they are okay. Have you heard from any of them, since... Since Ichika fell apart? His deep tones were laced with sadness, and his dark eyes, subconsciously, sought the ghostly form who haunted Zalen. She clearly cared deeply about the dark man, and there was a bit of calming sense from her presence. A slight smile curled around his black lips. The appearance of spirits appealed to the white man's internal religious leanings, and he was happy to have her.
Shandom image by James; table code from the mentors!
