07-01-2009, 04:40 AM
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| http://digital-bonsai.com/katew/rp/kae/kae_disorder.jpg); background-position: bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat;"> The sea called to Kaena as plainly as the cry of another coyote, and she found herself wandering away from the territory again. Since she'd come here three weeks ago, she had steadily grown more confident in her surroundings, and now ventured through the Dampwoods, taking her time as she kept close to the mountain. Inferni was not so far away, but it would take her a good few hours to make the trek back home again. The rain didn't bother her so much; it seemed to have been going on for the past three days, and Kaena was tired of waiting for it to stop to make her next venture out to these new territories, and so she had gone, ignoring the light drizzle that dampened her ashen fur. When she had reached the edge of the woods, she heard the shore's call as clearly as anything, and decided to watch the storm roll in from out over the ocean. She picked her way across the sand, noting that it was far smoother and finer grain than the sands of Drifter Bay and the Waste, and even Inferni's tiny strip of coastline. It was like silk between her toes, and as Kaena ambled across its length she felt she was on Hell's Coast again, watching the wind whip the ocean into a furor. The waves violently wrecked the sandy shores. The Lykoi noticed an island, and saw there was a lighthouse there. Figuring the view to be fantastic, the hybrid picked up the pace and went to the spot on the coast closest to it. The swim was short, but the ocean was frenetic and the Lykoi hesitated just a moment, standing looking at the bruise-colored ocean swirling before she made the plunge. The water was frigid, and Kaena almost regretted this decision, but she quickly paddled through the water, her strong Optime legs powering through the narrow channel. Before she even lost her breath, she was on the other side, climbing out of the water dripping wet. She shook the salt from her fur, realizing it was an exercise in futility—it would be mere moments before the skies opened up and dumped just as much water back over her head. The hybrid snorted, and headed for the lighthouse, delicately picking between large rocks as she went. Most were off-green and covered in some kind of moss or algae; only the hardiest, salt-loving types would survive here. Lightning illuminated the fast-dimming day for a moment, and thunder followed shortly after, grumbling displeasure over the lands. As she rounded the corner of the lighthouse, her single eye fell on another creature. She was surprised—she hadn't expected to see anyone this far out. She was aware of the presence of Phoenix Valley to the south and east, but she did not know that Phoenix Valley and Inferni were currently unfriendly. Either way, unless she had an order from Gabriel to treat members of a certain pack with kindness, it didn't matter what the status of the two groups' relationship was. Kaena rarely went for friendly, and as she smelled this wolf, something jarred her memory. Recognition stirred inside of her brain, and a cold, reptilian feeling crept through her. The silver hybrid knew this hybrid—not by name, but by the taste of his blood. The chip in his ear was her work—she clearly recalled chasing the smart-mouthed little bastard off of Inferni sands previously, her teeth finding flesh. He was lucky she had only gone so far; having her own children had made Kaena far more sympathetic to them, though that hadn't stopped her from killing one in the throes of the Aremys war. There were no rules in battle, anyhow—children were just as fair game as anyone else standing in her way. A cruel smile crossed Kaena's charcoal lips, and her aged fangs bared in a sarcastic grin. "How's that ear?" she cooed at him, her voice taking the high-pitched, condescending tone sort of one would take in talking to a misbehaving child. |