The Centurions slender muzzle rose to taste the summer’s air and the direction it calmly drifted in. The muscles in her arms tensed as she moved her right arm back, but she didn’t have it in her to release the arrow. To her own surprise, she felt a smile embrace her lovely face. This whole idea was silly, and the sad excuses for a bow and arrows would get her nowhere. It was enough to get a shallow feeling of the weapon, but this wasn’t something she could use. A long twig too soft and a thick string of tendon. It was a weapon to laugh at, though she offered a chuckle only as she tossed bow and arrow away into the grass and turned away to peer up at the great mansion, shadowed by a ripening evening.
But it was not yet time to retire for the evening, and she felt restless. She longed for the cool embrace of water, and moved towards the overgrown pond nearby. The days were growing hotter, but while her wolfen mother had contaminated her with some of her arctic heritage, Halo was not too bothered with a thick coat. The evenings were not all that warm, but she did not easily freeze either, and the water was far from icy as she stepped into it, though not before removing the colourful silk with the golden dragon and the belt with the small pouch she bore around her waist. There was no need for the twin sword so close to home, and it had been left in her room earlier that same day.
The reports from the bird and his own observation told Ezekiel that the new pack was not a large threat. That did not, however, change his mind about wishing to keep an eye on them. Being so large and so close to Inferni meant that the muddled thing across the mountain was still a potential threat. Even Anathema, or Sirius’ pack Salsola, they had several long hours between them. His patrols had increased along the mountain-side of their border, but there had been little stirring. Ibsen reported to him about the wolves settling, which would mean they would stay busy for a time. At least this gave him some peace of mind.
Horse and rider traveled back through the forest, along a dirt trail that had been widened since Ezekiel’s rise to Aquila. The main circle around their land, carved by paws constantly passing overhead, had become pronounced with Viggo’s large hooves and weight. A physical line now marked their borders, and led within to both the caves and the mansion. Smaller trails still remained, ones where the massive horse could not travel with ease. Viggo was a good mount and fearless, but his size restricted him in many ways.
They entered through the newly formed back entrance, under the archway made of wood and honeysuckle vines. Ezekiel traveled to the barn and there brushed down the stallion while the massive horse ate. Once satisfied, the Aquila left the stallion and began to travel back towards the Guest House to see his cousin. It was another blood-kin he spotted first, his subleader, and Ezekiel approached her plainly. “Halo,” he greeted.
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-_-
Ears swivelled as she caught the sound of approach above the usual sounds of nature. Red eyes lingered with the man that Gabriel had made leader, and she wondered if the small raincloud was visible above her head as she turned towards him, receiving a greeting consisting of her spoken name only. ”Aquila,” the woman returned, sweet as sugar, turning bloodied eyes away and to the still surface of the pond. They saw each other often enough, but rarely did they stop to interact unless it was strictly clan business. She didn’t think she had anything worthwhile to say to him. He shouldn’t be the head of Inferni, and he shouldn’t be here.
Palms touched the wet surface before they were brought to dark, auburn locks framing her well sculpted face. ”What can I do for you?” She felt uncomfortable in his presence, for there were so many unkind feelings residing within her regarding this particular male. A traitor, though the son of Inferni’s previous King. She didn’t like to think badly of Gabriel, but she believed herself to see favouritism there. Not that she particularly lusted to sit on top of the throne with the full responsibility, but she heavily disliked those who failed to prove their loyalty to the clan. The woman carried grudges, and remembered well that Ezekiel had come and gone several times, while she had never strayed after she had announced her loyalty to Gabriel.
Though blood-related, Ezekiel admired Halo’s build and her beauty. She was physically fit and lean, dark with striking eyes and a pretty face. Her personality was something he did not like, but he barely knew the girl. At least she was a warrior—that was something they could speak of. For now, though, there were other things to discuss. “I met with the leader of the pack to the west. They call themselves Salsola,” he paused, seeing if she had learned this yet. Inferni no longer had reliable spies; the women he had imagined might serve useful had barely been seen at all. “We went to see this new pack across the mountain.”
Another pause. Slowly, a boyish smile broke across his face—it fell short of his eyes, which were gleaming with challenge. “Do you mind if I join you, Centurion?” He was still armed, still carried his satchel; if she refused he would not deny her that. It was the least he could do for someone who by all rights should have gained his position after Gabriel’s retirement.
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-_-
Moist cool embraced her body as she let her frame sink into the black, glistening surface of the lake. A small smile lit up her fair face for merely a moment as Ezekiel’s words reached her ears. ”Sirius Revlis is his name, yes?” She asked, tones overly sweet to add just a touch of arrogance. She too had met with the charming, yet definitely poisonous man. Yes, even in the presence of the only man that was her superior. The Lykoi preferred to dislike him, for he represented something she loathed. Scarlet hues peered at him, curious, for she wondered who the second part of we could be. She would have thought she should have been the one to accompany him, but her position of Centurion seemed to be an empty title more often than not.
She returned his boyish smile with a sugar coated one of her own, though the cool layer in her eyes refused to melt. ”By all means, join me.” Did her cousin know that he had been one of the first rocks that had started the landslide? It was he that had inspired her dreams of becoming one of the most deadly tools this clan had to offer. If not, he was never to learn. He could have been someone she looked up to, but her dislike had grown strong in his absence.
Ezekiel knew, even if he did not fully understand, that Halo disliked him. He could see it in her body language, which screamed what she did not. The coyote slipped into the lake, the still water cool and welcome against his thick wolfish pelt. “Yes,” he answered, brushing blond-white bangs from his face. “He’s quite an…interesting man.”
The Aquila went on to explain how the two men had met, spoken, and agreed to scout out the new pack. They had learned where it had been formed, and by who, and how they were quite large. He spoke a lot and watched Halo as he did, gauging her reaction. They discussed plans to further investigate both the northern pack as well as Sirius’ Salsola, though Ezekiel prompted using both his bird and Val’s owl in this latter instance. Though initially hesitant, Halo agreed to this. After they had finished, Ezekiel excused himself and used the last rays of light to begin his trek back towards the caves.
