With patience wrongs are turned right
#1
[html] Claudius. Sorry for the delay. Backdated a bit?


Her strength had returned like the slow soft rise of a morning sun. When there were no visitors to her dark prison Anu tried to sleep. The guards did not bother her, they knew she was to be left alone by Maska's orders. The other creatures that had shared her prison with her went unaddressed for she did not know who or what was safe. Because of that the woman had been able to find dark slumber often. At first she was so weary that it was easy to slip from the conscious world, but it had come that her body was healing and at times she lay staring at the wall for hours. The Dreamer knew not what day it was, or if the leaves had begun to change and the arrival of Fall had truly come. It felt like winter in the hole in which she now lived.

Anu sat, facing the wall with her head hung. The rope no longer lived tied tight to her neck, but hung along her scapula like the collar of a trusted pet. Though she had the energy to rise from her belly and stay awake for extended periods of time, she was far from capable of escape. The woman had a deep desire to return to her home, that longing only increased with the passing moment but she knew that she could not overtake the Guardians. And then Maska would have her killed, and his only means of retrieving the Untinas would be to raid Crimson Dreams once more.

With closed eyes the woman let the pictures of her sons, their faces smiling, their eyes the same bright cerulean that she owned shining with a joy that she missed, pass over her mind's eye. She hoped they knew not to look for her, and that with patience she would return.

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#2
WC: 303
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[/html]Since his brother's departure, Claudius had been determined to right one of the wrongs he knew existed within AniWaya: Anu's forced holding. She had been taken from her home and kept here as living ransom for the Utina's and the thought of her suffering like he had -- perhaps worse -- unsettled Claudius. He wished he could have used a stronger word, but he didn't really know her, so he couldn't do much more than feel sorry for her. This felt wrong, somehow, and he needed to throw aside his dis-attachment and become involved in the entire situation. His emotions normally ran high, but perhaps he was too selfish to let himself feel for anyone else. He hated thinking this might be true.

Day after day, he had made it a habit to make his way near where she was being kept. Sometimes, he would wait far away, wondering how he might help. Other days, he ventured close to the building only to shy away and leave. This time, he had come again; but unlike the other times, it felt differenet.

He quietly let himself in to where she was being kept and was careful not to be spotted. He knew he would have no way of explaining his scent here, so he could only hope that his previous visits made it smell like he was always just passing through on route as he performed his duties as a respectful tribemember.

He closed the door quietly behind him and turned to face the captive. She looked incredibly sick and worn and Claudius thought he saw a piece of rope looped around her neck. He stared at her intensely, hoping to prevent himself from being sick. The entire room smelled like decay.

"H... h..." he began, and then stopped. "Wha-a-a... t... is... yo-ou-our... name?" [html]
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#3
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Anu did not turn at the sound of someone approaching. They came and went, and those that had come to her had not given her any hope of her release. But she knew the scent of Maska, his stench could be taken up by her nose before he could even entered the dark building. This was not their leader. He spoke as well, words shattered but a stutter but the old wolfess could tell what he wanted. Naturally kind she would once give her name easily, and this wolf with a masculine scent had asked so meekly. Anu turned her head, blue eye glinting against the small ray of light and shining against all the muddled gray that she become.

He was almost as pale as a ghost, his demeanor making him just as transparent. Her gaze narrowed, distrusting the slim beast and the intense gaze that he gave her. I have nothing for you. She replied. She didn't care what he had been sent here for, nor what he wished to take from her. Did he want information? Did he wish for her to fear him? Not even a name. She added. She wouldn't be afraid...

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#4
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[/html]Claudius felt his one hand begin to twitch: an old childhood habit that returned anew. He brought his other hand up to clench down on his wrist and held it tensely to his side, hoping to prevent the spasms from worsening. He hadn’t twitched like this since he was a child – not since his one leg had grown out all the way to match his others. When he’d been younger, his left front leg had been a bit shorter and it had taken a few months before it had gotten better. Now, that same leg (arm, this time) was twitching, likely from the stress of the situation.

Claudius’ ears flopped down sadly when the wolf responded. Her tone was cold and grave and Clauidus did not think she wanted to talk to him at all.

“W-w-we-we-ll,” he began, and then stopped. He shivered a bit and tried again: “I ju-u-ust wa-a-ant t-t-to he-e-elp,” he explained. “Do-o y-ou… nee-eed… a-n..nee..ee..ee… food, umm… miss?” He took a hesitant half-step forward, but stopped in the middle. He didn’t know what to do. [html]
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#5
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She stared at him. Her frown was set deep, and her lips quiver slightly as she watched him. How dare he come to humiliate her? Anu stood, her body was frail and thin but she still had the strength of her igniting anger. The Dreaming wolfess could hardly believe that this was who the true AniWayans had sent to tend to her ills. The woman had been laying in the dark, thoughts of her kind deep stewing in her head and though she would not regret what she did for Nayati and his family she had begun to doubt the strength of the other tribes members. Had they no one who could kill the thin gangle of wolf that Maska was? She let out a growl, full of heart and filled with those distorted thoughts. But all things became distorted when left to rot.

I should believe that you are the one sent to save me? She said, spite and bitterness lingering on the end of each word. The poor child was likely the toy of the Guardians that stood outside. It took too much energy for her to care that he was sniveling and scared. Anu was saving that energy for something else.

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#6
OMG ANU IS AN ABLEIST!! *files a lawsuit*
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[/html]Claudius didn't understand. He was here to help, and although he knew she could not be sure he really was trying to help, he didn't know what she was talking about. Who would have sent him? No one, really, since he didn't speak to anyone, so he wouldn't know. He clutched his pale-furred hands close to his chest in an effort to resist the urge to ring them out and stretch them again. He didn't need to feel his wrists again to feel alive. He knew this, but he wanted to do it so badly. He felt very scared and uncertain; why was she doing this to him? Why couldn't she just let her help him? All he had ever tried to do was help, but he could never do it properly.

"Wh-wh-o-o?" he asked slowly, but then realized it would sound like he was interrogating her. "I-I me-a-a-an I-I do-o-on't kn-o-ow who-o you're ta-a-a-alk-i-ing a-about. I ju-u-ust ca-a-a-ame he-ere be-c-cause I wanted to ha-he-ha-huh-help," he explained. He lowered his voice to a whisper and then added: "I do-o-on't l-i-ike tha-a-a-t you're be-eing he-e-eld here, but I'm not... s... strong... enough to help you... any... other... way." He looked away, trying hard not to cry. He was so useless; he couldn't even help an wrongfully imprisoned wolf. What was wrong with him? [html]
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#7
[html] lmaoooo

His stuttering was like a hammer, tapping at her already beaten skull each time he spoke. Anu closed her eyes, gritting her teeth as he clambered to find the words. Not even simply a single word in full but the letter to each one alluded him. He could not help her. Anu thought of the Dreamers and their power. But against the Guardians they were powerless. Blue eyes shot open at his last whispers, the words were still an effort for him even as soft as he spoke them. Stop! She said forcefully yet not loudly enough to rouse suspicion from his friends on the outside. She did not wish to see their laughing faces now. Do not speak again. Her head pounded with frustration and all the harm inflicted, and her words were a hiss that was so foreign to her lips.

Lips rose to show her aging teeth and she went to her paws, the mangy fur along her back erect in anger. Anu growled, Go, I will be the only one to weep in this prison.


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#8
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[/html] Claudius jumped when she shouted at him. He pushed himself backward, balancing on the big toe of his left foot as he clutched his two hands tight to his chest. He could feel his heart beating rapidly in response to her sudden outburst. What was wrong? Was he talking too loudly? Was someone coming? Now, with his ears almost completely folded against his skull and still clutching his hands, he glanced around himself surreptitiously searching for the guards. Nothing. He looked back at the wolf and took another step closer, but stopped abruptly when she demanded he speak no more. Why? Why not? He wasn't putting her in any more danger than she already was -- and besides, he could help her. He could fetch her food or water or even make her something that would help her feel less gloomy. He didn't know what though; dyes only had so many applications.

She bared her teeth at him and Claudius recoiled once more. He froze, and then reached up with one hand to feel his cheeks. They weren't sodden, but there was a bit of dampness. He frowned and then moved closer and reached out with his one arm and extended his hand, which was still a bit wet with tears.

"P-puh-please," he stammered. "I just... wa-a-a-ant to he-elp you. I ca-a-a-an ge-e-e-et you... food... or water... since... I do-on't kno-o-ow ho-o-ow they've bee-een treating... you..." he explained, descending into a whisper as he moved closer, hoping to rest his one hand on her shoulder. "And ma-a-aybe so-ome com-pa-a-a-any. You do-on't ha-a-ave... to be... afraid... of... me..." [html]
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#9
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He was shocked. Taken aback by her words and the woman was not altered by his reaction. She did not believe him. It was impossible to see the truth here, her ability to judge honesty lost in the turmoil of her situation. All of it passed through her mind and yet nothing could be believed. She watched him as he reached to check the side of his face. That irritated her further, even from her distance she could tell that he was sniveling.

Normally she would comfort him, ease his fears and appreciate the small bit of help that he could give her. A sip of water would have been a blessing, even those few drops would have been seen as a gift sent from heaven. But the Dreamer was beyond all appreciation.

Dulled blue eyes watched with apprehension as the male approached her. And then to spite her he spoke again. There was a rumble in her chest as the stammering continued, and like a fool he reached out far too close to the captive. She was a dog backed up into a corner. The wolfess bared her teeth but only gave a split second's worth of a warning. She shot out, demanding in the most feral of ways for him to retreat back into the shadows from which his ghost pelted body came from. Teeth that hadn't tasted the blood of a fellow canine in years sought the bright target that attempted to console her.


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#10
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[/html] She wasn't saying anything. All she did was look at him and Claudius didn't know what to do. What did she want from him? Why wasn't she speaking? These, and many other questions like them, flew threw Claudius' mind as he approached the woman. As he drew nearer, he heard her growl. He flinched and pulled his hand back slightly, wavering in his commitment. Was she going to hurt him? His hand shook a little as he tried to consider the possibilities. If he wanted her to trust him as an ally, he couldn't back down now, but she didn't look too pleased to see him. He took a small step back and pulled his arm closer to his body, but it was all too late; he was too slow.

Suddenly, without much warning aside from the low rumble, she leaped for him. Claudius squeaked loudly in response, and soon she met her mark. He felt her teeth collide with his shoulder and her claws scraped across his chest and arms. Since he had been hunching down to reach her, and since she moved so quickly, she was able to draw long marks across his body.

Once he realized what was happening, he began to thrash and flail out with his arms, trying to push her away and protect himself all at once. It was no use, however: she had far more will to hurt him than he did to defend himself.[html]
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#11
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They were all fools.


They were fools to trust one another, they were fools to believe that those that were just would rise in triumph after all the devastation that had occurred. Anu would be foolish enough to hope that her family was safe, as well as the Utina's, and her beloved pack. But she would not be fooled by this beast. Anu felt the helplessness leave her, the pain was gone for just a brief moment as she felt her teeth break his flesh. The woman had been nothing compared to the warrior that had stolen her from her home. But now she was powerful. He scrambled to defend himself, but the wolfess attempted another painful bite before falling back. She fell to the ground looked at the pale wolf, whose ghostly appearance was no longer. The blood that now showed made him look far more mortal.


Mouth bloodied and teeth stained Anu bared her fangs, but moved back towards the wall that she had been looking at before he had come to her. Anu did not take her eyes off of him, Leave. She spoke, terrified and yet empowered at the same moment.
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#12
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[/html] Even as he raised his arms to fend off her attacks, he felt her teeth meet his flesh once more. Again, she drew her teeth in long marks across his arms. She cut a long gash down the length of his left forearm as he held it up to protect himself. Now, this chest, shoulders, arms and hands were covered in the marks of her brutality. He yanked himself backward and gave himself a wide berth from the prisoner. Why had she attacked him? He still didn't understand any of it. And now, he was really crying. He was a sobbing mess; his tears mingled freely with the blood, matting his pale fur and clumping around the freckled spottish tan fur on his cheeks.

She too stepped back and then demanded of him the one thing he would never give her: peace and quiet. He had come to help her, but what had he really done? He stared at her defiantly, finding renewed power through his bone-crushing sadness. He had done nothing to hurt her, and yet she had hated him right from the beginning. He knew there was something horrible about himself because no one seemed to like him. So, if she wanted him to leave, he would stay here bleeding all over the hut.

"N-n-no," he responded as he raised his head a bit. He held onto each elbow with the opposing hand, clutching them in a way he hoped to hold them together. He was afraid they would just fall apart into tatters if he did not. "I w-w-wo-on't luh-lea-hea-ave y-yuh-you," he choked out through sobs. [html]
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#13
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Her thoughts were clouded. This was not the mother that planted sprouting flowers each spring, or the gentle soul that picked apples in the fall and watched the sun rise with a fluttering heart. Instead she was a beast under particular circumstances and it was her belief that she was fighting for her life. Teeth were not yet covered by bloody lips, but bared to show her seriousness. Still he refused, even though he was nothing more then a bag of bones with a tear sodden face. Even Anu thought him pathetic.


He was shaking like a leaf, yet a mountain hadn't been able to move him. He looked as if a swift wind would carry him away. Still his appearance overpowered his perseverance. Her back was against the wall, eyes watching his movements or lack there of. He was bleeding, holding his arms so tightly as if he imaged they would fall to the ground. She left her defensive posture, not giving into his presence but now determined to ignore it.


Anu turned her head away as her mouth formed a frown, she only wished to be back in Crimson Dreams. Her eyes closed, pressed tightly shut with the fullest feeling of desperation swelling inside. She had kept such a powerful wave from crashing over her, the woman had been strong enough. But now she reached out to the imaginary and wished her body away. Back home. A child's prayer that hoped this had all been a dream and she would wake from the nightmare.
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#14
End here? Smile

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[/html] She ignored him. If there was any fate more cruel than this, Claudius would challenge one to find it. He came here to offer his help, but she laughed at him and attacked him. Although he would have liked to say the only thing she had damaged was his pride: but that wasn't true. He trembled and ached and bled and oozed and he hated himself for it. A prisoner could do more damage to him than he could to her. It wasn't as though he wanted to hurt her: it just hurt to know that he was the one always being harmed whenever he tried to do something good.

He was useless. He had accepted this long ago, but now, he fully realized it. With a shuddering sigh, he backed up and then collapsed into a corner. With her back to him, he curled up into a ball and cried silently, wishing he could do more and hating himself for not being able to. [html]
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