Word Count » 384
This is gonna be one heck of a thread.
Slade Auctor
Slade was having one hell of a time getting home.
After managing to escape from the wretched sunflower maze the small coyote had decided to travel on the mountains in hopes of not getting lost again. Unfortunately his efforts were in vain, as one patch of dirt looked just like the next when he was on flatter ground, and rocks didn't look too different up here either. It felt like nobody in their right mind wanted to live up here, which was fortunate for Slade. He wasn't sure how many wild encounters he could bear before going insane.
Slade hadn't made direct contact with anyone else since the sunflower incident and he was feeling pretty good about himself. A hermit that made him, but he didn't care. He was making far more progress than he had when he succumbed to asking for directions; that had been pure psychological torture and he didn't intend to do it again. This also meant, however, that he wasn't completely certain which side of Halcyon he should be heading toward and he had no idea where to cease his rocky travels and climb down. He had to rely solely on his instinct.
There was a brisk early autumn chill to the air, and with sparse trees around to block the wind it felt more harsh than ever. Yet still the coyote walked, even with the wind buffeting his fur and chills seeping into his skin. He would put his paws on solid, non-rocky ground by tomorrow, despite the fact that it was already afternoon and it looked like he had quite a way to go. I've just got to stay away from others and I'll be down this hill by sunrise tomorrow.
A day of traveling on such rocky soil had given him blistered paw pads, achy shoulders, and quite a bit of hunger due to a sad lack of prey. When Slade picked up the scent of a pack's borders he could only shake his head in disbelief. Why would anyone want to claim such useless land? Not only that, but he didn't quite remember any packs living on Halcyon itself when he had passed through last winter. Then again, these mountains are so big I probably cut through a different place. Even then, nothing seems familiar anymore....
Jaden was deep in the Halcyon Mountain range searching for a good challenge. His young companion Verloren nipping at his heels eager as usual to accompany him on most of his endeavors around Ichika. Whether she was enjoying all the hiking it took to get all the way up here or dreading her decision to accept the brutes invite was hard to say. They were getting to know each other better and better but Jaden still had trouble discerning the younger she-wolf’s feelings. Hopefully she wasn’t miserable, but either way this trip would develop her character a little.
Jaden had multiple reasons for bringing young Lost (the translation of Verloren and her preferred name). Firstly, he had set out to find a fine training ground for when the pup was ready for something more difficult then the forest they were used to, and secondly, to show off the view. Ichika was beautiful and so was the amazing view of it from the mountain’s higher points.
Higher and higher Jaden led. Soon the trees began to thin and a chilly wind began to buffet the two wolf’s thick fur. Just the kind of weather tundra wolves are designed for. It wasn’t long after that that the two crossed the Ichikan boarder as they climbed toward a prime view point Jaden had visited a few times before. We are almost there now, he called reassuringly over his lupus shoulder as they approached. When the rocky land leveled out a bit he stopped and waited for the pup, looking out on the wonderful view with pride in his eyes. This was their land they looked down on, a responsibility and a gift all wrapped in one. What do you think, Lost? He sat on his haunches under the slight shade a puny, withered tree and motioned with his muzzle. They would rest now and enjoy the sight. Their climb had been as easy as it was possible to make, but Jaden didn’t doubt that Verloren might like a fine rest before they continued.
As he sat with his head held high, the Shishen was sure nothing could effectively dull this moment. He was dead wrong. One of the very few canines that earned instant and deep loathing from the crimson bellied wolf appeared on the wind. His sent was undeniable and its very presence puffed Jaden up, making his hackles prickle and his eyes narrow. An anger that was very close to pure hatred froze in the bottom of the brute’s gut as he scanned the hillside for a coyote’s mucky fur. Slade. He growled coldly as the other came into view. Suddenly his mind was filled with thoughts of torture. The coyote deserved pain for what cowardice lay under that mangy fur. For a few seconds, Jaden forgot about the wonderful view, young Lost, and notions of Ichikan peace. For a few seconds, he resurrected a less complicated state of mind, one that was ready for some cold blooded bullying and pain-filled payback.
Verloren had been a ball of energy since she and her mentor had set out into the mountains. For the better part of the trip she weaved back and forth along the trail behind Jaden, nipping his heels in her delight. It was quite an experience for the young wolf, she’d never been so high up before, it was exhilarating! Even as the air thinned and the icy wind wailed through the mountains did she not falter in her prancing step. In fact, the chill that nipped at her thick, Tundra pelt filled her mind with the clouded memories of her home in Germany. She’d been born into the winter’s grip and though the den kept her and her siblings warm, they were always reminded by the howl of the wind over the crusted snow.
Jaden’s calling words lifted the pup’s head from its daydreaming droop, reminding her of their current ascent and how far she had dropped behind. It was quite difficult, now, for her to assume her prance again as she labored with a simple trot. She was glad the ebony lupine had decided to stop, her puppy resilience beginning to fail her, and once caught up she collapsed at his side.
Though, her attention was captured again when Jaden asked her about the view. With a few deep breaths of the thin air she managed to pull herself into a sitting position and followed his deep blue gaze into the direction they had come. Absorbing the magnificent sight Verloren could all but mutter, “(Very beautiful).” But, after a few moments she tipped her head to her mentor and replied with the only word she knew he’d understand, “Gut (good).” With a smirk she looked back out into the distance, enjoying the similarities in the two languages shared in pronunciation.
However, their ogling of the sights was cut sharply with the icy growl of a word Verloren didn’t understand. Tipping her head in confusion she questioned, if a bit hesitantly, “Wvhat es Slade?”
Word Count » 542
Long post is long. And Slade's current avatar totally fits the mood of this thread, no? XD
Slade Auctor
This day really couldn't get much worse, could it? As Slade gave the air a good long sniff, making sure to steer far away from the borders, he stiffened as an all-too-familiar wolf scent came over him. Oh no. No, no, no! Not him again!
Too late. Slade had to steel his nerves in preparation of another argument as he saw none other than Jaden Ohanzee walking right for him, being followed by a younger brown wolf. The coyote's amber gaze was steady as he faced his mortal enemy. There was no doubt about it that this was Jaden; Slade would never mistake that red-patched charcoal fur or beady dark blue eyes. Unfortunately, the wound that the brute had borne last time the two met had healed. There were no physical weaknesses to hone in on. There would be no mocking without fear today.
Slade's paws begged for him to run; he had already been beaten up enough today by the forces of nature and he certainly couldn't take much roughing up by a wolf who was well-armed. However, pride clouded his common sense, and in spite of his better judgment he shouted, “Jaden!” He paused and let the summoning call echo in the open mountain air. The tension was almost overbearing. Every bit of the coyote's body signaled fury: hackles raised, tail stiff and straight, body rigid, head raised, ears pinned to the back of his head and amber eyes kept wide. This would not be a peaceful encounter.
Now what was he thinking? Even after being captured by a bunch of prejudiced brutes not unlike this one, Slade hadn't toughened up much at all. A drop of paranoia hit his mind as he wondered if Jaden was a member of that alliance... but the black wolf hadn't shown any desire to keep the coyote for himself at their first encounter. Slavery was not an option. Slade didn't have the time to wonder if this was a good thing or not.
He growled as he tried to meet Jaden's gaze, not giving a second look to the female nearby who had gotten tangled up in their rivalry. That would only stir pity, and if he knew how wolves like this one acted Slade would show nothing that could be considered a weakness. “Didn't expect to meet you here! What are you doing in such desolate lands?” Quickly realizing that the same could be asked of him Slade followed his question with another inquiry, hoping to grab Jaden's full attention. He could ask the same thing to me. I can't tell him what I've been through.
“I suppose you've been exiled from Dahlia de 'Mia'”–of course he wasn't about to let that one go–“for wounding one of their own members... a coyote who had no right to submit to you, perhaps? And now you've picked up this poor soul so you can show her how to become a cold-blooded assassin like yourself, I assume.” He was taking it a bit far to assume things, for if he was wrong it would only result in a sharp correction, but right now he wanted to jump on any opportunity he could to point out Jaden's faults in front of his presumably follower.
It was quite amazing how fast Jaden’s fury boiled down when Lost asked him a simple and innocent question. The older wolf didn’t answer right away as he suddenly recalculated. Verloren was innocent and he knew that if he did half of what he wanted to with Slade, she would undoubtedly be horrified by her mentors suddenly uncharacteristic brutality. The mangy little male had an advantage if they interacted now and he would surly spout all sorts of obnoxious and enraging remarks. Jaden stood and started a slow lop in the coyote’s general direction. That is Slade, his voice was tight with suppressed anger as he motioned to the coyote with his muzzle.
But his disadvantage could be an advantage as well. Jaden grinned darkly as he approached the coyote. Verloren’s ignorance to the ex-assassin’s background could be used. They were still out of ear shot of Slade too. Perfect. Stay behind me, The Shishen ordered in a low, armored voice as his name was called on the wind, This coyote is a dangerous, lying coward. He might attack. It was a shame he had to lie to his young friend and he felt a small pang of guilt. Jaden felt Slade was practically harmless. If the younger tundra wolf wanted to she could most likely rip the useless life from his scrawny limbs. The only reason he had ever gotten a successful attack on the obviously stronger and smarter canine was simply because Jaden had been injured at the time: a sprain to his back leg that was long healed now. That had happened on their last meeting, just before the brute had joined Dahlia de Mai. It was the source of his hate for the other. The coyote was nothing compared to him. How dare he even contemplate attacking someone so much better?
This was Jaden’s general feelings for any coyote and even for some coyote hybrids. Their current alpha was a coyote, yes, but the Shishen had so far avoided meeting him by working through Nayru only. Besides that, he didn’t even know if there were other coyotes in Ichika. Surely it made the pack stronger to be without weakness like Slade.
So he would play the good guy. Simple and easy, made even easier when Slade’s first comments were nasty. Though the coyote practically played into his paws with the whole dirtying of his reputation, Jaden had to try very hard not to answer with spite. His eyes quickly glanced for Slade’s shoulder scar. It was still visible and the sight warmed Jaden’s heart a little. He stood tall only a few paces from the coyote when he spoke. Hold your tongue, coward, He barked the command fiercely before remembering to make his intentions of insult clandestine. Dahlia de Mai-he corrected as if it was the coyote’s miss pronunciation and not originally his own-dissolved more than three months ago. I am now the lead archer of Ichika no-Hoen; a warrior and defender. I am no assassin. He looked down on the coyote but kept his muzzle high. And Don’t speak of my pupil. She is a far more honorable individual then you can ever hope to be, Slade. Jaden spat the coyote’s name out like poison. Now, State your business. Why are you up so close to Ichika and so far, far from your pack of artist? His voice practically threw implication. If Jaden could portray Slade as a spy or even a little, ugly danger to Ichika, then he might have justification for some honest revenge.
Verloren followed the gesture to find the answer to her question, for a few meters away stood a small canine, his tawny body stiffened in threat. Upon seeing him she soon learned that he was a coyote. Now, it would be incorrect to say she had never encountered a coyote before, being she had when she’d met Razekiel after the move from Dahlia. It was that she didn’t actually know what a coyote was when she had happened upon the smaller canines.
“Coyote,” she carefully repeated the word, trying to mimic it as best she could to Jaden’s pronunciation.
After locking the new word into her memory she analyzed her mentor’s warning of attack and stiffened. But, a few seconds later her legs became like springs, nearly launching her into the crimson dyed lupine’s legs. It seemed her previously tensioned movements had not been triggered by fear, but in a building of thrill. She wasn’t quite sure where it came from but she found herself eager for a fight, to see the (supposedly) threating coyote be conquered by her mentor. It even ignited a deep, puppy-toned growl to rumble in her chest.
For a moment, too, she was sort of bummed she had to stay in the safety of the sidelines.
Ah, yes. If there was one thing that hadn't changed in the least since Slade had left the area, it was Jaden's sour attitude, arrogance, prejudice, so on and so forth. The brute quickly refuted all the coyote's attempts at an insult, and judging by the younger wolf's body language he had successfully put the target on Slade's back. The worst had happened, naturally: Jaden had asked what Slade was doing in this terrible excuse for a homeland.
Slade knew that a moment's hesitation would cost him the debate but he couldn't come up with a good excuse quickly enough. “Is a coyote allowed to travel?” he asked at last. “Although, I suppose you'd say that we are helpless canines who have to sit in their den all day and beg for scraps, isn't that right? Let this be known as proof that the opposite is true.” He was keenly aware that both Jaden and his 'pupil' seemed ready for a fight; Slade would be badly outnumbered if this came to a physical battle and he had to keep the war to words and wit alone.
He hadn't noticed it but he had adopted a much more formal way of speaking, the tone that he normally used when telling the serious parts of his stories. It fit the mood well. “And who's to say that anyone among us is dishonorable? If there's anyone who should strive to better themselves, it's you. You never did give a valid reason for hating coyotes so much and I see you're more than prepared to pass on this unnecessary hatred to your poor student.” He paused, trying to recall every detail of their previous encounter and make sure he was correct; there was no time to look like a fool in a situation like this.
Before he slipped up Slade knew he'd have to try to return the focus to the wolf. The more evil he could bring out the better. “Tell us, Jaden. Why did you ever feel the need to treat me like little more than scum? I, for one, may have been content with a friendly chat had you not decided to use brute force and give me a scar.” He spat out the final word as if he were hissing snake preparing to strike. If only I had the physical power to strengthen my words!
Jaden had forgotten how much of a pain Slade truly was. He was so dense! What was he trying to accomplish with turning Verloren against him?? If the young wolf denounced Jaden as a mentor right this second, if she walked away from him right then, Jaden would undoubtedly tare this insolent little peace of fur apart before going after her. You are weak. Jaden growled darkly. You are small. You have no honor! There is no need to find a reason for me, or anyone else to scar and maim your pathetic carcass. You are lucky all I did that night was give you one scar. I should have done your pack a favor and cut the worthless life from you.
Jaden’s heart was begging to speed up. He took a step toward Slade and bared his teeth. He could feel Verloren beneath him and knew by the almost atmosphere dissolving puppy like growl she gave that she wouldn’t be all to confused if the Shishen gave Slade another scar to complain about. You speak like I am the only one who has attacked. Last we met you attacked me! While I was injured! this was said with a tone of disbelief meant to highlight the plainly aggressive and dumb move. He followed it with a fearsome growl and cut off any words the coyote might try to utter. I am not injured now, little coward, and my back is not turned. Jaden’s gaze fell to his young friend and he relented his aggressive stance slightly. You should leave. Now. Retreat back to your pack of artists and cowards before I deem you a spy for them and end your worthless life. No one will miss you. Choose carefully before saying anything stupid, Slade. Plain murder wasn’t beneath Jaden, not yet anyway and not with as much hate as he had for this canine. Unfortunately, he knew first hand what subjecting an innocent mind to such things could do. Because of Verloren, Slade would live to uselessly waist air for another day. But that didn’t mean Jaden wouldn’t draw a little blood. This was Slade’s only chance to leave their encounter unscathed. The ex-assassin almost wished Slade would say something else aggravating. He even tensed his legs for a short pounce that would clear the distance between them.
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