Shadow had seen Amy Chased off for owning a slave and he didn't really agree with it either but he was still her friend and he hadn't seen her in a long while. He was just about to approach her when he saw that the other members of his pack would not have a slave owner anywhere near New Dawn. He wasn't going to challenge the beliefs of his pack but he would meet with and see his friend again.
He knew where she was headed so when she was forced to leave he headed out. he looked around at the barren area and even though it's population of animals and food was low, the sights of islands and water was something of beauty. He leaned against a rock that was near the road and he crossed his arms and waited.
He saw the wagon and when he did he lightly pushed off the rock and stood in the center of the road and smiled as he kept his arms crossed. It had been many a moon since the death of her pups and he was looking forward to seeing her again. Hello Amy.... He smiled and bowed lightly as she brought the horses closer.
Today she was able to finally get rid of a large part of the animal menagerie she'd been dragging along with her. Stopping at Inferni she'd granted Emmanuelle the lynx kittens, rabbits, and chickens, leaving her with only the birds and horses. It was a lot quieter this way. Even better, Raoth seemed to have gotten used to caring for the animals, leaving him drained and not fighting her and the animals behaved. Raoth was fairly rough with them, snapping and growling, but they listened, and Amy didn't have to bother with them at all.
Looking ahead she spotted a familiar black figure. Amy continued until she was closer before pulling the wagon to a halt. Smiling politely she nodded her head. Hello Shadowfang. Doing well? The last time she'd seen him he'd just finished murdering her pups. He had shattered, but Amy hoped that he'd gotten over that. To have him broken over something that Amy herself could do with ease was pitiful. The only real block Amy had in her killing was her own pups.
"I am very well, its good to see you again Amy. I thought I would surprise you so here I am."
Shadow smiled as he put out his thumb and he held it out as he looked Amy in the eyes. " going my way?"
Shadow waited for her to give him the okay to hop on board and once he was giving the okay he nodded and jumped up and sat down next to Amy as he looked forward and smiled lightly." I saw you in the area and was going to say hello but then you were chased off so I figured seeing an old friend would be nice. If you need convincing I could always act as your personal mercenary again like old times. " he didn't look at Amy when he said this and there was no hidden pain in his voice or face. He was his old self again and he was happy to be with a friend of which he was able to help so long ago. She was special to him and being around her was refreshing to him and he would be back in new dawn in no time. He just liked to venture off and see old friends.
Dhiate's blue eyes stared into the darkness and a pair of amber ones stared back. How long could this last? Since they had first begun to travel, the coyote and the wolf had been locked in a deadly staring contest. Each one waited for the other to fall prey to sleep. How long could this last.
Of course it wasn't truly deadly. Dhiate could no more kill Raoth than a pup could; Raoth couldn't kill Dhiate in fear of what punishment would befall him. That wasn't to say that the boys didn't want to kill each other. Raoth had been constantly trying to injure Dhiate, the perfect slave who could do no wrong. Dhiate, angered by this, constantly used his body to his advantage, often making the younger male question his sexuality.
So, if not deadly, what was this? A battle of wills. Who would break?
The battle was stopped short when the wagon did. Had they reached their destination? Impossible! There was no way they could have traveled that fast. Then they heard a voice. A male... And Amy responded. From the sounds of it, the two got along quite well. Unable to quench their curiosity, the two slaves reached a silent truce and peered out in the night.
A black wolf, bigger than both of them, although that in itself wasn't an acheivement. Dhiate was tiny, petite. A lover, never a fighter. Raoth on the other hand did have muscle mass and was quite larger than his pale companion, but he wasn't even a year old yet. But that dark male outside... He was massive.
Amber eyes met blue once more and a silent agreement took place. Not a sound was made as both returned to their proper places. Would Amy agree to let him become a passenger. Both feared and hoped so. Raoth feared that he would be like Amy and love to torture while Dhiate feared that the great hulking mass would buy a night off of him, but both were curious about him. So what would Amy's answer be? Their vernal fight was forgotten, lost in their need for answers.
Amy was pleasantly surprised to hear that the assassin was doing well. He had recovered more quickly than she had expected from such an event. Well, they were killers, both of them. A part of them had been sacrificed in order to be able to do such things. Or in Amy's case, a part of her wasn't sacrificed, but reborn in darkness, becoming a bloody hunger that drove her to seek harm for others. She nodded her head at his inquiry, eyes laughing at his words. He had come out to see her, of course he was coming her way. Climb on.
The movement in the back wasn't missed by Amy, as sharp as she was. She smelled them move closer, and hoped they hadn't disturbed anything. If they had Raoth would be losing a layer of skin, and Dhiate would be learning what it was like to not be able to sleep at night. At his mention of working as her mercenary again Amy brightened up with a glow. I don't need that anymore. With the pups gone my strength has returned. I'm training a slave to work as a bodyguard as well. Of course, this means he'll only ever be able to be used for one person. It was a mild shame, but to train a slave how to fight and kill without demanding absolute loyalty was the same as signing a death warrant.
She continued the wagon down further before pulling over, deciding to stop for a meal and a break. A low bark had Raoth jumping out of the back, moving to collect firewood. She smiled swiftly at Shadowfang before getting down herself, moving around to the back and pulling out some meat that she'd traded for earlier, still fresh with blood dripping. A brief glance confirmed that Dhiate was still where he was supposed to be as she returned to the fire. A thought flared in her mind, and spinning around she smiled at Shadowfang. I have a new slave. Fresh, just getting training. He's quite good quality though. Moving back to the end of the wagon Amy called for her other slave to come out. Dhiate. Come say hello to Shadowfang.
Shadow hoped from his seat after the wagon stopped and once he was on the ground he picked up the smell of the meat before it was pulled out. He saw Raoth and remembered that slave but the other one, He was new. Shadow looked around and then as he stood there he crossed his arms and his eyes locked onto that of a petite looking male much like Raoth but without the muscle. Shadow knew right away what deeds this one did by how pretty he was and in the wolfs eves he saw a fear there while he looked to Shadow. He liked that he could still scar others and that he was intimidating, he would correct the fear later and prove he was nothing to fear but he liked that as his first impression.“Hello Dhiate, it's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Shadowfang, you can call me Shadow.” He stood tall and waited for the slave to speak before saying anything more. He knew Amy wanted her slaves to be trained up right so he couldn't be kind to them, civil maybe but kind, never.
That giant male was going to travel with them! Raoth and Dhiate exchanged glances. Both tilted their ears towards Amy to hear what was said, and Dhiate watched a pair of amber eyes grow wider. She was talking about Raoth! Dhiate pulled his legs close and wrapped his arms around them. Dhiate watched Raoth jump to Amy's call and shivered a little at being alone in the dark.
Perhaps now that Raoth was gone, he could try to get some sleep. Dhiate had just begun to close his eyes when he heard his own name. Dhiate jumped to his feet and popped out of the wagon quickly. The first thing he saw was a pair of bi-colored eyes. He'd seen a pair similar before he'd met Hadley, but those had been the color of fire and gold, not blue and gold. Dhiate couldn't help but run his gaze over the massive wolf. Geez he was big. Dhiate nodded slightly at the name and looked to his golden mistress.
What should he do? Should he talk? Stay silent? He had no idea. All he knew, was that giant creature was a friend of Amy's.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Raoth gather up wood. He shuddered and Raoth smirked. Fire. While it was true, he had gotten a little better with fire, he still hated them with a passion. He watched with morbid fascination as a pile of lifeless sticks began to smoke. Dhiate flinched as they burst into golden flames. He struggled to tear his gray blue eyes away from the dancing fire and back to his mistress.
Amy watched Shadowfang note Dhiate's beauty with pleasure. It was hard to ignore, his form just so perfect for what he was. Her precious treasure, scooped up from the side of the road and brought along. Amy had worked hard on polishing him, giving him lessons on how to improve his seductive side, to become more alluring, to hide what he truly felt. It was paying off, and when he had his first customer it would be all worth it.
The greeting passed properly, Dhiate holding his tongue the way a proper slave should. Moving over to him she brushed his hair, proud of her property. He is a rare find. Very valuable. I doubt I could find another like him. Amy smiled at Shadow with all the pride of a new parent before she moved back to the fire, hand running reassuringly down Dhiate's arm to comfort him. Setting up to rotate the meat was easy enough, Amy having it assembled in a matter of moments. It always irritated Raoth, seeing how capable and efficient she was at the tasks she would force him to do for her.
The meat rotating over the fire Amy sat down, furs set up to give them comfort on the hard ground. Raoth headed back into the wagon, returning with two cups brimming with fresh cold water. Accepting it she dismissed the slave, sending Raoth to drag his chained body back to the wagon. Picking a place near Dhiate he leaned up against it, eyes focused on the other slave. With his part taken care of he didn't have anything more to fear. Dhiate, on the other hand, was still up for grabs.
He nodded and listened carefully to every word that was spoken and like he knew would happen the slave said nothing to him, Shadows words were wore a test than anything and he got what he expected. However there was one thing Shadow hadn't thought he'd see.
Kindness, Yes he knew Amy was a far cry from a gentle, kind person but the little reassurance that she gave Dhiate due to his fear of the flames. He must have lost family and possibly nearly himself in a fire from how his eyes were looking to the camp fire.
Shadow moved to the nearest fur and sat cross legged upon it and his hands rested on his legs as his eyes watched Amy's until she herself found a place to sit and he smiled at her and nodded lightly in respect and kindness.
It's good to see you are doing well, Amy.
There was much more Shadow wanted to say, wanted to talk about but around her slaves he knew she had to keep up appearances so he just looked her in the eyes knowing that when the others were asleep they could leave the camp site and talk without Amy showing any kind of weakness.
Shadow took his cup with a look of thanks but didn't show any more than that and then he looked back to Amy as he brought the cup to his lips and slowly took down some of the refreshing cold liquid and he sighed lightly as it had been a while since he had rested and sated his thirst.
Word Count → 000 :: Again, sorry it took so long and is so short. A little hectic in real life.
Dhiate smiled at his mistress, loving her touch, her approval. Anything to make her happy. He gulped nervously at the crackling fire. It was taunting him. It called to him, spoke names he once knew. It grew white, grew gold, orange, red, and in the center blue. Why did it do this? He could hear it breath, cackle. It danced before him both beauty and cruel. This was the one enemy no one could fight.
His blue eyes averted from the fire at her touch. He blinked and a swift grin flew across his face in gratitude. It was gone the instant she turned. In its place was a great sorrow for all he had lost. He closed his eyes and took his normal place by the wagon, far from the fire.
When Raoth stood beside him, he looked up in surprise. Usually the coyote stayed as far away as possible. Why the sudden change in heart? One look told him all he needed to know. Dhiate scoffed and rolled his eyes, but a fear still lay in him. Raoth was right.
Word Count → 000 :: no problem. tell me when you're up for the drug thread. found someone willing to drug him
The dark assassin joined Amy, sitting across from her at the fire. The juices from the meat ran down, sizzling as it hit the flames. Amy's control was tested to keep her elegance up in the face of something smelling so good after a long day of travel. The slaves might travel in the wagon, but Amy traveled by foot, preferring to scout things out. She smiled at him before her eyes fell onto the carving on his shoulder. Well well. It looked like he walked like a free man no longer. She was feeding a slave, and treating him like a guest.
Dismay and disappointment flooded her face. She had thought him better than this, so highly trained and capable. Well, it happened, even to the best of them. Well, not to her. Amy would kill herself before allowing anyone to call her theirs. She belonged to no one, ruled over those in her care. The meat was finished, and Amy carved it up. Dividing it out Amy made sure that the burnt portions and ones that were more chewy were passed to the slaves. Leaning back Amy neatly began to pick through her meal. I see you found yourself a master. Her voice was emotionless, cool as the wind.
Shadow watched her face as she sat across from him and he had seen something change but only for a second and then it was gone. Shadow was about to try and guess what the change had been and then his answer was given to him freely. He smiled and looked to the mark and then touched it lightly, showing that there was love there, and then he looked back to her and spoke with a slight chuckle in his voice.I see why you would think that, and I guess you could call her that. But no, I am not a slave, this is a sign from my mate. She waits for me in New Dawn. Like me she also has a mark, a symbol that she belongs to me, like I do her.
Shadow thought about it as he tore lightly into the meat he was given and then after the piece was swallowed he continued. If I was a slave to anything, it would be my heart I think, You've seen it, that unquestionable urge I have to help those in need. My heart has always guided me, and for now it has never been wrong. My heart it what brought me to help you, like so many others. Shadow stopped and went back to eating the meat he was given but as he did he watched Amy's face closely for any sign of discomfort or anything else that could be seen.
Word Count → 000 :: Again, sorry it took so long and is so short. If you want it changed, let me know. You can skip over me until you want him up again.
Dhiate grasped the burnt meat and began to tear into it as well as he could. It was charred, ashy, tasteless, but it was food nonetheless. After he'd gone through many months of starvation, he learned not to be picky. Who knew when your last meal would be? Sometimes he didn't eat at all for a day or two. Dhiate's stomach had grown small enough that it didn't really make a difference any more. As Amy wished, he had retained his beautiful figure and it had even grown slightly curvier. After all, he was eating now.
He allowed Raoth to take a greater portion, and Dhiate wiggled down to the ground. He forced himself to relax as the conversation taking place had nothing to do with him. A few minutes later, he heard Raoth do the same a few feet over. Dhiate's dark striped ribs heaved up and down as his breathing grew steadier and softer. Eyes closed, he soon fell victim to sleep.
It seemed Shadowfang was quite content with his master. Inside Amy was disgusted by it, seeing someone that she'd once seen as an equal brought so low. His explanation meant nothing to her, having felt no love in her life, only desire. The closest she'd grown to feeling such a thing was with her pups, and now Dhiate. Glancing over she watched him sink into sleep, a gentle smile on her lips. She was glad he was getting better. It was kept as a secret, but the breakfast she fed him had herbs in it to help heal his throat and help him regain his strength.
His talk about following his heart meant just as little to her. Bored with the entire conversation, discussing things she didn't understand and wasn't interested in understanding Amy gestured towards Dhiate. You speak of being moved by your heart, but perhaps you're moved by beauty as well. He is a gorgeous specimen, and you can spend a night with him if you like. Mate or not, it had no weight for Amy, no ties of devotion in her life.
Shadow looked to Amy and knew that she would have no part of it and from how well he knew her, the idea of belonging to another probably meant that she now thought him low and no longer an equal like he had been. Oh well, he really didn't care about how she felt, he was happy and if she had a problem with it they could fight rather than talk.
He loved Amy in a way, she was the one person where words meant little and actions meant everything. He looked to Dhiate and then slowly back to Amy.
Your prize does not interest me in the slightest, He's a looker for sure but he looks like nothing to me. My heart and mind belong to another, only she has worth now, nothing else. I am mated and I am happy.
Her sales pitch was declined, listening instead to Shadowfang brag about how wonderful his mistress was. So nothing had worth except her now. How boring. Standing up Amy grabbed the furs, collecting them to be put away later. Dropping them on top of Dhiate and Raoth so they could put them away when they awoke Amy moved over to the woods. What was behind her held no interest for her. She didn't care for the company of slaves in the slightest.
Reaching the dark cover of the woods Amy stripped off her clothes. Neatly she placed them in a bundle to the side. One by one her weapons were removed until nothing remained. Amy let the shift take her over, legs shortening and muscles thickening as she switched into secui form. On four legs Amy shook her head, long hair retracted into a thick messy mane along her ruff. Her thick fur was even thicker in this form, no sign of the scar that ran down her back, completely covered. Amy trotted forward, looking for something to play with in the woods.
Shadow watched Amy get up and leave the area and he smiled as he did the same and started to follow her. As he moved behind her he didn't muffle his steps or try to hide his presence he wanted to walk with her and keep her company, she was his friend after all even though she still tried to hide all of her emotions.
Bored I see.
Shadow said lightly as he caught up to her and he started to walk along side her as he shifted and went to the same form she was in. It was amazing how different there size was while they were in the same form.
He had been bred and built to be powerful and it showed in every form he took.He turned his head and looked to her and lightly he bumped her with his shoulder. It was playful and at the same time a gesture to ease her and make her lighten up a little. He knew that by being around her he was asking to be attacked if she got annoyed but so be it. No one got off that ease.
The massive slave followed her as she stripped down into the woods. It was irritating, but he wasn't her slave, not hers to discipline. Shadowfang caught up beside her, walking along casually. His words earned a slight growl. He was a slave, she was a master. There was no way for them to communicate the same way they used to. It angered her that he'd allowed it to happen, even more so that he was so content being lesser than others around him, to be abused and pushed around.
Amy's movements were swift as she traveled, hunting with relish now. The building anger needed to be released, and soon. The bump to her shoulder was met with a snarling snap, telling him to back off. A rabbit darted before them, and Amy neatly pounced, snapping it's neck. Shaking the dead creature around Amy tossed it aside. It was too easy. She needed a challenge. Something to push her limits, help her run off the energy coursing through her.
Shadow looked to her when she snapped at him and he growled as he jumped in front of her and snapped near her face to get her attention.
Whats your problem Amy! I've helped you on multiple occasions and now all of a sudden the moment you ask about the mark on me you treat me like I'm a worthless slave. I am not a slave! I am your friend! Or are you blind as well as foolish! You act like you don't care about anything but I know better. I see how you look to your prize, I saw how you use to look at me.
He stood firm and his tail stopped wagging as he looked her dead in the eyes. He was going to get answer here and now, there would be no hiding anything.
The black slave leaped in front of her, teeth snapping. Amy's hackles rose, taking on a dominant stance. She wouldn't take subordination from someone like him. He was worthless, the rabbit she had killed with more value than him. Sharp words were flung at her, Amy standing strong against it. He might deny being a slave, but his actions and the sign on his body had a very different message for her. He couldn't exactly prove he wasn't one, either.
Amy flinched back at the mention of Dhiate. He was grouped together with Shadowfang, and Amy was forced to look away, wishing that the weakness wasn't there. She worked so hard to keep them from developing, yet he found them and tore them into the open. My problem is strangers that keep sticking their nose into my business. Her voice was cold, no anger in there. She hated being forced to face the fact that she was weak, knowing that he had seen her at her lowest point, and helped her. She couldn't help him though, not even if she wished.
