Trading Ownership
#1
Terra had come into Halifax, running through her usual collection. That wasn't to say she had by any means a routine, coming in irregularly and only checking on the traps that held her attention for the moment. None of them bore her scent unless they were brand new, moving in and out of them far too easily. She had wandered into an older section of the city, the buildings smaller with greater wear than the larger ones she wandered through. It looked like a good place. Terra wasn't sure if she'd placed traps there before, but it was definitely an excellent place for them. No one would suspect anything.

Unfortunately, she was on that list as well. Not paying as much attention as she should have Terra entered a building with glittering glass inside. The bright colors drew her in, only to feel something collapse around her. She didn't even have time to scream, hitting the ground below. It was a relatively short fall, only a couple feet. Large wooden boards had sprung up to form a higher wall, making a cage. Her eyes narrowed in recognition. An old trap she'd made! Terra had forgotten about it, and paid the price. Now she had to find some way out of it. It was older than the others, so an escape wasn't built in. Moving Terra felt along the edges, working on remembering how it was built.
#2
Aram wandered through the ruined city, with no particular direction in mind. He had only recently made his way north, and still wasn't sure if he wanted to stay in the area, maybe join a pack that would appreciate his talents, or continue wandering. Standing rather tall for a coyote, with a lean build, the male was a mixture of reds and oranges, with a few grey markings around his face, and arms. Not being too fond of clothing, Aram wore a simple belt, with a collection of knives ringing it, and a short sword buckled on one side. Slung over his back was a simple wooden short bow, with a handful of arrows lashed together. He was by trade, a warrior, and if he traveled with anything, it was weapons.

For the sake of surviving the wilderness though, he also had a crude pack slung over one shoulder, where he kept a variety of tools, and provisions for traveling. At times he wished everything wasn't so heavy, but he always scolded himself right after for not thinking of how useful the extra burden was for strengthening himself. A task he often set himself to, to become an even more effective weapon, even if he didn't seek battle, it was his life to be prepared for one.

The smell of a female nearby piqued Aram's interest, and while he did not normally womanize like some would, he was still a male, and occasionally enjoyed to have company. There was also the chance they were a merchant, or some other that could give him a better indication of the surrounding areas, namely who he might inquire about employment. Following the scent to an old building, the male cautiously entered, yellow eyes alert for some sort of ambush, even if all he could smell was a female, something he didn't normally fear.

Eventually, Aram found the hole, and peered down inside, to see a rather pretty female, a coyote from the looks, or at least pure enough that he would take an interest in pups from them. Of particular interest to Aram though, was the collar around her neck, to him, the mark of a slave. Eyes trailing further down to see a name emblazoned on her thigh only convinced the male further that he had stumbled across a slave, probably an escaped one at that. Gears turned within the male's mind, while he observed her trying to escape, and recalled that he had rope, and believed he was more then strong enough to subdue the slave if he needed to.

Mind finally settled on what he wanted, Aram called down to the trapped female, while looking for a way down to the makeshift cage "Well, it looks like I've found a pretty little thing caught in a trap. What are you doing all alone out here?". Aram's words were gentle enough, even though there was a slight accusation in the way he asked why she was alone. He had decided that whoever she was, that she would become his slave, since the previous owner was careless enough to let her escape.
#3
The scent of a coyote distracted Terra from her investigation. She looked up, studying the new male with curiosity. He had a reddish coat like she did, with a bag of sorts. He was studying her as well, making Terra conscious again of the claiming marks on her body. They were still new to her, something that embarrassed Terra. She liked knowing that Kit wanted her to stick around, but it was very embarrassing to be wearing such a large mark declaring that. She backed up a little, eyes making sure that he wasn't planning anything. Satisfied that he wasn't a threat Terra turned her back and went back to looking for a way out.

Her investigation yielded results this time, finding a slip in the boards for getting out. It had been there to allow Terra to reset the traps easier, but she could reverse it and use it to open the trap instead. Her ears trained on the stranger as he spoke, words gentle. It frightened her, the way that he spoke of her as a pretty little thing. Her hackles raised slightly, but Terra wasn't a fighter. She couldn't afford to act aggressive. Not until she was out of there. She turned back to face him, body pressed into where the escape was. I was collecting items to use. There's lots in the city. I was caught by surprise and fell in here. Her voice revealed a sweet innocence, nervous and exposed.
#4
Aram continued to observe the trapped female, gauging her reaction to both his presence, and the words that he had thrown at her. Her hackles had risen ever so slightly, a subtle display that Aram had almost missed, but only almost. So even as her voice remained sweet and innocent, potentially playing the part of a slave that was still obedient to whoever they served, Aram believed it was an act. The male's theory remained that she was an escaped slave, and by extension, fair game for whoever happened to catch her.

A light, but predatory grin spread across Aram's face as he made his own conclusions before replying. "Well, it sounds like you could use someone to take care of you, and then you wouldn't have to worry about collecting items, or falling into traps." Aram commented, before starting to climb down to where the female was trapped. He wasn't quite sure how he would get his prize from the trap, but remained confident that before the day was over, he would have a slave accompanying him.

Of course, Aram doubted that whoever they were, would take willingly to bindings, but from examining the female, didn't think overpowering her would be out of the question. "So, what am I going to call you?" Aram thought aloud, and was in reality considering whether or not he would give them a name of his choosing, or accept whatever she normally went by. Once on the ground, he would set some of his equipment on the ground so that he could start fishing through for the rope that had found a great many uses. There were other things he would need to acquire for the proper upkeep of a slave, but a rope would at least allow him to fashion crude restraints.
#5
The grin tossed her way was much the same as the one she used when contemplating prey, or working on tricking someone. Terra's fear shot up, turning around as her hands scrambled desperately to reach the board she thought could be used to collapse the trap. Unfortunately, doing such a thing took patience, and her actions blundered wildly. It wasn't working. Spinning around again Terra watched as he made his way into the trap. Well, there was one way out. Using him as a step stool. Of course, she would have to be quick about it, but hopefully she could use him to boost herself out.

I don't need anyone to care for me. I can take care of myself. Her voice was calm, even as her eyes shot around wildly. She hadn't felt trapped before, but she most certainly did now, working on figuring out how to escape this mad coyote that had clambered in with her. He bent down to deposit some items, and Terra saw her chance. Darting forward she leaped to push off him and grab for the outer wall. Escape was so close. She would get out of there and head back to Kit as quick as her feet could carry her. There was no way she was giving him a name to use, not even a false one. He could rot in the trap. Not her.
#6
The climb down was a little precarious, and getting back out would certainly take some doing, but Aram had managed to get down where he could more completely subdue his new property. Continuing to listen, but making the mistake of taking his attention away from the female, Aram had begun sifting through his knapsack for the rope he planned to fashion into bindings. Her words took on a more noticeable hint of confidence, maybe even dominance, and made Aram want to growl at her, to make the female learn what her new place was, but before he could, he felt a sudden weight on his back.

Aram was nearly caught off guard by the sudden weight, would would have fallen to the ground if his hand had not braced against the trap's wall for support. Only a split second passed before he realized what had happened, his muzzle sweeping behind at what he thought was an attack, and then upward to find the escaping female. A battle cry was all the warning Aram gave before jumping to his feet, and rushing to grab at the female's legs to drag her back down into the trap. If successful, he would not be gentle in his efforts to force them to the ground, and pin them down. "Don't ever run away from me, this is your first lesson!" he yelled, anger evident in his voice, and actions.

If he had planned to gently ease the female into what he planned for her, those thoughts had faded away, to be replaced by the need to assert his dominance.
#7
She was doing well. Terra pushed off his back, and hit the upper edges of the wall. Free! Claws scrambled to help her grip and begin pulling herself up. She was going to get away from that creepy coyote and far away, as fast as her paws could carry her. An angered cry came from behind her, sending her efforts to redouble. She was swinging up, almost free, when he grabbed at her. The leg that was swinging up to follow the first was grabbed, pulling her down. Terra yelped with fear, scrambling desperately to keep from falling. Her leg tore slightly on the wood before she came down, hitting the ground.

It had felt long, the taste of freedom right before her, suddenly speeding up to surround her with the panic of being trapped again. The male slammed in above her, holding her trapped on the ground. Furiously Terra thrashed around, eyes wide. She wasn't going down without a fight he wouldn't forget. Words were yelled in her face, met by sharp snapping fangs. Her hands worked to twist and claw at his body, doing everything she could to break free from his grasp. Why had he done this? Her presence in a trap had nothing to do with him. He should have left her alone.
#8
For a few precious moments, Aram thought his quarry might escape, and leave him with nothing to show for his efforts. Those thoughts began to fade as he managed to grasp onto one leg, and then yanked her back down to the ground, his golden eyes burning with determination to win. Aram moved quickly to start pinning the female to the ground, grappling a thing that he had been trained for.

Regardless of how Aram believed the fight would end, he still felt the sting of the female's struggles finding his body, but nothing that wouldn't heal. "The less you struggle, the better for you." Aram warned, his voice filled with a growling warning, before taking a swing at female's face with a closed fist. It was Aram's hope that if his punch landed, it would disorient her enough so he could roll her over, and start tieing the female's hands behind her back with the rope that hung half out of his knapsack.
#9
The words went over her head, nothing left but the wild creature that fought for her freedom. She heard the growl, bringing one of her own up, though it was a lot more shaky. There was no confidence in her words, ears pasted low. What was this? She twisted, continuing as hard as she could. A fist swung towards her, Terra's head turning to snap at the hand. She caught it in her mouth, the fist shoved deep inside. Her eyes bulged, partly choking on it as blood ran through. Her jaw hurt from closing around something so large, stilling her efforts as she tried to work around it. The blow had been stopped, but it was luck, not skill, that had done that.

Terra pushed back, head pressed into the ground as she tried to pull away, to get the hand back out of her mouth. That was a mistake. She was gagged now, struggling to breath, one of her best weapons trapped. A limb had been freed though, leaving her able to move much better than before. The freed hand scrambled, pushing against his chest weakly, trying to throw him off. Legs kicked against the air, a useless maneuver that she couldn't stop, senses shut off to nothing more than the basics.
#10
Aram couldn't help but yelp in surprise, and pain from the feel of his fist being caught by the female's mouth. If he had been angry before that, he was furious from the female's continued resistance, and that she had bit him. "Your going to regret that!" he snarled, and continued his efforts to completely pin the female. With precious little patience, Aram wasn't sure he wanted to wait for the female to wear herself out, and struggled to move his bloody hand out of it's cage of teeth. If successful, the freed hand would grasp for the female's that was trying to push him off.

With a savage growl, Aram gave one last warning "Go still, or I won't stop until you pass out!", and then lunged downward with his open jaws, hoping to grasp the female's throat in what could be a killing blow if Aram was actually seeking such a thing. Knowing full well that she was much more valuable alive then dead, he would stop himself short of tearing, but still planned to start choking the female. The burning pain of his hand was tempered by the fact he was still in a fight, and the knowledge of what sort of prize he was going to receive for any marks he had on him.
#11
The choking hand was drawn out to her relief. Terra took in a gasp of air, grateful for that. The taste of blood ran down her throat. Tears had formed in her eyes from the strain, watering as she struggled. The freed hand was taken and pinned once more, leaving her just as trapped as she had been before she'd bitten him. What was she supposed to do now? A yipping howl of fear fled from her, the mixed blood clear in her voice. It wasn't smooth enough for a coyote's call, too short for a wolf's.

The snarled words were met with her own growl, trying to appear tougher than she truly was. It was clear who had the upper hand, but she couldn't stop fighting. Jaws closed around her throat, choking off her air. Terra would have submitted then, but her need to breath kept her fighting. She didn't want to die! True, it was better than being trapped, but the need to live burned bright within her. Terra's struggles gradually grew weaker and weaker before she fell still, passed out from the lack of air, the bite only stopped from piercing by the collar she wore, broken under the strength of the bite.


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