back from the brink.
#1
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hello. :o class is over and most of my friends graduated and aren't around much any more, so i thought i could try this again. -really dropped the ball with maz, just got consumed by dumbass projects and stuff changing and bullshit- ): it would be lovely if someone who already knew him found him, but whatever works. anselm has so much to catch up on! :o he doesn't even know he's a grandfather yet, rofl.

{anselm de le poer; halloween 2005; were; ~3/4 wolf, ~1/4 'yote; boy; aim is still the same}



Things had changed. Anselm was not the wolf he'd been a year ago, although to the casual observer he might seem the same as always. The changes were subtle--where before he was cunning, he was now also enlightened; where he was once egocentric and selfish, he was now more mature (if just a tad). When all was said and done, though, he'd evolved beneath the surface--his rough exterior was much the same. He still sported the same bold golden coat and hard crimson stare--perhaps he'd picked up a couple of scars here and there, but nothing too extravagant or worthy of mention. During his absence, he'd grown only slightly leaner--his build remained much the same, though perhaps tipping ever so slightly nearer that of a traveller. It wasn't awfully surprising the powerful hybrid wasn't any worse for hte wear. Anselm had wondered homeless before, and this time he'd discovered a few folks willing to put up with his ass for a few weeks here and there.
What else had changed? His ears pointed calmly behind his head and his tail lowered, he trotted just inside and about the Inferni border, inhaling deeply. The familiar scents that swam up his nose and tickled his brain were enough to make his eyes close for a fleeting moment in silent thanks. He'd known enough not to assume Inferni hadn't changed while he was gone... but damned if he wasn't happy that Gabe and Ryan were still around. Happy. That was a new one. His thick tail swung unconsciously behind him between his feet and for a moment he almost cried out right then. But no--he wasn't ready yet. Putting his head back down to the ground, he pressed in further, trying to see what he might recognise. Only one puppy, whose scent strangely overlapped with his daughter's... odd. Hybrid, the weird spindly male who'd propositioned him one morning as he worked out... meh, at least it was a familiar person. Hmm; other than that, he didn't have much.
It was late. The sun had set hours ago, and Anselm was tired. He contemplated whether or not he ought to find Gabriel or Ryan at once, but he decided they might actually care to sleep through the night, assuming they may have been already. Consciously or not, by the time he was satisfied sniffing around he found himself headed squarely for his old den. Consciously or otherwise, it was no coincidence. This was the only place he had ever felt like home. He was delighted to find his old den the way he'd left it... some debris had piled up inside the entry way, and without even thinking about it he began to shovel it behind him with his large paws, kicking it out into the cool of night. Inside, his red eyes glowed as he surveyed his piles of trinkets and tools he'd accumulated before. Ah; home. The wolf exhaled roughly as his body dropped to the ground and curled into a ball. This was exactly where he was supposed to be and he finally knew it.
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#2
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     The constant rain had kept the temperature of the days low, and made the nights remarkably cool to the point they were nearly cold. Still, this was a welcomed change from the blazing sun that often covered The Waste. While Gabriel had chosen the territory for defensive purposes, he sometimes wondered if the wolves had a point in taking up homes among the overgrown forests. Of course, forests left little in the ways of defense when exploited right. Even less if they were set to burn.
     Though it had not rained today, the smell of water was constant in the air. It had led to the Aquila spending what time he did not use actively sleeping. During the hottest parts of the day he often did this, allowing Ezekiel and Hybrid to take up patrol as they were intended to do. Additionally, with his mother back in the clan, it felt as if Inferni once again had the power behind it to stand without opposition. He had been returning from the northern section of the territory when a familiar scent made him turn abruptly and move at a fast-paced trot.
     Soon enough, he found the source—with the telltale signs of recent occupation all around it. Lowing his head and advancing, Gabriel approached the den. A low and half-warning of a woof escaped his chest, but the Aquila’s tail was waging slowly behind him.

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#3
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--



Anselm had slept little in the past week. His focus had been on getting home and he had barely stopped to eat. Meals to go, please. A squirrel here, a rabbit there--all of these things could be taken on the run, if need be. He hadn't slept long but that rest was deep and peaceful. Still, with eyes closed, his ears were always open. Perhaps that was why it was hard to startle the golden male or catch him by surprise--you couldn't sneak up on those with eyes in the back of their head.
At Gabriel's call, his mind switched on and his eyes shot open. There was no gradual transition from slumber to wakefulness--especially with his cousin's call serving as oil for the machine. Something instinctual had awoken inside of him, and he rose to his feet at once. At the site of the doggish male's face, Anselm could not help but emit a high-pitched, excited whine as he galloped over, rapidly closing any distance between them. His tail swung freely behind him and he used his nose to bump against the bottom of Gabe's chin as he planted several kisses of greeting and submission on the leader's cheeks.
This display did not last awfully long, lest it become awkward or bizarre. He lightly bumped his shoulder against the other canine's chest in the equivalent of a bizarre quadruped hug or sign of camaraderie. He then stepped back several feet, though his tail continued to sweep across the ground behind him. For several more moments he was silent--words hadn't quite been necessary. Finally, something new crept across his face--a smile--and he exhaled easily as he addressed the only real companion he'd ever known: "I suppose my concerns of disturbing you this late were unfounded, eh?" Ultimately, it didn't particularly surprise him that Gabe was still out and about. In fact, he was quite glad.
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#4
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___ ANSELM AND GABE ARE HOMIES.


     They greeted as brother’s might—Gabriel accepted the nudges and wet tongue-kisses with his tail wagging furiously behind him, inhaling all the peculiar scents that his cousin carried, nudging him once with his muzzle before they came together and separated once more. Standing still, his tail continued to cut through the air, and he was smiling despite the constant and unfaltering fire in his eyes. “Always time for sleeping in the grave,” he offered with a wink, a macabre joke.
     With the moonlight at his back, the tips of the Aquila’s fur caught white-blue flame. His eyes, likewise, burned as all night-animals who carried that hell-fire did. “I met your other daughter,” he said suddenly, thinking of the peculiar girl and her masked companion. “She said you might be coming back soon.”


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#5
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Big Grin -Clings to them.-



Truthfully, Gabe was about the only fellow whose company he could enjoy for extended periods of time (for the general population, it was more of a tolerance kind of thing). Their hazy ties through Nosferatu mattered less than all of the time they had spent planning, plotting, and practising together. Regardless, Anselm's loyalty to the Aquila remained strong. Dozens of questions about Inferni burned holes in his brain, but for now they would have to be ignored--at least for a little while longer.
"Ha!" exclaimed appreciatively. "And ain't that the truth? I've probably only slept ten hours over the past week," he admitted. At the mention of Maserati his ears perked up, though they quickly fell back down. For it all, Anselm was somewhat ashamed of how he'd handled his children.
"I should have come back sooner," he said, half to himself, voice low. "What a wild goose chase the past few months have been." No--whatever he'd left to find, he hadn't found it. He couldn't have, as he'd abruptly forgotten the original question. That didn't mean he hadn't come back with some answers, though. "Maz was a nice kid; her brother didn't like me too much. None of the others I found really did, either." Where this may have surprised him originally, it did not any more. What could he have possibly been expecting? It seemed foolish now to imagine anything else.
"I'm glad Ryan's still around, though..." At least he hadn't completely blown it with the only one who'd even given him a chance. "You make it look so easy," he added finally, perhaps hoping for some useful advice, although he was largely convinced it was the sort of thing he'd have to figure out on his own. He was a little jealous, though--of Gabriel, of Gale, of all the fathers that made it look so natural and stress-free and straightforward. Was something in his brain broken?
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#6
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___ They're dorks.


     Around one another, the two could very much revert to younger years. They fought and sparred like boys and even occasionally managed to play with one another. Not that the war had given them much time for that, but it had bound the two by blood and fire. Anselm was the brother Gabriel had not been able to have—had Molochai remained, they could have shared something similar. Of course, his mother’s favorite son had also been Corona’s shadow. All of the children had chosen another; Gabriel’s just happened to have been slaughtered.
     The mention of sleep made the sable-gold male grin broadly, but found himself unable to respond as the former Praetorian began to explain himself. Though the grin lessened to a smile, Gabriel found little fault in his golden cousin. “It’s not,” he said without hesitation. “I sent my children off with their godmother and her brother. If anyone should get the credit, it’s the two of them.” If Fatin and Tristan ever returned, they would be welcomed regardless of their wolfish heritage. “Ryan’s been great. She ended up taking over where you left off.” He paused. Something else struck him suddenly. “Though I’m sure you’ll be useful keeping an eye on her kid,” the Aquila said, watching for one of two responses.


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#7
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--



Perhaps that was it--around his cousin, Anselm could feel comfortable in his own skin. With most anybody else, he was always watching and waiting for something, on edge. With Gabriel he could relax or get down to business, depending on what the situation called for. The golden eyed male's words made Anselm's eyes widen in realisation. Whether he knew it or not, the hybrid had just imparted some great wisdom that the wolf just hadn't pieced together: he had no mate. He didn't really love any of the women he'd slept with, it had been strictly for entertainment. Perhaps if he could see the faces of those he loved in his kids, he wouldn't be as resistant to them. Perhaps if he'd had someone else there for support and guidance, they could figure it out together... rather than him shooting blindly in the dark alone. Here, he simply nodded in deep comprehension, though the gratitude was apparent in his gaze.
In the blur of moments leading up to him stumbling to his den, his subconscious had picked up on Ryan's rank: her scent greeted him first alongside Gabriel's. Now, though, he was allowed to contemplate this directly. Whatever regret that lingered inside of him washed away and he felt another genuine smile creep across his face. What father wouldn't be proud of his daughter doing so well for herself? At the end of the day, it didn't seem like any of his kids had. Perhaps they were all just natural survivors. Well, that was a nice deluding thought to think, at least. Before he could open his mouth to respond, Gabe dropped a bomb. Anselm's expression went blank and he felt the blood run out of his face.
Fortunately, this time Anselm was not intoxicated with psychedelic drugs as the news was delivered. Though his posture hadn't changed much, he quickly regained his composure, eyeing Gabe with playful suspicion. "You're busting my balls, man..." he said, shaking his head with a laugh. "I finally come to grips with the father thing and now there's a whole 'nother level!" It was too ironic and cruel of fate not for him to laugh. Then, suddenly: "Who is the father? Is he here?" In Inferni, that was... who could it be? He honestly hadn't the slightest clue.
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#8
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     He watched the peculiar expression, and for a moment tensed. This passed as the golden hybrid laughed at the news, and seemed to accept it with composure. Without a doubt, Gabriel would not have been able to do the same had someone come to him with the same news. Talitha was his little girl, and she always would be, regardless of where she had run off to or what she was doing. Gabriel had killed for his daughter. He put his children before everything except God, which they themselves understood.
     There was the faintest twitch in his smile at the questions. Hybrid was a monster. This Gabriel knew from experience. He also knew what was and was not his place. “You might want to talk to her about it,” he advised calmly. “You do plan on sticking around, right? Given how you’ve trashed the place and all.” A playful nudge with one scarred shoulder, another wag of the tail, smiling all the while.


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#9
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--



The mystery-man's mysterious identity both intrigued and concerned him--why wasn't Gabe willing to share? It seemed as though his cousin knew, which wasn't very surprising; Gabe kept a pretty close eye on his clan and with Ryan in the leadership, it made sense that they'd developed trust between one another and talked. For now, all he could do was nod dumbly. Part of him had baulked at the idea of her getting into this sort of thing so young--but a bigger part of him sarcastically reminded him of what he had been doing at her age, and he couldn't become too upset, lest he be a hypocrite. At any rate, she was alive and doing well, she'd made it so far without him, and he wasn't particularly worried. It wasn't as if Anselm wouldn't defend her (he would at the drop of a hat), he just trusted her to also take care of herself.
Gabe's question brought him back down to earth. "You got me there," he replied simply, mirroring the doggish male's smile with one of his own. "Which begs the question... how is the political atmosphere these days?" Anselm had come straight across the mountain to Inferni and hadn't bothered to go anywhere else. Now that he was here, he didn't really want to leave for a few days (at least), and asking was easier and less risky than snooping around and possibly stepping on toes. "That fuckhead from Dahlia ever come back?" he wondered, referring to Haku. Although Anselm disliked most he met, he reserved pure hatred for only a lucky few. It was such a strong, dominating emotion that he couldn't normally be bothered with, but the chocolate male held a special place in a blackened corner of his heart.
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#10
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     The smile faded from Gabriel’s face slowly, like sun melting snow. “He has,” the Aquila said coldly. “Made some hollow threats. Cerclee made it obvious that she was in charge, not him.” For that reason alone, Dahlia de Mai was not a threat. While Haku ran rampant before, the white female had him leashed as much as she could. Inferni was nearly as strong as that pack once more, and Gabriel knew that if it came down to it they would destroy one another.
     “Phoenix Valley and Inferni are not on friendly terms,” he continued. “The other packs remain as they were. There’s one, though,” he added, thinking of the red-haired girl. “It’s new. Their leader’s a girl probably Talitha’s age, scarred up to hell. She’s got some beef with Haku and tried to get us involved. Keep an eye out for her, she crossed the borders like she owned the place.” Grunting at the notion, he shook his neck and shrugged. “Aside from that, if you see a black she-wolf with blue markings and white eyes, let her be. My son is training with her.”
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#11
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--



Anselm's expression sobered as well and he paid careful attention to the other male's words. These weren't warm words of his family to cherish and ponder later--these were the necessary debriefings in a war-torn land. He was pleased to hear that Haku's leader had managed to rope him up a bit (though he wasn't entirely sure how). Anselm had never met the snowy queen, but if he had, he'd probably be even more confused. Whatever the situation, their peculiar dynamic seemed to be working and it seemed as though Dahlia was no longer an immediate threat.
Instead, Phoenix Valley had taken the spotlight. This news only surprised him for a moment as he remembered that Iskata used to live there. Now he was stuck wondering if his spat with her had anything to do with it, not realising that the old woman had passed on to another realm. "Duly noted," he replied evenly, all emotion gone from his gaze and tone once more. "I'll keep an eye on them," he assured the Aquila. Regardless of his present newcomer status and rank, he fully intended to resume his scouting duties at once--that was where he shone, and he figured Gabriel wouldn't expect any less.
The new pack sounded strange to him, and he said as much. "Bizarre. She sounds inexperienced. I have to wonder about whoever is choosing to follow a teenager," he grumbled with a click of his teeth. Anselm wasn't dismissing the threat; he was simply being objective. To him, experienced leaders would know enough to respect other leaders' boundaries. Experienced fighters would dish out far more scars than they received. Well, whatever. What Gabe said next offered a perfect segue into the last of his questions (at least for now): "Fair enough. How is the rest of our family doing? It doesn't seem like Corona's around any more..." he trailed off. This saddened him a bit; he'd liked his golden-hued cousin, even though they'd never gotten to talk very much.
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#12
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___ Oh hay you're accepted btw.


     “I don’t think they’re much of a threat,” Gabriel offered lightly, and flicked one ear. It was a dismissive motion, one that spoke broadly of his opinion on the matter. Of all the current packs in the area, Gabriel respected only one—AniWaya, whose peculiar leader had come to him personally. Crimson Dreams was no more threat to him then the newest pack, and what respect he had for Jefferson as a leader was outweighed by DaVinci’s idiocy. “Unfortunately I can’t really manage your job. I stand out a bit.” Whether because of his unusual coat pattern, tattooed shoulder, or overall infamy, Gabriel was ill-equipped to spy on the wolf packs.
     At the mention of his sister, the Aquila frowned. “She took off a while ago. Our father’s death hit her pretty hard.” He made no mention of Jasper. The less people who had known the wolf was here the better. “My brother’s kids all showed up. They’re easy to spot—most of them look more like wolves then coyotes. Talitha left a few weeks ago to look for her mother. Speaking of that, my mother is here.” He laughed lightly. “I figured she was dead by now.”


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#13
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-Bounces!- Thanks~ This has been the most fun I've had in a joining thread in awhile. XD



"That's what I'm here for," he said with a wink and a rough laugh. Indeed, the hybrid was oft mistaken for a wolf, which could only play to his advantage. Inevitably Inferni's scent would become so integrated with his own that only a fool would overlook his true intent and identity. Perhaps there was some merit to poking around sooner while he could still (easily) get away with it. After even a week, things would be more suspicious and obvious. For now, though, he could play the part of the innocent, curious recruit.
At the news of Ahren's death Anselm's gaze dropped and he sat in silence for a moment out of respect. "My condolences. I only met him once; he seemed like he still had quite a bit of fire in him, I'm kind of surprised he's gone..." Anselm had liked Ahren and almost regretted not getting to know him better, although there was little sense in worrying about that now. "I'm sure they'll all be back," he said of Corona, Tal, and Faol. It seemed like they all had a habit of going off to do their own thing, yet inevitably returning.
News of the new children was overridden by the outrageous word on Kaena: she lived! The she-yote was a legend in her own right; through her fierce leadership had news of Inferni reached him long before he ever became a member. The strange thing was, he thought legends were something associated with the past. This one was apparently still alive and well, and his tail swung behind him. "I had, too. Thanks for telling me; I'd think I was seeing ghosts!" he exclaimed, failing to realise that Gabe probably didn't find ghosts as outlandish of a concept as he did. "Incredible, though. I'll have to meet her sometime. But perhaps tomorrow. Thank you for catching me up on everything, Gabriel." A nod. Within about fifteen minutes, they'd caught up, covered family, friends, and war. They were awesomely efficient like that--this was definitely where he was meant to be.
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#14
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___ Agreed. You can either reply or I'll close this. Oh, I restored your profile/post log for you. :]


     Ahren’s death had not hit Gabriel as hard as it had the children that had been close to him. Indeed, he had mourned for the man—and he had felt anger and grief as they came. He honored him by carrying the peculiar symbol around his neck. They were bound and inevitably distanced by all that had been between them. Of course, as Ahren went mad, he began to make more and more sense to his coyote-blooded son. So at the mention of such a thing, he shrugged, eyes shutting and opening once lazily.
     Likewise, he believed that Corona and Talitha would come home. Faolin was as good as dead in his eyes, and this was why his eyes darkened at the mention of her name. Even at the humorous thought of ghosts, he could only half-fake a smile. Nodding, he yawned widely and spared a glance over his shoulder. “Yeah, get some sleep, Anselm. I’m sure you’ll pick up on everything else soon enough.” With a nod, and one final friendly nudge, Gabriel turned and trotted off into the tall grass.

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#15
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:o Thank you!



Anselm resisted the urge to yawn as Gabriel did, as couldn't quite tell what fuel he was running on any more. "Sounds good. Maybe we can bag a deer tomorrow night." Yes; tonight and tomorrow he could rest, and tomorrow night they could feast. His heart skipped a beat at the prospect of running into his daughter during the day.. or really, anyone else he knew. By the time he woke up the day after that, he'd be ready to go scouting, so he wanted to soak up as much of the feeling of home as possible before heading out again. Not he minded. It was good to have a sense of purpose again.
The golden wolf returned the light nudge and bowed his head as his friend walked away. At the end of it all, it was nice to know that not much had changed since he was gone. (Not much that affected him personally, at least.) With that, the caramel coated male turned and trotted drearily to his den.
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