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 Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:34 pm
Of course Loki was off again. Danel took pride in the pup-snatcher's highly specialized skills but the lack of respect and such pride were unseemly in an omega. But new blood had to come from somewhere and as long as Loki was good at what he did, Danel supposed he'd tolerate his behavior. Still, patience was not one of the God-Alpha's strongest points.
"Betzalel, attend to me," he said suddenly, trotting off on a circuitous route that would take him around the perimeter of the Shadowlands. There was no need to raise his voice or stop to wait; why? when he could trust that his shield would hear and obey."Putting your trust in a betrayer? Foolish, foolish pup.."Danel studiously ignored the voice, thinking it had been too much to hope that it had finally left him for good and there would be no need to kill any of his brothers. Before he could pursue the subject further, though, the wind shifted and he caught the scent of someone new.. and young. Maybe the pup-snatcher was back? No, Danel caught no hint of his scent.
"Halt," Danel whispered, turning to look at Betzalel. "We have company, brother. Let us greet him," he continued then curled his lips back in a canine grin and melted into the shadows.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 4:00 pm
Betzalel's ears perked at his lord's beconing, and he rose, silently accompanying him. His slip up from a week or so prior still weighed on his mind, and made him - if possible - even more attenative to his lord.
Betzalel had, too, caught the scent mere moments before, but unlike his lord, there was a faint famililarity to it. Betzalel could feel his stomache churn. He knew this was not Loki, returning with new blood, but the ghost of his own personal demons. Betzalel, however, did not let it show on his face.
THe pup's heart beat faster, as the wind blew the scents, stronger now, into his tan little nose. Acid eyes looked foward keenly, and with purpose, as he ran towards it. He never stopped to think about what damage a pup could do against a grown killer. He had his mind set, and darkness in his heart.
He then, broke through the bushes and brambel, leaping out into the path of the alpha and his sheild. His eyes trained on them both, his furr bristled, his lips curled back to show pearly white baby teeth - sharp despite their size.
Betzalel was conflicted, between following hid god's orders, and assuming the defensive. When he had been obseving the female from all those days ago, he had never seen her with a mate, but that didn't mean that there hadn't been. He hadn't assumed that it would be a pup.
In the instant that the dusty pup showed himself, and his disposition, Betzalel did not hesitate to jump in front of his lord, lowering his head eye-to-eye with the pup, a menacing look on his own face, and a growl to match.
Dustiel did not faulter, as the dark red wolf's guard bared his fangs in return. He meerly replied with a snap, and his own growl.
This took the gray wolf by supprise.
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:08 pm
"Look how he hesitates just because the pup shows some backbone. The youngling would make a better shield than that pathetic excuse for a wolf.."
Now there was a thought.. Settling back onto his haunches, the God-Alpha took stock of the situation. Obviously there was some sort of pre-existing conflict here; the pup was focused on Betzalel. So why would the pup dare brave the Shadowlands in search of the shield?
Smiling again, Danel withdrew, melding with the shadows as only the alpha of The Brotherhood could. Not paying too much care to how he tread, Danel moved silently around Betzalel then circled around, coming to rest behind and slightly to the left of the pup.
"Now, now little brother," he said softly, his tone friendly but slightly mocking. If the pup turned, he would see nothing but swirling darkness..and the symbol that meant Death has finally come to claim you. "Why have you come onto our land with your fangs bared and murder in your heart?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:55 pm
Betzalel's hesitation was in part because it was a pup before them. However at the same time he knew better than to grow confident. It was his second thought, however, that what this pup displayed now just might earn him a place within their clan. More than anything, that is what caused his hesitation.
When his lord became but shadow, Betzalel thought mayhaps the same thought had come upon the alpha-god aswell. He kept his eyes trained on the pup, furr bristled, but snarl gone. This was in his lord's claws now, however he could not allow himself the believe that the pup had made it this way alone, so he kept alert.
The pup, too, didn't take his eyes from Betzalel, though the ominous shadows in his periphrial vision nagged at him to look its way.
The voice of darkness reached his ears, making them twitch and swivel in the direction of the alpha. And he found himself, despite his mind's pride, answering the shadow king;
"I followed the scent of my mother's murderer." His young voice was bitter and raw, cocky even, as he looked at Betzalel accusingly.
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Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 3:49 pm
"I see," Danel murmured, his voice heavy with sad compassion. He understood now..
"Are you sure you do, O king?" asked the Voice smartly with stinging contempt. "Your 'reformed' shield brought the pup here. He might as well have left sign posts like the two-leggers use.."
Yes, Danel had to agree this was a failing and when he looked to Betzalel his eyes said so clearly but there was potential here. The pup was strong and more than a little brave to step onto the much-feared Shadowlands intending to attack the God-Alpha's own Right Paw.
"But, unfortunately little brother, you are not seeing the big picture. Betzalel was only right to kill your mother. If left under her care you would have become weak, hardly a wolf. Females are only good for whelping pups for my Thief to bring to me to be saved from mediocrity. Do you not see? Do you not feel it? The shadows are calling you. This is your destiny!" By now Danel's voice was filled with the passion of his speech and his eerie green eyes glowed, reflecting the light from the orb around his neck. Baring his teeth again in a grin, the big blood-furred wolf let the shadows part, allowing the pup to see him clearly again.
"Come Brother," he paused significantly, waiting for Dustiel to supply his name. "Come to the Shadows where you were born to be.."
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Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:26 pm
Dustiel tried not to look at the shadow-alpha, going so far as to turn his head the other way, and close his eyes.
"My name is Dustiel!" He spat, finally snapping his head around to see the red, red, Alpha. His glare was emidiately changed to eyes wide with wonder. The glow of the orb reflected in his eyes, as he stared into it, then at the alpha.
He ran his words through his mind. 'Destiny?' His ego was fed, and he was hooked. And Denel was reeling him in.
Meanwhile, Betzalel mentally scolded himself for leaving enough of a trail to be found. He hadn't expected his lord to spare him, at the time, however. But in the end, it had worked to their advantage, hadn't it? The pup truely was bitter, and filled with wonderous hate.
Fate can unravel all covering of loose ends, even if I had covered them as best I could.
He was sure, despite the doubts possbly planted in his god's mind, that this was a truth he knew well enough.
And Betzalel was truely beliving that it was fate. Fate that the ghost of his past folly would survive, and join their ranks. Surely destiny had intended something for the pup, beyond his ability to stop.
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Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:13 pm
Danel mentally set Betzalel aside for the moment. The shield had already repented and there were just some things that one had no control over.
"Fool! Damnedable fool!" the Voice hissed, enraged by the God-alpha's folly. "Are you deaf, dumb, blind or something of all three! Kill the betrayer. Kill him now."
The blood red wolf performed the same mental sidestep around the Voice and instead focused his entire attention on the pup. He knew he had him hook, line and sinker.
"Brother Dustiel then," he said softly, almost crooning. "You are obviously strong and brave but on this lonely path you walk you will not find true greatness. Join our ranks, fight for our cause and you will be remembered in song and legend well after you are gone. It. Is. Your. Destiny," he repeated, knowing it got to the dusty brown pup; he could see how it touched Dustiel's very soul and resounded in his heart.
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Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 5:47 pm
The pup figured he could live with the darkness, and his mother's murderer, so long as his ego was fed.
"Destiny,.." He again repeated. "can not be denied."
He wanted greatness more than revenge. Revenge no longer mattered. Besides, what did he have left after he gained it? at least this way he would have the seductive feeling of darkness in his heart always to accompany him. And greatness.
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Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 6:49 pm
"Good, very good," Danel barked, straightening proudly and regally looking upon his new protege.
"Betzalel is your superior in rank; you will follow his instructions. His orders come direct from me and I am your alpha; I will not tolerate disobedience," he declared while the Voice scoffed lightly in his head. He knew this was right. The pack depended on the next generation to keep moving.
"Betzalel will accompany you to the pack where you will begin your training. I, however have business to attend to yet." He paused there and cast his Right Paw a significant glance, catching the gray wolf's eye.
"Betzalel? No mistakes." And with that he loped off, letting the shadows obscure him.
(( All right then. ^^ You can continue with Betzalel and Dustiel by yourself if you like, Yuna. 3nodding Now for Loki to bring Pip's Perun into the mix. *rubs hands together* ))
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Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:28 pm
Loki breathed deeply. He always felt better in the Shadowlands. His God lived here, and Loki adored his God. True he often left without permission, but he needed to roam, to use his abilities the way he knew he should. Besides, His Lord God would forgive him, as long as he showed him his newest pup, Perun. The young pup was a little vain, but it could be used to their advantage. Besides, the pup already proved he could use the shadows as well as any of the pack.
He took another deep breath, and caught a whif on the breeze. His God! Why was his God out this far on the borders of the Shadowlands? He grew cautious. He was one of the best pup-thiefs because he was careful, and patient. He followed the scent, until he found his God, and Betzalel standing around -gasp- another pup! He didn't recognize this pup, and he knew all of the pups brought in by the pup thieves in the clan. He made it his business to know. What was going on here? His hairs on edge, he moved downwind of the alpha and shield, and listened in. Perun, after the long journey, had bonded to him, and followed silently. "pup, stay as quiet as you can, and use the tricks I showed you with the shadows, blend in. This may be dangerous"
Loki listened, tuning into the great voice of his God, and heard Danel saying "...The shadows are calling you. This is your destiny!" Loki watched the confrontation with new intrest. A new pup, and one that apparently wasn't stolen, how intriguing.
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Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:39 pm
Perun had been following behind Loki, always staying within the shadowed areas. These felt almost right now, but a faint nagging was always in the back of his mind that was trying to tell him otherwise. He ignored the nagging because he enjoyed the thrill of things Loki had taught him. The pup also knew that the better he did, the more compliments he would receive! Oh how he loved compliments. They always made him feel so wonderful.
He heard the voice of Loki, and he crouched down behind the omega, peering around the other side. What he saw made him feel nervous, as he eyed the big blood red male and the other wolf near him. He took a deep breath and blended in with the shadows, the very shadows that held his fate, but brought him comfort. Perun watched the other wolves nervously, and as he watched he almost felt that the blood red male was really important. More important than Loki! Would this wolf give him the compliments he so desired? Should he give the same attitude to this wolf, as he did with Loki when he first happened upon him? Or should he obey this wolf? So many questions ran through his head as he continued to watch the others. He wanted to ask Loki what was going on, but deep down he knew that was not the best of ideas right now.
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:47 am
Danel supposed the Voice had fallen silent because Dustiel would make an excellent addition to the pack but he suspected it was also partly because if the pup could not put aside his anger and the precepts of his previous life quickly enough, Betzalel was as good as dead.. It would not make him happy but tough decisions must be made just like the easy ones. For the good of his pack.
So engrossed had he been with the brave newcomer, he'd not noticed he was being observed until after he'd left him in Betzalel's generally capable paws. But, the moment he'd put some distance between them, he caught the familiar scent of his thief. Without a second thought, he came to an abrupt halt and stood like a statue.
"Ahh, Loki. Welcome back, brother. Who is your new friend?" he asked, seemingly of no one in particular. But the god-alpha knew better. Even if he could not smell him, Danel had a knack for ..sensing the presence of his brethren. So, knowing the answer would come--because who can resist the word of one's God?--Danel waited.
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:57 pm
Loki, ever impressed with his God, and his ability to notice the thief even when he was wrapped in shadows, and at his stealthiest, stepped forward, head properly lowered, in a sign of respect. "I have brought a new pup, my Lord." Loki said. His deep rasping voice showing his reverence, even as the sparkle of mischief shown in his eyes. "Though it seems Betzalel has taken my job this evening. However, this pup is for you to decide it's fate. He has potential, Lord, he already seems at ease in the shadows, and can wrap them about him." Loki stepped aside, hoping that his little Perun would take the hint, and step forward. This was his final test to make it into the Brotherhood, and it was not one that Loki could help him with. If Perun showed fear of Danel, he would die, and Loki would be shamed. "My Lord, I would like to introduce you to Perun, a vain little puppy, but one with great potential."
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 9:09 pm
So many thoughts fled through the pup's head as Loki stepped forward, leaving Perun where he was. It seemed like years had passed, but yet only mere seconds had elapsed before the black pup heard his name. His ears perked up and he to stepped forward, but instead of remaining behind Loki, he placed himself at the side of the omega, but further back allowing the blood red male to see him and yet keeping Loki before him for he knew that he was just a mere pup and did not deserve to be equal or ahead of the omega.
He then mimicked the purple wolf who had brought him to his fate, lowering his head knowing now that this wolf was to be respected even more than Loki. The little pup wanted to do everything perfect so he could receive some more compliments from at least Loki. "I would be happy to serve you my Lord." his small voice said with an awe of respect, his head still lowered. He hoped to have said the right thing, having heard the older pups of his old pack saying it as they played their games. Deep in the back of his mind, he wanted to run, but he did not want to leave the omega who had cunningly brought him here, for he could not live without the compliments his vanity so desired.
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Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 5:55 pm
Moving on, back to the center of the pack's lands---
Dustiel did not go kindly with betzalel, just as Betzalel did not easily leave his Lord. However, his God's words were to be obeyed, and over-rode duty. Glaning down at the pup walking beside him, Betzalel began to evaluate him. He was a determined pup. Strong.
"How did you survive?" Betzalel finally asked.
Dustiel looked up at him, venom still in his olive eyes, "One by one my littermates died. I was determined to live -- and extract my revenge!-- so I consumed them."
Betzalel smirked, laughing somewhat to himself. "I see. And now revenge is out of the picture, or do you still intend to see me to my grave, so that you may then feast my my flesh?" He lifted a 'brow', as he again looked at the pup, which kept his eyes ahead.
"Maybe," came his curt reply. "Kill you, then take your place."
Betzalel shook his head, a sadness entering his eyes. He knew he was begining to slip. The pack's delima with the vagabond had cracked them all. Some were recovering better than others, but this pup -- he was sure to slowly crack the shield further. ..he could think of no one better to take his place, after his time came.
"That may well happen,...eventually."
That made Dustiel look up at the gray beta. "You'll train me to be his sheild?"
It was Betzalel's turn to keep his eyes front. "My duty is first and foremost as his shield. Not to be training a pup. But I will consult with my Lord. I don't want anyone in the way. My Lord is more than capable of his own protection, however, my prescence by his side is not without perpose."
"How did you come to be by his side? How did you become his Shield?" the pup asked curiously, seeking information he might could use to his advantage.
"I'm not going to disclose that with you," Betzalel said, hiding pain. Remembering growing up with the blood red wolf-god came easily to the gray wolf's mind. Even then he had worshiped the ground his 'friend' had walked on. He could remember it so clearly, but how things had come to be like they are now was a blur to him. The founding of the brotherhood, his place by his God's side,.....
Dustiel looked rather miffed at not getting the information he wanted. "I'll kill you one day. It won't matter." He said, haugtily, totally sure of himself - head held high, tail, too, and his ears perked.
Betzalel gave to sullen smile. "I know."
But not before my time is gone...
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