Kaelyndra
It was rare for the cougar to physically take her anyplace anymore. Mostly, she just followed him around in the direction he pleased, his eyes scanning the world for whatever it is cougars did. She walked, staring at him now, her mind ticking away like clockwork, wondering.
Was she a hindrance to him and his quiet feet? Out of all the killing animals, they seemed the best. He rarely left and didn't bring home a meal, while she'd try and try again, but fail. Other wolves, too. Lone was not a good business to be, and in these footsteps she came to realize she would be very well dead without him.
So what, then, kept her glued to her side? She'd thought a lot about what Dakeyras had said, that they were cougars. Until something more interesting came along. Yet, she was interesting enough to be kept? The thought made her brow furrow. What did he truly want with her, and why all the hastle that he'd gone through?
Yet, she didn't get a chance to express any of this, for the cougar seemed not even to know she existed. Silence was reigning supreme, but Noyama knew he was taking no effort to cover his footsteps, or sounds caused by. He was going somewhere.
"Yis-" but his look cut her off, and she dropped her head, staring straight ahead, until new scents came into her senses. It was like they happened all at once. A breeding of wolves, but it was only one, no wait.
The scents were confusing, very much so, and Noyama's head swam with the information. Where were they?
Ronove
Rem sniffed the air and thought he caught the scent of cat on the wind.
Of course, it could easily be his imagination. The wolf shifted uncomfortably on the hard ground and glanced at Leu. Why did they have to meet here, of all places? The cat wasn't an idiot, no matter what Leu called him. Perching on a high rock would not impress him.
Rem opened his mouth to say just that, when Leu lept lightly to the ground and padded away.
"... Oy!" With a muffled curse the pale wolf took off after him. "What're you doing? They're coming, I can smell --"
Oh.
Leu paused at the base of a massive boulder, fronted with sheer, overhanging, wind-smoothed stone. A narrow passage crept through a split in the rock. It was just wide enough for the two wolves to stand comfortably abreast.
Rem grinned. A nice defensible spot. Just in case, of course.
Without a word, Leu settled himself a little ways away from the opening, his solemn gaze locked on the landscape in front of him. Rem followed his example and rocked back on his haunches, his jaws split in an easy smile. Time to wait.
Kaelyndra
Yisoka arrived a few moments later. Leu's timing had been perfect, but he'd probably planned it out that way.
The cougar knew the wolf was no fool with cougars, and even now his tail twitched with unease. He hadn't wanted to come to a place under the wolf's specifications. It provided a danger to him, and a danger to the passenger he was dragging along.
"Be quiet, and hold your tongue," he warned Noyama before they were in sight of the meeting location. It was a bugger to find, but he would be no cougar if he was lost.
Meanwhile, the fur on the back of Noyama's back was raised. She didn't like this one moment, and wanted to turn around and go back. Surely Yisoka would agree?
A few more footfalls later and Yisoka was gazing into the small hole the wolves had made for themselves.
"You realize you could starve in that crack?" Noyama noted, clearly forgetting the cougar's warnings.
The cougar knew the wolf was no fool with cougars, and even now his tail twitched with unease. He hadn't wanted to come to a place under the wolf's specifications. It provided a danger to him, and a danger to the passenger he was dragging along.
"Be quiet, and hold your tongue," he warned Noyama before they were in sight of the meeting location. It was a bugger to find, but he would be no cougar if he was lost.
Meanwhile, the fur on the back of Noyama's back was raised. She didn't like this one moment, and wanted to turn around and go back. Surely Yisoka would agree?
A few more footfalls later and Yisoka was gazing into the small hole the wolves had made for themselves.
"You realize you could starve in that crack?" Noyama noted, clearly forgetting the cougar's warnings.
Ronove
Rem blinked. "Starve? Oh no, this --"
"This," Leu cast a withering gaze at his companion and Rem shut his mouth with a snap. "Will take care of a large part of our debt, cat."
Burnt amber eyes swept past Yisoka and settled on the pink wolf behind him. He regarded her for a long moment, contempt flickering across his carefully schooled features, then dismissed her and turned his attention back to the cat.
"Oh... this again." Rem spoke under his breath, and Leu either didn't hear or ignored him. With a mental shrug the white male climbed to his feet and trotted out to meet the pink girl. She looked a little edgy; maybe he could get her to... naw.
"Hey, kiddo!" He beamed at her, his tail wagging cheerily. "Big friend you've got there. Know him well, or did he steal you?"
"This," Leu cast a withering gaze at his companion and Rem shut his mouth with a snap. "Will take care of a large part of our debt, cat."
Burnt amber eyes swept past Yisoka and settled on the pink wolf behind him. He regarded her for a long moment, contempt flickering across his carefully schooled features, then dismissed her and turned his attention back to the cat.
"Oh... this again." Rem spoke under his breath, and Leu either didn't hear or ignored him. With a mental shrug the white male climbed to his feet and trotted out to meet the pink girl. She looked a little edgy; maybe he could get her to... naw.
"Hey, kiddo!" He beamed at her, his tail wagging cheerily. "Big friend you've got there. Know him well, or did he steal you?"
Kaelyndra
The cat nodded, as though Leu was talking to him in a soft tone and said he might pick flowers for his next lover. Apparently, hostility was not noted in these hours.
Noyama glared right back at Leu as he looked at her. He had a great number of scars, and she was determined to find how he'd gotten them. Maybe he'd gotten into a fight with Dak, and both parties had escaped with large wounds. It seemed Leu would have to be the better fighter.
The other wolf, however, seemed much more sensible.
Wait, kiddo? What the hell. She wasn't a kid. Not anymore. She'd tackled her fair share of fights and won with ferocity to match.
Noyama glanced at him. Yisoka was big. Of course, she hadn't gotten close enough to see any other cougars, but still, wolves paled in comparison. For a moment she thought of giving him the same contempt that Leu would have, but then she rethought. A friend would be a wise thing to have, even if it was just because there was no one else to turn to.
She had guessed she was staying here, looking at Yisoka's reaction, and even moreso the words of the great natural wolf standing a good distance away.
"I know him," she answered. Though, really, she didn't know the answer for certain, though she doubted he'd have stolen her. She had memories of meeting wolves, and none of the cougar from those day and ages.
Yisoka, however, was eyeing the white animal with a neutral expression. He said nothing, but with Leu's answer, determined it time to go and vanished back a different way than he'd come.
"You're a coward," Noyama spat at Leu now that Yisoka had left the area. She'd show some respect towards him when the cougar was around, but never again.
Noyama glared right back at Leu as he looked at her. He had a great number of scars, and she was determined to find how he'd gotten them. Maybe he'd gotten into a fight with Dak, and both parties had escaped with large wounds. It seemed Leu would have to be the better fighter.
The other wolf, however, seemed much more sensible.
Wait, kiddo? What the hell. She wasn't a kid. Not anymore. She'd tackled her fair share of fights and won with ferocity to match.
Noyama glanced at him. Yisoka was big. Of course, she hadn't gotten close enough to see any other cougars, but still, wolves paled in comparison. For a moment she thought of giving him the same contempt that Leu would have, but then she rethought. A friend would be a wise thing to have, even if it was just because there was no one else to turn to.
She had guessed she was staying here, looking at Yisoka's reaction, and even moreso the words of the great natural wolf standing a good distance away.
"I know him," she answered. Though, really, she didn't know the answer for certain, though she doubted he'd have stolen her. She had memories of meeting wolves, and none of the cougar from those day and ages.
Yisoka, however, was eyeing the white animal with a neutral expression. He said nothing, but with Leu's answer, determined it time to go and vanished back a different way than he'd come.
"You're a coward," Noyama spat at Leu now that Yisoka had left the area. She'd show some respect towards him when the cougar was around, but never again.
Ronove
Rem winced. Not the best thing she could've said in this situation. Not the worst, either, but still.
"I, ah, wouldn't be so sure, kid." Seriously, what was it with all these cocky pups? Always thought they knew how things worked. Pah! Rem grinned. Not that he wasn't the same way. His voice dropped to a bare whisper. "Best not make the situation worse, you know. Time for insults later, and all that. Besides --"
"I really don't give a damn what you think, child." Leu commented blandly. His posture was calm, even relaxed. "In fact, if I had a choice I'd rip out your throat now and be done with it. No connections, no brains," The brown wolf looked down his nose. "And not a normal color in sight."
Rem backed off to a safe distance and waited, affecting a bored expression. He felt a little sorry for the pink female, but if she was stupid enough to act up... well, she deserved what was coming. Reality was a b***h.
"But let's just get one thing straight." Leu climbed lazily to his feet, tensed --
-- and jerked forwards, locking his jaws on the scruff of the pink female's neck. His words were slightly muffled, but lost none of their potency.
"You are only alive because that cat wants you to be." His shook his head slightly, teeth sinking deeper into soft fur and flesh. "And while you are here," He continued, "you will obey.."
"I, ah, wouldn't be so sure, kid." Seriously, what was it with all these cocky pups? Always thought they knew how things worked. Pah! Rem grinned. Not that he wasn't the same way. His voice dropped to a bare whisper. "Best not make the situation worse, you know. Time for insults later, and all that. Besides --"
"I really don't give a damn what you think, child." Leu commented blandly. His posture was calm, even relaxed. "In fact, if I had a choice I'd rip out your throat now and be done with it. No connections, no brains," The brown wolf looked down his nose. "And not a normal color in sight."
Rem backed off to a safe distance and waited, affecting a bored expression. He felt a little sorry for the pink female, but if she was stupid enough to act up... well, she deserved what was coming. Reality was a b***h.
"But let's just get one thing straight." Leu climbed lazily to his feet, tensed --
-- and jerked forwards, locking his jaws on the scruff of the pink female's neck. His words were slightly muffled, but lost none of their potency.
"You are only alive because that cat wants you to be." His shook his head slightly, teeth sinking deeper into soft fur and flesh. "And while you are here," He continued, "you will obey.."
Kaelyndra
He had been cowering behind a rock, he had to have been a coward. The words were practically the same! She didn't give a damn about insults later. She'd speak her mind and be damned if anybody tried to fix that.
"Go to hell," she snapped at him, she realled didn't want to be here. In fact, she'd sooner die than be with these mongrels. Growling her contempt at both the 'friendly' one and the other one she turned to go.
Unfortunately, that gave Leu the move he needed, and in seconds she was flipped around, her throat caught in the teeth of Leu.
She grinned lightly, showing teeth, though the pull of it on her throat was painful. "Go for it, b*****d." She couldn't care less if he killed her right here, he had it coming.
Even crazies and nobles would have fought back. But she didn't think he would kill her, not now. Not with Yisoka so close. "Rip out my throat and wallow in the blood that marks your downfall," she said hoarsley, the air flow cut of sharply as he dug deeper caused her to grit her teeth together to try and bear the pain.
"Go to hell," she snapped at him, she realled didn't want to be here. In fact, she'd sooner die than be with these mongrels. Growling her contempt at both the 'friendly' one and the other one she turned to go.
Unfortunately, that gave Leu the move he needed, and in seconds she was flipped around, her throat caught in the teeth of Leu.
She grinned lightly, showing teeth, though the pull of it on her throat was painful. "Go for it, b*****d." She couldn't care less if he killed her right here, he had it coming.
Even crazies and nobles would have fought back. But she didn't think he would kill her, not now. Not with Yisoka so close. "Rip out my throat and wallow in the blood that marks your downfall," she said hoarsley, the air flow cut of sharply as he dug deeper caused her to grit her teeth together to try and bear the pain.
Ronove
Leu couldn't kill her. Not with Yisoka close by, and certainly not if he wanted to keep their deal. So he'd have to force this pup to stay close -another- way. A more painful way, but what else could he do? Ah, the limits he would push for revenge...
"I think not."
His jaws closed with crushing force for a second, hoping to steal her breath away long enough to keep her stunned. Then, with calm purpose, his head snaked down and fastened on the dark pink backleg. He bit down. Hard.
The crack of bone was audible across the clearing.
With a grimace of distaste the huge alpha stepped back. "Stay with us. Nurse your desire for revenge, do whatever you want. Or leave and die a purposeless death."
The alpha glanced back over his shoulder, his expression impassive again. "Rem." The pale wolf ghosted to his side. "Help her home."
"I think not."
His jaws closed with crushing force for a second, hoping to steal her breath away long enough to keep her stunned. Then, with calm purpose, his head snaked down and fastened on the dark pink backleg. He bit down. Hard.
The crack of bone was audible across the clearing.
With a grimace of distaste the huge alpha stepped back. "Stay with us. Nurse your desire for revenge, do whatever you want. Or leave and die a purposeless death."
The alpha glanced back over his shoulder, his expression impassive again. "Rem." The pale wolf ghosted to his side. "Help her home."
Kaelyndra
For a second she thought that he actually was going to kill her, he was going to go through with it. But there was no way, she would live a long life, she would!
Then he moved quickly an effortlessly and she thought it was over, until the sound echoed through the forest and her back right leg suddenly stopped supporting her body.
A yelp followed shortly later as she hit the dirt and the pain started to rush ********. . ." she whispered to herself, her throat choking out the words.
But she knew her fate as good as any, and she had to let Rem help her. She had to stay. There was no choice.
Then he moved quickly an effortlessly and she thought it was over, until the sound echoed through the forest and her back right leg suddenly stopped supporting her body.
A yelp followed shortly later as she hit the dirt and the pain started to rush ********. . ." she whispered to herself, her throat choking out the words.
But she knew her fate as good as any, and she had to let Rem help her. She had to stay. There was no choice.
Ronove
Rem shuddered. He -hated- this part. The pain, the weeks of healing and fear... his own leg ached in sympathetic agony. Remembered agony. The pale wolf shook off memories and trotted carefully over to the downed female.
"C'mon, love." He nuzzled her, suprised at his own gentleness. "Up an' at 'em, it's better if you can get your mind off of it."
At least it wasn't an open fracture; with any luck, it was only a mere crack in the bone. He eyed the wound, which was leaking blood from the rips were Leu's jaws had dug in. It didn't look twisted...
"You'll be better than ever in a few weeks, and until then..." The wolf wagged his tail slightly. "We can learn to get along and behave, hmm?"
Maybe this dose of reality would bring her down to earth. Grimly, he led her off.
"C'mon, love." He nuzzled her, suprised at his own gentleness. "Up an' at 'em, it's better if you can get your mind off of it."
At least it wasn't an open fracture; with any luck, it was only a mere crack in the bone. He eyed the wound, which was leaking blood from the rips were Leu's jaws had dug in. It didn't look twisted...
"You'll be better than ever in a few weeks, and until then..." The wolf wagged his tail slightly. "We can learn to get along and behave, hmm?"
Maybe this dose of reality would bring her down to earth. Grimly, he led her off.
