The Quantum Physics of Insanity [Private : NB]

[Electus]

I once thought that I had life figured out.

Mortil stalked through the dull blackness of Arnlan, melting through the landscape like a ghostly shadow. His steps were measured and careful, playing out the path of a hunt burned into his brain, a whisper of memory instilled upon his soul and upon the land.

Its burns, the twists and turns, the freezing cold...all their secrets revealed.

The scarred wolf moved with both eyes closed, one forever unseeing, the other amber gold when open. The eternal quiet was as heavy as a blanket, and the gentle warrior savored the moment. Umbra was asleep, and there was no one to bother him in this crisp clean moment of sweet and unbridled violence.

I traveled lands far and wide.

Mortil suddenly burst into action, leaping towards his imagined target with fangs bared. Sharp fangs slashed into thin air, and his paws grabbed onto illusory bodies. As sudden as it began, it was over. The ash-grey wolf skirted back, fangs still poised to strike.

I bled.

He slowly circled once and then sat down, opening his single eye skywards. It was a cloudless day, and he felt oddly at peace.

I laughed.

Slowly, he loosed a howl, in it a message of calling and victory.

I cried.

He called out to Nightblood.

And when I thought I knew it all...life threw something else at me. Can you guess?

He called out to his dear friend.

Insanity.

[nightblood]

NightBlood paced inside of her den, too anxious to lay down. She hadn't been able to put off her order any longer. Although she hated the very thought of being that close to anyone but Armageddon, she could not disobey her Alphas, not just after being promoted to Beta. This was the ultimate test of loyalty. She had performed the initial action- after which she had had thoughts of fatal suicide, but reminded herself that she still had her real lover to live for. Now all that was left to do was to wait a few weeks to see if she showed signs of being pregnant.

Her muscled twitched in protest with each step. She had been up for at least 72 hours, sleeping for only a few minutes at a time. Her body was not up to this, but her mind was too worried to let her drift to sleep. If she was pregnant, this could not at all be good for the pups. Thoughts rolled around in her mind, wondering what the Alphas would do if, for some mysterious reason, all the pups were stillborns.

As she thought, she almost missed the howl that drifted in on the wind. Mortil was calling. The Beta halted and stared out the mouth of the cave in the direction of his howl. It was specific- meant for her. Without hesitating, NightBlood tore out of the cave as if she was a rabbit being chased by a bear. Maybe not quite as quickly, but definitely at a surprising speed considering she had one lame leg.

It took her a short time to find him. Whether he was Mortil or Umbra at this point, she didn't care. She had been around both long enough to know that Umbra wouldn't kill her without reason, just to make Mortil happy so he wouldn't annoy him in their head.

"What's up?" she asked, a little too casually for someone in her situation.

[Electus]

"I just wanted to talk." Mortil said quietly, looking at his friend. "Umbra's asleep, so I have a few moments of peace. And I haven't seen you since the pack meeting."

He started to circle a bit restlessly, his single eye betraying a hint of melancholy. "Are you alright Nightblood? I know how you and Armageddon...well...you know what I mean. I'm not going to preach anything to you. I...I'm just worried about you, I guess."[/color]

He broke away from her gaze, staring off into the dark. "I...didn't make many friends in my old pack. I know I can be arrogant, aloof. I'm not good at saying...I don't know. But you're one of the few friends I have, Nightblood."[/color]

Mortil laughed softly, curling up on the ground. "I just hate seeing you hurt."[/color]

[nightblood]

"I just wanted to talk. Umbra's asleep, so I have a few moments of peace. And I haven't seen you since the pack meeting."

Blood nodded. She was 80% sure of what he wanted to talk about. Umbra would probably want no part in it any way.

"Are you alright Nightblood? I know how you and Armageddon...well...you know what I mean. I'm not going to preach anything to you. I...I'm just worried about you, I guess."

NightBlood smiled at this. It was nice to know she was cared about. She had others who cared about her, but Mortil was one of the few she actually identified with. She had once been of split mind as well. Not like him, of course. Her's was an easy fix. He would be like this forever. Still. She saw a kindred spirit in him.

"I...didn't make many friends in my old pack. I know I can be arrogant, aloof. I'm not good at saying...I don't know. But you're one of the few friends I have, Nightblood."

"I've never seen you arrogant... Maybe Umbra, but he's got enough to back up all of his claims," she answered, trying to keep the conversation from turning sappy.

"I just hate seeing you hurt."

Well, seeing that she had already cried enough a few days ago, that statement right there was almost enough toget her emotional again. However, she managed to choke back the tears and walk up to Mortil, lowering her head to level with his.

"I'm fine, Mortil,' she said, giving him a friendly lick on the muzzle before laying down on the ground herself, "Annoyed, but fine. I know why the Alphas picked a mate for me instead of letting me mate with Armageddon. It hurts, but there are things that must be done in certain ways. We all just have to accept it."

That said, she sighed and layed her chin on her paws, staring out into the distance. She wanted desperately to run away, but it just couldn't be done. She was Beta now. She had to serve the pack before herself.

[Electus]

The ash-grey wolf smiled. "I'm glad."
He sighed then, staring off into the distance.

"You know...I chose to be a warrior. It was a decision that was all my own. And sometimes I think that if I had chosen to be a hunter, like my mother, Umbra might have stayed dormant..."[/color]

He set his chin between his paws, a thoughtful look on his face. "Fighting is all I know, Nightblood. And I don't know if it's because of Umbra or something else, but...I enjoy it. Taking another's life...it seems as natural as breathing to me."[/color]

Mortil's face took on a guilty look. "When I first came here, and when I found that Archer was here...I lost control. I let Umbra take control because of what Archer did. I wanted so badly to kill him, make him scream. I wanted him to suffer. And...I almost let Umbra kill you, Nightblood. I resented the way you looked at me, like I was...I don't know. A freak."[/color]

He looked at Nightblood, his single eye now serious. "As much as I hate to say it, but for all my control, Umbra is still dangerously unstable. I don't know when or where he might force control again. And I know that the wolves here fight well, but the truth of the matter is that there are no warriors that can match Umbra. He slaughtered my whole pack alone, warriors and all. If you hadn't intervened during the fight with Ultionis, Umbra might very well have killed him and turn on you and Mordecai."[/color]

Mortil stood and circled before laying down again. "Arnlan needs warriors. I understand that. Your pups would be...well, just the thing Arnlan needs. I know that. You know that. The Alphas know that. But pups, no matter the potential, must be trained. And what good is that when there are is an absence of warriors now? We need warriors, and we need warriors that can best Umbra, in a group fight if not single combat."[/color]

He sighed again. "I need this, Nightblood. There is no one better fitted...I know the Alphas need to decide, but a pack hunt is not going to prove anything for me. I need...something else, something to let the Alphas see that I can form the best warriors Arnlan has ever seen. I can do this, Nightblood. I know it. I can make our warriors better, I can make sure that if I ever lost control, there would be someone that could stop me or kill me if necessary. The threat of Sallin grows everyday. I know them. Their wolves know no honor. Single combat is something foreign to them. And though I know most of us would fight, there isn't nearly enough..."

I'm not built for assassination, no matter how I look. I am a warrior, true and bred. I will become the leader of our warriors, or I swear upon my honor that I will die trying."[/color]

[nightblood]

NightBlood's head rose as she stared at Mortil throughout his speech, marveling at the determination in his voice. At that moment, she knew the pups she carried had a purpose. Not only were they to fill Arnlan's numbers, but they were going to be warriors to be feared. Wolves built to take down Umbra were wolves not to be toyed with. The training would be tough and possibly even life-threatening, but the spawn of such large and muscular parents would have no difficulty staying alive throughout the ordeal.

Now that she had a personal reason to keep these pups, NightBlood rolled onto her side to keep her weight off of them. She was now determined to keep healthy so that the pups would live. She'd go to the stores later to get a meal. A nap didn't sound too bad either. As long as she had any say in it, this litter would be the strongest in wolf history.

"You are a true Warrior, Umbra. To sacrifice time and effort to keep your pack safe, even from yourself, is an honorable deed. I would be glad to have you train these pups."

It took a moment for the Beta to register that she hadn't caught Mortil after the hunt to tell him about the rank she had in mind for him. Now would be the perfect time to tell him.

"I never got to tell you after the hunt... There were others around... But there are secret ranks that I left out when I was telling everyone about the new system... The Alphas and I agreed that you would be best suited for the Obsidian rank."

[Electus]

"I never got to tell you after the hunt... There were others around... But there are secret ranks that I left out when I was telling everyone about the new system... The Alphas and I agreed that you would be best suited for the Obsidian rank."

Mortil started. Secret ranks? His resolve hardened even more when Nightblood declared the rank he was to fill.

"I'm honored, Nightblood. I swear to you and to Arnlan that I will do everything, anything, to safeguard this land and its people."[/color]

He stood and circled again before sitting. "Now perhaps you could tell me more about my secret rank. What else is expected of me?"

[nightblood]

"Now perhaps you could tell me more about my secret rank. What else is expected of me?"

Night sat up, shifting her weight away from her stomach. Her eyes focused on Mortil, but her ears kept alert for any one in the surrounding area. The only ones allowed to hear this bit of information were a select few, none of which were outside the pack.

"Obsidians are the Warriors and Guards of Arnlan. The Alphas want it secret because they don't want it to seem like Arnlan needs an army. Sallin is a threat, yes, but they've never attacked us while I've been here. It's basically a double bluff. If we seem strong in our usual ranks, they'd assume that if they attacked us, everyone would fight. Either that, or they assume we're weak and they end up attacking a booby-trapped pack."

The Beta grinned and shook her head at the thought process of the Alphas. Had she been in a pack about to attack Arnlan, she would have never suspected such a thing. It proved as a testimony to her that the Alphas knew what they were doing.

"Basically, you're to have a cover rank. An Officer or a Chef- something that will keep you fit while you're not training. You need to train in secret, away from all eyes or in the eyes of other Obsidians or Higher-ups. Mordicai and Anek, if they accept. You'll all be Squires until I gather you all up and test you're abilities. There's no doubt in my mind that you'll be a Master in no time."

[Electus]

"Basically, you're to have a cover rank. An Officer or a Chef- something that will keep you fit while you're not training. You need to train in secret, away from all eyes or in the eyes of other Obsidians or Higher-ups. Mordicai and Anek, if they accept. You'll all be Squires until I gather you all up and test you're abilities. There's no doubt in my mind that you'll be a Master in no time."

Mortil nodded. "I see."

The ash-grey wolf certainly saw the gravity of the rank that was being bestowed upon him. He arched his brow before yawning.

"Have you told Mordecai or Anek yet? And...what do you mean by test?"[/b]

[nightblood]

"Have you told Mordecai or Anek yet? And...what do you mean by test?"

"I've been distracted by my other responsibilities. I will have to tell them after I rest. I've been awake for much too long."

A muscle began twitching in her right shoulder, proof that even her body cried out for a reprieve. Lesson learned. She would never be staying up this long again. She welcomed the thought of sleeping for two days straight after hernerves keeping her from sleep's welcoming grasp.

"What I mean by test is simply giving each of you an obstacle course to run and different training exercises to show what level of experience each of you has had. That's why I say that you will pass all ranks and go right to master if I had the top say in it. I would even promote you to Chief if I could."

Every word she said was true, but it did seem a bit much to reveal. Even though Mortil was the best fighter in Arnlan, herself and Mirage coming in second and third, he still had Umbra to hold his earned praise back. After all, no pack would chance a pack-killer in an officer's rank. It just wasn't done. In NightBlood's eyes, however, she didn't see why not.

[Electus]

"What I mean by test is simply giving each of you an obstacle course to run and different training exercises to show what level of experience each of you has had. That's why I say that you will pass all ranks and go right to master if I had the top say in it. I would even promote you to Chief if I could."

Mortil tilted his head. "I see. Well my friend, I've kept you long enough. You look tired. And I'm sure you are. Until next time." He turned to leave. As he padded noiselessly off, he spoke over his shoulder.

"Should you need me, you know how to find me. Call, and I will answer."

With that, Mortil vanished into the dark.