Welcome to Arnlan, how are you? [NB, Squeeji]

[Electus]

Mortil glanced down at the two pups that frisked around him, a slight smile on his face. He usually didn't take to pups very well, but the enthusiasm and energy the two shared was difficult to ignore. But first things first...

He led the two deeper into the blackness of Arnlanian territory, pointing out useful landmarks as they went.

"The river there usually freezes over in the winter...but the ice is thin, so falling or diving through it is easy. If you'll look up there, there's a cliff that overlooks it. You can get a decent view from there. Anyways, there are some minor streams that run through Arnlan, but this river is a good source of food and water, if you were so inclined."

He stopped for a moment, staring at it. Memories flashed in his head in images and sounds. He remembered when Nightblood, Ravenshard and Mordecai had stood here, desperately trying to save his life. It was probably just him, but he could still smell the pools of blood.

"I almost died here..." he said quietly, as he started to pad silently off again.

As they reached a clearing in the gnarled and jagged trees, he stopped again. He slowly circled the space where he stood before sitting. "Wait." he said to the two pups before him. He raised his head in a bell-tone howl, calling to Nightblood.

All that was left to do, was wait.

"So. Tell me about yourselves."

[Squeeji]

Pete lumbered on at a very slow and steady pace, most likely because given his lanky awkward build he'd probably kill himself if he scampered around like Vivian. The albino nodded as Mortil talked, making sure to keep respectfully attentive.

Vivian however was only half listening and running around, a head or behind, investigating everything as they went, poking her nose around and sniffing everything.

"I almost died here..."

The female stopped as her head jerked up and her eyes got wide. "REALLY?" she scampered over "What happened? Did you get into a fight? Did you kill them? Is that where you got those scars? That's sooooooo awesome." again she began wiggling and squirming her tail wagging in excitement hoping that the warrior would tell her more of the story.

"Jeez Viv..." Pete covered his face with his paw as he stopped for a moment, he still seemed to be walking on pins and needles here, he had never really been part of a pack, unlike Viv, who seemed to have grown comfortable the moment the Sentry allowed them in Arnlan.

"So. Tell me about yourselves."

"Um...I dunno what to say...I was, raised with dogs, until I got to big and wild. They said they found me as a newborn, I guess I was left by my pack because I'm...well, kinda creepy looking." Pete didn't know the full extent of things, who could remember life before their eyes opened? All he could remember was the mother dog who had taken him in.

Vivian sighed and shrugged. "My mom left to hunt one day and didn't come back, so I ran off on my own. " It seemed both pups had run into one another by chance.

[nightblood]

NightBlood was just coming out of a long nap. The Beta yawned and growled, her usual way of greeting the real world. Getting to her feet, the smell of food graced her muzzle. A young buck she had somehow managed to fell the night before was adorned in her cave. His antlers would be displayed somewhere in here to remind herself that she was not, nor would ever be completely helpless. As she dined, she glanced every now and then at the bulge in her gut. It was not the food that was the cause of it. The embryos inside her were growing at a quick rate. She could only conclude that this would be a big litter. No doubt there would be a fair amount of stillborns. It was common in first litters.

Finishing her meal, NightBlood went to rest once more. She needed to conserve all the energy she could in order to produce healthy pups for Mortil's sake. And at that moment, who should call but the one these pups were one day going to control.

At once, the female was off, sprinting toward the howl as fast as health would permit. It had been a boring week. No one had called for her to do or help with anything. She assumed it was because of her condition, but she still would like to be useful somehow. Perhaps Mortil had something for her to occupy her time with.

As soon as she arrived, however, NightBlood beheld a peculiar sight. One she thought she wouldn't see until a few more months had passed. Mortil was in the company of pups. No one in Arnlan had been pregnant except for her. Apparently these were new members accepted by Crow. Perhaps the young warrior had come to like them. As long as Umbra did not go berserk, she saw no cause for alarm. She did, however, see cause for a joke.

"Couldn't wait, could you, Mortil? Had to steal a few to get some practice in?"

She was speaking, of course, about the training Mortil was going to put her own pups through in order to control Umbra should he ever become to much for him alone.

[Electus]

"What happened? Did you get into a fight? Did you kill them? Is that where you got those scars? That's sooooooo awesome."

Mortil smiled slightly, his face grim at the question. "No one wounds me and lives." he said simply. And it was the truth. Even if he didn't want to kill, Umbra would. It was just the way things went.

He listened quietly to the two's stories, nodding slightly as they spoke. Not uncommon stories but still surprising. But then again, why else would two pups travel alone and unprotected around the wilderness? He sighed. At least he had Umbra to keep him company. Shoddy company, but it would do.


"Couldn't wait, could you, Mortil? Had to steal a few to get some practice in?"

Mortil looked up. His friend came unannounced, but he did not bow his head, as per her request. But he did scowl.

"Har har. The only one I would train would be the white one. Unless the other would like to be a warrior too. But that's besides the point. This is Pete." He gestured to the white pup near him. "The other is Vivian. Crow accepted them, I'm just showing them around. I wondered if you had anything you wanted them to do, or anyone you wanted them to follow around."

He turned to the pups. "This is Nightblood, the Beta of Arnlan and a very good friend of mine. If anyone could find a place here for you two, she'd be the one."

[Squeeji]

"No one wounds me and lives."

That just got the little female bouncing up and down again, out of the two, that one had more of the blood lust, finding Mortil's morbid little story and implications utterly fascinating. Pete just winced a little, wrinkling his pink nose at both the warrior's statement, and the littler pup's excitement.

At the mention of his name Pete gave the female a curt nod, whilst Vivian stopped wiggling around Mortil a moment to give the big female a creepy toothy grin. "Eeeeeeee." well it sounded a bit like a noise, or something.

"Nice to meet you." the young male drawled a moment before shooting a glance at Vivian.

[nightblood]

"Har har. The only one I would train would be the white one. Unless the other would like to be a warrior too. But that's besides the point. This is Pete."

NightBlood studied the white one carefully. She had heard of his kind before, but had never seen one herself. They were called Albinos. Other than being blindingly white, there was nothing really dangerous about them. They were just another oddity. Not unlike a wolf without a tail.

"The other is Vivian. Crow accepted them, I'm just showing them around. I wondered if you had anything you wanted them to do, or anyone you wanted them to follow around."

"Eeeeeeee."

It took a moment for the Beta to stop staring at the pup before she noted the her eagerness for the battlefield was more than the young male's. She was not too different from herself at that age. Wilder, perhaps.

"This is Nightblood, the Beta of Arnlan and a very good friend of mine. If anyone could find a place here for you two, she'd be the one."

"Nice to meet you."

"Likewise, little one," Blood said politely. She turned her attention to Mortil, an eyebrow raised in skepticism. "You're not one to take chances, Mortil. Does Umbra approve, or is he asleep?"

Sitting down, NightBlood allowed time for Mortil to answer. She had rarely caught him in the company of others. He was usually either training to better his odds against Umbra or fighting with him. She had only ever seen him in the company of wolves who had something of a chance against the darker side of him in case he broke free. She'd never seen him allowing himself so close to ones as helpless as these pups.

[Electus]

"You're not one to take chances, Mortil. Does Umbra approve, or is he asleep?"

The switch was unnoticeable to those not familiar with Mortil's condition. But his head dipped a bit lower, and his fangs were just a tad more visible that when the gentler wolf had control. Umbra lolled out his tongue in a laugh before grinning like a vampire.

"Both." he said irritably, circling the ground before sitting again. "Or at least I was. Sleeping, I mean. How I am supposed to with all this accursed noise? You people should go do your silly introductions or whatever when I'm not just about to fall asleep." he sighed then. "On the other hand, I suppose I'm used to it by now. What a pity. It used to be better. Mortil traveled alone, I could sleep, and every now and then we'd skirt Sallin's borders. That was always fun. I always left a little 'present' before we left." The berserker's cruel laugh left no doubts as to what he meant by 'present'.

"So delightful, Sallin wolves. They fight like weaklings. Not an entertaining one among them."[/color] He yawned, then eyed the two pups balefully.

"Well Nightblood, what should Mortil do with them? I certainly don't have the time or the patience to deal with them. Believe me when I say I'd rather eat them. But! They are packmates now. They have nothing to fear, as you know. But please don't wake me again! Presently I shall grow angry. You know what I'm like when I'm angry. Blood, gore, ripping out guts and heads, that sort of thing. Good night!"

And that was that. Mortil's posture straightened and he blinked twice before speaking. "Isn't he absolutely delightful?" he said sarcastically. "He just lights up my life, you know?" He looked at the two pups gravely before turning back to Nightblood.

"They're made for combat. If they wish it and you allow it, I wish to train them."

[Squeeji]

A damn bad influence that was what Umbra was, while the young female hadn't noticed the switch herself, the talk of gore and violence and all that good stuff had only served to make the little creature worse...gnashing her little baby teeth, and stomping about play growling.

"I would kill a Sallin wolf, I'd tear their throat out before they knew what hit 'em." Vivian bristled as she puffed herself up, as for the larger male's commentary about eating them, well, the threat had grown hollow over time...and besides, she was utterly enthralled by this brash and vulgar ruffian.

Pete on the other paw...well, if the young wolf could have gotten paler he'd have blanched, his jaw clenching at the change within the Warrior, with his pink eyes he seemed to beg the beta to save him from this. But he didn't dare say anything out loud, he wasn't sure if he was surrounded by three absolute psychos, or just the two he knew about.

[nightblood]

"Or at least I was. Sleeping, I mean. How I am supposed to with all this accursed noise? You people should go do your silly introductions or whatever when I'm not just about to fall asleep."

By now, all NightBlood could do was smile and roll her eyes at the killer. If she didn't know any better, she would guess that she was starting to enjoy his company just as much as Mortil's.

"So delightful, Sallin wolves. They fight like weaklings. Not an entertaining one among them." He yawned, then eyed the two pups balefully.

That image would forever stay in the Beta's mind as a reminder of how much she herself had changed. Though cold hearted, pups could nearly always prove as away to make one smile. Seeing a killer like Umbra in the company of such youthful individuals was charming at the least. It warmed her inside... despite the coldness of Umbra. Her smile broadened.

"Well Nightblood, what should Mortil do with them? I certainly don't have the time or the patience to deal with them. Believe me when I say I'd rather eat them. But! They are packmates now. They have nothing to fear, as you know. But please don't wake me again! Presently I shall grow angry. You know what I'm like when I'm angry. Blood, gore, ripping out guts and heads, that sort of thing. Good night!"

Had she not had the small fear of being eaten herself, NightBlood would have burst out laughing at the very moment. She waited until Mortil was in control before giving off a small chuckle.

"Isn't he absolutely delightful?" he said sarcastically. "He just lights up my life, you know?"

"He's slowly growing on me. You know that, right?" Blood said through her quiet laughter, "Does that mean I'm crazy?"

"I would kill a Sallin wolf, I'd tear their throat out before they knew what hit 'em."

"Oh, I like this one," she said, leaning down to view the female more closely, grinning as she watched her.

"They're made for combat. If they wish it and you allow it, I wish to train them."

Blood looked up at the gray male, caution in her eyes.

"For your rank?" she asked, wanting to make it clearer, "Vivian seems well suited... not to mention eager..."

She picked up her head and looked down at the white male. She saw potential in him, but not for fighting. His calmer mind showed that he was made for something different... Something more than just fighting.

[Electus]

"He's slowly growing on me. You know that, right?" Blood said through her quiet laughter, "Does that mean I'm crazy?"

"Personally, I think you already are." he grinned, chuckling.

"For your rank?" she asked, wanting to make it clearer, "Vivian seems well suited... not to mention eager..."

Mortil's face was grim. "If Vivian will take the path of the warrior, I will teach her. However..." He looked at Pete. His mindset was much calmer and less excitable than Vivian's.

"I would rather Pete be an assassin. Or a sentry. Crow can't do it all by herself. If he were an assassin, well..." Mortil shrugged.

"Either way Nightblood, it's your decision."

[Squeeji]

At the mention of assassin Vivian's nose wrinkled up in amusement, shooting Pete a naughty look. "Hahah, Silent but deadly." she giggled, and Pete made a slight humph under his breath, not appreciating the eluding to flatulence. The pup then looked at Mortil with a wide toothy smile. "I could be a warrior...I could be a really good one if you give me a chance Mr. Mortil sir." wild as she was, it appeared that Viv could...well, suck up as well as any puppy when there was something she wanted.

"Pleeeeeease?"

As the two talked about Pete, he could only breathe a sigh of relief as they talked about him being a sentry or an Assassin, he gave a shakey smile, he was a lover, not a fighter...well, he could be a fighter...but he loathed to turn out like the gray male. He shook his head, "I'll...do whatever you think I'm best suited for...I'm just sayin' you're right...I just don't have this fella's blood thirst." as he smiled and said it, he grabbed Vivian with a big paw and slid her to his side, Vivian of course squirmed and flashed her teeth threatening to chew her way out of the albino's grasp.

[nightblood]

"Personally, I think you already are." he grinned, chuckling.

"I should seek treatment immediately, then," Blood replied, laughing at the extending joke.

"If Vivian will take the path of the warrior, I will teach her. However... I would rather Pete be an assassin. Or a sentry. Crow can't do it all by herself. If he were an assassin, well..."

"Hahah, Silent but deadly. I could be a warrior...I could be a really good one if you give me a chance Mr. Mortil sir."

If possible, NightBlood's fondness for the hyper female grew even more in that statement. Calling Mortil 'Mr.' and 'sir' helped as well. It was just too funny.

"Pleeeeeease?"

"Either way Nightblood, it's your decision."

"I think Vivian can be trained to be a fine Warrior. I have confidence in her teacher."

Giving Mortil a warm-hearted smile, she turned to Pete. The young male was not as violent as the female. It didn't mean he was weaker. On the contrary. It might mean he was a bit more sane.

"I'll...do whatever you think I'm best suited for...I'm just sayin' you're right...I just don't have this fella's blood thirst."

Blood chuckled as the albino pulled Vivian in closer to him. He had a kind soul.

"Scout it is then. Such is the new name for our Sentries. There are Officers as well, but they have the added burden of guard duty. As a Scout, you'll be settling quarrels in the pack and sometimes traveling outside the boundaries to recruit or to find food if we ever have a famine. How does that sound to you?"

[Electus]

"Hahah, Silent but deadly. I could be a warrior...I could be a really good one if you give me a chance Mr. Mortil sir."

Mortil looked at Vivian; the ash-grey warrior did not smile. "It is not a light decision. If you agree for me to train you, I will tax you beyond your limits. Arnlan's warriors must be fast. They must be strong. And most of important of all..."[/b] He leaned closer to the eager pup to make his point. "They must be better than me. If not one, then all together. You'll either survive this training or you will die."

He eased up again, his face still grim, but his voice gentle. "I say this not to frighten, or to threaten, but only because I want you to know of the dangers that come with being my apprentice. I aim to break you and build you back from the ground up. If you're sure that's what you want, then yes, I will train you in the arts of battle."


"I'll...do whatever you think I'm best suited for...I'm just sayin' you're right...I just don't have this fella's blood thirst."

Mortil smiled. He had a kind heart. "And neither do I." he said cryptically, his smile warm. "You'll find your own path in life...and the role of Scout seems to fit you."

The warrior looked back at Nightblood. "If Vivian consents to the rigors of my training, I will take her as my apprentice."

[Squeeji]

The little brown pup's face contorted into thought, and then it seemed like something passed through her thoughts that she found, almost frightening, her eyes got wide, and her mouth dropped, it took a few minutes before she spoke. "To be better then you...I'd have to not be you." she kept thinking about it, her little brain still not managing to wrap around things so philosophical. "...so why would I want to be trained by you if you want to make me...you." she grumbled, and rubbed her head, sneezing in frustration.

"That doesn't make any sens-UFF"

"Hahahah...that's about it now Viv." Pete had silenced his friend by putting a large paw on top of the smaller pup's head, squishing her down, he tilted down and hissed into her ear. "be nice..." there there was a loaded tone to his voice, he didn't trust Mortil, and more over, he didn't trust him with his only friend.

He eyed both adults now with a leery look, he didn't want anyone breaking anybody, and he sure as hell didn't want anyone to break Vivian, his body tensed, as he wondered what either of them were going to do....

[nightblood]

NightBlood chuckled as the smaller pup tried to make sense out of the whole situation. With Pete's quick movements, it was obvious that he was already proving himself to be a good Scout.

"If Vivian consents to the rigors of my training, I will take her as my apprentice."

The Beta looked to her friend. It was obvious that this little one did not full understand what she was getting herself into. Time would show her. Perhaps that was what she needed.

"Let's give her a few weeks to decide. If she approves, then perhaps she could start training with a few more pups."

She kept herself from eying the bulge in her stomach. It was slightly noticeable by now that this was a baby bump and not some swell caused by over eating. She silently wondered how many pups would survive Mortil's training. If they were new enough, perhaps there was no cause for them to be broken first. Only Mortil would know. And she would find out soon when she visited the pups after training someday.