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Post by ziko on Jun 22, 2007 18:50:52 GMT -5
After several nights, Ziko's hope of Nightblood returning had been lost but behind she had left him a taste for knowledge. He was keen to know more and to be able to speak, to defend himself and to hunt. He had no one to teach him these things and he had to work on observing the members of the pack. Of course, none of them were aware he was watching and if they were then they certainly never let on.
Listening carefully to what was said, he shifted around a little at the thought of being challenged by a wolf younger than him. To be defeated by such would be embarassing, escpecially if you were a great noble warrior or something. Your status would surely fall. Hopefully nothing like that would ever happen to Ziko. Such a confrontration sounded rather frightening.
" The wolf that you left for dead... did he in the end make it as leader? " Ziko believed that it was unlikely. If he was defeated then he wasn't strong enough to be a leader. However Ziko did not know of any of the other aspects or skills needed to be a great leader. One with a tactical mind may do better than one who relies on brute force.
" And so why do you come here? Back to Arnlan as you claim?. " If you had such a high status before in what seemed a highly respectable pack with many members, what were you doing in Kloteck and what were you hoping to get out of this small pack? He pondered these thoughts for a moment, glancing from side to side.
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Post by nightblood on Jun 22, 2007 19:02:11 GMT -5
"I wouldn't know. I've had no word from Draviria."
Closing her eyes, NightBlood thought of those she had left behind, back when she was a pup. Her aunt, uncle, and cousin were all she really cared about. Her mother having died after giving birth. BrokeBone had been a harsh leader, but he showed little hostility toward his daughter.
"Before, I was simply looking for a home. Hunting alone takes a lot of energy and I could only ever catch small animals, larger if they were weak enough. I returned because I truely did feel at home here."
There was a touch of admiration in her voice. Never before had she come across a territory such as this one, where she could be alone without ever actually having to be alone. She could call for assistance and most likely be met with kind eyes. The pack of Arnaln may be mysterious, but they were never hostile.
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Post by ziko on Jun 24, 2007 5:08:53 GMT -5
To Ziko Arnlan didn't quite feel homely to him. It was so quiet, the members so distant and the territory so dark. To him there was a sinister feeling to this place and a lingering fear of the unknowing. Perhaps one day he would be able to leave the pack and if he felt a draw back to the lands he would be permitted to return like Nightblood had.
" I see... " he said quietly and looked away. " How can you feel at home when you don't know who you're sharing it with. " A sense of uneasy was beginning about the young wolf and he basically wanted to just go and sleep it off in a small cave that he had found. It was a tight squeeze but he was cosy and felt safe with the walls so close to his body.
Ziko also began to wonder when this female would get tired of talking to him and announce her leave. He really hoped she was not planning on sticking to her for the rest of her stay here. Grumbling a little he gave her a tired gaze and slid down onto his stomach in a lying position. There he rested his head on his paws, licked his maw and stared casually at her.
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Post by nightblood on Jun 24, 2007 15:19:49 GMT -5
NightBlood considered his question for a moment, running it through her mind until she was sure of her answer.
"I suppose it's the sence of being alone with the fact that you are really never on your own. There will always be someone around to help you when you need it. I can be alone without anyone objecting, yet there is almost always someone around when you need them."
Looking at him, NightBlood could see a glimmer of annoyance in his eyes. The look was not unusual to her, but it was rare. Usually it was fear from others, but from Ziko... it was strange. She had only known him to be innocent and curious.
"I sence you are getting tired of me. You really don't remember me... do you?"
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Post by ziko on Jun 24, 2007 15:34:58 GMT -5
Ziko never felt like someone was there. Infact he always felt so alone. Maybe because he wanted to be alone and not have that reassuring feeling that someone is always close by. Nightblood must have wanted to feel the presence of another and so it was there for her in time of need.
" That's what they want you to think... " he muttered before licking his nose and looking up to her. His chin did not leave his paws but his eyes rolled upwards and twinkled in some of the light that broke through the black foliage. Why was everything so black here.
He sighed a little. " No Nightblood. I do not remember you. " Shifting up he rested now on his backside and stretched his toes out on the dry mud beneath him. He didn't want to let her leave with the feeling that he was tired of her, even though he was. " It's not you, it's this whole, remember me Ziko crap. " He did not mean to sound so hard but that was the way it escaped his lips.
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Post by nightblood on Jun 24, 2007 15:45:42 GMT -5
Night sighed and averted her eyes as he spoke. He truely had forgotten. As she came to terms with the fact, she looked back at him and chuckled at his last scentance.
"It will stop, then. Perhaps it would be best to start over... unless you'd rather not know your own packmates?"
As she said this, she pushed herself up to a sitting position. Staring down at him, she noticed just how much he'd grown. He was twice, maybe even three times as big has she had remembered him. Although, he'd still be no match for her in a fight.
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Post by ziko on Jun 24, 2007 15:54:15 GMT -5
Shrugging he shook himself and licked his moist lips. " Well, I already know a basic background of you and there's not much to me but my name- Ziko. " Lost for words he glanced around. This part of the land was well known to him, moreso than the rest of the land. That was why he was so lean; he barely ate and done so much exercising.
" When you say know, what do you mean by? " he asked with a furrowed brow and narrowed eyes. He tried to push those niggling feelings of familiarity out of him but they were growing stronger the more he looked at her. No... they are nothing... he told himself.
He couldn't remember his mother or father anymore, so why would he remember this wolf? All concious thought of ever having parents had long passed him and even subconciously they never crossed his mind. He had moved on.
Ziko was good at that.
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Post by nightblood on Jun 24, 2007 16:11:27 GMT -5
"By your previous remark, I would say that you don't trust your own pack."
Something was stirring in NightBlood. Perhaps it was her old ways, demanding to be let loose. Now that she was back in Arnlan, the drive to establish a sence of home, her real home, was burning. Her mind called for Draviria, but she knew it would be suicide to go back. By giving in and letting her real personality through, she'd find it bearable to stay away from her birth pack.
One of her old habits was picking fights with other pups. There were never any hard feelings between them. It was just something that happened whenever anyone was bored: a fight would always break out somewhere. For NightBlood, it was more fun to be in the fight that to simply whitness it.
"In Draviria, that would be looked upon as treason."
With that, she gave an arrogant smirk. She was in no way arrogant, however, it was just a ploy. Maybe Ziko would like a fight as well.
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Post by ziko on Jun 24, 2007 16:24:24 GMT -5
" What is there to trust? " he snapped, rising to his feet, gripping the dirt between his toes as he tensed himself. " I don't know anyone who lives here! " That he didn't and it frightened him to think that way. How could he sleep so easily at night without knowing who could walk upon his slumber?
" Treason? Reality fact Nightblood this is not Daviria! No matter how much you'd like to be, it is not! Understand that! " he growled, backing away slowly, steadier himself a little. His bottom lip was quivering with anger.
If there was such an offence like treason for not trusting in Arnlan, well then everyone would be as good as dead. So that is why she felt so at home here. It in some strange, miraculous way it reminded her of her own pack. From what he was summing up in his mind, hers was a pretty pathetic one indeed.
Eyes glinting he watched with slight fear for the female. She seemed aggitated now. He couldn't see why. He was blind to how rude he must have come across to her. Maybe this was the true Ziko bursting through innocent, puppy Ziko. The big bad world was finally impending upon him with Nightblood his first confrontment of it.
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Post by nightblood on Jun 24, 2007 16:38:26 GMT -5
"No, it's not. It's much better. Back in Draviria, you knew EVERYONE was against you. At least here, there's some doubt to that."
She stood as Ziko did, growling at his lack of understanding when she finally comprehended the reason this was home to her. Someone might actually care, there in the shadows. Someone might really want to help and not stab you in the back. Ziko seemed to take this for granted. At least he was somewhat safe here. In Draviria, one was lucky to make it to the end of their first year. And her father was the one responcible for it all.
"Here, there's no penalty for thinking, speaking your mind. You can breath here."
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Post by ziko on Jun 24, 2007 16:46:19 GMT -5
" Oh safe me your tales of hardship Nightblood, " came the unsimpathetic snap of Ziko. He honestly did not care how much Daviria had been a bitch to thise female. " Just don't take out harsh compressed anger out on anyone here. " He could imagine her doing so. Then she wouldn't be able to breath. Her throat would be ripped clean open before she had time to react.
" You can't so freely breath the air here and not expect to have to give anything in return. Let's see you serve this pack and earn your rights to the feeling and buzz you get from being here. " Slowly he was winding down. He was growing increasingly tired, frustrated. His mind was buzzing with confused and mixed emotions that he felt strangled by them.
But how far was Nightblood willing to take this confrontation?
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Post by nightblood on Jun 24, 2007 17:02:55 GMT -5
"Oh, I don't plan on telling you anything. But if you don't trust the wolves around here, how worthy are you of living here?"
A fire burned in her eyes now. Old Dravirian ways were building up, ready to launch.
"I'll serve this pack until the day I die as long as it continues to shelter me. But I don't see why anyone would house a pathetic little runt like you. What do you have to offer?"
This argument was going nowhere fast. Like in Draviria, actions counted more than words. Night had lived by this. With that in mind, she took a swipe at Ziko with her left paw. Smart... that was her blind side. She's never see where she was trying to hit.
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Post by ziko on Jun 24, 2007 17:19:58 GMT -5
" I've already said, how can you trust what you do not know? You can't walk in a land of unfamiliar faces and not feel cautious of them. " Did she not listen? What would it take to make her understand there was nothing to trust in Arnlan anymore! Long gone seemed the days were everyone knew one another. Since these new generation wolves had been moved into the pack it seemed Arnlan was falling. With wolves like Nightblood, short tempered and swift to swipe, well, that should how much discipline was being enforced too. It showed another weakness. One which would seriously need to be addressed.
" You clearly don't understand that it isn't just brute strength the pack needs. But inquisitive minds and smart thinking. " With that said he rolled to the left side of Nightblood and pushed off from the ground sharp. Instinct told him to lunge at her shoulder with parted jaws. If he was swift enough his teeth would be met with her, and they'd sink fast. So it was a fight she wanted was it? There was the blatant size and build difference between them but Ziko had opted for the adreline rush of staying and fighting.
Well he'd prove to her how the illusion of someone always watching was truly a lie.
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Post by nightblood on Jun 24, 2007 17:30:29 GMT -5
With Ziko's final words before the fight, he bounded out of sight. His movement was much too fast and in an instant, he was at her shoulder. NightBlood snarled at the pain, but more or less ignored it. She tried to shake him off by leaping forward and spinning, but in the process, she flipped onto her back.
In the fury, her back legs kicked at nothing and she rolled on the ground, trying to get him off without killing him. Surprise: she was holding back from biting him. That was different. Especially since he was a pup, and usually, pups annoyed Night to no end.
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Post by ziko on Jun 24, 2007 17:37:28 GMT -5
Her snarl and sudden movements gave reason for Ziko to tighten his grip upon her shoulder. He could feel his teeth slowly sink and if he grapsed hard enough he may have even drawn blood. He closed his eyes and thought about how he had surprised such a large female and his confidence got a sudden boost.
It shot up even more as the female flipped backwards and landed square on the earth. His head jerked backwards with it but he held on and twisted so that his neck was not held in an awkward postion. Instead he twisted the skin held in his mouth to suit himself. He thought he felt it ripping, or was it just the comotion had caused him to image it?
The tension was however building on his jaws and felt himself let go. At that moment he felt himself topple as she rolled around the ground. Legs swept clean from under him he toppled down and crashed ontop of her to then be kicked in the side by her hind leg. It did not hurt much but it may later. Now he was blinded by his instinct.
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