The Death Shade [Acceptance]

[nightblood]

NightBlood nodded when Karolek arrived and indicated his memory of her. She sat down quite suddenly, making the leaves and grass quake under her fur. As Umbra answered the alpha, the black and brown wolf let out a great yawn. It was silent, but very noticable. Looking back in the direction she had come, she could imagine her cave, warm against this cold air.

Night redirected her attention to the two before her. It was unwise to take eyes off a stranger, especially if you only had one. She would only return to her cave if dismissed by Karolek. For now, she would stay.

[Karolek]

"Mortilitas Umbra, at your service. I have come a long way to offer my allegiance, if you would have it. And perhaps I would have the honor of knowing your name?"

The serious expression vanished, and a grin slid over his muzzle. Perhaps this sudden change of expression would be confusing -- he hoped so. Karolek wasn't maliciously trying to puzzle others; rather, it was really a game for his own amusement. Nobody got hurt in the process.

Well...not usually, anyway.

"I am Karolek."[/color] It was a simple statement, with an almost questioning tone, as if he found it odd that anyone should be asking his name. "You say that you have come a long way...What drove you on that journey? What sort of appeal does Arnlan have for a wolf such as yourself?"[/color] There were a few questions that Karolek geniunely enjoyed asking. They didn't always fit in with the current situation, but they were quite effective when they did. This happened to be one of those questions.

[Electus]

"I am Karolek."

Mortil nodded absently. In retrospect, it was a simple name, stated with the slight dignity expected from an Alpha. Mortil was not surprised.

"You say that you have come a long way...What drove you on that journey? What sort of appeal does Arnlan have for a wolf such as yourself?"

Mortil gave one of his half-shrugs. "For one, where else could I go if I wished to join a pack? Sallin? The pack of wolves who slaughter for entertainment, and take the disliking of dogs and other wolves as a dire religion? I should think not. I am not that kind of wolf, after all. Appeal? Well, according to Night there, Arnlan is more peaceful than it appears to be."

Mortil's single eye narrowed. "I have endured more conflict and strife than I would have preferred. I have shunned company, comfort, and trust. Those were lost when my former pack deteriorated into nothingness. Appeal? I don't know. Perhaps I am simply trying to regain all that I have lost. Perhaps not. Take that as you will.

[nightblood]

NightBlood smiled at the ash-brown male's responce and nodded. She wished she had put it that way when she came to Arnlan. But no matter, she was here and that was it. It was up to Karolek now to deside wether he wanted another one like NightBlood in Arnlan.

The black and brown wolf looked to the right, eye following the Arnlanian border line. The silent need to patrol surfaced once more. It would have to wait. Even though Karolek had Umbra taken care of, he might still be in danger of betrayal and Night would die before the life of her leader was place in the claws of an enemy.

[Electus]

[Ye olde Bump...]

[Karolek]

"For one, where else could I go if I wished to join a pack? Sallin? The pack of wolves who slaughter for entertainment, and take the disliking of dogs and other wolves as a dire religion? I should think not. I am not that kind of wolf, after all. Appeal? Well, according to Night there, Arnlan is more peaceful than it appears to be. I have endured more conflict and strife than I would have preferred. I have shunned company, comfort, and trust. Those were lost when my former pack deteriorated into nothingness. Appeal? I don't know. Perhaps I am simply trying to regain all that I have lost. Perhaps not. Take that as you will."

Karolek contemplated this for a moment, tilting his head upwards towards the trees, as if they'd somehow assist him in his judgement. "Arnlan is a peaceful pack, yes, although we are a rather mysterious bunch, if you will. You may not find much in the area of company here, unless you are willing to look for it." He spoke quite matter-of-factly; this statement, he hoped, would not effect Umbra's decision to join Arnlan. It had simply been something that he'd needed to say, whether or not he actually wanted to.

"I have just one more question."[/color] There was a brief pause. "What can you bring to Arnlan that we do not already have? How can you be...useful, to us?"[/color] The words were spoken delicately, in an almost airy way, much like a lower ranking goverment official speaks to the President. It was unclear as to why Karolek talked the way he did; it always seemed as if his tone of voice didn't fit in with his current situation. Maybe he enjoyed it that way, confusing others...That wouldn't be too surprising.

[Electus]

"What can you bring to Arnlan that we do not already have? How can you be...useful, to us?"

Mortil shrugged, eye gleaming. "I can kill. I can fight, better than those cowards from Sallin, and better than half your pack, I warrant. Granted, I am not invincible, especially not against a whole pack, but there you are. I can hunt. I can teach your wolves to survive the harshest winters with only a week's worth of food. I could be your messenger, if you'd have need of one." He shrugged again. "No doubt that in some tasks, others are better suited. But in others..." Mortil grinned like a vampire. "None could be better than I."

Mortil slowly got on all fours. He stalked a circle around the alpha, stretching his muscles, then sat back down again in front of the wolf. He then spoke, his voice barely audible, and deadly serious. "Perhaps, Karolek, it is not what I can offer, but what you would have me do that is more important. I bring many skills to offer. Use them as you would see fit. I daresay you shan't be disappointed."

[nightblood]

NightBlood tenced as Umbra moved around Karolek. It wasn't an agressive move, but the giant could guess that this newcomer wouldn't show much agression, if any at all, before attacking anyone. He was deadthly mysterious and his voice struck her as cold. He could have been from Sallin all this time and she had practically giftwrapped the Alpha for him!

A low growl erupted quietly from Night's throat before she could stop it, but she halted it as the ash-brown wolf sat down. She tried, but failed at her attempts to calm herself down. He spoke as one would expect, naming his skills and tallents. Perhaps Night was just being paranoied. After all, his claims made her feel slightly... out-done.

[Electus]

[ Bump. Trying not to let this become too obsolete. ]

[nightblood]

{{... Mmrph! C'mon, Kar, this is getting good! *cracked out on suspence* XDDD }}

[Electus]

[ I'll just bump this again.... ]

[Karolek]

((I am a lazy ass. ): But don't hesitate to PM me if I neglect, because...I'm like a cow, I need to be prodded. xD))

"I can kill. I can fight, better than those cowards from Sallin, and better than half your pack, I warrant. Granted, I am not invincible, especially not against a whole pack, but there you are. I can hunt. I can teach your wolves to survive the harshest winters with only a week's worth of food. I could be your messenger, if you'd have need of one. No doubt that in some tasks, others are better suited. But in others...None could be better than I. Perhaps, Karolek, it is not what I can offer, but what you would have me do that is more important. I bring many skills to offer. Use them as you would see fit. I daresay you shan't be disappointed."

Karolek sat quietly, twitching one large ear in thought. "You are confident." It was a simple statement, one that did not require an answer. The wolf shifted his weight from one leg to another with a low sigh, as if he was some old wolf who'd been putting too much strain on his body. It was mildly disturbing, the way this wolf spoke. Karolek liked confidence...It wasn't a very reassuring thing when some wolf wandered in and twitched around like a hare caught in a trap. The Alpha simply did not like those who were too self-satisfied.

Although, that made him a bit of a hypocrite, since Karolek thought very highly of himself. Or, rather, he was confident, but he didn't necessarily go strutting around like a rooster. There was quite a bit of difference between egomaniac and quiet confidence, and Karolek found himself having difficulty at determining where Umbra would appear on the scale.

"At ease, soldier."[/color] It was spoken with a grin, at Nightblood. There was something about teasing the gruff old female that Karolek found immensely pleasing. Perhaps it was because he knew that she found it quite annoying. Or, he thought she did, anyway...After all, there were few who could tolerate the dark male completely.

"If you're half the wolf you claim to be, then you'd be a very useful member to Arnlan. Let's just hope that you do not...disappoint me."[/color] There was a brief, almost ominous pause. "Accepted. You will start as a subordinate."[/color]

[Electus]

"Accepted. You will start as a subordinate."


Mortil grinned. Not many like it when he did so. He bared his fangs when grinning, and he looked for all the world like a manic vampire. Nontheless, he dipped his head into a bow. The ash-grey wolf brought his head up again, with an enigmatic look in his eye.

"I thank you, Karolek. As I have said, I will do." The scarred wold grinned again, this time with more mirth in the gesture. "I think you'll be satisfied with my efforts."

With not a sound to alert the other two wolves to his movement, the strange male bounded out of sight, the darkness of Arnlan swallowing him up as he made off to explore the strange new land.

[nightblood]

Night glanced at Karolek and stiffled a snort. He should not be so careless. In her mind, he was royalty, along with his sister. They were to be treated as such, not danced around and mocked with teasing threats by outsiders. She stood up, but pulled her ears back and lowered her head to show that she was trying to obey. At the same time, however, she was preparing for an attack or anything else this ash-brown male might have in store for the Alpha.

Ears shot forward at the sound of acceptance. She lifted her head and looked at Karolek before watching Umbra leave. Once gone from sight, she turned back to Karolek with a questioning look. It said quite clearly: "I don't think that was very wise." After a moment, she lowered her head once more and strode off for the outer ring of trees that was her cover during her patrol. Her tail hung low as she lumbered away.

Night looked over her shoulder once before leaping away in to the darkness. "But you are the leader, here."