Shokai

[nightblood]

A lone figure stalked the shadows of Dante' Pass. White eyes flashed as the gloomy Haruko moved from light to dark areas of the Pass. He kept close to the road, for reasons unknown. Perhaps he was too used to humans to leave their buildings and landmarks permanently. Whatever the reason, he knew it was too risky to stay in sight of humans anymore. He would need to ween himself from such comforts soon. Since leaving the port, Haruko hadn't seen many dogs. Of corse, he couldn't see hardly anything in this bright sunlight. It had taken him a few days to get used to his day-blindness.

The black and red wolf-dog paused and raised his head. He looked up at the sky, now white in his vision. The sun blured everything now. Why did it do so? He growled at the sun's defiance. It would not answer.

Pulling his eyes away, Haru blinked at the path before him. Autumn leaves fell on the ground as the wind ripped them from the trees. Last night's rain made the ground damp, but not completely muddy. He growled again at his inability to see it's entire beauty.

Spitting at the sight, the canine lowered his head and pointed his nose at the ground. He had escaped the Port... now what?

"Where do I go from here?"

[Bandersnatch]

((Sorry to butt in John >_>))

A chuckle bounded off the rocks behind them. "Indeed." a voice mummured after in its own echos. A long body slunk forth, following its voice. "Up? Nay, down? Left, right? Confusion reigns, all we can do is follow venturing paws." The strangely formed, yet not unappealing, female's eyes were dull and held little emotion. They seemed mismatched to the wickedly toothy grin she gave. "What are we to do if they lead us to the sky?" Her voice held a low hiss, with a course unrefinement to it. The sentence made little sense, but she continued forth as if nothing were out of the ordinary. Indeed, it made sense to her - what else mattered.

She glanced the male over with a bizarrely uninterested curiousity. Black, with markings as though some great elk had bled all over him. Useless trinkets. She herself had a length of rope around her neck, an assortment of dried and fresh plants tucked in a ring creating an odd wreath, emphasising her face.
Her gaze was clinical, as though he were some type of experiment. "Where do your paws take you, man's slave? Where have they been?"

[Brink]

I dun mind, Bander; the more the merrier, right? =D Oh, and for reference Rusty and Ocean (during dialogue).

"He looks like good one."
"Certainly does."
"Doesn't look like he’s got anything on him though."
"Nope."

Danny and Rusty moved purposely forward, ever the determined salesmen. From their last heist, they had gotten few rewards. Well… not few items, just few items useful to humans or of great value. Most of it had been shoved back towards them by there ‘boss’. Jack Rollins hadn’t been impressed by their latest job, but still found it in his heart to pour food into their bowls. As both their owner and their boss, it was difficult to be angry at them. Not that it was their Danny’s and Rust’s fault that Rakine wasn’t like London where easy and rich marks paraded up and down the streets.

They strutted forward, covered in an assortment of trinkets. It was a very curious sight, as they were both decked out in jewelry and the sort. Rusty even had a gaudy golden scarf wrapped around his neck. All stolen, of course. All of it they were determined to sell or trade for anything they could get their hands… paws, whatever… on. Food was ideal, although they’d were willing to give up there items for almost anything that came their way. Most of it would be traded to some other creature more than likely.

The pair’s progress was deterred by large canine that had materialized before them. Neither of them trusted the old she-wolf, taking an almost immediate dislike to her. From what they had heard her say to their target, she seemed more egotistical and contemptuous than both of them put together. Rusty looked to Danny, knowing that the decision had already been made. So, they took a seat a few yards away, watching the scene play out before them. They didn’t need any cranky she-wolf screwing up their bartering, if there was a barter to be made.

[nightblood]

"Indeed."

At the sound of a female's voice, Haruko lifted his head and movied it to view her. A small, dark female with most unusual markings on her eyes. They intrigued him, but he was caught off guard by her speech.

"Up? Nay, down? Left, right? Confusion reigns, all we can do is follow venturing paws."

After a moment of contemplation, Haru was sure he understood the sentance and grinned. Before he could reply, however, she continued.

"What are we to do if they lead us to the sky?"

Without thinking, Haruko looked up. Normally, he wouldn't take his eyes off anyone as strange as this wolf, but the way she said these things made him react so. It had never occured to him that his paws would lead him above the earth. His imagination only began to stir when the she-wolf continued.

"Where do your paws take you, man's slave? Where have they been?"

He lowered his head to face her once again, a spark of interest in his eye. This was the first wolf besides his father that he had ever encountered and he was already intrigued by her personality. He would enjoy her company.

He took a moment to think before answering.

"I know not where they're taking me, skashi... they've walked on a blood-soaked path for a while now. I hope they're headed somewhere where I can be at peace..."

His white eyes narrowed for a moment and moved to the left. He turned his head. The black and red male couldn't exactly see the figures in the distance, but he had heard their entry.

"You nee... What are your intentions?"

[Bandersnatch]

"I know not where they're taking me, skashi... they've walked on a blood-soaked path for a while now."
Some might have been worried by the implication of past wrongs, but Nettle offered no reaction. Her grinned stayed firm, widening perhaps even more - perhaps egged on by the acceptance of her words of only half-sense. "Ah, but do we ever?" She cast her eyes downward, to address his feet as though they would happily reply. "Where do you take your master, feet?

"I hope they're headed somewhere where I can be at peace..."

"There are many paths to Peace." she crooned, shifting her gaze upward again. Alliances and kindness could lead to peace, but so could overpowerment and intimidation. Through her life she had seen many of both. "Your paws will move forever, then. Peace never stays in the same spot long." Her words seemed to imply that she had peace confused for some roving prey that needed to be hunted down.

She cared little to stare at her surroundings and though aware of the two behind, had not shifted her gaze until the wolf-dog did.

Two figures, strolling with a certain smugness. Something on them glinted. Trinkets. So many odds and ends that they could only be collected by what some would consider immoral means. Morals held just as little interest to her as the items they pawned off, but for the moment she stayed still, expression almost unnoticibly shifting to complete blankness.

[Brink]

The pair of thieves sat patiently, waiting for their chance. They both were clearly annoyed. “Hopefully the conversation ends soon,”

[/color] Rusty muttered, his eyes wandering as boredom came to visit. Danny nodded, although his attention was caught on their conversation. True, he wasn’t usually into philosophical discussions, but there was nothing else to do… His eyes rested on the she-wolf; he hadn’t met her but he already grudgingly respected her.

"You nee... What are your intentions?"

They turned towards each other, reading each other’s expressions and then turned back. They had no clue what he meant by ‘You nee’, but the rest was clear. “Just doin’ business. What’s it to you?”[/color] It sounded slightly hostile; what right did he have to question why they were sitting on a path that had been walked on by thousands of others? Rust’s jade eyes moved the Nettle, who seemed completely emotionless. “I don’t like this,”[/color] he muttered, but moved forward along with Danny. Walking was a little difficult, being weighed down by all the stolen goods, but they managed.

Cautiously they approached the other too, mistrust present in their gait and eyes. Getting attacked seemed unlikely, but neither the she-wolf or half-bred seemed to take to Danny or Rusty being near them.

Ooc; Got distracted, bad post. Sorry.
[/blockquote]

[nightblood]

"There are many paths to Peace."

Haru nodded his agreement. This female was deffinatly peeking his interest.

"Your paws will move forever, then. Peace never stays in the same spot long."

"Heh... That is true," he said, his grin widening.

It was at that point that he adressed the two dogs behind him. His smile faded into a scowl. He did no enjoy being staked, if that's what they were doing.

“Just doin’ business. What’s it to you?”

"...Omai nee... are halted on a road staring in my direction. What else am I supposed to think? Right now, for me, attack is more likely than idel talk."

Haruko turned to allow both parties into his view. There was always the chance that he could be attacked. He would not let his guard down.

[Bandersnatch]

Nettle's yellow eyes settled on the grey one as he spoke. She studied the knick-knacks that littered his body. It was odd the way humans ripped Mother Earth's creations from her guts to mould into their own creations. But then, what was it to her? Nature always had a way of sorting things out.

“Just doin’ business. What’s it to you?”
"...Right now, for me, attack is more likely than idel talk."

Nettle stood still, seemingly completely uncaring about the potential brawl. She waved her tail gently, shifting to stare at the smaller and more brightly coloured of the dogs. He seemed nervous, though she was apathetic, as always, to his concerns.

[Brink]

They were intruding. The message was loud and clear from both of Nettle and Haruko. Rusty rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath about how they shoulda left these two alone ‘cause he didn’t want to get torn limb from limb and then have to walk all the way home. He also didn’t need to be lectured by some odd speaking canine. Nor did they need to be attacked. The halfbreed looked like he knew how to handle himself. And the ancient looking wolf didn’t seem to like them other. Getting their asses kicked by these two wouldn’t be a pleasant experience… not that it ever was…

"...Omai nee... are halted on a road staring in my direction. What else am I supposed to think? Right now, for me, attack is more likely than idle talk."

Once again, their eyes met, still confused by what they were being called. Rusty spoke what both of them were thinking, while Danny stood with a grim look on his dark face. “So what you’re telling us is that we aren’t allowed to walk on the same path of you? Doesn’t exactly seem fair now does it?” A fight wasn’t what the wanted, but if Haruko and Nettle were lookin’ for one, they’d get one.

This wasn’t gonna be pretty. Dan and Rust couldn’t compare to their opponents, if that what they would become. There was clearly something wrong with the younger ones eyes and the other seemed rather old, but they were smaller and weighed down with their merchandise. They also hadn't had to resort to violence alot in their line of work. If they had, it was only to defend themselves. After all, Danny's first rule was "Don't hurt anybody" and he practically lived by his rules. If they could avoid conflict, they would. It wasn't always possible though. After all, stealing was what they lived for... not going around killing people. That usually left few targets who deserved to have their possessions taken from them. Playing the game like you’ve got nothin’ to lose was another one of their rules, but right now, this was real, not a game. They their lives were too high a price for getting a few scraps for their stolen goods.

[nightblood]

White eyes could just barely see the paws of the two dogs as they approached. By the size of them, he knew they were much smaller than him. Picking on others was not his forte'. In fact, he despised those who did such things.

As he attempted to get a better look at the two, Haru moved his head into the shade. With the retreat of sunlight, his eyes were able to get a better picture of them. Two hearding breed mixes, both older than him. He should not have been so hasty in his conclusion.

“So what you’re telling us is that we aren’t allowed to walk on the same path of you? Doesn’t exactly seem fair now does it?”

Lowering his head, be bowed his appology.

"Iie, sorreh. I should not have been so quick to suspision."

By his voice, Haru could tell that the tan one did not wish to fight, but would if he had to. The black one mirrored this with his expression. They were purely defencive, at least for the moment.

[Bandersnatch]

As the chit-chatter continued on, the shabby female let her gaze wander from the brown dog to their surroundings. It was all petty, really, and seemingly didn't do much to keep her interest. Still, she listened.

“So what you’re telling us is that we aren’t allowed to walk on the same path of you? Doesn’t exactly seem fair now does it?”

The foreign she-wolf hummed lowly, an eerie little tune where the notes barely differed and when they did, clashed with each other. There were only a few trees here and scruffy little herbs here. It was a lone little plant grasping to the shade of one of the scattered trees quite near that drew her attention. Her feet followed her gaze toward the plant, that gave a distinct arometic scent. What the plant was was undeniable.
"Tut-tut, little mint plant, what are you doing here?" she scolded, her twisted grin growing again across her maw. She grasped a few of the soft stems in her mouth and yanked at them. Crushed between her teeth, half the plant hung from her mouth, the strong scent of its oil causing a burning sensation in her nose. The plant was inducted into her colection, shoved in a bare patch near her shoulder. This done, she paced back over, the strong smell of mint wafting about her.

"Iie, sorreh. I should not have been so quick to suspision."

Nettle clicked her tongue, the heat of the mentha plant still there.
"Suspiscion is near never without purpose."
She paused, focusing her attention back on the other two.
"What say you, children?" She narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. These had just but statements... not intended as insults. The energy of the two dogs, their obsession with all things shiny, their words... Well, physically they matched her age, perhaps they were even older than her, but their minds
"Flys need a carcass to settle on." She passed a look over Rusty and Ocean, before coming to rest on Haruko, whom she adressed. "You do not look like rotted meat to me."

[Brink]

"Iie, sorreh. I should not have been so quick to suspision."

Both dogs relaxed a little, glad that they wouldn’t get ripped to pieces. “Don’t worry ‘bout it.” Danny now longer looked grim. He wore a calm, and somewhat smug expression. The smugness faded slightly when the gray female moved away. Now, he seemed slightly suspicious. As a thief, he was always wary. It just seemed to come natural to him. Silently, Rusty and Danny watched on. Letting their guard down had cost them before and they had learned their lesson. Both of them took a step or two back when she came back with the sharp smelling mint.

"Suspiscion is near never without purpose. What say you, children?"

“'Childern'. Do we look like children to you?” His voice had taken on a sharp tone, obviously annoyed by the implication that they were dumb or something. Sure they might not know what plant smelled the best, or would make you sick, and they couldn’t talk in riddles (not that they would want to), but they weren’t stupid. They were thieves. You’re stupid while playing their game, and you end up getting caught and maybe even put down. They were smart enough to survive. They didn’t need to know any more than that.

"Flys need a carcass to settle on."

It may not have been insulting, but it sure as hell sounded like it. Danny decided to keep quiet, only after Rusty gave him a nudge.

Ooc; This might be my last reply til Sunday. Sorry guys.

[nightblood]

“Don’t worry ‘bout it.”

Haruko raised his head with a gentle smile. Even though he didn't always welcome company, he was glad that they had decided not to attack him.

"Suspiscion is near never without purpose."

It was then that he realized that the dark gray female had pulled up a rather interesting plant and added it to the rope around her neck. It had a distinct smell; one that Haruko found niether offencive or pleasing.

"What say you, children?"

Haru lowered his ears as he looked upon the female. Calling elders such as these 'children' might not have been the best thing to say. He had found out through his travels that many disliked being called that, even those who were children. Sure enough, both did not seem too happy about the term.

“'Childern'. Do we look like children to you?”

Haru turned to look at them. Both were decorated in lavish treasures. Both had the look of time upon their faces. No, they didn't look like children to him. Perhaps the strange female was simply speaking of their size?

"Flys need a carcass to settle on."

Haruko moved his eyes to look at the female once again as she glanced at him. He did not like where this was going. If the wolf continued to aggrivate these dogs, there might be a fight. He wasn't willing to fight with anyone, not now.

"You do not look like rotted meat to me."

Haruko remained silent, looking to the two dogs for their reaction.

[Bandersnatch]

Despite Ocean and Rusty having obviously been quite efficiently rubbed the wrong way coupled with Haruko’s apprehension would have alerted any other, the mat-furred female acted as though they were all having a perfectly rational, calm (and perhaps somewhat philosophical) discussion.

“'Childern'. Do we look like children to you?”

Nettle’s eyes gazed somewhere past the two dogs. Occassionally her eyes flickered about, as though watching some invisible bird glide across the horizon. The only way she reaffirmed recognition of the words was by her own. “Age need not be defined by the physical.” The duo were, after all, full of energy and life. What was the saying? Young at heart?
Perhaps the thieves would have their sense of offensive deepened even more. The way the healer saw it, she wasn’t inciting violence, just… commenting on what she saw.

[Brink]

The large wolf dog looked towards them, watching their reaction; Rusty flashed him a look. His bi-hued tail swished from side to side in a somewhat irritated manner, like something had aggravated it, not that it was possible. It was only a tail after all. He stared straight at the female, eyes narrowed only the slightest bit. He awaited the reply. Rust doubted that it would anything understandable. Just another damned riddle or some more double talk. Why couldn’t she just say what she meant, be straightforward, not beat around the bush? ‘Cause the constant mystery of whether she was insulting them or paying them a compliment was really getting annoying…

“Age need not be defined by the physical.”

Another damn puzzle, he wanted to mutter but instead kept quiet. He wasn’t that good at puzzles… Sure he was smart, but Danny didn’t need to spend all his time trying to decide if he was supposed to be flattered or just pissed off. His head, dark in color, tilted to the side an almost unnoticeable amount, contemplating what his reaction should be. Nettle could be calling them young and naïve, like some stupid pup who couldn’t figure out up from down. Or she could be saying that they young, and fit and lively… For an instant, his eyes shifted from the female and settled on Haruko, seeking the answer. If he had one, he didn’t let it show. Still trying to figure it out, he settled onto the ground, resting on his haunches. Hopefully the answer would come to him soon since he already looked stupid not knowing the answer.

Rusty, usually calm and reasonable, had already decided it an insult. A short, low snarl was his only reply, to her statement. He gave his body a shake, sending the items that littered his form jingling. The mutt had growled more because he was annoyed at the fact that the older female seemed perfectly composed than for any other reason.