Rogue

[Nachty]

Mitternacht padded silently on the white sand. His paws ached and felt like lead as he trekked onward. He had been traveling for days without rest and it was starting to show. As he reached the water he collapsed out of exhaustion. The water lapped soothingly on his sore paws. With his good ear Mitternacht listened to the waves as they lulled him deeper into his sub-conscious. Dreams of the past filled his mind and he slept fitfully. Waking to salt water up his nose he sprang up onto his large paws. Realizing it was only the water he backed up and sat down on his haunches. His paws still ached terribly even after his nap. Mitternacht did not know how long he had been asleep, but the stars were shining brightly. It must have been aroud midnight or possibly a little before.

"Alone..." he muttered sadly his gruff German accent making it almost impossible to understand him. Lifting his scarred muzzle skyward he let out a long mournful howl. Maybe someone would hear him and come to soothe his loneliness. Was he forever doomed to walk alone in this life? He curled his tail over his paws and shivered as a cold breeze of the water hit him. The beach seemed all but deserted. A few animals were off in the distance almost out of sight. Nacht was tired of being his own companion, but he couldn't bring himself to go over to them. "Maybe if wasn't so paranoid I'd have more company than myself." Mitternacht growled louder to himself then hung his head. "If only..." Picking up his head he turned it and he half hoped someone would come.

[sarhea]

It had been a lovely day, and the night was turning out even better. Shanda lay comfortably atop a large outcropping of rocks at the water's edge. The nice summer breeze drifted in off the sea, smelling heavily of salt. Soon, fall would be upon them, which reminded Shanda that she would have to find a new den. She had not been back to her old earthen den beneath the old fallen tree since that night during the freak ice storm. Her blue eyes opened lazily as she lifted her head and looked up into the clear, starry night. She had been through so much the past few months, but now as she brought herself into a sitting position, she realized that she was alone again. She had not seen a trace of Devi since that crazy, terror filled night.

She sighed heavily at the thought of him. He'd claimed to love her. She had been hoping to finally find the meaning of that word, but of coarse, her hopes had been dashed, and once again she decided that the thought was just not worth exploring ever again.

And she missed Tarot as well, the strange small male who could see into other's lives, Devi's brother, her first friend in this territory. He'd helped save her life that night. She'd stayed at his rocky cavern until she was healthy once more, and since then, had not seen much of him either.

A mournful howl arose into the night. Shanda's head snapped about, her ears listening to the sound, her eyes searching the beach until they came to rest on a dark figure. Devi? She lept off the rock, hitting the damp sand with a huff, her claws carving her landing. Her body grew perfectly still as she stood at full attention, trying to discern the identity of the creature down the beach, but could not. But she had seen no other creatures here lately. She suddenly broke into a sprint towards the unknown visitor. As she drew closer, she could tell it was wolf, male...very large...dark grays and black...could it possibly be Devi? Was he sane once more?

But the closer she got, the more she began to realize that the male was not Devi. She slowed her sprint until she came to a stop several yards behind him. Her ears swiveled back as she examined him. She had not come under cover, that's for sure. For all she knew, she could have just ran herself up on a murderous beast. But as she looked at him, she could sense exhaustion, weariness, loneliness...

Cautious still, she approached closer, slowly.

"Hello?" she called softly, the hesitation clearly heard in her voice.

[Nachty]

"Hello?" came a faint voice but it was enough to interrupt Nacht's thoughts. Jerking slightly he turned to see the source of the noise he spotted a white and black she wolf. Growling warily he stuck his nose out to smell this new wolf. His scars turning pail in the moonlight. Sensing she meant no harm he relaxed dropping his muzzle. Flexing his shoulders he padded closer to the female cautiously. She seemed more confused than he was. Nacht felt slightly more confident as he approached. Taking the opportunity Mitternacht decided this might be chance to make some sort of friend. It might work this time.

Glaring down at her more with curiosity than animosity he asked,"Wer genau sind Sie?" Realizing that the she wolf probably didn't speak his natural tongue of German he repeated the question as clearly as he could with his accent. "Who exactly are you?" He wagged his tail nervously as he waited for a response from the strange wolf. Hopefully this one wouldn't run away.

[sarhea]

Just as she feared, she had startled the large male. Up to this point, she had not seen his face, but when he turned in surprise to face her, a warning growl emitting from his maw, she froze in fear. Only now did she see the scars across his maw, the scars he bore upon his shoulder and side. Her eyes locked with his, and not a word could find its way to her tongue. Her mind raced as he stretched out his nose, taking in her scent, the growl continuing to be heard. Her thoughts were jumbled, her muscles refusing to communicate with her brain, which was telling her to RUN!

Just as soon as the growling started, it stopped, and he began to approach her. Shanda tried to make herself move, but all she accomplished was a few feeble steps backward. As he drew closer, he still bore an aire of caution, but mixed in was curiosity, even the faintest glimpse of hope? Shanda's terror faded, not her caution and fear, and she looked back at him with confusion.

"Wer genau sind Sie?"

The thick accent and unknown words caused her head to cock to the side. His tail had began to wag ever so slightly.

"Who exactly are you?"

The accent broke the silence again, but this time in words that she could figure out. As her fear subsided and her mind began to function rationally once more, Shanda sat down on the cool sand. She couldn't help but look at all his scars-she was starring actually, before she came out of her thoughts and looked down. How rude it was to stare at the injuries of others-and she did not want to offend this huge dark wolf.

She looked back up at him. "I am Shanda. Who are you?" she asked in the calmest voice she could muster, then added, "Are you alright?"

[Nachty]

"I am Shanda. Who are yoo? Are you alright?" the she wolf replied calmly as she sat down. She still seemed nervous to Mitternacht, but it didn't matter much to him now.

"Shanda?" He echoed. His speech was slow so as not to slur his words and confuse this Shanda."Very interesting name. To answer your questions I am Mitternacht, Nacht if you wish to call me that, and I am quite fine thank you."

Letting amusemant flash through his eyes he continued." Why do you look so scared? You'd think I was attacking you. I guess it's my size is it not? I am used to it. Do not worry I am harmless...most of the time..." He gave an almost wicked grin and sat down as well. "I guess you could tell by my scars. I saw you staring. I do not mind. It just comes from a life of living as a rogue for so long."

His confident smile had vanished as he remembered what had got him traveling in the first place. Mitternacht stared at the sand for a moment to regain himself. It was best he not think of that now.

"Well, what brings you to the beach?" Nacht asked steering his thoughts away from his past.

[sarhea]

Shanda listened closely as the dark male spoke. She had never heard such an accent before, and she found herself very intrigued. At first, it was hard to understand his words, but the more she listened, the easier it became. Mitternacht....and he thought her name was strange..

" Why do you look so scared? You'd think I was attacking you. I guess it's my size is it not? I am used to it. Do not worry I am harmless...most of the time..."

At that statment, Shanda looked away, trying to hide her shame-she'd let her cowardice raise it's ugly head again. But it was not nearly as bad this time. How was she to answer?

"I...I'm sorry," she stammered. "I...I've always been a little over cautious."

She looked back up at him. He seemed genuine enough, and she tried to smile, a stray strand of her long black forelock blowing into her eyes.

"I guess you could tell by my scars. I saw you staring. I do not mind. It just comes from a life of living as a rogue for so long."

Ah, he'd noticed that. Embarrassment again flashed in her features as she looked down at her feet once more.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare. I have only seen scars such as those on..." she paused. How was she supposed to say 'killers'? She didn't want to label him a killer-she didn't even know him. His sly smile vanished briefly, and she just barley caught it, before his thick accent broke the awkward silence once more.

"Well, what brings you to the beach?"

At this statement, she smiled easily.

"I would ask the same of you. I have lived here for many moons, almost a year. I come from the lands far to the north of here. In my travels to reach this peaceful beach, I have not come across any such as yourself. You are far from home, no?"

[Nachty]

"Far from home? I guess you could say that." Mitternacht laughed. He had never really considered where he was born a home but more of a prison. Home had never really been a part of his vocabulary. Shelter, maybe, but not home.

"I really have not had much of a home in years, but yes I am not from here. I come from a land known as Germany. Very far away from here. An interesting place, but for me filled with memories I wish to forget."

This was quite true. Until recently he had supressed all thoughts of that cold zoo with staring faces and little food. He had all but forgotten why he'd left; what his mother had told him just before she died.

"Sorry, for intruding upon your home. Normally I am very cautious as well. I guess you would like me to leave?" Mitternacht gestured with his tail away from their current spot and gave an curious look. "I had not meant to be so rude. I should have checked first."

[sarhea]

"Germany?" she repeated the name, the sound of it completely foreign to her. But she didn't press the topic so much when he continued the brief explanation that it was not home and of memories he wished to forget. The last time she pried into other's old memories, it turned out badly-visions of Devi's crazed eyes as he lunged for his own brother....she shook herself out of her momentary trance as Mitternacht spoke again.

"Sorry, for intruding upon your home. Normally I am very cautious as well. I guess you would like me to leave?" "I had not meant to be so rude. I should have checked first."

At this statment, Shanda had to chuckle. She stood and shook the sand from her white pelt.

"Scatterstone is free territory, free to access by anyone or thing. It is a peaceful place, for the most part, neutral. I have just chosen to stay and make it home. Most pass through, stay a day or so and leave, but it is by their own choice. There are a few of us who are residents"

Her voice became quieter as she once again remembered the other permanent residents whom she had not seen in quite some time. She shook the thoughts from her mind once more and smiled warmly, letting him know it was fine that he was here. Then she felt that she must pass on a small warning, gathered from bits and pieces of intel that she'd gathered from passersby over time.

"This place is neutral, but I must say that beyond the beach, there are many packs I've heard of. Most at war with one another, along with human villages. Another reason I have chosen to stay here."

[Nachty]

"This place is neutral, but I must say that beyond the beach, there are many packs I've heard of. Most at war with one another, along with human villages. Another reason I have chosen to stay here." Shand replied. Obviously she was much more aware of her surrounings than Mitter nacht was. This fact only made him feel less confident and foreign. How would he git into this strange place?

"Oh..." he mumbled embarassment written all over his face. If wolves could blush he would have been beet red. Nacht was usually more keen on his surroundings than this. why was he so off today?

"I...I guess I am just not usedto it around here. I have been so many places I guess I just started to stop caring where Iwas," he laughed nervously. Just then he had an idea.

"Shanda, these wars between packs you speak of, do you think any pack woul except a rogue like me? I mean...if these wars are what i think they are I bet I could be of use. What pack would not want a big male like me to help them?" These questions were more directed at himself even though he was addressing his beachside companion.

Maybe now Mitternacht could have a real home. Maybe it was time to start a new way of life. What did he have to lose? He had no friends and no family that he could think of.

Turning to Shanda once more he asked,"Do you think that souds like a good idea?"

[sarhea]

Shanda noticed immediately the embarrassment of the big male. It struck her as odd. Why would such a tough looking guy be embarrassed?

"I...I guess I am just not used to it around here. I have been so many places I guess I just started to stop caring where I was,"

She sat back down, listening to his words. She was confused as to why this was causing him such troubles. No one could possibly know everything about a new place. Even she did not know the whole story, only rumors gathered from others as they passed through. She had been to cowardly to explore further into the forest, beyond the borders of the Beach. And after her fear had subsided over the newness of her surroundings, she had found her self comfortable and content on staying where she was, no matter how lonely it was.

"Please forgive me for making you uncomfortable. I have been here almost a year, and even I do not know much about this region. I have to confess, I do not know much about the area at all, only what I have overheard from others who have passed through."

It was her turn to be embarrassed. She'd opened her mouth and spoke of things that she did not know the whole story about. Then Mitternacht seemed to brighten with a thought.

"Shanda, these wars between packs you speak of, do you think any pack woul except a rogue like me? I mean...if these wars are what i think they are I bet I could be of use. What pack would not want a big male like me to help them?"

The question stumped her. She had been so burnt by pack life that it did not make any sense to her. Nacht had been a rouge for a long time, the way he talked. Why would he want to be part of a pack? But she couldn't let her own experience keep her from answering.

"I have to be honest. There is only one wolf pack I know that I have heard the most about-none of it good. The pack is called Sallin, and most tell tales of blood thirst monsters who would rule all of this territory with an iron paw if they could. They hate humans and dogs..."her voice trailed at the word dog. She was, after all, very small part dog. She looked back up at him.

"There is also talk of a secretive pack called Arnlan. I do not know anything about them, other than they are against Sallin. And there is a pack of dogs and some wolves called Synl-they are also against Sallin."

He seemed so hopeful to get into a pack.

"It has taken me this whole year to find out this tiny bit. But I'm sure any of them would be lucky to have you. It would be up to you to know what kind of life you stood for."

She looked at the sand at her feet. She had no room to talk about values. She was a coward who preferred to stay in the shadows, avoid all conflict all together.

[Nachty]

"I have to be honest. There is only one wolf pack I know that I have heard the most about-none of it good. The pack is called Sallin, and most tell tales of blood thirst monsters who would rule all of this territory with an iron paw if they could. They hate humans and dogs...". At this he let out a low growl. Even he could not stand for such hatred. Wolves like that had always made him sick. It would be a very sad day when he'd join a pack like that.

"Hmph...that does not sound like the pack for me. I am not in any searching for power like that, and any wolf or pack who will kill for power is no friend of mine. I do not believe I would want anything to do with them." Mitternacht growled matter-of-factly.

Shanda continued, "There is also talk of a secretive pack called Arnlan. I do not know anything about them, other than they are against Sallin. And there is a pack of dogs and some wolves called Synl-they are also against Sallin."

Mitternacht thought this through. He believed he had heard of this pack, Arnlan, but his memory was a little fuzzy. It still sounded a lot better than those wolves of Sallin. Just the thought of them made him shiver.

"Maybe, Arnlan..." he growled softly. Of all the packs that one seemed like it would be best for him. Very secretive...he liked that. Mystery and the unknown had always interested him.

"It has taken me this whole year to find out this tiny bit. But I'm sure any of them would be lucky to have you. It would be up to you to know what kind of life you stood for." Shanda continued softly. Mitternacht nodded quietly in agreement. He saw Shanda stare at the ground sullenly. Why does she seem so wary of packs? Mitternacht wondered to himself. Ignoring his better judgement he turned to her.

"Uhh...if you do not mind me asking, why do you seem so distant from these packs? I can understand wanting to avoid conflict, but you seem almost unwilling to go near them at all. I am sorry if I have made you uncomfortable, but you just seem so...unhappy." Mitternacht really hoped she wouldn't find him rude.

[sarhea]

"Uhh...if you do not mind me asking, why do you seem so distant from these packs? I can understand wanting to avoid conflict, but you seem almost unwilling to go near them at all. I am sorry if I have made you uncomfortable, but you just seem so...unhappy."

The statment took her a little off guard. In fact, no one had ever questioned her as to why she'd decided to stay a loner. And to think of it now brought up her own memories that she wised to remain burried-the memories of little to no food, the outcast treatment of her and her mother, the taunting by the other pups....

she shut her eyes for a moment, closing out the memories, Nacht, the starry night. After she had cleared her head the best she could, she opened her eyes, looking straight at Nacht, a true sadness in her eyes. Sooner or later, she was going to have to mention her past-she might as well mention it to someone who was just passing through, who wouldn't remember her longer than a few day after moving on.

"I...I was born to a pack, but at a young age, I was an outcast, as was my mother...the...omegas," she stumbled over the words, shame filling her voice, before anger set it. "We were only at that position because of our...tainted blood," she spat bitterly. Her mother had done nothing wrong, was even respected amongst the pack-until her birth...and the ancient history or her line came shining through....the dog in her bloodline came shining through....

She had turned her gaze from his, and now looked back at him, sadness replacing the anger once again. "I ran away from that pack once I turned one year old. There was no point in staying, not after my mother died-I would not have been far behind. I have been on my own ever since. And my life has been much better. It's had it's trials, but no one to look after or answer to but myself. Noone lording over me, tormenting me."

She turned and looked off into the dense forest behind her, back towards the lands owned by rival packs.

"None of them would ever except me for who I am. Nor do I think I would want to be under someone's rule-I have been a rouge far too long, and wish to stay that way."

She stopped her story there, and gave him as kind a smile as she could muster. It was the truth-not that she didn't like company every now and then-but if someone actually stayed around longer than a few months, it would just be weird...

[sorry for the late response-I had typed something up a few days ago and lost it. It has taken me a while to forget what little I remembered of my previous post so I could write a new one]

[Nachty]

(it's ok It's going to take me a little while to respond now because of school. darn chemistry class)

Mitternacht listened intently to Shanda's tale. It struck a chord in Nacht's soul. He whimpered sympathetically. He himself had not had the best beginning either.

"I am terribly sorry for bringing up such painful memories. I too have not had the easiest beginning." Nacht believed it would only be polite to share his history too since Shanda had been kind enough to share hers.

"I was born in zoo with my mother and we were never really taken care of. Our cage was small and there was little food. Those were the most miserable times of my life. Even so my mother would always comfort me. When I was but 4 moons old my mother got very sick and died..." Mitternacht dug up these long forgotten memories.

"Before she did die though I promised I would escape from that horrid place. I narrowly did. It is lucky those humans... are so careless." Nacht spit out the word humans like a peice of rotten prey. "Since then I have been a rogue; fighting to survive since I was quite young. The only regret I have is that I didn't leave sooner...when my mother was still alive, but there is no use bothering with the past." He finished his story in a low voice. It felt good to tell someone his story. Nacht had kept it to himself for so long; never letting anyone in.

[sarhea]

Shanda sat quietly as Nacht began to tell his story in response to hers. When he started talking about zoos, she had no idea what he was talking about, her being born and raised in the wild. And then he talked about poor care from humans.

"Such different stories, yet so simular," she comment quietly. Yes, it did feel good to have spoken the past's hurts out loud.

"I'm not sure of what a zoo is, but it is a shame that the humans were not kind to you. Humans saved my life, saved me from death in a blizzard. It was hard to trust such strange creatures, but they were kind. I might have still been living with them if it were not for the wretched village dogs-wolves hate me for my dog blood-dogs hate me for my wolf blood. I just loose all the way around." At this, she let a light chuckle. It was the only thing she could do.

"I see dogs come through here quite often, mostly coming from the village south of here that lays on the sea, and I belive there is another human village further inland, though I've never ventured to either one. I prefer to not be questioned or chased out, so I stay where I know it is safe."

[Nachty]

"Such different stories, yet so simular." Shanda said quietly. Mitternacht nodded his head slightly in agreement. How similar they were. Such and odd coincidence. Mitternacht wondered if it was just that. For so long he had wanted someone to talk to who would understand him. Finally, there was someone who could.

"I'm not sure of what a zoo is, but it is a shame that the humans were not kind to you. Humans saved my life, saved me from death in a blizzard. It was hard to trust such strange creatures, but they were kind."

"Zoos..."Mitternacht growled. "You do not want to know what they are. "You say humans saved your life? Well, that is news to me. The only humans I have met have caused me nothing but trouble. They all ways would through things at me and shun me when I traveled on the outskirts of their towns. Maybe they do have some compassion, but I have never seen it."

"I might have still been living with them if it were not for the wretched village dogs-wolves hate me for my dog blood-dogs hate me for my wolf blood. I just loose all the way around." She continued.

"That is absolutely horrible. I have not met any dogs though. They cannot all be so cruel...can they?" Mitternacht had only heard rumors of what dogs were like from wandering but nothing that he could really tell was true or not. "I mean you have probably seen more than I have."

Answering his question Shanda replied, "I see dogs come through here quite often, mostly coming from the village south of here that lays on the sea, and I belive there is another human village further inland, though I've never ventured to either one. I prefer to not be questioned or chased out, so I stay where I know it is safe."

"Safe..." Mitternacht murmured. "I am sure being safe for you and being safe for me are totally different things. You lead a pretty comfortable life here on the beach, but I could never feel as content as you do. I beed to feel like a part of something. That is the only way I would feel truly safe."