The Forgotten and Forsaken (Private)

[Electus]

On the border edge of Sallin, a grey shadow moved like a ghost towards the broken land. It made no noise, no indication that he was stepping into hostile territory. A side glance here, a cautious step there; Mortilitas made no indication that he even cared that he was now in the most hated pack around. Nothing mattered- only the objective. And that was to kill as many Sallinians as possible.

With that in mind, the Death Shade had been stalking the single sentry he had spotted for hours, waiting, watching, to see when would be the best time to strike.

-----

Perhaps the grey shade knew he was being watched. Perhaps that was why he refused to make the first move.

Cohen watched intently towards the border, his claws flexing and relaxing. The wolf in the distant shadows reeked of Arnlan, and the sentry couldn't wait to dig his claws into a fight. But for now, he would watch and wait.

[nightblood]

Blackavar could not suppress a growl of hatred as he eyed the wolf who had killed his friend. Cohen was murderous and berserk, yet nearly sane when he wanted to be. Truth be told, going after Cohen could be labeled at an even higher level of insanity that he could ever reach. So what was that gray Arnlanian thinking? Pursuing that murderer was suicide! It was like a mouse chasing a cat. Could Arnlan seriously be crazier than Sallin? Only time would tell at this point.

"Run home, Gray-Boy. He's gunna kill you..." he said under his breath.

For the first time since being trapped in this hell-hole, the black dog was wearing his brother's flame necklace. Perhaps he needed it as a comfort, or a lucky charm. He was going to need all the luck he could get being this far away from the slave's hold.

[Electus]

He was being watched. He had been spotted. Time to initiate the attack.

Mortilitas burst from the shadows like a shattering dream, his grey body arcing gracefully in the air as he powered into a maddeningly quick sprint. His paws barely touched the ground, and the warrior seemed to float through the air as he pounded like lightning towards the black sentry.

"Prepare yourself, blackheart! I, Mortilitas Umbra, challenge you!"

He could see the black sentry moving to meet his charge, and Mortilitas was a little surprised to see the ugly claws the creature sported. He smiled grimly. This would be an interesting fight.

Mortilitas lunged, fangs flashing in the gloom. "Ready yourself for death!"

------

Cohen screamed wildly with ecstasy as the grey wolf burst forth from the shadows and sprinted towards him. With a howl of joy, the mad wolf burst forward to meet the warrior's charge.

"WILD! Beautiful! Like a raging fire!"

"Prepare yourself, blackheart! I, Mortilitas Umbra, challenge you!"

Cohen grinned like a vampire as he sprinted, shrieking his acceptance to the challenge.

"Very well, bait! I, Cohen von Scherzo, accept your challenge! I will rend you limb from limb and string your guts across the border! EEEEEEHHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAAHAHAAAAAA!"

[nightblood]

"WILD! Beautiful! Like a raging fire!"

"Prepare yourself, blackheart! I, Mortilitas Umbra, challenge you! Prepare yourself for death!"

"Very well, bait! I, Cohen von Scherzo, accept your challenge! I will rend you limb from limb and string your guts across the border! EEEEEEHHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAAHAHAAAAAA!"

Almost in plain view, Blackavar sat down and grinned, his ears perked forward to pay full attention to the fight.

"This could be entertaining after all," he mumbled, trying not to let himself be heard by Cohen.

After a while, the dog let his tongue hang out and laid down, crossing his paws in front of him. He knew he'd get reprimanded, but this was turning out to be worth it he got to witness the death of Cohen.

[Electus]

The black sentry was fast. Mortilitas smiled. A challenge. He'd like nothing less. They met halfway, claws interlocking as they clashed. There were no more words, only vicious snarling as they grappled for leverage, a tiny advantage that would give one of them victory. Eventually, they broke apart and skirted back from one another, golden eyes meeting the manic phantom mask.

Tails swished silently as the black observed grey, and grey watched black. Still as statues, yet internally, their brains were twisting and turning with energy. Where to strike next? What move would he make? Would he lunge, pounce, claw? What? What would he do?

Mortilitas kept his muscles tensed, ready to move at a moment's notice. When fighting the insane, it was a good idea to think like them yourself...

[nightblood]

By the time the fight was put on hold while the contenders thought about which move to make next, Blackavar was already contemplating getting a piece of the action. He had to remind himself of what Damian had lost in order to keep himself from making any foolish mistakes. He could only wag his tail in anticipation as he thought about the best comment to throw out to the pair.

~Or, you idiot, you could get goin' while the gettin's good. Just a thought.

Keeping low to the ground, the slave gave the fighting pair a wide berth as he rounded them to the side behind Cohen. He'd much rather be sighted by the gray Arnlanian than by the raving lunatic.

{{Change in plan. Let's see if Blackavar can escape! MWAHAHAHAA!!}}

[Electus]

Mortilitas caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Another Sallinian! Mortilitas' brain flashed out a warning as his muscles began to move. He couldn't let him get away. But wait, what was that fool doing? Running towards the border? A fleeing slave? Mortilitas returned his focus to his opponent, ready to wheel and give chase if the sentry decided that the slave was more important than the fight.

~What's your next move, Sallinian?

Mortilitas shifted his weight, every muscle in his body tensed like a spring. Soon, he'd strike or give chase.

It was all up to the blackheart now.

-----

Cohen saw the shift in attention for the second that it lasted. His phantom mask followed the Arnlanian's line of sight to the slave fleeing the border. He snarled and laughed at the same time before feinting around the Arnlanian warrior to give chase, claws tearing up the ground. The slave would not get away! No one would cross the border, not while Cohen patrolled it!

Howling a death promise, Cohen tore up the distance between he and the fleeing dog. He would make him scream and beg before he died!

-----

So the son of a bitch was going after the slave. Mortilitas cursed before wheeling and pursuing the black wolf. The sentry would not get away alive if he could help it.

[nightblood]

Blackavar growled when he heard the crazed one's howled threat. Feigning a bolt forward, he turned tail and headed directly at the closest tree. Before running into it, however, the quick-witted dog dived into a familiar bramble patch. He'd hidden in these bushes so many times that he knew exactly which paths would lead him where. Not only would this low the wolves down, but it'd also give Cohen a few thorns in his paws and eyes. He'd wait here until the black wolf was distracted again before retrying his escape.

"How am I more important than an intruder, Cohen?" he taunted, "Queen Bitch would love to hear how you let an Arnlanian cross the border. I think she'd be more pissed at that than letting little ol' me escape."

He headed deeper into the brambles, but kept his eye on the border. He would not die on Sallin ground. Not while he still had a say in it.

[Electus]

"How am I more important than an intruder, Cohen?" he taunted, "Queen Bitch would love to hear how you let an Arnlanian cross the border. I think she'd be more pissed at that than letting little ol' me escape."

Cohen snarled at the dog's words. Foolish mongrel. The Arnlanian was following him. Following Cohen. Soon, after he had dispatched this annoyance, he would lure the Arnlanian off of Sallin, and kill him. With another angry growl, the black wolf dove into the brambles, slashing them with his claws as he went. By the gods, the dog would die.

------

Mortilitas bit back his frustration as the sentry went after the dog. Damn fool. He had to choose today to escape. The warrior almost screamed in frustration before diving in after the black wolf into the brambles. He had lived long enough in his bramble-surrounded den that he could shrug off all but the longest thorns without stopping.

[nightblood]

"Ha!"

Now that Cohen was safely in the thickest of the bramble patch, Blackavar tore out of there. Once free, he skidded to the side and switched directions. He headed directly for the border as fast as his paws would carry him.

He'd dreamed of this day, of leaving Sallin. Granted, he had hoped to be leading the entire group of slaves safely out of the territory. Sacrifices had to be made, however, when opportunities arose. He would never get another chance like this. Not in a million years.

[Electus]

Cohen gnashed his teeth in frustration as he watched the dog slip from his grasp. He howled in anger, tearing the brambles away before spinning to face the Arnlanian once again.

Only to find that there was something very grey and dangerous latching onto his throat.

--------

The distraction was the only window Mortilitas needed. With a soundless snarl the grey warrior hurled himself at the black wolf, latching his fangs onto the exposed neck. Iron pressure clamped down and the lifeblood began to flow, rivulets pouring down the warrior's face. As the black wolf thrashed around, the grey wolf grimly held on, jerking his head and digging his claws into the Sallinian's stomach, tearing flesh and muscle.

"I want to hear you scream."

The black wolf was more than happy to oblige, the shriek sounding like a despairing howl of the damned. The sound was definitely loud enough to reach Arnlan, much to the satisfaction of Mortilitas.

Grimly, the grey wolf dragged the corpse close to the border facing Arnlan before howling his victory to all.

[nightblood]

Blackavar let loose a snarl of joy as he made his way to the Arnlanian border. Wearing his brother's pendant must have been the best thing he had ever done. Never again would he bury it underground. He would wear it always. It was endowed with a luck unmeasurable. He had escaped Sallin, the death trap. Though he did not free the other slaves, he knew he would never die on Sallin soil.

The black dog would search for the Arnlan Alphas now. He had to thank them for sending their mercinary. Skidding again on his paws, he turned and lifted his head, eyeing the gray angle. He barked twice in thanks before running once more for the border of the mysterious, but honorable Arnlan.