"How long?" (Any Slave)

[nightblood]

"They must think that somehow that experience will allow them the chance they so desire at freedom."

Blackavar nodded and sighed. "These poor dogs are probably so desperate, they'd follow a fox," he said grimly.

"I wonder why, so far, I have been spared the scars."

For the first time, the dark male laughed. It was short, but it was a laugh. "Probably because you look wolf to them. Word probably hasn't gotten out that you're a slave and everyone's wondering why you're here. They'll know by the next pack meeting, I think."

Blackavar glared into the bushes. Red eyes flashed back at him. It was the rat. The arrogant beast was probably eyeing him for being on its territory or something. Black had always said that this place was a rat's nest. Now he knew he was right. In an instant, the rat scrambled out of the bushes at blinding speed. Blackavar jumped up onto his very toes, keeping himself out of reach from the teeth, at the same time his fangs searched for the rat as it scampered this way and that, zig zagging around.

[Akree]

-"Probably because you look wolf to them. Word probably hasn't gotten out that you're a slave and everyone's wondering why you're here. They'll know by the next pack meeting, I think."

The answer caught Thad of guard and he turned his head quickly to look at Blackavar, but he sighted. It was right, by the next pack meeting every wolf in Sallin would probably want to beat him around like a rag doll. He sighted again and raised himself to his legs, wishing for a moment that wolves hadn't caused such a bad impression on the rest of the pack.

Then a flash of red eyes caught his attention, his fur bristled and he quickly turned around to catch coarse gray fur, the rat. In an instant the rat was charging at Blackavar. He came to his toes and prepared to charge at the rat again.

Quick to react Thad maneuvered himself away from Black's fangs, but aiming for the rat, it looked like it was about to duck and dig its sharp teeth in Blackavar. He quickly had his fangs on the rabid rat and flung it away from Black as the rat charged for him again and the male charged at the rat. He quickly backed away allowing Blackavar to do what he willed with the stupid rat and snorted.

Clearly the rat had no idea where it was and thought itself as taking on some of the slaves. He shook his head, still not quite sure what it had been thinking.

-"Well now we even got rats to keep us company" he snorted.

[nightblood]

Once Thaddeaus was well out of the way, Blackavar was clear to attack the rat. Since it was coming straight at him this time, he had no trouble taking it up in its jaws and snapping the backbone. Had the Slaves been fed, he would have flung the rat into the middle of the hold and let anyone take it. However, since everyone was hungry, diplomacy had to be carried out. With the rat hanging firmly in his jaws, the dark dog walked out into the center of the Hold, eyeing each Slave as he went. He had already decided who would get it, but looked around anyway in order to make sure he wasn't missing any truly starving individuals.

With everyone looking as healthy as one could be as a Slave, Blackavar moved on without stopping and dropped the meager meal at the paws of the two youngest dogs. They were yearlings from the same litter, both of their parents killed by Sallinians because they were too old to be of any use. Blackavar growled as the other yearlings began moving closer. His tone was deep and threatening, red eyes blazing into each of the others, making it clear that this rat belonged to only two.

As they shrank away and the young ones began eating, Blackavar turned and walked away. Once back beside Thaddeaus, he looked back, still glaring at the youngsters, and layed down.

"I've seen rats charge at cats before. They're not exactly the smartest creatures, but an infected rat bite can kill ya."

[Akree]

Thad stood back as he watched the large male strike the rat. He turned to gaze at the rest of the slaves, only the crack of snapping bone alerted him that Black had killed the rat. He turned to look at Black, catching his eye and nodding once. Thaddeaus turned to gaze at the slaves, all hungry and looking up to see what was all the commotion about. He could tell that they were all mysteriously hoping that they would get the large rat, all eyes glinted with maybe something like hope that they would get their jaws on the prize in Black's jaws.

The male already seemed to have decided who would not get the rat, but he gazed down at the slave's hold. Everyone held their breath, looking hopefully up at Black, savoring the meal. He turned towards two yearling, dropping the rat at their feet and growling a warning at the others.

Thad chuckled darkly at himself, he clearly was the respected one on the slave's hold, no one questioned his decision, even if they all wished for a meager bite at the rat.

His eyes traced around the hold, looking at what faces looked disappointed, which looked pleased, appalled or even awed. Most simply turned back to whatever they were doing, a few began to mutter angrily within themselves, other looked shocked and even sad, but turned to what they were doing before.

-"I've seen rats charge at cats before. They're not exactly the smartest creatures, but an infected rat bite can kill ya." he said while sitting next to him again.

-"That's my main worry, inexperienced hunters or even anyone that moves slow should try to keep away from them, death, although I could guess many would welcome it, is simply not an option now."

He turned to gaze at the male again, just what chance did all these slaves have at freedom? Slim, their chances were slim, but still there, but the same question would float around in everyones head, how long did we have to wait? how long is this going to last? how long...

[Akree]

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