Under the Cover of Darkness (Akree)

[nightblood]

Under the dim light of the quarter moon, Damian, Guardian of Sallin, made his way along the border. Like any other night, he patrolled the territory line as if his life depended on it. This time, it really did. As he walked now on three legs, his gait was hampered. He limped forward, putting the sum of two paw steps on one paw. What was left of his left front leg was nothing more than a stub cut off in the middle of the length of bone that made up his arm. A wad of moss and cobwebs clung to the fur that was left around the gaping hole. The Guardian had spent hours shifting the muscle so that it covered the bone. Nothing felt more painful and unnatural than bare bone against the wind. Luckily, there was enough muscle and skin to cover it while it healed.

Placing a makeshift bandage over the wound, Damian had come to realize that he would not live long without real medical assistance. If it became infected, he would surely die. Even now as he marched along the edge of the territory, he knew he had not fully stopped the bleeding. It was down to a trickle, yes, but if it opened up again, he would not survive. His best chance was to leave Sallin, which, put bluntly, was next to suicide.

As he came to the north eastern border, Damian could see the flickering of street lamps in the distance. Hallow was a place for humans and free dogs, not wolves. But his need was dire. Had he been able to remember his past, he would have known that he had crossed his pack's border only once before. Now he must do it again. Before doing so, however, he paused, feeling the icy stare of red eyes watching him from the shadows of Sallin.

[Akree]

Thaddeaus kept running forward, silent as night. Nothing could tell he was there unless they were specifically looking for him and he was pleased by this, he had a mission, a promise to maintain. He stopped to catch the different scents, wary and looking left and right, nothing was here recently and from the look of it it wouldn't be. Pleased, he turned around the exact way he had come, trying to keep his scent as less as possible.

He had done this several times now, good thing he was light footed, his paws as silent as a leaf would be when it fell to the ground. His weight was shifted perfectly and equally though his body to minimize the sound. Yes, he was a skilled warrior and this showed now in very aspect. From the way he looked warily, but carefully at everything, ears shot forward, body ready to spring into action.

The reason for his continuous trips back and forth was quiet obvious, scanning the area for threats. He had repeated this a lot of times, he had lost count. He was diligent and never missed a single detail, he was trying to make they way as safe as possible for the guardian, Damien. He had been seriously injured and had lost a leg for it, trying to keep his loyalty with the slaves, that's why he helped him now.

The guardian was slow, three legs made sure he was slow and so he couldn't possibly keep watch and hurry as fast as he could at the same time. That was Thad's job, making sure the way was clear for the guardian's escape. He stopped to scan the area, catching Blackavar's red eyes, before stopping abruptly in front of Damien, not caring if he startled him for the moment.

"The way is clear" [/color]he informed quickly and silently. Stopping to look at the guardian, if he had anything to say or request.

He caught Blackavar's red eyes again and his own clear blue eyes narrowed, he should probably hurry to scan the vicinity again. But like a loyal soldier, he awaited his next orders.

Thad was partly relieved for the exercise, allowing himself enjoy the moment, but not risking loosing his awareness and concentration. The slow pace in which Damien moved proved slower that he though possible, but never did he show impatience, only the commitment any warrior would have at an assigned task, not once he dared falter in his duties and he was more than glad to be of help.

[nightblood]

Blackavar shifted slightly as a noise came to his ears. What he took to be the sound of shuffling paws was actually the scurrying of a mouse. He sighed quietly. Everything was ten times louder to him on this mission. Each step Damian took forward sounded like a tree falling on a pile of stones. Even Thadeaus's steps, however gentle they were, seemed like an entire tree's leaves blowing about in the wind.

However much Blackavar hated putting his life on the line, he felt he owed it to the Guardian. He had been gravely injured while attempting to fulfill his promise to him. Though he felt somewhat responsible, he had now put Cohen at the top of his hit list, even above NightShade.

The dark Slave kept to the shadows as he followed a few dozen paces behind Damian, making sure the three weren't being tailed. He silently wished there had been others to guard the left and right of the Guardian, but that would increase the number of scents. Best keep the party small. None of the other slaves were up to it anyway, however much they wanted to help. They were all too sick, injured, or tired.

"The way is clear."

Without noticing, Blackavar had caught up with the other two. Damian had stopped at the border, staring out into the village of Hallow. Thad had given his report, rather loudly to Blackavar's nervous ears, but he didn't complain. He knew the young Slave was being as quiet as he could be.

"This is not abandonment," came Damian's voice.

Blackavar's ears flicked forward. If there was a departing speech, he would hear it, no matter how much it angered him. The Guardian should get while the getting was good, but the dark Slave, knowing he had done everything for them and more, would allow him whatever he wished... while it didn't threaten their lives.

"I will still do what I can for you. The only difference is now I will not have to hide my intentions."

"Get going before they take another leg and make you completely useless," Blackavar snapped quietly once he was sure the speech had ended.

Through his pain, Damian smiled and glanced at the gray slave before him, though he was speaking to both.

"This is goodbye. I pray that it is not for good."

[Akree]

Thad pulled a dead stop and took a bit to the left to allow Damien to view the horizon. The guardian's gaze was trapped on the horizon, gazing at Hallow with perhaps a bit of hope, maybe a bit of fear and realization about what he was about to do. Thad almost felt like saying something, the young slave was rarely moved by such sites to actually encourage words, normally he kept his thoughts to himself. But silenced himself before he could speak a word, it might just make it more difficult.

-"This is not abandonment,"

Thad almost wanted to groan, a departing speech?! Did he know there was no room for babble, if not he would have been nearly as cautious as he had been prancing about trying to find the safest way towards the border. He held his breath and his eyes narrowed, he felt like shutting the wolf up himself, if he weren't because he was more diligent and loyal than vengeful. So he simply drew a sharp breath and kept his opinion to himself.

-"I will still do what I can for you. The only difference is now I will not have to hide my intentions."

Thad sighted, but nodded.

-"Get going before they take another leg and make you completely useless,"

-"Yes, get on it" said Thad with a hint of impatience, but smiled warmly at the wolf.

-"This is goodbye. I pray that it is not for good."

Thad rolled his eyes, but chuckled softly. the only evidence that he was chuckling was the movement that rocked his body for a few seconds. He liked Damien, though he overly overdid it, if that was possible.

[nightblood]

With a tired swish of his tail, Damian gave his last farewell. There was nothing more he could do from inside Sallin. For that matter, he could hardly do anything while there. Now that he was on the outside, however, he could spread the word of the slave's plight and create an alliance against this evil pack of wolves. Plan in mind, he raced across the border, finally feeling free.

Blackavar, on the other hand, turned away from the fleeing wolf, back to the cage from whence he came.

"Let's go kid," he said groggily.

Though the temptation to follow the ex-Guardian was great, it was still his duty to make sure there was no connection with him and the slaves. Two missing dogs would only alert the authority quicker.