A Dog in Your Midst (Slaveh Acceptance)

[krystalwolf]

((Oh noes!!!))

Sabrina put her nose to the ground. 'Wolves again, smells like a lot of them.' she thought to herself, deciding that this was new land and that she smelt a lot of wolves, she turned left in a trot, only to come upon the strong scent of wolf again. she tilted her ears and her yellow eyes glanced into the misty forest. There wasn't a sound to be heard, not a peep of a bird, not a rustle of a mouse in the leaves. A shiver went down her back. There was something very threatening about this place. Sabrina turned her head back and realized that she had let herself wander a little to far into this particular forest.

Her tail went down and her years back as she continued. The sooner she was out of this place the better.

A twig snapped and she jumped, trotting faster, trying to retract her paw steps, she came face to face with a longed eared hare. Ignoring it, she hurried through the forest, getting quite lost. No. She couldn't loose her head over this. Her eyes glanced around. Her scent must be all over the place, she had to leave with as little traces behind. Sabrina didn't want to offend any wolves with her foolish choices. Perhaps she should have caught that hare and given it to a wolf she met as an apology for trespassing.

[nightblood]

"Young fool..." sighed Damian as he sniffed the air. He had caught the scent of a female dog inside the border. How he hated this part of his job, but it was luckier for the dog that he found her and not someone else, like the Queen. Depressed that this was the only good thing that came of it, the Guardian began tracking the poor lost soul. Hopefully she wouldn't alert anyone else.

Fearing the worst when the twig snapped, Damian doubled his pace. He charged forward only to come to a stop when he saw that the young dog was safe and alone. Of course, they could never be sure in Sallin. A sly Scout might be hidden somewhere in the darkness that surrounded them. Sighing once again, Damian lowered his head, ears, and tail before he walked into view so that he wouldn't frighten the dog.

"It's truly unfortunate that you couldn't find your way out before I caught up with you, young one. Tell me before you forget it- what is your name? Mine is Damian."

He sat down about two feet from her. He couldn't let her get away now that he had made contact with her. If they were being watched, he would have to bring her to the slave's hold successfully or suffer the Queen's wrath. It was very unlikely that he would survive their next encounter if it was something negative such as that.

[krystalwolf]

A wolf approached her, she felt a little bit better, but not much. The way he approached her, not from behind or in any aggressive fashion gave her slight hope that this was the more dog friendly parts. But Sabrina wasn't foolish enough to let her guard down. She had to admit, though, she still jumped slightly when he came. More probably from working her nerves so than being so frightened of wolves.

"It's truly unfortunate that you couldn't find your way out before I caught up with you, young one. Tell me before you forget it- what is your name? Mine is Damian." Unfortunate? Something told her it wasn't going to be as easy as being lead out or even chased out. Maybe she'd have to work to earn the right to leave?

"I'm Sabrina." she wasn't sure as to how to respond, some wolves are very picky about these sorts of things. She held her apologies for later, Sabrina wanted to show him her utmost respect- He probably knew she didn't mean to trespass. She couldn't help but think about what he said even after she responded. What would have happened to her if another wolf found her?

The very thought made her nervous.


Sabrina gave him a worried look, this wasn't going to be one of her happier memories she was just sure.

[nightblood]

Damian cringed at the name. It was beautiful. One such as her should have never had the unsavory luck to fall into the paws of Sallin. He had to remind himself that it was by some miracle that he had gotten to her before another wolf had, but it would have been better overall if he had taken a bit more time to find her. Perhaps she would have at least found the right direction out of this disgusting place.

"I'm sorry to inform you, Sabrina, but you have come upon the land of Sallin. Know that I mean you no harm, but others here do. Now that you are here, I cannot let you leave. Even now, we may be watched. If you exit the territory unscathed, both of us will die."

It was important in every kidnapping that you calm your victim down before you take them prisoner. Let them know that they are not the only ones who are in danger. If she panicked, at least it was less likely that she would try to harm him. He stood up, keeping his tail and head down to keep her from seeing him as a threat. He wasn't enjoying this either.

"If you'll walk with me, I'll escort you to the slave's hold."

[krystalwolf]

"I'm sorry to inform you, Sabrina, but you have come upon the land of Sallin. Know that I mean you no harm, but others here do. Now that you are here, I cannot let you leave. Even now, we may be watched. If you exit the territory unscathed, both of us will die." Her jaw dropped slightly, she was about to start begging for a chance when he said that both of them would be killed. This wasn't only her own life to worry about, she forced herself to remain calm- but it was hard. What if she ran? Maybe there was still a way to undo what happening! Seeing that the wolf was close enough to catch her, she knew she would have to fight him. But, even if she escaped, he would die and most probably she would soon after. Even if it was a bluffing threat, she didn't want to think about leaving someone to die.

"If you'll walk with me, I'll escort you to the slave's hold."


Horror seized her heart. She finally understood what sort of life that was ahead of her. Slavery wasn't something that was ended after a few weeks of work, it wasn't paid off by how much you do. This was something that forced her to be constantly at mercy of another, a life she could not escape even if she tried. She couldn't speak, the shock of realization of never leaving this place hadn't even reached it's peak. For a moment she just stood there, terrified.

"I. . ." Sabrina tried to beg again, but she just couldn't speak right now. She dipped her head in submission, her eyes watery, even if she could leave, would it be better? She wasn't doing anything but wandering constantly alone, she wasn't doing any good. At least here she'll make some one else's life easier.

[nightblood]

Damian cringed again, this time at the pain in her voice. It hurt him just as much, if not more. This was a near daily thing for him. There was only one way to sooth her. He lowered his voice to discuss his plan, but not before searching the shadows for flashing eyes. He didn't move his head, knowing that it would give off his actions and revile his intentions. He gave an audible growl in case he had missed someone behind him, but locked eyes with Sabrina to tell her he would not attack.

"I swear on my life, I will find a way to free all dogs from NightShade's wrath," he said in a whisper that could only hope to be caught by a mouse's ear, let alone travel into the distance, "Until then, I can leave you in the care of Blackavar. He may not be able to do much, but at least it'll save you from him."

Lifting his head slowly, he started to head toward the tangle of dark trees. The slaves' hold was less than a mile away. Hopefully they could get to it without her having to receive her first scars from an enraged Sallinian.

"Follow me," he ordred, putting on a show for any watching eyes.

[krystalwolf]

Nodding she obeyed her first command, what was she going to do? Deciding that Damian was more on her side than not, Sabrina was going to ask her last minute questions. She really doubted the others would neither answer them nor ignore them gracefully. But she would have problems asking them, her mouth was dry and she felt her heart and stomach tighten.

"Damian. . ." she paused, wetting her mouth, "What is the name of this land?"

Why of all the more important questions did she ask that one in particular? Perhaps she wanted something to call this strange land to make it seem more welcoming. She was sure no matter her efforts, she'd never fit in. . . but that's why Sabrina wanted to force it to appear more friendly.

[nightblood]

The Guardian sighed as he allowed himself to answer Sabrina's questions. It was highly unlikely that anyone else would. Even Blackavar would have spat at her and told her never to ask that again. He disliked Sallin enough not to speak it's name. Instead, he would call it things like "a bed of rats" or "a vulture's nest". Damian didn't blame him, but he wished he'd refrain from saying those things as loud as he did around the wolves.

"This is the land of Sallin," he answered, keeping an eye out for danger, "Synl or Geera would have been the best places for you to end up. Even Arnlan. They would have at least pointed you in the right direction."

After a few more paces, Damian froze. He could see the slaves hold beyond a few bushes. Most of them were tending to fresh wounds or comforting others. Some were simply laying in the open, resting their battered bodies. They didn't look as bad as before NightShade left. That was probably the reason they seemed to be getting better though they would never be fully healed until they had escaped.

Panic gripped the Guardian as he realized a particular shade was not among them. Though he wanted to jump out and shout his name, Damian stood still and calmed himself, looking around until he saw a black tail behind a large knot of upturned tree roots. Blackavar must have sensed them coming and mistook them for the new Warden. They would wait in the bushes until the dark dog calmed down.

[krystalwolf]

She mouthed the foreign words in her mouth. They seemed so strange, not once had she heard these names. How many other packs or whatever these places where, were there? She stopped abruptly as Damian did, but she couldn't see the slaves hold for she didn't know what exactly she was looking for. Sabrina wanted to ask what was wrong, but fearing what stopped him, she held her tongue.

The smell of her own kind's blood reached her nose and she felt a little dizzy. Was she getting into more than simply servitude?

Her golden eyes searched the place, until they fell upon the slave's hold. Upon seeing their tortured bodies she lowered her head and looked away. The shepherd mix blinked as she caught sight of a black tail. Was that a Sallin spy or a slave?

[nightblood]

Once he'd dug deep enough, Blackavar deposited his brother's pendant in the hole. He lifted his dark head, crimson eyes glancing around searching for enemies, and cuffed dirt back over the pendant. Once it looked like he had never moved a grain of earth, he knocked over a few branches and joined the other slaves in front of the fallen tree. He growled at a passing labrador and layed down, eyes glaring out in Damian's direction. The noise had come from those bushes. Why wasn't the Sallinian making a move? Was it a Scout?

"No one's going to harm you, Blackavar," Damian said out loud as he pressed forward through the bushes, motioning for Sabrina to follow.

At first, the slaves had tensed at the voice, but once they established who the owner was, they seemed even more relaxed than that had been previously. Some even managed to wag their tails in greeting. Damian took this as a good sign and bowed respectfully to each of them. Blackavar, however, had a hardened look as he sat up to greet the Guardian.

"I hope that's food you're bringing in here, Damian," he growled darkly.

The wolf dismissed his sarcasm. "This is Sabrina. I'd like for you to help her get familiar with what Slave life is like."

Blackavar snorted, eyeing the pretty German Shepherd. She'd have made a fine mate for someone if she hadn't ended up in this place. He'd wager she'd loose her good looks within the week. "I don't run a charity program, wolf," he said with distain.

"I understand. Perhaps I might be able to sneak in some extra food for you."

There was a long pause before the dark dog spoke again. "For all the slaves?" he asked with something of a crooked grin.

Damian's eyes widened as he twitched. His jaw parted in surprise. "That would take some time," he answered once he calmed down, "If I could sneak it in over a period of weeks it could be doable."

"Just don't get caught."

"When has that been a problem?"

With that, Damian motioned Sabrina forward.

[krystalwolf]

"I hope that's food you're bringing in here, Damian," The new dog growled darkly.

How ungrateful! Sabrina decided she disliked him at once, how could he treat what could be the only friendly wolf here? But her anger fell as quickly as it rose, he looked like he'd been through a lot. She decided to forgive him without criticizing him.

The wolf dismissed his sarcasm. "This is Sabrina. I'd like for you to help her get familiar with what Slave life is like."

As Damian introduced her to the group she gave a small nod, looking at the dog, she could see that he wasn't at all terrible to look at, if you look past the painful scars. Fear lumped into her throat, was she to feel the same pain that poor dog did?

Blackavar replied, clearly not wanting to return the favor of Damian's kindness. Damian patiently offered to pay him in food, and the greedy dog wanted to make sure that all of the slaves received some. No charity indeed!

She walked forward into the hold then turned around to Damian.

"Oh please don't!" she begged, then turning to Blackavar, "You ought to be ashamed of yourself! I'm guessing this isn't the first time he's been kind to you and you walk all over him. You're no better than the ones who gave you those scars in the first place! I don't want your help if you're going to behave like that!"

Sabrina didn't need to hold on to anyone's tail to live before, and not once did she ignore the help of another. Whether man or beast, prey or predator, wolf or dog.

[nightblood]

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself! I'm guessing this isn't the first time he's been kind to you and you walk all over him. You're no better than the ones who gave you those scars in the first place! I don't want your help if you're going to behave like that!"

Blackavar lifted his head and pulled his ears back as the young female snapped at him. It wasn't the first time he'd been mouthed off to, and it probably wouldn't be the last, but it was the first time a slave had accused him of being ungrateful. He gave a loud sniff when she finished her little speech and grinned. Putting his face level with hers, he began his own retort.

"Lesson number one, Pretty. Take hand outs where you can get them. Bargain only with Damian when he's alone. He's the only one who won't slap your face off."

With that, the dark dog went off to a corner of the hold that wasn't occupied by anyone. The few dogs he passed looked up at him. Though he had his head hung and his face was screwed up into a sour scowl, they looked at him with admiration, though some were quite fearful of him as well.

"Don't get too upset with Blackavar," Damian said, turning to Sabrina, "He's a protector by heart. He only wants to make sure the rest of the dogs get whatever he gets from me."

[krystalwolf]

"Lesson number one, Pretty. Take hand outs where you can get them. Bargain only with Damian when he's alone. He's the only one who won't slap your face off." With that he turned around to go sulk or whatever it was slaves did around here, Sabrina couldn't help but notice how the other dogs seemed to admire him. Obviously Blackavar was on top of the pecking order around the other dogs. She still thought that they ought to show Damian more respect.

"Don't get too upset with Blackavar," Damian said, turning to Sabrina, "He's a protector by heart. He only wants to make sure the rest of the dogs get whatever he gets from me."

"Well don't count me in when he tells you he wants food for the whole group." Sabrina turned her head stubbornly. "If I need a little more food to keep living, then I will ask you if it's possible. But please don't stick your neck out for simple luxuries on my part. I don't plan to loose my manners, senses, or whatever you call it just because I'm suddenly considered a slave."

Sabrina was sure it wasn't too hard to get a little extra food in, but the consequences of getting caught or even suspected of the crime may be more than it's worth.

[nightblood]

"Well don't count me in when he tells you he wants food for the whole group." Sabrina turned her head stubbornly. "If I need a little more food to keep living, then I will ask you if it's possible. But please don't stick your neck out for simple luxuries on my part. I don't plan to loose my manners, senses, or whatever you call it just because I'm suddenly considered a slave."

To this, Damian shook his head an sighed. In Sallin, even the stubborn break. They had beaten the once kind-hearted Blackavar into the cruel being he is now. There was no telling what they would do to Sabrina.

"You will learn," he said grimly as he turned to leave. Before he got to the bushes, he paused and turned to look over his shoulder at the Shepherd, "Stay close to Blackavar. And, by all means, stay FAR away from the Sallinian called Cohen. You will know him by his wicked claws. He also calls most 'Fitzpatrick' for some reason."

With that, he left Sabrina to her cruel future as a Slave.

For now, anyway.

Blackavar eyed the two from his resting spot in the shade. Curling his lips into a wicked grin, he watched Damian leave the pretty female. At the last glimpse of his tail, he went over the current draft of the escape plan in his mind.

"We're all gunna die," he breathed skeptically.