Usefulness (Damien, Any)

[nightblood]

"I was just wondering, since you are currently are only guardian. This of course means that you should be working ten fold!"

"If you find my work unsatisfactory, you will be disappointed no more," Damian said, bowing respectfully, "I will not rest until I have met your standards of proper Guardianship."

Through the memories he had left of his time before Sallin, he recalled once being called SilverTongue. He was half sure he was proving his worth to the name here. He could never be certain with NightShade. She was, perhaps, his equal in the art of lying.

"What exactly do you want to talk about?"

"I believe those of... below-average mental and emotional standards here in Sallin are depleting the slave and member count. Whether by killing what we have of scaring off what we could have had..." he paused, searching for the right words which NightShade would find good nature in before continuing, "I ask not for the destruction or termination of these special members, but for them to be controlled somehow."

"I have an idea that would accomplish two things at once... Control of these particular members, and a way those bone bags who dare call themselves canine could be of better use to us."

Perhaps that had been a bit much, but Damian highly doubted NightShade would care what he called the slaves. Everyone insulted them. It would be nothing new to her.

[Nightshade]

-"If you find my work unsatisfactory, you will be disappointed no more," he said with a bow "I will not rest until I have met your standards of proper Guardianship."

Her tail flicked and her smile widened. Damien, was dutiful and a good guardian, but he was the only one left and she expected more from him.

-"Very well" she said in a whisper. "I look forward to it."

-"I believe those of... below-average mental and emotional standards here in Sallin are depleting the slave and member count. Whether by killing what we have of scaring off what we could have had..." Her ears perked up to attention, her eyes narrowing and her toothy grin, widening. "I ask not for the destruction or termination of these special members, but for them to be controlled somehow."

-"Controlled..." she repeated softly "You must understand that they serve their purpose and below mental average or not, they belong to Sallin" she said sounding a bit, angry [b]"Now what exactly do you want from them?"[/b][/color] she said sharply.

-"I have an idea that would accomplish two things at once... Control of these particular members, and a way those bone bags who dare call themselves canine could be of better use to us."

-She thought for a minute and after a long pause, she shifted her gaze to Damien "Then I lend you my ear, tell me how exactly you plan on controlling our members" she said with a tilt of her head and a smile.

[nightblood]

"Then I lend you my ear, tell me how exactly you plan on controlling our members."

Despite the smile, Damian kept alert for any sudden outbursts NightShade was known for. Although he had never seen her do such a thing, he had heard talk of her spontaneous killings. He was not about to be counted as one of them.

"I suggest letting groups of slaves congregate just outside human settlements within eyesight of our special members. The slaves would be made to draw out more dogs from the village. Once an ideal number is met, the members will round them all up and bring them back to Sallin. If any slave behaved disapprovingly, the members would be allowed to do with them as they pleased. Or they could take one of the new slaves and make an example out of them to scare the others into submission."

He paused, giving a bit more thought on the subject before continuing.

"If need be, our blood-thirsty members could have a slave to play with once every two months or however often it is needed."

[Nightshade]

-"I suggest letting groups of slaves congregate just outside human settlements within eyesight of our special members. The slaves would be made to draw out more dogs from the village. Once an ideal number is met, the members will round them all up and bring them back to Sallin. If any slave behaved disapprovingly, the members would be allowed to do with them as they pleased. Or they could take one of the new slaves and make an example out of them to scare the others into submission. If need be, our blood-thirsty members could have a slave to play with once every two months or however often it is needed."

-"Ah, but I'm not interested in more slaves. Sallin needs more members" She said sharply, looking at Damien for any sign that would alert her of his true intents "We don't have nearly enough members to commence a raid" she said, flicking her tail and circling Damien [b]"We need more members to sustaine Sallin's slaves, we need to fill up our ranks, they are left empty, to rot[/b]"[/color] she continued "You understand what I mean" she said while stopping abruptly in front of Damien "I care little for the slaves, their useless. What we need is a push to every vile mind out there, encourage them to join Sallin, what we need is something to draw their attention without threatening our numbers."

Her tail flicked and she now eyed Damien with curiosity. She could tell there was something else he wanted, but didn't want to spit it out. She stopped to think, wondering what would even make Sallin become the pack it once was, her great pack of blood loving wolves.

[nightblood]

"What we need is a push to every vile mind out there, encourage them to join Sallin, what we need is something to draw their attention without threatening our numbers."

"Perhaps a demonstration, my Queen?" Damian asked, the thought coming to him rather quickly, "A few members could take a slave into... maybe Dante's Pass or Manor Cemetery. Have the members hold a meeting with the residents there and show what we have to offer."

After careful consideration, he decided to tell NightShade what the latest news was on the winds.

"There is talk of a dog pack out in Synl's direction. Perhaps once an ideal number of members is reached, a raid could be conducted there?"

[Nightshade]

-"Perhaps a demonstration, my Queen?" Nightshade shifted her gaze towards Damien, her thoughts running fast, but keeping a complete poker face, a grin and her always mad look to her eyes. "A few members could take a slave into... maybe Dante's Pass or Manor Cemetery. Have the members hold a meeting with the residents there and show what we have to offer."

-"Interesting idea, Damien..." she said thinking carefully "But we would need someone who could keep their head over there shoulders, someone who wouldn't suddenly snap out of control..."

-"There is talk of a dog pack out in Synl's direction. Perhaps once an ideal number of members is reached, a raid could be conducted there?"

-"I have heard of this pack and that the alpha is something of a fool..." she said looking at the border, lost in thought "but, we must stay sharp and not let them out of out sights...still a raid there would show them who is in charge, we could gather more slaves."

She turned to Damien, right now she didn't know that simply because he was of the few sane wolves of Sallin that he could actually have a hint of pity for the slaves, but Damien was a fine guardian and he didn't show signs of rebel, yet. She snapped her tongue against the walls of her mouth. Thinking of what must be done.

-"As soon as a fair number of members are gathered, a pack meeting must take place" she said in a dangerous whisper, a grin played itself on her muzzle "There we shall discuss how we can gather more members and fill up our ranks. I have an idea of how we could get them motivated...." she smacked her lips "and as for the raid, I have a feeling that its just what we need, after a few things are taken care off."

[nightblood]

"Interesting idea, Damien..." she said thinking carefully "But we would need someone who could keep their head over there shoulders, someone who wouldn't suddenly snap out of control..."

"I would not volunteer myself. I have too many duties here. However, I will lead the crusade if there are no other available personnel."

"There we shall discuss how we can gather more members and fill up our ranks. I have an idea of how we could get them motivated...." she smacked her lips "and as for the raid, I have a feeling that its just what we need, after a few things are taken care off."

"Understood," Damian said with a bow, wondering in the back of his mind about what 'motivation' NightShade had in store.

"Was there anything else you wanted to discuss? If not, I'll be on my way. Later I'll see if we're left with any slaves after Cohen has his way with them."

He chuckled at this as he took a step in toward the heart of the territory. Later, he would also discipline the real slave that had tried to escape... if he was still alive.

[Nightshade]

-"I would not volunteer myself. I have too many duties here. However, I will lead the crusade if there are no other available personnel."

-Nightshade nodded "Of course, the one who will lead the personnel will be someone of trust and those not have duty at the border, since currently this is of out most importance" she said with a chuckle.

-"Was there anything else you wanted to discuss? If not, I'll be on my way. Later I'll see if we're left with any slaves after Cohen has his way with them."

Nightshade snorted. Check on the slaves? One eyebrow raised, one ear to the side and the other upright. What did he just say? Her ears surely had betrayed her.

-"Check on the slaves?" she said slowly and low "CHECK ON THE SLAVES?!" she growled "You will do no such thing your duty is on the border not with the slaves, last time I checked that was the Warden's job" she growled, her fur bristling and her ears alert.

[nightblood]

"Check on the slaves?" she said slowly and low "CHECK ON THE SLAVES?!" she growled "You will do no such thing your duty is on the border not with the slaves, last time I checked that was the Warden's job."

"With all due respect, Lady Nighshade- Last time I checked, we had no Warden," Damian said calmly, lowering his ears at her growl. He had a feeling he wouldn't get to leave her without one of her outbursts, "As the only Guardian, I feel obligated to do what I can to keep them under control... unless you have appointed a new Warden upon your return?"

Unphased by her aggression, Damian turned toward her and sat, showing no sign that he welcomed a fight. On the contrary, he showed no emotion at all. He sat there with a stone cold face, waiting for her reply.

[Nightshade]

-"With all due respect, Lady Nighshade- Last time I checked, we had no Warden," said Damien cooly "As the only Guardian, I feel obligated to do what I can to keep them under control... unless you have appointed a new Warden upon your return?"

-"No" she hissed "Your duty is at the border, not with the slaves" she spat "I'll find someone to take care of the slaves" she said with a flick of her tail "I just need to have a chat with the wolf" she continued with a grin.

Fangs bared she stared at Damien as he sat down. She tipped her chin and turned serious, awaiting for his reaction. Her temper was short and her patience withering.

[nightblood]

"No" she hissed "Your duty is at the border, not with the slaves" she spat "I'll find someone to take care of the slaves" she said with a flick of her tail "I just need to have a chat with the wolf."

"If I meet him at the border, I could send him to you. Unless you'd rather keep the name secret until the pack meeting?"

Though Damian was pleased that his calm demeanor was keeping the female's wrath at bay, he dared not show contentment until he was far from the Queen. He did not even attempt to breathe a sigh of relief. He showed his respect by showing her that he did not object to her order of staying on the boundaries. He would have to wait a while before returning to converse with the dogs. Perhaps more than a month or so to make sure her mind was far from the matter. By then, she probably would not suspect him of treason... if she allowed him to live that long.

Even though the Guardian objected to NightShade's campaign, he could find a few ways to improve it. Killing persons all willy-nilly like he had seen her do was not a good way to run a pack, by any means. It depleted numbers drastically. How were they to win a war when the time came?

[Akree]

-"If I meet him at the border, I could send him to you. Unless you'd rather keep the name secret until the pack meeting?"

-"No, you shall know who he is when the time comes" she hummed "I expect you to stay on the border" she hissed, her eyes narrowing "Cohen surely most know how to take care of a couple of slaves" she sneered, wanting to see Damien's reaction.

She circled Damien and eyed the border. Soon there would be a lot of happening in Sallin, and she would enjoy it all. Her tail flicked as she turned her attention to Damien, but he would have to be watched. Damien was a fine guardian, but, something about him made every never quiver and ache, Sallin needed a scout. Her thoughts ran fast, and she quickly turned to Damien.

-"You have something on your mind" she said, raising an eyebrow, it was not a question it was a fact and she will have it explained.

[nightblood]

"Cohen surely most know how to take care of a couple of slaves"

Had Damian not had the self control he possessed, he would have given a loud snort at the statement. In all truth, he really had no respect for his kind and believed they were even less than the slaves. However, their breed alone earned them rank in NightShade's eyes. Another thing he would rectify if he didn't fear for his life.

"You have something on your mind."

His quick thinking slipped for a moment, but a far away howl, too far to be of any note or perhaps even just a far off howl he heard in his head, gave him an idea. He would not be so careless as to not have an idea of what to say next time he encountered the Queen.

"Each time I pass over the Arnlan border, I can sense their stirring. I believe they are preparing for us to attack and I fear they may move on us first out of nerve before we are ready to counter. But perhaps that subject will also be discussed at the meeting?"

By now, Damian was really anxious to get out of her presence, but he was careful not to let it show in his voice.

[Nightshade]

Damien was a tricky one. His thoughts were hard to deceiver and weather he was telling the truth or not was impossible to say, but one thing was sure, he was hiding something. Nightshade was a wary one and sooner or later she would find out. In fact, she didn't know why she was holding back, she suspected something from him and that should be enough reason to have his head on a stick, but as to what that reason was, well let's just say that for now she had needs for him.

Her tail flicked a bit, her eyes narrowed and that playful smile caressed itself on her muzzle. Only time would tell.

-"Each time I pass over the Arnlan border, I can sense their stirring. I believe they are preparing for us to attack and I fear they may move on us first out of nerve before we are ready to counter. But perhaps that subject will also be discussed at the meeting?"

-Her eyes narrowed and her blood boiled "And why, pray tell Damien, haven't I been informed on this sooner?!" she blasted, all self control blasted away ass he felt the need to see the canine dead "Information like this is of out most importance, yet a Guardian like yourself failed to inform me?" by know her face was barely an inch or two away from Damien's, her eyes filled with hate "Are you searching to be demoted of your rank?"

By now she was pacing around in frustration. Her blood felt like it would soon began to beat out of her. Rage. But still on the back of her mind a question was still hanging loosely, what is this wolf hiding? But that now mattered little, her only thought was an enemies, a formidable one in the status Sallin currently found itself. She had to think faster, act quicker and maybe she would have enough time to reconstruct her army. Yes, but she had to be careful and watch not only the pack's enemies, but the secretive minds of Sallin. She turned her head toward Damien, she would have his head if he wouldn't have a logical explanation, in fact, kiss logic good bye, he better have a good excuse to save his ass.

[nightblood]

"And why, pray tell Damien, haven't I been informed on this sooner?!" she blasted, all self control blasted away ass he felt the need to see the canine dead "Information like this is of out most importance, yet a Guardian like yourself failed to inform me? Are you searching to be demoted of your rank?"

"Did Carter not give you a full report upon your return, My Queen?" Damian asked, eyes wide in clear surprise, "I have been informing him every night I return from my rounds."

This certainly was a setback. If the Alpha's son was keeping information from his parents, perhaps he was plotting something as well. He certainly was a stupid one if he didn't know well enough to tie up loose ends to keep information from reaching their ears like this. If he was planning something and he didn't want NightShade to know of Arnlan's movements, Damian himself should be dead for knowing this.