End of the Line [NB; Mortil]

[archer]

Trust is a hard thing to get among a place where whispers of war and battles are commonplace. Archer had his share of this things while in Arnlan. He had enough! If life was going to throw fight after fight in his way, then he would rather live alone where no one was in harms way, particularly after Shadeblood's death and the breakup between Nightblood and himself. He had felt the lose more since he had let his heart trust and love and now, without her, he was falling apart. Every day he lived on where the memories, good times and bad, flourished caused him more and more sanity. The wolf stood in shadows and fell deeper and deeper, hitting rock bottom with no ladder to climb back to the surface. A soul once had remained in his body, but he severed emotions ties that day she had taken her necklace from him. Black fur hid him from the world and a recluse he was and that was not going to change, nor would he ever allow himself to become close to anyone ever again. It caused far too much grief for him and he was not going to be tricked again.

His cunning mind had no one to blame for his problems and so they landed on him. He thought it over, the idea of what he wanted to do, what he needed to do, and what was right. Nothing seemed to be right, there was no wrong. Archer had always gone with instinct and what he thought to be write, but without any idea of what it was anymore, he was lost in a vortex of confusion, anger, and self pity as he circled life's drain. He had contemplated leaving Arnaln in the middle of the night, had thought to kill those closest to him to do it, but none of these things would make him happy. His mind screamed to be released and as he had grown more and more violent with depression, even Cota had to leave him on his own. She had told him to find his own path and not fall to darkness, but he had and now he was darker and even angry at this place. Currently, he stood in the middle of a junction of trees, their trunks torn and slashed repeatedly and without mercy. He was pushing himself beyond his physical limit and when he passed out, he had nightmares. It had been weeks since he had last hunted and only pain and exshaustion registered in his mind.

Archer's legs shook with violent force and he struggled to keep them still. His eyes were painted red and angry, yet they held no fierceness, nor any trace of love. His dakr world had swallowed him and even now, his heart blackened. As his legs finally gave out and his body fell to the ground, Archer twitched and looked at the dense and lightless canopy above. He sobbed softly, hidden by nightfall and his natural colors, no one could see his pain as he cried and apologized over and over. He wanted to love her again and he wanted to be in love with her, but Archer knew far better than that. He went limp and closed his eyes, reveling in the darkness behind closed eyes as peace surrendered and his hellish nightmares once again engulfed him. His worn and broken did not breath evenly as a normal slumber, every now and then, fear would force him awake and then the process would begin again. He would destroy everything in his wake and then finally, in the throes of complete and utter exhaustion, he would curl up and cry and apologized to the forest of Arnlan, himself, everyone he had ever caused pain for.

Archer screamed and was awoken. He sat up and shook his bloodshot eyes. In the shadows, Cota was watching him and finally had decided that Archer was not going to get over this on his own and there was one wolf she knew would help him, the one who had caused him so much pain and the one he was missing, even though he would never admit it aloud. Archer stumbled back to his feet and with dead on accuracy, struck a tree with his claws, then jumped back and made another mark in the bark of another. Cota shook her head and then, released a howl to Nightblood, fully aware she was exposing herself to his attacks if he choose to fight her. The female watched as Archer tensed and then ran, blindly, into the forest. As Cota came out, she saw blood from where he had broken claws littering the grounds. Archer sniffled and inside his head, Arrow begged him to return, but he ignored the annoying little voice that bothered him. He was not going to listen to anyone right now, all he wanted was to die and be left to the birds. His mind swarmed with questions without answers, and so, he ran like a coward for them. His own howl followed his mother's, but this was no summon, it was a death threat to anyone that approached him.

Archer was at the end of his line and had nothing left but his sanity to loose and was willing to risk even that.

[nightblood]

Blood had yet to find another den. She was sleeping beside a large rock, just barely big enough to protect her from the wind as the snow fell around her. Her ears twitched this way and that toward tiny sounds made by the forest as she layed there half asleep. Her head turned and pivoted as she slowly slipped in and out of the world of dreams. Finally, she rolled into a large ball and rested her head on her paws to stop it from shifting.

Just before she fell completely asleep, the Sentry was alerted by a familiar howl. Her eyes opened slowly as the howl became louder. Even though she knew it was a call for her, she did not want to answer it. Cota had been her adoptive mother when she was Archer's mate. Although she held no fury against her, she did not reguard her as such any longer. She was an elder. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Yawning, the female slowly sat up and stretched a little. As the howl echoed, NightBlood could hear the urgency behind it. She would not ignore a plea for help from a pack mate. Not even if it was from someone she hated, a sign of true loyalty. She stood up, careful not to let her back leg touch the cold ground. It was becoming tender in the winter months. Although she loved the season, she hated the pain.

Making her way slowly through the trees, NightBlood bagan to see the gouges on the bark. At first, she thought the culpret was a deer, desperate for food. Upon closer look, she found that they were, instead, scratch marks. Wolven scratch marks. She saw that there was blood as well. The scent in the air told her it was Archer's doing. Not surprising since it was Cota who had called in the first place.

Finally, her eye landed on the black and white wolfess. She could see the dark form of Archer in the shadows, but would not approach him. Instead, she walked up from behind Cota and sat down beside her, not wanting to make too much noise. It was plain to her that the male was unstable.

[Electus]

My name is Mortilitas.

My name is Umbra.

I have been trained in the arts of war.

I have lived by the arts of death.

I would do anything for a brother.

I would kill anything that threatened our existence.

I am Death.

I am the Shade.

Though we are divided in purpose...

...we are one in body.

We owe our allegiance...

...to Arnlan.

We are loyal until death.

Even if blood must be shed to keep its peace.

Together, our name is Mortilitas Umbra.

And our deeds will be remembered for decades to come.

We are one.

Mortil slowly sat up, shaking his head left and right. So, it worked. For once, he and Umbra worked in sync, sharing a single body without enmity, without hate. They had finally achieved a single being, albeit for only a little while. Two minds cannot work together for long. For theirs was a peculiar condition. Still, Mortil reflected, it was better than nothing. For it seemed that his new ability would be needed...the howl that shook the air of Arnlan was familiar to him. He eventually began padding towards the origin of the howl, passing trees that were scarred and slashed.

Archer.[/color]

The ash-grey wolf grimly joined the two females up ahead.
"Nightblood. Cota."[/color] he said, his voice odd. It was though someone had taken Umbra suave voice and Mortil's low, dry cadence and blended them together, forming a voice that was both dry and cool. It was quite odd. He looked down the path, where the dark form of Archer proceeded to flee.
"He's not taking this well, I take it?"[/color] He said clinically. It was not really a question.

[archer]

As Archer ran, he allowed Arrow to surface and guilty thoughts plagued his mind and he hastened to banish the male and have only Archer's mind controlling his body. He ran onward without stopping, but yet, he slowed to a walk and growled, his weary body had enough of this and he leaned against a tree as the world danced before his eyes. Cota meanwhile, heard Nightblood approaching and looked over her shoulder at the female before turning around to face her. Cota looked at her, but as she did, the older female looked strained and tired, but she was willing to explain, but before she could, a voice echoed in the forest and the wolf sighed, her silent greeting obviuos. "Mortil, Nightblood" She began and then she looked to where her son had ran away, as a coward of the truth and she then hurried to explain. "He never has dealed with a loss so violently. He is angry and hurt. He blames himself for the death of Shadeblood, and all the other losses he had ever had.

"Also, Nightblood, when broke the mateship between you two, you dod great damage. He never allowed himself to trust before you and when he finally had opened completely, his heart was broken and he has never felt this pain and so, he is starving himself and does nothing but slash at these trees day and night, and then pass out, have nightmares and starts all over."

She looked out at the land and then looked at each of them slowly before speaking with deathly seriousness. "He's ready to kill any of us. He is depressed and is not listening to logical reason and so, he'll attack anyone or anything in his way." Meanwhile, Archer had slide down the tree and rested himself. His red eyes drifted shut and he slept none too peaceful. He growled and then, another nightmare took him and he was forced awake, his mind beginning to fade into insanity. He tried to move but his body would move no further and he was stuck, and then male looked down and pulled his paws around himself and was consumed by his dark cloud that threatened to destroy everything he had been, everything he was, and everything he could be. His world was diluted and as he closed his eyes, he spoke strangely, without sense. "Everything must die, they all must die and it must end"

Cota, then looked at them and asked them what could change this path her son was on. "Would you two help me? He might listen to you and at least you can pin him and beat some sense into him if it were to come to that." She was begging and Cota looked beat, but even that was understatement, because in the distance, Archer's sobs grew louder, indicating he wasn't very far off. Cota got to her feet and then headed in that direction, her eyes set in determination and her head high.

[nightblood]

"He's not taking this well, I take it?"

"Obviously." Blood answered mechanically.

"He never has dealed with a loss so violently. He is angry and hurt. He blames himself for the death of Shadeblood, and all the other losses he had ever had."

"He is to be blamed. That doesn't give him the right to this pity-party," she said coldly. The whole reason she had broken up with him was because she had come to the conclusion that it was his fault. Now she had the feeling that he probably would have done this wether she had broken their bond or not.

"Also, Nightblood, when broke the mateship between you two, you dod great damage. He never allowed himself to trust before you and when he finally had opened completely, his heart was broken and he has never felt this pain and so, he is starving himself and does nothing but slash at these trees day and night, and then pass out, have nightmares and starts all over."

'Emo,' she growled inwardly.

"He's ready to kill any of us. He is depressed and is not listening to logical reason and so, he'll attack anyone or anything in his way."

"Let him try."

Blood's eyes narrowed at the possibility of combat. She was debating on wether or not to jump at the opportunity to kill him if he gave her a good reason. Now might be a good time.

From deep in the forest, she heard his voice. She could bearly make out the words, but she recognised one. 'Die'. It was ShadeBlood's last word as well.

"Would you two help me? He might listen to you and at least you can pin him and beat some sense into him if it were to come to that."

"I will help any member of Arnlan who needs it." There was a twinge of annoyance in her voice. With that, she followed Cota into the forest, keeping a ways behind her to show her slight unwillingness in the mission.

[Electus]

"Would you two help me? He might listen to you and at least you can pin him and beat some sense into him if it were to come to that."

"If you wish." Mortil said, following Nightblood and Cota. Inwardly though, he didn't like the situation at all. Archer in this state was...pathetic. There was no other word for it and he couldn't shy away from the fact. Mortil had been in many situations where grief and anger found way to despair...but never like this. Inwardly, he despised Archer for this, Umbra and he both, for they were synchronized at the moment, and all their emotions that they felt, they both felt. After all, Mortil had lost an entire pack...and he (technically) had killed them all. He had suffered a living Hell and worse, yet Archer was winding down over a single loss. He sighed.

"Why is he so weak?"[/color] Mortil asked bluntly. "I'm sure you know that he has every intent to kill. I'm also equally sure that you know I will not hesitate to kill him when he is like this. Why is he like this? As Nightblood so bluntly yet correctly put it, his 'pity-party' is a bit too far-flung. He trusted you, didn't he Cota?"[/color] A bit harsh, perhaps, but such was the price for Mortil's service in this little thing. He had to know. If he didn't know, he'd just kill Archer outright. Perhaps he had been to quick to judge Archer and Nightblood's relationship....

[archer]

Archer forced himself to his feet, to try and fight when he had so little left that he was nearly walking on adrenaline alone. His pupils narrowed and he decided that his fury alone was not enough. He reverted to killer mode and bit at air around him. His eyes wer dilated and shaking, the ribs clearly visable beneath his coat. His lashed out at a squirrel that looked before him and it scampered away from his deadly grasp. Within him mind, Arrow was screaming not to kill and there was a hestitation, just long enough for the kinder side to arise and slump to the earth. Arrow grumbled. He had not been able to control the other, more murderous form, and so, he had killed relentless in the past and now that he could spill no blood, he was agitated beyond belief. His mind warred wih itself and so many times, Archer had won the battle and never completely took over, driving the other half insane with greif and guilt. Archer and Arrow were seperate and never could sync.

As the agreed to come with her, Cota smiled sadly and then hesitated, tensing as she finally realized something. "Think back to the day of that fight. Remember how he hesistated to obey and Archer and Arrow warred with themselves? Here she stopped and then sniffed, judging before speaking. "Archer has won control and is determined to keep it. This 'pity-party' as you put it, is his two sides fighting for control. My point is we need to reach Arrow and pull him back to the surface" She said as she finished her point. In the distance, Archer was pacing and his eyes closed, but he stopped and opened them, one brown, and one red. He growled and then lunged. Cota pulled backward and was barely able to avoid the attack as his teeth grazed her throat, but as he passed, she saw his eyes and the pain in them. He was trying to stop himself, but he couldn't win this fight alone and so, thus there role in this fight. She had dealt with Archer before, but never like this. She was not sure if she could restrain him. As he circled the three wolves, his eyes kept changing colors and they would close and he would stop, mutter something and then keep going.

She had heard Nightblood's answers earlier and as Archer's apparent poor health came to be seen as the moonlight struck him, Cota felt very much like a mother again and had to resist the urge to touch him and ease him, knowing it would do no good, but before she even made a second move, Archer whispered to them. "Mi dispiace" She froze and then translated. "I'm sorry.....", but as she said the words, Archer tore off at a speed she did not know he could maintain. She addressed Mortil and Umbra "You called him weak, but I see now the truth. He is driven to shed blood and yet, hesitates to do so because, you are his allies, those he feels for and loves." Her eyes were wide and she then tore off after her son with the speed that she had passed onto him.

[nightblood]

"Think back to the day of that fight. Remember how he hesistated to obey and Archer and Arrow warred with themselves?"

Blood let loose a growl of affermative. How could she forget? The coward...

She stopped when Cota did, allowing her to carry on.

"Archer has won control and is determined to keep it. This 'pity-party' as you put it, is his two sides fighting for control. My point is we need to reach Arrow and pull him back to the surface."

'Let him drown in his sorrow. He deserves it.' Blood's hate of him was growing. Archer was begining to be more of a danger than Umbra. She just needed another pack member around for him to attack. She could kill him then... Or maybe if Mortil would play 'critically wounded'...

While going over these things in her head, NightBlood was almost oblivious to the world. It was only after setting eyes on Archer was she pulled back into reality. He was thin and his coat was mattedand unkempt. He sounded as deranged as he looked.

"Mi dispiace."

Whatever that meant... It was his eyes that held NightBlood's attention. They switched from brown to red- proof that Archer and Arrow were fighting inside.

"I'm sorry....."

Blood didn't take her eyes off the male. Hot tears filled her eyes. Her lips quivered, not in sadness, but in rage. She was completely irate, but not in a dilusional way. She was annoyed that she had to put up with this wolf, angry at the fact that he could not control his mental issues. Why couldn't he just dissapear into the shadows like every other Arnlanian?

Archer took off with a burst of speed that she knew she could not maintain. Instead of giving chase, she sat down. There was no way her injured leg would allow her to persue.

"You called him weak, but I see now the truth. He is driven to shed blood and yet, hesitates to do so because, you are his allies, those he feels for and loves."

'Whatever.'

With that, the other female took off after her son, leaving NightBlood in the darkness. She would await their return or for them to pin him so that she could catch up.

[Electus]

"I'll take your word for it" Mortil grunted. "Very well. If he cannot see sense, then I will break him. I will MAKE him see sense." He looked back at Nightblood. There was a slight flashing in Mortil's eye. "Don't worry. I'll break his legs for you."[/color] He suddenly smiled evilly. "You've already broken his heart."[/color] He turned and chased after Cota. He soon caught up, his speed outstripping even her.

Permissum illic exsisto pacis in nex quod in vita.[/color]

[archer]

Cota heard the growl from Nightblood and yet, she felt no anger toward the female, but merely she understood her emotions. She was also hurting, but was not prone to being so violent as the male, who she was tempted to disown. She raised an eyebrow at Archer and she began to step toward him, but he caught Nightblood's eye and returned her look of frustrated anger and rage; however, there was a plea in those eyes that shifted tones to quickly to red that Cota had little time lunged before he had taken off. The black and white wolf was quick to head him off, but her maternal side was not agreeing with causing harm to her son, but another half of her knew it had to been done, Comatose, her fighter mind, was much more of a danger to Archer than anyone else, but she had not dared to allow her to surface. The main reason was her desire to protect firstly her family and secondly, her friends. She had never killed anyone on her life that she could remember, but she might need to make an exception to the rule if Archer was determined to remain on a war path.

'Go back'
'No! She isn't mine anymore"
'You loved her'

As the two halves settled their dispute, Archer slowed down and was panting heavily, paws thundered to a halt and his tail dragged. He shook his head and mumbled words that made no sense to himself as he shuddered with an exhaustion he had forgotten in his dash to get away from them. It hurt to see her so angry at him and he had never been on the receiving end of their fury, and so, he was to put it bluntly, terrified. For years, he had closed off the world and blamed all his problems on those he fought, releasing it when he was challenged to a fight. It was this so-called assassin was little more than a wolf with great emotional scars that never healed fully and left him without skills he needed to cope with such things as loss. Pain was the only thing he thought could help him and lashed out at his tail, trying to bite it, but getting nowhere as he was soon to realize that those fangs were sharp and would spill his own blood. Even though half mad with grief, he still had his reasoning left.

Cota nodded grimly to the ash colored wolf and then, as he raced past her, she was forced to put on even more speed to keep up, weaving dangerously through the forest, but she did not care. They had to do something and something had to done to stop this madness before anyone was seriously hurt even worse. Archer could her them approaching and his fear spiked, the scent of such terror making him want to gag. He should of had no reason to fear them, but he did and so, when he turned to see Mortil, synced with Umbra coming at him, he literally jarred forward and put energy into his steps. He knew he couldn't keep up this speed for long, his body's condition was not going to be able to do so, but he would try to outrun Mortil. It was his mother he was worried about, after all. She would show no mercy to him and he would not show anything to them. His eyes turned brown as he thought of his mother and there was a clear and definite slowing down to his gait.

Archer had made a mistake in his directions and soon found himself on a sudden ledge, a hill where the tree opened up and below him was a river. The wolf was forced to make a sudden, skidding stop to avoid falling off. It rushed loudly and he gulped as he looked down. Either way, he was going to die he thought, so with the last amount of his dignity, he turned toward there opening to prepare for an attack and blinked as he had a flashback. He had come here after he had asked Nightblood to be his mate and a sudden amount of anger flooded his veins. He growled and braced his body, going into a fighting stance with his tail and high low, bicolored eyes staring blankly outward.

[nightblood]

"Don't worry. I'll break his legs for you. You've already broken his heart."

"You do that," she said, returning his smile. Anything they did to him, right down to killing him, would be written under the catagory of selfdefence. Wether they enjoyed it or not was of no consern.

"I want revenge for Shade!" NightBlood called after them as she stood up, "If there's going to be any killing, let me do it!"

Although the Sentry's sence of loyalty to Arnlan and its members was similar to that of a steal wall and would most likely be the cover of her life book, it momentarily took a back seat to her own will. She thought it healthy to do so once in a while. This one time, however, might do her damage... Might.

And so she sat there, waiting for a signal that the pursued was now the captured.

[Electus]

Mortil soon caught up with Archer, and saw the ledge, and the river below.

Can we make it?[/color]

Yes. Make the lunge smooth and determined, and we'll make it.[/color]

Mortil suddenly lunged forward, moving at Archer so suddenly that he seemed to suddenly appear in front of the black wolf. "ARRRCHER!"[/color] the ash-grey wolf half-screamed, half-growled. He would knock that crazy wolf down into the river with him, and then knock some sense into him.

[archer]

Cota emerged from the left of the trees, facing her son. She saw him stop suddenly and gasped as she watched him turn to fight. She knew better than to get involved in such a fight. Closing her eyes, she moved back into the cover of the trees. Archer was her son and so, it made fighting himself futile. She also knew if she were to take part in this battle, she herself would loose a part of a life, her own and her son's. Looking out over the forest of her home, she knew there was one other option for him if they did not kill him. She knew Archer, and he was a strong wolf, but when he behaved life this, she was uncertain as to whether or not her son was still in there somewhere, in the clouds of darkness that had come to surround his heart, his mind, and even, her own mind. Anger and desperation was evidence to the warring fractions as her son looked over to her, making eye contact. He pleaded mercy from her and this beast he had become and the words he silently transferred to her made her heart twist painfully in her chest.

Archer then heard another coming and took a few steps backward, looking at the wolf before him. He lowered his ears to his skull and made no move to protect himself. Archer knew he was not going to survive a fight this time and that with Mortil and Nightblood against him, he was going to fail and then die. Shaking his head as the other wolf moved, he spoke gently, softly. "So it comes to this, eh Mortil? Brother against brother, packmate against friend." His tone was sad and bore a deep understanding as his eyes faded brown and closed, when he heard the other wolf speak his name, well more like scream it at him. Cota watched as they collided, seeing Archer's feet fall out from under him, and her heart ached as her son began to fall. She saw his black form go over the edge, and there was no scream, no cry for help issued. It seemed he had accepted this as his fate, his punishment for all he had ever done, his sins. He felt the ground move away and the wind pulling at his fur as he fell. He also noticed that his control was returning and as he fell, he opened his eyes, looking up at Mortil, a tired yet calm expression on his face. "Thank you, my friend." He whispered as they neared the water,

Archer hit the water hard, feeling it sting his body. He discovered that the river was deep and he ended up under the surface. He looked up as the sunlight faded through the thin surface. Archer felt relaxed and his eyes began to close. He knew he must of been drowning and was too ready to die at that moment that he wondered if anyone would mind if he let go. Cota, meanwhile, had called after Nightblood the moment both took over the ledge and into the river. She saw Archer hit the water and whimpered, ignoring the motherly urge to jump into the river after them at first, but when he did not surface, she panicked. The female ran down the hill, her legs moving quickly as she ran faster than she ever had in her life. Egged on by fear, the black and white female found her self shortly on the bank. As she reached the water's edge, she searched for her son. When she did not see him, she took a deep breath and jumped in. Looking around, it was dark and there was nohting to be seen, but as she sank deeper, the wolf saw her son, laying motionless on the river floor.

Cota dived deeper and gently grabbed him, and although their combined weight did slow her down, she pulled him up and broke through the surface, dragging the now semi-conscious wolf onto the bank. She saw he was breathing, and knew he must of held his breath. Touching a paw to her cheek, she felt a faint pulse. He was alive.
Growling under her breath, she looked up Mortil. "Are you all right?" And so, she awaited Nightblood, standing protectively over her son as she felt the need to protect. It would not be right to allow them to kill him if he could not fight back. "Wait, wait until he awakens" She said, and as if on cue, blood red eyes shot open. Archer jerked onto his feet.

'What's going on, I can't control my movements?! screamed Arrow

I just saved us Archer, obviously annoyed

Let me out There was no suggesting it as Arrow shoved the other out of the way.

His eyes shone brightly before the settled into a dark, hollow brown. Arrow looked at Cota and then mortil before looked away. "You shouldn't of saved me. I wanted to drown, mother" Those words stung Cota as she suddenly was taken off guard and looked at the combined Mortil and Umbra for help. "I..you..Arrow? She said as realized he was brown eyed.

[nightblood]

NightBlood had been given no choice but to wait to be called by the others. Her bad leg wouldn't allow her to pursue. She sat there, slouched and shoulders hunched against the wind, drowning in deep self-reflection. She gave a small growl as she picked her head up in response to the voice that called her. Cota's voice. Blood stood up, her leg crying in protest. It had stiffened while she had been waiting. The pain shot upward to her spine. Snarling deep in her throat, the Sentry picked her leg up off the ground and moved forward.

The pain was worse than it had ever been, almost rivaling the time when she had first gotten the injury. Almost. Still, she was not at all pleased at the time it had decided to flare up. It slowed her down, only being on three legs. She had to leap up and over various objects while keeping that leg high to avoid making it worse. How she hated this weakness. Every once in a while, she would glare back at her leg, willing to rip it off. It hindered her more than her blind eye.

It even grew worse when the leg brushed up against a sapling. Thoroughly fed up with the pain, NightBlood forced all her weight onto her front legs, picked up both hind legs, and kicked her bad leg roughly against a thick tree. She yelped loudly. The leg practically screamed at her as she dropped onto the ground. She was too irate to writhe in its pain. In a blind fury, she turned and snapped at her leg, biting and ripping at her own flesh. She couldn't handle it anymore. It was too horrible.

Through fury came yelps and whines of pain. Her body shivered in protest, pleading for her to stop. It was only when the thought came that there was something more important going on that her head snapped to attention. Something... what? Oh! With another small growl, NightBlood jumped up and moved on, keeping her now bloody, but somehow less painful, leg up off the ground. She was surprised to find her own blood covering her muzzle. She had never reverted to self mutilation before. Somehow, she had snapped for a moment.

By the time Blood arrived to the area where she had been called, Cota had already left. She studied the paw prints and followed Cota's to the river. There, she found Cota and Archer on the shore. From the paw prints up on the cliff, she had judged that Mortil and Umbra had somehow pushed Archer off the cliff and into the river. Archer had fallen. Cota had gone down and apparently saved Archer. He didn't look as hostile as before. His eyes were brown now. She growled at the black wolf, wishing to harm him like she had herself.

"Wait, wait until he awakens."

Blood gave another snarl at the mother, but backed off anyway. Besides, she wanted to speak to Mortil. In a panic, she looked around for the gray wolf. She hadn't noticed him yet.

[Electus]

Mortil hauled himself out of the river, shaking his fur. He hated being soaked. It made him damp for days, and irritable to boot. He looked at Cota and nodded shortly, indicating that he was fine. He breathed deeply, taking in large amounts of air. He looked briefly at the subdued Archer and his eye hardened.

"Pull yourself together you coward." He spat disgustedly, his usual gentle voice now like the crack of a whip. "So Nightblood doesn't love you anymore. So what? You opened your heart and you lost. It happens. And it will happen again, assuming you don't bite your own arteries and bleed to death right here and now. You idiot! Don't you understand? When you learn to love, you learn to accept loss and pain. If you don't pull yourself together, or learn to do that..."

He looked deep into Archer's eyes. "Then I will kill you...brother."[/color] he added in the last part as a reminder that the two of them shared the bond that was cemented not by kinship, but by blood and hardship.

The ash-grey wolf looked away and then padded towards Nightblood. "Before you ask, I'm fine."[/color] He murmured. "But my...that was some jump."[/color] He smiled slightly.