Nightblood, Where Are You? (NightBlood, Sofika)

[shadeblood]

Blood-red paws stepped delicatly through the snow, carrying a brutish black and red wolf. ShadeBlood paced the unknown lands, his eyes dim as he stumbled forward. His ears were swept forward and his tail was low, almost to the point of dragging in the snow. He was weak and abslut starvig yet still he continued, a single tougt maing him take one step after another.

NightBlood...

His beloved cousin could be here...could be right around this corner...he could almost scent her. But still, doubt clouded the back of his mind. He'd been searching for her for so long...never finding any trace of her...As far as he knew, she might well be-

He shook his massive head, snarling at himself. No way! She couldn't be dead! Night was stronger than that! How could he have doubted her? And yet...still....there was the chance.

Shade sat, panting with exhaustion. He let out a sigh, filled with distraught. There was a lump in his throat. Looking up promptly, overwhelmed by his sadness, he stood and threw back his head, letting out a low, slightly gruff howl.

NightBlood...wherever you are...please...! Hear me...

(I wish I could make it a novel post for you, but I'm not that good.)

[Sofika]

The day was darkening. Grey clouds whirled up above the territory of Arnlan. Standing, watching, shadows slinking around her like a wraith, Sofika watched with admiration to the sight overhead. It was a beautiful day in her eyes. A sly smile was pasted onto her delicate lips. Ears would sway, back and forth, listening; carefully.

A howl. It came to her ears and almost as immediantly as it had, she was off, her slender body diving through the foliage in the direction. It was not a call for her, but for Nightblood. This greatly alerted the alpha. Had someone followed her back to the pack? Someone dangerous? If so, they would be taken care of. Swiftly.

" Cease your call! " snapped the black wolf as she crashed out from between closely grown trees. " I ask you, for what reason do you seek out a member of my pack? " she spat. No fun and games when met with Sofika. Strictly serious business with her. Holding her head and tail high she remained before him.

[nightblood]

A massive shadow crept through the darkness of Arnlan. So dark was the territory that one had to look very closely to see what was going on. NightBlood was hunting. However, it wasn't just the every-day rabit or rat. A roe deer had stumbled upon her path. He had been casually eating the bark of an old, dead sycamore tree when she first spotted him. Now he was moving on to look for the rare patch of grazing grass on the cold ground.

Slowly NightBlood crouched down, moving only when she was sure the prey animal would not hear or see her. She knew he smelled her, as well as every other member of the Arnlan pack. She could sence his nervousness of being so far into a wolf territory. The poor thing had lost it's way. Aww, too bad.

NightBlood was completly cat-like in her movements. She knew her strengths and weaknesses. She was a great fighter and hunter, but she had always sucked at running. She would tire out so quickly it wasn't even funny. Now, with her limp, it was impossible for her to ever be any good in a chase that lasted longer than two or three minutes. But she wouldn't admit that.

Now she was less than five feet away from the animal. This was as close as she was ever going to get. Ready... steady... NO-!

A half second before she pounced, the meat had already bolted. A howl had scared him off. NightBlood stood where she had landed, a clump of tan fur in her mouth, and a livid look on her face. Some sorry wolf was going to pay for this. Who dared interupt her meal?

She looked in the direction of the call, fury in her eyes. The call was deffinatly for her. Why? She had seen only Sofika and Ziko in the week she had been in Arnlan, and the howl belonged to neither of them, yet it sounded so familiar.

NightBlood spat the fur from her mouth and took off at a steady trot toward the sound. The howl had come from the border. She was nearly in the middle of the territory. It would take a while for her to reach the source.

[shadeblood]

" Cease your call! "

The moment the harsh bark reached ShadeBlood's ears, he whipped around, cutting off his howl. He looked around, his gaze locking on a figure in the near-darkness. He screwed up his eyes, trying to see the shadow clearly, but it blended in too well with the shade. All he could make out were two bright spots of blue dotting the muzzle. Who...?

" I ask you, for what reason do you seek out a member of my pack? "

Though the tone was snappy and told that this...wolf...was not very happy at his intrusion, Shade's heart soared. NightBlood! She was here! After all this time of searching, he'd finally found his long-lost cousin! A wide smile spread across his muzzle and he sighed in relief. Then, realizing that this could be seen as a threat, he cleared his throat, ready to speak, even though the words were shaky.

"Forgive me...y-you mean to say that...that NightBlood is here? Sh-she's actually...here? After all this time, I've found her...?"

[Sofika]

Drawn upon her lips was a smirk, to the distress she had caused the male. Tilting her head upwards Sofika snorted as the remains of the howl vanished from her ears and mind. So shortly had it been cut. Had it been long enough for Nightblood to have heard? Most likely she would not have. If she had, surely she was on her way.

The quivering wolf seemed very tense. So he should be. He was in her territory and had just blurted out a call to one of the members. But why? Why was he seeking her? Perhaps he was from a neighbouring pack and wanted Nightblood to pass up any information she had dug up? Well, she'd see to that.

" Do not question me. Answer my inquiry! " she snapped again, her gaze unknowingly hard on him. Her second sentence was somewhat rhetorical. He was searching for her which confirmed part of the idea of his presence that she had considered. Sofika did not assume or immediantly judge. She calculated and observed.

[nightblood]

NightBlood growled at her limp. Every step she took ended in a jump, which from time to time was painful. And once in a while she ran into something on her left side. She passed a low branch that she thought was further away. The healing wound on her shoulder burned as the pine needles dug into her muscle. She snarled at the offending tree, but moved on, not bothering to check to see if she was bleeding or not. She was not going to delay a meeting that she had been called to.

The main reason NightBlood was trying to sprint to the caller was because the howl had seemed familiar. She guessed it might be Karolek, but that didn't make any sence. His voice would sound more like Sofika's, at least... it was logical that it would. Even though the howl was cut short, she doubted that it belonged to either alpha.

Half way to her destination, the huge wolf came to an obstical. It was no big deal, just a fallen tree. She remembered it as the one she had been sleeping on when she had first met Ziko the first time she was in Arnlan. It should be a sinch to jump over... wrong. Her leg spasmed in mid flight, making her writhe in pain and come down hard on her right shoulder. She chipped a tooth, but luckily it wasn't in her mouth. The fang on her necklace bounced against a small rock and cracked, but remained attached.

The fang was no cause for consern, but the pain! She could have cried, but forced herself not to. She made no sound. Not a whimper or a growl. Not even a snarl. Blood simply layed there for half a minute, cursing, in her mind, the day she had recieved the injury.

She got up again, determined to reach the caller. No little leg pain was going to get in the way of her goal. She started at a walk, but quickly upped the pace to a gallop.

[shadeblood]

" Do not question me. Answer my inquiry! "

ShadeBlood winced slightly. He'd not been so harshly addressed since he'd left his birth pack and the renewed experiance felt odd to him. He frowned, biting his lip. His first happiness at his discovery quickly faded when he ran this shadow's word through his head once more. He closed his eyes. This must be the Alpha of some new pack Night had found. And obviosly she would take no nonsense and was not about to take sympathy on his long quest. Shade cleared his throat and answered gruffly.

"I'm sorry...NightBlood is my cousin...I have been searching for her for longer than I can recall. I was only hoping I would find her here...but I did not expect to find her so easily."

He decided that if this Alphess wanted answers, he should give them willingly. It seemed only that she was trying to protect a member of her pack...and he knew not just how long NightBlood had been a member. She could even be some sort of Beta to this leader, and if so, he would not get to her easily. Still, it did no harm and should certainly do some good to explain his actions. He could be killed on the spot if he didn't, and that would most certainly not be the best outcome of this conversation.

[Sofika]

The trees were talking to her. Rustling their leaves and groaning as the wind rolled along their barks of black. She had heard. Nightblood was on her way. If only to prevent a reunion for the moment. That would be simple she thought as she glared hard at Shadeblood. Even if he could not see her stare he would feel it.

" You haven't answered me! Why do you seek her! " she growled and moved forward a little, he body becoming slightly easier to see- her neon spots seemed to glow as her patience wore away. No, he had not so easily found her. He knew of her whereabouts but he had not found his precious Nightblood.

Sofika did not care for how long he had been looking for her. She wanted reasons as to why and her patience for this wolf was wearing away thin. Why, was what she wanted to know. The longer he kept this act up the less likely he would be permitted to even have a glance at her.

[nightblood]

With only a mile left between Night and the boarder, NightBlood caught the wind-blown scent of a stranger. A male. Sofika was with him, or in the same area. Either way, Night knew she would have her eyes on him. The male's scent was faint at the moment. She could only make out a few things about him. He was about a week younger than herself, deffinatly not dominant, and had no new injuries.

Another gust of wind stopped NightBlood in her tracks. The scent was stronger now. She could smell her old pack on the stranger! The newcomer was Dravirian!

NightBlood sat down so abruptly that she scared a rabbit back into its burow. She folded her ears back and pressed them against her skull. Cold, hard eyes adopted a worried expression. She looked as if she had seen, not only a ghost, but an army of ghosts!

Did IceBreak and StormShade seek her head? Was she suddenly the target of an assassination? If so, she would not go down so easily! NightBlood picked herself up, growling again. All pain was set aside. No distractions. She turned her eyes and ears toward the boarder. NightBlood would fight to the death, not hide and let Sofika take care of it. The alpha may not be intimidated so easily, but she was no match for any Dravirian. If she had had a guard with her or some kind of security, she'd have a better chance... at least with one Dravirian.

Night took off: a bolt of black and red-brown fur. Perhaps not as fast as a smaller timber wolf, but faster than she thought she could ever go. She gave no notice to the limp or it's pain. She knew her target, and she ran straight to it.

As soon as the darkness of the trees gave way, NightBlood could see the two canines. Sofika was about as tall, maybe an inch or two shorter than the stranger... or what Night had thought was a stranger.She skidded to a halt, as surprised as she had been back when she first found out he was a Dravirian. It was like walking into a clone!

The big wolf stayed in the shadows, watching, contemplaiting... trying to make sence of it all. ShadeBlood, her cousin, RogueBane's son, was speaking with her alpha. Questions ran through her head so quickly that she had to catch them and focus to answer them properly.

Had he followed her all the way from Draviria? Well, that was apparent. It took her quite a while to find Arnlan. Shade could not have gotten here in a week. Had he been banished too? If so, what about RogueBane? Had he been captured by the farmers too? Yep. He had a similar tattoo on his left shoulder and some kind of wrist band on his right foreleg. Had he been sent to kill her? Doubt it...

Instead of walking out an interupting the conversation, NightBlood turned her attention to Sofika. She would know she had arrived. The alpha looked a bit angry. Apparently Shade had updet her in some way. That wasn't a surprise. Shade and Night had a nack for upsetting the elder when they were young. Apperently Shade hadn't grown out of it like Night had.

For now, NightBlood kept to the darkness of the Arnlanian trees. Keeping an eye, litterally, on the sceen in front of her, she waited to be called forward by Sofika. She was not going to walk in on an angry alpha female. Not even if she thought she could survive the encounter.

[[ DUDE!! I've NEVER written that MUCH!! D8 ]]

[shadeblood]

(That was soooo coolll!!! I loves reading that! Awesome, it was.)

" You haven't answered me! Why do you seek her! "

ShadeBlood tried to control his frustration. Why didn't this she-wolf understand? Just how stupid was she? He tried to conceal his growl, but it escaped his maw nontheless. He took a deep sigh, trying to calm himself down. Anger would not help him right now. If he lashed out, all chance of seeing his cousin would dissapear as fast as dried leaves over a flame.

"Don't you get it? She's my cousin! Our pack exiled her long ago. Sorry if you're not one for sympathy, but it's too late to go back now. You can either kill me or let me see NightBlood!"

He glared at her, his fury having overwhelmed him. He'd tried to speak calmly, but his apprehention to see his lost cousin was making him anxious.

It was then that he caught the scent. It was so near, he was surprised he hadn't noticed it before. He hadn't had that scent so near in so long...NightBlood was close. very close. His heart beat almost painfully in his chest and his eyes flicked to the shadows where the smell seemed to come from. She was right there...his adopted sister and the cousin he thought he'd never see again.

He tried not to let his emotions get to him in front of this no-nonsense she-wolf, but it was hard. He swallowe, trying to look up to the Alphess. He bowed his head and sat, curling his tail under him and pulling back his ears.

"I...I'm sorry. It's...nevermind. I don't ask for your sympathy. I ask for NightBlood. She's a sister to my mind. I just want to see her again. I'm sorry for my disrespect, m'lady."

[Sofika]

What Shadeblood failed to understand was that he had not given Sofika a proper reason for his search. He had told her that they were related but why did had he sought her out? Perhaps matters to do with her ex pack? Well, if any trouble was brought to Arnlan concerning Darivia it would be Nightblood's life on the line.

" How dare you speak to me in that tone! " If Sofika had been less controlled than what she was, she would have exploded at him. However she could see he was bigger than her, no doubt stronger to. That did not phase her but she played it careful. Sofika always did.

" I think you fail to notice that you are in my land! " she snarled. Around her the wind seemed to pick up, the trees moaned louder and the shadows began to lick around her feet. Sofika was obviously not amused by him. Never had she come across such a demanding wolf upon her border before.

Sofika ignored Nightblood presence for the moment and observed Shadeblood's reactions. He knew she was there but he could not see her. He would not see her until Sofika decided he could. This was punishment for his words. She was not one to act hastily. Sofika wasn't going to rush into killing him as he had proposed until she found out his potential worth to her.

A low growl warned Nightblood not to come forward from the darkness. The female was sure to become restless as she watched her cousin. To her nostrils came the smell of blood. Mixed with the scent of Nightblood she knew that the female had injured herself in her journey to the caller.

He had begun to realise his place on this border. Despite his submissive pose and his apologies for his reaction to her, it was not enough to cure him of Sofika's anger. " Your only wish is to see her? " she asked in a softer tone. In it remained hints of anger and unamusement. " Give me one good reason why, after the way you have spoken to me, I should permit you to see her one more time? "

The alphess knew that it was paining Shadeblood, knowing Nightblood was metres infront of him yet he was not permitted to see her face. Sofika smirked and raised her head. She would see his reaction to this and decide whether or not he could see his beloved Nightblood. Cruel? Perhaps but as he had noticed, she was a no- nonsence wolf.

[nightblood]

NightBlood's ears perked up at the growl, knowing it was meant for her. She blinked and answered with a yawn before sitting down. She would be here for a while if ShadeBlood didn't start showing some sence. She could see Sofika growing more and more aggitated. It would have been funny if the wolf before her had no relation to NightBlood. Sofika had always appeared calm and, more or less, gentle.

They had both grown up in Draviria for an equal amount of time, Night and Shade. Since banishment they must have led similar lives, but each with a different goal. NightBlood simply wanted to live on her own. Only a few weeks before her first visit to Arnlan did she start looking for a home. ShadeBlood must have only had one goal in mind: Find his cousin. No matter what, find her. It must have been tough, following NightBlood's zig-zag trails and back-track paths...

The half-blind wolf looked down at the ground. A black beetle had crawled onto her paw. She studdied it for a bit, watching as it shuffled it's shiny, solid black wing covers. She knew enough about the bug to remember that it had thinner, transparent wings under them. After a few minutes, she raised the paw to her muzzle and snorted at the insect. The breeze startled it and it took off, bound for a safer perch. Any other day, NightBlood would have killed it without thinking, but right now she didn't care. It was a pup's game, hunting and pouncing on bugs. She wouldn't take part in it, not any more.

NightBlood looked up again, returning her attention to the dark wolves before her. Waiting to see what would happen. Would a fight break out? If so, NightBlood would have to ignore Sofika's order. She would not stand back and watch them try to kill eachother. If Sofika wanted this to end on a good note, either she would have to calm down or Shade would have to grow a brain. Neither seemed to be happening.

[shadeblood]

" Give me one good reason why, after the way you have spoken to me, I should permit you to see her one more time? "

ShadeBlood bowed his head. So close, and yet so far away...how could this wolf do this? And yet, he did understand a little. Those that were disrespectful must be punished. He sighed. How could he show he that he was sorry? It was one thing if he had been nicer from the start, but now that he was too far in to swim, he realized that it would take much to reach that distant shore.

He looked down , keeping his ears pinned back as not to flare this she-wolf's temper any more. He stared down at a small beetle that had landed on the tip of his paw. He smiled slightly, trying not to let that strict Alphess see, and raised his other paw to swat it. But the breeze took the creature off, and he pouted. Well, that was no fun.

What was he doing?! He demanded to himself, and shook his head slowly. There was a life-and-maybe-death argument at hand! He couldn't be distracted by such pupish games. He looked up at the black she-wolf and sighed, taking a deep breath. Maybe they could...talk?

"Please...I beg of you, your majesty...how can I show you I am sorry for my actions? Even if NightBlood were not here, mereley a few feet away from me, I would still feel this frustration. Don't all wolves? I'm asking you...please...give me another chance...If you let me see her, I will be your loyal servant. How can I prove myself after my selfish actions...? Please, give me some way to show you I will hold to this vow. I will serve you."

[Sofika]

In silence, a sense of calm coming back to her, the black wolf waited for the male to think his words through. Curiously she watched him as he began distracted by the bug before him. Was he trying to stir her up? Obviously not as he snapped back into reality, realising that he had become momentarily distracted. Sofika felt annoyed and a little confused at this action.

Sofika was about to speak on about how not all wolves would feel the frustration that he did. However she decided against, figuring that this might confuse the wolf or lead onto pointless conversation. He had mentioned something that sparked interest to her. He would serve her? Oh really, would he now? Sofika paused momentarily. She didn't want a pack full of wolves who saw themselves of slaves.

Slaves generally saw their 'masters' in a bad way. A horrible way. They despited them. Hated them. Slaves were treated like dirt. Arnlan was not like this. Arnlan treated it wolves with the respect that they deserved, and Shadeblood deserved some respect for coming all this way in search of his cousin, holding onto the hope that he would find her. Looking at him she saw the genuine sorrow in his eyes and the desperation to see Nightblood.

" You may see Nightblood. However you need not enter these lands and be seen as a slave. You may join my pack as a subordinate, like the others, treated fairly with decency, provided with protection and shelter. All I ask of you is for you to be loyal and an active member of the community. "

Feeling somewhat sympathetic of this wolf, she turned around and nodded her head for Nightblood to come out of the shadows. They would speak only for now under her supervision. If Shadeblood declined her offer then she did not want him to leave with any inside information that Nightblood may have been waiting to pass onto him. No chances for the packs safety would be taken. She'd bide her time for the moment. If Shadeblood joined he'd have plenty of times to speak to her in privacy.

[nightblood]

NightBlood pulled her ears back in respect as Sofika looked to her. She stood up slowly and lowered her head, not wanting to look too eager to see her cousin. A frown placed itself on her muzzle as a stolid expression hid any emotion that might want to leak through.

Night truely had recovered from her break down. Draviria had reclaimed her mind, but she had some control over it. For instance, she would never renounce her loyalty to Arnlan, never try to influence others to gain their trust or manipulate them to do her bidding. For one, that was a task for higher minds. For another, she would never have the will or the energy to do anything like that.

As she approached Sofika, NightBlood stopped and raised her head to speak to her, but kept it below her level. She didn't want ShadeBlood to think she had become a great leader or held a position of power within the ranks of Arnlan. To the contrary, she wanted to dispell any pre-expectations. Any legends that Draviria might have told him to keep him from following her.

She had once heard from one terrified individual that he had been told that she was an immortal bound to take over the world with an army of mutant beasts. Rubbish, of course, but she went with the story in order to scare off the already petrified canine.

"How is he?" she asked quietly, hoping that only Sofika could hear.

In truth, NightBlood didn't care how the alpha took the question. It could have meant a dozen different things, but she simply wanted to know what the dark timber thought of him and if he had any chance of joining and being a respected member. She had seen Sofika getting angry with him. Would he be anble to retore peace with her?