Sweet [Entei]

[ziko]

Not so small now, thought Ziko as he trotted around the territory, seeing it from a new height. Oh how he had grown. From the little pup to the young wolf that he was now. Not long now and he would be almost one year of age. That was when he would be considered a subordinate and ready to take on responsibility. He hoped that he had showed signs of promise in his younger months...

Now, where was that black wolf with the firey markings across his limbs? A few times the red and black wolf had caught glimpse of them in the darkness. The yellow really caught his attention, but every time he went to get a better look he lost sight of the male. Entei was it? Yes, he was sure he had heard the name being mentioned a few times on his strolls. Sniffing about he tried to identify a scent, but couldn't quite find one.

Disappointed a little, he looked up to the pale grey sky and wondered if it would rain soon. The ground beneath his feet slowly sucked away at his paws, pulling him gently into the mud as he remained imobile. Looking down to the sludge he gave a disgusted look and burst out from it onto a firm piece of land were he wiped it from his toes. The snow had melted and along with the rain it had churned the ground into muck.

Where was that firey black wolf? He wanted to meet him though he dared not disturb the Arnlan silence to howl for him. Perhaps y chance he would come strolling by and Ziko may get to speak with him.

[blackrage]

Orange orbs peered up at the almost silver sky, a far away gaze that if one was to look, they would be caught, dragged into the abyss that was his eyes. Even as he watched, the skys of Arnlan darkened, deepening, and telling the signs of a storm soon to come. It was said that those born in a storm were fearless warriors, fit to take on the most powerful of things in life....

If this were true, then the figure sitting upon the top of the boulder not too far away from the pup had been born in nothing less than a thousand year tempest.

Black pelt took to the shadows that surrounded him, and he blended to them, his form diffusing till it could no longer be seen. But if there was one thing he was known for, it was the very thing that would give him away as he sat there, flicking his tail back and forth in calm recognition. Glowing within the inner depths with a light as cunning as the lightning that rained down from the heavens, where the flames that licked up his legs, brilliant flashes of crimson, gold, and fiery oranges that matched his narrowing eyes.

Tell me a story spoken....

Memories played across his expression, and for moments, his face was twisted with tortured emotion. And just as suddenly as it had appeared, the notion was gone, replaced with the old warrior's usual calm demeanor. It was pain, remembrance was, and it took hold of him the moment he thought back to that one memory that plagued him, haunted him, and would do so till the end of his days. A part of his past never spoken.

The sky had split open, and the rains poured down.

A waterlogged, ragged ear swiveled in the darkness, stray raindrops flying from it to splat across the ground as Entei turned his attention to the commotion that had become, if only a little ways from where he was sitting, the movements of the growing pup. He looked upon the youth from the shadows, noting the marking and crimson fur. His movements became like liquid, but were stately, hardened by the years. He went from sitting to a leap in only one motion, landing upon the soggy ground, silent and unspoken.

Looking back into his mind's eye, he beheld a tiny, struggling pup with the very appearance he looked upon now. The name came to him instantly, his mind clamping over it with jagged teeth.

"Ziko, hm?", orange eyes glittered, seeming to give off their own glow as the wolf shifted into view, coming up to stop short only a few meters from the pup. His voice was as it was always, ragged, hard, and with a slight hiss that came only naturally. But it seemed to hold curiosity, and a great number of it, for his mind wandered, wondering exactly what the youth might be doing at this time, alone, seemingly searching.

[ziko]

The sky, it appeared, was darkening. Or was it getting lighter? Soft brown eyes looked up, innocently, to the clouds that looked angry. A soft sigh escaped from his slightly parted lips as a raindrop fell onto his leathery nose. Then another. All of a sudden he was drenched in the heavy downpour. Shuddering a little, he rose to his feet and shook himself. Droplets flew about him, and the mud at his feet began to slowly cake up his limbs as he sunk some.

Closing his eyes momentarily, he allowed his body to embrace the chill that was brought with the water. His fur wasn't the thickest or the best for the Arnlan conditions. Infact in some places it was slightly ragged giving the young wolf a look that made him seem frail, deprived of food. In a sense he was. Lately he had lost his appetite but fed on his curiousity drive that had led him to were he was now. For a second the thought of Entei returned to him.

The accompany of the voice with this made the red and black wolf jerk forwards and turn with tail and ears lowered. The flames seemed to almost lick up the older wolves legs and along his maw as he stood there. The rain seemed to enhance their colour and give them a brighter appearance. Ziko smiled awkwardly. Well wasn't that convenient? he wondered and nodded his head in greeting to Entei. He kept his tail lowered than the older wolves to give him due respect.

" Greetings... Entei... " came the gentle, slightly high pitched sound of Ziko. " Tis a pleasure to finally meet you... " Nearer the end of his sentences his voice trailed off as he became somewhat mesmerised by the dashingly bright colours of his pelt. They stood out all the more against the black. Ziko's face was a picture of awe and slight jealousy. What a beautiful coat he has... The fact that he was somewhat rudely staring never crossed over his thoughts. This was something he knew was considered to be very rude. " Wonderful markings... " he whispered.

[blackrage]

The male laughed inwardly, chuckling at the sudden movement of the youth, as it was full of surprise and made a sudden point to etching humor on the old male's expression. His eyes danced with humorous fire, and a smile stretched across his war- torn face, but it was not laughing at the pup, but laughing with him. There was once a time. Once a time for many things...like a time when the old warrior would have done the same. A jump and a gasp accompanied by a nervous smile.

Greetings... Entei...Tis a pleasure to finally meet you... "

Entei nodded in agreement, though as for his side, he had actually seen the youth a few times, and most times in had been on his daily runs, or daily trainings, when chance gave him a glimpse of Ziko, and yet, it was never for long. But only then, was it noticed that the pup was staring, and he seemed to know the rudeness of his glance, but to the elder, the pup himself was a wonder. It made him look back, back to when he was once youth and naive, ready to take on the world and all it's challenges.

But how wrong he had been. The world was more than that...and more cruel than otherwise thought. The scarred male was one to know...

" Wonderful markings... "

Entei looked back at Ziko, a slight expression on his face...seemingly wonder, maybe? He did not think, never, that anyone would have ever thought so, but it was true that many had looked upon his marking, his trademark, and that was what they knew him by. But one question remained...what did the pup want? Wandering out here by himself? ....and by now, it was no secret to the male that Ziko had been looking for him. That, he could tell in the youth's eyes.

[ziko]

They seemed almost like real flames. Well, his realistic perception of them anyway. His parents had told him tales that included fire but his eyes had never witnessed any. Well, he didn't except to see any soon either. The land was so boggy, the trees were so damn... there was nothing really to fuel one. Blinking a little, he suddenly realised how quiet things had gotten. The rain plopping into the ground was all that echoed in the hollows of his crimson ears. Gulping a little nervously, he prepared to speak to the male.

" From who did you inherit such a wondorous pelt may I ask? " he said in his most mannerly way possible. Despite having to survive on his own, he had no qualities of such a wolf. Infact it may have seemed that he had been brought up in a nice, perfectly civilised family. Though there was no family and his first words came very late to him indeed. Since then his vocabulary had extended, what with his constant peering into the older wolves affairs.

He should not have, but he couldn't help but enjoy reviewing the latest pack news.

Ziko did not know that Entei had such great knowledge bestowed in his mind. Though it was probably best that he was left unaware because if he knew this fact, then a string of endless questions would be tied to the warrior. Fortunately for the young growing wolf he had yet to come across any of the nasty things in the world. The only real tragedy that had struck him was the death of his parents, the sudden disappearance of his sibling and the unfortunate departure of Nightblood.

Recollection of Nightblood was slowly fading but he held onto the memories with her. She was the one who took him under her wing, even if it was for a brief short while. A sad glint flashed over his eyes and he ducked his head as the rain lashed over his face. That female had built the foundations of his ability to speak and to her he was most grateful. How else would he have been able to find out all that he knew? And how else would he have been able to speak to the magestic wolf before him? It was an idea he dared not linger on.

[blackrage]

Fire....

To most it was thought that fire was the creation of man, and was feared just as the humans were. It most often brought the worst of tradegies; destruction and pain that could last for ages in one's thoughts and was branded upon their soul. It took villages and forests and burnt them to the ground within the night, and no longer would they be inhabitable. But fire was also a mystery....

....and a thing of old. It surrounded the deepest rituals, the chants of humans combining with it to spark the flames higher, send the heat wafting across the brisk movements of those rituals, and yet that blaze still was something of wonder. One could stare at the flames, and be taken aback, back into their mind's eye by the mesmeric dance of that fire. It was also the end, and the beginning. A forest may die by the blazes, but life always came back to replace it.

" From who did you inherit such a wondrous pelt may I ask? "

Entei looked back at the youth before him, looking though orange orbs, looking past the flames upon his snout, and looking into the pup's eyes...and he couldn't help but not to smile. A small laugh accompanied it, but it seemed more a hoarse bark than a laugh, but still one could tell it's origin. But it's intention was not one of hurt, but merely a sudden humor dragged on my something just as unknown. "My father, child."

[ziko]

Father.

Ziko inhaled a sharp breath and held it there for a moment. Then his ears dropped slightly and the twinkle in his eye dulled just a little. The last memories and only real memory he had of his said to be bold, cunning father was a withering old wolf, too weak to even hobble out of his den. It had been up to the pack hunters to supply his food, and his mothers food, so that they may die an easy death.

But it wasn't easy. The pain that shook his father seemed unbearable. All the strength it took to even turn his head and look his son in the eyes.. and when he looked all he saw was a frail creature, pleading for the removal of his pain. Ziko once felt that it was to fault of his own that such suffering had befallen his family. But he was much too young at the time to understand. After his fathers departure, Ziko had turned to Karolek as a role model.

Then he had spotted this wolf and his brilliant pelt. He looked strong, cunning and couragous as hsi father once was. That was why he saught him. Blinking a little he fell from his train of thought. It was about time he let go of his past and looked forward. Maybe Entei could help him with that? Though, he seemed to hard on the exterior to want to meddle with some pup who dwindles too much on the past... Though, it was worth asking was it not?

" It appears that you have some strength about you Entei. I sense great wisdom from you also. Would you mind sharing some of your past time incidents, if that is not too much to ask? "

So outright were his words that he even surprised himself. Suddenly Ziko felt somewhat stupid for asking. Entei had probably done nothing but run around the territory so many times in his past time and that was the reason for his build.

" Of course, if I am being bothersome, you may say so and if need be punish me for my inquiries. Though I cannot help this strong feeling of curiosity towards you... "

[blackrage]

His past....

Never really had he expected this question..but in any case, he should have been prepared for it. Despite his sudden shock, and some awe at the small pup, one couldn't see so. All emotion was hidden, covered up by just one of the many masks he held and frequently used.

But what for a story....

He paused, letting it sink in. He was actually old, and rather an age for that fact. But despite that fact, he cherished his memories, no matter how filled with sorrow they were. How over- flowing with misery. How....painfull. Some were glad, and other joyful, but that didn't exclude the others. They didn't even come close.

This would be a long time..to tell his story. He had no doubt the young wolf would want to hear it, but he might have to cut it short. The old warrior had known to see young wolves, so interested in something, but then they lose track, just as all young things do in their early life. Now, he was not so care- free. Nor did he talk so; and it was rare even, to hear even the longest of words string themselves from his maw. Speaking to others wasn't his strong suit, nor was even being near them. He was a great deal anti- social, but something about Ziko held him fast and refused to let go.

His main sentence was too give introduction to adventure, and excitement. Maybe even apprehension. But who could tell.

"Well....it all started a long time ago....back when I was young.", which..that only proved he was an old fart..but nevertheless, that could be expected. "The world was a wondrous place...a place of mystery..and place where I could be free. But little did I know the dangers that came with it......"

[ziko]

Ziko was glad that Entei would take the time to tell him some stories. He was very interested in what others had done in their lives and the young wolf could tell this one had been through an awful lot. Although he did not mean for him to relive any memories that he had suppressed out of anger or pain. Ziko did not say that to Entei however just incase those sorts of memories had not came to mind in terms of what to say. Just by mentioning that he didn't want Entei to tell tales of such could make them all flooding back.

Shifting around on the ground he made himself comfortable and he perked his ears and watched the old wolfs eyes to make sure that he was properly listening. He felt it best not to think about the markings again incase they took over his subconscious attention and made him miss things. He would be dreadfully sad if he missed a key scene or phrase and would dare not ask for it to be repeated. He did not speak and he breathed quietly as a climactic feelings slowly crept through his body. He tensed just a little bit, waiting for him to continue.

The world was a wondrous place? he thought. Why, what had happened to it? He held onto these thoughts so that he could look out for answers. Indeed they were to come, as he spoke of the bad things that came with it. In Arnlan, Ziko knew none of the bad things in the world. He knew of some hard ships within the pack but he had never seen things outside of Arnlan. A constant veil of darkness seemed to always shroud the borders and he could never see past it. Except for the faint flicker of light( from the village of Hallow ) but he never knew the source of it and it made him very curious.

[blackrage]

The innocence of youth.

It was a strange concept, innocence. In an older wolf, many would call the same actions that were normal for the young either foolish or naïve or in some cases even insane. Innocence was a fleeting thing, held only in the young and ripped away when one was older, more knowledgeable of the world and it’s ways. But like all phases of mind, innocence also had its uses. It made one unafraid to speak, to ask questions, and to learn about things otherwise unknown.

A ragged ear flickered slightly, and settled back into place with the same motion. He went from standing to a crouch, and then to a place right beside the pup in only but one movement. Directed upon his haunches, he prepared. Ready for the next part of the story to come. Orange eyes glinted with a fire as he began. The wind picked up, ominous, and yet, in some way, calming. It shifted through his rough fur, and tugged at his torn ears.

"To say the first..I raised myself. I really don't know if I was even born at all, considering the day was I was able to be on my own, I found that I was alone. There was no one there to greet my entrance into the world, and so, I had no parents. I have never known them..never seen them..don't know their names. But from the moment my existence had been sparked...I wanted freedom. I got just that...but so little did I know..."

A slight pause, his breathing shallow, chest rising and falling like the waves that you might see on the waves that blanket the sea.

"Where dark trees and even darker shadows grew, the jungle I used to live in was a forbidding place in the night. Swayed by the wind, vines moved and undulated as if they were snakes, disguising those that were truly snakes from the view of unfortunate prey. In the narrow places, the light wind was squeezed into a gale, howling past with a whistling moan, rising up as dark and terrifying imaginings from one’s mind. Fear of the unknown was the original fear, and things that were known in daylight became much less known in the darkness.", the male paused, " I used to be fearless of those. The shadows that creeped out at night, and hung everywhere that my eye could see. I was naive, unknowing to what truth of the world lay ahead. But all of that changed the day I set foot upon a border, a territory I never knew existed as far as I could ever be concerned."

Another moment of silence was greeted, and his face suddenly changed, hardening, and shaping itself into silent rage. The small of his teeth glinted in the moonlight, flames flickered up; seemingly alive once more.

"Sallin."

[ziko]

Innocence had somewhat already begun to leave him, as the more he knew about the pack, the more he began to realise what the world, what other wolves and packs were really like. Life sounded so difficult when spoken freely between two elders and it scared him a little yet he kept returning back for more information. Curiosity is what drove him. That was why he was here now.

Perhaps he was some sort of acception, or maybe not. Foolish inquiries indeed. Some would think he was too young to be told such tales, though everyone learns the difficulties of life at one point and it was now that he was being one of its many tales. Coming from Entei, it all sounded so interesting though and maybe afterwards he would be stupid enough to dream days like the ones Entei had experienced in his past time.

Taken aback by the swift movement of the wolf, he looked him up from the glorious yellow paw up the flame crusted maw. Amazing, he thought suddenly gaining more respect for Entei. One day I'll be able to do that he thought for a moment as his eyes glimmered.

Raised himself? Well in a sense so did Ziko. He felt he could relate to the black wolf with this but of course, as Entei continued, he hadn't had the protection of a pack or dedicated leader. Parents... Ziko had known them only from the illness they had possessed before their departure. He could only imagine what they were like in their prime from the tales passed down from the older Arnlan wolves. Perhaps Entei knew his mother and father?

Freedom... he knew it in only one form. Death. Free from suffering and pain. Jungle... never had he heard such a word and immediately it set his imagination running and the images created in his mind were further enhanced as Entei continued...

Ziko shuddered. A forbidding place... everything seemed to come to a dark climax. Entei must have been truly scared when he was young. Knowing no one, nothing and alone in a dangerous world. Indeed the innocence of being a pup must have been foreign to him as it didn't seem he had experienced a nice pup hood. In his, Ziko could feel a fear building up in him. Perhaps seeking the world outside the borders wasn't such a good idea afterall...

Fearless was Entei? So young yet so exposed and still he had powered on? If Ziko was older and more mature perhaps more mature evaluations and thoughts would have arose in his mind. However he was not, and all he could do was let his imagination play. He let himself think of a young flaming wolf travelling through such dangers unphased. Or was he phased? He was unsure, seemingly not though.

Sallin.

The word grasped his attention and he looked up to the eyes of Entei. Sallin... he had heard the older wolves discuss it... What was that place? He could not read the anger or rage from Entei, though he wouldn't have been able to anyway because it was most probably concealed inside. He hadn't yet begun to read expressions... though he'd learn eventually.

Why did that word suddenly strike him as it had? It made him somewhat curious because he did not understand it.

" Sallin? " repeated Ziko, speaking for the first time since the story had begun. His voice quivered just a little, questioning Entei to continue. He ducked his head a little and thought and then nodded slightly, though he wasn't sure why he did. Sallin. He liked the way it hissed and rolled off of his tongue. " Tell me of the place? "