Under My Skin

[lea]

Tsin was glad he often went unnoticed in the strange, large, twisted pack. He kept to himself and slunk through the shadows. He tried to keep some dignity, never wanting to be confused with a lowly omega wolf. He walked with his body parallel to the ground; head no longer dragging, but perfectly straight with his back, almost a neutral stance. When he did run into trouble, he wasn’t scared of raising his head, turning his fire eyes to his opponent, and using brute force. He preferred living as a ghost, overall.

Now he was unable to shake the attention off of him. Rising early to beat the heat, the older wolf preoccupied himself with killing a rabbit. Now, with bloodstained lips, he was struggling to keep that very rabbit to himself. He had only been able to down half of it, and now carried the other limp half in his jaws. Every time he thought he had found somewhere to lay and eat in peace, some various other wolves would sniff him out and attempt to steal it from him. The back of his neck was almost beginning to feel sore from the amounts he had to raise his hackles in warning.

The attempts also resulted in a few fights that morning, nothing too serious, at least, not for Tsin. It usually didn’t take much to persuade the pups to leave him alone; usually just standing up would do the trick. Some of them were overly persistent and got to either feel Tsin’s teeth brush against them, or feel what it was like when Tsin’s teeth ripped through their skin. None of them fought back though, so Tsin himself had avoided injury. After all, it was his meal to defend, even if it was a rather small one.

Finally the wolf stopped. The area was fairly open, but hiding wouldn’t help anyways, not with the scent of blood in the air. At least here he could see if anyone was coming The animal flopped onto his stomach, taking what meager bits were left of the rabbit between his paws and shredding it with his powerful teeth.

When he had finally taken all that he needed, he used his teeth to lift the parts of the rabbit he simply wouldn’t eat and tossed it away from him. He hated to be a picky eater, but he didn’t feel guilt for wasting bits of his own kill.

He had just begun to go through his after-meal routine of cleaning his bloody paws when subconsciously his ear flicked back to catch a new noise. He rose slowly to his feet, hackles already raised. His face contorted to a snarl, but no noise escaped. He didn’t want to look like a complete idiot if he was just being edgy about a bird or some other harmless woodland creature. He also didn’t want to risk not looking and have it be someone hostile, pack member or not.

He turned slowly to face the doer of the noise.

[Carter]

The smell of blood had been what led Carter to Tsin while he was on his patrol of his packlands. Though he had no interest in the meager rodent that the wolf had been eating, the young prince had eaten his fill with his mother this morning, on a most excellent portion of elk. It was quite lovely. However, Carter, so used to such a posh diet, only took it for granted, and scoffed at Tsin's meal.

Fortunately, the other wolf was preoccupied with his rabbit, so Carter only had to pick when he'd come out, or for that matter, if he'd come out of the underbrush. Instead he just sized the other male up, he was...so old. The realization of it made the warrior lift his lip some in distaste. Sallin wouldn't get anywhere if they were full up of old fogie wolves too decrepit to carry their own in a fight. Or wouldn't hold to a cause, to him, all old wolves were so much like his father, all talk, and no action. But Carter noted, he could be wrong, his mother wouldn't suffer a useless wolf on their territory, perhaps this male had something special about him, something unique.

That only made the youth more indignant. Because that made the old male a threat to him.

As he mused, Carter dug his paws into the earth, as though tangibly tearing it like he was itching for the older male to attack him, though only a few paw digs into the soil, his claws snapped through a twig, alerting Tsin to his presence in the thick undergrowth. It was no wonder that the old male leapt so.

Startled at first at the aggressive change in the old male; Carter was near ready to curse his readiness to betray his presence with his silly pup-like mistake. But Carter wouldn't let Tsin see him like that, no, instead the warrior steadied himself, a snarky smirk passing on his features...he fancied himself as frightening as his mother, as he stepped out into sight, a bit of a strut to his step.

"Oh ho. What's this all about oldtimer? No need to start a fight." the youth's expression bled into his tone, he sounded smarmy and sly, "I just saw you there...but I didn't want to bother you in the middle of dinner." He flashed a dangerously toothy smile, his stature dominate, tail up, ears perked...if Tsin hadn't seen him before, there was something important (if not self important) about this pup.

[lea]

"Oh ho. What's this all about old-timer? No need to start a fight. I just saw you there...but I didn't want to bother you in the middle of dinner."

Tsin’s face fell and he looked the pup over. Tsin’s expression was almost that of a bored one. He had never personally met this pup, but he knew who he was. It was safe to say he had somewhat of a reputation and Tsin had no fear or respect for him. Wasn’t he around the same age of Tsin’s own pups? Maybe Carter was slightly older, but not by much. If there was anything to fear about Carter, it was his direct connection with Nightshade. Tsin didn’t put it past the pup to tattle if something happened that he didn’t like. After all, there was very little he himself could do, especially to Tsin, who was both more experienced and a bit larger.

“You’re right,” Tsin answered plainly. He failed to mention that he thought any fight with Carter would be uneventful anyways, but it showed in his indifferent expression. “There is no reason not to be cautious, though.”

Tsin’s eyes suddenly dodged to the trees. Though he had no reason to look, and doubted anyone was about, he still felt suspicious. Out of all the wolves he could have run into, this one was the Alpha’s son. He didn’t know if it was purely coincidence, or perhaps something more. Underneath, he wondered if Carter was really here to cause him problems. Perhaps there would be a reason to fight after all. He certainly hoped not, but he couldn’t predict the future.

Tsin made no reaction to Carter’s dominant position either. He did not submit, but he didn’t challenge it either. The wolf was somewhere in between, his posture slack, neutral, head even with his body as it always was. He was no threat to Carter unless there was a reason for him to be, but he wasn’t lying at the pup’s paws either.

“What do you want anyways, Carter?” Tsin asked the pup. It was awkward to use his name, for it was the youth he always referred to as “pups”. He wanted to stay neutral though. He saw that daring look in Carter’s eyes, and knew perhaps he was here for a fight. Tsin wanted no involvement with the pup, knowing he was bad news.

Damn pups around here are all alike. Think they rule the world. Heh.

[Carter]

Carter yawned, licking his chops in a bored manner. Looking at the older male with a shrug. He was always ready for anything, at least, he liked to think so, but being cautious about everything? Seemed a bit like a waste of time and frayed nerves. "I suppose...you can never be too cautious..." though his tone was unbelieving, what or whom would be a threat to the all powerful Sallin?

It didn't seem very likely that there was much out there to be cautious of, but then again, Carter never was a subordinate in the most dangerous pack in Kloteck.

“What do you want anyways, Carter?”

The prince seemed a bit taken aback by that, and not mocking either, what was it that made old male wolves so disgusted with him? His ears pivoted in frustration, but he tried to cover it a bit. "Nothing, I told you." He had followed the smell of Tsin's kill, out of curiosity and nothing more..."What would I want from you?" His defensive tone quickly turned offensive as he was reminded of how his father treated him, the same dismissive, patronizing manner. Besides, had he wanted anything from Tsin, he would've just taken it. Thinking of that made the young male grin.

[lea]

^{||OoC: Sorry so short. Wasn't sure what to put though...||}

Tsin’s bright orange eyes narrowed. His body became slightly rigid, but he neither made a move to advance or to flee.

“I wouldn’t know. It’s just odd to see the ‘prince’ out here, especially without his mother,” Tsin said, his voice showing his aggravation. He would be a lot rougher with Carter if he wasn’t Nightshade’s son. Since he was, it was a whole different ball game.

“Though maybe its better that she isn’t here,” Tsin mumbled to himself. He knew he should have held his tongue, but it wouldn’t matter anyways.

“After all,” Tsin said in a louder voice so Carter could hear. “You never know who would wish you ill. Seeing you alone out here, wandering around, makes me only think you’re hear to stir up mischief.”

Then Tsin tilted his head, and though it may have still been difficult to tell, there was a sliver of mockery in his tone. “If only you were more like Fellen. She seems like a respectable young wolf.”

[Carter]

"Was that a threat?" The Prince stood rigid his expression intense and challenging, he knew that his mother's supporters hated her as much as feared her, and he had this feeling that because he was his mother's chosen, he garnered a fraction of the same hate. "Listen, I'm not ~here~ to cause you any trouble unless you want it." His tone was sharp, but still young and pitchy, a teenager trying to assert his dominance.

"My sister is nothing like me, and that's fine, she's never around anyways, in case you haven't noticed..." He didn't know why anyways, but if she was so respectable, she could just about show her face around here. It made him disappointed to be put in the same lot as -her- "But whatever..." he blew his bangs out of his face and snorted...

[Kaine]

Silence.

Slipping soundlessly among the twisted branches of his bleak kingdom, Sallin's king had found himself somewhat isolated. While his mate hardly gave him much notice anymore, it was rare that he didn't see at least one of the royal brood each day, be it Fellen or the king-to-be, Carter. However, it had been days since he'd seen either hide or hair of his offspring. And Kaine didn't like that, at all. Of course, he knew his daughter to be perfectly capable, so he didn't worry too much about her if she decided to distance herself for a while...he couldn't blame her for distancing herself, in fact. However, with the way Nightshade allowed their adolescent son to run rampant with his nose high in the air bothered him, especially so if the pup went missing.

Of course, you didn't need to actually see the prince to know he was around. Whispers and growls were often abound of how the young wolf had been seen bothering a lowly subordinate, often from the victim themselves. These rumors were often followed by "if only he weren't that bitch's son," or "I would've loved to have torn his throat out right where he stood." The male knew these to be dry threats, but there were still times when he didn't wonder if a sudden disappearance of his son wasn't the product of the pup going too far with a disgruntled pack member and, as much as he didn't show it, as a father, the king worried when these absences popped up.

Leaping swiftly to miss the dead arm of a fallen tree branch and keep it from ripping at his stomach as he passed it, Kaine stopped slowly, his breathing steady as he attempted to slow his rapid heartbeat. He took in his surroundings at the same time, and quickly noted the smell of blood...and his son. The two scents were obviously distinct from each other, so Kaine hardly took the scent of death as belonging to the young wolf.

However, a third scent belonging to another wolf was distinguishable, and that only meant one thing: Carter was causing trouble. And only a few feet away, no less. It only took the male a few bounds before he broke silently into a clearing and onto the scene of Carter and another male standing face-to-face.

"Boy..." Kaine passed between the two males, a warning gaze fixed on his son as he did so. He spoke no further words, but he knew his son would get the message. You better not be starting anything, pup. The king's passing in front of the two wolves was also a clear signal to not carry out any plans that had been made by one to attack the other, although the nameless wolf hardly held a threatening pose. Turning to face away from Carter, Kaine looked over the other male for a few seconds, golden eyes narrowed. No doubt he'd met this wolf previously, but no name or memory came to mind...no doubt a sign age was catching up to the old alpha.

"Who are you? I don't recognize you."

[Kaine]

(OOC: I didn't think I called him old....did IXD? *looks over post* Carter might think him as old though, since Carter is only about a year old or so. As for Kaine, he's about 7 or 8 years *still has to fix his profile to match the correct age:B*)

[Squeeji]

kaine said:

(Carter might think him as old though, since Carter is only about a year old or so. )

((That's why Carter thinks Tsin is old, anything older than him...is WAY old.))

[lea]

^{||OoC: Well, in that case, that means Tsin is even younger than Kaine and Nightshade.||}

---

Tsin cocked a brow at Kaine, obviously surprised by him jumping out of nowhere. However, Tsin immediately sat, knowing Kaine was someone respectable. Sitting lowered the mood a little, making Tsin to look less likely to bolt or do any other actions that were too rash.

"Who are you? I don't recognize you."

“I’m Tsin. Nightshade accepted me here,” Tsin answered calmly. He wasn’t surprised Kaine didn’t recognize him or know who he was. Tsin stalked the shadows and hid himself from not only the ranks of Sallin, but basically all the wolves that lived here.

He didn’t like drawing attention to himself to say the least. It was a very unfortunate event that he would run into Carter and then into Kaine. He would probably have to leave if Nightshade waltzed in. He didn’t want to get involved in their little dysfunctional family anyways.

Tsin glanced at Carter for a second and smirked. In one way he was glad that it had been Kaine who had come and not Nightshade. He didn’t say anything to the pup though, not while his father was there. He knew better than to discipline other wolves children, and he wouldn’t do so while his parents were present.

[Addie]

(OOC: Squeeji, you gonna post, or did you want me to go ahead?)

[Carter]

Carter shrunk some, at least giving his father enough respect to acknowledge that Kaine was the Alpha, but still the prince seethed to be treated so much like a pup among his mother's peons.

After all, he hadn't been doing anything wrong. Just keeping company with the older gentleman, it wasn't his fault Tsin got all defensive and rude. Sure, Carter had been antagonistic, but that wasn't so much of him meaning to do so, as much as it was... well...improper raising.

"Pah, I could have told you he was a member of Sallin." Carter grumbled under his breath, even giving a respectful gesture, the young male defied being treated like a pup, consequences be damned, he had at least recognized that Tsin was part of Sallin, he smelled like it, and if his father hadn't accepted him, then obviously his mother had...how hard was that to figure out?

He was already thinking he'd be twice the Alpha Kaine was, and he wasn't even trying.