Bring The Violence {Mortil, Akree, Shantik, Any}

[nightblood]

{{I'll RP the pups that haven't been adopted in this thread.}}

Red eyes blinked in the darkness of Arnlan. NightBlood hadn't been able to sleep much that night. Today was the day that she and Mortil had planned to set up a duel. Though she couldn't sit still, the Beta knew she couldn't expend too much energy. Otherwise, she'd risk losing the fight. Not that she planned on winning. With Umbra in Mortil's arsenal, she didn't stand much of a chance. She'd still try, of course, but she kept her hopes low so she wouldn't be disappointed when she did lose. She'd have the gray wolf make up for her embarrassment by catching her a fish or two after the fight anyway.

It seemed that the large female was starting to become a lot like an Arnlanian was supposed to embody- Silence and stealth. Although she still preferred full frontal assaults to creeping around, she could see the value that the latter one had. It brought the element of surprise, something vital in the game of war.

To quell her mental need for some sort of movement, she decided to take a walk around the border like she used to back in the days when she was a Sentry and some time during her Betaship before she was pregnant. The patrol calmed her down and brought back memories of when she was a bit buffer and thickly built. After having pups, she had thinned down. Such a large litter needed a lot of protein while they were growing inside of her. Since she hadn't figured that the number was so large, she hadn't eaten enough for eleven mouths, which was why two had died and one was a runt. They had also eaten away at the muscle she had. After birthing, she looked little more than a skeleton. Thankfully, she had gained back some muscle during the first two months after the fact. She wasn't at her full strength yet, but she had enough to put on a good show.

Coming to the end of her patrol, just as the sun was beginning to rise, she headed back toward her den. However, she did not reach it. She came to a stop somewhere in the darkest area of Arnlan. She knew Mortil's den was around here somewhere, but had never exactly pinpointed it. Giving up on trying to find him quietly, NightBlood raised her head and called to him. It was time to get ready for their fight.

[Donn]

Phineas had been largely alone for the past while. He knew things were happening around him. NightBlood had pups. Arnlan had issues with Sallin yet again with some fellow ending up on the border talking about slaves. And Phineas still liked dams. He cleared his throat, and addressed the trickling water and rocks along the lonely stream, in his best Ambassador's voice. "Good day, sirs and madams. Phineas, Arnlanian Ambassador at your service." He shook his head. "No. ladies and gentlemen? Sire and dam wolves? No... representatives? Too formal..." He was trying to think up the best way of introducing himself as an Ambassador. Smooth. Intelligent. Polite. Easy to talk to, but noble.

A howl sounded behind him, making the black wolf turn. It was not far off, and it sounded like NightBlood. Some more counsel? They had been distracted in their previous meeting by the aforementioned Sallinian, so Phineas set off. He made his way lightly through the brush, until in a thick part of the forest in which there was little light. NightBlood, not as resplendant as she had been when he had first met her, but imposing nonetheless.

"Good day, ladies... er, I mean, Beta NightBlood." Phineas stumbled over his words. He had been about to address NightBlood as 'ladies and gentlemen.' Moving swiftly on, he came to stop and gave her a short, polite bow of his head. "Perhaps, I'm not the best company, but better some than none, no? How are things? The pups alright? I haven't seen any, I'm never invited to." he smiled. That was also in practice. A nice Ambassador-y smile to put foreigners at ease.

[Electus]

Taiseda![/color]

An unerring claw ripped through the air, followed by Mortil's fangs slashing upwards at an imaginary artery. The thin wolf was a flurry of activity, paws and jaw moving through every darting attack and counter he knew of (and some that he improvised on the spot).

You're going to wear yourself out.

You know shadow sparring calms me down. Works out the kinks and tingles.

Whatever you like. You haven't fought for awhile. Can you hold your own?

I believe I can.

Hmph. Hopefully. Otherwise you'll have wasted all my effort.

Mortil took another lunge, spinning around in the packed dirt around his den. The surrounding brambles and trees were mangled and ripped at, testimony to the warrior's constant dedication to perfecting body and mind.

Turning, the ash-grey wolf howled out his elated emotions, draining away all the tension he had felt the past few days.

A few minutes later, he caught the call of his foster sister. Lowering into a hunting pose, he stalked quietly off, heading towards the source of her call.

[nightblood]

"Good day, ladies... er, I mean, Beta NightBlood."

The Beta gave a slight, approving laugh at the Ambassador's error. This wasn't exactly the wolf she had wanted to meet up with, but she'd take him. She hadn't seen him since the council meeting with the Sallinian intruder.

"Perhaps, I'm not the best company, but better some than none, no? How are things? The pups alright? I haven't seen any, I'm never invited to."

"Everyone's welcome to see the pups, Phineas," she answered, letting her tail wag a little, "And I dare say that you might find that you can have meaningful conversations with Khenti, my youngest. He's quite the little genius."

She didn't know why, but being around the dark Ambassador always made her feel like she had to be a bit more formal. She returned his smile and turned toward the darkness, waiting for the lighter male whom she had specifically called for.

"Mortil and I are going to spar for the pups. Would you like to watch? It would give you a rough estimate of how strong our forces are... or will be."

[Donn]

"And I dare say that you might find that you can have meaningful conversations with Khenti, my youngest. He's quite the little genius."

The dark wolf grinned. "In that case no doubt I shall make aquaintance with them. With any luck I might survive. I seem to remember that pups enjoy accosting me for the sake of 'fun'. Though I'm sure yours are a delight." Phineas sat down, halfway between thinking of NightBlood's pups and the little horrors, as he called them, that had been his previous pack's offspring. He hadn't the capacity to play with them when they demanded, so they resorted to playing on him at the most inconvenient times, such as when he was asleep.


"Mortil and I are going to spar for the pups. Would you like to watch? It would give you a rough estimate of how strong our forces are... or will be."

Phineas blinked. "I'm sorry, I don't quite follow you. Spar for the pups? You're fighting for them? I didn't realise that was the arrangement. May I ask why?" It sounded like Mortil was... challenging her for the pups or something, to Phineas. Though the Ambassador was, as NightBlood had correctly supposed, interested to watch the pack's top brass, so to speak, have a duel.

[Electus]

"Mortil and I are going to spar for the pups. Would you like to watch? It would give you a rough estimate of how strong our forces are... or will be."

Mortil stopped short of coming out into the open to greet Nightblood. Who was she conversing with? A packmate obviously, but he was simply curious who would be watching them fight.

"I'm sorry, I don't quite follow you. Spar for the pups? You're fighting for them? I didn't realise that was the arrangement. May I ask why?"

"I believe she means that we're going to spar for the benefit of the pups." Mortil said in his dry, quiet voice, emerging from the shadows. He nodded cordially to Nightblood and turned to face Phineas.

"We both decided that it would be beneficial for the pups if they witnessed an example of combat prowess. As Nightblood said, you're welcome to watch."

[nightblood]

"I'm sorry, I don't quite follow you. Spar for the pups? You're fighting for them? I didn't realise that was the arrangement. May I ask why?"

NightBlood was going to answer slowly, wondering why Phineas didn't grasp the situation. It must have been the way she said it. There was nothing, save maybe human contraptions, that the black wolf didn't understand. Specifics, she said to herself, annoying grammar specifics. Can't he dumb himself down once in a while?

"I believe she means that we're going to spar for the benefit of the pups."

The Beta wagged her tail at the sound of his voice as she turned her head to view the gray wolf. There was the wolf she had called for. She returned his greeting nod and shifted her posture, signaling that they should be on their way to the den.

"We both decided that it would be beneficial for the pups if they witnessed an example of combat prowess. As Nightblood said, you're welcome to watch."

"Just keep away from my back legs, Mortil. One lame leg is enough," she said jokingly, but meaning it at the same time.

[Electus]

"Just keep away from my back legs, Mortil. One lame leg is enough," she said jokingly.

Mortil's face turned grave. "Of course." he said neutrally.

"Shall we?"

He nudged Nightblood slightly on the shoulder as he began to pad towards her den.

"Happy anniversary...to me." he said quietly, grinning.

((Suckish, suckish post...muse is away))

[nightblood]

NightBlood grinned at Mortil as he nudged her in the shoulder. Keeping pace with him, she was barely able to hear the words he said.

"Happy anniversary...to me."

The Beta gave a polite laugh, grinning to herself.

"It's been a long and happy year. Let's see if we can survive the next," she said playfully, with only a touch of seriousness in her voice.

If either one of them were to die in the war that was to come, the Arnlanian defenses would drop severally. It was because of a combination of facts about them. They were both great fighters, with Mortil probably at the top of the list, and both held positions of power. Now that she thought about it...

"We probably should name successors to our ranks if we... become unable to continue with our responsibilities..." she said thoughtfully, he voice low and still on such a dark topic.

[Electus]

"It's been a long and happy year. Let's see if we can survive the next," she said playfully, with only a touch of seriousness in her voice.

"Yes...one can only hope." Mortil replied, giving Nightblood a thin smile.

"We probably should name successors to our ranks if we... become unable to continue with our responsibilities..."

"Mmm...I believe Khenti will take my place after I am gone..."

He laughed softly.

"That little pup of yours is quite something, Nightblood. No matter what I throw at him...he always manages to either overcome it or at least think of some way to stalemate it. He's got quite a future ahead of him, I can tell."

"So, have you told the pups what we're going to be doing today?"

[Donn]

"Ah... I see. A demonstration. Tuition by example, as it were." Phineas mused, following the two fighters to the den. "Well, don't mind if I do spectate" he decided that this was a good juncture to both meet the pack's next generation, as well as gauge the fighting prowess of his peers. Phineas began to guess the advantages and disadvantages of the combatants. NightBlood mentioned a lame back leg. Plus she had only recently given birth, Phineas doubted she was recovered to her normal strength. Still, the black wolf was not well associated with Mortil, so did not know his fighting strengths or weaknesses. From the way NightBlood and other wolves spoke about him, he guessed he was one of Arnlan's foremost warriors. Phineas grinned to himself in anticipation of the spar, silently following behind.

[nightblood]

"Mmm...I believe Khenti will take my place after I am gone..."

NightBlood nodded, still deciding which pup would step up to her position.

"That little pup of yours is quite something, Nightblood. No matter what I throw at him...he always manages to either overcome it or at least think of some way to stalemate it. He's got quite a future ahead of him, I can tell."

"Good choice. He'll be valuable to have in future disputes," she said, "I think Delerath would make an excellent Beta. He's a good leader..."

She trailed off, the word 'leader' raising questions in her head.

"So, have you told the pups what we're going to be doing today?"

"I did. I thought it would be best for them to prepare themselves for what they are about to see. They are still young and do not know the full repercussions the war will have on individuals. This should give them an idea."

As the three of them walked, the Beta's mind drifted back to study the previous questions that had appeared. After a few minutes, she decided to give them a voice in the real world, though she didn't expect any answer.

"I wonder who the Alpha's will choose to be their successors..." she whispered to the air as they came close to her den.

[Shantik]

((Dunno if this is the right time, but it is gettin' WAY too depressing around here. XD))

Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea sneaking out this far… but it was so lonely there in the den, even with all her siblings around. Like there was some joke they were all telling that she wasn’t let in on. But still, this far… but Tamarah couldn’t head back now. It would be even more lonely walking back all by herself than being in the den. She hopped up onto an jutting tree root, still-growing legs having to scramble to get up. She was going to wait for Momma.

She remembered hearing that Momma and that big, scary friend of hers were setting up a ‘spar’ today. For them. No… She let out a soft whimper, resting her chin on her forepaws. For the rest of them… It made her feel even more lonely, different. In a bad way. She wasn’t like her brothers and sisters. This demonstration of violence and how to fight… it wasn’t for her. Sure, she never wanted to spill blood of another. It wasn’t something she would enjoy, even if she was accepted into this group… but if it meant proving herself to all of them… to Momma…

Her train of thought stopped as she spotted the figures coming her way. ”Momma!” She yipped happily, leaping off the tree root. But it was much to high up, and she’d overestimated the length of her legs… she tumbled, rolling a ways before finally stopping on her back. She felt the dull pain throb in her legs and shoulders, and knew how filthy her fur must be now. And she planned on impressing Momma like this…?

To make matters worse, she’d stopped so close to that huge, scarred friend of Momma’s… he was so much bigger close-up! She whimpered, eyes huge with outright fear. His huge claws, his colossal fangs just hiding behind those massive jaws, so capable of ripping her, or any other creature around to shreds… She covered her face with her paws, hoping he’d just ignore her. She’d never been so terrified in her life…

[Electus]

"I did. I thought it would be best for them to prepare themselves for what they are about to see. They are still young and do not know the full repercussions the war will have on individuals. This should give them an idea."

"I see. Well, we'll see if we can do something about that. And I do hope we can give them a good show." Mortil said, smiling slightly. "Zuka will probably be disappointed if we didn't. She's quite combative."

The ash-gray wolf looked ahead as they neared Nightblood's den. He was very surprised to find a very furry (and dirty) ball of fluff waiting for them.

"Tamarah? What's wrong? And what're you going out here?" he asked curiously. He always had the impression that Tamarah, like Orem, didn't really prefer to fight. And why was she giving him that deer-in-headlights look?

[Akree]

"T'ey 'ere!"

"Quiet Dak, they'll hear us"

"But-"

"Shhh!"

The two siblings lay huddled in the snow, barely visible in the snow cave they had managed to dig just for the purpose. Blue eyes narrowed as he took with -perhaps- to much seriousness for a pup so young. Tan fur bristled as he waited patiently for what was to come. Besides the tan figure, huddled and tightly pressed to his side was a dark brown lump of fur, red eyes blinking against the fur and snow, peering fearfully at what lay ahead of his brother's head. Of course, he would duck right ahead once he thought he caught a glimpse of something. Fearful, Daki pressed himself even tighter into Khenti's side, which -in turn- responded by nudging Daki encouragingly.

From Daki's point of view all this was a mess, a horrible mistake and he wanted to be out. He had agreed to accompany Khenti because he was his brother and was -by far- better at comprehending all this jumble between the older wolves. In the scared pup's eyes he wanted to be well away from all this. He shivered again and pressed his head on the runt's side. Khenti had insisted on hiding out on here and wait for the adult's to come, he had explained the true purpose, but when Daki didn't understand Khenti had sighted and finally said ''to scare them." Daki had first thought it to be a fun idea, but now that he was starring at death in the face he wanted out, he seriously wanted out.

"I t'i-"

"Calm down, listen."

Crouching low and peering through the small hole the pup had been able to made, by first getting inside then gradually closing it, until only a peep hole remained. Khenti flicked his ears forward, attentive to any sound.

"So, have you told the pups what we're going to be doing today?"

Uncle!

Curious, Khenti peered forward, giving Dakarai the space to hide. He already knew what they were talking about, the sparring. Poor Daki wasn't sure at all what he had said yes to Khenti, he trusted his brother and he had never felt like this accepting Khenti's decisions, but for some reason this seemed extremely wrong. "I did. I thought it would be best for them to prepare themselves for what they are about to see. They are still young and do not know the full repercussions the war will have on individuals. This should give them an idea."

"I wonder who the Alpha's will choose to be their successors..."

Things were getting dull in the hideout and Khenti had settled for shuffling his paws comfortably in the snow while Dakarai still lay fretful at his side. "You hear that?" he whispered into his brothers ear. "Nu, let's gu bak to t'e den." came Dakarai's only response, nuzzling his brother's side, hoping to persuade him.

Abruptly they both caught sight of tan fur bolting forward. The suddenness made Dakarai squirm, retreating back into the deepest part of the snow cave. With a roll of his eyes, Khenti turned his attention forward, where Tamarah sat back on her haunches, looking fretfully at her ash gray uncle.

"Tamarah? What's wrong? And what're you going out here?" came Mortil's voice, sounding puzzled by the appearance of his sister. Khenti shifted comfortably inside the snow cave. But Dakarai was another matter entirely, Dakarai had enough of this, he was going out and he was getting out.

Frowning, red eyes narrowed concentrated on the light of the small opening next to Khenti's form, he was getting out, no one would tell him otherwise. He took a deep breath and exhaled, watching his breath as a cloud of mist. He lifted a brown paw from the ground, ready to bolt, he just was waiting for the right moment. Khenti shifted, leaving the opening more exposed.

And he was out.

The pup exploded from the cave in a flurry of white snow, eyes tightly shut as he ran with all his might dead forward. He wasn't sure how fast he was running, he wasn't sure where he was heading. That is until he bumped rather hard into someone's muscled leg. Daki could have sworn that that tackle could have moved a mountain and it might as well have been. When he got over the throbbing on his skull he opened his eyes to see no one other than-

"Mommy?" muttered the pup in half a daze, his eyes never completely focusing in one place for two long.

From behind him Khenti -not to steps behind him- squealed to an abrupt halt. Blinking once or twice at the scene before him. "Dak, is everything alright?" he asked, concern marking his voice as he took in his brother's dazed state.