Jilted [Plot] [NightBlood/Any]

[Blackfeathr]

A dark nimble form streaked to and fro between the trees at an alarming speed. Just beyond his reach: a jackrabbit, its little feet powering it forward, just a nudge faster than its pursuer.
Large jaws stretched out, long white teeth flashing. Give it a bit more speed. CLAP.

Armageddon threw his front legs out to stop himself. The jackrabbit thrashed as blood ran up its body. Armageddon jerked his head violently and beat it on the ground several times until the creature was still.
Sighing, he set the kill between his bony paws and began to tear at it, feeling the tinge of it's blood in the back of his throat. It had been a while since he had a decent meal, his mind was too busy worrying and rejoicing about being a father in the distant future to be hungry. But this rabbit tasted good. The endless cycling thoughts slowed a bit as he chewed and tore at bones and tendons.
The thoughts were still there, though. He started wondering about where NightBlood was now. The worries resurfaced briefly.
She should be with me, Armageddon thought. He felt like he had to watch over her, to protect her.
She can take care of herself. That is pretty obvious. She's made it this long with bearing Anek's pups, she shouldn't have a problem going about her business with his. Still... he had a niggling feeling that he shouldn't be here. Not here. Not now.
Why?

---

After her months-long trek, the feeling finally came. A mixture of subtle scents and sounds told Nukpana that she was close. She drew in a breath, tasting the air in the back of her throat. Wet Snow. Jackrabbit. Blood. Traces of Ash with a strange mixture of black oak on wolven fur. She knew that scent. She had smelled the ashen scent on Patamon. It seemed to be ingrained in their kind's DNA as they've lived on the side of a dormant volcano for as long as anyone can remember. This scent was fading on this wolf, being overpowered by local sources. It was... him....
A low growl bubbled in her throat. She was finally here, and she'd finally get her reparations.

She perked her ears and widened her nostrils for any other wolves that could be with Armageddon. There were some semi-fresh trails of the Scouts, but as far as she could scent, there wasn't a living thing around them for a wide margin.

A devious smile ensnared her crooked nose.

---

Armageddon was nearly through with picking through the bones for hidden morsels when a large animal seemed to slide between the bushes not too far from him. It was too small to be a bear....
He scrambled to his feet, his fur raised from his neck to his tail. Lynx were pretty friendly and open around these parts, so the only other guess he had was a wolf with ill intentions. He flared his nostrils to take in it's scent. Female. Smelling strongly of Ash diluted with mud and snow. The scent seemed to switch on something hidden deep inside of him, causing his mind to speed up and adrenaline to rush into his system. The colors around him seemed to dull, flicker, and return to normal.

"By the authority of Arnlan, show yourself, wolf!" Armageddon shouted, spinning on the spot. The forest was silent. And then...
"Well, well well... you're a big bad wolf now, aren't you..." came a raspy female voice from the brush.
Slowly, the female slithered out of the brush, bones protruding through her emaciated form. A crooked smile was etched up a nose identical to Armageddon's.

"Armageddon, Nukpana," She said, waving a paw carelessly at Armageddon and then at herself, "we'll skip the formalities."

Armageddon backed up several more steps, eyes wide at Nukpana, a wolf he never met, who knew his name.
"H-How do you know me?"

"Oh, my dear, who doesn't know you? Your story has spanned many miles, affected many families... destroyed... many lives." She seemed to spit the last few words out as she glared at him.

Armageddon paused, not taking his eyes off of Nukpana. His memories took him back to that day he was at the end of his line, at the edge of that cliff...
~

"No body hates you here, how could they? You've done nothing wrong. Hell, I have never even -heard- that story!"

Armageddon had turned his head back to Pollux so fast it gave him vertigo. Was she shittin' him? Had she really not heard the story, spoken from Alpha to Omega, territory to territory?
"I mean...that story is horrible, and sad, tragic if true...but...I didn't see anywhere that you were in it."

If true, he had scoffed to himself, a disgusted look marring the features of his already angular lurid face. The expression melted in an instant into a look of disbelief as he had stared at Pollux.
"I am the beginning, middle, and end. My existence is the reason my life is a boiling section of hell on earth. What place do I have on this earth..." his contorted face washed away into melancholy depression. "I only cause pain and suffering, to myself, to others... even if no one here knows about it. It tears me up inside."
~

He had forgotten.

His past, was gone now. He had a new life, and he had forgotten who he was. Who he was destined to be.

I am going to be a father

I am going to be a murderer.

I am going to live happily in Arnlan

I am going to die, alone.


His jaw had parted in his memory, and the new, powerful feelings that threatened to surface and overtake him. They wanted to overpower this female, they wanted to overpower NightBlood, they wanted to overpower Arnlan. But the feelings being pushed down said No. They told him of his fate. He was fighting within himself, who would dominate and who would be forced down.

Nukpana chuckled, seeming to know what was going on in the boy's mind. She began to circle her target. Now that his soul was being ripped apart, it was time to finish the job.

"Patamon instructed me to bring you back to us, dead or alive, though he prefers alive. I prefer you dead. And well... I'm the only one here so... majority rule." she said through an insane grin of bared teeth.

[Electus]

I suppose you are angry with me.[/i]

Surprisingly, I am not. Granted, you did do it without Nightblood's permission, so I think it'd be your job to break it to her.

Do I detect some fear?

Of course not.

Hmph.

Broken bits of conversation.

Promises made without consent, without consultations.

How far would you go, how far to win, how far to live and protect?

Voices, voices, breaking, cracking, burning, laughing.

Mortil shook his head violently, dispelling the troubled thoughts from his mind. He felt restless, impatient. Was that why he was wandering Arnlan so aimlessly? He had forgone training, patrolling, everything today. Today he just wanted to live. Just...live a little. Break from the monotony that was the daily routine. But why? It wasn't like him.

The lithe warrior felt uneasy. The wind carried strange things, feelings, conflict...anger. He could smell it. Feel it...something was wrong in Arnlan. An intruder?

Breaking, tearing, seams ripped apart. Sanity, vanity, envy, clawing the walls down. Freedom, fire, insanity and violence.

Mortil snapped angrily at the air. What's that supposed to mean?

No more restraint, no more passion, no more holding back. Crucify, bloody, place on the rack. No more, no more, you won't hold me back anymore!

And with that Mortil ceded, for the time being.

"Now...let's see who our little guest is." Umbra muttered, his usual maniac grin replaced by a grim mask.

The ash-grey wolf slipped through the shadows of Arnlan, his single eye alert and his ears raised at ninety-degree angles from his skull.

"Patamon instructed me to bring you back to us, dead or alive, though he prefers alive. I prefer you dead. And well... I'm the only one here so... majority rule."

The barest hints of a conversation, the barest hint...of a threat. Death. Blood. Combat. Denied. No one on this land...would be permitted.

"You have no authority here." Umbra said coldly. His voice seemed to come from nowhere, and his single eye gleamed in the shadows where he hid.

"You have trespassed knowingly into the territory of Arnlan. Why have you come? I offer no forgiveness...a father's sins...passed on to his son."

Humour lost, nothing left. Nothing left but the stench of death. Broken lives, hell brought forth...

"Answer, why have you come?"

[nightblood]

A now sleek Arnlanian Beta glided through the shadows, not yet used to the lightness of her body, even though, as they days passed, she knew she'd be feeling something close to her old weight again. Anek's pups had taken a lot out of her, being such a large litter. It was, perhaps, unwise to let her real mate start their family so soon, but she had waited a bit... until she was sure her body could take it. Depending on the size of the litter, it wold either bring her close to death or over the edge. But NightBlood knew the facts as well as the risks. It was highly unlikely that Armageddon's litter would be anywhere as large as Anek's.

On this particular day, Night was feeling a little uneasy. There was a note of concern in her mind that she couldn't shake. Not really wanting to deal with Ravenshard at the moment, she decided it would be best to go see Armageddon, whom she knew was probably hunting. It was at this thought that she decided he really needed a rank to keep him busy (and keep him from worrying about her and his pups). With Anek's litter asleep and/or with friends, she slipped away quietly from the den. The pups were big enough now not to have to worry about hawks and other such nuisances. And she doubted that an intruder or a bear could get that far into Arnlan without being spotted.

Nose to the ground, following her mate's ash-filled scent, Blood trotted through the snow. Knowing she was close, she decided to pick her head up and listen for him. What wafted up to her ears and nose made a growl erupt from her throat.

"Patamon instructed me to bring you back to us, dead or alive, though he prefers alive. I prefer you dead. And well... I'm the only one here so... majority rule."

A female with a scent not unlike her mate's had intruded upon Arnlanian grounds. And making death threats?

"I think not."

By following the voice, she had pinpointed both of their locations and entered the area not far away from Armageddon. Mortil's scent was in the area as well. NightBlood's crimson eyes refocused on the female intruder.

"Three against one. Want to refigure those votes?"

"You have no authority here."

The coldness in Umbra's voice was not unknown to her, though her skin crawled as if ice had been poured on it anyway. The fact that he was hiding from view didn't help either. Shrugging it off, she growled to back up the gray male's warning, though it was hardly needed.

"You have trespassed knowingly into the territory of Arnlan. Why have you come? I offer no forgiveness...a father's sins...passed on to his son."

~No forgiveness is needed.~ Night snarled in her mind, ~He did nothing wrong.~

"Answer, why have you come?"

Having heard the female's threat before, Blood crouched into a ready stance. Ears and tail were raised to show her authority, and the fur on the back of her neck was spiked, making her look bigger. However, like the back up for Umbra's warning, it wasn't like she needed it.

[Blackfeathr]

((pssst. Nukpanas quote color is hex number 2d2d2d.))

Nukpana's ears swiveled at the new hidden guest. She raised her head, narrowed grey irises darting from shadow to decieving shadow. She inhaled deeply the scent of a male of this pack. As quickly as he came a thicker female joined him, this one not hidden. She was just a hair shorter than she was, slender, but muscular. Three against one, great. The little whelp won't be of any threat to her, though. Still, these wolves at his side looked quite hostile.

"Three against one. Want to refigure those votes?"

"You have no authority here."

"You have trespassed knowingly into the territory of Arnlan. Why have you come? I offer no forgiveness...a father's sins...passed on to his son."

"This is between me and this sorry piece of flesh here," Nukpana growled, jerking her head at Armageddon, "You have no right to interfere with the great Patamon's work."

Armageddon grunted in surprise, and an understanding overtook him as his bright aquamarine eyes greyed a bit more.

"You can't take me. What I have here is mine." his voice was uncharacteristically deep as he stomped a paw on the ground.

"You own nothing but the spot in Hell where you'll be!" Nukpana roared, sprinting full speed at him. He dodged it cleanly, fangs bared and growling.

"What's the matter dear? Too 'good' to fight? That's how your slimeblooded mother was when she died at my feet. And before you know it, you'll be dead too!" Nukpana screeched in glee, dancing around Armageddon and snapping at his flanks.

Armageddon stopped, his eyes wide. His mother was dead? Nukpana killed her? An icy heaviness dropped in his stomach and he was numb. The rush of adrenaline threatened to overflow as it rushed through his entire being, boiling his blood. His eyes flashed to a cold, dark, unfeeling grey.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" He roared, lunging at Nukpana.

[Electus]

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

Never exhume me

Umbra stayed still in the shadows, his eyes probing. He wanted to get an idea of Nukpana fought before deciding whether or not he should interfere.

I don't want you anymore

As he watched Armageddon and Nukpana weave together into the graceful dance of battle, the ash-grey warrior's eye swiveled onto Nightblood. Would she be able to stay out of this fight? It was a personal affair, after all. They should only enter at Armageddon's request, and no sooner.

Colors are fading

The lithe wolf watched as Armageddon railed against his foe, but Umbra sighed inwardly. The black wolf fought with rage in his heart, but he left holes in his defense. He knew Nukpana probably baited her opponent into his rage...she would look to exploit it.

You took all that I want

Umbra slunk through the shadows to near where Nightblood was. Still concealed, he whispered a warning.

"His defense is weak. Still, stay out of it until he says so. This is a personal fight."[/color]

Memories are brimming and I hope you know

"Damn fool. She's goading you! Fight with your head, or you'll soon lose it."[/color] Umbra snapped coldly.

I am bleeding eternally for you.

[nightblood]

"This is between me and this sorry piece of flesh here," Nukpana growled, jerking her head at Armageddon, "You have no right to interfere with the great Patamon's work."

"His business with the piece of shit ended when he was accepted as a member of Arnlan. YOU are the one with no rights here," the Beta growled deeply.

"You can't take me. What I have here is mine." his voice was uncharacteristically deep as he stomped a paw on the ground.

"You own nothing but the spot in Hell where you'll be!"

Fear for her mate's life kicked in as the enemy charged him. NightBlood was about to intercept before her eye saw Armageddon dodge. Her paranoia died down by a fraction. She had never seen his fighting skills.

"What's the matter dear? Too 'good' to fight? That's how your slimeblooded mother was when she died at my feet. And before you know it, you'll be dead too!"

An enraged snarl erupted from the female's throat. NightBlood had never had a mother, but she knew the loss of a parent. Her body was poised for an attacking leap when her dark mate cut her off.

"I'LL KILL YOU!"

As the battle unfolded before her, Night was at a loss for thought. This was her first time witnessing the lanky male's fighting skills. He was no Umbra, but at least he could hold his own for more than five seconds. And speaking of the gray shade, a cold chill froze her spine as he spoke.

"His defense is weak. Still, stay out of it until he says so. This is a personal fight."

Blood was about to whine like a pup at that point, but she continued to watch the fight as her brain started to thaw and a thought process began. 'What if' questions ran through her mind until she came to the worst possible question ever to be thought up.

"I want my pups to have a father," she growled icily at the gray male.

She took an attacking pose, ready to rip the opposing female into very tiny pieces at the first sight of weakness from Armageddon.

"Damn fool. She's goading you! Fight with your head, or you'll soon lose it."

~If he does, it won't be the only head to be lost today...~

[Blackfeathr]

Nukpana's gleeful laugh rang through the blackened trees as she darted about Armageddon's raging attacks. Armageddon kept charging her with fangs bared, only to find his target empty space a millisecond later. Snarling, he turned toward her, trying to charge again.
Nukpana cackled louder, "Whelp who fights with his heart..." she snarled through a twisted grin, "you may have Patamon's blood coursing through your veins but you have none of his soul."

"Or lack thereof." A growl rumbled through Armageddon's throat.

A slight chuckle escaped Nukpana's lips. "You do not know anything about us. We live to fight. Live to kill!" the last word was a gleeful screech that made Armageddon's pupils dialate.

"Do I look like I care what your shit pack does." he snarled, taking several steps closer to Nukpana. She didn't budge.

"Why wouldn't you. You are linked to us. Now be a good boy and come with me to our lovely home. Or I could just kill you right here. Whichever works." Nukpana met Armageddon's eyes in a twisted glare.

Linked...

Armageddon stopped breathing.
A voice in his mind identical to Nukpana's whispered inside him.

Power beyond your wildest dreams... that's what you've always wanted, wasn't it? What you've always wanted.... Deep inside.... You can't fight it. It's in your blood!

He closed his eyes, trying to fight out the voice. No... this wasn't what he wanted... or was it? It was as if this new feeling was tugging at his chest, drawing him to some rogue pack... his nose was filled with the scent of fresh ash. He could taste it in his mouth. It was wonderful... disgusting...

He shut his eyes tight, staggering backwards. The sound of distant cackling reached him from another world. Blood. Power....

A familiar female voice.

No! Don't hurt them, take me instead, just leave them alone!

Distant screaming. Death screams. Laughter.

He opened his eyes. The left one was a dark, ominous grey, like approaching storm clouds. The right one, bright aquamarine.

"I would rather be gutted alive than to ally with the likes of you." His voiced mixed his soft tones with a dark, gravelly voice.

"Then I'll grant your wish! See how a real follower of Patamon fights and die under her might!" Nukpana snarled, leaping at Armageddon. Before he could react, she was on top of him, ripping and tearing at whatever she could get. Her paws pinned his shoulders to the ground, as well as her hind legs pressed against his hips.
He tucked his head in, feeling the blows of what she took from him.
He couldn't fight. He couldn't. He never had fought before. He could only defend. There was nothing he could do.

A ripping sound was heard before excruciating pain hit him in the left ear. He cried out in agony, his ear filling with blood.

Bringing his jaws around her front lower leg, he clamped down as hard as he could. He could taste her blood in his mouth and he could hear the cracking of bones. She yelped, taking her leg off of his shoulder for a second. That was all that it took. He rolled over, throwing her off of him. He lunged toward her neck but she scrambled up and darted away too fast.
In an instant she whipped around and had her jaws around his neck.
He was too deliberate with his moves. He would die, he knew it.
It couldn't end like this.
Using her torso she guided Armageddon down to the ground, laughing, but never letting go.
"You are going to die this way. At my feet, like your mother. Any last words?"

The blood loss and lack of oxygen from Nukpana's jaw pressure made Armageddon's vision swim and his mind fog. He didn't know where he was or why he was here, but he knew that just out of view, were two friends willing to fight for him.

"Help..." he uttered weakly, and Nukpana smiled, her jaw pressure increasing as he slowly lost conciousness.

[Electus]

"Help..."

Here comes the fury, black and frighful...

"Hmph." Umbra breathed, his ears going flat. "Prepare yourself, wolfess."

There was a sudden ash-gray flash, and then the flash materialized into a lightning swift lunge of fangs and claws. Umbra's eye flashed in anger, the sheer weight of his fury coiling around him like a blazing fire.

The sky weeps, and the storms crack with lightning...

Umbra lashed straight out at Nukpana, unleashing a deafening roar that shattered the air.

Any sound can shake the air. My voice shakes the heart!

The crazed warrior moved with an infinite grace, every step seeming to be a rehearsed part of some dreadful dance. He lashed out again and again at Nukpana in a terrible barrage of blows. He could smell the blood of his comrade, of his enemy. And that was enough.

Enough to drive him over the edge when he was like this.

Any blaze scorches the earth. My flames will devour all the way to the sky!

"Come on, witch! I long to dance with a foe who can match me!" Umbra crowed, his face alight with laughter.

Any warrior can crush the enemy! I'll crush your very soul!

[nightblood]

There was no hesitation. No warning. NightBlood was on the wolfess like bees to honey. She fought with the fury of a mother protecting her family, going for the throat and nothing else. The only tactful maneuver she attempted to pull was to wrap her leg around Nukpana's and bring her down off of Armageddon. If it worked, she'd immediately try to flip her over, exposing her soft belly for Umbra to rip at. She would have no mercy if she called out. The Beta had lost patience for mercy a long time ago. It was likely that she'd even attack Sofika and Karolek if they tried to stop her from killing this poor excuse for a wolf.

Snarling in her rage, blood pumping through her ears as she fought, NightBlood no longer enjoyed nor feared the thrill of battle. Age was beginning to set in on the Beta. Soon, Mortil and Umbra would feel it too. Their body would begin to grow tired, like hers. Though Umbra would probably continue to fight, it was likely that he would begin to feel the repetitive nature. Blood would fight only when a fight was needed from now on. She could feel the grinding in her joints as she moved in for the kill. She was not weak yet, though. And she would always take the lives of those who dared threaten her or her family.