Homecoming

[Electus]

Silence. Silence permeated the Sallinian border. For almost a week now the screams had stopped. And after a long, terse, and heated conversation with the alphas of Arnlan, the Death Shade once again walked the dark land he had come to love more than life itself.

For several weeks he had harried the borders of Sallin, slicing through their guardians and sentries like a surgeon's scalpel. He had carved a bloody path through their ranks, his ferocity only matched by his sadistic guerrilla tactics. Their screams were long and dreadful; music to his ear and a half. But there was a time and place for everything, and waging an extended war alone was not one of those things. So, battered and triumphant, Mortil had returned to Arnlan. It had taken much convincing, but he was again welcomed to journey the dark lands as he wished.

It was good to be back. Arnlan was a place that he was glad to call home, and it had hurt him to make the choice to leave. But what other choice did he have? Arnlan could not sit quietly after their beta had been so brutally killed. Their borders were left unprotected, and Mortil had felt the need to remind Sallin that Arnlan would not be easy prey.

But that was all over now. He had done his part for now. Pat present, there was only one wolf he wanted to see, more than anything else. He had not known for quite a time...but as he had raged through the Sallinians, his thoughts turned to her...more often that he thought they would.

He needed to see Zuka, more than anyone else.

[nightblood]

The yearling had made her den in the deepest depths of her mother's cave. Light could not penetrate her sleeping quarters, but Zuka was able to see the entrance in her mind's eye. Her ears twitched as she listened to the gentle drops of rain fall from the roof into the pool just outside the mouth of the cave. She could hear the sweet song of birds in the surrounding trees as well as the quick rustling of leaves as squirrels chased each other around. There was another sound, a splash, that made her open her crimson eyes.

-We're running out of time.-

The crow's wing was broken, probably by a fox, yet it was able to fly all the way to the den, only to meet a slow and more painful death. Interested, the female hauled herself to her paws.

-Stay in shadow-

"I wanna watch it drown..."

With eyes that looked as if she was in a constant state of shock, Zuka moved forward, stopping when her paws hit the light just inside the cave. To the outside, her face was barely illuminated, but her blood red eyes were easy to see. The fire of hate was dull, but something was still wrong in them. It was hard to describe, but as she looked on at the helpless creature flailing around in the water, she herself looked oddly distant from anything that was happening. She was very far away.

-We don't have time for this-

A growl erupted in her throat. Her conversations with her long dead mother were wearing on her.

"I said..."

Her fangs were bared in the direction of the dying bird. It reminded her of something. Not knowing what, she was drawn to it. Not even the voice in her head could tear her from it.

"I WANT TO WATCH IT DROWN!!"

The crow spasmed one last time before succumbing to the lack of oxygen. Its wings pulsed and faltered. Finally, the bird went limp.

"Hmph."

A look of distain found its way onto Zuka's face as she realized just what this bird symbolized. It could be one of two things. It was Arnlan. Black as the shadows, unsure of who was friend or enemy. It was only a matter of time before they became weak enough to be suffocated by Sallin's smothering threat. On the other paw, someone was coming home. A someone who might as well be dead. He had been in that cursed territory long enough for him to gain their putrid scent. His return could only mean his death.

"I'll run this world out..."

[Electus]

"I'll run this world out..."

He had been close enough to hear that. But he knew not what she meant. He only knew that she would hate him, and turn him away. But he did not care. To see her again, before he threw his life away, that was all he wished.

You are a fool.

Mortil could feel Umbra's disdain and disgust. He didn't care. The grey warrior laughed quietly to himself, his single eye glinting with sadness and mild hysteria. He stopped caring so long ago...so many weeks ago, when Nightshade stole his foster sister away.

And so, Mortil stopped his movements to stand still upon the entrance to Nightblood's den. He couldn't see her, but he could see the glint of red in the dark. He couldn't see her, but she could see him. He had changed over the harrowing weeks of his raids. Fresh scars adorned his body, criss-crossing over one another, over old ones. He was thinner, more haggard. His paws were stained red with blood, and no matter how much he tried, he could not wash it away. He looked wild, dangerous, but oddly vulnerable.

"Zuka..."

[nightblood]

"Zuka..."

The female looked up from the bird into the single eye of Mortil. Her cold expression returned. Her eyes hardened as her lips pulled backward to reveal wicked fangs. The growl returned, growing quickly into a snarl. The fur on her back bristled until it stood on end. But she would not attack. Instead, she turned and headed back into the darkness of her mother's cave, flicking her tail in irritation while giving him the signal to enter if he dared. Every pawstep forward created a clacking sound. She was flexing her claws. His, she had noticed, were red now.

"You're alive..." she said angrily, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

She made her way to a shaft of light in the darkness. The only thing she had changed about her mother's den was this small hole in the ceiling. She wanted to be able to get water whenever she wanted without going into the territory. The yearling had become almost completely introverted since NightBlood's death.

Without hesitation, Zuka circled around the light and laid down on the rock floor. She put her front paws in front of her with some of her body curved around the light. She was far enough away from the light to where she was only just visible.

"Why have you come back?" she growled.

[Electus]

"Why have you come back?"

Mortil looked away before looking back at her shadowy form. "To see-" He bit back the words before his heart could wrest them from his rigid control.

Coward

Mortil's pupil constricted before he could bring himself to speak again. "I promised I would. The alphas were gracious enough to allow me back...and my old rank as well."

He peered into the den. No one else was present, none that he could tell, anyway. What had happened to this place? He had ranged far and wide since his return, but he had not caught a single glimpse of Zuka, except here.

"And how...are the others?" He asked quietly.

The grey warrior looked away again, as if he could not meet Zuka's angry stare. And it was true...he couldn't. Her glare tore at him, until he could stand it no longer.

"Dammit, Zuka!" he blurted in a low, intense, voice. "I came back because...because I wanted to see you, alright? Are you satisfied? Now, that you've managed to wring this confession from me? You- you-"

Mortil clenched his fangs before speaking again. There was no turning back now. "I love you, Zuka. More than anything. It...I might as well have torn my heart out when I left."

The grey warrior favored his right shoulder, as if he did not want to show Zuka something on his left. He winced slightly before speaking again. "I've come back to serve as best as I can...and to tell you that. Kill me, if you must. I care not."

[nightblood]

"I promised I would. The alphas were gracious enough to allow me back...and my old rank as well."

Zuka growled. How on earth could the Alphas trust him again? It was probably Karolek. NightBlood had told her that it was the brother that had accepted Mortil against her judgement.

"And how...are the others?"

"Well enough," she answered, rolling her eyes in disbelief that he would bring up something so mundane.

"Dammit, Zuka! I came back because...because I wanted to see you, alright? Are you satisfied? Now, that you've managed to wring this confession from me? You- you-"

A syllable showed her tone. A fraction of a chuckle escaped her muzzle, but was cut off by his next statement.

"I love you, Zuka. More than anything. It...I might as well have torn my heart out when I left."

Zuka's eyes widened, though she didn't know why she was surprised. He had said this before. Maybe it was because Mortil was saying this now instead of Umbra.

"I've come back to serve as best as I can...and to tell you that. Kill me, if you must. I care not."

There were only two reasons Zuka would ever be driven to kill Mortil. One was if Umbra went on a binge kill and attempted to kill the pack once more. The second was a more personal reason.

"... Did you kill her?"

[Electus]

"... Did you kill her?"

Mortil laughed, but there was no humour in his voice. "No. I never said I would."

He calmed down, his face somber. "She did come after me, though. It was when I was almost to the border when she caught up with me."

Mortil shrugged, but the action caused his left shoulder to burn. His pupil dilated with pain, but he gritted his fangs before speaking again.
"But I got away...much to your disappointment, I see."

The grey warrior looked Zuka in the eyes once more, his single eye gleaming with sadness, pain, and a single question. "You...hate me, don't you?"

[nightblood]

"No. I never said I would."

Zuka's eyes narrowed now. So... he had never planned on killing NightShade in the first place. Now her reason for anger was completely switched. Her lips lifted from her teeth again. All this time and she had no reason to hate him.

"She did come after me, though. It was when I was almost to the border when she caught up with me. But I got away...much to your disappointment, I see. You...hate me, don't you?"

At his question, the coldness in her eyes softened. She blinked slowly, hoping he hadn't seen anything.

"No. Not anymore, anyway. I hated you because I thought your target was NightShade, but now I see that your revenge consisted of hindering her army. I hope you and Umbra will still let me take her pelt for myself."

This was not going as she had planned. Zuka had wanted to invite him into her cave, get a view of just how injured Sallin had become, then take his life. The last part of the plan was made questionable when he told her that the alphas had reaccepted him.

"I should have been more clear when I asked what Umbra had been planning to do."

[Electus]

"No. Not anymore, anyway. I hated you because I thought your target was NightShade, but now I see that your revenge consisted of hindering her army. I hope you and Umbra will still let me take her pelt for myself. I should have been more clear when I asked what Umbra had been planning to do."

Mortil smiled gently, tilting his head. "I'm glad." he said simply. He laughed wryly then. "I'm sure you'll kill her, Zuka. You and your siblings..."

He closed his eye momentarily, exhaling deeply. He felt dizzy, and beads of sweat were visible on his shoulders now. "Because while I can still fight...I cannot do so for long"

Mortil looked at Zuka, a curious look on his face. "I am glad...that I was allowed to spend at least a few more months in Arnlan, Zuka. I love this land...and you...more than anything in the world. A pity, I guess...that I must leave it."

He brought his left shoulder to bear. The skin had barely finished healing, and a horrid gash was still visible. The tissue around the wound was black and torn. "The first sentry I fought...He wounded me in with his claws. Ravenshard gives me about a few months."

[nightblood]

"I'm sure you'll kill her, Zuka. You and your siblings... Because while I can still fight...I cannot do so for long."

The yearling narrowed her eyes at her mother's friend. The gray wolf wasn't making any sense. He was still young. Barely two years older than she was. He couldn't be retiring. Not without the permission of the alphas.

"I am glad...that I was allowed to spend at least a few more months in Arnlan, Zuka. I love this land...and you...more than anything in the world. A pity, I guess...that I must leave it."

A gasp escaped her muzzle as Zuka's eyes beheld the deepest wound she had ever seen. Rising quickly to her paws, she raced across the light to have a closer look. What could have caused this? Umbra was not a sloppy fighter. He was immortal. Nothing could happen to him. Not while he was protecting the body he dwelled in.

"The first sentry I fought...He wounded me in with his claws. Ravenshard gives me about a few months."

"First?!" Zuka exclaimed, turning her eyes on the gray beast, "Then why the hell did you keep fighting?! You should have come to RavenShard as soon as you were hurt! She could have saved your ass then! Why did you keep going?!"

[Electus]

"First?!" Zuka exclaimed, turning her eyes on him, "Then why the hell did you keep fighting?! You should have come to RavenShard as soon as you were hurt! She could have saved your ass then! Why did you keep going?!"

Mortil smiled sadly. "Pride...revenge...anger? Who can say, Zuka? I don't know why I kept going. I wanted...I promised..."

He looked away again. "Or maybe...I don't know. I suspect that there is in me a self-destructive streak." The grey wolf sighed. "I...haven't done the most honourable of things. I've lived for barely two years...but they've felt longer than anything. No...."

Mortil shook his head resolutely. "A warrior's fate...will always lie on the field of battle. In Sallin...that is where I will fight and die."

[nightblood]

"Pride...revenge...anger? Who can say, Zuka? I don't know why I kept going. I wanted...I promised... Or maybe...I don't know. I suspect that there is in me a self-destructive streak."

What did the gray wolf mean? Did he enjoy pain? She'd heard many bedtime stories about those who fought, not for inflicting pain, but for receiving it. Those wolves always died in the end.

"I...haven't done the most honourable of things. I've lived for barely two years...but they've felt longer than anything. No.... A warrior's fate...will always lie on the field of battle. In Sallin...that is where I will fight and die."

The yearling started to growl, but the strength of her vocal chords faltered, and the stubborn growl quickly turned into a whimper of sorrow. The immortal warrior would go on for months dying in front of her and there was no way she could stop it. She closed her eyes, bidding the horrible wound to heal and leave little more than an awesome scar. Yet the injury remained in her mind, torturing her with the vivid image.

"S-stupid..." she choked out, "Y-you can't be hurt. You're Mortil. Who's gunna train us? Anek's never around and Armageddon isn't even as strong as I am."

[Electus]

"S-stupid..." she choked out, "Y-you can't be hurt. You're Mortil. Who's gunna train us? Anek's never around and Armageddon isn't even as strong as I am."

Mortil touched noses with her before smiling gently. "You'll have to move on without me, Zuka. All of you. I've trained you hard and well. I know you can go farther. You'll have to learn to train yourself. Besides, there is more to an Arnlanian warrior that just what I've taught. As Pollux said...I'm just a warrior that happened to come to Arnlan."

Before he could continue speaking, his left foreleg buckled. The grey warrior fell suddenly, but manage to catch himself, hissing in pain. "I won't be around forever, Zuka. Now, I must speak with your siblings. All of them. There are things I must discuss with them...and you."

At last, he fell, landing on his right side. He struggled to a sitting position, rivulets of blood running down his left shoulder to mix with the red of his claws. "I'm sorry, Zuka."

[nightblood]

"You'll have to move on without me, Zuka. All of you. I've trained you hard and well. I know you can go farther. You'll have to learn to train yourself. Besides, there is more to an Arnlanian warrior that just what I've taught. As Pollux said...I'm just a warrior that happened to come to Arnlan."

She clenched her teeth. Zuka had no more strength to growl, but it didn't stop her from glaring angrily at the wound on his shoulder. The cold from his nose gave little comfort, but it was good to know he was there when she closed her eyes, beating back tears. One managed to escape when the warrior faltered.

"I won't be around forever, Zuka. Now, I must speak with your siblings. All of them. There are things I must discuss with them...and you."

Zuka brought her wrist up to her eye and wiped away the tear. She had to show strength now. Sure'thim would never let her live it down if he had found her crying. Finding the strength to growl, she stepped forward toward the mouth of the cave. Once the front half of her was bathed in sunlight, she lifted her muzzle to the sky and let out a song to her siblings, half and littermates.

A slight scuffling alerted her and she turned to see Mortil ling on the floor, attempting to get up. Bolting to help, she pushed her head up under his to give him aid as well as a bit of comfort.

"I'm sorry, Zuka."

"How does Umbra feel about being powerless?" she asked, ignoring his apology, "He must be angry, knowing he can't stop this body from dying."

[Electus]

As Mortil moved into a more comfortable position, he could feel Zuka's head pushing up on his, offering some support.

"How does Umbra feel about being powerless?" she asked, ignoring his apology, "He must be angry, knowing he can't stop this body from dying."

He sighed. "We're not exactly on the best of terms at the moment. Nor were we ever, really."

"I don't dare lose control now, when Umbra could do anything. No. I will not. Never again."

The grey warrior nudged gently at Zuka. "I'm fine. For now, anyways. Now, tell me of what has happened since I left. You and your siblings have still be training, yes?"