A new face ((Open))

[CursedErin]

Duality groaned a little as he made his exploration around Frigid Plague's territory now. He had somehow managed to get himself accepted into the ranks by Perjury, which to him was even a bit of a surprise. It felt awkward to him at the same time! Never before had he bowed to another wolf. "Weak..." Whispered a voice at him, to which he'd bare his fangs and grit his teeth tightly against one another. He figured he should keep the majority of his insanity to himself if he could, as opposed to yelling at the thoughts that ran through his head in his meager attempts to keep them silenced.


He had promised to Perjury that no harm would come to any of her pack, especially to the pups, her pups in particular. Duality planned to make good on that promise, after all he needed to learn self control. The strange male was hoping some interaction with other wolves would do him some good and perhaps helps drown out the other voices he had. 


"Oh will you just find a den already?!" One voice shouted at him. Duality shook his head a little, but was still listening to the voice. After all, he would need some place to lay his head to rest eventually. Even though it was only midday, he figured he should explore the territory and perhaps meet a new wolf or two. Despite this, he seemed to pick a tree that was further away from most, as if trying to distance himself just in case.

With an agitated sigh, he'd seat himself down in the den of the redwood tree and start casually grooming himself. All the while he had his eyes closed firmly, trying to block out the voices that wished for him to move about. Not that he wouldn't move eventually, but he'd figure he'd enjoy his time for now.

[Deleted]

(OOC: Beware, Prospit has started fights before, but only when his brother was hunting alone.)

First a magenta wolf, then a larger, more muscular yellow wolf pushed into the red wood site. The bickered at each other about where they wanted to place their den. (OOC: in another thread.) With the occasional hit with the magenta wolf's long tail, as well as some hits with the yellow wolf's paw, the two casually laughed as if they knew each other. The magenta wolf sat down, followed by his companion. The smaller wolf glanced in Duality's direction, then the larger wolf. "Hey, someone else is new here, we aren't alone brother!" It was the yellow wolf who said a little too loudly.

[CursedErin]

((All good! I might have to restrain Duality the best I can though if it does happen! After all, he just promised Perjury he wouldn't harm the other pack members!))

Duality's ears stood straight up at the sound of someone's voice. He'd be lying if he wasn't a bit nervous about meeting anyone else, he had a feeling Perjury would be able to subdue him, but was unsure of another wolf's power. Either way, it seemed like the two had noticed him in the very least and were well aware of the split colored wolf. "Attack!" Screamed a voice, "No! Perjury forbade it, make friends!" Chimed another. Duality seemed to growl a little and shake his head vigorously for a moment before he silenced the voices.

"Er... Hi?" He started simply, not entirely sure how he'd go about meeting some more wolves. It felt strange to him to be in a pack and he certainly wasn't looking forward to getting into any trouble, fearful he'd lose his chance to try and quell the voices in his head.

[Deleted]

The smaller wolf was first to stand up, and walk casually to Duality, while his companion walked beside him. "Greetings, my fellow pack member, I am Derse." Derse lowered his head, while the other wolf pawed him playfully. "And I'm his younger brother, Propsit." Prospit whacked at Derse's long tail, which earned him a hard hit right between the eyes with said tail. "We just arrived after being accepted. And we were fussing over where we should share a den. We can't stand being without each other, despite how fustrated we get with each other." Derse said in his usually chill voice. Both wolves sat not far away from the den that Duality was in.

[CursedErin]

Duality watched the two curiously as they introduced themselves to him. "I'm Duality..." He responded as he thought about their predicament. "I don't quite remember seeing any dens too terribly large... I'm sure you could find a den that has enough room for you both, but it might be a bit cramped... Other than that, I'm sure there's plenty of dens that are right beside one another." He responded, trying to help them find a solution to their living situation. He curled his own tail around the best he could towards his paws, though it was just short of laying on top of them.

[Deleted]

"We don't care if a den's cramped or- MMPHH!" Prospit said before his brother whacked him again to shut him up. "Don't get snarky, brother, I'm not gonna break a fight." Derse snapped, which was unusual. Prospit, startled, nodded vigorously, wide-eyed. Derse looked to Duality with an apoligetic look in his eyes. "Sorry for the outburst, I just get between fights and i have to break them up." He said, eyeing his brother. Sighing, Prospit muttered, "Sorry." Derse nodded and looked back to Duality. "Sorry for our disruption of your space, we'll be going." He turned away from the den, and his brother followed. The two left to search for their new den.

[CursedErin]

Duality raised a brow at Prospit once he was silenced. Then Derse mentioned breaking up a fight. "He wants to fight?! He dares to challenge you?!" A voice immediately chimed in, forcing the wolf to grit his teeth together while Derse spoke to him, both of the brothers apologizing to him. He had even started breathing heavily as he tried to quell the voices and cease their actions. Before he knew it though, Derse and Prospit were walking away from him. "Have... A good one." He managed to get out through clenched teeth. Without another thought he retreated as deep into the den that he could and laid himself down. The large wolf curled into himself and bit down onto his tail. "These thoughts are not mine... I do not wish to harm them..! No one in Frigid Plague will be harmed... Not on my watch..." He thought to himself, repeating it over and over in his head to drown out the voices. At one point he even started to murmur it into his tail while he thought of what to do.

[Fierfly]

Shantias:

Finally! The past six weeks had been unbearable as she'd learned to roam and had to beg and plead with her mother to let her explore the vast territory by herself; eventually Perjury had agreed and Shantias permitted herself a quick skip of delight. No pesky grown-ups telling her not to wander too far, no wild, giggling sisters that would reveal their location when she wanted to skulk and scope, no limitations, she would finally get to look around all by herself. The Dens were not the most exciting place to explore, but you had to start somewhere, and being able to meet the members of her mother's pack would be a good start. She wanted to know what sorts of wolves were in the pack, how strong they were, if they were smart enough, sincere. She had to make sure everything was in order.

The young she-wolf let herself skip once more before getting back down to business: exploring. The young she-pup glanced around, nose teasing the air and testing it, searching for the scents of other wolves in the area, eager to meet someone new. A nearby scent caught the sharp clay nose and the russet-colored pup loped on her too-long legs and too-large paws over to a den set somewhat aside to find a dark blue-grey male with perfectly divided stockings and highlights of crimson and purple whispering to his tail. Whispering to his tail? Who was this guy? "Who are you?" Shantias demanded, her eyes narrowed and chin held up as she scrutinized the stranger.

[CursedErin]

"Leave me to myself..." Duality thought as he first heard paw steps, though that wasn't what worried him at first. The scent of whoever was approaching reminded him of someone... Perjury! No doubt, whoever was making their way towards his secluded den was close to the alphess. He was curious, but at the same time worried. He kept himself tucked away for the moment,
at least up until he heard the pup's voice.

In an instant, all of his muscles froze at once. "This must be one of Perjury's pups!" Chimed a voice, "Attack it!
Kill it! It'll be fun!" Growled another. Duality sank his black claws into the floor as he pushed the murderous thoughts out,
trying to focus on the positive intuitions. Steadily, he rose himself back up, releasing his tail from his muzzle and turning over to look at Shantias. Duality shuffled around until he was seated firmly in front of her.

"I'm... Duality." He answered simply, tilting his head to one side as he examined the pup."Kill! Maim! It's in your blood... Your history!" Screamed another voice in his noggin. The wolf seemed to slam his eyes shut and recoil his head towards his chest some, panting a little as he focused. "Sorry about that..." He added, raising his head back up to stare at Shantias with his manic eyes. "I'm still trying to get over my... Condition." As he spoke he continued to let his claws dig as far into the dirt as they could, hoping that it would also help keep him from lashing out. The wolf could barely distinguish between friend and foe, but all he knew was Perjury said not to harm any pups, especially hers! Naturally, he'd be trying his best... Though if he felt the urge becoming too great he'd tell Shantias to leave instantly, that or he'd take off himself to some other place for awhile.

[Fierfly]

Shantias:

The large male slowly sat up and gave his name: Duality - that was a weird name and she scrunched up her nose in consternation and stuck her lower lip out in a slight pout as she concentrated and looked him over. Without warning he squinched his eyes shut in a hurry and dropped his head down towards his chest as though he were ducking something. Keeping her eyes on this Duality fellow, the pup flicked her ears to see what he was trying to avoid. There was no buzzing, she couldn't smell any other wolves nearby - what was he doing? He was shaking now! Shantias was disappointed in Duality, this one must have been the type to beg to be let into a pack, from what she could see he had nothing to offer except maybe his services as a baby-sitter which she thought was pretty useless since she and her sisters were hardly babies anymore. Duality slowly raised his head and stared down at the pup with his strange eyes and apologized for his...condition. Condition? What kind of condition was it, good or bad? Actually, what in the heck was a condition anyway? She'd have to ask Mother later, in the meantime she'd deal with Duality and his "condition" as best she could.

"My name is Shantias, youngest daughter of Alphess Perjury and Beta Vanitas," That had sounded awful: next time she'd skip the fact that she was youngest, it wasn't like she was youngest by much, people probably didn't even pay attention to those sorts of things. "What brings you to Frigid Plague Duality? What can you do? Think you're strong enough to be part of a pack?"

[CursedErin]

"Questioned by a pup..? I may have stooped too low... Was joining a pack a mistake?" He thought to himself as he seemingly looked through the pup at his den's entrance. "Yes! That's what I've been trying to tell you! Pathetic, look at you!" A voice shouted at him. Duality would growl a little, both at Shantias and at the voice trying to persuade him. His pitch black teeth were bared while his matching claws dug into the dirt beneath him once more. "No! I've made up MY mind... Not yours." He thought to himself, as if trying to yell back at the voices, trying to keep them subdued.

After a strange period of silence between him and Shantias he'd finally seem to snap back into reality, blinking a few times and looking around the pup for a moment until he settled his odd colored eyes on her. "I'm here to try and quell my condition... Or at least settle it down." He started, breathing in and out deeply as he gathered his own thoughts through the never ending voices. "What can I do..? Well, what can any wolf do? Fight, kill, hunt, scavenge... My only thing is I do my own fights and hunts... Never was much for the company on them. Though that might change." He said, shrugging a little as he thought to answer her last question. 

The final question had seemed to even have an effect on Duality as it was asked. He seemed stunned for a moment as he pondered how to answer. "Mentally..? Not really. I'm here in Frigid Plague to try and fix my mental strength. Physically?" He paused for a moment, tilting his head at the pup and smirking a little. "Let's just say I'd rather not test it." He was seemingly sincere in his words, though he could snap at any moment, so was there ever much sincerity? Duality was truthful about his strength however, he was larger than most wolves and thought himself more capable than those without powers. His voices often told him that the wolf's that possessed a power were simply a better test for himself. His only problem would be his mental stability... Duality was hoping that being with other wolves and interacting would potentially help his situation and bring him into a more linear line of thinking. Of course, he also wondered if the White Wolves might be able to help as well... He was uncertain, for now he'd just settle with dealing with the pup in front of him.

"Wish I had some questions for you... Though I can already assume the answers to most of mine." He added, rolling his head to tilt the other way. It'd be foolish of him to ask the same questions back to the pup. Of course she had reason to be in Frigid Plague, she was Perjury's pup! What could she do? He had seemingly answered that one already on behalf of all wolves. Was she strong enough? She's a pup, she'll grow into her own strength and perhaps be a fierce fighter one day. "If you've got anything else to ask... Feel free." The large wolf seemed to relax, his claws steadily retracting out of the dirt and back into their sheathes.

[Fierfly]

Shantias:

Duality bared his teeth at her and she lifted her lip back at him. She'd introduced herself, he knew enough not to threaten or attack the alphess's daughter. If he didn't...her mother would be digging a grave, any wolf with half a brain who had ever even heard of Perjury's reputation or had any inkling to a mother's instincts over her children would know that: she didn't like this stranger very much (she didn't like anyone very much) and his uncertainty made her like him less, but she figured he knew enough to know his place, so she was not at all concerned with her safety, indeed, the possibility of him hurting her had never crossed her mind, just with learning about this stranger.

Her questions seemed to surprise him, but he blinked and answered most of them nonplussed. What brought him to Frigid Plague? He was trying to do something about his condition. That condition again! What was it? She was not going to embarrass herself with her ignorance by asking him either what it was or what the word meant, again, such a things were reserved for Mother, so she merely raised her chin another fraction of an inch and let him go on. What could he do? What could any wolf do? He was a hunter, fighter, scavenger...wait, fighter? Well at least that was something! Maybe this guy wasn't going to be a complete waste of space and air after all. Was he strong enough? This one seemed to catch him a little off-guard. Mentally he was here to heal. Wait, what?! Healing??? Was he insane? Healing in an evil pack? This guy had a lot to learn. What was he healing from? Was it dangerous? Was that why he seemed so thick and whispered to his tail? Was he a little crazy? Maybe he was a lot crazy...she furrowed her brow and scrutinized him. Crazy or no, he was part of the pack so she'd have to accept him and maybe be careful until she knew his craziness levels.

He had no questions for her: again, the pup was disappointed, she wanted a challenge, she wanted to see what the world was all about, she wanted people to know who she was, she wanted an adventure! Obviously she would not find it here: very disappointing. He almost sarcastically invited her to continue asking questions and she looked him over again to see if anything else demanded her attention. Nothing that she could see. So much for that. "Not at the moment. Generally, when speaking the asker becomes the person being asked after the first round of questions." She stared at him imperiously, waiting for him to correct his lack of creativity and reply somehow. She thought she looked authoritative and demanding, but the young, cuddly frame, chubby cheeks, legs too long to be taken seriously and juvenile voice did nothing to support her mental self-portrait.

[CursedErin]

Duality didn't seem to quite like how Shantias was looking at him. It reminded him too much of his family and how they stared at him, always thinking they were better than he was. Once again, his claws dug into the dirt beneath him as a sultry voice whispered in his ears. "You could just be done with her now... But then again, you'll have to face those consequences. I'm not here to tell you what to do... But I suggest you behave." It murmured. 

For a moment, Duality's irises shook a little. "That voice... It's... New?" He questioned himself, all while staring blankly through the pup. It was a different voice, one he hadn't heard before and one that was letting him make his own choices. The shock of it made him retract his claws back in, not that they were threatening anyone burrowed in the ground. 

He snapped back to his senses once Shantias reprimanded him about not having any questions. The voices in his head seemed to overtake their role once again, shouting and yelling various things for him to ask. Duality tilted his head to one side as he looked down at the pup. He wasn't entirely sure what to say, or what to do, but figured he'd appease the child for the meanwhile.

Despite this, he seemed to take a more cynical route with his own questions. "Heh... Very well..." He started, giving a bit of a chuckle. "How about... What's it like to have a family that cares for you? What's it like to be sheltered and protected by a real mother?" He questioned, pausing for a second. "And why do you feel the need to question me?" He ended, emphasizing his last word. The split colored wolf thumped his tail on the ground before curling it around on top of his paws, awaiting the pup's response.

He didn't care if she hated him, after all so many already did. The strangest part of the whole thing for Duality was the fact that his questions were his own. None of the voices had shouted them, or even wanted them! As the words left his muzzle, each voice murmured and hushed one another until finally going silent, without the male having to shut them out. It felt peaceful to him, though he knew it wouldn't last long.

[Fierfly]

Shantias:

Duality did not look as though he appreciated her trying to correct him about his role in the conversation. He gave her something that was not quite a glare before chuckling darkly and finally replying. What was it like to have a family? Didn't he know? Weren't all pups born into a family? The imperious expression was quickly wiped for one of utter confusion, a wrinkled nose and the long, fuzzy ears perked forward as his stream of queries continued. What was it like to have a real mother? Her eyes squinted under the furrowed brow and her mouth parted slightly. Had he had a fake one? Duality's questions weren't making much sense, but more confusing yet was his tone of voice, it sounded almost bitter and resigned, as though he didn't truly mean them, but the challenge in his voice and eyes for her to answer was there and she was determined to do so. His last question: why did she have such a need to question him?

"What? Didn't you have a family when you were little?" ducking her head as she realized she'd admitted she was still "little" she mentally scolded herself and squared her shoulders and turned to face Duality again. "It is how it is, a little annoying sometimes...especially being the baby, but what can ya do? Life is life, I guess I could be worse off." What if there was no Mother? No warm side to wrestle to rest beside at night? No protection from the fierceness of the world? No silly, squabbling, giggling, bothersome sisters? Such ideas had never occurred to her before, but she did not dwell on them for very long. "As for having 'a real mother' I didn't know you could have a fake one. Anyway..." she considered this for a moment. "It's...it's different I guess, she keeps me safe, teaches me...it's a lot to live up to." the last question could be answered easily. "This is my mother's pack, my pack, I need to see who's around and what they're like. It's my right." she cocked her head and studied him again. "You're not bad for the pack I don't think...unless you are." she smiled and left him to interpret it as he would.

[CursedErin]

Duality seemed to watch her intently as she took the three questions. It seemed he was eager to learn her answers for whatever reason it was. It wasn't long after that she responded with restating the first two questions, sometimes in a snappy way before actually answering him. He raised one corner of hos mouth when the pup ducked her head before looking at his smirking face again. He wasn't sure if a pup was the right type of person to help him with is mental stability, especially not one with a personality like Shantias. Still, it was some sort of start, perhaps it brought it the more agitated side of him anyways.

He'd nod solemnly to her answer about life having the potential to be worse. "She has no idea..." He thought. Duality seemed to scoff a little when she wondered if you could even have a fake one. Before he chimed in though, he'd wait for the pup to finish talking and soon finding her turning away. "Depends on your definition of 'fake.' And I'll do my best here, with or without a pups approval. If you need something though, feel free to ask." He called off to her, letting her be and letting her go to potentially harass another new member to the pack. Rolling his eyes a bit, Duality laid himself back to the ground.

"Weird... The voice h-" He started thinking to himself, just as they stared back up! "Go hunting!" Started one, "Hunt that pup!" retorted another. "Just stay put... No need for trouble." Whimpered a different softer voice. There was argument and debate going on inside his own head as they shouted back and forth. Then out of nowhere, a kinder and gentler voice rose above all of them. "Enough! He's free to do as he pleases... Do not interfere with his life." It said. Duality's eyes shook a little and he couldn't help but curl around again, hooking a paw over her muzzle and grumbling to himself.