Life in death (open)

[Argus]

Maachah

Silence. Just as he liked it. There was no life around him nothing but himself. A wolf could get lost in the deadness of it all. He didn't blend in with his surroundings but that didn't matter much anymore. After all the only danger he was in here was being lost. Not counting the absurd idea of the trees coming to life and attacking him. And yet the bleakness of it all was almost overwhelming to him. He was here for a reason though and wasn't about to leave. The scenery didn't do anything for him but the silence did. Here he was free. As the only living thing, he ruled supreme in this part of the world. At least for now. He wasn't stupid or delusional. He knew he would eventually either have to leave (most likely soon) to find food or water and even if he came back there was no guarantee a pack would not claim the territory the woods slumbered on. He had no want of trouble but it seemed as though he would attract it so long as he hung around long enough with others. He did sometimes become lonely as very few people did and yet he could not bring himself to leave just yet. There were reasons for this of course as there was a reason for everything he did or said. Sometimes his reasons weren't clear but yet again there was a purpose behind it. An order a purpose to everything in life even death.

He curled up against the thick grey trunk of one of the dead trees enjoying the mourning of things gone which caused the as yet unbroken and seemingly unbreakable silence. It wasn't a happy silence nor was it an angry one. It was a sad and yet a tense one at the same time. As though the past was waiting for something to happen. Although, if one asked him (not that anyone would) he would take the days gone by over progression any day. He wondered if he would see another wolf again should he choose to stay here. He'd like some company but he was here because the kind of company he got never gave him any fun conversation. All they did was give him a headache or argument. He disliked both and would choose to go into exile before going through either one more time.

[Meds]

DeSoto;

Dark blue fur shimmered in the hot Summer air as the male wolf threaded his way through the trees, such as they were. Darker eyes took in his surroundings with a sweeping motion, then turned upwards to the sun beating down on him. He didn't spare the energy to be frustrated by the heat, but there was no denying that it was hot. His tongue lolled out of his mouth. It wasn't that he was necessarily thirsty, but blast it all if he couldn't quite cool down.
It was because of this that he turned rather than continued straight—to try and get into some deeper shade. There was nothing wrong with taking a breather while he waited for the sun to go down. Besides, Perjury hasn't shown much interest in him as of yet, and while that frustrated him to his core, it also meant he had no obligations.
His paws had taken him to an unclaimed territory that day—though he doubted it had been empty for long. It was picked too clean to have been empty for years. No, DeSoto thought as his claws dug rivets in the dry earth he crossed, a pack had lived here not long ago. Scent markers still lingered in some spots, and DeSoto's keen mind was quick to pick it up.

Fortunately, he didn't care. All he cared abou just then was some shade and some quiet—the latter being a rather rich request from a wolf with Siren, but that had become his lot in life and he accepted it with dignity.

The sharp-featured wolf paused then, eyes forward to the clearing he had just happened upon. There was another wolf that had beaten him to the shady grove (though in the Mottled Trees, it only made sense that somebody else would have found the only shaded spot). DeSoto inclined his head in greeting, but made no other hesitation as he moved onto a soft patch of grass and sat down. His sides heaved quietly as he started to cool down. He appeared to be at the very height of calm—but if a smart wolf were to observe him very closely, they may notice that though his body language was relaxed, his eyes were bright and never left the other for even a moment.

[Argus]

Maachah picked up his head slightly at the sound of the other wolf's entrance and nodded back at him. His eyes flashed in recognition but he saw the heaving sides of DeSoto. He laid his head back down in peace allowing him the other male to catch his breath. Then if he wished to talk he could but otherwise he would be free to rest here. His mind races with thoughts whilst before even that had been quiet. He disliked how this could so quickly happen one minute having a blank space for s mind and then the next not being able to have a single moments respite. The sliver of sunlight peeking through the trees was enough to see clearly but not bright enough to cause discomfort. He blinked and curled beck onto his side. He wasn't foolish enough to relax completly in the presence of DeSoto but he wasn't tense by any means. He breathed slowly in the quiet of the cool shade. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of the warmth of the sun beating down in a most pleasant way on his dun fur. Keeping himself facing the tree he broke his own thoughts of moments before. Hello there. He could still here the labored breathing of DeSoto so simply let the words hang there. Allowing him to choose if and when he would answer in any way.

If he wasn't hear to talk he didn't have too and that's why Maachah left it open.

[Persecutor Kaiju]

Pandorax;

Pitch black fur moved throughout the strange trees, Pandorax was trying hard to ignore the burning sun that made his fur feel like fire. He doubted there'd be shade. and if there was some, another wolf probably took it. And that was what Pandorax just waltzed into. "Maravilloso..." He growled as he came upon two male wolves. They both seemed to be darker colored, at least to Pandorax. "Hola....." He said in a gruff voice at he sat far from the two wolves. Pandorax made it obvious that he was irritated in his pose and in the way that he eyed the two wolves from time to time.

[Argus]

Maachah chuffed at the new additions sarcasm. His brown earth colored fur rippled from his slight laughter. Spanish words though. Maachah had been all over but he hadn't picked up a lot of Spanish. The effect of the other wolfs pose was lost on him as he did not bother to turn around and look directly at whoever else had walked into the clearing. He was here to rest not be a chatterbox. Again if either wolf wanted to talk they could but he would not be the one to talk through the entire thing. The wolf had said hello and e responded in kind but did not elaborate.

[Meds]

DeSoto;

The male before him, thankfully, didn't seem like a big talker. DeSoto could appreciate that. He greeted him then lapsed back into silence. DeSoto sat in his small patch of shade in equal quiet for a while longer, then raised himself into a sitting position. He was about to introduce himself, when another male entered.
So much for peace and quiet—but who was he to talk. He himself had inturupted the other male's serenity first.

"Maravilloso...Hola."
DeSoto's ears flicked. What nonesense was this wolf speaking? If it was words, they were none that DeSoto had ever heard before. He rolled his shoulders and eyed the newcomer, then turned to the wolf whom he had inturupted.

"Hello. I hope you don't mind that I've happened upon you and somewhat ruined your tranquility." He glanced meaningfully at the jargon-speaking wolf as well, indicating that he, too, should at least ask permission to join them. After all, the shaded areas were fast becoming occupied, and the third male would have to sit in rather close proximity to the other two to get any sort of cover at all.

[Persecutor Kaiju]

"Sorry if I interrupted anything. Mind if I sit by here?" Pandorax's voice was calm, but there was a hint of awareness in the way he looked around. "I'm Pandorax." He said as he moved slightly closer to the two wolves, eyes shifting from the grass, to the sky, then to the two wolves from time to time. He wasn't worried, but he was tired of wandering around in the burning sun trying to find another shady spot. Pandorax also really didn't want to get into a fight unless he was the one to get bored or agitated by the heat.

[Argus]

Maachah chuffed again at Pandorax's words. Unless one counted sitting in silence and cooling off, listening to each other breathing he had interrupted nothing. He opened his trap Lon enough to say this and his name but closed it afterward. He didn't turn over and face them yet being as he wanted to mull over their words a tad bit more. DeSoto seemed to be in a friendlier mood than the first time they had met but it didn't mean anything. He even apologized! Although he hadn't had too. Macchah didn't resent another's presence he just hoped that the wolves would play nice and refrain from giving him a headache. Then he realized he still hadn't responded to DeSoto even though he had been contemplating his words. As long as you're not one to say annoying things I don't mind you interrupting. With that task done he retreated yet again into his thoughts.

[Meds]

DeSoto;

DeSoto nodded stoically when Pandorax introduced himself, and when Machah, more or less, said he didn't mind if they stayed. Frankly, DeSoto wouldn't have gone anywhere even if it had bothered him, but it definitely made things easier if they were all on the same page. He glanced from Maachah to Pandorax, then gave his dark blue fur a ruffle. The coloured tattoo on his chest caught the light for a moment, but he angled himself in such a way that the others probably wouldn't notice it. Maachah then told him that as long as he wasn't annoying, he was welcome to stay. DeSoto's ears flicked. Though he hadn't asked for permission, the male had granted it. It chafed at his nerves only slightly, so he chose to ignore it.
"I'm not one to say annoying things." He replied evenly, quoting Maachah verbatim.

He turned once more to Pandorax and allowed himself a moment of rare confusion. He had introduced himself in that curious language (if it even was a language), but seemed perfectly capable of speaking the common tongue. He blinked, staring, trying to work it out in his mind.

[Persecutor Kaiju]

Pandorax caught glance of DeSoto staring at him, but ignored it. He honestly thought neither of the wolves knew Spanish, maybe Maachah did, but it still didn't affect him. "Neither do I so i suppose that's good." He said just loud enough for the two to hear, before moving at an angle where his scar would not be visible, albeit he did so without knowing. Pandorax casually looked at the sky before smirking and looking back down. "So, if you don't kind me asking, where'd you get that tattoo? He asked, trying to be casual. Yet he still prepared for any retort or harsh comment from the wolf.

[Argus]

Again both wolves' poses were lost on him. Hearing Pandorax's question reminded him of who DeSoto was and what he was capable of. Agitated he sat p and walked in between the sentries not leaving the shelter of the shade but at the same time putting distance between the others and himself. He' suddenly had his fill of conversation for the moment. That could change in an instant as always but for now, he could feel the headache coming back. He sighed and settled back into his previous spot near the tree. His tail now thumped on the ground in an obvious tell of his mood.

[Meds]

DeSoto;

DeSoto's navy eyes flickered as Pandorax questioned him, and he turned his head slowly back to face the stranger. It was curious he had seen it at all, but perhaps he was just very observant. DeSoto said nothing at first, but then gave a relaxed exhale and settled back on his hind legs. Machaah didn't seem interested in conversing, so DeSoto directed his attention fully to Pandorax.
"It is the mark of a power, which I gained from the goddess Geist." He didn't include that he hadn't wanted Siren. He didn't allow himself to think such things, anyway. DeSoto's mind was his own at all times, and not even being branded with something he did not want, would change that.

[Persecutor Kaiju]

Pandorax flicked his ears at DeSoto's words. But slowly he nodded and tilted his head to look at the dark blue wolf. "Okay. Odd name, but who am I to judge?" He shrugged, unaware that when he tilted, his scar was visible. But when he looked to one side, he thought the shadows were the two wolves that he had seen multiple times as a pup. And then they vanished, leaving only shadows of another tree. 'Odd...' He thought before feeling wind on bare skin as he jerked his scarred face away from DeSoto and Maachah, hoping they didn't see his scar.

[Argus]

Macchah stood once aain feeling the humidity worsen around him and the heat beat down on his earthy fur. He wished he could climb a tree but sadly he ha Denver learned that skill. His parents had always told him climbing trees was best left to the cats. And in this case even if he could he doubted it would do much of anything considering the trees were all dead and boasted not a leaf. He had stood up in time to notice the scarred flesh Pandorax's face sported. He seemed all too eager to hide it and Maachah figure she could turn the tablle on him asking him the sma equestrian he had asked the other wolf but decided against it. Instead he played it safe asking a simple question one would ask an aqua trainee over a nice rabbit for lunch. "Are you from Mexico Pandorax or are you just a wolf who enjoys the Spanish language?"
(Sorry for the wait)

[Meds]

DeSoto;

The navy male looked to each of his company in turn. When he introduced himself to the one named Pandorax, he commented that 'DeSoto' was an odd name. DeSoto blinked, shifting his head first one way and then another. That wasn't exactly a common response to being told another wolf's name. He frowned, but chose not to comment on it. DeSoto was a wolf that kept things close to his chest, if he even felt them at all.
The wind shifted, and DeSoto was met with an eye-full of a scar on Pandorax's face, but he turned away so sharply that DeSoto felt he didn't want attention drawn to it. He said nothing about that either, moving only his eyes when the second male spoke. He asked if Pandorax was from somewhere called Mexica—or Mexico—DeSoto wasn't sure. It sounded like more nonesense to him. He blinked slowly, then eventually stood. These two seemed to be getting on just fine without him, and discussing things that made no sense to him to boot. He cleared his throat and began sauntering slowly out of the shade and back into the hot summer sun.

"I'm sure we will meet again," He said quietly over his shoulder, to both or neither of them, before jumping lightly through the underbrush and disappearing.
-Exit DeSoto-