The first marking (Closed)

[Boomer]

Rykett

20 Years Ago


There was a male named Apep, he was a legendary hero to the good wolves. He was an amazing warrior and a great leader, he stood up to evil wolves- he never gave up. Apep was an intelligent male, a serious male, fair and just. He trained wolves to become better warriors, everyone knew him, everyone seemed to have loved him. But some wolves would become jealous of him, so one of his warriors betrayed him and sent him to a goddess, an evil goddess, a goddess named- Geist.

Apep didn't know he was being tricked, one of his best warriors told him to visit a great goddess who granted wisdom and power. Apep did not care for power… but he wanted to attain wisdom, he trusted his best warrior, Cyber. So he had traveled to white wolf mountain to meet the goddess, of course not realizing he was going to meet Geist.

He was near the cave entrance then, it had taken a few hours for him to travel there and by then it was night time. Apep had looked at himself, his khaki base coat, his silver left leg, he had different colors on him. He then spoke aloud, calling out for the goddess “Hello? Am I at the right place?” Apep said almost nervously, Cyber had gained his trust only to trick him. Perhaps Cyber wanted to take Apep’s place, more than likely he was planning on that.

Apep did not know, he did not realize that the fair and just leader had stepped into a trap, who knows what would or could happen to him. Maybe it was too late to turn back, Apep was only three by then. He knew he still had a lot to learn, even if he was an intelligent leader.

[Rykett]

Geist was minding her own business, relaxing in her comfortable cave when a wolf stepped into her cave. Not just any wolf. This was a wolf whose name had been spat by recent visitors to Geist’s cave. Apep. Geist knew of him. She knew of his exploits and supposedly triumphs. They did not matter to her. Apep was merely another plaything to Geist. However this plaything was the exact thing she despised. Some wolves believed themselves to be followers of Taboo. They thought themselves to be noble, but Geist knew the truth. All wolves were dark at heart even if they refused to believe it. Wolves paraded around, calling themselves Good and holding themselves above the rest, but very little separated from those they considered beneath them.

And here was this Apep. He was another ignorant Good wolf, one who her many evil underlings had failed to destroy. That annoyed Geist. She stood, looming in the shadows of her den as an indistinct white shape. Her multicolored eye twinkled, the clarity of their form contrasting against the blending of the depths. In response to his question, the ground beneath his paw rumbled then suddenly seemed to tilt pushing him into the den. As soon as Apep had crossed the threshold, a wall of rock covered the entrance. It blocked out all light, but Geist’s eyes still glowed in the darkness. ”You are far from where you belong,” the whisper seemed to come from everywhere. It vibrated through the cave.

[Boomer]

The ground started to shake as soon as Apep asked his question, the tawny male's eyes widen slightly and then suddenly the ground tilted to where he went in the cave, and the next thing he knew, the cave was surrounded by darkness. He turned around only to see the entrance being blocked "Huh?" he said looking in front of him and spotting twinkling eyes. Then he heard a voice that seem to have came from everywhere "You are far from where you belong." Apep gulped barely but spoke "If my knowledge doesn't fail me, you're not the goddess who gives wisdom to good wolves...are you?" the male said in a calm tone of voice not being fearful as always. Then Apep started to conect the dots, Cyber is literally his best warrior...he had been acting strange lately and it was just odd to hear Cyber speak of a goddess who gives power and wisdom. Apep then realized Cyber was just tricking him so that he could take his place in the pack. Just the thought made Apep growl in anger, more than likely Cyber was just another one of Geist's slaves and told him to rid of Apep.

He should've known better, but now it was too late, he was probably going to get killed by the evil goddess. Or if not, come out alive with something he would never forget.

[Rykett]

”No,” the voice seemed amused, ”I’m not.” Suddenly with a flash of light, a fire erupted in front of Apep. There was no tinder to keep it fueled, but it burned steadily anyway. The fire’s flickering light revealed a sleek white form reclining next to it. In the firelight, Geist didn’t seem nearly as threatening as instinct proclaimed she should, especially with such a relaxed position. She stared at the fire with a focused expression, then after what felt like an eternity, she shifted her gaze to Apep. Her multicolored eyes reflected the fire, giving them a divine intensity. ”But, I could give you far more power than my sister ever would.”

Geist stood and with a flick of her paw, the fire rushed to engulf the lifted paw. It greedily nipped at her white fur, but the fur refused to char and burn. Geist flourished the paw and the fire roared as if fueled by her theatrics. ”The power to destroy is the greatest of all and fire has the greatest capacity for destruction. I could stuff you full of fire and you would leave this mountain, the most powerful wolf in the world. You could use your power to lead. No wolf would dare cross you as Cyber did. You could protect your wolves by burning any that threaten those whom you shield.” Geist proffered Apep the fire. Her eyes glittered with anticipation. Apep only had two choices; accept or refuse. If accepted, Geist would fill him with Inferno and he would slowly melt in pain and agony. If he refused, Geist would turn every wolf he cared about against him. There was no middle ground or compromise and if Apep tried to make one, Geist would choose for him.

[Boomer]

The male listend to the goddess as she spoke “No,” her voice sounded amused “I’m not.” Apep lowered his body barely in a defensive position, but only two seconds later he stood up realizing that there was no point trying to defend yourself while encountering a goddess. Apep sighed and right before his very eyes a flash of light , fire was there in front of Apep. The male’s eyes widen as he stared at the fire, then he looked in front of him and saw the goddess. Maybe his eyes were playing tricks on him, but the goddess seemed relaxed and not threatening. But Apep stayed sharp and kept his guard up “But, I could give you far more power than my sister ever would.”

Apep tilted his head in curiosity, wondering what she could be talking about. Then Geist stood and with a flick of her paw the fire rushed to engulf the lifted paw. Apep merely stared and watch what was happening and he saw the fire nipping at her pelt but her pelt didn’t burn. “The power to destroy is the greatest of all and fire has the greatest capacity for destruction. I could stuff you full of fire and you would leave this mountain, the most powerful wolf in the world. You could use your power to lead. No wolf would dare cross you as Cyber did. You could protect your wolves by burning any that threaten those whom you shield.”

Apep looked at the fire and stared at it for a few moments, thinking of what he should do. He knew he couldn’t take forever on answering but he only wanted to make the right choice. Apep then made up his mind and glanced at the goddess “I am great the way I am, I do not need to be the most powerful wolf in the world, I trust my warriors could lead without being powerful. And I am not one for wanting power, all I seek is wisdom,” he looked down again “So even if I die all be fine knowing that I can trust most of my wolves.” he lowered his head barely waiting for the goddess to do what she was supposed to do. Apep was a survivor and inteligente, no matter what happens he would figure out what to do at some point, even if most wolves turned his back against him.

[Rykett]

Apep actually considered the offer before he spoke. Given his reputation, Geist would’ve supposed that he would immediately reject the destructive power. Well, Geist has phrased her words in such a way that they skewed the truth. As soon as the mortal had finished speaking his response, a smirk split Geist muzzle. The expression could only be seen for a second before the flame suddenly disappeared with a puff of smoke. In this second round of darkness, not even Geist’s eyes could be seen.

The darkness seemed to be pressing in on all sides. ”You think yourself above all others?! You think that you don’t need the power I offer to succeed?! Oh look! It’s the great and noble Apep, whose power Geist can’t even increase!” Every word was screeched. The echoes of each overlapped the next, making it difficult to discern one from the next. The next words were closer to normal except each word’s echo continued to much longer than was natural. ”Misplaced trust is what sent you to me in the first place. You are too free with who you trust. It’s only fitting that no one will ever be able to place their trust in you, again.” A ribbon of glowing light glided through the air. It dove into Apep’s flesh and snaked across his side, searing an unnatural, obvious marking into the fur. The pain of the magical brand would be intense. ”Any wolf who sees this mark will instinctually realize it is the brand of a liar and a murderer. You will not be able to correct them; I have bound your tongue from speaking the truth behind the origin of this mark to anyone except those who share your burden for this curse will not die with you. It will be passed from generation to generation of your descendants. They cannot escape the scourge you brought upon them.” As Geist finished her explanation, the glow permanently faded, never to shine again. The magic weaved within the mark would never die, though.

A smart wolf might choose never to have children to avoid passing on the burden of the curse. Most wolves longed to begin a family and few could refuse to call of nature to pass on their genes as cursed as they might be. Apep would eventually add wolves to Geist’s cause. After being called evil their whole lives, surely his pups and grandpups would start straying towards the darkness. That was where they belonged, where they would be accepted. Geist smirked at the thought of future hearts answering their true calling.

”Leave!” the command thundered through the cave and seemed to shatter the wall blocking the exit. Geist teleported into the depths of her den before Apep could see her for not even a single ray of light had touched her pelt.

[Boomer]

The male had suspected something bad could happen, of course it was, surely something bad was going to happen because he had refused the goddess's offer. Apep could have regretted this, saying yes instead of no, but that wasn't the case, he never longed for power- he merely longed for wisdom. And that was what he needed the most when he had trusted Cyber, clearly Apep lacked the wisdom. Apep could only see Geist smirk for only a mere second before everything turned into complete darkness and not even her eyes were to be seen. Then the goddess started yelling, her voice screeching which made Apep cringe, then the goddess continued "Misplaced trust is what sent you to me in the first place. You are too free with who you trust. It's only fitting that no one will ever be able to place their trust in you, again." Apep's eyes widen as she said those words, she was right though, he trusted many wolves and guess where that lead him? It lead him to a life where he would never be able to trust again, a curse. Then a ribbon of glowing light glided through the air then dove into Apep's skin, he cringed again and whimpered so quietly but his whimper would get louder because of the intense pain. Then Geist spoke again "Any wolf who sees this mark will instinctually realize it is a brand of a liar and a murderer. You will not be able to correct them; I have bound your tongue from speaking the truth behind the origin of this mark to anyone except those who share your burden of this curse will not die with you. It will be passed from generation to generation of your defendants. They cannot escape the scourge you brought apon them."

Apep growled quietly, this curse could not go on. Apep could not let the curse continue on. "Leave!" The voice thundered shattering the wall behind him. Apep looked behind him and quickly exited the cave, never to look back.

When Apep left the mountain he came to a stop and hesitated to look at his accursed marking. A snake, a snake marking on his khaki pelt. It was so obvious and there was no way to hide it, Apep sighed to himself and even hesitated to go pack to him pack. He didn't want to, but he left his pack, his best warriors. He left the valley, he left everything he once loved behind, never to return so that he couldn't continue on the curse.

1 Year Later

Apep had survived alone, he was doing fine for the most part and he learned to not trust any wolf that he encountered. Most of them even tried to kill him just because. Apep had promised not to have any children, as bad as he wanted some. Though there was a day where he encountered such a beautiful female, he couldn't keep his eyes off her. Apep hesitated to even speak to the female but nature got the best of him and at some point they got together and they had a child, a male. It seemed like Apep had forgotten about the curse because when he saw his son's fur his saw the cursed marking and his eyes showed shock.
Apep had failed to keep his promise and because of that he did his best to keep his child safe, Apep told his son the story of what had happened because that was what he could do, he couldn't tell the truth to any other wolf except for his offspring so Apep thought it best to say the truth to the only wolf he could say it to.

14 Years Later

Generation to generation the cursed continued on. Ever since Apep, his descendants continued on with his snake marking. It seemed like only the sons where having the curse, but no one knows. Ahab, the one currently having the curse, had been told about his ancestors curse and ever since then Ahab tried to be the last to ever carry the marking. But, much like Apep, Ahab failed and fell in love with beautiful she wolf. Ahab, after his son was born, took the child away from his mate and he kept his Crimson furred son with him. Ahab had named his son after himself, his son, blue eyes- red furred with grey markings and just a yellow left leg.

-Fades-