Cold & Curious {SOREN}

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W R A I T H;;

The slender wolf slipped through the monstrous trees like a fish in a river, his pelt rippling with the watery morning light. His breath was already forming an opaque cloud around him, and the cold, hard ground made his paws ache. The young wolf felt exposed and vulnerable in this open wood, and was moving as quickly and quietly through it as possible. He was as tight as a drawn bow, ready to either fly like an arrow, or snap. 

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Attempting to conceal himself in the shade of the surrounding trees, Cindor followed the light colored wolf in near silence. So far, it hadn't noticed his presence, and he hoped it wouldn't until he worked out exactly what it was doing here. It was probably too much to hope for, however, as despite his black pelt, Cindor's white forepaws were more than a little conspicuous. He had done his best to darken them, but to no avail. It was only a matter of time before the young wolf ahead of him noticed he was there.

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W R A I T H;;

As the pale wolf continued, an icy trickle ran down his spine, and not only from the snow slipping off the naked winter branches. Wraith skidded to a sudden stop, his ears strained for any tiny sound. He quivered and looked around, until his eyes rested on a dark spot he didn't realize was there before. A massive, imposing wolf stood in the distance, commanding an air of strength and power. His violet eyes seemed to glow, and his front paws were muddy, as if he had been digging. Wraith flicked his ears with unease, not sure how to proceed. Was he trespassing on a packs land? He had not scented any markers. The young wolf decided to stand his ground, and hope that this wolf was reasonable. 

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Cindor watched as the wolf turned. Damn, it had keener senses than he had expected. He wasn't sure what to do now though. The two of them were much closer to his den than he would've liked, but there was no helping that, the wolf would probably assume that and that could be problematic if he just left now. Besides, he didn't yet know what a lone wolf was doing out here in the middle of winter. And who knew, there could be more wolves around the place. Cindor reasoned that he could take the wolf standing in front of him in a fight, but what good would that do him if he had friends? He decided the best thing to do was to cautiously approach the other wolf, hoping maybe he could talk to it. Since he'd been seen, if he wanted to know what it was doing, the only way he'd find out was to ask, and he was too suspicious to let the wolf go without knowing. So as he walked towards the wolf, observing it's curious blue markings, Cindor straightened himself up to look more imposing, just to let the other wolf who was in power here.

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W R A I T H;;

For a long moment, the two wolves stared at each other. Wraith could nearly see the other wolf thinking, and he knew that this wasn't your average bumbling fool, who relied on his strength to get by. This wolf was clever, possibly even cunning. And he was making a plan. Wraith felt every one of his muscles tensed as the other wolf began to approach him, head held high like he owned the place. For all Wraith knew, he could. But as the other wolf got closer, Wraith say curiosity in his deep, violet eyes. The solid black wolf seemed interested in Wraith's strange pelt. Hopefully, he'd like to look at it whilst it was still on his back. Before the solid brute could get too close, Wraith lifted his head, and looked him squarely in the eye. He'd have to play this safe. Who are you? he asked, in his low, melodic voice. He might be thin, but standing tall, he's got a couple of centimeters on the black wolf. Not that it helped to compensate for the difference in muscle mass. And what are you doing here?

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Cindor tilted his head as the wolf spoke, it sure had guts.It was almost, admirable. He could examine the other wolf more closely now, seeing that it was in fact a he, but he soon became uninterested in the pelt that had originally attracted his attention. This wolf was not nearly as glamorous as he. He much preferred his shiny black fur. As he had this thought, Cindor subconsciously rubbed his left paw in the snow, cleaning it of the mud it was covered in from his attempt at camouflaging it. He stared at the other wolf for a little longer, before he replied.I might ask you the same.He felt a growl starting to creep up to his throat.

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W R A I T H;;

Every one of Wraith's instincts was telling him this wolf was trouble. Caution sang in his ears as the brute began to clean the mud off his paws, and pristine white fur replaced the mud, almost ruining the rich darkness of his appearance. Every little part of his voice spelled aggression, from the slight growl in his words, to the slight condescension he spoke with. Wraith was relying on his acting skills now, to bluff his way out of this mess. He sat down, wrapping his long tail around his paws. However, he remained tense. It seems we are at an impasse, he began, before continuing, neither of us are willing to offer up information. His eyes narrowed slightly as he debated on telling the wolf his name. In the end, he decided it could do little harm. I will, however, give you my name. You may call me Wraith. 

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Well, at least the other wolf couldn't run easily in his current position, Cindor thought. He'd been preparing for the possibility of the other wolf, Wraith, making a run for it. He couldn't have that. Although he was a fairly fast runner, Cindor has known many from his past who were much faster than he, and my the looks of this wolf, he wasn't particularly slow. What to do now though? He didn't really want this wolf still in his territory. He hadn't marked it as his, but he didn't want other wolves to know he was around. Now one did, and it was questioning his authority. Whilst Wraith sat down, Cindor remained standing. And whilst Wraith introduced himself, Cindor did not. His name was not something he spoke anymore, it wasn't a name he wanted to use, or to be known by. It wouldn't do too well to start being called Cindor again, at least, not yet. He wasn't ready. Instead, he stepped closer to the other wolf. This is my territory. Why are you here? You might want to think twice before refusing to answer me again.If the wolf did do so, he knew exactly what he'd do.

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``W R A I T H``

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It became very obvious very quickly that this wolf wasn't in a chatting mood. As he stepped closer to Wraith, the slender wolf felt the hair along his hackles raise. Usually, by now, he would have made a run for it by now, he would have became a silver and blue blur, running and flying as fast as he could away from the brute. It was far too late for that. He should of kept moving.

Instead of dwelling in his thoughts, he turning his attention back to the arrogant brute standing before him. I never smelt any scent markers in my travels, he remarked, eyes hardening to chips of blue flint. I hear there are a few big packs around here. Ones that don't take kindly to lone wolves claiming land. He didn't want to push the brute too far, so he added, I am no-one, wolf-who-refuses-to-give-me-his-name. I am a stranger passing through, trying to hide from the likes of you. And with that, Wraith stood, shook his pelt, and cocked his head to one side, maintaining an image of pup-like innocence.  
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Normally, Cindor might have accepted this as a good excuse and let the wolf be on his way. So long as he didn't get any closer to his den, he wouldn't have cared in the slightest. However, there was something about this wolf that really intrigued him. He was too prideful to tell the wolf to wait for a minute before jumping to conclusions, before leaving, before walking out of his life. But he didn't want him to leave just yet. He hadn't had the company of another wolf for who knows how long. Sure, he'd had his reasons, but maybe it was time to start coming out of hiding. He wasn't going to change a whole lot anytime soon, but maybe he could take just one step. Besides, this wolf was kind of witty. They call me Cindor.

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W R A I T H;;

The adrenaline coursing through Wraith's veins had begun to quieten. He was nearly out of trouble now. Leaving the company of the other wolf seemed a real and tangible thing, and better yet, he had do it in one piece. Something stopped him though; the other wolf offered him his name. Wraith felt a fain flutter of surprise; so far the other wolf had been as unyielding as a stone. Wraith was no longer thinking about leaving. Curiosity drew him back to sitting, this time, slightly more relaxed. Cindor. Nice name, he commented, fueling the black wolf's ego. He looked around the thickly wooded forest. I haven't seen another wolf all winter now. There are heaps of packs around the mountain. Not to my taste, though. After so many days of solitude, the inane chatter was welcome. 

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Cindor allowed himself to relax slightly and backed out of Wraith's personal space. I'm not particularly fond of the local packs either, he agreed. And you were right in saying that they are not fond of lone wolves like you and me. Hence why I don't mark my territory. It's got it's downsides, but, it's better this way... I'm not really used to being around other wolves anymore, and I don't need any others either. Cindor was about to inquire as to where Wraith had come from and whether he had used to belong to a pack as he had done, when a faint sound, like that of a twig cracking under paw, caught his attention. Cindor instinctively tensed and his ears perked up. His first thought was that he had been lured into a trap by Wraith, that he was actually part of a local pack who'd discovered his lack of one. Cindor narrowed his eyes as he glanced at Wraith.

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W R A I T H;;
you look so pretty but you're gone so soon

Wraith felt a slight jolt of surprise at how easily this wolf was now giving him information. Barely minutes before, he was threatening to rip him to shreds. He probably could, too, if he really wanted. Wraith began to actually relax, dropping his previously tensed shoulders, no longer ready to run. The pale wolf opened his mouth to reply to Cindor when the sound broke out. Wraith's head whipped around and he bared his teeth. Ignoring the look Cindor gave him, he scented the air, before dashing into the thin underbrush. His legs were a blur as he chased after his quarry, claws digging into the hard ground. With a loud squeal he dispatched it, blood masking the lower half of his jaw. It was a rabbit, a bit skinny from the cold winter, but enough to last the both of them for a day or two. He walked back to Cindor and dropped the prey. 

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Cindor was surprised at Wraith's reaction, and a little taken a back when he realized that he had made an assumption about the young wolf that had proven to be incorrect. However, his pride stopped him admitting to anything out loud. Not bad..., he commented. He eyed Wraith's catch. Of all the wolves he'd seen before, Wraith was surely the most nimble hunter he had ever seen, and one of the most deadly. This wouldn't be a bad wolf to have around. Indeed, he could be a useful ally in these hard times as a lone wolf. Maybe, he thought, even a friend. It was a concept he had not considered for a long while. And the more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. There was still that small thread of doubt he had, like he did with all wolves, but that, for now, was the last thing on his mind.

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WRAITH
you look so pretty but you're gone so soon

A faint flicker of pride warmed Wraith's chest; he'd always been a hunter, not a fighter. He contemplated cleaning the blood from his muzzle, but decided to wait until he'd finished his meal. He took a bite of the rabbit, and nudged it's still warm body towards Cindor. You noticed it first; we'll share. he mumbled around his mouthful. Food was scarce, but friendly wolves were scarcer.