Skirmish by the river (open)

[Persecutor Kaiju]

Hailstorme and Mayhem needed some free time but they couldn't stop the feeling that they had to sharpen their skills. As Mayhem went down by the water to get a drink, Hailstorme decided to push up against his rump, which sent him flipping over and landing in a shallow part of the water. Hailstorme began to guffaw and almost doubled over in laughter.

"Ha HA! You should've seen the look on your face, bro!"
"......" Mayhem glared daggers at his sister, but she didn't see that.
"Seriously! It was hilarious!"
"....."
"Bro? What's that look fo-" Hailstorme couldn't finish her sentence before being dragged into the water by none other than her brother. "Dude! Get back here!" She barked as Mayhem took off deeper into the water, a teasing smirk spreading across his face. "What? You're not scared of drowning, are you?" He said, eyes playfully narrowing. Hailstorme snarled and barreled into him, using her brute force to knock him down. He yelled but only staggered away. He nimbly dodged Hailstorme's paws as she tried to slam them on his back, and he nipped at her leg, sending her down to scrabble back up. "Oh darn it! Beaten again by you!" She yelled at Mayhem, who shook his fur and laid down on a rock overlooking the river.


"We are both one entity, one cannot beat the other, and one cannot live without the other. but I promise to help you with logistician training if you help me with hunting and fighting." Mayhem said calmly, claws scratching at the stone as he looked at Hailstorme.

"Deal! I can't wait for when I see you hang your head in defeat!" Hailstorme replied in a punk-like manner, and joined her brother on the rock, hearing her brother laugh as he shifted to one side.

[Tiel]

Amaya Nightfall:

Amaya blinked her eyes open to find herself in a desolate landscape. The stone beneath her body was uncomfortably hot and dry. She couldn't tell if she had either been sunbathing and fallen asleep, or had collapsed from a seizure. She knew she had been planning to sunbathe, she just couldn't remember ever lying down and closing her eyes.
Of course, it didn't really matter.
Nothing really mattered anymore.
Amaya was just an insignificant wolf in an insignificant valley where all the footprints she left would just be wiped away shortly after she left them.

Amaya lifted her head and sighed at the bleakness of the barrens. Why had she come here anyway? There was nothing here she wanted. Amaya spent most of her time exploring the valley, but it seemed there wasn't much to look at in the Outer Reaches. Just a bunch of dusty rocks she had seen before over and over again. A distant vulture squawked, and she watched the far away bird circle, probably around an animal carcass. Amaya realized she was a bit famished, and a plump vulture didn't sound too bad. Or the carcass, if she couldn't catch the bird.

She stood up with a tired grunt, her wounds from that previous fight still aching, and probably requiring more attention than she had been giving them. She began padding in the direction of the animal, wincing with every pang of hurt from scratches and bruises. Everything, aside from the squawking vulture, was quiet. She could hear her own heavy breathing with every step she took. As she approached, a small river could be seen in the distance, not too far from the bird and its meal. She stopped a few yards away from the carcass, witch appeared to be a fox of some sort, the vulture hunched over it. She took a quiet pawstep closer, but the bird must've heard her, because it took off immediately. Her stomach growled as she watched the bird flap away, and she glared at the dead fox, a pungent smell emanating from it. Food was food, anyway.

Another sound caused Amaya's ears to lift. The voices of wolves not too far away, probably drinking from the river. She strained her eyes to see two figures in the distance, appearing to be in a fight. The voices were light-hearted, almost joyful, so she could tell they meant no harm to each other. They were probably mates or something.

A feeling of something painful caused her ears to flatten. Envy of their joy? Loneliness, perhaps? No. Of course not. Amaya was a loner. Relationships with other wolves always proved to be pointless. It's not like she needed anyone's help. She was a great survivor. She was probably thriving more now than if she were to be a part of a pack.

And yet, her paws began to carry her in the direction of the voices, towards the river. The dry air of the barrens in summer made her thirsty, so the riverbank didn't sound too bad. She stopped at least ten yards away from the pair, not knowing what she was going to say to them. So she just dragged her paws to the side of the river, far enough away from them to go unnoticed if her smell didn't pervade the air around them. But she knew it would. They would scent her, glance her way, feel uncomfortable that she was so close, and decide to leave. She just bent down to lap up the clear water, straining her ears, but pretending not to be eavesdropping.

"We are both one entity, one cannot beat the other, and one cannot live without the other..." and they went on to discuss training for something, but that one phrase just lingered in her mind. One entity. Amaya realized she wanted that with another wolf. To be so close that, in essence, they'd be one entity.

[Persecutor Kaiju]

Hailstorme lifted her head, then her body. A wolf was nearby. A loner, to be precise, for whomever it was had no pack scent. She swung her head in the direction, and caught just a glimpse of a wolf, and that sent her over the edge. Hailstorme's hackles raised, along with her lips. Mayhem rose, but had a more calmer expression as he caught glimpse of the wolf. All of his instincts were yelling - no, screaming - at him to take a running charge and knock the wolf off their feet. But before he could move a muscle, Hailstorme was bounding over to the wolf, even though it looked hilarious because how small she was. "You there! Explain yourself! And sister,
back down. Now." Mayhem said coldly, making Hailstorme skid to a stop and back away. Mayhem leaped gracefully down and was met with a beautiful wolf. She had dark blue fur with a moon and stars, and light blue dots starting at the outer corners of her eyes and ending at about the middle of her cheeks. His eyes suddenly warmed up, but in an attempt to keep his cold facade he spoke again.


"You are trespassing on Midnight Silence territory. I do request you leave before we attack."

[Tiel]

Amaya Nightfall:

Trespassing. Of course she was. Amaya used to be clever. Her old self never would have wandered right over another pack's border. What was happening to her? Perhaps, if she had not been in such a depressed mood, she would have made an effort to think about where she was, where she was going, and if she was heading into any danger. But she was depressed. Enough to act foolishly. And now she would pay.

Amaya's mind wandered to that wolf she had met back in wildflower clearing, Flint was his name. Remembering his depression gave her a glimpse of what her own suffering must be like now. She told herself to get a grip. She'd be in a better mood eventually, but she would never see a day when that happened if she died now. Just hang in there. Don't panic. Amaya had to come up with a lie. A good one. She was from another pack bringing a message to Midnight Silence. But why wouldn't she howl? And why wouldn't she smell like a pack wolf? The pair's eyes were boring into her, the both of them expecting an answer.

Don't overthink it. Just do something.

Amaya swiveled around and began to bolt away, but her injuries were stinging with pain. She couldn't go on much longer. Her paw caught onto a rock that protruded from the ground, and she tripped. Her head hit the ground with a thump, and she immediately felt dizzy. She looked back at the pair, which, because of her dizziness, now looked like more than a couple of wolves. The ground around her was wavy and spinning. Amaya cringed. She couldn't seem to stand up, so she braced for impact instinctively.

[Persecutor Kaiju]

"Woah!" Mayhem yelled, seeing the wolf try to run, only to trip and hit her head, and probably hard. Hailstorme smirked and was about to leap when Mayhem knocked her over, making his sister snarl and yell. Her words meant nothing as Mayhem walked up to the small female. 'what are you doing, Mayhem? Kill her! Kill her NOW!' Mayhem's instincts were screaming at him, but Mayhem lowered his upper body to the poor wolf's level. She looked wounded, and Mayhem wasn't just going to standby and let her possibly die. Hailstorme got up and, in a fit of rage, barreled herself into her brother, as well as pinning him. "You idiot! Stop being weak! She's an intruder! You should've ki-" Her yammering was cut off by Mayhem's paws pushing her away, which knocked the air out of her. "She is hurt!" He retorted, picking himself up. "And I wasn't being weak! It's called 'caring' and you should learn to do so!" He snapped, which shocked Hailstorme as she picked herself up. She looked at Amaya, then to her brother, then back to Amaya before turning around and running off, while Mayhem glared at her before turning to Amaya. "Sorry about my sister. She's hard in the head. You...You okay?"

[Tiel]

Amaya Nightfall:

Amaya's headache subsided, but was replaced by a rush of adrenaline. She looked up into the he wolf's eyes, a tremble of fear running down her spine and quickly taking over her whole body. She noticed she was shaking, and all efforts to stop were futile. Death was growing brighter, blindingly brighter in her eyes, so much so that she resolved to close them. It was easier not to look death straight in the face. But the wolf's voice was gentle. Amaya thought it a creepy sort of gentle at first, the kind used to manipulate others, but it seemed to reflect genuine concern. Amaya opened her eyes in a slow and uneasy manner, then dared to glare up at the stranger. The question he asked repeated on a loop in her head, and by the dulcet sound of the wolf's voice, she became unsure that she really was on Midnight Silence territory.

You, a Midnight Silence wolf, are asking me, a trespasser, if I'm okay.

That was what Amaya wanted to say, but she rather liked living, and so decided that getting out of the area as soon as possible would be wise. She heaved herself off the ground and stood up a little straighter than the norm for her, not threateningly so, but trying instead to come across as respectful.

"I'm fine," she said in a barely audible voice. Apparently, fear was still in control of her body. She cleared her throat, and spoke up clearly. "I'm sorry. I should go, now."

Amaya had never really met a wolf from Midnight Silence. Maybe he would let her go. From what that single statement, phrased in a considerate and polite manner, communicated to Amaya, this was not such a cruel wolf as most evil pack members were, like his sister apparently was. So maybe if she played it right, Amaya would be allowed to go.

But then again, that was presumably not a typical Midnight Silence thing to do. So she positioned her paws to run if she had to. Far away from both of these wolves, and hopefully to never see them again. How stupid she was, to see two random wolves in the Outer Reaches and try to talk to them.
Not stupid, she reminded herself. Just low in spirits.

[Persecutor Kaiju]

Mayhem watched as the female stood up straight and he let out a small, amused smirk. "I'm sorry as well, but Fjord would tear me to shreds and I still haven't proved myself." He said in response to the she wolf. Calmly, he took a step closer to her. Mayhem looked back where Hailstorme ran off, thinking of what he could do. 'Maybe, since I think there's only one servant...' He thought, and then the idea came to his head. "Wolves here can now have servants, and I was thinking of getting one. You'd be safe in this territory, as no wolf but me can harm you. But if you do become my servant and you intend to disobey me, I have the right to hurt you maybe kill you..." His voice grew slightly colder, but he looked back at Amaya. "What do you say, young one?"

[Tiel]

Amaya Nightfall:

The pack wolf's offer seemed to sound like something he was going to enforce no matter what, but the last part was phrased like Amaya had a choice. "What do you say, young one?" She wanted to be careful in this situation. She raised one eyebrow inquisitively and hesitated briefly. She didn't want to appear like she was at a loss of words, she wanted to seem thoughtful. With a calm expression, Amaya breathed in before answering.

"Do I really have a say in this matter?" she asked. "I mean, what if I say no?" The calm expression she had been keeping seemed to slip into something fragile and frightened. There was a good chance this wolf was going to force her to become his servant. That would mean losing the very foundation of her being: her freedom. At that moment, Amaya examined what her two options were. Die or become a slave.

But maybe there was a way around it. Maybe it took some reading between the lines to figure out an escape. She would be on the run, constantly being tracked. She would have to be clever, think on her feet. She might die in the process. Better than being a slave, though. But now was not the time. This wolf's sister was close by, and they could both probably outrun Amaya easily, especially since she was weary from the previous scuffle she had gotten into at Kai Lake. Amaya would wait until she recovered, wait until everyone's heads were turned, and bolt.

[Persecutor Kaiju]

Mayhem smirked, raising one eyebrow as she asked if she had a say in the matter. "If you say no, I'd feel sorry for you. I wouldn't want to hurt you." His voice was threateningly low, and he looked down at her. "But trust me, you'd be quite safer here than anywhere else. Some wolves will not give hospitality, especially evil wolves. I'm far more different." His tail waved in the slight wind, and Mayhem slunk forward. "So, will you say yes, or no?" His ears flicked, aware that somewhere, his sister was watching from a distance. He glanced around, as if trying to pin point her location.

Hailstorme watched as her brother chatted with the intruder, but when the female's face fell slightly, she couldn't help but grin in satisfaction. When Mayhem's eyes caught her's for a second, she nodded, resulting in his eyes looking away. She could merely wait for the female to sprint, so she could dash after her quickly and end her. But for now, she simply waited in a patch of brush, upwind of the two wolves.

[Tiel]

Amaya Nightfall:

"I'm confused," Amaya said, which she hated admitting to other wolves. But she was genuinely confused at the wolf's comment. He was speaking of the luxuries of slavery he could provide her, but how could she ever feel satisfied if she was not a complete member of the pack? Wouldn't it be smarter just to wander over to Secluded Sunrise or Eternal Snowfall territory and request to join them? Or if she really wanted an evil pack, Frigid Plague?

"That's a really tempting offer, and I'm sure you would be a quite benign slave-master," Amaya took a few sheepish steps backwards. "but I think I'm going to stick to being a loner for now." She was now tentatively padding away from the wolf. This whole situation seemed sketchy. Untrustworthy. After all, this was a Midnight Silence wolf. A fickle unpredictable Midnight Silence wolf, and Amaya felt a pang of uneasiness being within close proximity of him. "So, see you another time, then? I'm sure you'll find another wolf willing to be your obedient servant, but I'm afraid I'm just not the right one for the role." Amaya glanced nervously around, and began to swivel around. "Have a nice life."

[Persecutor Kaiju]

Mayhem looked genuinely emotional, but he could see why the female refused his offer. "Of course, young one. See you some other time." He said, hearing his sister getting ready to run into the intruder, in which he glared daggers at her. Slowly, Hailstorme wandered close behind him, and asked: "Are you actually setting her off? Are you not feeling well?" Mayhem shook his head before replying. "Some wolves just aren't born for a life of servitude. She is one of them." His voice was strained, as if he had forced himself to speak. "Well," Hailstorme started, and looked to Amaya before continuing. "Be safe, I guess." Her voice sounded like she forced it as well. The two siblings went back to the rock and climbed it, their fur prickling as if Fjord would appear at any time.

[Tiel]

Amaya Nightfall:

And just like that, the wolves let her go. There was no chasing after her or anything, they just allowed her to leave the territory. Amaya felt uneasy walking back, like any second she would get pounced on and dragged further into the Outer Reaches. Her mind kept imagining futures where stuff like that happened, where they popped out from behind that rock or attacked from underneath that scruffy bush. "Just kidding! You're going to stay here forever or die! Mwahahaha!"

Amaya shuddered, then picked up her pace. She couldn't seem to stop increasing her speed until she was running as far away from Midnight Silence territory as possible. And she would never trespass into another pack's territory again.

~ Exit Amaya Nightfall ~

[Meds]

Acribus;

The beta of Midnight Silence was slinking through the autumn leaves. His eyes, dark purple and so at contrast with the rest of him, swept the surroundings. Scars and bruises littered his wirey body, only a small testament to just how many fights he had been in. The biggest scar, the one across his neck that resulted in his ruined voice, glinted white in the watery sun.
Acribus' deceptively thin frame rolled and twisted through the dying tree trunks, his ruddy-grey fur shifting in the breeze. His teeth were not bared exactly, but there was an air of business about him; and with Acribus, that was never a positive thing.
There was an intruder here.

Upon discovering who the scent belonged too, though, Acribus was met with two Silence wolves as well. There was a conversation on-going, and he heard a few mentions of slavery. His brow lifted and a rare half-smile graced his ugly maw. The perfect penalty for trespassing.
But—but then—
They let her go?
Both of them?

The female seemed angry, even violent, and the male he would have expected as much from, but then they both just let her go. Immediately, Acribus pushed through the leaves and alighted to the rock face that the siblings were climbing.
"I'm confused." He growled, his voice as ragged as ever. He stopped dead in front of them and bored into them with his eyes. He hadn't met them yet, but any pack wolf would recognize the beta-stink on him and act appropriately; or at least, they'd better. "Perhaps one of you can explain why that wolf was allowed to walk away." It wasn't a question.

[Persecutor Kaiju]

Mayhem froze, the scent of midnight silence becoming dangerously present. Hailstorme spotted the Beta first, and stood in attention. Mayhem didn't need to see Acribus, but he looked at the wolf and stood as well. And Mayhem's blood ran cold when he saw the Beta of Midnight silence.

'Oh'
'Oh no.'
The thought ran through his head and he instantly leaped down. Hailstorme followed, but she had a smug expression on her face. "I can assure you, sir, this was not my idea." Hailstorme's voice was low, and she glared at her brother. Mayhem lowered his head and clenched his teeth. Instead of actually being smart as he usually was, he idiotically turned and try to run. He didn't get far, for his sister had taken a mouthful of his tail and yanked him back to Acribus. She then stomped her paws onto his shoulder, pinning him down. In a rush of fear, Mayhem spoke.

"She didn't deserve it! There will be plenty more wolves for you to enslave-" He could tell by how Hailstorme lowered her head closer to his neck that she wasn't buying it. "Like me! I deserve to be punished! Kill me if you want!" Mayhem squeezed his eyes shut, embracing anything that could come his way.

[Deleted]

From the shadows watched a female loner. Her coat was usually very bright, but her coat was covered in mud, and only parts of her ashy markings were still visible. Her markings looked like ash and soot was powdered all over her back and ears, then her tail was striped like a raccoon's. Her eyes were a bright blue, her left was a shade lighter than her right eye. Scars covered her muzzle and back, but not too many to the point where it looked horrid on a young female like herself.

Her name was Ash, and typically she was a wise, two year old loner. A neutral sided wolf that leaned towards the best thing for her, and not anyone else.

She was watching the scene unfold before hand and was silently laughing. Honestly, a wolf that made a injured person run, is now tucking his tail between his legs. This, in short, was amusing to her. But she was sadistic and this was very common for her.

She pondered, the person who was scaring the wolf who let the loner go must be of a higher authority than the rest. Beta, maybe Alpha. She shot Alpha down. Typically Alpha's stayed in camps, at most an attack party. They were never allowed to walk freely. Too many people want them dead.

She concluded it might be a Beta, or a Lead Hunter or something.

She would show her face when they asked her to. She just wanted some water and to pass through, but this territory killed loners it seemed. She laughed quietly and like a mad-wolf. What stereotype of a loner was here? Loners are scum, loners are deadly. Probably along those lines. The wind hit her fur and carried down to the three wolves. She cursed and bared her teeth and made her body ready for combat, in case one of them thought they'd pounce on her like game.

Well done, Ash. Now you're gonna have to be snarky, brutal, cruel and hope they don't kill you.