An Oasis in the Desert [Tagged]

[Watermelonllama]

Meds
.:Oasis:.

The quiet wolf could tell that Summer was almost ending. The chill in the air was obvious, at least to her. Autumn was the switch between the unbearable heat to the killing cold, likewise to Spring. Oasis appreciated neither. It’s one or the other! Each Summer and Winter led to the demise of many. That excited the shewolf. Very much so. Oasis moved through The Sandmoor with ease, kicking up dirt that fell loosely behind her. Ahh, dry dead soil, the best kind to Oasis. Yet the kind in front of her looked like a marble floor. Oasis lifted her paw as always.

Few lavenders popped up here and there, growing like thick ropes, strong tendrils of purple. The black shewolf regarded it with blue eyes, her swirl of a pattern on her coat twirled around her legs. Her eyes revealed nothing to anyone, it could be anyone’s guess to what she was thinking. As of right now, she was bored. It would seem as if Oasis always is. She didn’t let it seep into her eyes. The only thing she showed was disdain and contempt, and for no reason. Midnight Oasis never showed any other emotions except negative ones.

The lifeless moor showed no signs of movement, until blue eyes caught sight of a grouse. Yet she didn’t make any sudden movements. Instead Oasis sat down and watched it with disapproval. What idiotic creatures! They couldn’t notice a large, dark grey and blue she wolf observing their every move. Instantaneously, after a long silence, she snarled at the grouse, scaring it away from Oasis.

”What pitiful creature, you. Can’t even notice a wolf of my coloring in a sandy area in broad daylight. Let me remind you that I am grey, and the sand plus the sun are bright yellow.” Oasis perked her ears and twirled around, thinking she heard something. She narrowed her eyes and waited for the creature, intruder or packmate, wolf or prey, to come out.

[Meds]

Acribus;

Summer heat had dried the grasses of the valley, making them brittle and coarse—not unlike the Beta of Midnight Silence's own fur. As he moved through the dead plants, it would be hard to discern whether the dry friction-like sound were coming from him or the foliage. Indeed, Acribus' fur would never lie flat or look similar to lush Spring grass. It never had. Dead, dry, summer grass was the only thing comparable to his coat. An off-white that made him always look dirty, it was equal parts greasy and dry.
Under the brittle layer of short, coarse hair was a layer of grease built up from years of apathy towards grooming. It wasn't a bad thing. It helped to waterproof his otherwise thin fur.

And he was skinny. So skinny. To the untrained eye, that is. To somebody that didn't know him, indeed, he would seem underfed and under capable. But it would only take that wolf a short moment of combat to realize that Acribus was anything but. Under his thin fur was muscle of the most extreme-kind. His entire had been built on fighting—not training for fighting or building strength—but actually fighting. When one interaction was over, he would swing to the next like a bee to a flower.
It was what Acribus lived for.
More times than he could count, he had killed his quarries. The only time he would actually stop was when he either passed out from the pain or blood loss, or was killed himself. And so far, as much as he could tell, he had never been killed. His body was littered with scars from the thousands of fights he had been in—but none were so large or so purely white as the one that graced his neck. It was a jagged thing, badly healed and leaving the normally-dirty white fur growing pure and bright in a scar that ran diagonally across his neck. It left his voice a shattered ruin, but as far as Acribus had ever learned—talking got one nowhere fast, whereas attacking got results.

He passed through the reedy Summer growth, not bothering to quiet his steps. He was deep within Midnight Silence territory, and the only wolf he respected enough to consider fearing him was Fjord (though not even the Alpha had ever truly intimidated Acribus). Anybody else he came across was far his lesser, unless it was Skia or one of their whining whelplings, of course.
Speaking of wolves beneath him, as luck would have it, a voice called out of the hot silence of the SandMoor. Without really thinking about it, Acribus turned and walked toward the voice.

It was a female—some Sister or other, he could smell the pack on her—and she was speaking to a grouse. He must have made some noise though, as she quickly turned to face him. Acribus' purple eyes narrowed slightly as she met his gaze. Even though they has never spoken, she would know who he was.
The entire future of the interaction hung on how she responded to him in that moment.

[Watermelonllama]

((Sorry it’s a little short.))
.:Oasis:.

In all honesty, Oasis wasn’t so surprised to see the Beta of Midnight Silence in front of her. He was quite the loud walker, and he seemed to not care. Her blue eyes met purple, both seemed to show no expression or emotion, or at least Oasis’s didn’t. She was the master of playing with emotions. Hers, others, basically any living thing’s emotions were a toy to Oasis. She let respect seep into her gaze, yet all she felt was annoyance. Deep in the inside, her displeasure made home, farther than any wolf could look.

Oasis took the silence that she was given to study Acribus. She’s heard stories about his drive at a task, whatever it may be, until he finishes it, or he dies. Yet the picture presented to her right now just showed Oasis that he was a stringy pelt, wiry, and skinny Beta of a pack of murderers. But, Oasis knows, not to underestimate anyone. Especially not the Beta of Midnight Silence.

After a long moment of quietude, Midnight Oasis flicked her tail. ”Hello, Beta Acribus. A pleasure seeing you, although I can’t say I’m not surprised.” Oasis rasped nasally. She herself wasn’t easy to underestimate, because of her larger exterior. Oasis nods towards him, bowing her head a little in respect, or what looked like respect, even to the most trained of eyes. Oasis smirked for no reason and looked back at him.

[Meds]

Acribus;

Ah, so she had heard him. A good thing, too, for any wolf that he could have surprised being that careless would have been a useless creature indeed. She met his eyes directly, an interesting choice, but soon after allowed the appropriate amount of respect to bleed into them. Acribus watched closely, like a wolf stalking a rabbit.
Her next choice was to look him over, size him up, make assumptions about what he could do. Acribus was sure that word of his capabilities had spread throughout the pack—but it was only natural to form opinions about a wolf upon first meeting them. He appeared scrawny, decidedly so. He couldn't necessarily fault her for coming to the same conclusion; indeed, that was how he won his fights. It was when opponents underestimated him that he became really dangerous.

She spoke then, calling him by his title and saying it was a pleasure to see him.
"A lie, surely," Acribus croaked back. Neither of them seemed to have very healthy voices, though whatever her reason was for the rasp he couldn't be bothered to guess. His reason was all too clear. "I can't say anybody has ever believed that seeing me was a pleasure." His reedy tail flashed behind him.

She bowed her head then, to which he merely flicked his eyes downward, watching her and waiting for her to rise once more. He did not bow back, did not nod his appreciation. Such things were expected of the Sisters and Brothers of Midnight Silence.
"What finds you in the Sandmoor today—?" He didn't know her name—had never been inclined to learn it, but the way his voice tilted up at the end indicated that it was information he sought.

[Watermelonllama]

.:Oasis:.

Oasis took note of Acribus watching her closely and carefully, like she would make a wrong move anytime. Yet the pressure didn't get to her. Only ambition did. She would love to become the Beta of Midnight Silence, for plenty of reasons. She loved the look of runts when they get into fights with her, and the title Beta would greatly affect it in her favor. The first time she heard his raspy voice, Oasis knew he's gotten into plenty of fights. How? Many wolves with a scarred voice like hers, or now Acribus's, are evil. Plus, she just knew. when the Beta pointed her out for lying, she only blinked. Oasis has lied plenty of times in her day, but not to someone as highly ranked as Acribus. Ahh... the rankings. That made Oasis smirked, but of course deep in the inside.

"I can't say anybody has ever believed that seeing me was a pleasure." Oasis then let out her smirk. This is when her unusual charisma would benefit her. "I'm not just anybody. Surely not. I believe running into you is a good. Very good." Oasis piped up, yet her voice wasn't happy, or swoony, just her usual cold rasp.

When she 'respectively' bowed her head, all the Beta did was stare at her, to Oasis's annoyance. 'Such pity a high ranked spot like Beta is wasted on this arrogant scrap of fur. Maybe he can change my mind... Although I doubt it.' When he sought out her name, Oasis wanted to tell him a fake name, or give him sarcasm, but she knew it wouldn't be good for her. "Ahh... I am Midnight Oasis, yet I prefer Oasis." She said and tilted her head up slightly.

Oasis took a small step towards Acribus, a look of curiousity in her eyes. "I just like to walk around the Sandmoor, and you?" She asked casually.

[Meds]

Acribus;

The female smirked at him then, all misplaced confidence and a false sense of security. Or maybe she really did feel that secure in herself. A foolish choice, if Acribus had to guess—but he had been wrong before. Rarely, it was true. But not impossible. She then claimed that she wasn’t just anybody, and that she thought meeting Acribus was actually wonderful. Perhaps a spot of good luck. Acribus’ eyelids dropped over purple and black eyes, unimpressed. She was playing one of two games in that moment, and Acribus hated games.
She was either trying to stroke his ego, which would fail miserably because he had none—or she was playing at trying to make her darkness extra obvious. No, she would say, other wolves might be scared or disgusted to meet him, but not her. She was a dark little creature just like him, so above the rest of society within her own rottenness. Acribus quickly tired of wolves like that, if indeed she was playing the second game.
A wolf that was truly dark, evil, broken and so forth had nothing to prove. Take him for example. Though he wouldn’t argue that he was the most evil brute in the valley, he also wouldn’t try to convince anybody otherwise. Acribus didn’t care what others though of him—he barely even cared what he thought of himself. He simply existed, and killed and fought whoever he could along the way.

”You seem amused,” He wheezed through his shattered windpipe as the female smirked and smiled and then introduced herself. Midnight Oasis. Acribus pursed his chapped lips and looked her over. What a coincidence. Midnight Oasis in Midnight Silence. ”I would prefer Oasis too, if I were you.” He sneered, the closest thing he ever really came to smiling. Oasis then answered his question with a boring-enough answer, and posed the same to him.
He didn’t like the way her eyes glinted when she looked at him. She didn’t respect him. Interesting.

”Looking over Fjord’s territory.” His purple eyes sparkled and appeared to flash green for a heartbeat in the sun. ”Making sure all of our darling little whelps are behaving themselves.”

[Watermelonllama]

.:Oasis:.

Acribus was unimpressed. Like Oasis cared enough to impress him. Yet she didn't moved under his gaze. She must get him to like her, even if it means doing evil things. Oh, how she loved evil things, though. She's murder plenty of creatures. That's just fun to her. Oasis's wicked, twisted definition of fun. Oasis knows of her rotten, murderous heart, but her outside showed something different. Solemn, 'game-playing', and disturbed. In the inside, though, a ruthless murderer who doesn't need to speak to tell her... prey all she needs to on the outside. Now, she's standing in front of the Beta of her pack, filled to the brim with other bloodthirsty wolves. If you can consider then wolves.

”You seem amused,” Acribus wheezed out. Oasis only tilts her head slightly. Her snout was now a straight line, like she never did anything close to smile. She sat down and narrowed her eyes against the Summer sun. It blazed down upon Oasis, although the Autumn breeze was strong, ruffling her almost black fur. "No one is truly pleased. The king always expects something of the servants." She said bitterly. No one is truly happy and no one is truly sad. The emotions only play tricks, and Oasis helps. When Acribus stated that he would prefer her nickname, he was Oasis. She silently watched his every movement. His eyes appeared green for a split second. Then purple.

At his response to her question, she nods and repeat what he called her in her mind. 'Darling Little Whelps, yeah? Not for long, Scrap.' She hissed in her mind, then made eye contact with the Beta, making her eyes were blank before she lifted her paw.

[Meds]

Acribus;

Her smile disappeared as if it had never been there at all. Dirty-white eyelids drooped over Acribus' purple eyes. This female had yet to surprise him with her reactions (or lack thereof); however, it was rather hard to surprise Acribus with anything. He withheld a sigh though, and waited for her to speak again. She was still a sister, after all.
The bright sun against her fur threatened to hurt Acribus' eyes—and even as Oasis started to squint, Acribus angled his own gaze downward somewhat. She had dark fur, but that didn't mean that it couldn't be highlighted by the sun.

"No one is truly pleased. The king always expects something of the servants."

Acribus cleared his throat, a terrible sound. His throat was too dry to warrant any real sort of clearing, so all he managed was a wheezy and painful sounding cough.
"I don't know what that means," If the breeze picked up anymore, his half-voice would be almost entirely lost. The Sister of Midnight Silence would have to listen very closely to hear his words—but whether or not she wanted to get close to him was the real question. She then, however, eyed him with a dead stare and lifted her paw. An act of aggression. Acribus' eyes glinted then, and he visibly licked his chops. "What is it that you're after, my sweet?"

Oh yes.
Please.
Just give him a reason to take the first bite.

((I don't think I actually want them to fight, because it would be a pain to bring another mod in. Hopefully his excitement at the idea will be enough to turn her off of it? xD)

[Watermelonllama]

((I'm wanting Oasis to be the one that doesn't answer an answer directly, but answer it in way to toy with the emotions. Hopefully that stopped his excitement.))
.:Oasis:.

The sun was angered today. The rays were shameful and strong. Since Oasis had dark fur, it absorbed the sun's heat the made her body temperature rise steadily. She close enough to the sun's temperature she could be the sun. Her black paw stood where they were, although they threatened to burst into flames at any moment. Instead, she focused on Acribus, who wasn't "suffering" As badly as the dark colored she-wolf. Sure, he had some red on him, but most of it was a grimy off white color. He should be perfectly fine in this stupid heat. Oasis silently hissed. After she spoke of the kings and servants, Acribus seemed to wheezeout a cough, or just cleared his throat.


"I don't know what that means," He seemed to whisper in the breeze. Oasis tilted her head more than she ever have in front of the Beta. Should she explain? She thought not to, but she did anyways. "No? All it means is the emotions don't and can't take over another entirely. There is still anger, sadness, hope, envy, and many others exist all at once, Beta Acribus." She sighed, and met his purple eyes. He licked his chops and asked what is it she's after. She put her paw down and flicked her tail. "I'm after a lot of things. Every wolf is. You're after an answer, and I'm after a certain role to play." She calmingly spoke and took a step towards the Beta. She could tell he wants a fight. But Oasis wasn't in the mood to bite and claw, but talk and sway.

[Meds]

Acribus;

She explained her cryptic little saying to him, but it still had little hold with Acribus. What she was saying was obvious—then again... the more he thought about it, the less he agreed with it. From his understanding, Oasis was arguing that one could not feel a single emotion. Even in times of great sadness or great anger, were also pieces of fear or happiness or longing. No, that wasn’t right at all.
”Perhaps for you, Sister,” He crowed, his head tilting slightly and his stained teeth glinting out for all to see. ”But perhaps that is why I am Beta, and you are not.” The purple in his eyes burned as he picked up the hints in her next line of speech. She said she was after a certain role. He didn’t know whether that was Beta or Gamma or Alpha (Power help her)—but he figured his guess was close enough to frustrate her.

”Within my mind is nothing that can be attributed to a set of general rules that apply to most beings. Within my mind is that which perhaps you cannot understand—if indeed you live your life by the emotional rules you just mentioned.” His gaze shifted to her eyes. ”I feel anger strongly—often... and yet, even still more often... I feel nothing. Nothing at all... How does your king and your rules explain that?”
Of course, Acribus needed no explanation. He knew the answer. The fight—blood shed. Those things were the only instances where Acribus ever felt truly alive. But even then, anger? Rarely while fighting. Ultimate calm—ultimate peace. It was in this way that he won. It was in this way that he killed.

[Watermelonllama]

.:Oasis:.



Oasis stood in front of the Beta of Midnight Silence, with no expression. What she just said might not make sense to him, but it did to her. Yet she didn't feel many emotions, she still knew about these laws. Oasis doesn't live by them, no at all, but she talks about them to one who might. He might not agree, but she does. ”Perhaps for you, Sister, but perhaps that is why I am Beta, and you are not.” He tilted his head and revealed stained teeth. Oasis felt a flash of anger, of exasperation. She didn't let it surface. Instead, she smiled.

"Perhaps, Beta. Or," She paused, thinking out her words carefully. She toys with the emotions, she has about none herself. Except, of course, for irritation. "Not even I live by the 'laws' of emotion. Perhaps I just play havoc with the emotions of another." She said smoothly, recovering from her last statement. When Acribus then mentioned nothingness and anger in himself, Oasis just washed the smirk off her face. "We are more similar than you think. It is impossible for one to live by the king's saying if you feel nothing. And an empty void of what's suppose to be emotions is what I see. I feel." That was one of her more straightforward answers in the short span of time. Most of the time, her words are like a stick to a already burning fire. These words are the fire, and earlier statements fuel it.


Oasis stood a couple feet away from the Beta, his eyes burning. He must've figured out what role she wanted to fill. Her tail suddenly swished. She must learn how to work with this wolf if she desires to fill the other spot of Beta.

[Meds]

Acribus;

It seemed to Acribus, that the female greatly changed her tune. First she said one thing—bringing up ancient-sounding sayings and explaining them carefully; but then she said that it did not appy to her. Then why bring it up at all, Acribus thought? A supreme waste of time, obviously. Yet another example of why talking and words got one nowhere. Action, teeth, claws... those were Acribus’ favourite form of communication.
He dipped his chin and reguarded her, unimpressed. So far, Acribus was unconvinced that showing himself had been a good use of his time.

She then likened them to each other, a thought that made Acribus recoil slightly. He was like no one—he didn’t want to be. Realistically he could care less, but the idea of being lumped into a group with anybody wasn’t entirely appealing.
”If you and I are so similar in our lack of feelings—why then did you waste my time with an age-old saying that applies to neither one of us?”
He was not impressed.