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Post by Meds on Jun 7, 2018 17:24:12 GMT -5
DeSotoA navy blue shadow passed back and forth between the lush greenery so rare in other parts of the Barrens. DeSoto was stalking across what used to be the territory of the good Honovi pack, when his own pack Frigid Plague had made an alliance between them. It was autumn, the summer had come and gone, but still the Constructed Oasis boasted healthy grass, and drinkable water. The territory was rather bleak otherwise (as it was aptly named)... but this was a nice escape. Eyes that were almost black swept the water. It was calm, undisturbed, still. DeSoto paced to the edge and stared into the depths. It wasn’t particularly deep, but it was deep enough that the depths appeared black. He knew they weren’t, but they appeared that way. Much like he did. Previously, his appearance had matched his personality. Sharp, dark, quiet. He had been very happy in that state—unfeeling, except anger of course, slow to judge, slow to speak. It hadn’t been until he had met a rather charming female that things had started to change for him. For the better, at the time. Because a wolf that did not feel fear also wouldn’t feel love... But things had changed since then. Nanouk had been lost to him. He didn’t even know if she was still in the valley. The last thing they spoke of was his promotion to Beta of Frigid Plague, and to her own promotion to Gamma within the new pack Ivory Wild. Neither had been extraordinarily excited for the other, but it had seemed fine at the time... but now she was gone. And he, like a fool, was left with all of the feelings she unlocked. In that moment, however, he was calm. In control. There was no telling what he would do if disturbed, but for the time being... he just sat, and tried to keep his nerve.
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Post by emorli on Jun 7, 2018 20:05:07 GMT -5
Baal;
The lonely vegetation that stood in the middle of a vast, waste-land like territory was beautiful against the empty canvas surrounding it. That's exactly why Baal decided to take a closer look at every living thing that resides within the foliage. To figure out how it was able to live in the area and why it was here in the first place. His large paws were oddly quiet against the ground as he took steps, a skill he had learned from his evil days earlier in life. His head was held high between his shoulders, making his tall form even taller and his tail swayed from side to side as he walked in a calm, peaceful manner.
As he got closer to the strangely located oasis, his nose caught the scent of another wolf. As his senses catch on, his first reaction is for his sharp eyes to scan the grass, looking for any slight movement or strange variation in color. A few steps allowed Baal to catch sight of a pool of water, along with the wolf he had sensed and he was sure that the other wolf had noticed him by now, so he made no attempt to hide as to not make it seem like he was stalking the blue-pelted wolf, instead, Baal kept his senses sharp and his guard up. Who knows if this wolf would suddenly decide to attack.
((200+))
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Post by Meds on Jun 8, 2018 8:53:53 GMT -5
DeSoto;
DeSoto had heard the other wolf approaching—if it was a wolf. Animal, in any case. DeSoto guessed it was a wolf because of how quiet the footsteps were. Only wolves, as far as he knew, took such care. But DeSoto was a trained beast, and now one with a title. It would take more than practiced-quiet to sneak up on him. He remained still in any case though, trying to embody that which the water was doing. Calm, collected, at peace... he was never a wolf to lose control of himself anyway (save a few precious times), so it wasn’t that he would look outwardly frustrated. It was his mind that he was trying to keep hold of and stop from spinning. But now wasn’t the time for that.
DeSoto turned, as fluid as ever, when he had hear the other creature’s paws still. His curiously-angled features were thrown into the sun, showing that he was indeed blue of fur, not black. His eyes, still dark even with the light, angled in on the stranger. His expression was unreadable, but purposefully so. In fact, the only peice of him that wasn’t dark or almost-black was the three white slashes on his chest, marking him for a gifted wolf of Geist.
”Afternoon,” He said, his voice deep and bordering gruff. It always sounded like DeSoto has a growl building in the back of his throat. But he didn’t. That was what set the wolves in Frigid Plague apart from the wolves in Midnight Silence. There were murderers, bent on death and insanity—and there were wolves like DeSoto. Cool in their evil ways, with nothing to prove. As such, one may be unable to guess which alliance he was at first glance. But this was not to say he was evil. He was. Very much so.
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Post by emorli on Jun 17, 2018 19:43:02 GMT -5
Baal;
"Afternoon, The foggy-colored male's voice was almost the opposite of DeSoto's, fruity yet silvery, giving his voice a very pleasant sound and making it easy to listen to. Baal tips his head down (almost like the action of someone tipping their hat, but he doesn't have a hat on, so, without the hat). while keeping his easygoing presence around him, to counteract his intimidating looks and make himself seem warm and welcoming.
"Forgive me for coming up behind you like that. I wasn't sure if there was another wolf over here or not. Baal held a slight upturn of his lips, giving him a small smile as he spoke. He holds that exact expression while the blue-coated male in front of him still holds his expressionless face, not bothered by it as he understands why he gives off no sign of change in thought or movement.
"This is the first time I've been to this area. It's quite surprising that this vegetation is able to survive despite a majority of the area around it being barren." Baal's curious eyes scan over the male before him and then looking out toward the foliage surrounding them, making sure to keep the blue wolf in his peripheral view.
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Post by Meds on Jun 18, 2018 8:43:54 GMT -5
DeSoto;
The male seemed kind enough; at least, that was the persona he was putting on. Without a change in expression, DeSoto listened to him return the greeting. Even with all his time with Nanouk, DeSoto still struggled to show any sign of emotion (or life) on his face. The stranger was large, with a foggy grey coat and strong shoulders. DeSoto tilted his head slightly. He had quite a different build than the male before him, but that wasn’t to say he wasn’t also strong. DeSoto’s body was interesting in that it looked sharpened, almost. Every piece of his body that had an “end” (snout, ears, shoulders, etc) was angled and harsh. He didn’t look underfed, no, it was more than that. He had never met another wolf that resembled him.
”You’re forgiven,” DeSoto said in response, eyes tracing the male’s body. ”I heard you coming. Had you startled me it may have been a different story.” Another wolf may have smiled in that moment to make their words seem less blunt, but DeSoto didn’t—which gave his words an ominous ring.
When the male commented on the Oasis, DeSoto nodded and flicked his head back around. He could tell the male had been careful to keep him in his peripheral vision—a slight widenening of the eyes, chin upturned, slow head movement—but as DeSoto turned he purposefully allowed his back to face the stranger. That was often how DeSoto conducted himself. Not downright intimidating, no teeth flashing or harsh words. His was a more subtle game. Truly though, he had nothing to fear, so such an action didn’t mean much to him.
”The good Honovi pack used to reside in this territory. Indeed, barren and dead; especially in the dead of winter or the harshity of summer—but with their fabled alliance with Midnight Silence, it was made livable. The water is cool, and fresh.” He turned and just caught Baal in his eye again. ”Care to drink from history’s well?”
His tongue was definitely looser, now that he had spent more time with Nanouk—which reminded him. Typically, upon meeting new wolves, it was customary to introduce oneself.
”My name is DeSoto.”
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Post by emorli on Jun 22, 2018 17:09:46 GMT -5
Baal;
The male opposite of him turns, what looks like an attempt to put Baal at ease, which for the most part, does gain him a bit of trust, but Baal does nothing to let his guard down, instead, he remains exactly as he was when he approached the area.
Ahh. How interesting, He'd never heard of the Honovi pack, but a small history lesson was never something Baal would turn down, especially when that's the type of thing that interests him the most, in fact, he'll probably ask many others about the Honovi pack later.
”Care to drink from history’s well?” Baal nods a bit out of respect for the offer and moves to take a drink, his eyes remaining open out of precaution and habit of watching his surroundings.
As Baal brings his head up from the pool of water the wolf introduces himself. DeSoto was his name.
"A Pleasure to meet you, DeSoto. My name is Baal." Deciding to let go of the fact that he isn't familiar with the valley, Baal's curiosity takes over, something that he was frequently warned about and usually dismissed in his previous, evil life.
"So, I'm quite new to the valley. Is there anything that I should pay close attention to?" Baal wasn't usually one to ask for any 'interesting sights to see' but rather something that he should watch out for, something potentially dangerous in the valley that he isn't yet aware of.
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Post by Meds on Jun 22, 2018 17:54:28 GMT -5
DeSoto;
The male agreed to drink. He kept his eyes open when he bent his head, and DeSoto didn't move save a tilt of his lithe neck and a zeroing-in of his eyes on the stranger. Exposing the tender backside of a neck was a brave move, even for a wolf that kept his eyes open. But DeSoto didn't do anything. Merely looked on as if from a distance. The male was large—bulkier than DeSoto, but DeSoto had been trained since birth. There would be no way to know that about him though, which was one of many reasons not to underestimate an opponent.
Baal was his name. He had heard it before—but he couldn't place where. Rife with connotations, he felt... but in what regard, he didn't know. In any case, he wouldn't forget it anytime soon. When he asked what to look out for, DeSoto turned to face him fully.
"Let's see..." Before Nanouk he would have brushed the question off and not answered. But he was learning that talking didn't require all that much energy. "The mountain, of course." He nodded towards the mountains where the White Wolves dwelt, and as he did so the white power-tattoo on his chest caught the light. It was easy to discern from his otherwise dark fur. "Gifting powers or dealing curses out to mortals in almost equal measure." His near-black eyes met Baal's unflinchingly. "Midnight Silence—a word of caution. The Valley conducts itself under three alliances as set out by the White goddesses—and Midnight Silence is the darkest of the evils. Straying too near their border could end in an ugly way for one that shared a different alignment."
He inhaled the light breeze.
"My own pack, Frigid Plague. Evil, and which I am the Beta. Not so demented as Midnight Silence, mind. We don't simply rip apart strangers to see what's inside." He tilted his head. Typically, an evil Beta would be something to fear. This isn't to say that he wasn't—but his was a calm and collected demeanor. He had spent his whole life training for the moment he would be made a Beta. He wasn't about to blow it by causing undue havoc. "The neutral packs, Ivory Wild and Secluded Sunrise. The good—Eternal Snowfall—" Though he had heard little and less about them of late. "Lastly..." Well, he was talking, why not? "A pack that isn't a pack. A group of wolves that travel the valley without a leader, cause, or desire and spread death and decay. I would advise to turn around if the shadows around you start to move..."
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Post by emorli on Jun 22, 2018 19:22:55 GMT -5
Baal;
Baal listened in silence, nodding every now and then at the explanation.
"Yes, it seems that your pack can be reflected off of your own behavior. And I, for one, understand that a pack's calmness doesn't mean they're ignorant. Although, I have no view on which way is right or wrong, nor do I think either has a right or wrong." Baal sighs, his muscles needing a break from being tense,
"I suppose I should at least give my muscles a rest. You're either a very good actor, or you understand the consequences of killing randomly." After learning that DeSoto was the beta of a pack, it gave Baal new light to the situation. If DeSoto were to randomly kill him, it would end up reflecting on the pack, since Baal himself has heard from wolves, other than DeSoto, that Frigid Plague wasn't the type of spontaneous evil pack that would run around killing randomly, and in turn could possibly reflect badly on the pack.
"I have heard of the wolf you're speaking of. Hmm, Nyx, was it?" Baal's eyes remain unfaltering as he thinks to himself. He understands that he would have no power against a wolf of that caliber. Although he knows very little, the small bit that he does know has left an imprint on his mind.
"Thank you for the insight. Even though you could have stayed silent and not told me anything, you answered me and helped me. I'll remember this." Baal was one to remember something like this as a favor, he would later repay DeSoto by doing a favor for him if he wasn't asked something unreasonable or unrealistic.
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Post by Meds on Jun 24, 2018 15:51:29 GMT -5
DeSoto;
DeSoto gave a half-nod, just one movement, in response to Baal's synopsis of the workings of a pack. DeSoto could appreciate that. Baal was a clever fellow—at least on the surface.
"That ability not to underestimate will serve you well." His voice was deep, but something about it sounded almost tired. Indeed, that was how DeSoto felt—but it was a type of exhaustion he hadn't felt before. He knew it had something to do with Nanouk and her disappearance... but he didn't know why. He didn't love her... he couldn't. They had never said as much. She had never said as much. And yet... he missed her. His stomach and heart ached as one when he thought of her being gone.
And oh, how he loathed it.
How he loathed that a single wolf could have that effect on him. Him: a trained, honed, and polished machine. That he should let one wolf have such an influence over him was shameful. Wrong. Weak.
And yet...
He blinked harshly as Baal continued speaking, and named Nyx. DeSoto got a hold of himself, and nodded once more.
"Nyx is one of them, yes. In her tow are also typically a brute named Fenrir, his wicked sister Sigyn... another shadow master of lesser ability named Bane..." He had seen others coming and going, but those three remained an apparent constant. DeSoto met Baal's stare. "I would argue that Fenrir is the strongest—and even Sigyn next in line. Nyx is a skinny thing, more shadow than meat it would seem." But that wasn't why she was dangerous. Any wolf, no matter how thin and disturbed, could kill another if they had enough of an advantage. And DeSoto had heard rumors that Nyx could blacken the sky and blind everybody except herself. He shuddered to think what a wolf could do to even him in that scenario. Even if it was nothing, she could simply run away and keep them blind until she was well-gone.
She was untouchable.
Baal then thanked DeSoto for his words. DeSoto's eyes narrowed slightly as he considered what Baal had said. Not many wolves thanked others for the simple act of speaking—not even the topic of conversation, but for speaking in general. The subtle art and effort of actually forming words and engaging in speech was lost on most. But not Baal, it would seem.
"Of course," DeSoto said, his near-black eyes not moving from Baal's face. What a curious stranger...
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Post by emorli on Jun 24, 2018 17:34:17 GMT -5
Baal;
"That ability not to underestimate will serve you well."
Baal hears something similar to this more often than one might guess. He's usually not one to assume anything of anyone as knowledge is one of the most valuable assets to him and one thing that he cherishes most.
"Of course. If you underestimate one, the chance of survival in almost any scenario drops. It's always useful to expect much more than what meets the eye, especially in a valley filled with powered wolves. Plus, Nyx seems like a wolf that I'd prefer to avoid rather than going up against, and you can't avoid what you don't know."
Baal had been going around the valley asking almost every wolf he had met about the valley, gaining pieces of a big picture and just recently, it's been coming together to create a complex piece that tells both beautiful stories as well as devastating ones that seem like fairy tales a parent would tell their pup so they don't sneak out of the den at night.
A small, calm, as per usual, rests on Baal's face as he listens silently to what else DeSoto had to say, his eyes calm and unwavering, reflecting his personality through his expression and movements. He nods every once in a while, showing that he's listening to the words spoken to him and as he finishes,
"Learning of new things has always interested me," Baal says, his smile growing ever so slightly.
"All knowledge is a gift, though not always what is asked for. It's up to the recipient to decide whether to accept the gift for what it is or to discard it because it's not as they hoped."
Speaking to DeSoto has opened up new doors for Baal to explore, although, behind one of those doors, there happens to be the infamous group of four evil wolves and that's the one door Baal whishes to leave shut for as long as possible. What he's heard so far of the deranged wolves is enough for him to know that they're one of the last wolves he wishes to meet as every realistic scenario he's thought of ends with a bad result, especially because of the group consisting of at least two wolves wielding powers.
Baal sighs at the tiring thought, his face releasing from what he didn't know was slightly tensed from the thought of running into any one of these wolves, and with closed eyes, he speaks quietly, though mostly to himself,
"Ha. What a tiring thought that is." Baal brings his left paw up to rub his face, using the small twine bracelet scratch the side of his face, catching the itch that appeared.
"By the way, I couldn't help but notice that something seems to be on your mind. It seemed as though you were trying to rid your thoughts of something earlier."
(I had to cut this off before I started rambling on and on and on x.x I just really enjoy writing with Baal. I can't help it!)
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Post by Meds on Jun 25, 2018 23:03:24 GMT -5
((You're safe with me xD I'm guilty of a few 1,400 or so word posts with DeSoto))
DeSoto;
Baal gave a synopsis of some sound logic, though it was nothing DeSoto hadn't heard before. The navy-blue male kept his sharp teeth together though, and merely listened. Listening was his first instinct, anyway. When he mentioned Nyx again, as well as other powered wolves, DeSoto shrugged.
"There are plenty of wolves more dangerous than Nyx. Her reputation has matured quite surprisingly, but it isn't even the danger that seems to be most wolves complaints." He shrugged. It was the disturbing qualities that often came to most others' minds; then again, DeSoto hadn't met her since she had all but become a god of the shadows. "And not all powered wolves will jump you out of nowhere." He angled his chest towards Baal, flashing his white three-slash tattoo that marked him as a powered wolf of Geist. It hadn't been what he asked for, nor what he had wanted... but he had taken it, irony aside.
The next anecdote that Baal provided actually made DeSoto nod his head slowly. It made sense. He liked the sound of it. He hadn't expected to enjoy a conversation this day.
"To discard knowledge would be foolish, indeed." He knew this all too well, especially as one who had learned most of his lessons without originally wanting to. Baal then seemed tired at whatever thought was in his mind. DeSoto's keen eyes picked up the change of expression easily, even before Baal made mention of it.
But then Baal asked DeSoto a question. DeSoto felt the shield that he and Nanouk had worked so hard to chip away at slip back over him as easily as if it was a second skin. Personal questions were not something DeSoto did. He liked to approach life as though removed. Easy to remember, but just as easy to forget. Dangerous, but placid. Wickedly smart... but quiet.
No, DeSoto did not like answering personal questions. And that is exactly why he answered in that moment.
"In all honesty... my mind is so full of thoughts these days that emptying it seems impossible." He turned and gazed back into the calm waters. "But at this moment, it is a female that has my thoughts in her clutches." An absent female. First there was Perjury—his Alphess, and the first female he had actually wished to see and to find when she disappeared. But at this moment, it was Nanouk. They had been so close to something... something... and now DeSoto feared that whatever it might have been was slipping away. "I'm not the kind of wolf that lets others in." Very true. That had been the main thing Nanouk had showed him. Emotions. He had been so pup-like, still was in some cases. He knew of anger, but had known nothing of true happiness, sadness, love...
He shrugged his angled shoulders.
"I suppose this is why."
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Post by emorli on Jun 25, 2018 23:48:14 GMT -5
((Haha yep! In that last post I shortened it down by like 200 words because I didn't want it to get too close to 1000 words XD))
Baal;
DeSoto speaks about Nyx and some other unnamed wolves, supposedly stronger than Nyx, although Baal doesn't exactly have an opinion on any one of them since he hasn't had a run in with any deranged wolves as of yet. He repeats the dark blue male's words with a quiet indifferent voice,
"Not all,"
Baal continues to nod silently and continues on listening as DeSoto talks about what's on his mind, something which Baal hadn't expected. Not being able to let someone in wasn't something Baal was unfamiliar to. It's difficult to let wolves in and allow them to see your weaknesses and show them your emotions, even if you don't understand many of them or don't catch them, they're still there and they still come out every so often,
"I've had trouble, in the past, with letting others in as well. I'm much better about it now." For that, he'd have to thank Arani, his sister. She's the one that brought him out of his shell, and now, he can barely remember what it was like when he was reserved and distant, even from the ones who took him in and nursed him back to, what Baal considers, perfect health.
As per usual, Baal doesn't necessarily give any opinions or 'advice' on what DeSoto says. Very rarely, Baal will give advice to someone, definitely not to someone that he's just met, but he will always offer to listen to one's problems and he knows that not all problems need others to come in and try to fix them, and as a result of him disliking other wolves prying into his mind to fish out problems that don't need outside help, he has taught himself to stay silent and nod, letting whoever is speaking know that there is someone to listen to them.
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Post by Meds on Jun 26, 2018 9:08:49 GMT -5
((Ohhh Baal is Arani’s brother!? It’s all coming together, I get it xD))
DeSoto;
Baal repeated his words, agreeing with him that not all powered wolves were out to kill. He made no comment about DeSoto’s gift, not even to ask what it was. In DeSoto’s opinion that was either brave or stupid. He wasn’t sure which Baal was, just yet. Fortunately for Baal, the siren that DeSoto could create would just give him a headache. Nothing too bad for now...
He commented that he was better at letting other wolves in than he had once been, which DeSoto made no comment on. It wasn’t that he necessarily struggled with locking others out. He didn’t want to be the kind of wolf that did so. He didn’t actually want to change. He shrugged once more, for all the world appearing like a lazy wolf with nothing better to do.
”I haven’t seen you around Frigid Plague,” DeSoto added, his eyes tracing Baal’s shoulders. It was an underhanded way of asking where Baal places himself on the spectrum that the White Wolves had created. ”Perhaps Midnight Silence is more your style?” His eyes were so dark that it would be impossible for Baal to see the spark of interest that had flared there. He did not think Baal was evil.
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Post by emorli on Jun 26, 2018 11:16:27 GMT -5
((Haha. I wasn't sure if you knew yet. Oh well!)
To Baal, a power is a power, they're all dangerous if the user chooses to use it against another wolf. Either way, he wouldn't know how to combat it and either way he finds no need to ask what the power is, as DeSoto hasn't shown any hostility.
The male asks if Baal was interested in either of the two evil packs in the valley and of course, none of them caught his eye in a joining sense. Plus, Baal is a good allied wolf, not ready to change his allegiance and probably never will be. The life that he lived when he was evil long ago, was not something he wishes to return to any time soon.
A small smile forms on his face as giving up surface information didn't bother him much and he was more open to giving this sort of information up without much of a problem,
"No. I'm a good allied wolf." Even if he wasn't though, Midnight Silence would be his very last choice of joining a pack, it hit too close to home with how they seemingly run things.
There was no need to ask of DeSoto's allegiance. He is in an evil pack, it's kind of a given that he's an evil wolf. But, that fact didn't really make Baal want to avoid him like some type of plague. It just made for a better chance to get his side of the valley. He's met good wolves and neutral wolves who've given him information, and each time the information varies slightly.
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Post by Meds on Jun 26, 2018 22:18:53 GMT -5
DeSoto;
Ah, so the calm and quiet male before him was good after all. DeSoto would have guessed as much, if he'd have spared a minute to try. He nodded slowly, sharpened ears flicking in thought.
"So what else does a good wolf such as yourself keep busy doing in the Valley?" He asked slowly, new at making conversation—and worse at staying agreeable long enough to finish it. It wasn't that DeSoto was ever especially unagreeable... it was just that he was evil for a reason. Often times it became too easy to point out flaws in others' arguments, or too tedious to feign interest any longer. With Baal, however, these things were coming easier. Chalk that up to Nanouk, or chalk it up to Baal himself—but for the moment, DeSoto was satisfied. "You don't smell of Eternal Snowfall." The only good pack in the valley. DeSoto had had the least amount of dealings with them. He wasn't even sure who the Alpha was.
He dipped one long paw into the calm waters and swirled it slightly, watching the water without bothering to keep Baal in his peripherals. DeSoto was confident enough that he didn't need to, and besides, so far Baal had seem like an agreeable conversation partner.
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