Posting examples
Groggy from being knocked out, yet again, Ivanez looked around slowly. She knew this room. They had brought her in here several times previously to test her ability to fight. Groaning, somewhat angrythat they were going to make her fight again, the woman struggled to get to her feet. "I don't want to," she said simply, crossing her arms beneath her breasts. She no longer looked angry, but her hatred for the facility that kidnapped her boiled below the calm that she was displaying.
The other experiments in the room stared at her as she stood there, clearly scared of her. Ivanez was known to be quite violent and none of the others wanted to tempt her rage. It was good that they didn't, but she still felt the urge to slaughter. Especially after being denied the chance while she was in her cage. And with that thought, her rage was back at the surface. The woman's calm face contorted into an angry, vicious scowl. Seeing this, the others backed off and cowered. But it was too late. Her ice blue eyes settled on the closest experiment and a wicked smile replaced the scowl. Locking her in a room while she was pissed off, a room with living creatures in it, was a bad idea. Now she had a way to release some of that anger.
Crouching down the woman gave a feral snarl and launched herself at the chosen experiment. She bowled him over and pinned him to the ground. His pleas for help and mercy fell on deaf ears. No one wanted to interrupt the vicious lioness when she was in a mood. It would only get them killed too. The other experiments backed off and cowered in a different corner, away from the pair. "Shame," she muttered. "You're actually not all that bad looking." As she finished her sentence, she moved to squat on the man's stomach. Her toes dug into his rib cage, some of them snapping under the combined weight of her and the pressure she exerted on them, and one of her hands stroked his face. As her hand traveled down, she stopped at his neck and she gripped the side of it.
"You don't want to die, do you?" she asked, tilting her head to the side. "You should have known that if they brought me in here one of you, perhaps more, would die." The smile returned, wider this time, and she dug her nails into his carotid artery. He had no time to even scream in pain. Blood gushed out and coated her hand, her weight on his heart causing it to pump harder against the weight. Bringing her blood soaked hand to her mouth, she licked the experiment's blood and grinned. This was only the beginning of her rage.
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Her sudden outburst simmering back down to a slightly stony silence, the Beta leaned her head back against the wall and continued to listen to the comments of the other members. She agreed with what Sid was saying, of course. They failed as a team, which made them look bad… Well… worse since they were supposed to be the best group of thieves. She did, however, keep her peace for now. Melsavic was going to hear out the others first before she said anything else.
Mel’s mind wandered a bit as she listened to the Denmaster rant. She thought back to when she was younger and just beginning in the Den. It was fun then, not that it wasn’t now, but that was back when she wasn’t as high in the ranks. I didn’t have the authority that I do now, Mel thought, somewhat sadly. Maybe it would’ve been better to stay as a regular member? Pulling her hair wrap over her shoulder, the woman began to fuss with the wrapping as she thought. After a short time, she pulled the bandage off of her hair and let it fall back against the wall she leaned against. It was nicer since it warmed her up considerably. Worrying a lock of hair that somehow managed to stay on the front of her person, Melsavic let her mind wander further back. Back before she joined the Den.
She was going through her rebellious phase with her parents, leaving the house in the middle of the night in her play clothes to run around in the city. When morning came, Mel trudged home unwillingly to curl up in bed to try and sleep before she was roused by the servants to go and get cleaned. When her parents found out, they locked her windows. Angered, the young girl began to rebel in other ways. Throwing temper tantrums when out, ripping her expensive dresses, and just all around being horrible. When she turned eighteen, Melsavic turned her back on her family and went to join the legendary Rogue’s Den. If it came down to it, and the Den turned out to be just a story, the young woman had decided that she would just run the streets. It wasn’t worth facing her mother’s wrath at running away.
Pulling off her dress in a dark alley, Melsavic donned the clothes she had hidden away earlier in the week. The black garb, however impractical in cool weather, was perfect for her. It allowed her to moved freely, unlike her play clothes which constricted her. Making an impromptu bonfire, the Telean-mix burned her dress as a last ditch attempt to escape her rigid life as the daughter of an Andran noble.
Sighing to herself, Melsavic realized that she had never told anyone about her past. With good reason, of course. Being the daughter of nobles in a ring of thieves wasn’t exactly conducive to staying safe. However much trust she had stored in Sid, the others she didn’t know as well and was simply trying to keep her future secure with the Den. Shaking her head, the Beta put her face in her hands and sighed again.
”If it was always there, Sid,” she said, somewhat irritably. ”You certainly would’ve noticed it long before now. But that’s not my point in speaking up.” Dropping her hands from her face, Mel looked over and smiled faintly. ”I want to speak to you. In private.”
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This land was so lush and full of life. Water could be heard crashing against rocks, birds singing in the trees surrounding it. And it would all be hers. Life in the desert was an experience to say the least. Scrounging for food, wolf meat of course, was difficult and her (for lack of a better word) mate wasn’t bringing home anything lately. He was a jerk at best and a complete jackass at worst. Yet she kept him around. Masochistic, indeed. Stepping lightly through the grass underpaw, the ivory wolfess gazed at the lush greenery around her. It was certainly a pleasant change from the yellow-hued sands of Brena’he. And from her companion. The only other wolf she had met that was like her. A cannibal.
Shaking her head, the she-wolf made her way to the water’s edge and bent down. The cool water beckoned her. Invited her to jump in and relax. It was a strong pull. The heat from the desert still plagued her fur, making her hot and irritable. Nevermind the fact that she was starving. All of the circumstances made her wish for Cannibal. He would bring her meat if she dangled something of value in front of him. Just like she was planning to do with Nahani. Empty promises, obviously. She had no intention of giving up her kingdom for some failure of a male. If he couldn’t stand up to the wiles of a cannibal, and a female at that, then he had no reason to be on the throne. It would all be hers. And maybe Cannibal, if he came round to realize that she was worth keeping around. If not? Then another meal will be had.
Sighing in near contentment, the wolfess lapped up some of the refreshing water. It trickled down her parched throat and cooled her off from within. Her posture relaxed considerably as she stood there, her tail drooping and her muscles unclenched. Everything about her said unaware. She was anything but. Her ears remained alert for any hint of movement. It would be just like Cannibal to follow her and make sure “his” property wasn’t getting in to things she shouldn’t. Or letting things get with her. And the thought pissed her off. She was no one’s property. All things were hers, and she would have them all. One day, one day soon she hoped, the world of Taterus would be hers.
Walking away from the water now, the Alphess of Brena’he found a tree with considerable shade to lay under and rest her weary paws. The journey was a long one, but worth it for the cool water at Lucatrova. And the shade. The glorious shade with soft grass beneath her belly. It was as close to heaven as a wolf could get, in her opinion. After living in the desert for so long, it seemed that all she knew was the rough sands and short scrub bushes that provided little relief from the scorching sun. There was no real refuge from the heat there. And it was that exact reason she kept Brena’he. No lone wolf would venture into the land of harsh heat and cannibals willingly. If the heat and lack of water didn’t kill you, the wolves living there would. Sighing again, the wolf placed her head on her wrists and closed her eyes halfway. It would prove to be a long day if Cannibal found her here. Unless he brought her food to eat. Then she would accept his anger with joy. Food. Oh the thought of it made her stomach rumble in the most pleasurable way possible. But she was much to tired to hunt for it herself. It would take a miracle to get her off her paws just yet.
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If it were at all possible to run from her masters she would have done it long ago. They could see and hear everything, it seemed. And even though she was dead frightened of them, they had given her a home. Albeit a disease infested hellhole that left her every bit as frightened as when she had been alone. But now, they were preoccupied with something (with what she was unsure) and it gave her a bit of alone time. Which meant it was time to explore the territory. There was no chance of escape, of that she was quite certain. If her captors didn’t have enhanced senses, then it would have been easy. A short hop, skip, and a flap away would do it. However, there was no desire to escape anymore. The Guardansia wolf was content to be a slave, even if it was to the most horrid pack of wolves ever. That thought, that one little thought made her pause. Were they? Shaking her head, the femme spread her wings and hopped up on to a large mound of rubble.
Sairaudelle perched there for a bit, scanning the territory for anything interesting to look at. Her wings still spread, their red tips fluttering in the soft breeze. Red tipped ears swiveled to and fro as she stood there, unsure about whether or not she should continue through the city. The sights were interesting enough; crumbling buildings every where, vines and such growing through the concrete. But how long could she honestly stay away from her masters before they noticed her absence? That was something that was being tested at the moment. If they needed her, they would most certainly find her… and make it known that they didn’t tolerate her behaviour. And suddenly, her ears caught something on the breeze. A curse? Who else was in the city? Flapping her wings slowly, Delle gave the action some thought. If there was someone else here, other than her and her fellow slaves and their masters, then they would be in danger. But if she didn’t alert her masters, or at least take care of the wolf herself, then there would be hell to pay. What to do, what to do? She was no warrioress. There was no reason for her to fight before. And why should she fight now? Better at least put on a brave face.
Catching a bit of air beneath her wings, the she-wolf glided down to ground level and shook out her fur. That was still a sensation that took some getting used to. Folding them up against her body, making them as flat as possible without discomfort, the she-wolf sighed gently. Time to go find that... whatever that was. She thought anxiously. Whoever it was was almost certainly stronger and bigger than her. Everyone was. Shaking our her multi-hued fur again, Delle began to listen again as she tried to figure out where the shout had come from. It wasn’t far from her present location. But was finding out who or what it was worth risking her life? Yes. Yes it was.
Bounding carefully, wary of the chunks of concrete and brick that lay in the path, the black and crimson she-wolf made her way through the territory semi-quickly. Sairaudelle was definitely feeling bolder today. Any other day, any other time, she would have most certainly bolted in the other direction and tattled to her masters. But today. Today was a special day. She was alone. And the thought terrified her. The scent of freshly exposed brick, bricks that had just fallen, assaulted her nose. It was new and awkward. Dusty. Her halt was just as awkward; wings flaring and flapping, paws digging in to the ground in a vain attempt to stop. Suddenly, she was on her back with her wings spread beneath her. If she had been in the sky, she would have been flying. Bringing her paws up to her face, she covered it and whimpered. What a fool she had been and had just made herself. It would be hard to get up with her wings the way they were, though not painful. Rolling to her right, the side that was facing away from the rubble, the she-wolf managed to get her paws back underneath her and stand. Her wings would be sore later, as the tumble she took was pretty hard. Another quick twist of her muscles caused her pelt to shake and release the dirt that was trapped. When she finished that, her ears fell back against her skull. Maybe it would be better to go back to them, she thought sadly. They could take care of this faster. It would be easier, to say the least. With that thought, Sairaudelle turned to leave the city and go back to her masters. If they wanted to punish her for leaving them, they could. She deserved it.
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Gold eyes stared out over the rocks, a smile in place. The menacing look that the cat held was enough to make even the bravest cat quiver with fear, but she was not staring down a cat. The snakes that made the rocks their home were attempting to keep her out of their home, appearing to protest against another cat's presence. The black she-cat knew of these snakes and their posion, but was not afraid. If she died, the one she was successfully tracking would carry out her revenge. Widening her smile to bare her long, sharp canines, the black cat grabbed the nearest snake behind the neck and shook violently. "That will teach you to deny me access," she spat as the released the now dead snake.
Shaking her head and then body, the cat jumped through the throng of adders to the top of the rocks and gave a triumphant yowl. The she-cat was home, and she was announcing her arrival to the ones she knew would be destroyed by her wrath.
Foxglove, the wicked witch of the forest, was home.
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“Keep your tongue still,”
the Alphess spat. “I know exactly where he has been all day. I am not incompetent, I can teach my son how to hunt and kill just as well as his father can.” The ordeal of dealing with the children each night was wearing on her patience. The pups couldn’t keep their mouths quiet for more than a few seconds before they went on insulting the others for mixed parentage. It was an almost unbearable noise and she had come very close to putting the pups in their place for good. Rolling her shoulders, the femme gazed at her only daughter and clacked her teeth.
“You would do well to remember your place, Anevay,” she continued in a calm voice. “I don’t care how close you and your father are. I will not hesitate to fix your attitude.” The arrival of Apollo made her snarl in his direction. The two oldest seemed to think they were some badass little wolves who had the run of the territory. She had heard the stories of their hunts together, but working in tandem had never impressed her. Until they could bring down a full grown male alone, Senta wouldn’t be proud of them. And even then the essa wouldn’t let them know how she really felt. It wasn’t for her to decide. If they wanted to stay and be her warriors, she wouldn’t stop them. Though with Apollo and the way he acted, it was likely that she would oust him before he became too much of a problem to their way of life. Shame they didn’t have more pack members like them, they would be a humbling influence on them if nothing else.
“You as well, Apollo,” she snarled. “You know damn well I will put you all in your place just like when you were young. I don’t give a s**t how big you are now.” She was in no way sticking up for the young pup laying scant yards from her, he could fend for himself now, but it was pissing her off that they assumed that he had done nothing all day. She had given him lessons in her way of killing and, while not as powerful as Cannibals, they were still effective. She was more focused on the grace of the kill, rather than seducing the target until they were within range. Hers was a clinical art form. Hearing the dull thud of meat on sand, the ivory essa’s eyes turned away from the eldest of her children to her mate. For an instant there was a softening of the hard azure of her eyes, a flicker of true love for the strong male. She had only admitted it the one time, but her mate knew that it was true. Even now that their children were older and more annoying than he ever was.
“Welcome home, Cannibal,” she said calmly. “I assume the hunt went well, or else you wouldn’t be bringing me a peace offering.” Standing and moving away from the ring of her children Senta padded over to the carcass and sniffed it gingerly. Still fresh, she noticed and tore into it carefully. It wouldn’t do for the children to see how hungry she really was. She was not an insane cannibal, not like her family was. They put all of her and Cannibal’s spats to shame. But that was the past, and there was meat to consume. As she ate, she listened to the rest of what Cannibal was saying, though only half-heartedly. It didn’t concern her, so it was unimportant. If the b*****d wanted to talk to her, he would. And until such a time, Senta would wait semi-patiently.
Once she finished, the Alphess backed off and sat back with her children, leaving the carcass to whomever decided to get up and claim it. She sat fairly close to her mate, letting the space between them hang open in case he wanted to lean up against her. But if he didn’t it was no skin off her nose. They had never been openly affectionate, even after they had mated. Then again, it had only been the two of them when she found out she was pregnant. So it wasn’t like they had anything to hide. Now that the pups were older and were paying attention to them, Senta had backed off quite a bit. The pair was an odd one to begin with, but they had survived their first year of being official mates. What more could they accomplish now?
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“Last time I checked, Anevay,” Emyr said, tension colouring his tone. “You are a bunch of crazed lunatics, so the staring is deserved. And as for the rejects, I doubt that I’m it.” He didn’t bother addressing his mother again, she had since moved on to other things and it was doubtful that she even cared to hear his answer. It was the circle of his day. Follow his mother around, trying to learn things from her, ending up answering tons of rhetorical questions and getting ridiculed for it. But when she did actually give him lessons, she was fairly gentle. Unless it was hunting lessons. Those she didn’t really hold back on. More often than not he was too sore to do much besides lay down in the sand. So when his siblings came crawling back to the oasis at night, it was irritating that he couldn’t do anything to defend himself physically.
“Shut the ******** up, Apollo,” he snarled. “Are you finally going to get yours back from Anevay? For a she-wolf, she’s got a pretty tight hold on them.” It was all he could do to keep himself laying in the sand, but he knew that he would get beat up fairly badly if he attempted to attack his older brother. The most he would be able to do is inflict superficial scratches on his flesh. It would take much more than what he knew to be able to take on his brother and actually win. But brains were something that the youngest pup had. If he couldn’t win with brawn, those were a close second. Turning his head sharply away from his siblings, Emyr looked at his adopted father who had just arrived. While he wasn’t his real father, the young male held some affection for the wolf that had helped to raise him. Even if the contempt he could sometimes feel made him uneasy. Cannibal had been a good father to him, so he saw no need to run off to the male who had helped create him.
“I was training with Mother again today, Father,” he said as he tried to regain his careful composure. “She is teaching me her way of hunting. Though I think I prefer your way, I believe it’s a good idea to know more than one way.” The oddly coloured pup, a perfect blend of his parents, smiled a faint smile at his father. It was good to be able to talk to at least one of his parents without them jumping down his throat. And Cannibal had always been the calmer of the two of his parents. Though he had his moments just like his mother did. It seemed like his oldest siblings had gotten the worst of his parents’ personalities. It was no wonder he couldn’t stand them, he himself being the complete opposite of both of his parents. Standing and, while wincing, shaking out his coat the youngest of the gathered padded to sit near his father in order to wait for his mother to be finished with the meat. He was hungry, but it wasn’t a pressing matter. They had managed to take down a small female earlier in the day, though it was barely enough to go between the two of them. The victim had been unusually small for her breed, so it was no more than a few mouthfuls between the two of them. And Senta had gotten the majority since she was the Alphess.
“I do apologize for not attending today’s lesson, Father,” Emyr continued, glancing in his direction. “I will make sure to attend tomorrow’s.” The young male was oddly respectful to both of his parents considering the rest of his sibling’s behaviour, especially towards their mother. He assumed it was because they had never seen her hunt and kill before, he being the only one who ever followed after her. If he could be said to have a favorite parent, it would be his mother simply because, while she tolerated his presence, she didn’t put up with any sort of excuse or bullshit. She pushed him until he nearly fainted from exhaustion on more than one occasion. And it had made him stronger! But his father had accepted him quicker than either Rengin or Eirik, so the need to respect him was stronger than it was for his own father. Emyr had never even met his own father, but had heard the stories that his mother had told him. A male with four tails and was coloured crimson, gold, and black. The alpha of Crosul who had already taken a mate when his mother met him. Such a male had no place in his heart! Though his own mother was the one who had instigated that pairing, he was sure that it was for a good reason. How wrong he was. But that was a story for another day.
When Senta backed off from the carcass, Emyr fell on what was left with a nearly ravenous hunger. He made sure not to make a fool of himself in front of his mother and father, and he couldn’t care less about what his siblings thought. They were just minor annoyances compared to the hell he went through with his mother’s training. And with food in front of him? He was going to defend that kill, even if he didn’t do it himself, until he was sated.
Finally full, he backed off and sat a good distance from his family. Since his mother and father were in the midst of the eldest two, the male wasn’t about to get too close. It would only lead to physical violence, and with the level of his soreness he wanted to avoid that at all costs. As he sat, he looked up at the darkening sky. Two of his siblings were still absent from the little family gathering which occurred every night. Though that was out of necessity, not any familial bond. Their parents made sure to warn them about the dangers of the nighttime desert. It got quite cold at night, and when they were younger it was harder for them to stay warm when they were alone. It wasn’t as bad now, but it was safer to stay in the oasis at night with Senta and Cannibal to protect them. Sighing softly, the heir lay himself down in the sand and gazed at his family.
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If you’ve failed to notice, my duckling, she said menacingly. My son is a scant few yards from you. The only coward I see here is you. You say you will fight me to put me in my place, yet you are all bark like the dog you are. Back up your supposed claim to power with fangs, duckling, or you shall never earn any respect from me. Your power is as empty as your silly little head, pup. The Alpha chuckled darkly and stood once more, moving to circle around Quicksilver and Otulissa. The slow, unhurried gait of the hunter had returned and she was in her element. These wolves would know why she was who she was and how she got to be that way. They would feel the sting of defeat like a sandstorm assaulting their thin hides, pampered by a life in the forest. She had thicker skin than they, both figuratively and literally, and she was not ashamed of the scars that toughened her.
My Firi, she said with a wicked smile. Care to weigh in on the claim of my son and I being coyotes? I’m sure you, having been insulted many times by packmates, have some answer to such a horrid accusation? The female was riling her up, letting them see how dangerous the pair of them really were. Red wolves were often mistaken for coyotes, and Senta was marginally certain that her Firi had been accidentally hunted as one more than once. It was a mistake that the offending party did not make again. She had personally seen to that one. No one harmed what she claimed as hers or they felt the full intensity that was the Queen.
Fearsome in her own right, the white female was always sure to have a power base before attempting much of anything. Such a feat as she was attempting now was hardly possible alone, but with Firi, Ryo, Luneth, Erebus, Fenrir, Emyr, Ayasha, and Zair, she was not alone. While three of them were young wolves, they would grown to be strong adults and be worth the time and effort spent cultivating the relationships. Except with Emyr, her son. He was already hopelessly devoted to his mother, and through him she had Firi. The two of them were all she retained of her desert life, though the harsh lessons she learned there were never far behind. The Queen would rise again and instill the fear and respect that she commanded once before in these simpering, disgraceful dogs. A step down from her lean desert wolves, powerful mountain wolves, and slim plains wolves. They would have to do… For now.
Fight me if you wish, Otulissa, Senta commented with a shrug. I do warn you that I am not nearly as forgiving as the former Beta is. I follow through on my threats and will make sure you regret every word you have spoken against me. I do not tolerate dissent. If you wish to be against me, then leave. I will allow you one out. After that, you are treated as a traitor and will be dealt with accordingly. As she heard the rest of the other female’s words, she broke down in laughter, unable to contain the sheer pleasure she was getting from the arguments they were presenting. It was a mad sounding laugh, cackling and discordant. If they feared what she would turn the pack into they were fearing packs themselves. Oh dear, the Alpha thought, coughing to try and regain her breath. They are so naïve it’s pathetic.
You fear that I would turn the pack into an organized unit? Senta managed through the peals of laughter. You fear that I would make this pack into something worth the respect of the other three? Not the whimpering piles of fur and bones that you are? Gods take me now this is simply hilarious! As she finished speaking, the Alpha dissolved into more laughter and it took everything she had to remain upright instead of falling over from the fits. Senta was sure she was getting strange looks from all gathered, for what wolf would dare laugh in such a tense situation, but she found that (like always) she didn’t care. There was nothing these mongrels could do to tear her away from the pride she felt for being a free wolf, not some collared dog.
Calm yourself, duckling, she giggled, hearing Quicksilver’s snarls and growls. You’re most certainly going to damage something if you keep rumbling and making yourself sound like a constipated bear. I can barely hear you over that racket you’re making! It’s a wonder anyone can follow anything you say with all that nonsense coming out of your throat. Is there a nest of bees in there? The amusement she felt was dying down, though it still lingered just below the surface of her calm demeanor, and the moment of laughter finally passed. It was sad, she mused, that they didn’t see how much she could bring to the pack if they would only let her. Such a shame they were all so against her being the Alpha. Whatever nonsense they had gotten into their heads was simply depressing and pitiful. They would likely be better suited for a different pack instead of the one she was going to renew here. It was for the best, she reasoned. No one needed such negative children in the pack anyways. Perhaps they would be better of dead. Her mind wandered in a million directions as she searched for her next thing to say.
So many lies, so little time.
Well, only a few lies.
It was her intention to bring order to the chaotic pack, bring them some semblance of leadership so that they could reclaim what they desired. Better hunting grounds. A long ago conversation with her son rang dimly in her head as he recounted what had happened when Quicksilver pressured him into doing something he wasn’t comfortable with. According to him, the lands here weren’t fit for hunting, so they relied on theft from other packs to sustain themselves. Should the transition move smoothly, the Alpha would teach them how to hunt effectively in bad conditions and still have enough to live on. It was a lesson she had learned the hard way and had nearly died because of it. Not to mention scorching days and freezing nights. Those had been simple compared to the pangs of hunger and starvation. She shook the cold memories from her head and smiled demurely at the former Beta.
Oh no, duckling, she said with a fake laugh. I shan’t be challenging a pregnant wolf. Not when it breaks some obscure pack law that I have never heard of. If you wish to challenge me then by all means, I will most certainly defend myself against your weak assault. But I am not stupid, by your own admission, and I will not be trapped into punishment by someone who is a waste of perfectly good air and space. Her tail flicked idly back and forth behind her, boredom seeping in. She pulled a disgusted face as she felt the first of the drops of rain hit her head. It was certain to be a lovely storm, one she didn’t want to be caught in. While water was good for drinking and the occasional washing, it was not good to get drenched in. She completed her circling, a good ten laps around the pair, and returned to the flame that was her Firi. It would be nice to catch up with both her and Thaisce once this whole debacle was over with. She had missed the young red with a passion she couldn’t describe and was overjoyed to have her beside her once more.
Didn’t you hear me? Senta said with a tilt of her head. Firienne here, my lovely Firienne, is the Beta now. If anyone is no longer welcome here, it is you. I have enjoyed my stay here, though you have made it no walk in the forest, and will be content to continue living within these meager borders. By all means, Quicksilver, Otulissa, challenge me if your little bitter hearts so desire. I’ll gladly accept them and show you why I was named Alpha of Brena’he and retained my title for as long as I did. Her eyes locked on to the collared female now, her face taking on a darker expression as she did so. This wolf was her main opponent and if she could manage to make her begin the attack, then self-defense was what she could claim should anyone dare question her after that. If they wanted to trap her into some obscure pack law, then they would have to try a lot harder than that to fool her.
Pregnant or not, the former Beta would be taken down to the lowest of the low.
Her ears swiveled to the young male, Erebus, as he spoke. He sounded just like her Emyr at times and she felt a surge of pride for Luneth for raising her son so well. He spoke sense, and even Senta had to admit that he was correct. Erebus had hit the heart of the issue on the head. Quicksilver spoke like she was above everyone else, and while she herself did much the same, at least she had the sense to speak respectfully to those beneath her. For what good is an Alpha without the support of her pack? What good is a Beta without the support of the Alphas and the pack? They are no good if they do nothing to benefit the pack.
What young Erebus says also rings true, duckling, the Alpha said proudly. Luneth has spoken, Firi has spoken, and Erebus himself spoke earlier and you ignored them like they were naught but air and light. Everything you say is laced with menace and anger, and your lies about me stink worse than the scent of human that clings to that hideous collar you so eagerly wear.
I hold no illusions that I have lied, and can be classified as a liar. But I speak the truth on this issue. All I wish for this pack is for it to be at peace and prosperous. Under your reign, it would die out within a season. Under mine, we would flourish and live for many a year, for I know what I am doing and I know how to survive on what little there is within a territory.
Senta chuckled again when the other young male, Jasper, piped up. He was so hopelessly deluded about Quicksilver. She had him chasing his tail harder than she had her own chasing theirs. At least she gave her devotees something else to dangle in front of their noses. The promise of change, peace, and, in some cases, revenge. The Alpha found that revenge was always a good motivator when it came to gaining followers. Promise one revenge, and they would stick with you until it was finished. In Firi’s case, she had continued along with her even after the deed had been done. It warmed her heart to have the beauty with her once more. The pain of having left her children behind was bad enough, but to have left her favorite too? Oh how had she borne those many nights without them!
I’d watch who you speak to in such a tone, youngling, Senta smiled warmly, her tone cheerful. I’ve already told you to keep your nose out of things you don’t understand. I’d simply hate having to put you in your place permanently. Pups are the future of the pack, but if you don’t want to be under my leadership then I will give you the same out I offered Otulissa. Leave now and you shall face no harm. Remain, and I am only responsible for your punishment should you see fit to speak out against me again. As the rain began to come down, Senta’s displeasure grew. Emyr had already retreated to the dry comfort of the den; he hated getting wet more than she did. However, her ears turned as she heard a howl she didn’t recognize come from the direction of the Ravine. Who would be seeking her so soon after her ascent to power? Raising a curious brow, the Alpha turned towards the Ravine as she stood. Should she answer the call now, or wait until the rain stopped? Decisions, decisions. She could send her Firi and have her report back to her in a matter of moments, rather than her walking out there herself and risk her son getting injured out of spite. Senta grimaced and began to walk away from the Den. Whatever it was, the wolf’s howl sounded urgent, and the Queen was not one to delay judgment on a matter that required her attention.
Firienne, she called over her shoulder. Do look out for Emyr while I answer this call. If Quicksilver so much as looks at him wrong, do not hesitate to let me know. She has many slanderous comments to answer for when I return. Alpha business calls. With that, the femme made her way away from the Den’s entrance and headed back out into the forest. She walked slowly, treading carefully in the growing moisture, in case either of the opposing females decided they, finally, had the guts to outright attack her for her claims. It was unlikely, she mused happily, as they both appeared to be nothing more than collared dogs, a disgrace to her kind. Senta smiled at the thought of them being captured by humans and taken away from their homes. Perhaps they were broken while under the care of humans and they forgot what it meant to be a free wolf, a real wolf. Perhaps they were left without remembering their past and what their ancestors had done. To be collared and tracked was a death sentence to her. Once you were captured, unless you broke free before they could collar you, was the day you ceased to be a wolf. Unless they escaped the tracking collar, the Alpha would never accept them as wolves. They would forever be mongrel dogs.
And she would be merciful and let them live no longer under the collar of humans.
She would set them free through death.
Oh! Luneth! the Alpha exclaimed as she whirled back around. Firienne is a trusted advisor of mine and has looked after Emyr for the majority of his life. Please feel free to stay with her, as she will keep you safe and sound from harm. If you’d like to return to your place of rest, then you have my permission as Alpha to do so. Your secret place is safe with me. With a genuine smile directed at the females who stood beside her, the essa turned back around and padded further away from the Den. It would likely be a moment or two before the naïve females who opposed her would speak their minds and attempt to stop her, and in those moments, she planned on fueling the fires that burned beneath them. Let them come and attack her. Firi, her beloved Firi, would keep her son safe during the skirmishes. There was no doubt in her mind that the red female would do exactly as she asked. Hopelessly devoted indeed, even if the Alpha did care about her in her own strange way.
I shall return in a moment or two, duckling, Senta called to Quicksilver. Do try keep your tail out of knots while I’m away. I’d hate for you to be in any discomfort in my absence. She snorted derisively and curled her tail over her back, wagging it gently and kicking up dirt and grass as she walked away. Mimicking Firi’s action when she finished saying what she saw was just another way to drive home her intense hatred for the former Beta’s personality and actions. So similar to her own, yet vastly different in their execution, Senta had a hard time reconciling the two things together. Quicksilver clearly viewed herself better than the rest of the pack, given her constant debasement of those beneath her, and she lacked proper respect for the rank above her. She had heard the collared dog speak of her respect for Oro as a fighter, but the contempt she had felt for the former Alpha wasn’t veiled at all. It was plain to see that the mongrel disdained her leader’s style of rule. Yet she did nothing to change it, stating that she had been beaten one more than one occasion. How pathetic and weak. How the mutt had ever made it to Beta was far beyond her ability to reason, as she couldn’t discern any redeeming qualities in the dog. Nothing within Quicksilver, that she could see, was worthy of the title she had so selfishly guarded. All brawn and next to no brains, a dangerous combination, but one that was easily dealt with. Soon enough, Quicksilver would face the harshest punishment Senta dealt out to traitors and dissenters. She quivered with excitement as she padded slowly through the undergrowth on the forest floor. One of these days, the Alpha sighed to herself. We are going to make paths through this nonsense for quicker travel. This is simply ridiculous.
A bounce was in her step now, the excitement and amusement of the argument sending a thrill of adrenaline through her, and she nearly skipped away from the gathering. Let them stew in their anger and discontent. She would be taking care of matters more pressing than a few wolves who disagreed with her. If anything, they would chase her down and attempt to force her out. The Alpha smiled to herself and hummed a lullaby she used to sing to her pups when they were younger, a song her mother hummed to her and her siblings as pups. It spoke of happiness and contentment, and the love of a pack as a family, the thrill of hunting with the wind under your paws, and the peace that came with death. One day, she would teach it to her favorite, so that she too could sing it to her pups. And so the song would continue through the ages. The song soothed her growing displeasure, calming the female down like nothing else had thus far. Though taking out the rest of her violent urges on the moronic females who contested her sounded fabulously relaxing as well. The scent of fresh blood, the warmth of it flowing down her chin, the feel of bones snapping beneath powerful jaws. Oh how excited she was for the two to grow a pair and fight her. Honorably or dishonorably, the Alpha wasn’t afraid of the females. She was confident in her abilities and the lack thereof in the others; Senta had seen them both fight and analyzed their fighting styles. It would be easy.
Effortless.
Mm, she sighed quietly. How enticing. A turned back, seemingly unaware of their actions. Surely they wouldn’t pass up such and obvious chance at an attempt on my life? Then again, they are lowly dogs, unfit to run with the wolves. The Alpha chuckled darkly and wagged her tail enthusiastically. Better to let them think she wasn’t paying attention to them so that they might actually take the bait. While the howl had been real, any one of the wolves gathered could hear it, the essa wasn’t too intent on figuring out who it was that had summoned her so urgently. She would rather take care of business here before finding out why someone would call her. Thinking back on it, she likely should have sent Firi to see who it was. The red flame would have been there and back before she knew it; the Scout was built for such long distance runs. Ah well, she thought. Too late to take back my choice. Unless the cowardly dogs decided to challenge me.
Stupid, moronic, asinine, cowardly dogs, the femme snorted. Thinking that those are the only ways to become Alpha. Mating your way up the chain, being the successor to the Alpha, or defeating the Alpha in a fight. Ha. What narrow-minded foolishness. My way is cleaner, without blood shed. Unless the collared mutt thinks that she is worthy of fighting me. Not likely though. She’s a bigger coward than Craydon’s Alpha had been. Fond memories of taking that particular Alpha down and letting her Firi gain her revenge for the deaths of her Mother and siblings sprang to life and for a few moments, she was lost in the flow of the past through her head. Blood spraying everywhere, both hers and his, the feeling of his flesh between her snapping fangs, the tearing of muscles and tendons to cripple him. Her smile widened and she clacked her teeth idly. It had felt wonderful to rend his skin from his body during the fight. He, however, was not granted the honor of being eaten by the Brena’he wolves. He was left to rot in the sun. She had placed Firi in charge of Craydon, knowing that the female was fit for the position in ways that her father had not. Though Firi had been a good Alpha, the young essa hadn’t been ready for it and Senta let her step down and return to her previous life, though still within the reach of the white Queen.
Those had been simpler times, though only marginally, and Senta found herself yearning for the heated embrace of her desert home. The wolves there were smarter than the ones she had found here, less simple to trick into doing what she wanted. It had been a challenge that the femme had readily accepted and completed within a few years of her desire coming to light. Firi had been a large part of that and, while she would never admit it aloud, Senta knew that she owed so much to the young one. Placing her as Beta of this pack would help release her from that debt, but there was still much for her to do to attain some sort of equilibrium between them. Emyr, however, was the tipping point. Firi was devoted to the both of them, and would do anything Senta asked of her. But she was clearly, hopelessly, fond of Emyr to the point of love that bordered on romantic. Senta saw it going both ways, her son pining for Firienne when she had been away for a while. Now that they were together again, the Alpha didn’t know what would happen should Emyr ever turn on her.
Not that he would; he was devoted to her to a fault.
One day, my son, the Queen whispered. You shall have everything I ever promised to you as a pup. I stake my life on this claim. Her paws barely touched the ground now, she was stepping so lightly, so excited was she for the events that were unfolding before her very eyes. Unsettling Quicksilver had been easy enough. Now she had to completely unseat her from the position of Beta so that she and Firi could begin their rebirth of the Violent Storms pack into something worth being a part of. From there they would begin the next phase of her plans, though that would take some time and some work to get through. Maybe she could convince the other Alphas that banding together would be a good idea, beneficial to all parties involved. There weren’t that many wolves in the forests anyways. Or at least a readjusting of a few borders. She shrugged mentally as she walked, running through her options in her head. The Alpha of Shadow Moon was out of the running, at least for now. He was simply too rude and brash in her opinion and even more hotheaded than Quicksilver was.
And that was saying something.
She had yet to meet the other two Alpha pairs, given she hadn’t ventured onto their lands to greet them yet. Maybe they would be calmer and easier to speak with rationally than the other overprotective wolves she had met with already. Musing serenely, Senta smiled and picked up the pace a little. It was starting to rain and she did hate getting wet.
 LadySenta · Sat May 26, 2012 @ 05:22am · 0 Comments |
