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The boy of shadows had waited long enough, he could only hope his former wife still loved him enough, loved their pups enough to talk to Scimitar. Because nothing could be achieved if they refused to talk, he could only pray to the gods that they would grant the burly male and himself some patience as they (hopefully) talked. Shadow had prayed to the gods that night, begging them to make it work, to prove that the fates and the gods were not as cruel, merciless and ruthless as they made themselves to be. I bear your mark, shining father, a mark I know no normal wolf can have before they shrivel and die. I live, great king, grant me patience and grant my wishes, I pray to you and all the gods. If I am truly your descendant, great three, Neptune, Jupiter, Pluto, then I beg you to grant me this. He took a deep breath then continued. I, Hadrian Nox Shadow Angelus Mortis, descendant of Pluto, Jupiter and Neptune, faithful servant of the gods of Olympus, Imperator of the first Legion of Rome, Noctisardor Bypass. Child of Rome. I have served you since I was born, grant me this one wish. And with his great silver crown lowered, he finished his prayer.
Shadow gazed into the clear water of the river, his own reflection staring back. No blood leaked out of his wounds now, though they glowed crimson against his pale platinum fur. The talons dug deep into his flesh and when all the blood vanished, he could see the mark that the king gave him resembled a bolt of lightning, the ones his mother drew on the ground as she told him stories of the gods. Its the symbol of your ancestor, little one, he remembered her soft voice and wondered if his own kids would ever know the stories of Rome, or just the stories of Paar's world? At least they would have something he never had, something hopefully Swiftcurrent Creek would be able to offer them, a home, a loving family. Pain struck at his heart, strong and unyielding was his love to his wife and unborn children, afraid he would not be able to ever see them but glad they would have a better life than he had. Anger at Paarthurnax, that she could run away with his and her children, knowing he might never see them, and yet be happy, reunited with her friends, their litter probably raised with Bazi and Scimitar as their other parents. The Roman would make sure that would never happen, not while he still roamed here on the living's land.
Tossing away his angry thoughts, for that would not help when he attempted to talk 'peacefully' with Scimitar. Shadow sighed, rose to his full height and made his way to the borders of the Creek. A respectable distance away from the borders, he began pacing, wondering if he should howl for the wolf or just wait for him to patrol his lands. A responsible leader always kept his pack safe first. Emotions whirled underneath the Roman's stoic mask and he continued pacing, deciding to wait and see if Scimitar would approach.
Since his discussion with Paarthurnax and the meeting with the Creek wolves, Scimitar had practically lived upon the borders. The pale Noctisardor Bypass wolf that had gotten through their home previously was still fresh on his mind – and if Shadow had desired malice for the pack when he had sent him, he could only imagine how much more that had grown since his wife had left him, pregnant with their children to a pack he had made more than clear that he despised.
With his growing agitation, the cinnamon regal was done waiting, however. The threat of his nemesis loomed ahead, picking away at his tension.. to a point that the Frostfur wondered if he would erupt. Had it been solely up to him, he would have gathered his warriors – Dovve, Falwasi, Kaskara, Estoc, Saber and perhaps even a few of the new recruits and simply raided the pack until they got the message – thus far, the cinnamon male had done nothing to his enemy, while Shadow had seen fit to harass his members and send interlopers through his lands.
It would be well deserved, but entirely against Paarthurnax’s wishes. And his love for her (entirely as a friend) would not allow him to do such – not unless the bastard kept pushing his limits.
It came as no surprise to him when Shadow’s scent teased at his nostrils, and with a quickened pace, the Creek Alpha came upon the roman – begrudgingly noting that he at least had the decency this time to respect pack borders. His features blanked to a stoical nature – a protective mask that’s settled easily over his features, especially moreso these days as he came to full view before the silver male. His figure was proud, but he did not air a boastful pride at the position his opponent now faced. Scimitar might have been hotheaded, but arrogance, unlike the grey wolf before him, had never fit him well. “I heard you wanted to talk to me,” he began, his tone still and to the point – regardless of how Shadow knew it was him he needed to talk to and not Bazi was beyond Scimitar, but again, the Creek male was not surprised.
a crime so old as the sky and bone
Since the meeting Nefarious had rearranged his trade priorities, spending more time on the borders than he had previously, fueled by the knowledge that they could expect an unwelcome visitor at any given time. Scimitar's warning had been the likely one they were going to receive and Nefarious was determined to prove his worth to the pack and earn his place within their ranks. If that meant sticking his medicinal (and poison) caches onto the back burner tending to them only when he had the spare time then that was what he would do. His Voodoo magicks wasn't going anywhere, and most of the things he needed to perform his curses and make his talismans could only be found within the season of re-birth — Spring and even Summer. He collected what he could — the plants and berries that did not die in the harsh chill of winter, and the ones that he knew, though learning of what was indigenous to the Wilds was more of a process than he had first anticipated it to be. The shift of trade priorities, however, had taken precedent and most of Nefarious' days were spent on the borders of Swiftcurrent Creek.
On numerous occasions, the shaman had considered it a shame that he had no talismans ready to ward off those who sought them with ill intentions, though Nefarious also considered that placing them about the borders was something he definitely wanted to check with the authority of the pack, first. To some religion and voodoo wasn't believed in and to others it was terrifying and offensive. Mostly, this was why Nefarious kept it quiet though he was hardly ashamed of himself, or in his Gods.
It had been on a patrol of the borders that he caught the scent of one, the scent of the man heavy with the scent of the Bypass, a scent that was familiar to Nefarious due to his run-in with a male called Silvermane a few weeks ago. Immediately, this caught his attention and the shaman wasted no time making it to the compartmentalized sections of the invisible borders he liked to keep them organized with in his mind where the scent was originating from. When he approached the scene, close enough to glimpse at both males, Nefarious took note that Scimitar had beat him there, and had arrived just in time to hear Scimitar's question to the silver colored male that Nefarious automatically assumed was this “Shadow” that had fathered Paar's children. It was because of this that Nefarious did not bow out and allow Scimitar to handle it on his own. Likely, the Alpha did not need the shaman's help yet even still the shaman moved closer, submitting to Scimitar before he lingered, a bit away but still close enough to jump to his alpha's side should the situation turn hostile.
For the moment the shaman opted to remain as a silent, watchful sentry, pumpkin orange gaze focused on the Unwelcome lingering a respectful distance from their borders.
His brother, and another. A stonepelt.
The FrostFur awaited the arrival of others, noting the wolf Nefarious who kept a watchful eye on the pair, all while slowing his powerful sprint to a regal walk. The sand and ash pelted male saw the slightly weary appearing yet pristine sterling before his brother, and seeing that the sibling wasn't at all being harmed nor threatened in any way, Saber kept his hackles relaxed.
As fluid as a viper, the brother of an Alpha waited a few yards behind Scimitar, seemingly relaxed, yet muscles coiled and sharp mind prepared, just in case he was ordered to rip this silver's throat clean from his body. There was no need to hide. He did not fear this brute.
This was the man who had impregnated the desert girl. This pacing and royal imppsing fool. This was who she fell for?
He didn't even respect Scimitar's position in this matter. Didn't posses the humility it took to speak to someone who cared for the girl he neglected somehow. He could have atleast attempted such.
And because of his decisions, the more he breathed, the less Saber respected this man.
Frozen glacial irises studied the father to be, his gaze just as cold as his heart toward disrespectful heathens.
She was digging for rodents behind a tree when Scimitar came striding, and nearly stepped out to surprise him before she noticed the tension in his bearing and the length of his strides. Something important was about to happen.
Like her pack-mates, Bazi followed. Three were already at Scimitar's side by the time she spotted Shadow, standing tall but respectfully silent - a plus, in her book. It filled her with a dark brand of spiteful glee that they were the ones with the power in this situations. If she had anything to do with it, those little children would be Swiftcurrent wolves to the bone.
Bazi stepped in next to Nefarious, feeling oddly comfortable in the dark (relative) newcomer's presence since their humiliating introduction. She kept a cool face, looking between the two Alphas with interest but without any real tension in her heart. This was about children, not turf, and even she knew that it was a conversation best handled delicately.
If anything this should prove an interesting encounter.
Falwasi got up to her feet in the blink of an eye, standing on her thin legs. Her lips curled back and she loped off into the direction of the Bypass leader who just couldn't seem to leave the Creek wolves alone. She knew this was to happen, she knew it the moment Paarthurnax stepped foot into their territory and was deemed member of the pack. It only took so much time for the brute to pluck up the courage to get her back.
The golden hued wolf arrived at the border, seemingly a bit later than the other Creek wolves who shared the same knowledge of Shadow. Slowing to a walk, she stopped in line with Scimitar's flank, prepared for anything if something were to happen. Falwasi didn't bother looking at the wolves around her, but she could smell them, and she felt the security of them radiating around her.
With her gaze fixed on Shadow, she dropped the urge to growl or snarl, but the distaste on her features was intense and Falwasi made sure he wouldn't miss it.
A familiar scent touched his sensitive nose and stopped his legs from pacing, the Roman turned, silver eyes usually fierce and vibrant now emptied of light. Only his mask was kept in place, his posture was neutral, neither displaying dominance or submission. He exhaled softly and dipped his head respectfully towards the fellow Alpha, even if it was more of a robotic move. Mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted, there was no more bite to his tone, no more annoying sarcasm, no more of his formal arrogance. It was only his Roman teachings that kept his shoulders from slumping, from his whole figure crumbling to the ground. Her leaving had taken its toll on the male, but death's angel had to do something before he left. Perhaps for the last time.
No words of arrogance or sarcasm or mischief came from the silver male's mouth, instead he returned the greeting from Star and dipped his head to Bazi and Kieran even if they refused to acknowledge it, at least he did his part in manners.
Shadow lifted his head, not in a prideful arrogant manner, but a weary tired one, the red wounds on his face glowed in the light, flashing. Silver eyes sought out Scimitar's turquoise ones and met it steadily, though he dropped it a moment later, after all, the Roman was not here to challenge the man's rule over the Creek. If it wasn't for the kids and Paar, hell, he wouldn't be here at all, he would be at the Bypass, strengthening his wolves and his land for the cold winter to come. But now, the Roman realized what true exhaustion meant. His brain was literally melting down, his heart torn to pieces and stolen by the crimson princess, his body physically hurt from his own patron's eagles. Ah....did he really deserved to be punished so many times, in so many ways? A waste of resources for a single wolf.
Shadow's gaze remained only on those he knew within his life at Swiftcurrent Creek, he didn't bother truly looking at anyone else. He didn't know them, therefore they didn't matter, even if they hated him, he still knew them and missed some of them dearly. Funny, one only appreciated his past when he was dying, not fake dying, literally really dying. The angel of death was dying, slowly, everywhere.
Others flocked behind him. Blinking, the Alpha tensed as his muzzle swung only partially to his shoulder, catching view of so many Creek wolves who had come – was it to support him? Or their own curiosity? Either way, his gaze was quickly riveted back upon the matter at hand – their visitor, Shadow, before he had a chance to try and tear out Scimitar’s throat or something of the likes.
While the grey male might have tried to maintain a neutrality about his tone, his accusations were instead hidden in his words, and Scimitar could not withhold a sardonic snort. “Shadow,” he began, shifting his weight and directly staring to the eyes of his opponent. “You don’t get to come here and begin the manipulation of calling me heartless – everything that has happened to you, and is about to, is your doing,” he stated firmly, no malice in his tone, though it held a dry edge to it. “You’re insolence and attitude got you kicked out of this pack. You’ve been unwelcome at our borders the moment you stopped new Creek wolves to harass them – and you sure as hell sealed that deal when you couldn’t keep your Bypass fools from stomping in here and attacking my members.” His tone held the hitn of a growl towards the end, and he gave his muzzle a shake. “It has nothing to do with my actions – heartless or not – and everything to do with yours.”
He paused, snorting once more as Shadow asked about Paar. How the hell did he think she was? The she-wolf lived to please others and possibly had the most gentle soul he knew.. she was caving from within. “As I’ve heard, you’ve already talked to her, so you already know how she is.” If Shadow wanted a middle man to hear about the well-being of his ex-mate.. it sure as hell wouldn’t be from one of her closest friends. “As I’ve told her – if she desires her children to know you, that is up to her – but those meetings will not happen within Swiftcurrent Creek lands. You’ve burnt those bridges all by yourself.”
a crime so old as the sky and bone
Bazi felt a surge of admiration for Scimitar's gallant handling of events. Granted, she had contributed to the mess he was now cleaning up.. right? Had it not been for her, Shadow would still be a member of the Creek. It wasn't as though he had murdered anyone, or broken the rules - technically speaking, his only crime had been to offer a grumpy Alpha his very unsolicited opinions at the worst possible moment.
But Bazi didn't feel bad about that. Shadow had the makings of an Alpha - perhaps even a good one, for those that could accept his particular brand of hierarchy. It wasn't her fault that Paarthurnax wasn't a fan of flagrant misogyny. No, she had not been wrong to boot him out. A wolf with aspirations to lead had no place in an established hierarchy, and she had simply done the natural thing by eliminating a threat - and those pups would not be short of role models.
Having effectively absolved herself of all guilt, Bazi's curious gaze wandered back to Shadow.
Yet this truly had nothing to do with him — he had no involvement with Paar beyond their acquaintanceship as pack mates, and he was not a leader, thus he kept his thoughts to himself, pleased when Scimitar retorted sharply. Nefarious' respect for his alpha raised immediately as his leader spoke to the Unwelcome. The shaman kept silent, watching for the Bypass leader's reaction, assuming that it was not likely to be a good one.
His sympathies went to the father though. As one who loved his father well he could imagine the pain of being separated from your children like that. It could not be easy, and the family oriented pack he came from would have considered it a major breach of honor unless the father was a danger to the pups.
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The Roman listened silently, deciding to speak after the Creek wolf finished saying all he needed to say. He doubted he had enough energy to counter and interrupt him anyways. And to listen had always been his best skill, other than fighting and manipulating words and wolves. The words the agouti male opposite him spoke penetrated his fallen shields and straight into his heart, though they didn't have the same effect as Paarthurnax had on him. “You’re insolence and attitude got you kicked out of this pack. You’ve been unwelcome at our borders the moment you stopped new Creek wolves to harass them – and you sure as hell sealed that deal when you couldn’t keep your Bypass fools from stomping in here and attacking my members.” His Bypass wolves came to the Creek and attacked members of Swiftcurrent? What in the name of Jupiter? Who the fuck did that? Shadow had a firm rule, that the battles he started, the wars he created, he fought by himself, that no one else should interfere if he could help it. There would be hell to pay when he came back to the Bypass to whoever who did it. The Roman was a firm, strict and loving ruler, so when it came to things like this, he was firm and fair, he most certainly did not congratulate whoever who trampled on Creek grounds, it was his fight not theirs.
Shadow's figure noticeably slackened as the other wolf spoke, he'd expected it but it didn't mean he was ready to take it all at the sametime. He pulled himself together and looked up and felt there was no more use to use the mask he held in place since the few weeks before his birth in nymore. Why should he? This wasn't Rome? They weren't going to assassinate him or kill him just because he stood here. He was such a foolish little boy. What was he thinking? So the Roman looked up, raw emotions on his face, grief, sadness, desperation, regret, resentment at himself. But also thankfulness and hope. A sad smile graced his lips.
There was a new kind of energy in him, a hopeful one, perhaps he might have a chance at a new life. Maybe this was what the gods above were trying to help him.
Shadow did not expect anything from the Creek wolves, knowing he deserved the hate and disgust they felt towards him, or whatever they felt towards him. He just knew, he had to apologize, whether they accepted it or not.
The silver Roman looked Bazi and Scimitar in the eye, not a challenge but to let them know something.
The chamois-shot girl stood silently but menacingly as Scimitar and Shadow conversed, her Alpha's words surprisingly more stinging than the silvered.
But what the Bypass wolf said shocked Falwasi. She continued to hold a strong exterior, but it faltered slightly as Shadow spoke, due to this utter disturbance. He was surrendering; he was trying to repent and he was begging and he was... anything but the absolute ass they all knew he was. Of course, Falwasi still thought of the man as an ass; she probably always would, but he did not sound like himself. He sounded like a father who wanted to see his children.
Then, Falwasi shifted her attention to Scimitar. She didn't know what he was going to say. After all, she knew how well Shadow could put on a show.
Scimitar was a wolf of silence – his conversations were generally short and to the point, and anything meaningful was said in in short words. So, when the silver male went off on a rambled tangent – calling himself foolish, cursing the pack intruder, demanding to know a description, wishing someone had knocked sense in to him, despairing over Paarthurnax, crying about his life, etc, etc, it was everything it could take for the cinnamon wolf to not go completely cross-eyed. The share of information – as if they were friends was what truly threw the large beast off, and he gave a shake of his head, attempting to reel the wolf before him back to reality. “Stop Shadow – I don’t give a fuck about your revelations. If you want to know what member it was, go take a look at them – we left our mark on him, and we sure as hell don’t need you to try to fight our battles.”
There was a rumbling growl in his throat – though directed only at his frustration at having to deal with the fool before him. “There will be no truce between us – no alliances. You will not even be considered an enemy. As far as I’m concerned, your pack means nothing to us – not even enough to warrant a second thought. If your members try to step over my pack’s lines once more, I will send another message.” The grey wolf was far more moronic than Scimitar had ever considered if he thought the Frostfur would ever trust him enough to consider a truce.
“Whatever you and Paarthurnax decide for your kids future is between you both. You will not step paw on to these lands ever – and the only reason I will let you visit them for the birthing is because I think Paarthurnax will want you to see them. I will call for you when it happens, and you will be escorted in to the lands. If you so much as even look at Paar wrong and upset her, I’ll throw you out by your scruff.”
With what he needed to be said, he felt a tension in his shoulders – he wasn’t sure his members would be keen on the wolf on their lands – but it was also not forgotten that he had once considered Shadow somewhat of a comrade, and for that, he would not deny him the first glimpse of his children in to the world.
a crime so old as the sky and bone
Kaede would remain to see Shadows reaction before leaving. He was curious as to how the terms would be taken.
So she watched the robust male before her once again in a somewhat solemn yet blasé way. He had to accept the terms.
Pleased to see her best friend avenged, Bazi took her leave of the meeting - apart from working out the details of Shadow's one visit, should it take place, there was nothing more to see her. She brushed past Nefarious on her way out, offering the shaman the glimpse of a grin before trotting briskly back the way she had come.
The shaman tried to be neutral but he could feel Sos' presence heavily now, though the giant black bear remained invisible to him.
Of course, Scimitar wasn't allowing Shadow in for Shadow himself but Paarthurnax, but only because he thought it was what she would want. It was a tall thing to assume for her, but more than likely Scimitar knew her well enough to be confident in that. Having nothing to say, electing to make his judgments and keep them to himself Nefarious was content, for now, with observing, where he would wait to make sure Shadow was going to leave before he prepared to nudge from his spot.