Lake Rodney In the hall of the mountain king

Fox's unexpected heat caused Peregrine's priorities to shift abruptly. He would not (and could not) forget about the threat presented by the wolves in Haunted Wood crowding their doorstep. It was more important than ever to fortify their claim and eliminate threats to their resources. But Peregrine couldn't afford to leave his mate unattended nor take unnecessary risks, especially if more pups were on the way.

He was torn. Mind crammed with thoughts, the Alpha male briefly left Fox's side to patrol. He wound up on the side of the caldera facing Lake Rodney. He recalled his idle thought from the other day: why had they never thought to claim this area too? It would be difficult to sufficiently patrol that much land, though. His one-eyed gaze drifted north, toward the woods off in the distance, then Peregrine spun in a slow circle, mind whizzing even faster than before.

They would shift their range slightly, he decided. The instant the thought crossed his mind, he lifted his leg and urinated. He then took off like a shot, continuing along the northernmost shore of the lake and leaving various scent marks as he went. He even sprinkled some along the southern portion of Bramblepoint facing the caldera. They would claim these regions and relinquish some of their grip on the caldera's rockier half.

He would have to let the other Wardens know and, of course, make sure his fellow leaders (Fox especially) were on-board. In the meantime, he circled back to the lake shore and stopped for a drink. As soon as he slaked his thirst, he intended to climb back up to find Fox. He didn't like leaving her alone long when she was receptive. He didn't think any of the males in the pack would try anything but he still wanted to stay close. Besides, they stood a better chance of conceiving if they mated as frequently as possible, a though which caused his wet lips to arc into a sultry smile.

*rolls in* :P

 The Haunted Wood wolves were marking their area non-stop ever since the Caldera decided to prod them. Lusa had ordered more patrols and told her small band to mark as much area as they could. And they did. Slowly but surely, their scent was spreading across the land, but so was the Caldera. Lusa was getting sick and tired of it. It didn't matter to her that they had been here for a year, they were trying to stake a claim on fair grounds and there was nothing that would stop them.

 After finishing marking the borders, Lusa decided to walk by the waters. As she took her steps, she made sure to mark the bank every so often for good measure. Her eyes were focused on the area around her, and she had seen a black figure zoom past. She instinctively followed, not caring for any noise she made.

 She stopped for a second to smell the ground were the male stood. Of course the familiar scent of Redhawk was there. A low growl rumbled in her throat, then she went on to follow Peregrine. She watched him mark more places with his own urine. Enough was enough.

 She came out from behind him, chuffing to get his attention. Unlike last time, she was calm, but still carried herself with dignity. "I just want to speak to you for a moment," she said slowly.

Quick note: this is located on the far northeastern side of the shoreline (which they'll be claiming per the updated policy). The map should be updated sometime tomorrow. I'll keep it in this forum and you won't be subjected to a roll, since it's literally being established as we speak. Sorry for any confusion!!! :)

The instant he sensed someone approaching, Peregrine lifted his head and swiveled, his lips wrinkling back from his teeth. He watched the figure trot north along the shore toward him and he arched his head and tail. He growled, the noise growing in pitch as the wolf came closer. His claim to this area was fresh but he would begin defending it immediately.

And when he saw who it was, Peregrine snarled outright. As if it wasn't enough that she wanted to claim the nearby forest, now she was trying to disrupt his actual territory? The Alpha male didn't listen to a single word that came out of the bitch's mouth. He lunged at her her, jaws snapping right at her face and neck.

Wanna best of 5 spar (their the simplest for me to do XD)?

 He said no words. The dark male lunged at her, which was slightly an unexpected move. Teeth caught her muzzle, sinking in deep. She growled louder, pulling out of his cage. It caused her flesh to rip, a large cut running down her muzzle. Right when the air hit the new wound, it stung like a bitch. Scarlet blood poured from the fresh cut and into her mouth. It was a terrible pain.

 But that pain would have to be tolerated, for she had a fight on her hands. Lusa was able to get passed the stinging sensation and lunge at the male. She was aiming for the side of the neck or the eye.

I'm gonna send you a PM! :)

She wanted to talk and he would have none of it. Because of this, Peregrine managed to catch her off guard and grab her by the muzzle. He began to shake his head like he would when worrying prey but she managed to pull free. He felt his fangs rake along her snout, leaving bloody gouges, and he licked her blood from his chops.

His behavior should have spoken for him but he remembered that she and her wolves were the particularly obtuse variety, with very little in the way of humility or instinct. "This is claimed land now. Get the fuck out of here," he snapped, leaving no room for confusion as he sprang at her again, aiming low, toward her throat.

She growled at his words. How dare he tell her to leave when this male and his comrades were always keen to waltz into their territory as if they didn't exist? She would not leave until she could tell him what she wanted to say.

 For the second time, he lunged, this time at the low part of her neck. Unlike last time, she was ready for impact. Her ebony head lowered, letting his teeth dig into her muzzle once more. Along with the teeth came more pain and she wanted out. She lifted onto two legs, ripping her muzzle away once more and attempted to slam onto his neck, teeth aiming to rip at one ear.

He might have been a hypocrite, yet Peregrine and his wolves were established residents of the area. This was their advantage, their right, one he intended to exercise fully. And with that said, he had literally just decided to shift his pack's range further away from that godforsaken forest full of squatters and here she was, all up in his business anyway. It made his blood boil.

The fact that she stood her ground on his ground (never mind that it hadn't been his until an hour ago) made him see red, even in his blind eye. Although Peregrine managed to clasp her muzzle again, she yanked free and thrust upward. Her snout grazed his cheek and a second later, her teeth pierced his ear on his blind side. He snarled wrathfully and kicked out a foreleg in an attempt to shove her away.

He didn't even know her name but he knew he wanted her dead. Ignoring the stinging pain in his torn ear, he backed up a few faces and then charged her like a bull. Peregrine wanted to get her off her feet, at which point he would slash her neck, executioner style.

She got satisfaction when the blood from his ear soaked her teeth. If she got a scar, then he would to. It was an eye for an eye. That satisfaction was short lasted, however, when the male managed to kick her off.

 She jumped back, briefly licking the blood that stained her chops and was now moving up to her face. She looked like a mess, but that didn't matter now. Peregrine charged forward, forcing her to dodge. Despite her effort, she couldn't quite dodge completely, resulting for her to stumble on the ground. The back of her neck was vulnerable, but being the fighter she was, she was quick to detect the flaw. She pulled herself up, and whipped around to face her attacker. She stood there, waiting for his next move.

She could cling to the forest with all her might, her life as well. Yet Peregrine would not stop until she was gone, whether that meant she ran off somewhere else or he killed her on the spot. Slaying her would give him the most satisfaction after all his effort, yet he would be just as satisfied with the former possibility as well. As long as she and her ilk stopped horning in on his neck of the woods (so to speak), Peregrine wouldn't care what she did beyond that.

But until that happened, he would tirelessly aim to end her life and tear apart her claim even as he further established his own. Peregrine found himself wondering why she insisted on sticking around rather than turning tail and fleeing. But then he remembered that she was proud and stubborn to a fault. It made no sense to him but it also made no difference. As long as she hung near his turf, Peregrine would be relentless.

But maybe more words would drive his point home where his actions, no matter how loud and clear, seemed to have no effect on her. "Leave or die," he hissed, assured that there were only two possible outcomes: she would flee or perish at his teeth and claws. It never once occurred to him that she could win the fight.

Leave or die.

 Two choices. Two simple choices. She could flee or she could perish. But who was to say she would perish? She stood up straighter, making herself look bigger, but head still low to protect her throat. "No," she growled with venom in her words. She would not leave until she got what she was seeking for.

 Lusa looked him straight in the eye, watching for any sudden movements. She was ready to fight and would not stop until a point was proven. Her pack would not be some doormat for RHC to wipe their paws on. "I will not leave until I get to say what I came here for. And I refuse to die here."

"Bitch," he retorted before she had even finished speaking, "you can say all the words you want and I still won't fucking listen." Now whether she died wasn't exactly a choice she could refuse and he was determined to show her that. No sooner had his sharp words cut through the air than he attacked again, once more aiming his fangs at her throat.

He could do this dance all day, into the night. He could go on like this forever, as a matter of fact. He would not stop to listen. Peregrine would not stop until she was dead or gone.

It was confirmed that Peregrine wouldn't listen to her. Fine. When he jumped forward, she was more than ready. She was able to dodge this time, though his teeth sliced her shoulder once more. Blood came down from it, but not as much as her snout.

 As quick as a snake she flipped her head round', teeth aiming for his throat now. She wanted him dead as much as he wanted her dead. He wanted him to know that she was stronger than he could ever beleive. He would know never to fuck around in her territory and with her wolves again.

He could never quite land a hit where he wanted; she was quite the quick, slippery bitch. His tongue writhed against his teeth when he tasted her blood, though it wasn't the lifeblood he had been hoping to flush from her. He didn't have much time to dwell on that, as she darted for his own throat. Peregrine moved to block her, taking the brunt of her assault on the side of his muzzle. Now both their snouts were bloodied.

Normally, pride would have stopped him from considering calling in backup or in any way backing down from a fight. He would and could deal with her by himself. However, as he tasted his own blood now, he began to rethink things a bit. For the first time, Peregrine considered summoning his pack mates to help him deal with this pest. He felt sure he could wear her down on his own but it would be much quicker if he had help. And it would speak loud and clear of their new claim on this stretch of ground.

"You stubborn whore, I'm going to give you five seconds to walk away in one piece. If you don't, not only will I call my pack to tear you to pieces, we'll wage full-out war on your squatters in Haunted Wood." There was an implication in there, though Peregrine didn't expect her to hear it, considering how thick her skull was. But with the caldera shifting its range, there might be less tension and more tolerance... if only she didn't blow it right here and now.

She growled as he protected his throat with his head, causing her to bite on his own snout. Though it wasn't his throat, she felt more satisfied with her attack. She moved away from him, wanting no more of the little bastard.

 He growled a threat to her, one that made since. "Can't fight your own battles tough guy?", she mocked with a sneer, backing away. "If I ever see one of your Redhawk mutts on our lands again, I'll bring their head to your doorstep." She turned around, jogging away. She turned her head over her shoulder. "One by one, you old bastard.... one by one." With that said, she went on to running, head high and tail up with confidence. She did not want war, but if push came to shove, then so be it.

-Lusa exits

Awesome thread, thanks! :D

In response to her jab, he made a noise somewhere between a laugh and a snarl. "You've got to be fucking kidding me," he barked at her. Her own posse had come to fight her battle in Haunted Wood, hadn't they? She was a hypocrite on top of everything else, which was no surprise. He leered at her. The truth of the matter was that they were both pack animals and it was their natural prerogative to employ said pack. In fact, if not for their packs, none of this would make any damn sense.

She turned, finally. He was sorely tempted to give chase or offer a retort to her bratty threats. But they were as empty as her head and Peregrine had better things to do, he reminded himself. He had a possibly pregnant mate who would need him in one piece, which meant he would have to pick his battles carefully. Let her swagger away, thinking she had the last laugh. It would make her overconfident and, in its way, a weaker enemy.

And he still didn't doubt that he could take her, that the wolves of the caldera could eradicate those in the woods. But with pups on the way, Peregrine's priorities had shifted along with his territorial range. He would definitely deal with the wolves in Haunted Wood if they persisted in bothering him in any way, yet chances were good that if they just fucked off to the farthest corner of the forest, Peregrine wouldn't bother with them anymore.