Nocturne Summit she moved like the moon
in our town the hangman came, smelling of gold, blood and flame
390 Posts
Ooc — jal
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#1
All Welcome 
The wayward path sent him roaming west, to where the sky grazed the land. It was a familiar setting, no doubt he had climbed it before. Full aware that Moonspear rested not far off, he made a point not to venture too close, for even he did not know where he stood with them. For a while he had been their enemy, then an ally held at arms distance. Time smoothed over scars, he knew this, but the women who had given him the marks he currently bore were unpredictable creatures, and perhaps the only creatures capable of serving him his death. If he was once again a name scrawled in their black book, he would have no way of knowing until his blood splattered the earth under their vengeful claws. 

And he knew they would have cause to do so, for he was quite aware that his actions in simply ghosting their sister would not earn him any favours. It was not something he took pleasure in doing at the time, but it was necessary in the aftermath of all that had occurred leading up to his abrupt departure. Alya and whatever affections had once existed between them were now obsolete, he believed, as he knew her not to be the type of woman who waited around for absent men. That was not something he blamed her for. Callous paws lifted his heavy frame up from the rocks below to the high altitudes above, and he cast his eyes down below with a twisted satisfaction. The teekon was his hunting ground, and while left unkempt and in peace for too long in his absence, he felt he had a lot of work to do before the ground shook under the mention of his name once more. @Hydra
for the sins of the unworthy
must be baptized in blood & fear
2,114 Posts
Ooc — gerra
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#2
Gratuitously, the late summer had her ranging out. Never all too far from the Spear, but out all the same. She felt she had lost time to make up with a spring and after spent close to her growing litter. However, independence was key, for her and them alike.. so she did not hold back when her tracking endeavors for the day began to tilt towards slopes besides her own. With the days long and hot anyway, she may as well scope the shadows of the nearby elevations.

She had plenty of ground to cover and roved as she pleased, climbing up, and undaunted when the mountainsides shifted, and rose. In keeping lean on her frequent hunts, she was enjoying fewer neighbors south of here now that Redhawk had vacated the Great Bear. She didn't even need to spare them a second's worth of a thought now as she swung southbound nearer to their old haunts--where the edges of the mountain wolves' hunting grounds began to overlap with theirs. Now, instead, she much preferred the chance of others.. not their ilk, who where they went bad luck followed. Gannet had a place in her life now, true, but his good nature still didn't excuse his shitshow of a family that Ame preferred far, far away from hers.

So this was the first time in a great many moons that they were of absolutely no matter here, and she found it refreshing--not just from the thinning elevations either as she went onward, sure and steady. Prey crisscrossed, yet none were ever too fresh, or too enticing to today's particular tastebuds. She sought the shade of the peaks in full.. only half on the hunt by now, half just to see what she may find here.

Her route wasn't meant to join his too soon. Hers brought them converging, opposite one another head on, and the dark matron picked up her stance to see him in full. The scenery had eased on her pathway, and she had slackened up to a prowling walk already... but he warranted a change of stature; he looked like Jorunn, very impressively so but as a longer look revealed, his scars were different. She turned her ears forward with interest, and a poised neutrality underlined with an experienced gaze, as some of her suspicions began to stand well before her. "Looking for something?" she supposed on her own approach with all sights on him.
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i want to bleed in the 「r a i n
the bonecracker
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Ooc — kit
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#3
All was as well.

Though she looked for him everywhere she went, the bastard that killed her sister was dead. Moonspear and its wolves were well fed and thriving; the cubs grew by the day, and their ample bounty was evidenced in Revui's bulk and her siblings boldness. They had little to fear, protected and without knowing what true hunger meant. Winter would come, and they were prepared.

As she often did, Hydra stalked her mother mutely. Nearing her second year, she was not so obvious as she had been in her youth; she knew, at the very least, how to avoid her mother from being certain that this was occuring. It had been a while since she had done so, though, as focused on her brothers and sisters and borders as she had been—so perhaps her mother would be none the wiser.

A pale blip in the distance caught her attention. No longer was her mother her primary focus, but this being. There was a vague familiarity, and as the distance closed Hydra recognized him from the scar she had given to him. Once it had given her satisfaction; now, it caused a frown to form on her lips. He had attacked Rannoch, a friend of hers, without reason—and none could touch those she cared for without consequence. But she had misjudged Rannoch; as it turned out, he had never been a friend to her except for when it suited him. The only satisfaction she could feel now in looking upon the aged wound she had inflicted was to know Rannoch wore the very same mark.

And her attack had proved its point; Vaati had not come to harm any more of those she cared for.

Her mother approached him, and her interest piqued. She was quick to give in to her desire to join them; her proud stride brought her alongside her mother before long, and her gaze was sharp. Without a word he had left the wilds, without a word to even Alya, his then-paramour—but here he was, awfully close to where he knew they would be.

Vaati, she greeted, her tone betraying nothing. Hydra could not deny there was some part of her that was pleased to see him, and he looked well. He was interesting, and things had fallen into a smooth, idle lull; though she had matured a great amount, Hydra enjoyed lifes small dramas.
I'll find that you'll find that I'm lethal
in our town the hangman came, smelling of gold, blood and flame
390 Posts
Ooc — jal
Away
#4
sorry for the wait!!

Vaati had not noticed the woman venturing close until her voice cracked the windy silence that echoed about between the rocks, which seemed to levitate so high off the ground. His attention snapped to her with narrowed eyes, first in a hostility that softened to a laid back caution. Vaati had never met her before, but he knew who she was. Her scent alone was enough to tell him she was of Moonspear, but it was her uncanny resemblance to who he assumed was her daughters that eased the tension he felt. Perhaps he could have mistaken her for one of them, had he noticed her approaching from a ways away. But the difference lied in the fact that she was older, and he found she held a particular ethereal aura, reminding him slightly of his own mother in her glory days. In that way, he could see from where Hydra obtained her natural elegance. Yet, before he could open his mouth to utter a reply, the ebony regent herself crept forward to greet him. Admittedly, he felt the slightest bit lost for words. There wasn’t much he had on his mind to say, nor did he feel he could he find the right words. Instead, he settled with a simple nod, “Hydra,” and cast his eyes shifting between them, before settling on Hydra once again. “How.. how have you been?” The question was genuine, he truly had wondered about her during his absence. Not in fear or worry, but curiosity. Life had slowed to a vapid pace during his hiatus, however, he held the speculation that her life was never uneventful. Yet, he took a moment to recall the other woman’s initial inquiry and found himself unable to answer the question. He wasn’t exactly sure why he was there nor what ambitions he was chasing by being there. Perhaps his first thought should have been to ask her of Alya, but strangely enough, neither was the answer something he sought.
for the sins of the unworthy
must be baptized in blood & fear
2,114 Posts
Ooc — gerra
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#5
She regarded him coolly, answering back with her own neutral, self-serving pride. When his aggression never blossomed outright, she visually traced the lines of his scars openly, as Alya had told her of him quite generously. Amekaze believed she came into this well-prefaced, so much so he almost seemed familiar.. She attributed this to his probable blood, how he looked like his father, who looked like his twin Floki--while here she remained, having been around long enough to have known them once too.

Silent and present as her shadow, Hydra soon joined in at her side and the dark-furred matron didn't bat an eye. The strength she drew from this was far more subtle. She was well used to them near, sometimes nearer than others, and now was a good time for this to be true. Ame perked her ears and gauged their reaction with keen interest; plus, hearing his name from her served all the confirmation she needed. "Ah. My daughter spoke of you," she intoned, curious to hear how he would reply to Hydra's question too. These were the matters they often handled anyway, so naturally, she was quick to pick up on her heir's stance on this.
! <3 its all good i'm going really slow too lately
the bonecracker
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Ooc — kit
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#6
His inquiry was unexpected, as was his tone; it served to temper the blade that her tongue could become. She did not blush or balk at her mother's admittance—of course she would know of him. He likely would not be surprised to hear of this himself. She was the leader of Moonspear, and once he had been their enemy. That Amekaze did not seek his life there would serve to inform him that he no longer was.

I am well, she is succinct, here and now. But she is curious, too. He had always interested her, perhaps in ways different than Alya. His capabilities, his restraint... even his lack of it, though Hydra enjoyed this only as it may suit and serve her. It might, today. Do you remember the wolf whose eye I took? she asked, the question posed in a casual manner, as though she were asking, what did you have for dinner last night? I have been told he is dead. Killed, she grinned. Hydra had, naturally, advised her mother and father of this as she had heard of it; she did not suspect her mother would reveal much of anything by way of emotion. Hydra matched her stoicism, then, as she continued: I only trust death when I see it for myself. If you find his corpse, will you bring my mother his head? Hydra did not ask this question in any other way; she imagined that if Vaati did find him living, he would make the bastard one simply to oblige in his own innate desires... and perhaps, partially, to please her—she thrilled at the thought. 

But Hydra thought more of Alya, here, than anything else. He had returned, and he had come here—but to what end? She suspected his rejoinder to her would reveal much as to the man he had become, and the role he wished to play in their lives from this point onward. She hungered for his maleficence, a trait she, too, harbored—a trait she wondered if they still shared.
I'll find that you'll find that I'm lethal
in our town the hangman came, smelling of gold, blood and flame
390 Posts
Ooc — jal
Away
#7

It was intriguing to learn that he had been spoken of - yet the matriarch had not identified exactly which daughter had done so. And for that fact, her seemingly welcome words did not put him at ease. Vaati offered only a slightly nervous, “Oh?” He could only imagine exactly what had been said, and though he knew he had somewhat redeemed himself to the Cerberus, he could not fully trust that what had been relayed to the Alpha was entirely in his favour. Though nevertheless, he felt no ill-intent in the woman’s tone and gathered no unease from Hydra, and therefore figured he must be in the clear, for now.

How could he forget the forever-screeching-one? At the recollection of the boy, he could nearly feel his ears ring at how astonishingly loud the other had been. Vaati’s ears flicker in mild annoyance at the memory, nodding in confirmation that he indeed recalled how entertaining it had been to see the boy’s eyeball ripped out in a sort of well-justified punishment for his overwhelming loudness. Though, it was even more intriguing to learn of the loud one’s apparent death - however, not surprising. Vaati would have liked to do it himself and perhaps he would, at the behest of the wraith before him. It did not take him very long to return with his answer, first glancing to the mother, before returning to meet Hydra’s gaze.

“Of course, as you wish.” He had not intended the words to sound so subservient, though a part of him still felt indebted to her. It was as if she were his employer, and he found himself drawn to her natural authority in the same way he yearned it himself. Likely it was a dangerous thing, for a few well-placed words here and there … and no sooner later would he kill for her. Though in that same way, it benefitted himself. She would provide the victims, and he would provide the death sentence. A particular symbiosis that existed contently between them, and only them. Perhaps at the back of his mind, he recognized that the sway she held over him was something to be cautious of; should he fall too deep in his service to her he would not find his way out. But yet, she reeled him in like a sailor to a siren and he found very little hesitance on his part. “Is that all?”
for the sins of the unworthy
must be baptized in blood & fear
2,114 Posts
Ooc — gerra
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#8
Him knowing she knew was enough. It was for his benefit, likely, though it also kept her gaze sharp--knowingly so, wondering what expectations to have truly. For the moment, she kept to her silence, as now did not feel like the place to elaborate what she knew of him already--not when it was Alya's details being the most generous, though the rest were fascinating all the same. Plenty, and enough for her, she was far more keen to watch how matters would unfold between him and her daughter, not of what had proceeded them.

Listening keenly, her glances shifted between them both, lingering extra upon Vaati while Hydra revealed her chosen topic. Of course, the mention of the scum she spoke on darkened her countenance. Even dead, she could still despise him plenty, just as she had done his family before him. His end, truth or not (since she was loathe to ever entirely trust a Redhawk), would grant him no mercy from her.

When the scarred beast of a wolf agreed so easily, so readily, she felt her ears prick up, keying into an otherwise unreadable expression ever-so-slightly. With this in mind, and now before her, she certainly remained interested, and wondered if he could bring them what Hydra asked, or if he really was gone, and the earth had swept him beyond. If he could, then she definitely had no complaints--of course she would gladly accept his head delivered, and with it, closure they could trust without an ounce of doubt.

She let the rest of this unfold, and play out as necessary. She understood more now, and found the tie Vaati served as a very interesting one for now. Above all, she was curious to see how this would take shape in the weeks--or maybe months--to follow
sorry bout the wait and the sheer lack of actual content here but !! )8
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i want to bleed in the 「r a i n