Nikogda bol'she 《Never Again》

@Koda Finally had a chance. :D Set a day's worth of travel before border, and day before Vect joins NB. You and Kes already met, and this is gonna be pretty short because Vect remembered the two. Our final meet, Koda.

Vector worked tirelessly on the skull of the stag, the day him and his friend, no, his hunt partner, took it down. The final thing. His emeralds gazed over the completed work, and the russian was pleased.
Without hesitation, he sent a howl up, for that very man.

Needing a break from all the drama and upheaval in the wake of Peregrine's departure, Koda had decided to take a day to explore the other side of the mountains. He'd departed before the sun rose that morning, telling only Kesuk about his plans. Now as the sun started to dip below the horizon, Koda realized he'd wandered farther from home than he'd meant to. Even if he kept up a brisk pace, it would take another day for him to make the return journey. He hoped Kesuk wouldn't start to worry about him.

He'd started to look for a cozy place to spend the night when a howl rose up from somewhere nearby. Strangely, it seemed to be summoning him. Koda turned and headed in the direction of the sound. Maybe this wolf was calling for help. As he crested a hill, he spotted a wolf standing alone at the bottom. As he descended the slope, he realized he'd met this particular wolf before.

"Hey, Vector," Koda called out to the russet wolf in greeting. He thought it was strange, meeting Vector alone out here. At the same time, he was grateful he now had the chance to properly thank Vector for saving Kesuk's life that day. He noticed something big and white at the wolf's paws. "No way," he said in surprise. "Is that what I think it is?"

Indeed it was. That proud set of antlers was still fresh in Koda's memory. This was the skull of the monster buck they'd hunted together. Picked clean and in pristine condition. "Wow, you sure cleaned it up nice." He told Vector, clearly impressed.

The fire pelted man felt a pang of severe hatred, the moment his old comrade had shown both body and voice.
But the recon murdered it. He forbade to waste energy on emotions. Why bother, now?
Instead, he nodded, and pawed the polished antlers over to the silver speckled man.

"Keep them. They are yours. "

After a sullen breath, the russian gazed at Vector cast his lazer like gaze to the Koda.

"Impress her, with them. Do not mention me. I want her to forget my existence. "

That damned girl. She had crafted and illusioned lust from him, and it made him grateful that he had the trick he owned since the day he was born: He didn't care.
One night stands were a thing often happened from where he was. Solidarity was rare. Again, emotional bonds were never formed. What did he have to lose?

Koda looked up from his trophy to meet Vector's intense gaze. "You mean Kesuk?" He asked. He had suspected that Vector and Kesuk had known each other before that day at the creek, but he'd never asked her about it. Vector's words seemed to confirm that the two shared a past together. The way Kesuk had turned her back on Vector that day suggested it had ended badly.

"What happened between you two?" Koda asked.

The mysterious recon turned his back to the company, his voice a rumble, a forced way of attempting to shield the remaining of his feelings, though a barely audible growl could be heard across the somber silence.
"Nichego."

Vector quickly darted his eyes around the trees, praying she wasn't near, so he could keep the last of his straight minded sanity.

"She is on your line. It's better if you have her, anyway. Same pack. Vitality. Give her what I cannot. And.." he turned to give him a look over his shoulder.
"take care of her. If you don't,..
A smirk.
"I will kill you, personally."

He sat upon his fire furred haunches, the shimmering of the hot colors at play on his hide.
He had not planned to have a civil conversation. He had the intention of killing this Koda, and mauling the girl, to show her to not play with his feelings, but he was desiring to be a good guy for once, in his short life.

Koda's eyes narrowed at Vector's threat. "I will take care of her," he stated firmly, refusing to let himself be intimidated by the other male. He'd seen Vector in action, and he knew he was a dangerous wolf. But Koda was no wimp himself. He would defend himself viciously if Vector ever tried to follow through on his threat. Though he genuinely hoped it would never come to that.

A heavy silence followed, the two wolves just staring each other down. "So is that it then?" Koda said at last. He didn't plan on sticking around long enough for the tension between them to erupt into a fight.

ill have Vect walk and have an afterthought of the experience with Koda. :) Good thread, Kessie.

As much as he wished to tell the other man that he was dismissed, he hesitated on the order. Vector knew that as much as he wanted the lupine to walk away, and never be seen again, he could not drop him on such a dark tide.

"I respect you, Koda. That is something most do not obtain from me. Im giving you a gift. My location. I will be in the pack known as Noctisardor Bypass. I know not who is within, but I will be there. If you ever need me, or simply desire some advice, "

A smile of nostalgia touched his lips, only lightly.

"Or another hunt, I will be here, awaiting your call. "

A hint of sadness threatened to overcome his rigid emeralds, but he kept the gems as hard as the stone that they were.

"Now that, is a friendship. At least I know what it means to have one, now. I suppose it's as decent as they say it is. Goodbye, Koda."

With that, the russet russian leapt upon the small hill that was pointed in the direction of his soon to be home, only turning to look at the barely smaller wolf at the bottom of the earthen mound. A second after, he dissappeared amongst the trees to Noctisardor Bypass.

Koda watched Vector until he disappeared into the trees. His final meeting with the Russian wolf left him with mixed emotions. He would never stop respecting his fellow hunter, and he felt bad that something had come between them. He wondered if, sometime in the future, they would be able to put this all behind them and continue their friendship.

Koda collected his trophy and continued on his way.

The recon kept his pace measured, emeralds focused on the lands before him.
He would not focus on the man.
No, he would not. A waste, it was. His emotions. The petty things that kept a wopf from being logical. Feelings.
An irritating little nag, but that too, was silenced. Only the cold and entombing silence filled the assassin.

'I will forget the both of them. He will not come back. Nor will she. There will be no forgiveness. If there will be another occurrence where either of them are seen again, I will act as if I know nothing of them. This will not happen, again. '

Stopping just before he reached the lands borders, Vector confirmed it once more, with himself.

'Never again.'

And with that, he sent the howl up for the Alpha of NB.

One last post for exp!

A distant howl made Koda stop in his tracks. It was Vector, announcing his presence to a nearby pack. He was about to start anew, and leave the past behind. Koda knew, this probably included their friendship.

Koda sent up a howl of his own, hoping Vector would hear and know that he wished the Russian the best and thanked him for his brief friendship.