Blackfeather Woods finger deep within the borderline

Couldn't resist having the birds bother Mordecai here, though he's being nosy and investigating this pack too. Open for anyone, set nearish sort of to their borders.

It was the cacophony of crows that had drawn him in from afar. That much ruckus signified something, though how or why he had missed it before was ultimately beyond him. Yet the closer he had drawn towards the darkening woodland, the more aware that it was claimed struck him. Among those scent markers, he found something familiar, something significant. But recollection did not come to him — there wasn't enough to pick from his downwind locale to tell him much about the pack that resided there.

Mordecai didn't come in too close to their borders though, instead lingering on the fringes. Something about that forest gave him an off feeling and for the time being, he chalked it up to the crows that carried on. One of which had taken a particular interest in him, swooping in to harass him with a hateful cry. The first couple of swipes he dodged with a bit of gamey, playful attitude, but it became clear that it was upset with his idling there. And so he let it know he didn't appreciate it, unleashing a series of barks whenever the glossy avian swooped in. It did deter it, but for how long it would last he didn't know.

Why were the birds up in arms here, today, of all places?

tool — stinkfist

The shadow chuckled at the wolf's attempts to chase the crow off. It was very helpful, having 2 species defending the same border, wasn't it?

Cold silver eyes shadowed in darkness simply watched, but decided that it was time to step out and confront this male. Smoothly he slipped from the shadows and toward the other, huge bulk moving soundlessly through the cursed woods he called home. At his swift lope, he quickly caught up to the stranger who dared walk so close to the forests of nightmares and murders.

"Why are you here?" Crescendo rumbled in a low voice. Was he, perhaps, asking a deed of the Dark Brotherhood? No, he would have called.

Thanks for joining!

His deterring tactic didn't last that long. But it lasted long enough to seemingly pull someone out from the gloomy hollow. Or so Mordecai presumed, as he did not hear the incoming approach of a shadowy figure in his attempt to steer clear the crow. Distracted, only for a brief second, the glossy, almost greasy avian raked its tattered and blunted talons across his head as he turned to catch the words spoken to him. This delayed his answer as he moved to snap again at the carrion bird, only to see that now it had moved on. Mordecai's gold eyes traced after it as it flew steadily out of his view. Apparently one wolf was enough to torment; two was asking for trouble.

"Just passing by," he answered, almost breathlessly. "I thought I was doing fine until that crow decided to be a nuisance. What's up with all of the ruckus in that forest?" By then, his attention had turned fully to the wolf who had come from the very woodland itself. Upon him, the scents were stronger and Mordecai wished he could have put a face to the memories it invoked.

Crescendo stared at the male. Why not humor him? He had nothing better to do, after all. "The crows and the ravens of these woods are locked in an eternal battle, for reasons unknown. Their fights wage on, and the whole wood is full of them, no matter the time or season. They also make for a great snack, when they get out of hand." Crescendo smirked. "But it is not the birds you should fear in these woods. Here, we deal with trespassers...accordingly." He let the visitor imagine what his words meant, but he himself thought of the wolf carcasses left strewn across the territory, eyes still wide with terror. Yes, trespassers were always fun.

He was still a little upset about the ease that their last hostage had gotten away, and that he hadn't been able to have all the fun he had wanted with her. Oh well. Another would come.

When it came to the matter of birds, Mordecai was not overly familiar with them. To him, crows and ravens may as well have been the same thing, but in this instance they were described as two seperate entities. Entities, which for whatever reason, were locked into a bloody feud. He found that a curious premise indeed, but supposed it most definitely described the cacophony. It was chaos, perhaps too fitting for the dark woods themselves.

And as if to compliment his train of thought, the warden of the dark wood offered more food for thought. If his words were a veiled threat, Mordecai took it as a message received. But he had no desire to trespass through the shadowy hollow. "Have you had problems with trespassers?" he queried gently. For the most part, he considered himself good with the distance, though the palpitable gloom almost ranged further than the borders he had scented. He couldn't help but be leery, but his curiosity was genuine if not probing.

Crescendo sighed. This trespasser was very nosy. Oh well, he would continue to humor him. It wasn't as if he had better things to do. "Yes, we have. You'd really think that they would learn, after we gutted the last one, and tortured the other." He stared at the wolf, a hint of challenge in his eyes. Would he take the hint?

Just then, a raven lighted down on Crescendo's back, glaring beady eyed at the wolf that was not of here. Of all the birds, the ravens had gained Crescendo's admiration the most. Crows were just plain stupid, in his eyes. He never ate a Raven.

Plus, crows shitted on him. The bastards.

lmao @ your last sentence. 110% how i feel about pigeons. Hate those things. Feel free to have Crescendo pursue him too, I feel like he'd want to start after him anyway for his comment lol...

To punctuate his words, another raven joined them. This one, though he wasn't so sure it hadn't been the one harassing him, did not move to aggravate either of them. Instead it stood proudly with its dark counterpart. And Mordecai understood the hint he was being given, perhaps not so surprised that even this far out from their presumed border he was receiving veiled threats.

"Then I suppose on that note I should be on my way, so you can invest your time on actual concerns," he opted to respond with, not longer wanting to be humored. These were strange wolves. He began to move along, only offering parting advice he felt would fall upon deaf ears. "Though if the claims you make are true, then I certainly hope they had no pack to answer to. Your neighbors would not take kindly to you." And perhaps they already had not. He didn't wait for a reply either, only continued to head off for the open lands beyond the dark wood.

Morgana chuckled from her hiding place, watching the little meeting unfold. Cressy wasn't the only one who had noticed one lurking by the borders. They never learn.
So far, this little...meetup was going smoothly, but Morgana knew it would turn dark very soon. Crescendo would never let a tresspasser go without a little fun.
The tresspasser was right, Nobody took kindly to Crescendo and it wasn't unexplainable. After torturing helpless wolves, killing his own daughter and almost starting a war, who would like him. Unless you were in Blackfeather Woods. But even then, some STILL didn't like him. But Morgana did, wherever he went havoc was sure to follow , and Morgana was one for loving chaos.
She was unaware the story of the crows. You think she would know. She always thought it was metaphorical, not literal. She thought of it as the fight bettween light and darkness, a war that started long before she was born, before anyone was born. Or it was about the struggle of sanity when living in the dark forest, two sides compeating against each other. Two minds. Two directions. Two voices.
She turned her attention back to the scene she was watching. She wouldn't come out yet. Maybe when it got interesting. Or maybe never. But she would enjoy this, she could learn some tricks from Crescendo. She found him quite...interesting.

Crescendo leaped forward and stood in front of the male, baring his way. "Leaving so soon? Why don't you step inside for a moment, and I could give you a quick demonstration of what fun is? We have one or two trespassers that could use gutting, I'm sure they would be all to happy to show off their innards" He smiled grotesquely at the unfortunate male. Creepiness mode-activated.

With the prior actions of his greeter, Mordecai was not surprised when he surged forward to block the path he intended to take. His steps were halted, a momentary spark of anger flaring up only to be smothered. He didn't want the trouble and had gathered all he ever wanted to know of the dark woods along the river. If this was Meldresi's pack, he was appalled. He was shocked that such a dark seed could have fostered in the wolf he had once called a packmate, though he did not think her capable of such deeds. He doubted, ultimately, that she was even truly at the helm of this pack, though it had been so long that her own musk was lost to him; in reality, she was quite there and at its head.

"As tempting as the offer is, perhaps we could save it for another time?" he answered coolly, keeping his tone even-tempered. He held his ground, making no move to press on past the other. If it was in his intention to make a move against Mordecai, then he would have to be the one to make it; the tawny Ostrega wanted no part of whatever implications were being cast. The din of the cacophony behind him seemed quiet in comparison, and the dark figure that lingered beyond their meeting went unnoticed. He had little idea of just how stacked the odds were against him.

Morgana smirked. There was no way in hell this male was getting out of this one. You don't really leave the dark pack's territory without a few...bruises. That was for sure. The male had made a mistake by coming here, and he would pay. Morgana smiled gleefully at the thought of the male seeing what happened to those who crossed the line. It would be an excellent warning to the other packs that dared try to vanquish the dark. But Morgana admired his courage, in the face of the devil himself (Crescendo) ,most would cower in fear. But not this one. Well at leased not yet.

Crescendo growled lowly, one that someone might mistake for a hum. His eyes did not stray from the male, instead he simply addressed his companion in the bushes, her scent who came to him now that he was in a different position. His eyes flared briefly, then he called out to her.

"Morgana, come here. Assist me in...greeting this male."

He took another step toward the male, guard hairs raising slowly, and stance one of stiff authority. His humming growl grew in volume, but stayed low still.

It only took a moment for Mordecai to understand where this meeting was going. Especially when the dark-haired creature called out to another who had been apparently waiting in the wings — so to speak — all along. Mordecai only glanced for a moment to spy her out properly, sparing a moment to briefly wonder how long she had been there. Perhaps all along, for all he knew.

"Or today is fine," he quipped, a thin smile spreading across his face. His comment came as he shifted his own stance in preparation, eyes willingly meeting the cooler ones of his greeter. His veiled threats were not just poor tact, they had been truthful. If it were to be a trial by fire just to leave their area then so be it; Mordecai felt confident he could handle what was coming his way.

Morgana stalked out from the shadow's, her cold eyes meeting the one's of the trespasser. "Gladly" she smirked, knowing what the other did not. She snarled at the haughtiness in his voice, his disrespect was fool worthy. She willed herself not to have a go at him, knowing that things would play out soon enough. She was confident that he wouldn't be able handle them. His build betrayed him. "You talk bigger than you are, a bad habit in the face of wolves like me and Crescendo" she slyly said, not putting too much sternness in her voice, that would just ruin the fun. That's what Crescendo was for.

He payed no heed to the words of the latter nor the aggregator, but as soon as the other's eyes met his own, did he lunge straight for the other, hoping to overpower the smaller opponent and send him into the dirt. No thoughts crossed his mind save for here and now, they were all that mattered right know. Soundlessly, the beast struck, and soundless he would remain.

If not for the lunge of the dark wolf, Mordecai may have offered a quip once more. Instead he was forced to focus on the threat in front of him, bringing himself to meet the bulk of the larger wolf head on. It was in his motion that he hoped to take the male off balance, if not at least stun him into thinking twice about his actions. Mordecai did not make the move to draw blood willingly; keeping the brute force tactic at bay was just another means of wearing down his opponent from the start.

The fight waged on at length, the pair tearing into one another before Mordecai decided to cut his losses and beat a retreat. Though he felt pursued at length, the pair behind him eventually stopped following. He kept an even pace back towards the Plateau, not once considering the extent of his own injures until he had finally reached the outer borders of the pack.