Wolf RPG

Jace was sitting looking down from the mountain top, blue ice of cold cold steel glittered in the early morning light. He tilted his head as he studied the shapes in the fog and the way animals were small dots down below him. He felt like King of the world, but his heart felt hollow and empty. All his friends but Ferdie he had lost. He hadn't even seen Nightingale in a few days and he couldn't count Ame a friend yet they were still getting to know each other but he'd like too.

He sighed a sigh that was born from deep down in his soul and shifted his weight. It was time to make some changes, he would always been the mannerly gangly kind youth that came with star struck eyes, but he would not be as friendly to strangers if he could help it and he'd protect the borders to the point of death. Chasing away any and all trespassers even if it cut him to the quick every time.

When Bazi had returned from a trip to the mountains and told the pack of the Vale's demise, it was hard for the warden not to be surprised. Pleased as well, he realized, that an enemy to the creek had vanished. Given the chance to go abroad for a few hours, Njal had taken up a route towards the mountains in order to see things for himself; he did not doubt Bazi's word, and it was not with skepticism that he took to seeking out the Vale wolves. The guilt he felt could have been the deciding factor, or simply curiosity; it was a nameless feeling. As much as he enjoyed lingering upon the creek's bank in lieu of the summer heat, the shelter of the mountain's forests would suffice today.

Njal headed west, intent on being discreet in his advance even if the pack was surely gone. A tiny piece of him still afforded the Vale wolves respect, dutiful to the friendship that he had once held with their lady leader even if it too had become a tedious thing. As the day wore on and the wolf marched around the base of Apikuni and in to the deep darkness between it and the mountain range beyond, he paused. The shadows engulfed him - but that was not what piqued his interest. A wiggling nose and furtive glance later, Njal realized that the scent he now followed was not a Vale wolf, but something closer, something far more familiar.

He ascended in to the range, pursuing whoever it was that now took refuge among the rocks.

Jace from his perch on the rocks saw the scarred warden before he smelled him. Soon enough his ears perked forward and he was happy to see him but at the same time wary. What if the Alpha had sent him to finish off what she had wanted done. He surely hoped not, but he was cautious none the less. One warning growl later he stood swiftly and moved gracefully across the range.

That's far enough Njal! Jace was not being rude for more than the simple fact of self preservation. He did not wish to have to fight for his life with someone he had counted a friend. He stood slightly skitterish with his wolfish gaze on the other, blue eyes lowered in caution and slight apprehension. What brings you so far from the creek friend?

It was dark enough around the wanderer for the forest to take on a gloomy feeling, an eeriness, but not so dark that he couldn't see. A subtle gray was cast over everything, dulling all that it contacted - it was murky, dark, and deep, this forest. Njal mentally reminded himself to never wander between the mountains again - and caught himself thinking, 'Is it always dark here?' prior to a voice startling the thoughts away.

The stranger was a dark blot of ink between the trees, higher upon the slope, but in direct line with the wind. It had been easy to track his way this far, but now Njal was apprehensive. He stopped his march and stared, narrow-eyed, towards the hound which bellowed such orders.

"What brings you so far from the creek, friend?" Friend?

Something clicked in his head, there. The scent and the voice matched up, but the realization that it was Jace standing before him did not lessen the stiffness of his limbs, or the direct manner in which Njal faced him.

"That is my business, and it does not concern you, friend." He rumbled casually, or rather, as casually as he could. There was a biting tone to the words that could not be ignored. The warden did not linger long after that, and began to stalk up the mountain, winding closer to Jace as the moments passed.

When Jace had first began to traverse among the slopes of the mountain the darkness had been eery. It had lingered and stuck to the shadows like sap to pelt. He had felt as if the mountain was drawing him in, making him apart of it, while slowly tearing down his own self worth. It was a silly thing, imaginary but it had stuck with him regardless.

Jace's hackles raised and a slow growl started in his chest as he backed up as Njal came forward. He still didn't know what the other wanted and it made him nervous. He may have best him once, but it had been pure luck and he didn't know if his luck would hold out this time. Besides that he was still slightly injured and he was still healing. Njal would best him easily this time around. Keeping his blue eyes on his former warden he backed up slowly, long limbs tight and coiled ready to spring if it was needed. He really didn't want to die this day even if Fox had given the order.

What of Tuwawi her time comes close I would not think you would travel far from her, unless you are here to finish what I could not in that case. I'll have to deny you that.

There were many things to be afraid of. Death, disease, the loss of a loved one, but not darkness. Darkness was present everywhere as something unavoidable; but there had to be light for there to be dark, and that was perhaps the difference between the two of these creatures. Jace seemed to have fallen away from the light, at least for the time being. It was not in Njal's nature to judge, but he did look upon the entire situation with a sourness reserved for his closest allies. Concern laced his features now, as the boy spouted off something about finishing the job, which garnered nothing but silence from the Sveijarn.

"You're an idiot Jace." He suddenly commented, these words lacking the more negative emotions but still, far from friendly. It was an empty, emotionless comment. An observation. While he attempted to remain civil at the mention of his wife, of the oncoming weight of fatherhood, he did not take kindly to the passive threat within the statement. His tail lashed low, against his hocks; ears stood erect and faced the boy, and a flash of dissonance sparked a fire in his golden gaze. "I am not here to hurt you. Hell, I didn't even know you were here until I caught your scent," the man's snout wrinkled as if the smell was cringe-worthy. "I thought you'd have run farther than this to keep away from Fox, and here you are, sitting at our back door."

If Jace was privy to the other's thoughts he would have agreed that it was an aggreable sentiment that he was much darker than he had been. However, what was one to do when he was betrayed, kicked to the wilds for merely protecting others of his pack mates. He was not proud of the fact that he was no longer care free or happy and that he no longer trusted as easily as he once had, but what was he to do nothing that was what.

Jace's ear's tweaked forward at those words, only then to lay back to his skull with the negative words that spewed of the others maw. Granted it was not meant to be such a thing, it still cut him slightly after all. He had once wished to be like the warden to gain his approval. Jace shifted his weight and his fur lay down on his neck as he lifted himself from the near crouch he had been in. We couldn't get far, with both our life blood spewing forth from our throats Njal. So here is where we are and we like it here, so I believe here is where we'll stay. I hope you are well. The last part was added as an afterthought for the mannerly youth he had once been, apparently some habits were hard to break, his manners being one of them.

"We." Njal's voice rumbled to life again, catching upon the repeated mention of another - and while his attention had previously been locked upon Jace, he now trailed the treeline with his eyes and listened to his surroundings more aptly. If Ferdie was around somewhere, then the two must have mended whatever ills that had sparked their fight. It wasn't enough to correct Njal's new view of the pair, but it was a start. They were lowly loners now taking refuge among the rotting caches of an old packland, but that would not sustain them for long.

Jace's comments were heard, but nothing was said in return about them. The warden was doing his duty and scouting the area even if it was farther from the claimed lands he called home, and he would not leave until he garnered more information. His gaze slipped back to the boy of shadows, looking for these injuries that he spoke about, but they were hidden from him by the grey murk - and time had mended many of them already.

As he regarded the boy, a thought occurred to him: "Do you plan on staying here, in the mountains?"

Having been watching the borders for so many days, Njal had been aware of a few missing scents among the creek wolves; perhaps they had fled here, following the two beasts. If they planned on making a home here then they would be in direct competition with the creek, the way the Vale had - and it was Njal's duty to report such things back to Fox.

Jace saw the other looking around for Ferdie and a grim smile took place on his maw. You won't find him near here at the moment Njal. He is further upward. That was all he said on the glimpse. He knew the other was searching for him and he found as he stood there, that he really didn't care anymore what others thought of him. Well that was a lie, but he liked to tell himself that he didn't, and it wasn't as sharp the thought of the warden of the Creek disliking him. He had done what he had done to protect and if Fox hadn't listened, her mindless minions probably didn't and wouldn't either so there was really no point in even saying a word, but rather letting everyone think what they would.

it didn't bother Jace that the other said nothing in return to his inquiry. Truth of the matter was that they were not allies anymore, they were not friends, they were merely neighbors for however long and that was all there was to it. He also knew that even if they had attempted to be friends, it would not be and Jace would not have any others pay for the ramifications he had wraught from fox.

Jace tilted his head for a moment and studied the other Yes I believe we do plan to stay. he knew there would be competition among them and he also knew that after uttering that he very likely just signed his death warrant so he spoke quietly I do tell you Njal you go and tell her this soon, you may sign our death warrant and I won't die easily. He was not uttering a threat or anything like it he was merely letting him know that Jace would fight to survive and Fox may send others to kill him after all she dearly wanted his death she had wanted both of their deaths.

The situation between Jace and Ferdie had been resolved as far as the creek was concerned. As far as Njal knew, they had fought and nearly destroyed one another; when Fox had given the order to finish the job - something that any wolf had the right to do in a death-match such as that - both had refused. They went against instinct, against their own leader, and it was enough to cause their banishment. Yet it seemed as if Jace did not regret anything that had transpired, and this was unsettling to the other wolf. For a youth to be that cavalier about his own life was... Well, entirely wrong. It made no sense to him.

Worse, it made him reconsider the defensive words he had spilled at the previous pack meeting. Fox must have seen this wrongness inside of Jace. The doubt he had in his young leader, however minute it had been, evaporated in those fleeting seconds of thought.

But this home they planned on making - a fact confirmed moments later by Jace himself, straight from the shadow's mouth - this home, it would put them at far greater risk than their little fight. Njal knew it, and so did the boy, whose warning settled in to the man's ears.

Still, he was not dissuaded. Jace may have been a friend and a potential asset to the creek, but he wasn't any longer. His own inability to obey his superior had seen to that.

"I pledged myself to the creek and it's leader, as did many others who joined the ranks," he stated flatly, with a direct look in to Jace's eyes; challenging perhaps, or just firmly pointing out one of Jace's many flaws. "I will do what is necessary to keep the creek, and my family, safe." With that said, his silver-streaked figure turned as if to depart; however, he kept his ears trained upon the shadow in case he decided to speak, or to approach. "Goodbye Jace."

Sorry I had surprise guests knock at my door

Jace did not have a cavalier anything he had not killed simply because it was foolish. His attack had been in defense and nothing more. He had not fought simply to fight and it was time he made that known. He was tired of others thinking the worst of him and the worst of his decision it was ridiculous.

Jace snarled once Don't speak to me of loyalty Njal. Do you want to know why I almost died! I almost died protecting Sky and Nightingale Bazi was there why don't you ask the her about it. I was doing what I was supposed to do I was defending and you know what when I told your piss poor leader about it she just shrugged and told me she didn't want to hear it and sent me on my way. So don't speak to me about loyalty and death. I think i've traveled there thank you very much and it goes without saying. His tail lashed against his haunches. He had not wanted to say anything. He had planned to not say a word, but the minute his loyalty came into question as he took it anyway, the irritation burst forth from a maw filled with bitter hatred. his voice lashed out like a whip Ferdie was not in his right mind at the moment and even though I warned sky away she still touched him and he snapped and yes i fought with him to protect them from death and I told your precious leader no when she asked me to kill him because he was sick and he was my friend and it would have been my own death warrant signed as well. Truth be told I am surprised he isn't dead, but I am glad he isn't for now I have a friend in my misery that's more than I can count anyone else.

There was nothing more to be said, and so Njal deigned to leave the dark boy behind in the shadows. As he began to march there came a great booming voice which halted him in his tracks; he turned to watch Jace then, listening to him speak but also squaring off his shoulders in case the words became something more volatile. Hearing Jace's side of the story was not the reason for Njal's visit, but here he stood, absorbing it all. The boy was a mess of emotion. He rattled off his reasons for doing what he did, spat insults to Fox, and defended Ferdie - all the while, Njal stood there in silence. Just as his tantrum came to an end, with the breath of his words lingering on his lips, Njal took a few direct strides towards Jace. He stopped when they were face-to-face, breaching his personal space with his burly body and defensive irritation.

"You don't seem to understand." He started, containing the urge to really dominate the boy. There was a moment where Njal just stared at him, gathering his thoughts and observing again. When he spoke next, his words were to the point and empty of emotion. "You disobeyed a direct order from a superior. End of story." The man's tail lashed once against his legs, then grew stiff as it raised to proclaim a subtle dominance. He would not fight Jace physically, but he had to try and make the boy see reason. "If Ferdie was a threat to anyone in the pack, he should have been driven out or killed for even attempting to hurt a part of your family. You started out doing the right thing - you fought him," By defending the youngsters that had not been trained to fight themselves, Jace had proven his worth to the pack; he had proven to Njal that he could be a strong ally and an asset to the ranks. He had earned enough brownie points for Njal to doubt Fox himself, to speak against her decision, but now he understood. "But you let him live. He cannot be trusted among our family any longer. I don't understand why you would choose him over us, but you did."

Finally, Njal withdrew. He had no interest in lingering, or even to speak further on the subject. If Jace continued to defend his actions then it would be made crystal clear, both Jace and Ferdie were of no use to the creek. It did bother the warden that he had lost a friend, but he couldn't let his own selfish needs come before the needs of the creek - it was the fundamental difference between the two of them. He gave Jace his space back, and as he turned to leave, he paused for one final say. "If either of you come near my family again..." But he didn't need to finish that promise aloud, the look on Njal's scarred face should have been enough.

He began to march his way back through the forest, paying only enough attention to his surroundings to pick up on a follower, if he had any. So far the forest was silent, the mountain slumbering beneath the heavy clouds; however, there was always a chance that Jace's accomplice was out there lurking.

Jace snarled right back And regardless I would do it again Njal regardless of who it was. I am not a murderer and that is what Fox wanted me to be.

he scoffed at the next words and his eyes glittered I can't believe you would think I would harm your family least of all Njal. the boy shook his head and retreated further up the mountain he didn't even bother to watch the other male leave to irritated and angry to care. He did not care if it was wrong what he had done he was not about to have another body on his soul than was needed. And if he had gone at Ferdie he would be dead too so what was the damn point, there wasn't one.