merrick had meant to be over the mountains days ago, but his shoulder was annoyingly, agonizingly uncooperative. having determined he’d torn a tendon a week prior, the boy had nevertheless traveled laboriously into the shadow of another mountain.
here could be heard the screaming of eagles far above, but for once he was not held in thrall. merrick was beginning to starve, held together by berries and bitter leaves and once, the flea-bitten carcass of a mouse, half buried beneath the leaf litter of the lofty forest’s floor.
too weak to go on, he lay at the unfeeling base of an oak tree, panting gently in the warmth, and thought of indra. what would she think, upon returning to the hollow to find him gone? what if laurel had found his worthless cousins; what if his mother had paid the price of her own child to see her sister’s spawn back into the fold?
lips curled with a cold smile, something mad and feral and unfit for the eyes of any living thing. his death, merrick decided, would be greater punishment than he could ever hope to mete through his own cunning. and maybe he deserved to die, for the blackness in him taking the form of something he did not recognize. thin, bedraggled merrick, come to a fair and fitting end.
a choking bit of laughter gravelled weakly in his throat.
Ulysses' journey leads him to the mountains. Here in the rocky mountainside he's slipped and tumbled down some of the rocky hills more than he likes to admit. He's a prideful man, but even he has to admit when he should give up and pursue another, more safer route.
The final moment in which he makes this decision is when he's heading up a steep, rocky cliff side. The wolfdog is attempting to make it to a grassy cliff that leads to an opening of a cave, but life has different plans for him. One slip of his paw on the gravelly pebbles and he's rolling and tumbling down.
By the time he makes it to the bottom he's got a few scrapes and bruises, he's going to be a little sore but that won't be a problem. So from there he takes it upon himself to go the safer route.
Ulysses sidles into the forest, passing by the thick oak trees. His nose instantly presses downward to pick up any scents of possible prey. Instead his senses pick up something else, it's distinctly wolf maybe something else. The trail has a more musky scent, hinting at it being male.
Nose to the ground he follows the scent for a while. Then he finds this stranger, curled up against the thick bark of an oak tree. He can see by the weariness of the others expression that there's not something quite right. Ulysses takes the chance and pads his way over cautiously. Making more noise than he would if he were actually attempting to sneak up on him, he has no intention of spooking him.
Large ears pointed back in anticipation, he stops about five feet away. Ulysses' large form stands over him even at this range and his ghostly eyes watch over him, awaiting for his presence to be known.
thanks for joining!
he dreamt that the moon came down from a daylit sky to hover before him. merrick, it moaned in a low voice. get up. the boy stirred, laughed again, drew a ragged breath. "why?" it was the sum total of every question he had ever asked, and now he stated it again: why should he go on? why should he not merely leave his bones here and pass to whatever world was next?
the moon seemed to blur, splitting in two; merrick blinked, and saw all at once that it was not the great body of the heavens, but eyes, silver and intelligent, gazing at him. a moment later the outline of a handsome dark face and large figure came to him, traced by a brief sunlight, and he knew it was another wolf, watching him chunner and expire beneath the tree.
too tired to sit up, merrick fixed the other with an unblinking stare and gave a toothed grin utterly devoid of warmth. "are you here to end me?" though he was not fully aware of himself in this world, perhaps he had summoned this devil somehow. the thought gave him peace.
Ulysses gazes upon the body in front of him. He can see the other fighting some type of internal battle, possibly even a physical battle as well. Though this stranger doesn't seem to have any serious or obvious wounds, he seems weary in a different sense.
The wolf's eyes are finally able to open; Ulysses is stunned by the hue of those coppery orange eyes that look as if they should be lit with the spirit of fire. Not only that, but the wolfdog can see the jaded look glazing his eyes.
This wolf doesn't seem frail in the slightest, but he does seem as if he's been temporarily, or maybe even permanently, incapacitated. He sees the battle he's fighting; so no, Ulysses decides not to play god. He won't end this creatures life this day, rather help him live to his next. Perhaps that's still playing god to some extent.
Ulysses' ears rotate towards the voice, seeing that mirthless smile almost makes Ulysses crack a smirk of his own. At least this stranger doesn't seem to be afraid of what could have possibly come if Ulysses hadn't been the way he is.
Taking a few steps closer, those moonlike eyes don't stray from the firey ones of the stranger; he answers his question. "No," He states simply. "I'm not here to end you."
Large paws land quietly as he walks to the other side of the grounded wolf, almost as if he's pacing. His steps are languid and unrushed, but still, those white sauceres never leave him. Raking all over his form still attempting to figure out what exactly could be wrong. He even takes in breathfuls of his scent, trying to place a sickness he could smell. Either Ulysses has lost his sense of smell or there's no sickness to be found.
He strides to the front of this stranger, head bowed to get closer, a solid foot or two separating them. His accented voice pierces the silence of the earth around them. "I can aid you," he pauses cocking his head slightly, head in an upright position and his eyes half lidded as if in disinterest. "if you'll let me."
merrick allowed himself to be looked over with nary a bristle, more out of necessity than anything. the still-sharp cogs of his mind turned quickly; here was a chance for food, a chance at the life he had pledged to throw away if only to spite indra. but there were other ways to do that, he supposed. why pass up a gift?
"what a shame," the boy joked lightly, crossing one thin forepaw over the other. "i have nothing to make myself worth your time." and yet his eyes followed the moon-gaze of the other, probing, scrutinizing for some unseen hunger or malicious desire lurking beneath the man's dark hide. "i am merrick," the young coywolf murmured in the next moment, hoping to be seen as friendly and not desperate as he cast another glance over the well-fed body of the good samaritan.
Ulysses can tell the coywolf isn't afraid of death, it almost seems like he welcomes it. He jokes at the face of potential death and Ulysses finds himself right there with him. There's a certain sense of fearlessness about this stranger that Ulysses can relate to.
When the wolf crosses his paws comfortably the wolfdog lowers his haunches into a sit. Ulysses lips almost twitch into a smirk but he forces himself to keep his facial expression straight. He untilts his head and raises his brows when the stranger decides to introduce himself, trying to keep his surprise at bay.
Ulysses shakes his head. "There's no need to give me anything in return." The wolfdog sees Merrick eyeing him down and finally decides to let his canines show in a smirk. He stands once more and lowers his head and shoulders in a bow, white glowing eyes staring back. Muscular body sloping down in a curve from his hips to his nose.
"Ulysses. Nice to make your acquaintance." His accent almost causes him to slur the words. Then he stands from his makeshift bow and gazes down to the other. "What's wrong? Any way I could assist in your recovery?"
He asks the question with that same tilt of his head, ears rotating back listening to the environment behind him, still ever cautious. "Merely say and I'll do..." He offers. Though Ulysses isn't the tamest, he's not merciless. It must be his dog half that continues to drive him to assist strangers so obediently.
obedient. willing. subservient, even; merrick could sense an otherness in the dark male. as his own blood was coloured with that of the coyote, so had the boy felt outside of wolves before. and now here was someone else who existed in the realm between. curious, that. a vague sense of what he could offer began to rise in merrick's awareness, something he had not done before, something that intrigued him, but ulysses waved it away.
"the pleasure is mine," merrick murmured, a smile wreathing his muzzle. "well, i'm a bit hungry. injured myself and haven't been able to hunt." as he spoke, his coin-gold eyes searched the other's features. he had no choice but to throw himself onto the mercy of the moon-gazed wolf, but merrick was wary all the same. ulysses had denied wanting anything, but that could change at any moment.
He wolfdog hums in reply and enjoys the smile littering the others face. He listens to the male speak. As Ulysses expected, it must be a minor injury for he doesn't seem too badly hurt. Hunger is easily connected to the bodily weakness the coywolf displays, starvation is a hard battle to fight, especially with an injury.
Ulysses stands again, his tail even dares to wag a bit at the excitement of a potential hunt and his eyes get this certain lively gleam in them. His love for hunting is addictive, something not even his two-legged family could cure.
He grins, "It'd be my pleasure to hunt for you. Could never resist a good chase and a nice meal." He comments.
With a last glance into those amber eyes, he spins to run into the awaiting environment then starts into a run. His powerful, muscled body and his large paws thump against the grass beneath. Once he's far enough he comes to a halt. Long black and pink tongue lolling out of his mouth while his breath plums into a cloud of mist in the dark of the night.
He drops his nose to the forest floor, trotting every which way to find this meal. Then finally he picks something up that's not too faded. He's suspecting it's a hooved animal. Here by the mountains it could be a deer or even some type of goat or ram. This should be an easy catch.
Following the scent he lays eyes on a young spotted doe around a year of age. She's big enough for a good meal. She's lying down halfway submerged into a thinned out, almost leafless bush. He's stalking towards her coming up behind where the bush is thickest. His weight doesn't allow him the quietest of approaches all the time and to his luck, a pile of leaves just barely crunching under his paw. It's enough to have her wide eyed and popping up from her relaxed position.
Ulysses cringes and makes a break for it. He pounces out of the bushes he'd been hiding by and closes the distance. She's alread taken off and he opens his strides to catch up. Finally just as she's begin running she stumbles upon a log and hops over it. The action stretches her body out enough for Ulysses to snap his jaws around the meat of her back leg.
She stops midway across the log, long legs scrambling and the wind knocked from her as she plops down heavily on the wooden surface. The wolfdog drags her off the log and gives her a good shake of his head, effectively breaking the leg trapped in his jaws. She's cries and Ulysses ears press flat to his head at the distressed sound.
He lets go, the leg bloody. He snatches her by the throat and does the same to finally end her suffering. A boney crack signals her death and the blood running into his mouth let him finalize her death.
Still holding onto her throat, he trots back to the coywolf. It takes him quite a few minutes but he gets there. When the other male is within range, Ulysses' silvery eyes are stuck on the expressions of the others face. Wanting to take in the reaction as he sidles up with the kill hanging from his maw and a pep in his step.
He used to bring kills to his two-leggeds all the time. He thought this no different, proud to drop the doe at the paws of the coywolf he sits still. Quietly awaiting for the other to take his offering.
ulysses had an odd way of waving his tail that merrick only saw during dominance displays among wolfkind, but it was not off-putting. he watched as the tall proud back of the dark beast disappeared from view, choosing that time to lie back exhaustedly against the earth and slumber.
when his companion returned, it was with a true kill, and merrick's eyes widened somewhat at the wealth of meat. he had expected a bird, a rabbit, not a body that would feed the two of them for several days. the moon-eyes were watching him; the boy had the distinct impression that the man was filing away each expression that crossed his features. this he did not like, for it was too similar to what merrick himself did to those around him.
settling his countenance into a warm look, he sat up and thumped his own plume against the loamy earth. "well done. i am humbled." he would not eat until ulysses had settled himself and began to partake; this was only courteous, to let the hunter have first choice of what he had taken without merrick's help.
As the wolf-dog sidles up to the area which the coy-wolf rests; he drags the doe by her neck, the rest of her body dragging in the loose, mossy earth. When Ulysses catches the surprised gaze of the copper eyed wolf. Ulysses can’t help but smirk as he drops the kill in front of him and watches the other get into a seated position. Even though the other is one of his kind he still feels a certain pride at the pleasant shock littering his face. It reminds of when he used to bring kills to his two legged family.
A light coating of blood paints the fur around his muzzle and smears lightly on the coal colored plume of his chest; making it more of a maroon hue. That makes his misty eyes pop ominously. “Appreciated. Take whatever you’d like.” As always he makes eye contact when he replies to him, voice flowing easy and carefree.
Ulysses shakes off, bits of his long fur floating throughout the sky as he reaches down for the deer. His canines sink into the flesh of her hind leg up near her hip. Once he’s got a good hold on her he shakes, viscously ripping her leg from the rest of her body. Blood pouring and tendons snapping, along with the bone of her hip.
Once he’s disconnected the limb he casually walks a few paces away from the body and lies down and begins gnawing and crunching on it. Occasionally glancing up to watch his new companion.
the man was powerful, generous. merrick let his gaze rove toward the downed animal when it was his turn, a limp plaguing his gait as he approached. the taste of blood rang through him; the boy's eyes closed and it was some time before he resurfaced, a pleasant ache stretching his belly.
returning to his place, merrick grunted as he lay down once more, licking crimson from his jaws. "why aren't you with a pack?" he inquired after a beat, ears swiveling as a covey of wood pigeons took suddenly to the air.
As the other gets up Ulysses eyes are stuck to his form; the way he makes his way to the prey. Why he limps Ulysses has got no clue. Perhaps weakness due to starvation? He wonders silently to himself deciding it beat to keep his thoughts to himself and let the man enjoy the first hearty meal he’s probably had in a while.
He can see how much he enjoys it and after some time he sidles back over to his original resting spot. The question catches the wolf mix off guard. Ulysses’ eats rotate backwards in thought but it really doesn’t take much thought to produce an answer. It coming to him as soon as the answer leaves the others tongue.
“Trust issues I suppose.” He says nonchalantly, though really there’s nothing nonchalant about it. “You?” The moon-eyed wolf questions back.
my father left me. my mother left me. my sister left me.
"i figured now was as good a time as any to strike out on my own," merrick lied glibly. "no reason to stay where you feel contained." ears swept forward as he attempted to ascertain whether or not the hale ulysses had accepted his reason.
"trust issues? that's a new one," merrick teased, shifting himself so that his wounded bones would not ache so much. the lantern-glow of his eyes rested upon the other male, inviting him to say more, but he suspected ulysses would be tightlipped upon the matter.
Ulysses nods in agreement to the coy-wolf’s first statement. “Perhaps.” He comments. “In my old life, I suppose you could say I was contained against my will.” Then the wolf-dog makes a face that makes it seem like he’s working out a few complicated details out in his head. “I didn’t really know what real freedom was, but I still loved it. Against my better judgment.” He says with a shrug and a chuckle. “It’s complicated, not sure you’d understand.”
The moon shining in through the trees gives Ulysses’ fur a blue glow and made his eyes seem ethereal as he looks back to the other wolf. Just for a few seconds, Ulysses takes in the others form and stares. Thinking of other ways he’d be able to get him back to heath. Now, he’s now healer, but he’s sure he could help.
Offhandedly Uly notes that he’s a bit parched, hasn’t had a good drink of water in ages. Then a metaphorical light bulb goes off in his head; the coy-wolf probably could use some water. But how to get it to him, he has no idea. Since the other doesn’t seem in the best health to walk.
The massive wolf stands once again. “Are you thirsty?” He asks. “I know there’s a creek or lake nearby. You wouldn’t be able to make it there safely would you?”
"no?" purled merrick at ulysses' claim he could not understand. "try me," he challenged, a vaguely inviting smirk crossing his lips.
the amusement departed as swiftly as it had come; merrick grimaced at the state of his own body. "i've been drinking rain. but there hasn't been any for a bit, so."
the boy chuckled. his first interaction in a long while, and he was going to drive off this would-be protector with his madness.
"afraid i'm a bit heavy to carry," merrick droned, truly thirsty now that it had been mentioned, but unwilling to stop from courting death.
The smirk spreading across the coywolf’s muzzle has Ulysses smiling himself. At least the man has still got some humor in there. He laughs silently to himself.
Ulysses decides to humor him. “Try me?” Ulysses questions, mildly surprised by his reply. “Alright, you’ve ever heard of the two leggeds? If you have, I’ve lived with them the first few years of my life. Now that’s fucking crazy.” He chuckles but his smile also dies down. “Anyway...” The blue tinted wolf sighs. Now, how would he get him water?
Pacing back and forth Ulysses abruptly stops and locks his gaze onto his newfound companion he’s strangely decided to help. “You’re sure you’re too heavy to carry?” Uly asks, eyes flicking to the others body, weighing the possibility of carrying the other to the creek. For he’s truly out of other ideas.
The leaves are all frail due to winter and it’d be too long of a walk to balance water on a leaf. He isn’t close to the coast or he’d go get a sea shell and fill it with fresh water. He’s not really the kind of wolf to be able to craft things like he’s seen others do before. Plus, Uly thinks. I’m sure it’d help him get some strength back if I helped him get a bit of walking in. Ulysses is a few sizes bigger and full with muscle from hard hunts and the mutation. He’s sure he could handle him.
"can't say i have," merrick murmured. "what was so fucking crazy about them?" a grin now, as ulysses openly assessed whether or not the boy could be carried. "you could certainly try," he laughed, despite the pain in his body, flaunting himself dramatically before the eyes of the great beast. "i'll do my best to cooperate."
in truth, merrick was desperate for water, desperate for anything than the view he had been cursed with since settling here. "i tore something in my shoulder," he admitted with a more serious expression dancing to fore. "if you help me stay off that leg, i could probably avoid being carried. unless you want to do that," he added, unable to keep from teasing ulysses a bit now that he had seen the sunlight of the man's smile.
Uly chuckles back. “That’s a tale for the road.” The wolf dog smirks at the others reply back then frowns at the mention of him tearing something in his shoulder. “That’s no good.” He mumbles then looking around absentmindedly, eyes landing on their shared meal. “We need to hide the food too. I’ll be pissed if someone steals it.”
Uly smirks back to his companion. “I’d have to find them, then I’d have to kill them.” He jokes with a light tone to his voice that says he’s not really joking at all. “That’d be a shame.” He adds spitefully, a ghostly look in his already misty eyes says he’s really not joking.
He looks around at the trees surrounding him. If one is short enough he might be able to jump into it and hide their food there. Then finally he sees the perfect one merely a few meters away. A nicely sized rock sits adjacent to it and a thick limb angles towards the ground low enough he can jump to.
“Perfect.” He mumbles and grabs their meal by the base of the neck and trots over to the rock. He struggles to jump on top of the rock with the deer in his mouth, mainly due to it getting in his way. It embarrassingly takes him a few tries and a few awkward smiles back to his new friend as a way to say ‘I got this.’ Before he finally jumps atop the rock and reaches a meaty paw out to place it on the tree branch to test it’s strength. Deeming it worthy to hold his weight he steps carefully onto the limb and tries his best to walk up towards the trunk, seeing another good spot he’d be able to hang the deer. It was slow and tantalizing but he makes it there. He walks his front paws up the trunk to lie the deer onto another thick limb a little further up the tree.
Now the hard part: getting down. Uly decides to just make it easy on himself and jump from the limb of the tree. Though it’s not really too easy. He jumps and doesn’t seem to be able to land it. He thumps against the loamy earth and rolls, coming to his paws and shaking himself off dizzily.
He chuckles, “Not too good at climbing it seems.” He says walking back towards him and stops just in front. “Now let’s get you to some water, friend.” He lilts in his thick accent with a genuine smile. “Just climb up, I’ll carry you. It’ll be faster and you won’t strain your shoulder.” The massive wolf says it like it’d be easy to just climb on him.
ulysses was a quiet sort. retiring. careful. merrick narrowed his eyes at the retreating back of the hulking creature, but let his expression fall into the expected sort of admiration as he watched his companion perform a near-impossible feat of physical prowess. perhaps the boy truly was in awe, though he might never say such things. merrick was not a person for compliments, not unless it suited him in some fashion.
"impressive," the young wolf called, deciding that ulysses had earned a bit of commendation. "i've never tried to do anything like that." a flash of his teeth in a near-feral grin, and then the pair had returned to the task at hand.
deciding that his companion had not gone mad, but was only flush with the adrenaline of his first accomplishment, merrick gave a roguish dart of his copperburn eyes to ulysses, and lifted his chin. "help me up," he invited, unwilling to use the other male for a stallion, but needing his strength all the same.
Ulysses smirks at the compliment at his apparent tree climbing skills. He learned to hide his food from his two legged family. Well, he learned a lot of the stuff he knows from his two legged family.
Though eventually Uly makes it back to his companion and he can tell the other has no want to be carried. This too makes the towering wolf chuckle, maybe even show a bit of fang in a good, wide smile. “This is no problem to me.” The moon-eyed wolf says nonchalantly. “Let me help.”
Uly looks down at the other and gives little warning but a “I’m going to grab you.” in his harsh accent. Then, gently, the grey wolf grabs his companion by the scruff of the neck to help him up. Surprisingly careful enough not to bruise or puncture him. “You can lean on me while we walk if you need to.” He offers, after he let’s go of his partners thick furred scruff.
he felt himself dragged up as though he weighed nothing. perhaps depleted as he was, with his smaller build and wasted muscles, merrick indeed was no lighter than a mouthful of leaves. his vanity wounded, for who could ever find such a skinny little wretch beautiful, the boy limped alongside his savior, leaning heavily upon the powerful black ribcage.
"thanks," merrick muttered, ashamed but strangely titillated by how he had been lifted so easily. what other charms did this man possess? innate suspicion reared its head.
"wouldn't your mate be so jealous to see us like this," merrick joked, but the knowing sideways glint told the tale of his intention.
Helping the other wolf stand is the first challenge the next is walking all the way to the next water source. Said water source is quite possibly a few miles. Though, no matter how tedious, Ulysses has already helped him this far and refuses to abandon him anytime soon. Ulysses balances out the weaker wolf’s body, allowing him the chance to lean against him. They’d go at his companions pace, Ulysses is a patient man after all.
The larger wolf nods curtly at his thanks and glances down to the other. Pale eyes searching the others expression and body language, attempting to gage whether or not he’s in pain. As they begin their journey, they’re walking together in unison. Ulysses’ much bigger form supporting most of his body weight. Then the coy-wolf cracks the joke of his ‘mate seeing them like this’.
Just as he does this Ulysses’s moon like orbs catch on the others copper eyes as his companion practically eyes him down. The mixture of oranges and honey hues creating the stunning color of his eyes makes his gaze much more intense. For just a second Uly is almost powerless under his look,m. Unable to look away the massive wolf-dog notes that there’s a suggestive way the other peers at him. Along with the tempting smoothness of his voice has Uly stunned in astonishment.
After he’s finally able to break eye contact he shakes his head, bits of fur flying throughout the somber night air. His canines show lightly in a devilish smirk and a deep chuckle. He keeps his head and eyes facing forward as they walk. The mutt hadn’t so much as thought he was looked at in that type of way by the coy, he finds it interesting. One of the most interesting things he’s come upon in some time.
Uly couldn’t help the determined wag of his long furred tail. The limb swaying back and forth easily, embarrassingly brushing up against the other wolf occasionally. Although he has no mate, nor has he ever, he still chuckles at the statement. “Oh, you have no idea.” He replies with that same smile. Eyes glancing back one more quick time.
despite the pain shooting through his shoulder, merrick was pleased through and through to note what an effect he'd had on handsome ulysses. he suspected the man with silvers of moonlight for eyes was a great hit with the fairer sex, but doubted he had ever been regarded in that way by another male.
merrick had never given a fig of a thought toward his personal orientation. wolves were easily manipulated, and a serpent such as himself appreciated beauty when it was presented him.
ulysses, the boy decided, had been blessed with an uncommon mixture of humility and good looks.
more to satisfy his own need for controlling a situation than any true interest, merrick smirked. "she would be, wouldn't she?"
was ulysses interested?
the young coywolf admitted silently to himself that his own intrigue had been piqued: how far could he press this fair young god?
Uly’s face is stuck with that sickeningly snarky smile. The coy-wolf reply has him barking out a hardy laugh that reverberates through them both as they walk. “I have no mate, never have.” He says casually. “And does it have to be a she?” He side eyes him with a suggestive wiggle of his brows and a humored, goofy smirk. Another bark of loud laughter and a few waves of the wolf-dogs tail.
The blue moon shines off Ulys fur and beneath the thick layer of fur is thick muscle. They shift beneath the coy wolf as Uly walks, raising his head higher to inhale through his nose. They seem to be getting closer to the water.
was he flustering ulysses? merrick couldn't tell, but the game was enjoyable. "you're right," he laughed softly. "so your future husband would be cool?"
a flash of his white teeth, and then merrick focused on his unsteady steps and the mounting pain in the torn muscle. when the lune-eyed wolf had presumably come upon water, the boy slumped wearily to the bank, panting lightly. "thanks, friend."