Wolf RPG

It was cold, and bitterly so. And yet Paarthurnax found that she welcomed the bite in the air as she wandered alone late that evening, farther from home hat she would have liked. She knew that Shadow would be concerned for her, for it was not of her character to disappear without word of her destination, but more than anything the crimson Frostfur simply wished for her own company. The very last thing she wanted was for her mate to send a scout to retrieve her; fragile as she might appear, Paarthurnax was in need of no baby-sitter.

The roar of a distant waterfall was what drew her in the direction of the stream, and she followed it at a meandering pace until it fanned out into a narrow lake. Paar looked solemnly over the rippling surface as she paused on the sandy shore, still damp from the tide, and she contemplated the turmoil in her mind.

Was she happy? Could she love Shadow the way he so wanted her to? She was certain that she knew him better now, having spent a great deal of time at his side, having woken to a new day curled in his embrace, having shared with him intimacy and affection. And he was hers, that handsome, proud, doting, strong man. He did his best, she knew that, and she adored him for it... but he was different. He'd changed a great deal since founding Noctisardor and Paar couldn't help but wonder if she'd been right: their relationship had progressed too quickly. Lately there had been some tension between them regarding several things, things that she couldn't quite shake from her wary mind.

She stood there, silent, lost in her thoughts, and quietly contemplated which direction that her uncertain future might take.

The cinnamon beast stood in the foliage, his eyes trailing over the lissome female -- turmoil wracked at him as he debated on simply striding closer, echoing his previous sentiment that there would be trouble if Shadow chose to pursue his antics against the Creek -- which he had. But more importantly, for the very selfish moment he currently held himself, there was his own heartache that the ivory she-wolf he had once desired nothing more than to call his own had not yet come home. Not to him.

He had strode over the borders that day with little thought as to reasoning -- he trailed the lands around Rising Sun Valley, firmly believing that perhaps he would catch wind of Bazi's scent -- but he hadn't, and she continued to remain elusive from him in more ways than one.

Shaking his thick pelt, the male prowled forward, his eyes flashing as he made his presence known with heavier steps. His relationship with Paarthurnax was complicated now at best -- the two had been comrades, and could have been good friends.. but she had chosen to go with him, and while he worried for her own well-being, nothing he had said seemed to change her mind. She just couldn't seem to see what everyone else did -- Shadow was a power hungry fool who held no respect for anyone but himself.

"Paar," he rumbled, his voice thicker with emotion as he felt his throat clench. He had held himself so strongly before -- taking the role and trying to move the pack forward. Now, as he stood before the crimson beauty, he felt but a shadow of the man he was supposed to be. "Paarthurnax.. she left me."

She barely registered the appearance of another wolf, but regarded the sound of passing paws with a mere cant of a tall red ear. It was when it became apparent that the footsteps were in fact heading in her direction that Paarthurnax pulled herself together and looked over a fine shoulder to observe the approach of a very familiar male. Her heart skipped an uncomfortable beat at the sight of him - was his intention to convince her to return to Swiftcurrent with him again? - but sank as he drew nearer. Scimitar was hurting somehow, which was apparent in his tone when alas he managed to speak her name and announced her worst fear.

Bazi was gone.

Emotion welled in her eyes, and guilt squeezed at her throat as she blinked solemnly up at her former Beta. "Oh, Scim..." Paar choked, her words trailing off to end in a pained whine. With sorrow etched on her wary features she did not hesitate to go to him and invite herself into his embrace, attempting to provide some form of comfort while seeking the same for herself.

At first, a flash of something had crossed her features -- had that been hesitance to his presence? Did she know of the shit her boyfriend was causing? Indignation would have escaped him then, but instead, she crooned to him then, pulling toward him and embracing him the way a good friend would -- the way he knew she would, because despite the brief moments they held together, he had been comfortable with her presence.

His muzzle lowered as he accepted the pity -- his jaw line resting upon her shoulder and to the thick fur at the back of her nape, one paw of his lifting to press against her back as his breath would ruffle her fur. He inhaled sharply then, his heart hammering in his chest as he thought of Bazi -- his last discussion with Paar and things had seemed so clear -- the route he and Bazi would take had seemed so easy. At least.. it had been, until she had completely derailed it.

He held himself there, his face buried to her plush fur before he finally spoke. "She completely stepped down from her rank and told me she wanted to go visit Tuwawi. She wanted to prepare herself for motherhood.. But she didn't give a shit about what I had to say on the matter. She just dropped us all like we were expendable."

Scimitar accepted her fond, sympathetic feature by allowing her to sink against him, her muzzle thrust among the butterscotch of her neck as she squeezed her copper wires sit in attempt to reign in her emotions. His muzzle lowered and Paarthurnax felt her companion's chin prop atop her narrow shoulders, followed by the sweep of a strong forelimb that reached out to grip her back in a wolfish hug.

He spoke again, his voice heavy with emotion, though her heart did do a happy little leap within her breast to know that Bazi's location was not a mystery, and that her intention was to return. But Paarthurnax remained snug against him as she racked her mind in search of the right words. What could she say to make things better?

"She'll come back to you," the crimson Frostfur assured the broken male, nuzzling deeper against his throat. "But I am sorry all the same, for what you're feeling."

It was then that she stepped back, and lifted her crown to seek the aqua of Scimitar's gaze. She understood that Bazi was undoubtedly overwhelmed by all that had gone on during her leadership, but found it incredibly unfair of her to drop the entirety of it on the shoulders of her partner.

She held him for a moment, and as the scent of the crimson beauty teased at his nostrils, he became fully aware of the proximity between them now -- the slender curve of her neck where his own jaw line now rested, and the press of her chest against his own. A wash of guilt overcame him then, and as she finally pulled back, the male pulled himself back almost sharply - as if he had betrayed Bazi.

But her words were almost like a slap -- a quiet smoothing over that stirred a frown to the brows of the usually stoical male. "I can't trust her anymore," he admitted, the hint that perhaps even if Bazi did return to them.. to him, that it could never be the same again. She had pushed him aside, hadn't listened to him.. and simply vanished in the night. The only memory he had now was of her was her back as she set her pace toward Duskfire Glacier.. and away from him.

Drifting his eyes from her features, he turned them to the sky, his teeth biting down with just enough pressure upon his tongue to keep him from losing all composure now. "It was never meant to be this complicated."

Nor was the scent of the stunning creature inches from him meant to be so tantalizing.

"You can," was Paarthurnax' immediate response, as a faint and solemn smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "You will. Don't give up on her, Scimitar." Although it might have felt like she had given up on him, the crimson Frostfur did not doubt that Bazi would cling to the promise of her return. She was young, forced into a position of power and expectation that had been too much for her to bear. The time away would do her good, Paar hoped. Absence would make her heart grow fonder.

The tawny brute turned his face away then to cast his aquamarine gaze toward the sky and speak of complication, following which the crimson healer lowered her own copper gaze. Confusion and uncertainty had followed her closely wherever she went lately, and it seemed Scimitar was equally acquainted. "Things can only get better," she offered softly, sadness lingering between them as she remained entirely unaware of her companion's budding interest in her.

Her words did not give him comfort -- it was a grasp at something even she could see the fault in. Bazi had left, and in doing do, had signified very clearly where he had stood in her rankings of importance. Not only him -- but her entire pack. He wasn't sure their relationship could be fixed, and as he had watched the pristine white of her backside disappear in to the distance, he had known he could not forgive her when she had not even looked back.

He spoke nothing -- it seemed a monumental effort to hold himself up at this very moment, and shifting his weight, the cinnamon male attempted to close the distance between them once more, this time his muzzle bowing down to rest in to the soft honey and white fur of Paarthurnax's nape. He inhaled gently, feeling the thrum of his heart slow.

In that very moment, something was undeniably intoxicating about her.. and in that very moment, the man sought the most obvious comfort he could -- tilting his muzzle up, his nose grazed her ear, the intent of his touch now swiftly leaving the thoughts of logic and what he should have been doing -- now, he was focused on what he wanted to do, and he continued this teasing touch slowly, waiting to see the reaction he would receive.

She was a married woman, after all.

Scimitar did not respond with words, only with his body. He strode forward once more until their chests were flush, pristine Winter-white mingling with pale butterscotch, and pushed his muzzle between the russet and alabaster fur of her neck. Paar regarded the gesture simply as the one of a wolf who craved the comfort of a physical connection with another of his own species, and so she welcomed him into her embrace with a friendly croon.

Her muscles stiffened, however, at the reaction this seemed to prompt. The agouti brute trailed his snout through the bi-coloured beauty's fine pelt, traced his nose upward until his lips were brushing the base of an tufted lobe. She pulled back then, copper eyes wild with uncertainty, and made to seek her companion's aquamarine gaze; "please, no," she said softly, "you're heart is hurting, and you're looking for a distraction." Paarthurnax whined softly, standing her ground, determined not to betray Shadow and determined to convince Scimitar that seeking affection elsewhere could only end with deep regret. "I cannot be that. Neither of us would be able to forgive ourselves."

She stirred something in him – adding a fuel to the fire of confusion that burned in his chest, and as he inhaled softly, the moment could have been revered until the minute she noticed the shift in his intentions. She stiffened, and in turn, he pulled back, knowing full well the line had not only been crossed, but the bridge had now been burned.

Guilt riddled him in that very moment, and while he removed himself from contact from the she-wolf, he stared at her, his own eyes mirroring her own surprise – her own upset. “Paar.. I’m..” He trailed off then, his tongue feeling fuzzy in his mouth in that very moment. What had he expected to happen? She deserved hell of a lot more than to be a mere distraction from a heartbroken male.. and she was mated. “I’m sorry,” he finished numbly, shaking his muzzle as if pulling himself from his own reverie. He back peddled then, not looking back at the crimson beauty as his creamy legs made to make as much distance possible between the two.

If Shadow had wanted his pelt before.. he certainly would strive for it now… and Bazi could as well, if she ever found out. Nothing had happened.. but not because of his choice. Because of Paarthurnax. Had she not said anything..

He could not think of the repercussions he would have had to bear. The deceit he had almost put on the both of them.

Paarthurnax held her breath, her wild copper eyes fixed firmly to the face of her Autumn-pelted companion as she tried to gauge his reaction. As expected, Scimitar let go and moved backward, stammering with his words and seemingly placing as much physical distance between them as he could manage. Thrusting her ears back, the lithe beauty automatically whined softly in quiet assurance; it's okay, she wanted to say, but found that she could not.

Guilt practically radiated from him, and despite her urge to comfort him, Paarthurnax found that she could not. Her affection had already misled him and, despite feeling at fault for unknowingly leading her friend astray, the rapid thrumming of her frantic heart reminded her of what Shadow might think if he'd seen her snug against the form of a wolf he so fiercely disliked.

Then he swung around, heading off in the opposite direction, far from her. She followed him sadly with her vivid, concerned eyes before she too made off on a different path, tail tucked pitifully between her slim hocks.