Vorilye's talk with one of the other shadewolves had left him feeling bitter, and resentful. He took this as a chance to leave, and clear his head. Despite the danger, he reveled in being able to stretch his legs. So far, there was nothing to fear. It was nearing midnight, with the moon hanging high in the sky, almost full. Unable to help himself, Vorilye loosed a low howl; it sung of his anger, his resentment - he wondered if there would ever come a day where he would be truly free.

Vex would know that call anywhere, and as soon as she heard it, she was running towards it. Her paws carried her from the forest and up onto a flatland plateau, where a massive lake cut through. She could not see Vorilye yet, but his scent wafted over to her. Good - she was downwind. There was not much cover here, but she kept herself low to the ground, ears pinned as she scanned the horizon for her half-brother. After several long minutes of sneaking about, she had found him.

Vex debated alerting him to her presence, but she was never one to fight fair. She streaked through the darkness like a bullet, rushing forth to tackle Vorilye and grab him wherever her teeth could find purchase - his side, his shoulder, or his neck. As she tasted blood in her mouth, Vex crooned, "I've found you at last. Now tell me why you're thousands of miles away from home, or I'll rip your god damn throat out right here, right now."

Vorilye heard only the muted thudding that was Vex's swift approach before he was launched sideways, a searing pain in his side as Vex's teeth bit and tore. Fear flooded him, but he was a Cruor - he got to his feet, wrenched himself free of Vex, then snarled softly at her, icy eyes burning. "I'm still working on the mission you sent me away for!" he told her roughly, angrily, and he saw a glimmer of something within Vex's fiery eyes. Did she believe him? "I found our dearest sister," he lied easily, meeting Vex's gaze. "I last saw her far to the east of here." Far to the east had been where he'd attacked Lorelai, but she had carried Avery's scent on her pelt, which meant Violante had likely been nearby.

He freed himself from her grasp, prattling on about the mission and how he'd found Violante. Vex gave a short, harsh laugh, then moved closer. They were nearly nose to nose as she stared up at him, her expression swiftly turning icy. "If you had found her, then why are you so far west, Vorilye?" She interrogated him, a snarl creeping up, twisting her black lips. "I don't believe you!" she hissed coldly. "Tell me the truth! Tell me you've abandoned me, abandoned all we've lived and fought for!"

When their eyes met, Vorilye did not look away. His pulse raced, but he would show no outward signs of fear. She knew - it was all over. Vorilye sighed, then told Vex quietly, "I abandoned our family pack, yes - but it was only to get away from father." Another lie, mixed with the truth, but one she would likely believe. He moved to run his muzzle along Vex's, but she pulled away with a snarl, and began to pace. The look she was giving him made it clear that he would live for as long as he spoke, so he told her everything he could think of, in a rush.

"I tried to find Violante but couldn't. Originally, I was going to come back - to you. But then I realized how amazing it felt just to be free of Jaganatha... But, after I tried to fuck up Violante's plans, I... I thought I could make a new life here." He dared to meet her gaze.

"You're a rotten liar, Vorilye." Vex laughed, but it was short and ended quickly. Her amused expression changed back to anger, and she struck out at him again, aiming a heavy blow to his face with her paw. "Fight, or die where you stand." She snarled at him, then wrenched away to begin circling.

He had known it would come down to this, but that didn't mean he liked it. He had never wanted to harm Vex - perhaps part of him still loved her, or lusted for her, he really didn't know the difference. Either way, when she struck out at his face, he grimaced but did not strike. Not until she told him to fight, or die. "Why can't you just let go?" he snarled in desperation as they circled each other. Instead of a response, Vex launched another attack, but he was prepared this time. As her jaws aimed to snap down on him, he reared up, planning to use his weight to pin her. She missed, but he didn't, and the two were locked together as teeth and claws tried to find better purchase.

Let go? Let go?! "You belong to ME!" Vex shrieked at his words, despite the fact that her muzzle was currently pressed into the dirt. She clawed at the ground, shaking and jerking her body to try and throw Vorilye off. None of it worked, so she jerked her head up, twisted her neck as best as she could, and tried to bite at his ankles.

"Vex, you can't own people," Vorilye tried to explain while keeping Vex forced onto the ground beneath him. She struggled and thrashed, but for now, his hold on her was too good. A bite to his ankles caused him to take a sharp inhale, but for the most part he was unharmed. Now, Vorilye attempted to scruff Vex, grabbing her roughly by the nape of the neck and then jerking her away from him. Sides heaving as he panted, he stared down at her. "You have to let me go. I don't belong to anyone." He hoped she would see reason, though he had no idea how far beyond reason Vex really was at this point.

As she was released, Vex let out a shrieking laugh. "You've forgotten who I am, Vorilye," She was a Queen, the leader of her people - and perhaps soon, she would be a mother. She gave another, colder snicker, as she sidled up to him. Her eyes found his, and she whispered softly, "You... are a fool, Vorilye Cruor. Only I can win this, and you know it - there's a reason father made me heir, and not you." She had only hoped to rile him, and she could see it in the way his nostrils flared at her words, that she'd done it. Then, she struck out - she was in the perfect position to grab him by the throat. She would end it here.

Vorilye's lip curled as Vex spoke of their father, but before he could make a retort, she had lunged for his throat. He gave a garbled gasp as teeth pierced his flesh, and then the adrenaline hit him; he had been easy on her, and he had tried multiple times to end the fight, to no avail. He knew he must see this through, now.

Vorilye ripped free from Vex's grasp, and blood began to run down his pale coat. The wounds were not deep, at least not yet, and he made it a point to keep his throat protected from here on out, keeping it tucked, his maw open wide in a snarl. His own jaws clamped down on the side of her neck and he attempted to thrust Vex away from him again.

Teeth pierced the tender flesh of her neck, but they did not stay gripping her long; instead, Vex was pushed away. She merely laughed at him - he was too fearful of hurting her, but she had no such qualms. She leapt at him again, this time striking him in the side; her teeth would tear a large, long gash just above his stomach, and he would fall to her feet, gasping for breath as blood began to drench his fur. Teeth dripping his blood, she loomed over her fallen brother, sneering, "I will kill you eventually, Vorilye, but not today. Crawl home, if you can - you will be seeing more of me soon." She would then leave him there to his fate.