OOC: Immediately after this thread. Walking through the Pines. @Lecter
This must have been what it was like to carry a captive, she wondered, as she walked maw-over-nape with the elder male in tow. It was a bit strange, admittedly, considering how much of a verbal lashing he had given her over the vital sage. To walk with him now in this almost calmed state was… dare she admit it, unnerving. Her posture was perpetually tensed, half expecting the male to suddenly lash out at any moment, and to the contrary accepting this oddly submissive surrender. She was not familiar with the organization of a trap, but if she would chance and assumption, she would think this likeness was it.
Yet she maintained her determined front, occasionally jerking at the male’s scruff to ensure he would not try to retreat for good measure. Her hold was that of a mother’s to a pup; firm yet with the chance for a devastating bite should her ‘youth’ get bold. But the same as with a pup, there as care in her jaws, not wanting to unintentionally risk injury unless it was called for. Thus far, pain was not deserved.
Afterall, she could not risk harm to this treasure found in the aftermath of devastation. |
Lecter had allowed himself to be tugged through the Vale, assessing her grip upon his nape for surety before deciding not to yank away from her. He did not need his own blood added to the mat of it upon his withers. Icewater eyes appraised the land as he passed; he did pull against her somewhat to survey the verdant sprawl. It was a lovely enough land, but dust choked the air, and feral senses informed him that the woman drew him toward a place of doom.
Presently, a crick had made a painful debut betwixt his shoulders; the shaman slowed his gait deliberately. "I am well within your lands; a mere call would bring your wolves down upon me. Release me now; I shall walk beside you. I cannot run from such a quick beast as yourself," he mocked, eyes glittering madly at her.
He hoped that she would see the wisdom of his words, for he spoke truthfully; he did not have the advantage of speed or age, and should he somehow evade her firm grasp, there were others — say, the black dog, for instance — that could be brought down upon his head.
It could never be said that Xi’nuata was unreasonable, for she believed in the sense of word as well as action. Though she had quickly grown to dislike the male’s mocking tone, it did not keep her ears from bending towards his voice, or hearing the rationale in his words. They were well within the packlands now, and surely one of the Vale had already seen their approach. If need be, she could call for them, though sincerely she hoped circumstances would not come to that scenario. There was no sense in destroying a treasure when it had only just been found.
Calmly, she released the scruff of the elder male while rolling her tongue against her roof to rid it of the taste of bitter and matted fur. A golden eye cut to him sharply as if expecting him to try and make a run for the borders upon his release, then just as quickly returned to the wooded path ahead. “There will not be a need to call for them,” she grumbled softly. “As long as you do not take advantage of my leniency.” |
Calmly, she released him with an eloquent warning, and Lecter rolled his shoulders to rid them of the strain. "Ah, no. It is not each day that I am dragged into another land and made to walk through the forest as a hostage." Pale ears cupped toward her above the glow of his cold eyes. "It will be intriguing to see where it is you are taking me."
Quietly, Lecter fell into step alongside the woman, matching her stride. Speed he did not have, but the stamina for a long walk, the slim legs of a messenger; these Sos had granted him, though in truth the shaman would have made a poor bringer of messages. He loathed the neighbors of his current pack, and did not intend to meet the wolves of the other alliances.
He spoke with not the promise of ill intent, though his words were unsettling to the female’s ears. Her lips shook with disdain yet she maintained her calm as again she cast him under a hardened stare. “This is not for your amusement,” she hissed, coming to a sudden halt with the stomp of her paws to better look upon the elder healer. “You are here because of your knowledge, and it is something that we require at this moment. If you take pleasure in this… if so much as a hint crosses your eyes, I will personally see to that light drain from you.”
However calm her demeanor, it was not enough to stable her trembling voice. She was much too angered, much too disgusted in the very idea that another would find the harm of her brethren intriguing. It was difficult enough to consult the Creek wolf in this manner. Let alone have their neighbors witness the weakened state. But she was desperate… and she carried no shame for it. Rather she set aside her pride and see to the possible aid of her friends and family, than hold fast to it and watch them diminish before her eyes. |
Lecter seemed to have irked the woman, and he watched with ice glossing his stare as she upbraided him. Even she could not hide the shudder of her tone, and he glanced to her goldscale eyes. "Some wrath has befallen you here, has it not?" inquired the shaman, in an inflection that matched her own. From her demeanour, from the anger that shook her voice, it would seem that she needed his skills in healing for some such thing, but the man would not be sure until the Vale woman confirmed his suspicions.
With a new emotion falling over him, Lecter watched her. He shared in the Creek's dislike of the Vale, but in his age, in the twilight of his life, his views toward healing had changed. He would follow and see what it was the Vale required of him, though he still balked somewhat at her having seized him for a purpose he did not yet understand.
She had taken to silence following her threat, not for fear that anything said might jeopardize the pack, but because her mind was turning over itself, seeking the words she would need to better explain the situation she drug him in. A wrath of nature was certainly what had fallen on the pack, but to admit was to imply that some fault was to be placed on the mountain-dwellers. It would not have been fair, at least to the eyes of its warden. They were not the aggressors that deserved the wrath of nature. However it did not alleviate the feeling that they were being punished somehow.
Her stare remained on the pale healer for but a moment more before diverting to the ground as the whisper of a sigh passed her whiskered lips. “The mountain fell,” was all she could think to explain what happened. “Most of our lost were found but their conditions are not well.” Her brows lowered with the weight of the bitter truth. “Our healer is too damaged to console those that were injured. That is why you are here.” |
Again, he listened in silence. A landslide, a rockfall — it had many names, what had happened here, but the end result was death and misery. Wisely, Lecter kept his mouth shut around the suggestion that this was karma for the Vale's daring to trespass into the Creek's hunting grounds.
The fact remained that her wolves had been injured, and she was in need of his healing.You, who have threatened the Creek's lands, would seek help from one of them?For once his tone was not mocking, merely inquisitive.
I have no herbs here, no methods of drying them or transporting them to you. Unless your Vale has what I need, I shall not be able to help your creatures.I do not even know your name, the shaman added silently to himself.
And if you ask this of me, and I do this thing for you, then you will repay not only myself, but the Creek. No one but you and I need know the details, but I will barter also on their behalf.
He fell silent then, awaiting her words.
“It was not I that made the first threat,” she reminded him with calm reply. “Do not forget that it was two of your own that breeched our borders and stole from our cache. If I bare any threat to your land, then it is in response to what was done to us.” She was growing tired of the Creek seemingly forgetting it was the act of their own that started this tension, as well as her continued efforts to try to peace. If she bore her fangs or threatened their neighboring ground, then it was because of their insult dealt to their mountain neighbors.
Yet now was not the time to impress this again.
“…I seek help where I may find it,” she continued. “Regardless of where you lay your allegiance. I am not at a luxury to ignore your skills when my brethren need it.” Pride was for those who could spare it, and while she had her own as Alpha, it was not strong enough to let this opportunity slip by. If it would see her family well, then she could sacrifice her pride. Calmly, the female breathed. “I will take you to where our herbs and plants are stored… but in turn for your…assistance…what do you request from the Vale?” |
Whatever the reason, the Creek was roused against her, and as Jinx herself had risen up, so would Lecter. But he inclined his head at the other's words. Now was not the time to air past grievances. Tail lashed catlike as he considered what she had said, and at length he murmured,I would like your name, to begin. My own is Lecter. If we are to work together, then we should be apprised of each other's respective titles.
Icewater stare met her own.Secondly, I would like access to your herbs, at all times. This seems a verdant place; you may be in possession of things that I hold quite precious. It is a small thing; tell your wolves to watch for me, and do not attack, and I shall take a few leaves, a shrub here and there, perhaps a root, and begone until a length of time has passed and I shall need your lands again. I have my own foraging paths.
If he was to heal her creatures with what he found here, then Lecter felt he was entitled to his materials, no matter where they were located. Pausing to assess the woman again, Lecter went on:And I want bones from this place. Those of your buried fellows, those you have eaten the flesh from and discarded — any of these would suffice.Perhaps it would seem strange to the Vale beast, his request, but Lecter knew that the toothmark of a wolf held its spirit, and he wanted to be sure this place was in thrall long after he had departed.
If you agree,he said softly,then take me not first to the herbs, but to those who are most injured. I will need to assess and rank their injuries from most severe to those that can wait before I know what I need. And above all,Lecter warned gently,I simply know much more than most. I do not and will not promise miracles.
Quietly she listened to his requests thoroughly and at length, and did not attempt to verbal express her dislike for a couple of his conditions. While she could see the reason in a few matters he asked for, it was not without an understandable apprehension. Allowing one to walk among them that was not wholly of them was a liberty even the most lenient could not allow with their own conditions. She did not rise to contest it then, but listened on. Her ears cupped forward, attentively til his voice turned soft and the last of his requests were spoken.
In the wake came silence as her eyes slipped from his cold blue to examine the earth bent at his paws. It was not difficult to understand, but none the less she replayed them and built her own scenarios that brought her more comfort than to comply wholeheartedly. And when at last she spoke, it was again in calmed demeanor. Gradient eyes lifted from the soil and rested softly on the bridge of the elder’s muzzle. She sighed softly, “My name is Xi’nuata. Please address me as such,” she added in the hopes of limiting further insults called outside of her name.
“I can comply with your requests… but with conditions of my own. When you walk into the Vale, you show respect to those your cross. And the same will be granted to you. Any insult or persuasion into a fight from either side will end our agreement. I will make my brethren aware of this as you would do well to remember yourself. However, as this arrangement is of your own making, the consequences of your actions will not fall onto the Creek.” Her head tipped higher. “You have my word on this. You may have the bones of our kill, yet the bones our fallen are not mine to give. They belong to nature, as do we all.” Xi’nuata paused a moment as she took a steadying breath, then stepped toward the male until she stood directly in front of, but not over him.
“If you agree to this, I will take you to our most injured. But be warned, she is guarded… and her protector will not be pleased to see you again. But you may consider me your barrier against him, Lecter…” |
He nodded. It would be a fool's gesture, to walk into a guarded packland and disturb those there with scorn, to bait them — though he admired Jinx for her daring in doing so. Even in his youth, the shaman did no such things, except on rare headhunting occasions. A glow of delight formed within him; perhaps the sylph would bring back such practices when she had founded their Mountain.
Returning to the present, Lecter bristled somewhat; he knew of whom the woman spoke, and was not inclined to anticipate their meeting, but he would trust her word. It was a blind trust, built solely upon his assessment of her as a trustworthy individual, but it was all the madman had now.
Gathering himself to his full height, Lecter allowed the raising of the hackles on shoulders and spine to communicate for him, even as the silent murmur of his voice came:take me to them, Xi'nuata.
Lecter did not consider what would occur if the ebon dog broke the word of this golden woman and attacked, but he prayed that Sos would protect him all the same, as he padded alongside the Vale wolf into the proverbial throat of the dragon.