Otter Creek Shine & Shade

Open to anyone! <3

Drawn by the promise of this new, un-explored land, a stranger emerged from the shadows of the trees flanking the creek. Dark and dull coated, the young break away female paused by the edge of the water for a drink. Her fur was slightly tussled and dusty from weeks, maybe months on end of travelling. Skirting through one territory to the next, never settling long. 

She always had favored water. Not just to quench her thirst. In the spring rivers and lakes were a reliable source for a quick, easy meal. If, you were skilled enough. Aliki happened to be one such wolf, particularly adept at fishing. Though young, she already had quite a few catches under her belt.

Droplets dripping from her chin, she pulled back and continued along the bank. Startling purple eyes scanning for a spot not so shallow, where the coveted trout would be most likely to gather. Then, she would chose her point and wait.

Unlike his usual self, Khaba trekked a bit farther from the lake.

Was it for food? A break? Maybe something to distract him from his now busy routines? He didn't quite know, but walked on all the same. 

Uncaring of whether he was spotted by any, knowing well he was a force not to be reckoned with, the beastly wolf moved with no intent to hide himself. His dark fur had thinned out a bit, sleeking down to show off near every inch of muscle his body had to offer. 

Chin high, tail lifted, he walked. Not searching, nor waiting — though perhaps he would happen upon something regardless.

A shift of her eye caught a glimpse of ink. Dark fur draped over a massive form of another wolf. Be it by chance or not, his path was lined with hers, down stream. Aliki only flicked an ear in his direction, pausing to contemplate a certain spot in the river.

Un-satisfied with it, she moved on ahead at an unhurried trot. Farther up, a cluster of semi elevated rocks waited for her, where the water gathered and pooled at various depths. This, here, would be her spot. She was not worried about the big male. As far as her nose told her, this bend of creek was unclaimed.

She took a wide approach so as not to scare any potential quarry. Stepped lightly onto the first of the sun baked rocks. Silent and patient, she scanned the water for the tell tale glimmer of scales.

Out of the shade, a rustling caught his attention.

Ears lifted high, on alert, his cold eyes swept the area. 

It did not take long to come upon a small little thing, standing atop a mound of rocks, staring upon the river. 

Marching in her direction with no shame apparent on his expression, nor in his movements, Khaba forced a growl. If anything, he was not too pleased that she had waltzed right past him with even a lick of attention per his presence.

Perhaps he had grown to accustomed of the lake wolves shrinking at his every whim. But even still, away from his territory, he would not stand for being so blatantly disrespected.

In her mindset, here on neutral ground, she should be free to do as she pleased. She had her own agenda and he had his. It did not mean she had to stop to accommodate him, a total stranger. Feeling his focus firmly on her, she glanced up to see him coming straight for her with a displeased growl.

Now he had her attention. Nimbly, she slipped down from her post. Shallow rushing waters swirled, wrapping around her paws. An easy escape route into slightly deeper water, should things go south. Aliki was not a large wolf, but she was a powerful, experienced swimmer. Her ears splayed, neck guiding her head to level with the line of her backbone. Tail fanned out straight behind her, her guard was up while she let him come to her.

Attention, he'd clearly gained.

From high ground, to low, she moved. He now had open access to approach, and he did hesitate to do so.

Not even bothering to seek permission (why would he need it?) the dark male paced near boldly, circling and sniffing with great eagerness.

So many scents upon her. Much intrigue, he had. But how much of him would she tolerate? Some females took more, while others took less. Which would she choose? Could he rope her in too — could he claim her for himself?

The velvet black skin of her muzzle was drawn tight. She did not flash her teeth, white with youth. The male was bold, zeroing right in on her personal space. Sniffing, investigating. Her ears sat tight and erect. Dark hackles flared, but not fully. Only running a slight ridge along her spine, showing her aroused state.

Save for a single step back, she held her ground. Her jaws clicked, once, twice. A firm display that while young, she was not a total pushover. Her scents were many. Of distant woods and meadows. Of fresh water and salt alike. Of recent kills, mainly fish. An accomplished hunter.

Ears fluttering down, but not fully, she uttered a rolling rumble in her throat. It came as she stepped, stiff legged, towards him. Closer, for an investigatory sniff. A sharp purple eye watched him, dissecting his signals. Ready to get out of range, rebuff or accept his next counter.

Sunspots detected two scents, including an unknown one. He instinctively he bristled his fur and followed, but a new scent made him hesitate: his alpha. He kept going until he came out from behind a bush, then he saw them.
His alpha was with a stranger, a rival, without showing the dominant stance she showed with him. Trying not to show resentment, Sunspots kept a prudent distance observing the scene. However, in the end the scent of the stranger began to attract him. He didn't used to see females, so it was a different experience. He lowered his head and inched forward, glancing sideways at his alpha.
They were in neutral territory and that female was unknown, he had the same right as her alpha to sniff her, or so he thought...
It comes closer, more... more... a little more... Yes! Her nose was only a few millimeters from the stranger's fur and, as if he had given her a signal, he began to sniff her.

Just as he had investigated her, she had an interest to do the same.

With no intention to stop her, Khaba stood unmoving as she searched him. There may have even been a hint of a coy grin, but he wouldn't let her see it.

Things were going well, or so he thought. 

But when another shape soon came into view, his hard gaze snapped sideways, teeth clenching tight.

Sunspots. The omega. They wanted to come close too, to observe. But this was not the omega's right. Perhaps it would have been for a subordinate — but considering the fact that the alpha had found the female first, none should have dared approach.

However, this one seemed quite bold, assuming he had such entitlement. But whether Sunspots knew it or not, he did not.

Looming sideways, the dark male snapped his teeth, barely missing their muzzle. Then, a second time, he lunged, aiming to grasp the throat within his teeth like he'd done upon their first interaction. But unlike last time, Khaba had no intention to spare the drawing of blood. He would have it, regardless of whether the omega complied or not.

He was interested. So was she. She lined herself up with his flank, each canid body facing in the opposite direction. Her tail lifted an inch more, moving with a controlled sway. An invitation for him to scent her, while she nudged gently at a firm hip. It was the most basic form gathering scent.

Then, they were interrupted. Quite suddenly, on her opposite, exposed side, a second agouti colored male appeared. Coming in close to sniff at her, without the bodily cues if he were invited, like the exchange between she and the black male. Side stepping, she moved to begin circling him tightly. She had only completed a half circle when the big male lunged, teeth snapping. 

Her position as such allowed her to step back and out of the way. Observing the exchange of dominance from one wolf to the other. Both of the same pack, judging by the ritualized display of brutality. As an outsider and a female, Aliki was not interested in being caught up in the dispute. But her gender also allowed her to potentially get away with more, with only two males in her company. As by their nature, wolves tested for weakness. On the fringes she circled, ears and tail erect, watching for the telltale signs.

Unlike the last time they'd met, the omega did not submit so easily. 

This infuriated Khaba, but it also tickled him with an odd sense of pleasure. Never before had he been challenged by any of his pack. But now, here, he had been given the chance to prove just why the title of "alpha" had been given to him, and no one else.

Snarling, the female was all but forgotten. All he cared for now was to put this mutt back in his place.

Tail striking a tall pose, the alpha sunk his teeth deeper into the flesh, beginning to taste the irony sweetness. Then, when he was sure he had a tight enough grip, Khaba's jerked his skull, shaking the held body beneath him. A rough shake, blood continuing to pool against his tongue. The first warning, showing them what he was capable of—to kill with even another shake, or a harder grip.

It would either end here, or he would be tearing a new hide to begin a fresh collection.

I accidentally deleted the other post. In short, Sunspots didn't want to submit because he wanted to be brave in front of the female

Mature Content Warning

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The participants have indicated the following reason(s) for this warning: violence

Sunspots' eyes widened, completely terrified, forgetting his bravery.
He turned around and felt blood running down his face, but he didn't care. His skin tore as he tried to break free, exposing a gaping wound. the pain was unbearable. He finally managed to free himself and, with his fur dripping with blood, he began to flee. However, while he was running he changed his mind and thought that this was not the way out of the conflict.

Turning abruptly, he jerked back and began to crawl toward his alpha, exposing his belly. He felt the dirt dirty his fresh wounds. He thought he made out the female, but he didn't care. All the desire and bravery in him had evaporated. Screaming desperately and with his tail between his legs, he stretched out at his alpha's feet and lay still. Baring his belly and throat, he surrendered all power to Khaba. If he had wanted to, he could have taken Sunspots' life.

The ranks that distinguished these two wolves were clear. The giant black male was not shy about showing the smaller agouti one, that he was in charge. The brutality in the form of bloodshed. A severe warning for Sunspots to mind his place. At first he turned and tried to flee. Bleeding, tail between his legs. Then a change of heart. Crawling back to submit fully to Khaba.

In the wolf world, if you acted like an Omega, you were treated like an Omega. Attitude, not size, determined your treatment and place within a pack. Aliki watched, keenly interested in the dynamics. Instincts favoring Khaba over the belly exposing Sunspots. 

Even as an outsider, she felt that this had gone on long enough. She circled again, placing a nip on Sunspot's haunch. Not enough to break the skin, but certainly to feel her teeth. Khaba, as the dominant of the two, earned only a soft paw to his rump. And, even a bitey little lick at his lips as if to say now that's enough, please.

Tailed tucked and eager to escape, Khaba's glare snapped after the omega. He was prepared to give chase — but when they turned and crawled back, he waited.

Submission. Always the end result.

Frame splayed, and belly vulnerable, the alpha stood watching this act in silence. 

Part of him was tempted to enforce his superiority once more and demand this incident never occur again; but when he felt something brush against him, his attention shifted. The female was still here, observing. Evidently, this had not frightened or deterred her. She stayed, and this gave Khaba hope.

Perhaps it was risky to turn his back on his former challenger, but what where there really to fear? He'd put them in their place twice now. Why couldn't they do so a third time? So, with full confidence, he turned to the female, snout running along the crown of head. Then he'd draw his body along her own. He'd taken in her scent. Now he wanted to feel her.

Sunspots looked at his alpha, who was returning with the female. He felt a mixture of jealousy and anger at the sight of him, but Khaba had earned that right. He looked away, feeling his fur stand on end, trying to control the temptation to bite his alpha, he sat up. He knew that he had to go, that he was already defeated, but he didn't want to.

He turned and ran off. He soon found a tree and jumped. He landed on the ground, but jumped again. At last, he reached for a leaf, which immediately fell from the tree. He snouted her and returned to the female and her alpha. He stopped at a prudent distance and circled the ground several times, flattening the grass as if he were going to sleep, and carefully left the leaf in that place.

He accepted defeat from him, but he would not let the female forget him so easily. He met her eyes as he pushed the blade a little in her direction, not daring to move closer. Then he looked away and, turning, walked away.

The giant male seemed to reluctantly ignore Sunspots, perhaps satisfied with his submission. With the attention back on her, Aliki stood to let him come near. Subtly, she butted the crown of her head against his probing chin. Let him draw his flank against her equally dark one. She may be small of stature, but she was solid. Strong, healthy and athletic. 

He too, seemed a picture of health. At his nape she gently buried her nose, inhaling. Her sides rose and fell, while she noted the structure of his body. The low ranking male was not forgotten, as he scampered off, only to return with a leaf. Curled up on the ground there, she looked at him, wondering what the purpose of such an item may be. 

When his eyes found hers, an intense purple, she did not avert her gaze. She held his firm, a sharp glint creeping forth. If he wanted her respect, he must earn it. He had shown weakness and submission. Khaba, strength. As he ran off, she tested Khaba one last time. Pawing gently at his muzzle, butting her snout underneath. If he tolerated this, he had her acceptance.

Tolerance; of her, over the omega.

She wanted to stay, as he could tell, by her patient lingering.

The two explored one another further, Khaba finding himself rather enchanted. This one could not be left to leave. He wanted her. He needed her to stay. And so she would.

With a low rumble, his nose offered a gentle nudge to her cheek.

Come home. He beckons, turning his body, but not yet his head.

She would come, and she would be his. Just like all the rest.