Dragoncrest Cliffs you love in a time of children marching in boots fashioned for soldiers ages apart

Thuringwethil left the boy in the redwoods as she would any other wolf she’d taken in off the borders. There is more that she wants from him other than loyalty that an outsider can give her and she has to scoop him up and mold him before he is too old and the window of opportunity is taken away. He is young but he is old enough to be able to fend for himself a few more days before she bothers with him once more. And the few times she has seen him have been a series of submissions from the kid and her locating what dedication he has to serving Drageda.

At first, she does not call for him. She starts in the south and searches for a scent he may have left behind for an easier find but there is little to go on. However, she runs into @Arlo near the borders and pulls him into a stroll with her until she’s able to find @Isengrim. Thuringwethil turns her head to note @Eske’s presence nearby, something she did not ask for but the young Cheka picked up on her movement anyway. Thuringwethil chuffs in her direction before she turns and lifts her nose for the local call to her servant.

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He is unaccustomed to the woods, its trees, its inner workings; the coast was a much broader, open space to work with than the territory he was now chained to. But the commander, Heda as he now knows, his had little to do with him since his arrival, which much helped loosen the feeling of confinement associated with the woman and her land. Perhaps it was the weeks of mindless and unrestrained traveling alongside the mute woman and his sister that imbeded itself within his desires that renders him unable to sit still. He is already on the move when the woman finally comes to call, and almost decides to keep on moving when she approaches. But he does not, for despite his impulses, he is not an idiot. Instead, head lowered does he approach, padding forth softly but with caution. He is still a stranger, and he very well knows that his presence is expendable to her. The idea that he is not only at the bottom of the food chain but the commander's personal thrall does not help his case; he must tread very lightly in the next few days if he is to live.

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short post is short. :x

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Eske is never far from Heda but she does not spend every moment at the Commander’s side. She had been adding a scrappy fox to one of the pack’s caches when the scent of Heda and Arlo tickle her nostrils. She wonders for a moment if her presence is needed as the Commander leads the way to the redwoods. Eventually, she moves in their direction knowing that if Heda does not wish for her presence the Commander will send her away. Eske follows though she leaves amiable distance between her, Arlo and Thuringwethil. The Drakru spares Arlo a look and a low nod of acknowledgment as Heda chuffs at her seconds before Thuringwethil lets out a low call for her Honon. Eske’s gaze moves from Arlo to the boy as he appears and approaches, head low, steps soft and with caution. The Cheka’s green-blue sea glass gaze zeros in on the boy, studying him coolly.

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Tabletop

It doesn’t take long for the boy to show up and lowering himself. He isn’t one for words, which does not bother the commander, but she feels connected enough that he can pick up what she wants without a word. She turns and glances to Arlo with a quirk of her brow and nudge of her nose. He steps forward and away from Thuringwethil, watching the kid as he would prey. Eske settles in nearby, adding to the audience as she focuses on her servant. He’d been given a time of rest before she’s done too much and there’s no need to waste any more time. Drageda is many and everyone’s effort is to be put in properly.

“Go,” she tells them and Arlo does not hesitate, launching forward as if she’d pushed a button. He throws his form forward with jaws to catch one of his legs.

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He does not expect the coammander to do what she does, but truthfully, he should have. He knows nothing else of her than the quaking fear she places within his breast, and therefore should expect nothing else of her than an intent to either de-humanize him more than she has or to completely break him and re-build him to the mould she wants. But something triggers his suspicion when she calls for an auidence to witness what may take place, and his hind freezes up, muscles locking up as if in preperation of what is to come. And sure enough, it comes, and he mvoes defensively out of the way, sheilding his hind legs with the mass of his upper body so that if the other attempts to charge for his hind, he will meet the readily awaiting set of teeth Isengrim holds in defense. He figures the other wishes to put him out of mobility, and thus rendering incapable of retaliating but the boy has other plans; taking little time to decide what his next move is, he takes advantage of the close proximity and launches in attempt to snag the soft of the other's side within his jaw. 

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Skip Thuringwethil for now. :)

Arlo barely gets a grip on anything when he snaps his teeth forward. The taste of dirt and fur fills his mouth instead, wrinkling up his nose. He does not linger in such a position for long as the child bounces back and is quick to respond—quicker than he expected—and he barely scraps by with the click of the other’s teeth nearby. Arlo puts distance between them and circles back with a low grumble and tightened jaw. He makes half a circle, like a lion and his prey, before he zeros in one the other’s shoulder (similar to where he’d gone before) and rushes forward in one smooth motion in time with a step, surging his head low to come up against the top of his leg and latch onto the roll of his joint.

Arlo surges for his shoulder, a similar motion to his previous, and Isengrim sees it. In the nick of time does he roll away from the other, coming to a scrammbled stop feet away. He is loosing his grip, and he can feel it; with a snarl and a savage shake of his mane and he lunges once more. This time, however, he crosses the line of spar and fight, and this time, he means it. Jaw wide open and claws extended does he leap, aiming to grasp the other's muzzle within his teeth. It is uncalculated and thoroughly impulsive but it is a retaliation that borders on true malicious intent and it is good enough to scar.

His own attack is not much of anything but when the boy retaliates, he underestimates his speed. He’s able to snap his jaw out of the way just in time, missing the clench of his snout to a pierce in his cheek. A snarl rips from his muzzle when he realizes he let him get too close. He jerks back from more teeth to prepare himself. Arlo is not to be bested by a child. His golden eyes narrow and he steps forward, saliva formed and ripping from his teeth as he searches for the best point and lunges, again, but this time with more force than a simple bite: he intends to knock him to the ground.

It is initiated quickly, Arlo’s knowing steps versus the child’s lack of training. It is sloppy on both ends as a result and she notes where the boy fails and what few points he has strength in. Stored away for the moment, confident she has what she needs, she halts the fight anymore. The gona is quickly sent on his way where she is left her guard in the background and her charge a little worse for wear. Just as easily as she dismissed Arlo, she sends Isengrim on his way, and back pedals away with Eske in tow.