Deepwood Weald are you still there inside my chest?

@Damien @Nocturnal - Pledge Thread!

It was dark and Marruz was yet darker, sifting through the skeletal grove like a wraith within the eery drapery of the Weald's characteristic mist. His single dipped paw, upon which a shaft of faded grey clung to his own distaste, bobbed in the gloaming like a hare upon the roots. Though both eyes perused the carpeted foliage ahead, only that of cool indigo was visible in the night; narrowed and considerably intent. He moved swiftly but with fluidity - a learned stride borne only of his nimble inheritance. He never lacked a sense of purpose, that Marruz. At least, not anymore. Had there been a time that marked otherwise?

He was travelling by dint of optimal comfort tonight. Truly, there was adrenaline pulsating throughout his body; spiking with every glance at the towering trunks, stabbed at the crown with needle-thin limbs and just enough space to watch that Goddess, the moon. The fog seemed to blanket him in a mother's embrace as he slithered along, panther-like despite his meager brawn. Yes, this was where Marruz wanted to be. Finally.

This was the heart, it seemed. Drained long ago of the blood, but no less desperate in its beating. Marruz could feel it in his bones; in the way his body interacted almost instinctually with the land. He was becoming a vein, detached from the arteries. And the more his paws thrummed against the earth - like raindrops on the leather skin of a drum - the more he heard his own heart beating again.

Assuming he's not in "their" territory just yet as that would cause a lotta trouble

The nocturnal queen was patrolling the borders yet again, this time with only Tulugak to accompany her. She could almost taste the victory on the tip of her tongue, but she knew to be patient. Everything would fall into place as soon as they made their claim official. The Melonii would prevail and strike fear into every wolf that even so much as heard the name. No longer would they be a pathetic show for the Teekon to laugh at, like they had been at Blackfeather Woods.

It was at the moment she thought this that she heard the light padding of footfalls on the cushioned ground. It came from just outside the border but it put her on edge nonetheless. The borders had been marked, there was no excuse for trespassers this time. The Melonii's scent was clear as day. Who dares threaten our claim? The queen's voice rang through the woods, cold and confident yet unusually calm.

good idea - he's just outside their domain

Marruz halted, flicking an ear upward in thoughtful consideration. He was sure he had heard a wolf, and not necessarily a pleased one at that. He muttered a single, vehement curseword beneath his breath. The moment was over. The shoulder blades protuding just below his nape remained still now; he did not move a single inch. His eyes, however, swung deftly across the shrouded clearing. He knew it was futile to detect much more if a wolf was as clever as he to remain motionles, yet where were those eyes?

The voice had been close enough that he could not run. So his planted his paws and remained a statue, morphing into the land of the shadows. Only after a lull in the quiet, damp air, did he part his maw.

"I don't dare to do anything," he called, with a shiver of annoyance. His voice sobered, "That includes threatening your land." 

Tulugak cried a caw of annoyance but Nyx was quick to shush him, which he didn't like very much. Nocturnal was accustomed to the darkness, having been born from it, but spotting the blueish tinted hue of his pelt proved somewhat difficult at first. It seemed most Meloniis were night creatures, but Nyx had another way of camouflage; her pelt speckled with stars.

Good, I would hate to have a problem. She answered, not caring much about the tone he had used to address the queen. What brought you here? She said, moving closer to perhaps get a glimpse of whom she was actually talking to.

Marruz was slightly bemused by the woman's response. He had expected more of a retaliation, admittedly, to dull his sharp tongue. The fact made him wonder just who this was, that she might resist predictability. He was intrigued, to say the least.

He did not move, not even when he spotted a sliver of fur bridging the distance. His indigo gaze watched with the aptitude of a hawk, stark and immodest. He listened to the motions; listened for the weight of the stranger and the versitality. He gathered that this was no blundering, loaf of a wolf, and that was enough to appease his roaming mind.

My paws is what he wanted to say. But Morruz was not quite that much of a fool, to stick his head into the lion's mouth. He tucked his single grey muff up into the thick fur of his chest.

"Nothing," he responded impassively. He blinked before adding, "Perhaps you might know?" And while they left his lifts with a satirical clip, there was some depth behind the words that made it clear: he was searching for answers.

The stranger amused her slightly. Perhaps that's why she hadn't ordered him to leave yet. It was almost like he was right where he belonged, just in time to build their kingdom and purify their name in the Teekon. The Melonii is settling here. She answered coolly. Perhaps our sheer magnitude lured you to our borders. She continued, finally seeing just the smallest of movements.

Melonii. That was enough to make Marruz start, lifting his chin with a thoughtful lethargy. And there are many...

"Are you a member of the Melonii family, then?" He inquired, audibly piqued. He felt the question to be somewhat redundant, but one could never be sure who was of true lineage. The thought made him tuck his paw even closer to the slow pulsing of his heart.

Ruffling of fur. An intrigued tone. That was all she needed to know that she had a fish on the line. I am the wife of one. She answered, keeping vague about her lineage. She was sure she was treated like any other Melonii would be treated among them. Perhaps even with more respect as she was to bear the next generation. Do you know of them? She asked then.

Marruz narrowed his eyes. The wife of one. 

He nodded, returning his left paw to the chilled earth beneath. "I am a Melonii. Or so my name entails." He released the huff of carbon he had been storing and rationing, allowing the spectrous chemicals to spiral into the air and officially indicate his position. Indigo eye followed the wispy expellment. "But from what I recall, we never sequestered ourselves in any Weald..." 

What a coincidence. Another Melonii had wandered onto their path. It was almost like the Gods were sending them one by one to further establish their claim. Neat. We have only recently arrived here, but we are with plenty. She replied and not a single lie was spoken. So if you are ever looking for sanctuary, you have found it now. Seducing them with pretty words had always been a quality of hers.

Marruz cocked an eyebrow. Sanctuary? He thought on it. How had he found himself here, again? He couldn't remember... Maybe he wasn't trying that hard, either.

He looked at the female; studied her eyes. Noticed the crow and those beady pearls of his. At least that explained the strange sound Marruz had heard before her arrival. Finally, he relented.

"Great, how do I sign up?" And he tried not to sound too sarcastic.

Fade here? tagging for reference! Perhaps you two could have a thread?

The shimmer of his one indigo eye was the first thing she noticed when he did came into view. It was that color and the fact he had the same pelt almost every Melonii had that made her believe he truly was one of them. She batted her eyes, curly lushes invitingly drawing closer before she almost whispered. Follow me, I shall introduce you to my mate. Though she would've liked to do as she pleased like always, it was Damien that led their group and she was not about to fail him again by trusting a random stranger she met.

She turned to pad deeper into the Weald, hoping to find @Damien sooner rather than later to tell him of yet another Melonii.

Something about the way the female murmured was enough to send a tremor along Marruz's spine. She was beautiful, but in a syblline, inestimable way. He glanced down at his paws, seperated quite a length from his snout to the earth.

When he moved, it was slow and wary; pulling long limbs stiff as stilts beneath him. He was tall and that was the only blessing he had been given, for it cast the illusion that he was also large. And, as though from a cinematic horror, Marruz followed the dark Queen with the crow.