Falls of the Hinterlands 99 problems and a body ain't one

for @Vengeance

He had come back because the weak part of him felt crippling guilt for not saying goodbye to his father properly. 

"he's dead there is nothing to say goodbye to" the common sense and cold logic whispered. 


But he didn't grasp that. He didn't like the idea that his dad just stopped existing. Somewhere he felt that he was being watched by his father and he didn't want to hurt his feelings. So he had gone back and regretted it immensely. The body he had left behind was torn open, stinking and bloody and just horrific to stare at. The vivid pink and crimson was shocking and he stared, his breath quick and shallow before he turned and vomited beside the water. He didn't want to say goodbye to...to that. He licked his lips and turned away, drinking the cool water to rid his mouth if the sour taste of vomit and avoiding glancing at the body again. "That's not my dad no more...not my dad. Just..just a stinking meat mound" he said aloud to himself, forcing the lump in his throat to go down.

68°, currently it is drizzling and set during the afternoon. Located in Tuktu Hinterlands, falls of the hinterlands | ooc notes: is this another pup for Vengeance to beat up?! TUNE IN NEXT TIME ON DRAGON BALL Z

Another new land. Vengeance had been adventuring further and further, just enough to familiarize himself with the lands before the Nightwalkers would become present. It was only wise to be familiar with one's surroundings should they claim a land nearby. With all the nooks, hunting spots, packs, hiding places if needed be, ambush locations... It was all necessary to keep in mind if one was to lead a pack - at least successfully so.

For now. He rested. The falls bore down on his body, beating his back, shoulders, and hips as the water bombarded his broad body from above. A rare bath - but not intentionally so. As the grime washed away from the hitting waters, it massaged his muscles in a pleasant beating. A rare moment of relaxation for the monstrosity in the water.

All around him the water's defeated his senses. Cloaked his presence until finally he was done. Stepping out from behind the falls, the soaked beast was ready to continue on his way. The water rippled along his muscular frame, muscles protruding, engorged form the beating that brought blood to the surface, swelling with every breath as eyes slowly opened to take in the sights around once more...

A pup. Another lone pup for him to play with, at least... he assumed its guardian was also nowhere nearby. My my... Smoothly the words slithered free from his maw, stained teeth remained as grimy as usual, though his maw and the rest of him was oddly clean. Is it that time of the year already, they seem to be getting younger and younger each year. I suppose your guardians are also no where near.

He glanced up at the voice of another, the words and tone alerting him to danger in a way that his brain couldn't coherently place a reason to. He stared at the man and blinked a few times, expression curious but cold as he backed away from the edge of the water in case this guy was going to try any funny business. This guy was scary in appearance...and mannerisms, it reminded him of a scarier Cry in a way. To cower or run would be to destroy his own pride and so instead he stared the stranger down "What's it to ya mister?" he asked lip curling on one side disdainfully before his gaze caught on the rotted open corpse of his father "that's my dad. Was my dad" he said in a tone so casual it startled even him. 

The corpse of the wolf had gone unnoticed until the young male had pointed him out. Ruby eyes followed the gaze of the smaller individual until finally, they found who this boy had once called "father". Twisted, mangled from scavengers, rotten from decay, Vengeance was for once, right to say that that male was far more disgusting than himself. 

You poor thing. He began, turning his attention back onto the young one before him. Slowly his steps approached further, swallowing the distance between them with great greed. Don't you have a pack to mourn with you? He was careful, prodding... He wasn't certain what he wanted with this boy just yet, but he would stay for now... the young were so easily molded to one's vision, certainly he could find something to do with this one in front of him.

It would be a shame to leave one all alone for someone else to snatch up if he could use him himself.

His eyes widened and then narrowed at the tone, this guy was bad and he wasn't even being cool about it. He tried to walk backwards and ended up against a boulder and felt his heart quicken. He swallowed thickly and lifted his gaze to the man's eyes, uttering a soft but firm "no" and then glancing away not wanting to push the eye contact too long. His ears went back and his lips twitched as the sense of danger caused his panic to heighten and in turn his instinct to fight growing. He was not weak, he was just small and while he knew he was in trouble he wanted to show he wasn't some pathetic kid to be messed with easily. "My dad didn't like people" he lied, an excuse on why he was alone. Then in a tone that implied a warning he added "neither do I" and glanced up, tiny fangs peeking from under a curled lip though his tail hung at his hocks, showing he was clearly intimidated. 

Clearly uncomfortable, the boy either didn't know how or didn't want to hide how he was feeling when approached by the chocolate coated demon. Cornered, face to face with the lord of the Nightwalkers, there was little the boy could do right now other than stand and watch as Vengeance approached, listen to the toxic words spewed as Vengeance what he would do with such a young lad. 

It isn't good for a boy to grow up all alone. Come, I will shelter you. Raise you, teach you. Though Vengeance wasn't kind to puppies, to the youth, he wasn't quite the fatherly figure or was all that gentle with them; but he had used for them. He would try to talk his way into getting Valour to follow him, back home, back to the Nightwalker's Haunted Woods - but he was fully prepared to take him forcefully. 

Alone, it would be foolish for him to let the boy go off on his own. He was available. No one would miss him. Ripe for the picking. All the while he spoke, Vengeance continued to approach slowly, up until he was only a meter away from the young man.

Valour wasn't dumb, he had realised a few days after leaving his mother that he wouldn't survive unless he found someone to help him or a pack to take him in. He just hadn't gotten around to it and now, now he had some really creepy man offering him a home and he had the nagging feeling that if he rejected the offer something nasty would happen. It was safety....he was sure that he wouldn't be hurt, maybe because while this guy was weird and menacing he wasn't hurting him when he absolutely could. "I guess it can't hurt...but I dont want to be raised. Just teach me to do what adults do, hunting...stuff" he spoke in a begrudging tone, eyes sliding to the side clearly not happy that he was being forced to follow Vengeance for his own safety.

It was working. Perfect, there was no need for him to take the boy forcefully after all. As you wish. That was what he said, but of course, Vengeance would try to do otherwise with the boy. To mold him into his own personal weapon, perhaps get him to call the Haunted Woods a permanent home as opposed to something temporary until he was old enough to leave.

For now, he would go easy on the oby - in time, he would break him down bit by bit... I will teach you all I know. Come, let's go home. The behemoth only started to move once the boy was ready to follow. I am Vengeance, Warlord of the Haunted Woods - what do they call you?

His demands were agreed to and while he was hesitant to believe him, he decided it wouldn't be smart to act like he held no trust for the man. Slowly his fur flattened and he seemed more relaxed, hesitantly stepping away from the rock he was pressed against and though he shot him wary looks he approached until he stood by the man's side. He had no intentions of staying around for too long, no real desire to make his home with the man until the introduction was made, his interest piqued by the word Warlord. 


A new expression came to his face, ears perked as he lifted his gaze and studied Vengeance as if sizing him up. A Warlord....judging by mannerisms and behavior, one that wasn't a hero, or a savior but someone not to be messed with. Like Cry, yet Vengeance struck Valour as someone darker, someone who wouldn't hesitate to display his evil intentions in the right situation. This was someone who could teach him to be strong one day, to rise up and protect anyone he wished and to take down anyone who stood in his way. "My name is Valour" He said and began to trail after the man who was now what he considered to be his guardian. "Are they really haunted?" He asked of the woods, the innocent question not sounding frightened but instead a hint of excitement shown. 

If you want we can fade out?

Yep! we can call this done!

 

It seemed his title had gotten the boy's attention more than anything that had occurred between the two. Valour, what an interesting name. Should Vengeance have his way, the boy would live up to such a title that his parents had blessed him with, just as Vengeance had lived up to his own, in his own way. Yes. Haunted by those who had dared to cross their borders, haunted by those who call Vengeance their killer and all other Nightwalkers who follow behind him.

Though a joke, he still found it humourous to let the boy make his own decision on the matter. Come Valour, lets go home. With that said, he turned, waiting just enough for the boy to follow him before heading off, cutting his little vacation short in order to bring home a surprise youngster to be added as the first young Nightwalker among their ranks. How does Alpha pup sound to you? He said with a smile as they walked.

The one word sent shivers down his spine and though he went wide eyed, he stared at the man in a whole new way. What kind of man made his home in a haunted forest, what man had power enough to convince others to live there too? He didn't need to be encouraged to follow anymore, he was already enraptured by Vengeance and had decided that this was a better home than any he could have stumbled into. He nodded silently and trailed after Vengeance his step not faltering when the question was asked but a small gasp revealing how startled he was. He nodded once and cleared his tiny throat "It sounds fantastic Sir" he said quietly as he followed the man all the way back to the woods.