Bearclaw Valley Defiant to the end

Set to tomorrow at noon for @Merrick and anyone else!

The threat to Easthollow had left him with anger that simmered and burned, twisting inside of him until it threatened to burst. The pack meeting had only pushed him further toward the edge and with Santiago's report of being attacked he took it on himself to do his own snooping. He'd set out at night and being as smart as he was he'd stopped along the way and rolled in the dirt, digging the soil up to loosen it so it thoroughly messed up his scent with that of the earth. Then he took to finding it, cutting around the mountains instead of through them like he did to Easthollow. There he found a pack and without much else to go on he sat waiting as the sun rose, occasionally wandering further and further down along the borders though not foolishly close and beginning to piece together each individual scent to see how many there were. All the while he would pause and lift his head checking around incase someone approached, wary of the potential he had to get himself into a bad situation here.

Another lurking boy near their borders, and he had hints of the first one's smell on him. Evien was used to coming and going to the borders at random times, having returned from a trip to collect some mint leaves in the nearby forest. The agouti wolf was skulking around, clearly scouting them out, and Evien rolled his eyes a little bit. 

Deja vu. 

The medic arched a brow as he approached from the opposite direction, a small smirk on his maw. He sat the mint leaves down on the ground. He would've said something, but Revui would interrupt him. The stone colored man would draw a sigh from the medic, but he said nothing. What did it matter, anyway, if all of these warmongerers simply wanted to start battles that they shouldn't?

He tipped his head back and howled for @Merrick instead. Perhaps their leader could help.

The familiar scent of the Nightwalkers was about the last thing he anticipated finding on his patrol, but there it was — blatant, familiar, enraging. Revui had kept himself separate from the bulk of Ursus while they fawned over the newborns of Astara, and as he wasn't equipped for that, he merely upped his patrol frequency. Good thing he did.

Revui did not make a sound as he bore down upon the scent-path, although when the earth evened out he pivoted and launched headlong after the shape he saw sulking between the trees. Auburn-on-cream; a ruddy face, a dark spine. He knew this wolf; they were larger now, but familiar.

The boy from the pit.

His name was white noise in Revui's memory, but he grimaced, and loosed a roar, charging for him. Evien was suddenly there, on the opposite side. It was just like before, with Clay, and this time Revui would not hold back — the medic would be caught in the crossfire too, if he dared to linger.

Toad's job largely consisted of filling caches and warily patrolling borders with the dedication of an obsessed madman. Since Clay had appeared at their doorstep Toad had been high-strung; the boy's temper was cut slim and he could understand why Merrick acted the way he did. Someone always had a problem with their existence- they would stumble blindly upon borders, act like assholes, expect to be treated kindly. Bitches- and here was one of them now, he thought, as he spotted the agouti boy just a ways off of the border. Revui and Evien stood by already, Revui charging. Toad came up behind them, silent but with calculating olive eyes that bore into the foreign kid sharply. He was not welcome; the stone beast would demonstrate that.

merrick left from skulking around the den. in the days that followed, the boy found there was less acrimony in him toward the wriggling weaklings. his emotion remained charged only in regards to his traitorous lover.
but merrick missed her. he had rarely spent long parted from the nightbird's dark flank, and now it had been weeks. put out and lonely, he stalked off for a patrol.
easthollow had never come, and he was infuriated to have his voice so ignored. consumed by frustration and the looming always-hunger for blood, he heeded the summons tossed skyward by evien. a cackle wreathed from the boy as he sidled to a halt alongside toad. before them, powerful revui hurtled full-tilt at a creeping stranger. tongue lolled; merrick meant to watch until it became clear how this might play.

Tabletop for whatever happens after this point: https://wolf-rpg.com/showthread.php?tid=41549

It didn't take much time for someone to come along, their border upkeep was apparently fantastic. Lifting his muzzle away from whoever's scent he was studying he would have said something himself had he not followed the man's gaze too slowly and spotted Revui. Recognizing him he leaped to his paws planning to dodge and try to catch the man's feet. Unfortunately he was taken too off guard and Revui slammed into him knocking him to the ground. Grunting and rolling with the momentum as he hit the ground he gathered his paws up again, breath catching as he was certain the wounds on his chest would start oozing blood again. Before it go any further there was a large black furred man, missing an eye watching them without a single word . The leader he'd been seeking out was watching the attack without a word. Bristling Valour faced Revui "I came to speak to him. I'm not going anywhere" he motioned to the one eyed man and stood tense, silver eyes unwavering on his attacker despite the nervous racing in his chest. Santiago had said these wolves were savages and here they were surrounding him, frightened he wondered if he howled if anyone would hear him and help.

Well, this was another shitshow. Revui once more attacking a wolf that wasn't quite in their territory, but shouldn't have been lurking so close to the borders. Toad, standing guard but radiating anger. Merrick, looking enthralled by the ordeal.

This was... annoying.

"A-fucking-gain?" he asked, arching a brow at Revui, then casting a glance to Merrick. "Could we maybe let him speak before we attack him?" he appealed to the leader, tilting his head to the side.

It didn't take much for Revui to close the distance. He barrelled forth, unbothered by the growing population of Ursus wolves as they came out of the woodwork; he felt eyes upon him but they didn't matter either. He only had eyes for the Nightwalker, and when he collided with him he felt a swell of pride in himself, thrilled by the physicality. Revui snapped once at the boy as he went down and then loomed over him, bristling, grinning malevolently — while the agouti creature explained himself in haste, I came to speak to him. I'm not going anywhere!

Revui remembered Merrick in that moment. He tilted an ear, then prowled over his target, around, flanking him closely in case he changed his mind. Revui was focused on Valour but glanced over him — gaze flickering over Merrick and back. Behind him was Evien, of course, protesting; but Revui ignored the protests of the medic. He was clearly too soft to be anywhere near the borders.

Clarence might have been recovering, but he was fast on his feet. It was perhaps not the wisest thing to do to follow his leader, but loyalty far outweighed the risk, and he couldn't help it. So he'd followed, mostly by scent, until he caught up with the other boy near the border of Ursus. 

Apparently, they were dangerous wolves. Santiago and Clay had both said so. 

The spotted wolfdog appeared just in time to see Revui pin and get off of Valour again, and he growled, hurrying in to stand near Valour, glaring at the man who lorded over him like prey. He wouldn't fight, of course, unless Valour was attacked again. But he'd be there, regardless.

Merrick came next. Toad shot him a green glance; the cyclops' tongue hung from his mouth as he watched on like a creeper to some private show, delighted by what went on. The stone giant met Valour; they tumbled to the ground together, and Toad's face cracked into the slightest of smirks, satisfied with the man. Initially he had thought him something of a blockhead, empty-brained and all brawn- but each day he found Revui more compelling. An unstoppable beast who was little swayed by emotion. Toad wished sometimes to be more like him... if only he was taller, or mightier... 

He snapped back to the present. The agouti boy wished to speak with Merrick- meanwhile Evien complained as always, standing out as the only one who was not united in their front. Toad rolled his eyes. His feelings for Evien had faded as quickly as they'd come- the boy was pretty, but fucking annoying, and didn't seem to be on the same page with the rest of Ursus. He made the pack look like a joke in front of the enemy in Toad's eyes. 

Toad didn't care if the guy came here to talk. And frankly he was getting tired of holding back and waiting for Merrick- but considering the way the man watched with glee as Revui barrelled into Valour, Toad could only figure that he didn't have a huge issue with the senseless violence. Toad was beginning to crave it, and so as another came forward, a spotted little joke of a thing, Toad eyed him hungrily. If they were just here to talk, they didn't need backup. But bringing along numbers meant more could be lurking, and the fur pricked along Toad's spine as he began to prowl slowly towards Clarence, muscles rippling under his coat, a warning that meant stay the fuck back.

revui, merrick, and toad found themselves unified in violence. evien was and had remained the sole voice of reason within the harsh reality of ursus, but the boy found he too was wearied of disrespect. to that end, he craved all instances in which to expand the bloodied reputation of his loyal pack.
with an approving glance to the hunting toad, a wink to revui, and a teasingly reluctant nod to the pretty young doctor, merrick made a great show of striding toward the stranger with plume flung high. pride sparkled in his single eye; he grinned predatorily toward the bit of spotted fluff that had accompanied the man.
"better talk fast, kiddo," merrick mocked when he had approached their guest, meeting the hard gaze there. perhaps this boy too was a warrior, though the madman had little stock in his abilities to escape ursus' teeth. he had gotten his meeting. what would be do to make this or fuck it up?

Only one of Ursus's members seemed to have a personality trait other than bloodlust, speaking up to suggest he be allowed to speak. As Revui looked off to his leader there was the sound of someone behind him and then a familiar scent washed over him before he even turned to see Clarence. Eyes going wide he clenched his jaw, holding back some choice words and instead focusing back on the matter at hand as one of the lurking shadows strode forward to warn off the spotted Nightwalker. In response to that Valour stepped in front of Clarence flashing his fangs as a warning not to threaten his packmate before Merrick finally approached him. Immediately the smug grin made him burn inside with a strong disliking and as he was prompted to speak fast he did just that "I came to ask what you had to say about rumors going around that your pack is attacking and threatening others" there it was, boldly spoken without putting anyone except himself in danger. Silver eyes lifted to stare into the man's single one he waited breath held and muscles tensed, not daring to even falter for a second in the intense way they were staring each other down.

Well, he almost wished he hadn't vouched for the boy to speak. This was something Evien could stand up for about his pack, a flare of anger building in his chest at the fact that this stranger, unrelated to the events, was questioning their motives. Still, he remained quiet, deciding to let Merrick take the lead fully here.

Revui was not a talkative creature. He was a blunt instrument, used first by Moonspear, then by the Nightwalkers, now by Ursus — but he felt a difference here. A kinship he had not found elsewhere. He would defend this land and its people with as much fervor as was required, relishing in the violence with each battle won. In the moment, he wanted to skin this boy alive and the thought did not frighten him as it should have.

The boy spoke his question, and the group was silent. They waited on Merrick to make his decree, but Revui was impatient. He dislike all this talk. First there was Clay, all talk and no bite. Now this one, and what were they to do now? Talk it out? Chase him from the borderlands and await the next useless envoy? Revui bristled at the boy's question and drifted around them, angling his body as if to prepare an assault.

He did not wait for any order, shoving off the dirt and lunging at Valour as silence descended. Revui moved boldly forth, reaching with his teeth for the boy's scruff, his neck, his cheek, his face, whatever he gripped would be sliced and the momentum would be used to force him down in to the dirt again; here he would hold him down, grinding him in to the dirt and detritus of the valley.

Deep in his throat, a pleasurable hum rolled dully. None would disrespect Merrick, thought the Ostrega. No more visitors would traipse across their borders and be so foolishly dismissive of their claim here, and Revui would make sure of it.

Clarence moved when Revui did, chasing after the bearlike wolf and attempting to jump and knock him off of his leader. It wouldn't work, of course - the sheer mass difference between them was huge, plus he still had injuries that hadn't fully healed, so he had no hope of actually succeeding in his venture. 

Regardless, Clarence was loyal, and cared for Valour, and this wouldn't happen without him at least trying. 

So the boy still jumped, paws and teeth scrabbling for purchase. At best, he'd just be able to grab hold of a scruff.

What did this yearling care about the matters of Ursus? Sticking his snout where it didn't belong? In Toad's eyes, their pack had only been violent when necessary. Maybe if kids like him weren't always lingering at their borders, testing their limits and flaunting their egos, they wouldn't get torn to shreds. But the punishment fit the crime, and those that paraded the border like their personal catwalk were bound to get mauled. It was just the way of the wolves. 

There was a quiet after the question in which Toad knew they ought to sit back and let Merrick do the talking. But more and more the rush of battle took over, and seeing Revui throw himself to Valour, and then Clarence come for the iron giant- it was too much to resist. He was not sure whether Clarence's shove would land, was too wild to care- and so threw himself to the wolfdog, but missed but some small margin, realizing he had misjudged the distance.

Ah well. He wasn't going to sit there like a rock, and so the coffee cream boy swung his neck back around, baring his fangs at the intruders. Luckily, it seemed the spotty thing had failed- but still tried to grasp at Revui. And so the wolf snarled, a rumble that gurgled up from his throat in a low rumble before it released as a menacing bark, sharpened gaze fixated on Clarence as he stalked closer once again. If Valour wanted to speak here, he could do it with a mouthful of the valley's dirt. Toad would not yield without the command of his king.

what a mouthy little pretty boy. merrick had prepared at least three witticisms to cast back at the man when revui bulled forward to grind the idiot's bones. ursus had never left. those who were maimed had come to the valley for a conflict, and so far as the bearwolf was concerned, were only whining because they had each lost.
he stepped back to allow the apt stone jaws of revui their room, tail waving in a cosign as he saw how both the ashen wolf and toad surged forward to correct the disrespectful nature of the question. why send a child to judge a man, and a dangerous one at that?
revui far outsized the other boy; merrick shifted his one-eyed stare to the spotted pup who flung himself with admirable bravery against the titan, and tittered a laugh as he swept forward to press in solidarity of toad's greenstone eyes, gimlet upon the paler of the strangers. no command was given to end the swelling beginnings of the battle here, for merrick saw only its necessity and was dizzied by a jolt of adrenaline garnered from the reaction of ursus to himself.

Merrick didn't have the chance to speak about his crimes before Revui attacked again knocking him to the ground. The air rushed from his lungs slowing him down as he twisted to get up. The boulder of a man took the advantage and got over top of him as if he were about to pin him down. Heart leaping into his throat Valour moved fast, jaws parting as he lunged upward latching onto the underside of Revui's muzzle. Silver eyes glanced around wildly, seeing Toad leap for Clarence and hearing the dark laugh that came from the Ursus leader's maw approaching them. Not sure what else to do Valour gripped Revui by the chin hanging on from his position on the ground and began trying to turn over, hoping the pulling at his muzzle would cause the man to release him. If not he'd figure something else out but he'd be damned if he was letting go.

Another fight. Evien was growing tired of these. If they needed him later, they could find him, but he was tired of seeing wolves rip into one another. 

So, the medic lifted his mint leaves and headed toward the border, aiming to take them back to his den.
 

Evien's exit unless stopped.

The tawny boy twisted around and grappled at him, and Revui felt the singe of pain as those teeth found purchase. He rumbled a warning and tried to destabilize his opponent with a shake of his head, but that wasn't going to work: Valour held him firmly, and his placement beneath Revui only served to anchor him. Any further movement might lead the boy closer to Revui's throat and that was the worst possible thing. He would not let himself appear weak before the rest of Ursus - nor, especially, Merrick.

The rumble in his chest grew deeper, stronger, and then it was like Revui mentally said fuck it, thrusting himself in to Valour's teeth and then back, angling his pull sharply. The result was a bloody one: the boy's teeth scythed together, tearing through the flesh of Revui's chin and spoiling the gunmetal of his coat. It hurt like a bitch. Blood flowed, spattering across Valour and the earth beneath them both, drawing a crimson line down Revui's chest.

But, he was free. The pain was dizzying and so he did not immediately settle on his paws and launch a counter-attack; he staggered instead, eyes locked on Valour and the blood tying them together like a red string of fate, his eyes focus sharply upon him yet somehow, dangerous and wild in their stare.

The fight didn't go on for long, and when the large male jerked back away from Valour, Clarence let go as well. Still, he bristled and growled, muzzle wrinkled and body stiff as he stood to the right of his leader. He wouldn't leave - couldn't really, as his stomach had certainly torn back and there was blood beginning to gather and drip from his soft belly. 

Stepping carefully closer to Valour, Clarence's eyes flicked from wolf to wolf, waiting to see what the Warlord would tell him to do. He wanted to go home, but if Valour wanted to stay, he'd stay.

Merrick's laugh broke the air and pushed them onward. Evien left- and Toad bitterly thought good. This isn't any place for you, you pacifist. What was he becoming? He had never been one for violence- but the spirit of Ursus was growing on him daily, and he could feel the ice in his veins getting colder all the time. 

A dramatic smear of blood in the air as Revui ripped from Valour's grasp, and Toad only watched on, hesitant to throw himself back in. The spotty boy moved beside his leader too, and for a moment there was a standstill in which Toad could attack.

Instead he saw the staggering of Revui, felt the pain that shot through himself- how long would it take for these bastards to get the message they were sending? Toad turned wild green gaze upon Valour, taking a step forward threateningly on heavy paws while the fur along his spine bristled. Another snarl, Fuck off back to where you came from, He hissed fiercely. If there was no move from the either of them, Toad would throw himself to Valour again, seeking his nape and throat with his fangs.

the scent of revui's blood hung in the air. merrick's muzzle wrinkled at the pair of them; his eye cut to toad, and then to the crimson-smeared giant alongside the pair of them. refocusing upon the leader, he grinned, a feral, malicious gesture riddled with malcontent and threat as he stepped forward.
"if i knew a pack was beating ass, i wouldn't go there, you stupid fuck," merrick cackled, seconds before toad lunged forward to beat the interloper a second time.
in this moment, the bearwolf too surged, aiming his fangs the stranger, ignoring the spotted yearling who still found the need to guard his foolish packmate.

I rolled a fail to defend and a fail to attack, but I will be writing him out now after taking Merrick's attack if that's okay?

There was the feeling of his fangs tearing through flesh and then something warm and wet splattering his maw and chest. Then 'Uyo' was off of him and Valour rolled to his paws teeth stained crimson exposed in a threatening snarl meeting his stare before he was distracted by another Ursus member barreling toward him. Waiting until the last possible moment he jumped to the side and whirled around to face off feeling Clarence press closer to add his support. Nudging his spotted companion backward he'd began to edge toward an escape before Merrick spoke up and he scoffed "You haven't hurt-" he was going to say "us" but the bearlike man was faster than he'd expected and fangs tore across his shoulder. Snapping wildly his fangs hitting only air he retreated as fast as he could "You all aren't shit" he spat before looking to Clarence and motioning for them to run, doing exactly that.

Did not realize it was my turn. Evien left in their last post, so going on with Revui. Didn't do a roll since Valour is escaping!

There would be no escaping from Revui's rage; it had been ignited that day in the pit, and was stoked with every injustice he experienced from the Nightwalkers through to his troubles with his own family, and now with Valour right here before him, he burned internally with the white hot wrath. He felt the warmth of blood being shed down his chest but gave the wound little focus; it hurt, it would continue to hurt and to leak, but the beastly man dismissed all of that in lieu of his anger.

What fool this boy was. To come here with insufficient back up was one thing, but really to come here at all and expect them to sit calmly by while he trespassed - and then to confront Merrick! Valour might try to escape but he was only one wolf; a young wolf, regardless of his experience and strength, which was no match for the horde of loyal valley wolves. Revui watched him try to take flight away from them and lurched after him, his steps like the pounding of war drums while he threw himself in pursuit.

You all aren't shit, the child spat in haste, trying to have the last word. That was fine for Revui. He was wasting his breath and his time. The only thing that would stop Revui in his chase - and subsequent hunt - would be Merrick's order to hold back or step down, which was not forthcoming. Instead the bruin-witch surged forth with Toad on the other side, all gnashing teeth and intent to catch and kill the trespasser yearling.