Stone Circle Black as your soul.

One thing Revui had not done since his inception to the bear-centric pack, was explore the surrounding territories. Beyond the meadow lay the mountains, that much he knew. This patrol would take him from the meadow to the northern reaches of the valley, around the intermittent ridges and forests, where he found the strong scents of foxes dominating the shadows. He prowled there for an hour or two as he trailed along, eventually finding himself on the fringe of another claim. This one he did not know - unaware of Merrick's past affiliations, nor how his leader's mark upon him might flavour any encounters, he idled among the trees, tempted to press his luck by delving further on an exploratory mission. Who were these people, he wondered?

Skoll hadn't explored much since he joined Ursus some time ago, even before the borders were fully set and they became official. He'd always stuck around the pack and that one lake where the ducks gathered. So, he wasn't aware of any of the other packs or groups around them. He'd taken to exploring after debating it for some time, sitting on the border. 

Eventually he found himself along the borders of a pack he didn't know. And of course he'd spotted the one named @Revui also there. The man appeared to be fine after dragging that pig around however long ago that was - if Skoll had done it on his own he'd have strained muscles for days, he was sure. Even helping the other left his legs sore for some hours. 

He found himself trotting over, offering a chuff in the form of a greeting. Maybe they'd run into a member of this pack, find out more about them.

West couldn't clear the image from his mind, the blood, the bodies. He knew there was bad in the world, the woodland boy had heard of it, but to see so much death before him...he shook his head a growl escaping his maw as he let out a huff. He should have been there sooner, he could have done something. Perhaps his Aunt would still be alive, or Kaito. Had he not stopped, would things have been different?

The feeling that followed was all too familiar, blaming himself when realistically there was nothing he could have contributed. Perhaps if he was there, but he could not fault himself for not despite how much he wished to. It had been merely two days in passing since the cougar. West recalled learning about them from his uncle, they were normally alone, but he couldn't live with himself if there was another lurking not far. In the days that passed since Easthollow's loss, West had glued himself to the borders, determined to not let another slip by without his knowledge.

It was then that he caught sight of two along the borders, they had not trespassed, but they were too close for his comfort. West did his best to hide the frown that desperately wanted to spread, it was not their fault, but they would not receive his usual smile. Instead, the pair were met with a stern expression as the woodland boy was quick to fill the space between them. You linger near my pack, Easthollow, what is your reason?

Alerted by a soft sound on the wind, Revui turned his attention to where Skoll was striding, hackles bristling immediately and body becoming tense. He only relaxed minutely when recognition touched upon him; he saw it was the man who he had sparred with, a member of Ursus, so his defensive posturing lessened. His own nostrils flared as he took a deep breath, and he turned to survey the area again in case anyone else came calling.

It was a good thing he did. A lissome brown fellow was roaming nearby. He was impressive at first glance, hefty, but it was the marbling of warm tones that caught in Revui's eye. He could not help but stare, in part because he needed to keep track of where the stranger was, but also... He was attractive. Revui wasn't typically the kind of person to notice such things as vanity; he appreciated strength above all, which was why he had been drawn to Ikkalrok. This man was somehow different.

When he spoke it wasn't with a friendly tone but Revui wouldn't call it a command either. He sounded serious, and with the stoic expression on his face, protective. That made sense, thought the giant. He thought of how much fun he could have with Skoll by his side — what could they learn of this place, this man, or this pack, by pushing their luck along this border? Revui's attention flicked to Skoll and back, his gaze devious for a split-second.

He didn't feel like answering, but did so with a shrug of his shoulders as he stepped towards the well-marked border, wondering to himsel if this boy would try anything. Hunting, exploring. Whatever we want.

Skoll did see the defensive stance Revui took upon hearing the sound of Skoll's voice. The man was so jumpy, though there must be a reason why. He couldn't call that one a weakness like he could the exposed shoulder from when they sparred. Maybe if he stared long enough he would find another thing he could attribute to weakness, or maybe he was just being an idiot. Then the man relaxed, and if Skoll was some kind of traitor he could have used that moment to attack, but he was not. Skoll was not some kind of traitor. 

His head turned when another reached their location, one from the pack. It was then his eyes moved to the other wolf that joined them. A brown boy, one acting as if the two of them couldn't completely tear him apart if they had to. Skoll wasn't interested in that, however. Moreso as he was interested in spotting out things he could use against the wolf if it came to that. So heterochomatic eyes instead watched the brown boy, a strong one at that. He held the weight of a fighter, much like Revui. It would be hard for someone like Skoll to do anything to the boy. Thin and skinny, almost like a skeleton. He'd be slow, though, to which Skoll was very fast. 

Face turning to a deadpan, Skoll turned back to Revui and the two made eye contact when Revui looked over. The look he gave to the other man could only be akin to one of saying what the fuck are you doing? The two of them were going to get in trouble. They could bring other pack members there - it was too far for anyone in Ursus to help them if it got bad. Merrick would be cross with them if they ran from a fight if it came to that. He did not want to feel the wraith of the man. However, Skoll didn't say anything just yet. Clearly Revui was thinking about something. Hopefully. Skoll didn't want to have to stop some pointless argument.

The woodland boy's eyes locked to the gargoyle, only he offered an answer, the other remained silent. His words sent a shiver through him, but West refused to let it show. Something about the two was chilling, these wolves weren't like any he had met before. Revui stepped closer to the border causing his fur to bristle with annoyance at his clear disregard for claimed lands. It wouldn't do, he knew that his parents would not stand for this kind of behavior. West had never been in a real fight before, if it came to that now he was outnumbered, at least until someone else showed up, but surely they wouldn't do something so stupid with others nearby? Normally his size was enough to bring the boy comfort, but this man was not small.

West couldn't quite make out the expression the smaller male gave, but something told him that he too was unsure of the grey warrior's advances. Perhaps he wasn't a fighter, maybe if it came to a scuffle he would be fine. At the very least it was the boy's job to keep these two from trespassing so, with Revui's advances, West would make his own. He kept the brave face closing the distance between them to keep either from encroaching any further on his land. That's nice. I'm going to have to ask you to detour though. As I said before, this land is claimed. He puffed his chest, tail and head raised as he had seen his father do to show his dominance. Perhaps a display was all that would be needed to deter his advance.

Okay so if I remember right, we rolled and Revui lost terribly lmfao. Permission granted for West to kick his ass.

Ask? No warrior needed to ask for anything; they fought, they raided, they took what they wanted - or what their masters wanted. Revui scoffed at the very suggestion and glanced at his companion, his brow raised. For a moment there was calm. But he was eager for a fight, hungry for blood. He wanted to prove to his companion - and to this rival warrior from a lesser pack - that the wolves of Ursus were strong and worth consideration.

That one glance, akin to a frat boy sharing a look with his drunken companion, transfigured in to a frown, then a sneer, and in one fluid motion Revui lunged across the invisible line towards the copper fellow. His teeth were bared, his fur serrated, he bludgeoned up against the handsome man and aimed to grab at him; he did not care if it was a shoulder, a neck, a haunch, but he would snap and snap and snap until he felt something give.

It was a frenzied attack otherwise out of the blue, so it did not, in fact, align with anything. Revui missed most of his attempts but he had made himself known to the guardian: he was here, and fuck your words.

Skoll was just about ready to get up and leave - he was not about to cause problems with another pack. Maybe he would have said something, though he knew his words would not go out to the warrior. The other man would surely do what he wanted, when he wanted. Just like someone that of a hardheadded turtle. The other man had the build to be called such a thing, too. The stregnth, as well. Though maybe the loss the other wolf had before would be against such things. 

But oh, then the other man moved to rush forward and the only thing Skoll could do was sit there and wait for him to either lose or win. Inevitably one of them would be the case. The dark man thought the other to be a complete idiot for attacking right on a pack border. If he wanted a fight, he could have challenged him away from the borders. A sigh and a shake of the head.

No answer met his demands, instead, the man glanced to his partner and the woodland boy could swear he saw a smirk. Imagined or not, the lack of response or action made his fur rise along with his temper. As fast as the silence settled though, it was broken. Revui transformed into a mass of anger as he bore his teeth. West's paws dug into the ground as he was charged, a snarl ripping from his own throat as fangs snapped wildly and unpredictably in his direction.

The woodland boy had never been in a fight before, not like this. There was no time to think, instead, he fell to instinct as a burning sensation ripped into his shoulder. His own jaws shot forward as he too tried to grab something of importance, the throat, the shoulder, his maw. Anything to keep the man's fangs off himself or scare the other. He shifted his weight attempting to slam the man and off-center him. Both were around the same size so a simple pin or bulldoze wouldn't do, he needed to gain an advantage.

The way the stranger reacted to him told Revui all he needed: there was indecision, hesitation, and while they reacted promptly enough to avoid most of the snaps of his teeth, he did not retaliate with as much finesse as the leviathan expected. With that said, the two were evenly matched when it came to size and force; Revui managed a few grips and tears, but he could not bowl over his opponent any easier than they could tackle him in to the dirt.

He parried with his fangs, reaching for flesh and eager to tear at that rugged, warm body. Electricity sparked whenever Revui touched upon his opponent - and blood did bloom, just not enough of it, and by the end of the spontaneous jousting it was Revui who was spouting the majority. He was driven back by the frenzied action of the other wolf — inevitably pushed away from the borderland, nearly colliding with Skoll where he waited with an incredulous expression on his face.

It was over as soon as it began. Revui's chest and face were streaked with blood. He felt dizzy, angry, drunk on the smell of blood, but he knew when to withdraw - and so he did so, retreating in to the dark of the trees where he paced along the outer limit of the claim, and then as he spat a chunk of bloody flesh from his tongue, moodily lunged away from Easthollow. He left a trail of red in his wake - but at the very least, West had been successful.

The bruise to Revui's ego would take some time to mend.

Skoll found himself watching everything go down, heterochromatic eyes waiting to see any sign of weakness from either of the two. The one that belonged to Easthollow hesitated. Making Skoll wonder if he'd never been in a fight before. Though that was replaced by the quick work the other wolf made of Revui. Skoll was almost amused. How could a wolf of that size completely lose like he did so much? 

The smell of blood stuck to his fur though none of it was on him. He didn't bother trying to help the monster of a wolf that belonged to ursus. There was no point, he'd already lost. Turned tail like a deer being hunted by wolves. Weak. Somehow the big man was weak. 

"Looks like you've won." He noted, turning to leave with a slow even pace, compared to the dash Revui had done himself.

The flurry of fangs lasted as fast as they had come. With a rip, fur and flesh tore away as Revui turned tail almost colliding with his associate on the way out. Blood stained the woodland boy's pelt, a fire lit in his shoulder as he remained standing, panting before emerald eyes shifted to the other.

West spat the clump of fur that remained on his tongue as his jowls pulled back to reveal his fangs. It was true, this one never pushed him, but after his friend's attempt, he wouldn't risk it.

Looks like you've won.

So he had. A moment of pride swelled within his chest drawing his tail back up to a dominating posture as Skoll turned. It was not without his own injuries though, the boy could feel the blood running down his leg as he watched the troublemakers leave. It wouldn't be until they were long out of sight that he relaxed once more, going to feebly tend to his own wounds.