Falls of the Hinterlands Do you doubt it's yours?

please let @Vallkyrie post first
@Kynareth Deagon and up to two additional members of the Saints to keep things from getting overwhelming <3
backdated to the second week of november

They followed the river south when they found no sign or Asmoses in the Firebird's previous claim. As they walked along the bank of the river, the flat sand they had been traveling on before slowly shifted into something more rocky. Eventually, they found themselves traversing large slabs of stone and loose rocks that had fallen down from the mountains above them. The river flowed a little faster here, and she knew it would not be easy to swim back to shore if either of them fell in.

She stopped in a place where the water met a relatively safe-looking park of the bank. Let's take a break here, she told Vallkyrie. She was thirsty and they had been moving for hours. She looked around and inspected the air with her nose for anything concerning and when she found nothing obvious, she moved forward to stand in front of the water. With one more look around, she lowered her head to take a drink, her eyes never moving from the trees ahead of her, and her muscles tensed to move at a moment's notice

Alright... The Archer murmured, setting her sights away from her partner in travel and onto the area around her as the Simmik moved to the edge of the river bank to drink. Alas, she the huntress and scout and Simmik the guardian, it would seem the young snow girl would too be stretching her knowledge of the world around her and Vallkyrie had always rather enjoyed Simmik's company. Though the reasoning for their travel was to find a missing pup of theirs, Kyr had to admit it felt nice getting away for awhile what seemed the constant drama and agonizing hardships of their forest home. 

Look at that...! Vallkyrie whispered, taking a few steps further down the riverbank. The water falls did not come down as a massive flood, but trickled down the mountain side in many little streams into the river below. It was quite beautiful and Vallkyrie took a big whiff of the dewy air, tail arcing up and waving in playful display. But another scent was near, that of wolves recently past or near in the area yet still. She wasnt sure, yet suddenly tugged her icy gaze away from the falls and to the forestry around them.

Kynareth is a beast to say the least. The way he walks, the way he presents himself. How he acts and how he lives — he breathes and speaks the desire for death and power. It will never cease, or won’t until he ceases to exist anyhow. He’d been a patrol with @Nyra, the white giant becoming quite the companion even though they have seriously fought each other multiple times. Going as far as to cause serious injuries to one another. He’s beginning to like her. So in turn, he desire her company. To test her perhaps — to watch her.

So they even go as far as Cedar Sweep just outside their doorway. Greedily marking this area even though it truly is too big for a pack their size to handle. Donovan is a horribly greedy man and he couldn’t give a rats ass. The pair makes their way to the nearby waterfall Kyn finds himself seeking out much more recently. A pair of scents meet his nose and he is instantly smiling. His eyes flicking over to Nyra with a mysterious glint. 

“You smell that?” He asks then. “‘Cause I fucking do. Let’s go.” Then he’s quickening his pace into a brisk walk.

Though when he gets closer his eyes are met with two wolves and suddenly his eyes lock onto the white form of the other. Of course, he knew that scent was familiar. It’s Simmik and some other female he doesn’t know, presumably one from her pack as well. While, yes he is momentarily stunned, he doesn’t stop. He returns to his easy gait and would now be in full view for the two before him.

“Oh, dear.” He hums loud enough for the others to hear him. “What a present.” Then he smiles, at first it’s a soft one, meant for Simmik of course. Then it hardens and turns maliciously mysterious. Why are they so close to his territory? Is his only thought. “What brings you two beautiful she wolves down here so far from your lovely forest?” He asks horribly smooth. Handsome face contorting around his light smile. Golden orbs watch them both. He’s almost terrified for Simmik’s reaction.

Nyra herself is a beast, though maybe not to the extent her Lord is. 
The way she prowls and holds herself mirrors Kynareth at least subtly.
They are blatant, stark equals in being absolutely huge and corded with hard muscle. 

As the Shieldmaiden patrols with her alpha, lending her aid in marking their borders and the sweep of cedars, Nyra too catches the two scents. 
Nodding curtly at Kynareth's words, she follows at his pace, coming up next to him as they approach the Falls, her inferno hues landing on the form of a she-wolf that looks almost like an exact mirror image of herself, and another. 
Both are strangers to Nyra, and Nyra to them. Though at Donovan's lethally smooth tone she glances to him briefly before returning her molten gold gaze to the she-wolves before them. 

While Kynareth speaks, for the moment at least, Nyra remains silent.

She lifted her head and looked in the direction of the strange waterfall. Simmik was about to comment on how pretty it looked, slowly making its way down the side of the mountain, but then a chilly breeze rustled her thick coat, bringing with it a rage-inducing scent. 

The Beta stiffened, and her eyes searched the trees around them. That was about the time he stepped out of the shadows—the absolute last wolf she wanted to see. Her eyes narrowed as he spewed his annoying words, having the audacity to refer to them being here as a present. If it had just been the two of them, she would have lunged at him and tried to rip out his throat, just as she had promised, but he had another with him, and she didn't want to get Vallkyrie injured. Neither of them could really afford an injury this far from home. 

That's none of your damn business, she told him, her voice low and angry. Pretty stupid of you to show your face to me, she added as her fiery glare bore into his face. She shifted closer to her packmate, keeping in front of her as if to guard her from the other two. Then she looked over at the woman who looked strangely like her. Was that on purpose? He couldn't be with her, so he found a more evil model? You do know your leader is a rapist, right? she directed at the woman, her gaze slowly moving back to Kynareth. Did his pack know what kind of a monster he was?

The tension in Simmik was sudden and contagious, causing Vallkyrie's own lean figure to tense, her long legs quivering with anticipation of what was to come. The arrival of two wolves- no, a wolf and...some kind of mixed breed, she figured, but definitely no true wolf. He comes with a heavy step, followed by his partner which looked very similar to the arctic at her side. When the half-breed speaks, icy eyes side glance his way as he coos, making it clear he knows just where they come from. She thinks, for a moment, they had the upper-paw in knowing so but it seemed too Simmik knew of them with the snapping come back she offered. 

A rapist. The hairs along the woman's spine rose, a growl rumbling in her throat. Had he done something to Simmik? Something told Kyr that the woman standing at his side was all too aware of her leader's (at least higher ranked wolf, by the way they stood) antics and did not care. With all the pieces of information put together that she had learned, Kyr was able to make quick assurance that this was the 'Saints' everyone had been talking about which meant likely he was Donovan or Derg. Either way, Kyr had not expected to find them here which left them in quite a big of a pickle should things get out of paw. 

Our duties to our pack are our own. She spoke, at least, trying to be the more sensible of the pair, knowing very well if a fight were to happen it was a very long way from home. Sure, Moonspear was just on the other side but they would have to go around, as the barrier mountains were impassible. Still, maybe, if this leader had some sense, he would know a fight here would mean a war for them later. And as Simmik has made it clear, we don't need the help nor company. So if you'd excuse us, She took a side step away from the river bed, nosing Simmik's flank who stood in front of her protectively. With intention to make way, Vallkyrie's cold eyes watched them should they decide they werent quite finished with them.

Mature Content Warning

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The participants have indicated the following reason(s) for this warning: Mentions/references to sexual assault

Kynareth was surprised and excited to Simmik really. He didn’t even care as she told him to mind his damn business and threaten him. Though when she pipes up about his little confession in the broken forest he had with her a couple weeks ago he bristles. Okay. He thinks. She wants to be petty? She wants to go there? Then he’d meet her head on. She wants to see how bad he really is? Then so be it.

So he smirks and flicks his hawkish, predatory gaze to the other as she speaks. “Well, I’d like to know due to us living just around the corner.” He hums impossibly calm despite the insult from Simmik. 

He doesn’t care if Nyra finds out or tells the whole pack. If they leave then they leave. If he ends up all alone, then he ends up all alone. So he slinks forward with malicious intent. Not going so close to them, but really only taking a couple steps forward. “And a rapist, huh?” He says as if he’s surprised, his expression laced with mock hurt and astonishment. 

His face softens and he cocks his large head. “Do you just want to hear yourself say it in front of a crowd like I’d give a fuck, Simmik? You already had my confession and you spit it back in my face like that?” He has serious betrayal on his handsome face. Even despite his pissed off expression, there is an unsurpassable amount of his hurt in his eyes even though he spits venom. 

Then in the blink of an eye it becomes horribly evil — furrowed cream brows, boxy snout wrinkled, and teeth bared. Then he’s growling back to her. His voice still sickly smooth and attractive. “A rapist. Yeah, that sounds about right.” He hums snake like. “Oh did she scream and cry and beg me to let her go. Screamed for me to stop. But I didn’t. Oh, her tears falling from her face I licked up and cherished.” He growls out to the two, clearly trying to paint a horrific picture to scare them both. “She was so fucking sweet too.” He adds as the cherry on top. Purposely trying to instigate Simmik to attack. 

“There I hope you liked that. Story times over, babe. My Saints live here and unless you want to see yourselves fucking killed and gutted, to decorate my borders, I’d leave if I were you.” He spits back venomously. “Run far, far away, Simmik. I don’t want to see your pretty little face ever again.” He says then, softer then his previous words.

Nyra rn 

This lady pretty clearly wanted to bury Donovan. It was pretty obvious by the way her gaze ignited with loathing the second Kynareth appeared in her sights. Dually obvious by the venom in her voice. 
Pretty stupid of you to show your face to me, she says to the Grandmaster. Nyra snorted, a barely audible yet sharp sound. 
By Kynareth's words, these two were pretty far from home. If Donovan were stupid in the manner this jalapeno she-wolf seemed to imply...he would've shown his face to her far closer to her own territory. 
But, this was not the case. 
Simmik and Vallkyrie were close to the Saint's claim, not the other way around. Not just that, but Kynareth didn't seem the type to avoid someone so close to his territory just because said someone hated him, was mad at him, whatever. 
As far as Nyra had concluded, he wasn't the type of wolf to do that at all. 

Then, Nyra's mirror image directed a question at her. "You do know your leader is a rapist, right?" 

Hold up.
Rewind. 
He's a WHAT?! 

At Simmik's question, Nyra stiffened with obvious shock and disbelief. 
Sure, she knew Donovan was battle-hardened, bloodthirsty, deranged even, among other things, but...a rapist? 
That didn't seem like something Kynareth would do. 
The onslaught of distrust was hard-hitting and sudden, most of all - obvious - as Nyra moved one or two inches away from her Grandmaster as she turned her own hellion inferno gaze to look at him. She's about to ask if it's true, but the question doesn't have time to leave her lips.
Her own thoughts and assault of emotions is short-lived. 

The tables are turned like lightning as Kynareth confronts the smaller palefur with obvious betrayal and hurt. He weaves his words with briars, dipped and gleaming in acidic poison. 
Truthfully, Nyra doesn't recall a time she's ever seen the Grandmaster this livid. The vile, horrific picture he paints for Simmik and her friend...
Amazingly enough, the Shieldmaiden is unbothered by Donovan's serpentine words. However, as he points the promise of death at Simmik like a blade to the throat of an enemy, Nyra seamlessly prowls forward to stand shoulder to shoulder with her Grandmaster, teeth fully bared in a snarl while a loud, guttural growl ripped through the air from her chest. In this moment, her killing intent matched his own. 

Amazingly enough, for once Nyra had stayed completely silent as far as her voice was concerned. But the message she lended aid to rang in big, bold letters...

LEAVE NOW, OR YOU. WILL. DIE.

There he was, blabbing on like he liked to do, as if she hadn't just exposed his darkest mistake to his packmate like it was a report on the weather. She was surprised at first, her eyes rolling as he unnecessarily explained why he wanted to know what they were doing out here. 

She was about to offer some more unkind words, but then he circled back to her accusation, and she watched him with wary anger as he took a step forward. Her eyes narrowed as he continued, acting as though he didn't care that she had brought it up, even though she knew that was probably a lie. She didn't care, though, and she didn't miss the flicker of hurt in his gaze before he covered it up with something cold and insidious. 

And then he started to offer details of his crime, and Simmik's stomach churned. She swallowed against the bile in her throat as she winced and looked away from him. Flashes of memory assaulted her mind as he continued, and she couldn't bear it. She closed her eyes tighter and tried to ignore him, but the damage was done. His words had brought forth the darkness of her trauma into the light where she couldn't ignore it. In that moment, she hated him him just as much as her own monster; they were the same as far as she was concerned. 

Finally her eyes opened, and she slowly turned to look at him, disgust in her expression and her gaze murderous. She wanted to kill him for what he had just done to her, and she might have tried had it just been him and her. But his packmate was at his side then, clearly not caring that her leader was a piece of shit, which didn't surprise her at all. She knew Vallkyrie would want them to just take the chance and leave, and honestly, she would be dumb to start something here. She was too shaken by his recounting of what he had done to really focus anyway. If you do, it will be the last thing you ever see, she promised quietly, and then she backed up, turning only when her packmate was with her and there was enough space between them and danger to sprint away.

Last for me lest they are stopped.

They lived nearby, then. Obviously not anywhere near enough for her and her partner to have noticed it. For all her travels, missing what should have been a well marked border was not something the huntress would have done. They were just protective and greedy over lands that were not truly claimed by them, something which sounded oddly familiar to her.

Though he went on, stepping closer, making comment on what Simmik had said for obviously it hit a nerve despite the nonchalant way he pretended not to care. Had he not, he would have just left them alone. His short snout wrinkled to a snarl, growling back at Simmik in warning. Though his tail didnt raise with pride and dominance, alas it was permanently curled and cooked up at his back side. And he weaves his tale of his deed, trying to fuel her Beta, trying to con her into a fight. The half-breed wasnt some sexy badass in the Archer's icy gaze, he was disgusting. 

Whatever happened to that girl, Vallkyrie didnt know and didnt want to know. Not her friend, not her pack, it sounded like a 'her problem' situation and Simmik didnt need to take the bait. Vallkyrie wouldnt fall for it, would she? 

The dark woman would turn to her opposite, who's eyes tightly shut, who's head turned away. It wasnt she which he had so damaged but the pain of hearing it was obvious in Simmik's mannerisms. As though she had been through it. Vallkyrie wouldnt know for sure but would know to find out before this trip ended. 

Her attention snaps back to Donovan and then to Nyra, who's own expression of shock  and her side steps away did not go unnoticed. For a moment it was clear she too was shocked by the pure unashamed which he held of it. Her lips twitching, her eyes shift to the stripped creature who spoke an awful lot. As she should have done, Referring to Simmik spitting it back in his face, at least. Confessioning your sins doesnt right them. Simmik wasn't any damn priestess, either and Donovan hadn't said one damn hail Mary. 

The leggy woman moves, slender shoulder made to nudge into the arctic woman's side. These lands were not his as Kyr trusted her senses this much, though neither did she feel the need to stay here to argue with him over it either. After all, it was apparent the child was not here and if he was here with these Saints, his chance of being dead already just sky rocketed from their already high percentile. 

Vallkyrie didnt know the man, not personally, but she didnt have to, didnt want to, either. Sure, there was two sides to every story, but she couldnt imagine anything would justify what he admitted he had done and the way he so uncaring spoke of the actions of it. Only true absolution could be gained by someone who was truly sorry for their actions which the half-breed tried so much so to convince he was not. A standing ovation. He wanted to be saught out as the bad guy, the monster, the evil little piece of shit in these lands, and he was- and Vallkyrie looked at him as such, icy eyes glaring at him like the filth he was, marring the lands wherever he went. 

Alas, a statement from Simmik- a warning, a promise. Vallkyrie turns to begin leading them off as originally intended before their leader decided to flaunt himself. She'd move slowly, cautious, should they attack but when they were out of view, she'd move quick with every intention to never see them again lest it be to bring war upon them that was far overdue.

He’s watches as the two look at him in disgust. Simmik looking away and the darker woman sneering at him like he wasn’t worth the shit on the ground. He doesn’t even care. Rather he smirks back now, masking his hurt. 

Then even as Nyra raises to her full height and snarls at the two, his breast swells with pride and respect for her. Yes, she deserves Harbinger. She will make a good leader if he dies prematurely. Which is likely to happen at some point. 

Yet when this new female speaks he offers her a mocking bark of laughter. “I don’t want to right them, I want them to hurt.” He snarled as she tries ushering Simmik off. Her glare persistent on Kynareth’s handsome maw. Holding his head up high as he watches them leave. “And stop looking at me like you wanna fuck me, dear. You’ll have to get in line along with all the other little sluts.” He sings back to the dark woman with a tilt of his head. “Ta-ta you two and don’t come back unless you want to fucking die.” He begins easily, almost cheerfully, until he ends it in a serious growl.

The two women back away, keeping their fangs toward Kynareth and Nyra as if they are a threat before running once enough distance was put between the giants and themselves. 

At the moment, seeing Simmik and Vallkyrie retreat in such a manner was a compliment of sorts for the Shieldmaiden. An acknowledgement, however hate-filled, that the Saints meant business and by extension, that any threat a Saintswolf made to an outsider was not an empty one - it was a promise awaiting opportunity to be fulfilled. 

Kynareth's words earn a malicious grin from Nyra. With her teeth already on display, a smile added on just made her look straight-up batshit deranged. 

Not that she wasn't, but Nyra either didn't know or just flat out didn't care that she was fucked up and every bit the monster her Grandmaster was, despite her never having committed some of the crimes he had. 

She stays by his side, her tall, powerful stance never faltering as she watches the two women disappear from sight.

Kynareth’s smirk takes up half his face too and he’s sighs gleefully when he can hardly see the two. Glancing to his Harbinger he tilts his chin up to her in a quick gesture of acknowledgment. “Very good, Nyra.” He compliments.

Then he’s turning back towards their territory. “Come on, dear, let’s go back. This has been a fun day.” He adds sarcastically. “Also if you really wish to ask, feel free to interrogate me about their accusation.” He hums, sounding a bit more tired than he did a bit ago.

They're gone. 

Praised by her Grandmaster once again, Nyra turned as he did, walking next to him shoulder-to-shoulder still, if not slightly behind. 

Free to interrogate? Now was probably the best time to do so instead of bringing it up later. 
"The past is exactly that. The past." Nyra sighed, 
"However, if you do it again...I'll kill you myself." 

Frankly, a decent wolf most likely would have heard Simmik's accusation and killed him then and there. 
But, Nyra wasn't a decent wolf.

Kynareth nods at Nyra’s first words about the past being the past. A mature and trusting wolf she is. Though he would never misconstrue that with weak or anything of the such. Nyra is not weak. Sometimes a bit rash, but that would get better with age and training. 

Though when she threatens him with death by her own fangs he smiles wickedly. His golden orbs sliding to meet her own. “Deal.” He says confidently. He’ll hold her to it too. Not that he thinks he’d do it again. For that is one of the few things he can’t see himself repeating any time soon.

She half expected him to lunge at her for her threat, but he didn't. Huffing softly with an insidious smile, Nyra continued with her Grandmaster back to the Strath, or wherever they would end up going.