Verdant Basin This Gun's For Hire

Sunlight filtered in through the canopies of the trees, as their green leafed arms reached towards the sky. Eternally reaching. Never resting. Trees. The light filtered amongst the small holes, dancing along the lush ground, playing peek a boo with shaggy brown paws.

Caressed, and touched upon broad shoulders, scarred face. Though there was still the bones of beauty there. Proof incarnate, that he had been her favorite. Large paw steps, landing silent, gentle against the ground warmed by the lights.

Water near his side, the light danced along the silvery sheen. Touching upon the fish that jumped and leaped from the water. Wildlife cricked and called to one another. Running, frightened. Scared. Death was in the air. He stood russet paws on broken sticks. Smell of fish and metal in his nose.

White and yellow dustings curled around tattered and torn ears, sunk into russet brown fur. Blood dripped from a maw of pearly white teeth, evidence of the hare he had just consumed.

Eyes as scarlet as the copse upon his lips took in the area around. She was dead and there would be hell to pay, because he had no master anymore.

Her whelps were growing. Learning. And she had more numbers. A new mate, even. She felt secure enough to wander, if only to the nearby basin. She came recruiting, for if she craved meat or water, the weir was hers to pick from. This was far for anything else.

And she had found a loner. A handsome, scarred man not unlike Vorilye. Vex alerted him with a low woof and a raise of her tail, and she began to approach.

Fur crawled like ants on skin. The scruff of his large meaty neck rose. Something. Someone. Watching. Gazing. Eyeing. All of the above. It didn't sit well with the scarred male.

Though before he could turn and find the peeking one. A chuff was heard. Tattered ears swiveled and twisted, and large brutish body turned towards the sound. Animals fled, their paws steps loud in the area.

Femme dressed in gossamer threads of ice. Sunlight eyes bored into him. Lean tail over athletic whithers. All in a glance. He gathered. Dominant. Femme. Would purr like a kitten if touched the right way. Eyes traced along dark, fur lined ears. Lean nuzzle. She was beautiful, as all femme's were, and he would wager. She knew it too.

He tucked his tail and averted his eyes. Were she expecting more, she'd have to prove she was a queen. He only bowed to queens.

He was examining her, just as she examined him. Surely he had seen battle with scars like those. Vex was closer, some feet away, and she grinned, showing her yellowed teeth. "Hail, stranger. Yours is a new face in the hinterlands..." And best of all, he smelled of no nearby packs. Vex's claws sunk into the earth, and the brief look she gave him said 'mine'.

"I am Vex Cruor, Queen of the Dominion. Who might you be, hmm?"

Dreven Shifted in such a way that his scars lit up in the light, and he moved to better study. Tattered ears forward, red eyes on the she wolf. Every mark upon his body had been earned, and though he had been a slave of sorts, he had been a good warrior, a good consort, a good whatever was needed. There was very little he didn't do for his queens.

He returned the grin, eyes crinkled at the corner, but void of emotions. Normally once would have seen a spark with a smile of such light, but he had long ago learned how to smile without feeling it, because it was demanded.

Dreven. He offered, voice deep and a bit husky from ill use. It would never change. He had been forced into silence too long.

Vex was a sharp woman, and there was little she missed. She could see the emptiness in the man's eyes, the hollowness within him. It was a look she had seen often, mostly in prisoners. She wondered if someone had broken him.

He introduced himself. He made no show of respect. Vex chuckled lightly. "Dreven. What business have you in the hinterlands?"

Drev supposed he was broken of sorts. He had certainly learned to please, in an effort to at first not die. Then it had been to avoid the pits. He hated the pits. But he would have welcomed death. He was a man with nothing to lose and thus far, no more allegiance to anyone.

Dreven finally realized she was a queen. He blamed his lack of sleep. He dipped his muzzle gently in a show of deferance as he spoke.

I have no business here, Queen Vex. Simply passing through at the moment. I may settle, but I haven't decided yet.

He moved closer, but didn't overcrowd, he was testing his boundaries, because for the first time in his life he could. He smiled, and shifted. Brown pelt rippling with the movement. With a grace, most did not bely he gentle lowered himself to his haunches, paws straight, red eyes closer now. Studying, watching. Waiting.

At the dip of his muzzle, Vex laughed, loud and only half-amused. Eyeing him imperiously, she drawled, "Most bow to Monarchs." Something in her tone hinted that he should, too. And he had nothing of interest to offer with his words. A traveler, one she was not certain she wanted to recruit. Even so, she could not resist offering anyways. "The Dominion is always recruiting. Soldiers and the like, you know..."

And he moved closer. Vex's eyes narrowed, and she warned him with a low growl. "I did not say you may approach."

Dreven stared at her for a beat of a moment. He dipped his head further, his legs only slightly bent. He didn't want her attacking him from above while he was not looking. A smirk of amusement dancing on his face. He was enjoying this game.

Dreven slowly backed away, eyeing her. Temper Temper.

He tilted his head and waited. He wasn't aiming for a fight, he really was just pushing to push. Because it was fun and he hadn't had fun in years, but he also knew when to stop and he kept away from her.

Vex had lost all interest. She narrowed her eyes at him, then spat, "Learn your place, brute." He had no place telling her to control her temper, when he was the one causing it in the first place! Nostrils flaring, the Queen said coolly, "Be on your way, and I will be on mine." She turned to leave.

exit Vex unless stopped <3

Dreven watched her for a beat of a minute certain she wouldnt claw his back. Then he turned away, a smirk pulling across his muzzle after she was out of sight.