The Heartwood No one seems to keep

Large muscled body lay in repose. Blunt paws holding tight to the small white bone, that he worried between teeth and jaw. The cracking and creaking, loud in the silence of the heartwood. He kept a weather eye on the corners. Reposed in such a way that he could see all sides, back to a large rock.

Red eyes ever so often would flick from the rapidly breaking bone to dance along the barren trees and sooty ground. The flakes of dead wood and leaves, felt gritty, but soft against his fur. He didn't mind it .It left white marks in his brown hide. A hide riddled with scars, but kept nicely. A glossy sheen to it's angles.

Another loud crack and he found the marrow. A deep curl of delight lifted from his throat as he chewed and snapped and licked at the marrow of the bone. A deep rumble in his chest.

Black, grey, and white glints in the light which dapples the ground and the creatures which inhabit it. Heph travels without pretense of quietness and her pawsteps rustle the foliage, sticks, stones, and dirt that litter her way. Her mouth still feels half-full and wet from quenching her thirst at the stream and she lets herself wander where the pathway is most intriguing, going over the roots of trees and paying the barest care to her surroundings.

The sound of cracking draws her towards it and she let herself head towards the object of her curiosity rather than away though she does not hurry her leisurely pace through the woods. She catches the scent around the same time as she catches the sight, both following the sound. As she more fully comes into view her body halts and she keeps her distance, but her posture is easy not seeking to flee and the lines of her body are loose as she takes in the mass of wolf before her. "Hello there." Her tone slides into something sly and searching before she has a chance to really take the coat and the eyes and the scars of the other canine in, still calculating, what she is not sure.

Dreven saw the movement from the corner of his eye. He immediately ceased his gnawing and a growl lit a fire deep in his chest. Loud, long and mean. He was swift to his paws, tail over his back, head down. Studying. Waiting. Watching. Growling.

Red Eyes took in her form. Athletic, lithe, medium build. Easy to dominate perhaps. The way with which she spoke gave way to intentions, and he knew she would be one that would take her pleasure as he did. However, that didn't matter. She was to near their borders.

He moved forward, body dominant. Brown coat littered in ash, fell like rain as he walked. The bone lain forgotten. Muscle mass tight and rigid.

What are you doing near our borders? Little Shadow. Baritone swung out and around her.

She wasn't across the border line yet, but one more paw step, and he'd rend her limb from limb. He kept a steady growl. Eyes boring into her, waiting for an answer.

I am assuming she is at the border line, but if she isn't let me know and I will edit. <3

Hope you don't mind Khas popping in here ^^ She loves some good ol' conflict

She'd been out of her hollow again today. An unusual occurrence, being so only when necessary. But this time was different. The sun called to her, similar to the way the elder spirits did daily. She longed to feel it's touch, even through the cloaks she wore from time to time.

Even with a decent sense of direction, the little woman hadn't quite figured just how close to the border she was. But she learned. Distant snarls and heavy tones traveled the breeze to her keen ear. Now, perhaps, her outing had purpose.

Upon the scene by means of a steady canter, Khasni took in the sight of it all — along with those involved. One was easily known to be familiar: the harbinger. But as for the other, they were nothing more than a simple stranger. A passerby, or maybe something more. Of which was yet to be determined.

She had come just in the nick of time, it seemed. The harbinger appeared in reach of the desire to tear the poor creature to shreds. Khasni would not let this happen; not unless it was deserved.

Lumbering to the standing beast, a close eye kept upon the stranger, the brown woman moved to stand beneath his chin. Making friends, are we? She mused, a small whisper trailing upward to his ear; partial, humorous mocking — but aside, a stern warning to be careful of his actions. 

The seriousness arrived sooner than later. Snapping her harsh, silver gaze to the woman ahead, Khasni's brow rose in both curiosity and caution. The question remains as asked, stranger. These borders mark the veil of the heartwood. Why have you brought yourself here, if for any particular reason at all? Maybe there was none. Had she lost her way? Or was she purposely seeking trouble? If the latter, she'd surely receive what was desired.

Heph heard the deep growl of the other wolf, he made his aggression clear in the sound of him and movement towards her. She did not quite care for the way the slide of his steps promised a fight but his words at least clarified. Inhaling deeply she was able to detect the border he was referring to though beneath the scents of the most recent wolves there was not the hint of many old layers and layers to speak of a long occupation. For a moment her ears flickered back in surprise, though they quickly swiveled towards the sound of another wolf. Now that they were standing together she could more clearly distinguish the scents on the border as what they were.There was a severity in the words of the incoming wolf, but her expression was not one looking to attack. Heph let her eyes flit between the two, curious as to if was about to be helped on her way or rather helped on her way in a less civil fashion.

Her voice leveled out, with a pair of strangers in front of her she let herself be more serious for a moment. While Heph neither ran nor moved forward to challenge either wolf her paws remained planted where they were not entirely convinced to move one way or the other. "It seems I wandered a bit too far." She let her gaze fall closer to the silver-eyed wolf, not fully meeting her gaze but letting herself look and take in the smaller frame dwarfed by the giant next to her and somewhat disheveled though no weaknesses showed themselves. "If I'd known it held so much charm I might have taken more care," an edge of levity entered into her voice but she kept her eyes trained on both. Though she was curious to see how the entire thing would play out and with each passing second without a fight breaking out was finding the situation more and more fun she could feel the tension of the situation stretched out in the air.

 

nope you got it, sorry I wasn't more clear & the more the merrier!

Dreven was not entirely thrilled that this wolf was so near, but he couldn't exactly murder her. It was bad business. He could if she attempted to cross without express permission. He was stalled from his dark thoughts, by the Saga. Who slid directly under his chin. Keeping him essentially from moving, or he would bow her over. She was using his regard for her to her advantage to keep the other alive longer.

A smirk danced along his lips at her quiet whisper and his tattered ears twisted and turned. He lay his muzzle on her shoulder for a moment, a brief touch, then he spoke softly through the lighter growl.

Always. I'm a regular prince charming.

She would have looked would have seen a malicious twinkle in his eye. A promise of dark things, but instead, he focused back on the other she wolf. Taking her in again.
Eyes tracing over the pelage and further. Eyes lingering on different spots. Assessing, wondering.

Dreven snarled at the stranger. You think?

Eyes going back to her foot paws, and then back to her face. Defiant. Daring. He held at bay, by the tiny wolf at his chest.

Passing through? Or what?

He spoke again, deep rumble. His growl had quieted some, though it was peppered throughout in smaller increments and not as deep or loud.

Yes, a charming prince indeed he was. But as for the other woman, not so much.

You speak bold words, stranger. Khasni retorted flatly, lip curling unto a light scowl. She did not like this wolf's behavior. Clearly she had no sense of regard for just whom she interacted with; for they could have been merciless killers and she wouldn't have stopped to think twice of whether it were true.

Prior in time, the harbinger had been held from action from the tiny creature — but now, the Saga considered he to be the one constraining her. Against his limb she hovered closer, finding that the touch of his presence would ease her nerves. For at this time, Khasni had a growing itch to tear the flesh of this woman's throat. 

Why not try answering again a bit more-.. carefully, or you might just see the truth of what the heartwood harbors. The beast behind, a ravager; and the tiny wolf, a witch with small patience. Yes, this was a threat — the first she'd ever publicly made, but for good reason.

The growl of the larger wolf gave way to words again and Heph considered them. She wondered, briefly, if they would believe the truth, that she had simply been wandering, or if they were already convinced she harbored some deeper secret. But it was something easy enough to answer and while some other day she may have toyed with the cadence of her words to suggest a deception where there was none she answered plainly, somewhat flattened by the tension in the air. Her shoulders shrugged, the movement ruffling her mane a bit but her tone stayed steady rather than bouncing into dips and arcs. "Passing around, I was thinking of heading north." She had also been thinking of heading south and west and east as well, but none of those plans had really solidified into her head until she had spoken them. But she did not fancy her chances traveling into pack lands and she also had no wish to retrace her steps so north it was and she confirmed it to herself at least until the moment when her fancy changed. After all who knew what she would find up north of these lands, she knew that at some point there might be water, but if the game was not good or the terrain untraversable she would change her direction again.

She had settled her gaze somewhere around the larger wolf's shoulder, easily resting ambiguously between the smaller and larger of them. But as the one tucked against the chest of the other spoke again, this time with a sharp bite to her words that promised a threat she felt her attention shift slightly lower, not discounting the other, still aware of his movements, but not focused. Such serious words to hold so little and the alliteration slipped off the silver-eyed one's tongue almost like poetry but even the threat was in the form of a question. If it were said almost mocking or with a tilted head or lilted voice or even huffed through bits of laughter she might have taken it as an invitation as it were she was not sure how to answer such a demand. Her inflection lightened, not curling around a joke, half-hesitant but no tremors made it truly unsure "That is the truth," The end trailed off, not a proper question but not a proper statement either, missing the dip and raise of query or the hard stop of a sentence.

Dreven was not a kind wolf, but he also usually gave the benefit of the doubt when proven wrong. He was still wary of the stranger being so near their borders, but the simple truth was she hadn't stepped over, and if she was being truthful. She had simply stumbled upon them. His growl began to quiet. Though a deep rumble still rolled every so often. But he would make way for Diplomacy as was what his job was.

North? And what is it that you are wandering and searching for, shadow?

Dreven was not fond of this one's open stare. She was not submissive in the least, which he did not expect at the borders, but were she looking for a home, then she would need to cowl her smart assery, and answer truthfully, and Malacath would not settle for anything less than absolute submission. He was a dominant male who did not like those to not bow down to him.


A small smirk danced along his lips as the shadow wolf, began to show her trepidation, especially as Saga spoke. He would allow her to say more if she wished too. He would not invite yet, he wanted answers.

And was this wolf worth their time. Truly.

Directions; many to go. North, South, East, West. But why continue to travel? Some were keen to see the world, while others traveled simply because they had nothing better to do.

Now beyond the sense annoyance, curiosity preened within her gaze. Away from the harbinger she slithered, drawing nearer the strange woman. First, she stopped to take in a waft of her scent, dedicating strictly to memory. Then she trailed around, circling, watching from all angles.

You say you will continue to travel, but your hesitance in which direction suggests you have no ultimate achievement wherever you go. Ears folding, Khasni wiggled her nostrils. Why continue? Why not settle? Was this wolf against settlement? Maybe packs weren't her thing. Saga wanted answers of all. She needed to understand this woman better, for only then would the spirits pass judgement unto the witch and finalize their decision; many options were of mind.

   One ... let this woman pass on.

   Two ... give to her a place within the heartwood.

   And three ... execute, for she has seen too much.

Ultimate judgement ranged between physical demeanor and spiritual grasp. If she had no true form that could resemble any purity or purpose, then she was nothing but a rogue soul not intended for this world. And if she were the latter, the third option seemed the most valid. But, in this case, Khasni was willing to give the benefit of the doubt. She would, however, flick a quick pass of the eye to the harbinger. Depending on which the elders decided, he would need be prepared to see the following course of action through, should she not be able to alone.

Alduin hears commotion along their borders. Short, spotted auds swivel to determine the direction, but he does not rush himself. No, the brindled beast moves at a brisk walk, massive head level with a straight back, tail curled at his hip and bobbing softly.

And when the hellhound finally approaches, he sees two familiars — his Oracle and Harbinger — yet the third seems to be one of the unknown. Though at first glance once might think a civil conversation leads their tongues, but a growl resonates within his ears as well. There is no civility in The Forsaken — no, there is only the damned and those worth of their judgment. Which one shall this one be? Alduin wonders.

So with heavy, lumbering steps, the massive hellhound stalks forth to step beside his forsaken Harbinger, slyly slinking up behind him and brushing his side agaisnt the other male’s hip before stopping closer beside him. Crimson eyes flick over, down down down to the silver eyed female pressed to his chest with the same familiarity he looks at Dreven with. 

Only then do bloody pools for eyes rake over the stranger woman’s coat — full, peppered with blacks and silvers. He makes a show of looking her up and down, head to tail. Only just hearing her last words,

Passing around, I was thinking of heading north. That is the truth.

Ah. So a passerby. He concludes, but says nothing as Dreven speaks once more.

North? And what is it that you are wandering and searching for, shadow?

Alduin wonders the same thing, but remains silent. His gaze heavy and tantalizing as he watches the woman with the dark confidence of a thousand suns.

And then, Khasni’s velvety voice fills his ears. Why continue? Why not settle?  Are the tail end of her words. She begins to move forth too, sniffing and circling, surely this would unease this stranger. 

Good. Testing boundaries is something Alduin approves of, but although Khasni’s words hold a venomous threat, her small, feminine frame does not. Well, at least not in the way his own does.

It’s then Alduin decides that he has had enough back and forth — enough teasing and tiptoeing. 

“You — stranger.” He rumbles with a rasping and guttural voice. “This talk is pointless, teeth are more useful here.” He adds darkly, following in his Oracle’s steps, but snapping dangerous jaws at the smaller woman’s hocks from a distance as a nonverbal sign to back off. Where he would fall into step in front of their newly found company.

“Do you wish to pass. Or do you wish to find out more of this land — of the forsaken that reside here.” He moves straight to the point. “Choose wisely.” He purrs afterwards, eyes dark yet light with a touch of sadistic entertainment painting his eyes.

Yes… Alduin hisses internally, manically. Choose wisely…

For her decision may mean life or death.

Heph considered the first question that came to her, she found it strange that they would trouble her for her intentions more broadly. Perhaps if she wanted to pass through, perhaps if she meant them trouble but what did these wolves who had chosen to tie themselves to a piece of earth and the wolves that resided there care about wandering hearts? As if life were something one sought rather than something that happened, as if the sum parts of a world of a wolf were more the wolf than the world, as if the sun had risen each morning. She might have laughed for either one of them, but then the smaller of them approached.

Her movements were fluid and not quite like a wolf, but she let her circle, keeping her eyes and head tilted to catch the tips of her ears as she tracked around her, but keeping her self facing the larger of the pair rather than present her flanks to him. It was not that the smaller did not present a threat, but as her words also slid around her she gathered that it was more to unsettle her and threaten than actually sneak. Again her intentions. This canine wished to read her nonchalance as hesitance, her lack of a destination as a lack of purpose but Heph had not the words to explain that those were mistakes. She spoke of ultimate achievement as if there was such a thing that had any more meaning, any more finality to it than the ocean's surface, unless this entire ultimate achievement and settling was all this little one's way of asking Heph why she did not just keel over and die - the true settling. The grey toned wolf thought that might be plausible although it seemed more vague than her many other threats.

Before she had the chance to answer, toeing that edge between outright mockery and a genuine response she is not even sure is something she can believe anymore, a third wolf appeared, this one was large as well his stance so outrightly dominant that it tells her he wants to be seen that way. He asked questions with a flatness that makes them sound like statements, the intonation all off and making her half miss all his words. And his voice moved from a raspy rumble that spoke of thirst to a deep purr that spoke of a hunger she does not know what for. She could tell from the light that caught in his eyes that he found it amusing, whatever suffering he thought she felt or was about to feel.

Wishes are for stars. Her mother had told her gently, tongue on the top of her head when she told her she wanted to go past the edge of the clearing. Wishes are for stars. Her sister had said, resigned, during one of their many talks. Wishes are for stars. Her brother had said as they lay beneath a blanket of wishes.

She could not choose what to want, no one could choose what they wanted, wolves wanted things, they wanted them fiercely and sometimes they wanted them weakly. No, if wolves chose anything it was what to do with those desires. Her gaze flickered over his chest, his teeth, he had said teeth were useful and he did have pretty teeth she thought. "I've nothing against learning more but I would just as well pass on when" Her gaze flickered, for a moment, to the two others before snapping back. Traveling was lonely, meeting other loners, meeting wolves at the edges of their territories. For all the subtle and less subtle threats and the deep low growls and snapping gazes and biting words it sparked something in her to have exchanged words with these wolves. As everyone was wont to there was a mercurial shifting to them, their speech and their movements. And that cemented it in her mind. Her voice was soft but flat, lacking the forced levity or the natural edge or even the hesitance of before, almost an afterthought as if it slipped out without her awareness "the world moves and so do I." Her shoulders gathered tension as if readying for a shrug but the motion refused to complete itself and she let the words hang in the air, let the moment hang in the air. Really with this third wolf, with the threats and the words and the cryptic questions she could not see past the moment.

His leader made a bold touch past him. Fur to fur, and at his hip. He made a low rumble of a purr, but kept his eyes on the girl at their borders. Malacath at his side. Khasni at his chest. He felt like a bone inbetween, but he was not adverse to this feeling. No, it gave him a thrill. It was his bread and butter after all, where he was from.

He kept all three in his gaze. Khasni as she circled the she wolf, but he was momentarily surprised when Malacath snapped at the spirit seeker, but not in harms way. No to simply warn to move. And he began his own questioning.

The overt display of dominance was one he had known would show itself. And he had worried that the girl would not be submissive enough, and it clicked in on his heels again. The thought of. What if?

For now Dreven would observe, his questioning done.

In this moment, Khasni is focusing a more on her anger towards Alduin "Malacath". Once their little discrepancy ends, her attention will return to the others present!

Edit: New posting order, just so no one gets confused: Alduin, Dreven, Heph, Khasni

Her thoughts had been a haze, forgetting the air and company surrounding. It was a surprise when she felt sharp ivories graze the skin of her hocks. 

Jolting in surprise, her body turned quickly, heels sinking to the ground. Khasni growled loudly — louder of a sounder than any would have thought her minuscule vocals could produce.

Usually, when angered, the small woman would often warn with small nips or harsh words; but now? Oh no... the beast was beyond warnings.

Pushing against her crouched form, Khasni leapt for the hound, wide jaws hoping for a clutch on his nape or throat.. whichever she caught first. Although he was much larger, she had the neck and upper body strength to simply swing if she made a firm grip. To aid in staying up, her forepaws would aim to strike for his shoulder or flank, tearing at both fur and skin. 

Small, muffled snarls sounded as she ravaged the brute. Maybe he was a rank above her. But did she care? Absolutely fucking not. 

Roll thread for Al and Khas here! Rolled an 8 for his bite.

Alduin attempts to pay attention to their visitor — one of many they’ve been experiencing on their borders. Which perhaps makes Alduin rethink his and Khasni’s choice of home. Especially if wolves will be passing by as frequently as it seems. But the Oracle says this is where they are meant to be and Alduin feels as if it is too. So, perhaps he may not fight it as much now, but later…that’s another story, especially if his patience is wearing thin as it often is.

Like now for example. 

His dominance is an obvious thing — he commands the space. Alduin — the damned, the reaper, the hellhound. This is his land, his forsaken and he will not be dictated. 

So when he snaps at Khasni from a distance and she whips around to lunge for him, he knows within that second that his teeth are about to get bloody. And without hesitation too. Those who join the forsaken will know of the damned and his place above them and he will flex that role if need be. He will do what’s necessary to remind the others of his place.

When his Oracle jumps her small form up to snatch the loose skin of his double coated nape, she would simply hang there and thrash for a few seconds. The hellhound doesn’t move, nothing besides the light sway of his body from her efforts. Bloody pools for eyes  would give the stranger a look before flicking deadly orbs down to his Oracle, scarred lips immediately pull back to showcase dangerous jaws and black gums. The growl that rumbles from his gut means fucking business. He would stay like that for a total of three seconds, giving her ample time to move away — too let him go.

But not one second later, whether she moves away or not, his head would turn with the quickness of a viper and his growl spitting venom. His body would remain still save for the widening of his stance, but his teeth would aim for the woman’s face — looking to shamelessly give her a scar to help her remember the ranking of this pack. And perhaps if there had not been others around like their first meeting, he wouldn’t not have snapped at her at all, but the Revenant will not look weak in front of anyone but the moon and stars.

And after, he would not move after her. His large, meaty paws would remain planted. The curl of his lips and a bite that would serve as a final warning.

Dreven sighed and moved closer to the wolf at their borders. He was not a protector. However, they did not deserve to be in the crossfire. And he didn't want them leaving anyway until Malacath and Khasni were done with their pissing contest.

He watched waiting for the outcome. He had no doubt it would be Malacath but stranger things had happened.

Admittedly, of all the possible results pondered Heph had not considered that it would not be her to be attacked first amongst the four of them. The muscles around her eyes tensed for a moment as the smaller wolf whirled on the larger and she stared impassively for a moment as she watched the beginnings of the scene play out. The hearbeats where the silver-eyes wolf hung, frame dwarfed by the larger incomer, and then the swift retribution. Dominance squabbles happened in packs, especially if this one was new and there was not real dominance to remember and call back on. Then again submitting was a part of pack life as well. The entire scene felt surreal to her, while it was not unfamiliar watching as an outsider felt distinctly strange, and if the pair simply wanted to fight each other she might as well be on her way as she had no intention of taking sides.

Heph glanced at the other wolf who had seemingly decided not to involve himself in the ensuing conflict and had instead sidled closer to her. She sidestepped a few paw steps, not keen on standing too close to the ensuing fight to be mistaken for a participant, and also unsure why he had even bothered. The other wolf did not strike her as a guardian of either of the two wolves trading snaps at each other and certainly not of her. However, she could not say that she was not curious as to how the entire thing panned out. Heph's heart beat just as red as any other wolf and while she would much rather trade playful blows and sharp but empty words she wanted to know the outcome. She supposed he could be blocking her exit but she wondered if whether she staid or left was even that important.