Razorback Ridge Villain

For @Rhys, and anyone interested in Duskvale! :)

Warbone had felled a sheep an hour ago. He'd eaten very little of it— only enough to slack the gluttonous growling of his stomach— and now lay napping, drained and bloody, some yards away from the carcass. He no longer paid any mind to the flock of crows that had come to partake in the free meal, though the murderous lot were not quiet about their presence; a raucous symphony of cawing seemed to fill the space, but no more than the pungent scent of gore-spill did. Warbone found it soothing, reminding him of a day and age he had only care for himself, when decisions had been infinitely easier to make.

His one eye fluttered open, imagining that he heard something beneath the jostling of the black birds, and he glanced at the rolling gray sky. A rainstorm on its way.

Rhys couldn't help but still be pissed at Aster - how she had turned him away and how she had called him snake boy. He let these little things get to him very fast, and one could definitely expect revenge even years later. He clenched his teeth as his tail whipped behind him aggressively. It was easy to see he was not in a good mood. Well, that was until he heard the calling of happy birds with probably a meal nearby. He heard his own stomach let out a grunt. He could go for a free snack... He had little care for how dangerous it was around here, knowing that he'd survive anything thrown his way.

When he spotted the crows, munching on their unfair share of meat, he spotted something else. Or rather someone else. Fuck. He let out under his breath, turning quickly until he noticed the dark cloud. Fuck. He cursed again, a little louder this time. He had to find shelter and for that he needed a guide that knew these parts of the mountains. He turned only his head back to the lying male and sighed. 

Despite an all-consuming arrogance, Warbone was not the type to remain lounging in the presence of a stranger. The spoken vulgarity didn't bother him in the least, but it did give the male more reason to rise, not willing to assume that a muttering wolf was very sane. He picked up his heavy body without haste, coming to stand so that he might better observe the soot-and-smoke canine before him. Though he didn't seem to be eager for an attack, his body language easily read: this carcass is spoken for.

Glaring silently at the other male, he went over his options. He sighed one other time when he saw the other getting up, and Rhys froze. While not very big or small, he had never fought in an actual fight before - only with his siblings. He bit his lip. He was hungry, but that empty feeling inside was now filled with determination. He'd get this man on his side, surely, and then he could find out where the best place was to escape the coming storm.

I am not thinking of taking your meal, if that isss what you're afraid of. He hissed somewhat friendly. He cleared his throat. I am jussst looking for a placcce to ssettle for winter. He lied. Perhaps this male knew a pack or something that took in sexy loners. 

Warbone looked the smoky beast up and down, battered ears twitching at the man's hissing voice. "You think I rise out of fear for your actions?" he posed quietly, taking a solid step forward and tilting his head in a way that incidentally put a vile glint through his singular eye. "That was preemption, vekikar, not fear. You would be wise to learn the difference," he added flatly. He wasn't yet interested in offering the male anything— neither food or camaraderie for winter— but he didn't seem to have any predilection to chasing him off either. A severe side effect of arrogance. "Why are you alone, on the cusp of winter?"

Rhys wiggled his nose when the other seemed to look at him, proudly showing off himself as if he was being judged by a matchmaker.  He bit his lip. So this was the game he was playing, He liked it rough, much like his attitude. He could dig it. Do I look like ssomeone who can read mindsss? He asked with a slight chuckle. He did not care the other got closer, though it did gave him a better view of his face. Scarred all over, one eye left. Like a pirate! He almost said it out loud, but refrained. He wanted to get on this guy's good side, if he had one. 

Why do you asssk? He hissed, almost seductively so. 

"The question was rhetorical. You made to guess, and I made to correct you," the wolf responded, his voice a low, thoughtful rumble. He felt chatty, if only because the hissing male was stirringly well-built, and Warbone would be foolish not to notice how strapping and capable he appeared— what a handsome prospect he was for the vale. He supposed it wasn't mere chance either, as he wouldn't often leave there, and anyone he found outside of his domain had to be treated differently on principle. His posture relaxed more.

"I only ask because I do not guess," he said, lips curving very slightly. "I am also particularly nosy, if you must know..."

The only time I will not jussst guesss thingsss is when ssomeone hasss an exssplanatsion for every ssingle thing they are doing. He hissed and shrugged, the words barely making it out of his mouth. Too many "s-words" made his tongue confused, and finally did he understand why the girl had called him "snake boy". As long as there were no s's in a sentence, it went fine, but as soon as an X or S or sometimes even a T was found in them, he hissed his way out of it. It irritated him just as much as it would someone else, and he hated it. I'm not the brightessst of the bunch, apparently, with thessse sort of thingsss, sso you'll have to be sspeccific next time. He hummed, his eyes looking away in a soft display of innocence and youth. 

Fine - Rhysss Ssepthisss, but now you'll have to tell me yoursss. He demanded in a stronger voice than normal - he was being serious. If he was not given a name, he'd see it as a betrayal of their... whatever they had right now.

Warbone canted his head when at last the male slithered around to responding, a name given and his own requested, though it had not been the subject at hand. "Warbone," he offered without any predilection to keep the information from him. "But I did not ask you for your name. I asked why is it you find yourself without company this close to the dire season... I suppose you could say that want to know if your name carries an unpleasant history with it, Rhys Septhis," he said, handsomely emphasizing the hissing male's name as he met his storm-dark gaze evenly.

Warbone. How unusual. For once in his lifetime he was glad not to have a specific name. The other sure looked the part of "war". Did he look anything like a "Rhys", whatever it meant? He let out a chuckle but stopped when Warbone asked him again. Hah, he knew it. Wolves here did not know of his family and how it handled life. Aaah, but my name isss the reassson I'm alone. He hissed, perhaps a little mysteriously. You're a ssmart one, Bone-y. He commented. The Septhisss isss known to wander alone, even in winter - it'sss like a family traditsion.

Kidsss have to go when they're old enough and wander around to pick up the needed life-skillsss. It can take YEARSSS for them to return back home. He explained shortly, not giving much detail about how he had found his time alone. 

"Ah," he mused as the hissing wolf finished. "I understand then." Traditions such as Rhys' were ones Warbone could comprehend. Though his own family had practiced no such thing, it seemed only logical to him that the truest lessons were learned through experience. The Septhises had the right idea. He hadn't even minded the nickname given to him. Warbone wasn't his real name anyway, so any moniker given to him -- polite or not -- were taken without thought on the matter. Calling someone a name other than the one they were born with seemed as natural to him as hunting. Many wolves had called him many things, but none of their opinions mattered to him at the end of the day.

"You say you seek a place to settle this winter... Have you abandoned your solo task, or your intention to return to your motherland?"

While it was a very hard way to learn, it was the best way - and  Rhys planned to keep it a tradition. Every child that would be born of his blood would be told to leave when they were old enough, and he planned on having multiple litters. He loved children, as long as they did not talk back yet - which was also a reason he wanted them gone before they could truly find a place in the pack they were born in. The same had been done for him, and he saw nothing wrong with it.

No - I ssimply think it'sss foolisssh to be a loner when the cold winds of winter come for this land. Perhapsss in the ssummer i'll return to my journey, but for now I know nothing of my future here jussst yet. He explained, hissing his words faster than he could manage, which made him cough.

"So then you have learned a thing or two on your own," he observed aloud. It was indeed foolish for any wolf to take on the winter alone if they didn't have to; at least his solo journey had taught him this much. "It would seem the Septhis method has its merits." Warbone peered at the handsome wolf, appearing to see him fully now, for all the worth he might have hiding beneath a devilishly handsome countenance. "I own the vale below us," he mentioned at last, though neglected to oust Saena as his companion, realizing that if this wolf elected not to venture there, he had no reason to carry with him the knowledge of who stayed there but him.

"You are welcome there, should you find no interest elsewhere."

Warbone's words stroke his ego the right way, and Rhys smiled. He had indeed learned, but not nearly enough. He was still a child at heart with a craving for beautiful women, and surprisingly did not truly try to hide it. He was surprised to hear the brute talk about his home - he had assumed the man was a loner from the smell on his coat. While there were hints of others, it did not smell like one scent that made up the border of a pack. 

I'll consssider it. He hissed with a grin. He knew it had been a good idea to stay nice to this guy. Now he had a place he could return to if his journey did not take him where he wanted to go, and he felt strangely thankful. Thank you. He muttered, getting the words barely out of his mouth.

Warbone nodded, quite ready to dismiss the man, so he returned to where he had been lying originally and turned in a slow circle before resuming his position. "Take a few bites for the road," he offered as a parting gift, though it was clear through his tone that he fully expected for the smoldering grey wolf to be on his way after partaking in the sheep. His head remained lifted, but he closed his eyes, discouraging any further conversation.

Last post from me! I hope to see Rhys around ;)

I'll archive! Thanks for the thread :p Hope Rhys will make up his mind about staying soon XD

His eyes followed Bone-y's every movement, still not totally relaxed in the other's presence. He didn't know why, but the male dragged with him the air of uncertainty and trustworthiness with him everywhere he went, and it confused the snake. How can one be two totally different things in one? Thank you - Ssee you in the vale, perhapsss. He nodded thankfully, making his way toward the carcass. He took a few bites, just enough to stop the rumbling, making sure there was enough left for either Warbone or the birds (whoever got there first, he guessed).

After, he took one last look at the male before slithering off to maybe find shelter for the upcoming storm.