Barrow Fields Dear hero imprisoned

For @Mahler

Rysk had been traveling for a while now. He had stayed close to the coast. After all, he didn't like the mountains, it reminded him too much of home. He let out a scoff. I guess a bastard son doesn't deserve a home, he thought bitterly. He tried to shake off these unpleasant thoughts. He wouldn't let the past trouble him too much anymore. If he ever saw his brother again, he would deal with him then. And with 'deal' he meant 'beat him to the stars and back'. 

The scent of a pack drew nearer, but Rysk made sure that he didn't cross any borders. He wasn't ready to lose a limb or an eye yet, which would probably also happen when he opened his mouth to anyone. So he just wandered around, silently hoping that his presence would piss someone off and then he could have some fun.

thank you for starting! <3

mahler had forced himself in the sea each day after his communion with wylla. the brine had ceased to sting his nostrils and the cold lash, while still breathtaking in its icy touch, was something to which he was slowly growing accustomed. the musiker entertained no such ideas that he would ever be a coastal sort, as were grimnismal's leading pair, but he recognized his own arrogance in not speaking with the sea sooner.
now he trekked inland, ranging into the shared lands not far from the grotto. snow remained; mahler blinked in annoyance at the feathery touch of newfall against his dour face. but his attention was soon seized by a dark figure trudging through the white-blanketed field. 
these days mahler had grown more protective of his borders; today he approached the stranger on stiff legs, dappled plume arching over his hips. and while he did not threaten the other with a show of teeth, the musiker's charcoal-limned hackles bristled high along his powerful shoulders while the hard lilac of his gaze traced the other's features.

An icy wind blew inland like a bad omen. It was spring, but earth was still covered in white. The snow made his legs tired and numb. 

It seemed like Rysk wasn't alone in this cold and barren field, as another wolf approached him. He had a pelt not unlike his own, only his eyes were purple where Rysk's were blue. Also, he didn't seem very friendly, with his hackles bristled and stern look. Although a nice fight would do him good, something told him that this was a pack wolf, and who knew, maybe his friends were lurking around here somewhere. Rysk decided to play nice Don't you worry, I'm nice he called out to the stranger, with an undying smirk on his face.

at this distance, mahler could see the azure and seagreen that glowed in the dark face. as quickly as he had stepped forward in dominance, at the other's call, the urge departed the musiker and he lifted his chin, letting his gaze appraise the male for a handful of ticking seconds longer. "good," came his monosyllabic grunt — time in grimnismal had loosened his tongue, but not for those he did not know.
"lost?" mahler inquired with a wan flick of one sable ear; the man was wandering in an open field between packlands. it was an unwise decision, unless it was a squabble the stranger sought.

There was something about this stranger that irked Rysk. Who did he think he was, looking down on him like that? Now that the male had come closer, Rysk could clearly smell the scents of other wolves on his pelt. Better not bite him in the legs, then.

Something like that he answered, just a moment too late and with a tone too arrogant to sound polite. Actually, Rysk didn't know where he was going, all he knew was that he wanted to be as far away from his brother as possible. You from around here? he asked, although he could already smell the answer, but for some reason he wanted to keep the conversation going. Something about this wolf intrigued him.

an arrogant beast by nature, mahler refused to temper himself for those who had not commanded his respect, or at very least, grudging approval. he was taken by the aesthetic of the other's features, the seawater eyes, the hale limbs. interest glimmered beneath the stony lavender of his stare. "grimnismal," he murmured in his accented tones, turning to gesture in the direction of the coastal enclave with his dark muzzle.
"alone?" mahler queried after a moment's time, relaxing the tension along his spine, a more inviting nuance to his bearing as he accepted that, at least for now, the sable newcomer posed no threat. the pride in the other's voice had not gone unnoticed; it was something of which mahler deeply approved, even if he showed no inkling of this in his neutral countenance.

It sounded like he should have understood the word but it held no meaning for him. Rysk assumed that it was either a pack or a place or maybe both and he responded with a short hum, feigning disinterest.

You're not much of a talker, are you? Rysk said, evading the stranger's question. He eyed the male for a moment. What a peculiar creature. He used his words sparingly and that both intrigued and annoyed Rysk. Although hard to read, the wolf didn't seem particularly evil and tension soon left Rysk's shoulders. Yes, I am alone he said eventually. I'm Rysk, and who might you be? he added with a smug smile.

we can do dice rolls or just work it out IC; not sure how rysk would respond, so feel free to PM me <3

for the life of him, mahler would never understand why wolves wished to prattle on about idle things. there was nothing of import on which to speak — in an exaggerated show of searching for such, mahler turned to glance toward the sea, then the land beyond, his hard lavender eyes skimming the stranger with a rigorous judgement before he turned back to face the other fully. 
at his shoulders, the wind lifted the musiker's dappled hackles as he regarded the other with an implacable stare. he had wanted to bring another creature for grimnismal, for wylla's whims, but the mockery of the other at his own silent tongue had sundered mahler with a deep yet unseen anger. "gustav," the brute answered in a voice wrung clear of any receptive moisture, and here suddenly he lunged at the male, snapping together heavy jaws with the clear intent to punish the newcomer for his transgression.
that he could have merely blamed it on the man's proximity to griminismal was rather out of mahler's head.

I'm fine with dice rolls! I made a thread here

So the stranger had a name, he thought, but before he could think of anything snarky to respond, the grey wolf lunged at him. Rysk was surprised by this sudden expression of aggression. But he wouldn't shy away from a good fight, and Gustav surely seemed up for the task. 

Rysk braced himself for the impact as the male rushed at him as violently and as determinedly as the waves would rush to the shore. When they collided, Rysk ducked and tried to get a hold of his legs. He tasted blood as he managed to sink his teeth in one of the grey wolf's forelegs.

if there was surprise within mahler that the other man should so welcome his blows, it was not evinced in the grim lines of his scowling countenance. his snap closed on empty air; the darker beast ducked and snapped for his forelegs. gritting his teeth, the musiker felt agony well above his instep, but kept his silence. anger that blood should be drawn from his flesh first sundered whatever control mahler felt he must maintain.
head dipped as it was, his opponent had presented the base of his skull and the dip of his ears to the aspiring sea-wolf's jaws. and down mahler sent his questing fangs, cutting them deeply into the back of the other's neck, through the bristling sable hackles.

Light pp, tell me if you want me to change it <3

He let out a short yelp as the grim wolf sank its teeth into his scruff. He growled and shook his head violently, trying to get the other wolf to let go - he didn't. Trapped in this position, there wasn't much Rysk could do. This fucker… he thought as anger welled inside him. He tried biting at the grey wolf's legs again, but they were just out of reach. With great effort he threw his whole body back, sending them both plummeting towards the stone-hard ground - with a low thud they made contact.

mahler seized his mouthful of fur and flesh more harshly, beginning to set the thick muscles of his neck in preparation for ripping motions. however, like a stallion the wolf in his grasp arced and threw them both down upon the earth. mahler's teeth clipped at the edge of his own tongue; he spat a mingling of both their blood into the dirt as he gathered himself to broad paws.
in an effort to perhaps take the other off-guard, mahler did not right himself, nor did he pause before he sailed at the stranger, teeth parting in another slashing blow. it closed on empty air; he found his flank unprotected, and whirled in an effort to defend himself.

When he hit the ground, he felt a stinging pain in his neck as the wolf's teeth were pulled out of his flesh. He scrambled upright and just in time, because the grim wolf didn't waste a second before snapping at him. Rysk got to his feet quickly and avoided the other's teeth from settling around his throat. 

Gustav was still on the ground and Rysk placed his paw firmly on the other wolf's windpipe. The man had put up a good fight and killing wasn't really his thing, so he pressed down hard one more time before removing his paw and stepping back. Though he wasn't really sparing the grim wolf's life as much as he was sparing his own. Being alone for the winter had made him weaker and slower and his body was telling him enough. He dipped down his head once in respect, hoping that the other wolf would step back too and consider it a draw.

mahler was choked with a fury that shocked the more reasonable parts of himself; it was a veritable deluge of hatred dredged from some misbegotten place deep within him. the cold gleam of it burned knifelike in his hard lavender gaze as the dappled wolf gathered himself to broad paws and bristled a growl beyond the bruised feel of his throat.
the logic applied by the other could no longer penetrate the recesses of mahler's primality; he snarled a challenge and let tongue glisten on teeth before lunging forward on stiff legs to snap at the other again.

He hadn't expected for the grey wolf to charge at him again and so he was too late to defend himself as the other sank his teeth in his leg. Rysk growled lowly before losing his balance - and with it, his patience. He wanted to shout Enough!, but rage and pride compelled him not to. He felt a sharp pain in his shoulder as he hit the ground. With his teeth bared, he snapped at the male again, but only managed to grab a piece of his grey fur - which quickly slipped from his teeth before being blown away peacefully by a breeze.

the give of flesh between his jaws vindicated mahler; the collapse of the other brought a pleased growl from his throat. feral — unthinking; mahler paused all the same, the fury held in his hard lilac stare ebbing at the sight of the downed boy. there was no worth to continuing their struggle; the musiker had simply wished to prove for himself the limits of a strength that had gone unchallenged since he had come to the wilds.
his steps were slow, carrying him backwards, away from the boy. and as his anger abated, so did the adrenaline that had fired his rage. the agony from the wolfbites he now wore began to waken, but the dappled brute was still. "get out of here," mahler ordered in the clipped thickness of his accent, stare warning the upstart of his intention to kill if he was tried again.

In the moment that the grim wolf let go, Rysk knew he lost the fight. He scrambled upright. There was a stinging pain in his leg and he could barely put any weight on it. This fucker got me good he thought bitterly. Nonetheless, he didn't show this to his foe and clenched his jaws closed to suppress the pain. When the grey wolf spoke again, his words were clear and Rysk was in no condition to question him. He waited for just another moment too long before backing away - the brave fool that he was. Never liked the coast anyway he mumbled in defeat as he started in the direction of the mountains. His steps slow and painful.