Ankyra Sound I'm Brilliant

@Illidan

---

He'd come to see his sister, @Grezig.
He approached the border, head high but tail low. Not a challenger -- at least not yet -- but someone not to be messed with. He was a proud man. If the sea-witch was going to be here just to give him glaring looks, then so be it. He could ignore her.

He tipped his head up, standing feet away from the border, and called for his sister. He wondered if she did indeed have a litter and if so, would he be greeted by her mate? If she had a litter she better be mated.
He wasn't about to have no bastard nieces and nephews. 

He waited, piercing eyes waiting. Expecting. He'd be glad to greet his sister again and ensure she was well.

134 words​

The howl pierced the air just as Firefly was making his way back along the borderlands. He'd been away for a few days and had a lot to digest — most notably, that he might've had family out in the wilderness after all, and Caiaphas would know for sure. His goal at the moment was to check in with his pack and maybe have a nap, then seek her out — but the howl sounded and he paused among the distant trees until it concluded. The call was for Grezig, which was curious.

Firefly advanced, creeping along the southwestern fringe of the pack's claim; the black spires gradually collected in to the small forest that had once terrified him. Now, as he slunk in to the depths of the woods, he used their obscuring shadows to his advantage. When he emerged from the forest a few minutes later he was faced with a tawny creature - masculine by all accounts - who appeared to be waiting patiently. As he passed near them Firefly took a deep breath to gauge the stranger's health, whether they were pack-affiliated, or whatever — but didn't discover much.

He murmured from the stranger's flank as he overtook his position: If you're lookin' for Grezig, she can't exactly come meet you. Tell me who you are and I might be able to arrange something. The steely tone of his voice - and the assumption of a more dominant posture - would tell the stranger all he would need to know about Firefly; that he was a protector, and that he was serious.

---

He refused the urge to bristle as he let the other come close. He wasn't being sown with aggression -- yet. He'd called for a member of the pack; provided she'd done nothing bad hed be fine.
Besides, Illidan would probably arrive soon. Right?

His ears twitched, assessing the man with a hard gaze of murky darkness. 
He wasn't messing, it was obvious. But neither was he.
"Why not? If she is injured I will see her immediately." His lips pursed. Not a demand, but a statement. Though it probably wouldn't be seen as such. 
So much for his communication skills.
He averted his gaze, letting his mind settle. His tail swayed in apology. "Grezig is my sister. I have come to ensure her wellbeing." He swallowed, looking off for that pale body and dark face -- be it the witch or her son. This man made him itch. He seemed cold and not wholly there. Like something was missing from him. 

Probably flesh and blood, looking at his condition. 

170 words

This guy was a bit pushy; but considering his claim of being Grezig's family, Firefly let it slide. His brows knit in a brief frown and he contained the urge to flash his teeth as a reminder that he was in charge — but only just. Family was very important to him. As a being who thought of himself as alone in the universe he had built a family on the coast, and recently discovered (or rather, re-discovered) his sister Niamh; he could not fault this man for trying to visit own sister.

Well you're an uncle then, congratulations. Firefly pointed out without much enthusiasm. She can't come meet you because the kids are newborns, they need her.

Firefly doubted that @Vaati would let this man anywhere near them regardless of the man's connection, but maybe he was wrong about him. He began to stride across the border but paused once he was within Rusalkan territory and canted his head back, calling for the Alpha — he'd be the one to ask since they were his kids.

---

Uncle. Newborns.

He was right, it seemed. She'd found a mate -- or so he'd hoped. Children. He slowly turned to look at the scarred man again before stilling completely. 
This mate of her's better be damn worthy.

He twitched as another was called, eyes scanning the treeline again as if he'd gone into reboot. 
Derg huffed out a breath, thinking through the situation. If he didn't believe the sire was worthy he'd challenge him to a spar; the outcome would determine the fate of the children. 
His nieces and nephews. 
Only if he didn't already deem him worthy enough.
His throat closed up. He wanted to know if they were well; though he supposed this man wouldn't know much. He waited, stoic in position. Waiting for whoever this man called.

132 words​

Vaati hears nothing of the revealing conversation before he arrives, striding boldly towards the duo, accompanied by an unashamed air of superiority. He wears the rank proudly, though it is not something he seeks to hold on to. It belonged in the holds of the sea wench — a restoration that was soon to come. In the mean time, he could not deny he basked in the sheer dominance it allowed him to have for the time being. “speak” The short bark bellowed from his mouth with an authoritative glare upon the stranger. Instinctly, his chest inflates in an effort to appear even larger than he already is, as if placing the words warning: do not aggravate in bold lettering.

Feel free to skip FF!

Vaati arrived swiftly, and as he turned a glare upon the stranger Firefly felt like defending the stranger just for a second. Perhaps the current leader was on-edge because of the birth of the kids? Whatever. The command to speak was met by Firefly's voice first - This is Grezig's brother. But he didn't say anything else, motioning with his snout at the man as he side-stepped away, letting the two speak while he lingered in the background.

---

Another came. Large and imposing -- the Alpha for sure. 
But he seemed to be an asshole. At least that was the from the first impression Derg got. He let his gaze stare, but not hard. Assessing, not challenging. Though, this arrogant ass may see it as such. 
The word was spoken was as a command, but Derg seized up. His muscles tightened and to resist the urge, the want, to put this man in his place. Under himself. 

The dark man saved him by speaking first. Derg glanced to him gratefully, his gaze snapping back to this Alpha figure. 
"I have come to see her and the children." He forced the words out like salmon swimming uphill. Still, he held the gaze of the larger male, expecting to be taken to her.

134 words​

The stranger claims he is Grezig’s brother, yet, why should Vaati believe it to be true? She has never spoken of a brother, to his recollection. The man does not even offer a name, nor any reason for the Alpha to take his word as the truth. Vaati is not stupid enough to blindly trust that a complete stranger - who reeks of a particular boldness he does not appreciate - only appears in good faith. ”My children.” the titan asserts, bearing sharp incisors as he does so. The man’s gaze meets Vaati’s own and the leviathan snarls heavily, hackles raising at the indication of a supposed challenge. 

”You have given me no reason to believe you are who you say you are, but yet have the gall to request to see my kin. Leave.” His tone is final, leaving no room for leeway in the firgid command. If the other was indeed the uncle to his children, Vaati could care less. He owes nothing to this stranger, much less to a stranger foolish enough to come so boldly before him.

---

His children.
Well, Derg expected them to grow up to be assholes too, especially if one looked like the brute. He may take pity on the spawn should they be able to prove themselves as they grew up. 
The snarl is taken with a flash of teeth. A message, a warning. Though the man wouldn't let on how much he wanted to rip out the throat of the one before him. 
It looked like someone had already tried.
He wouldn't be one to fail, should he take the chance.

The cross the border without permission would prove to cause injury, as with most packs. He should leave and let Grezig deal with her supposed mate.
He should challenge this Alpha for control of the territory. To protect his sister. This was not the woman he'd left Grezig under the care of. Was the witch dead? Was Grezig forced upon by this man? 
He bristled, his tail quivering and raising from its low position to stand high and curled, his head tucked in to protect his neck. Ivories uncovered from his lips to let the snarl vibrating through him take effect.
Derg was pissed.

He would take the threat in the man's voice and put it to the test.
He'd fight this man if the challenge would be taken. He suspected so, seeing as the balls of this male were larger than his brains.
Mate. Alpha. Protector. Whatever titles this man claimed were crumbled to dust in the agouti male's mind.

​254 words

Not much was exchanged between them; Firefly had no place to intervene as they spoke, discussing Grezig and the children, until the dawning of understanding seemed to hit the visitor. When he learned that this was the father of those children - and that he was not welcome - he did not take it well.

Firefly watched this, eyeing the stranger with a stern air of caution, hoping he would do the smart thing and back down. Having fought Vaati before, he knew that the man was more than a match for the other wolf - but Firefly was giving the visitor too much credit. He let his emotions cloud his reaction, flavor them, and as soon as the man's tail began to lift so did Firefly's lips. He grimaced and lunged.

But he didn't strike — he left that avenue clear for his Alpha, unwilling to put himself between the two men — rather, Firefly rumbled a warning as he bristled and stalked alongside the pair. Stand down, he commanded - but there wasn't any time to do much else. Knowing Vaati, the pale warrior was more likely to hulk out in to a rage than stand idly by with this challenge in the air.

A challenge? Sharp optics narrow even further as his chest swells with authority. The blatantly idiocity of these outsiders were truly baffling, and so the titan scoffs. However the entertainment of present situation passes in a mere instant, before fury swallows his judgment. “I’ll string your viscera atop these trees like tinsel.” The innately wicked snarl bellows from within Vaati’s chest, before prowling forth to meet the opponent head on. 

However, he does not flinch before the inferior male... standing far too comfortably before the face of an attack. Within himself does he seethe in ferocity, though the warning Firefly issues keeps him at bay. Should the other rightly turn to leave, the matter should be at rest for Vaati would rather not waste his time battling the ill-wits of lesser men. On the contrary, Vaati his no stranger to strife. He basks in it, and should the other initiate his intent, neither would he be hesitant to deliver a quick demise.

---

He glared pointedly at the man. Derg wasn't intimidated, but he knew this wasn't a wise situation. 
He bristled. The warning didn't come for nothing. Two against one. Grezig wouldn't be able to come and validate him, not stop this jackass. 
He ground his teeth, stationary. 

"I'm sure if you did that, Grezig would see if there really are any brains in your head." He stood steadfast, unflinching. Staring with his earthen gaze.
Then, he backed away, not lowering his tail, nor cowering. To turn his back could mean suicide. Not until he was a good enough distance to outrun the brute. 
If he had a kinder soul, Derg might alike him to Wintersbane. But that was not the case.

After a few steps, Derg turned sideways, still watching should the man decide to charge and started to move quicker before turning to lope away. 
He'd see Grezig another day.

Faced with two warriors - one being the leader he likely hoped to appeal for access to his sibling - the man turned and fled. It was good he did not try to assail them. Firefly couldn't stop himself from bristling nor stalking after his retreating form, defensive and agitated. He did not go far before he returned to Vaati's side with a scowl across his face.

I didn't expect that, he lamented. If the stranger had been telling the truth and considered Grezig as family, then how would the woman react to havig her kin turned away? Except - they hadn't really been turned away. The wolf had taken offense to the entirely natural strength and dominion that Vaati carried as their leader, and fled in the face of it. 

Firefly watched Vaati for a moment, ears turned to catch any words spoken, as he voiced: Perhaps it is best we do not tell her.