Hideaway Strath Feeling safe with your love song

Tagging @Padma

The Grandmaster is padding towards the mouth of this beautiful little hideaway in the mountains. He’s there to mark his scent along the borders, to make it unmistakable that the Saints live here. Oh they’ll find out eventually and it will be with teeth and blood at his expense. But not his blood, a strangers or perhaps one of his long lost enemies. Still, mark the borders he will.

His large paws thump along the grass, occasionally the tap of his claws upon rock will sound as he strides alongside the rushing river that flows through the land. Not wasting any time, he brushes his side along a miscellaneous tree and releases himself. He trots another few meters and does the same thing. It seems male dogs never run out of pee and it shows as he continues on down the river. Meandering along minding his own business. Little did he know he probably isn’t alone.

NO ‘TRESPASSING’ HAS OCCURRED if the border is strong enough for it to be considered trespassing lol :P

           

The woman hadn’t returned to the wilds in some time. Her last adventure ending with a fragmented reunion with her older brother. Not that she expected that to last, and sure enough it hadn’t. From what she had seen, her siblings had lead much simpler lives then she. The once similar pups had grown into vastly different wolves.

Alas the woman found herself headed toward the Mesa, to check in on Crown… or whatever his name was. Another who had disappeared on her, the bastard.

The dense trees along the rivers edge gave way to a massive strath, which gave the morningside girl pause. Padma had never been this way before. But she wasn’t an idiot, she could smell the marks, the early indicators of a border. She did her best to give them space, but ultimately it would take her a couple days to go around from what she could tell.

With an annoyed sigh the woman rose her head, emitting a strong howl to notify anyone around to her presence. She could tell the border was still fairly weak, but from her experience it was always better to be precautious. She had no intention of getting her other ear ripped from her scalp.

Mind you she normally wasn’t one for conversation, and would often simply avoid interaction all together. This time however, Padma had a gut feelings.

The behemoth of a man is relieving himself on more trees like the stereotypical male dog he is. Skipping from tree to tree with a seemingly endless supply of pee, he comically stops in his tracks. Side pressed against a tree, one leg hiked up, and his ears swivel atop his crown at the howl that sounds through their new territory. 

He hums a barely audible “Hm.” just out of curiosity and he’s trotting over to the source of this noise. 

Upon arriving on the scene, he slows to a languid swagger. His muscles shifting beneath a horribly interesting pelt filled with miscellaneous stripes of honey, chocolate, and a ravenous black. His curled tail bobbing on his hips, not in a necessarily dominant way, but it’s just how he was born. Thick auds cup toward this long legged and beautifully dangerous looking stranger.

Instantly his maw curled with a curious smile and he comes to a halt a comfortable distance away from them. “Oh? A visitor? How may I help you, dear?” He chirps deeply, golden orbs eagerly meeting her own.

She heard him coming before she saw him. But somehow she was still surprised by his presence. Her heart quickened in fear, she had little doubt that he could beat her in a fight. It wasn’t often she felt as such about another person, the woman was confident in her skill. But there was an experience to his swagger that elevated her anxiety. Despite the desire to flee she held her ground, forceable relaxing her muscles to show no fear.

Rolling back her shoulders, Padma arched a brow at the man. So she had thought correctly, a pack was forming here. She continued her surveillance for a couple moments after he spoke. Letting his question hang between them. She noted the golden yellow of his eyes, the paleness of his cream cheeks, and the stripped pattern of his coat. A unique man to be sure.

With her inspection complete, she contemplated an answer to his question. ”Hello.” She offered first, she had no intention of being a brat not when faced with a behemoth such as this. She was a long limbed person herself, but her bone structure was softer, more delicate. She was meant for speed and grace, not brute strength. That aside she continued on with her explanation. ”I am looking to get to the other side of your territory. With the rain and the potential for snow during this time of the year the path through this thick brush is the easiest during fall and winter. I’m trying to get to the mountains, over there.” Padma nodded her head toward the range in the distance. She honestly wasn’t sure if what she said was true. She really hadn’t taken this way before. But she didn’t want to go around, and this seemed easier.

”It’ll take me twice as long to go around.” She said it flippantly, as if without much thought, and flicked her head indicating she would need to back track. ”So I thought I might test the... generosity of the pack seeking claim over these woods.” She left the statement open, not exactly asking for anything, yet inferring her desire none-the-less. She gave him a sly look, selling her confidence with a deadly twist, and a smirk. Because in that moment she realized... she might not win in a fight with him, but he sure as hell wouldn’t leave unscathed.

Kynareth doesn’t move a muscle; he doesn’t go closer and he doesn’t back down. Rather he leans up against a nearby tree and looks upon this stranger who greets him asking for safe passage through his territory. Really he has no problem with it, but the only thing he thinks about is the fact that there is only one way in this place. How exactly would she pass through.

So as her lips tilt up in a sly smirk he mirrors her with his own. His handsome face allowing a gleam of his long fangs to be on display in an fairly charming smile. “I would have no fuss allowing you passage through, hell I’d escort you myself, but this is a dead end. There’s only one way out and one way in and you’re standing in it.” He hums to her informatively. 

He eyes her curiously and decides to ask a quick question. “Are you not a part of a pack? Do you not have anywhere to stay for the winter?” He asks then. The inquiry genuine and said in a more neutral tone than his last.

And just like that the woman cursed her luck. It wasn’t the first time she was caught in a lie and she doubted it would be the last. Alas she had an answer to his insight. ”Oh really?” Her amber eyes sparked with a quality of innocence, ”My bad. I must have followed the wrong directions.” She batted her eyelashes, showing her better side, and playing into his charming appeal.

His question broke her act though, and with an annoyed sigh she shook her head. ”No I’m not part of a pack. Taking a small step forward she whispered to him, a knowing smile resting on her war torn features. ”Some think I’m bad luck.” She winked at him for good measure, and stepped back.

”I’m sure I’ll find something eventually.” Padma shrugged without much commitment. It was true, she’d always been lucky enough to tag along with some group or another for the harshest season. ”Besides, I doubt you and your merry band could use a woman such as myself.” While he seemed sure of himself, she couldn’t get a read on what he or his pack might actually be like. Not that it worried her, overly. She was always more of a go with the flow kinda girl.

He smirks horribly at her innocent facade, but is absolutely grinning when she offers him a wink. He plays into her act as well, a soft but teasing “Oh?” coming from his dark lips. 

Then as she continues he tilts his head. “You’re a pessimist.” He comments playfully, now daring to go closer to her. “How do you know I wouldn’t graciously accept you into my brilliant pack of murderers?” He asks with a cheery tone even though the words are comically grim. 

He stops at a fair distance away from her, he doesn’t want her to become uncomfortable by his approach and his words. “Rather I’d love to accept you,” then with a devilish grin and a cock of his head, a cream brow quirked up as well. “But can you hang?” He asks in jest, but actually he wonders if she could get down with a bunch of violent killers.

She could have rolled her eyes at his boating words, but one did catch her attention. Murderers? She thought, her eyes widening for only a moment. Padma cocked her head and lifted a brow once again. She didn’t like making assumptions, but she did admit he looked as though he could fit the roll. She had never really gotten along with the nicer aspects of pack life. People were often to cheery for her, and after everything she’d been through with her adoptive mother... well Padma definitely fit in with the devious and criminal. Perhaps her gut had been right after all.

”Murderers you say? How frightful.” Her words dripped with sarcasm, and the sly look had returned. She wasn’t offended by his skepticism, she’d had to fight her whole life prove she was meant to be... well alive. And now would be no different.

The young woman did need somewhere to stay, and the nights were growing colder each day. Contemplating through slight narrowed eyes, Padma weighed the pro and cons in her head.

Coming to conclusion she closed the ‘safe’ distance between them. A devilish grin spread her lips as she looked up at him. ”I guess you’ll just have to wait and find out.” She wasn’t one to reveal her secrets, not if she was unsure about the longevity of the offer. ”But it’s always better to spend time with your own kind... wouldn’t you agree.” It’s true, when it comes to battle and brute strength, she wasn’t much of a challenge. But her mind and knowledge of herbs and stealth, made her a different kind of rival. She didn’t do show, she did quick and efficient. But of course Kynareth Daegon would have to find that out for himself.

”Im Padma, Padma Morningside.” it was only fair to offer her name first, given his offer.

Im going to go ahead and add her to the pack! ;D We’re excited for you to join the chaos!

His smile stays on his broad muzzle, a chuckle escaping his maw as her sarcasm gets the better of her and her snarky reply meets his ears. Oh this should definitely be fun. He think momentarily. He does love a woman who knows what she wants and a violent, conniving one as well — even better.

So as she introduces herself with her extravagant name he offers his own back. “You’re right, it is better to be with your own kind. Kynareth Deagon. A pleasure.” He hums with a respectful dip of his head. “Welcome to the Saints.” He reveals the ironic name. “And welcome to the hunt.” He chirps as he turns to begin walking into the territory. 

He takes a few steps expecting her to follow. “Don’t mind the smell of rotting corpse, we just had a few unwanted visitors the other day. We like to be festive and decorate the place, you know?” Comes his carefree voice. He looks over to her with a chuckle and a smile eager to see what her reaction would be.

meeeee toooooo can’t wait to further develop this evil girl.

She dips her he’s fine return, following him as he turned into the territory. She snorted at the mention of unwanted guest. Death didn’t frighten her, more like it thrilled her. She felt more closely related to death then she did her own family. She welcomed it in fact. ”At least i have some proof of the murderer’s you promised.” She was actually happy to find that his pack would properly defend itself. She held a distant for the packs of the wilds and their friendly leanings. She had experienced a different world then them, one where they was joy and glee; where the next stranger you met would gladly offer there name instead of ripping out your throat. But typical to her luck she was lead down a different path, a darker existence.

”I don’t mind the smell. As long as I get a hand at... redecorating later.” There was one man in particular who should gladly gut, and gleefully drag his entrails back to serve as a warning.

The darkening forest, cocooned her. This was where she belonged. Unlike the plains from which she had been born, with the wide open sky and the beating sun, Padma preferred the shadows of the woods. She could get used to this. Her curious eye watched the passing scenery with interest.

Kynareth is more than pleased to hear the playful jest about killing, gutting, and  redecorating. Or maybe she wasn’t even joking, which would make Donovan even more excited to have her in the pack. He needs more strong wolves with that brutal mentality. There’s no room for weak mindsets here. The weak will be culled one way or another and the mentally strong and physically capable would prevail. 

So he rumbles out a pleasant fit of laughter. As he walks his massive head faces her direction and he shakes his head side to side, but one can tell he’s anything but disappointed. “I’d love to see how good you are with home decor, darling. I have a feeling you’re gonna fit in just fine.”

From there he would show her around their new territory. The river, their new den site, and the borders of the surrounding territories.

Her smirk deepened at his laughter, she had a good feeling about this man and this pack. Slowly she was getting closer to her goal. If all the wolves of the Saints were as prone to violence as Kynareth seemed, she would have no trouble exacting her revenge.

The tour was helpful, and she committed everything she could to memory. Padma’s inquisitive eyes roamed the area, evaluating. They were still new to the area, that much she had already guessed, but she was pleased to see that they hadn’t been slacking.