Redtail Rise till death do us part

This was the place, he was almost completely sure. He had not stopped thinking of the male as he'd traveled south, away from the bitter cold and toward what he'd eventually discovered was the coast. He'd turned back once he'd realized, finally content enough to stop his mindless wandering. He'd been given a direction and though he had inquired about other paths, he had remained fixated upon the red-eyed wolf.

He stopped just at the edge of the border, letting the scent settle in his nose for a moment. He had a purpose here - he was not some foolish child playing chicken or an ignorant traveler. He stood upon this scent line for a reason and it would come to benefit them both, he was sure. Knowing that filled him with an odd sense of contentment. Throwing back his head, he released a confident but benevolent call to the inhabitants. Perhaps he would meet the Berserkr himself once again but, if not, he would ask as he had been told.

He descended with ease, confidence in his strides, his tail a banner for the Rise.

The man who stood at their borders was familiar. They had not shared names but as he looked upon the man it was as though he was looking upon an old friend. Softened for having already met him.

Not a complete stranger upon their borders.

You have made your mind, He rumbled with muted warmth.

Ratio was pleased to see the familiar form of the man he'd encountered before striding toward him. It was unusual, to be so content with a wolf he'd just met. Perhaps 'content' wasn't the term but Ratio shied away from the idea of warmth. He felt it but he did not give it attention. Regardless, he was some manner of happy to see the man.

"I have." he rumbled, dipping his head a bit. It was so easy to give dominance to someone who was worthy of taking it. So easy to follow and do as he was told and to be put to work as he was meant to be. He missed it more than almost anything - the feeling of purpose, of belonging. "My name is Ratio. If you are still offering me this life, I would like to take it."

Ratio,

He tested it along his tongue, rumbled it with further warmth. The man would fit in among them. Prophet was prepared to present him before @Avicus soon enough.

Prophet, your Berserkr. A thoughtful pause as his eyes roamed the man once more. You did call yourself a fighter, yes? The soft promise of a challenge glimmered in his eyes.

Ratio did not yet know of Avicus. If he did, would it have changed his mind? Prophet, as he was soon named, was a compelling figure to the ebony male. It was quite possible that, even knowing all there was to know about this land, he would still have been here. He would learn soon enough the person he'd pledged his loyalty to. Whether it would give him pause or not remained to be seen. 

Bersekr. He held authority but he did not call himself leader. Ratio committed it to memory. 

There were more important issues.

"I did." Ratio answered, his eyes shifting over the form of Prophet. Such a name. It was soft, yet the one who held it was not. He thought he may have known where the line of questioning was going and he shifted his weight more evenly in response, squaring himself and staring back with anticipation in his red gaze.

we don't have to roll if you don't want to, we can just do a little give and take with them to make it quick? :)

Prove it.

It is a command, to the point and sharp. Prophet can only vouch for this man, Ratio, if he proves himself further worthy of Prophet's own respect.

The man already squared off.

Prophet lunged with his teeth aimed for the man's muzzle, but it would depend upon Ratio's defense on where (or if) he even hit.

the call is for everyone, but for Prophet especially. knowing her limitations of speech, Avicus comes slower, and the two are squaring off in a friendly—but pointed—spar as she approaches the hill above them.

she stands, watching. like a Roman Emperor, ready to give thumbs up or down.

(except they can't afford any thumbs down. not at this point.)

just a cameo for now!

ooc; That works! I will warn you, I haven't had to role-play a fight in literal years! Let me know if I'm unrealistic/anything is wrong

Ratio felt a thrill at the words and it showed in his eyes. As his Berserkr lunged at him with teeth, Ratio's own jaw flew wide and he met him with clacking, clashing bones, stepping to the side even as their teeth met and using his shoulder to try and shove him away. Ratio would not allow space to last for long between them, hoping more to unbalance the male than anything else. He wanted to use his weight to drive him into the ground but the two males were very similar in size and build - it would be no easy feat to outmuscle him, though that was so often Ratio's style. 

Of course, he did not notice the red watcher.

Prophet was shoved and his weight slipped back, hind legs slipping some to give distance between the two of them.

And although he was losing his distance, he was not loosing his will to fight.

Teeth snapped to grab a foreleg, an aching hunger to feel the man's skin between his teeth.

He got the distance he had sought but Prohept was at him again, teeth finding his foreleg. The familiar ache of pain focused him - this was what he knew, what he did. This is what he had been made for, after all. 

As he felt the teeth in his flesh, he dived forward with jaws parted to bite at the scruff of his Berserkr, allowing the wolf to have the leg and hoping that it kept him in place. He was not sure the amount of pain he was allowed or expected to inflict but he would not aim for a face in this fight. He was not a complete fool.

The man took each move in stride.

Prophet felt something akin to pride despite their being teeth on his scruff. An unfamiliar sensation, one he was used to inflicting not receiving.

He sought to strengthen his hold on the man's leg. Cause pain in the delicate muscles and perhaps draw prickles of blood.

He does not feel the need to test the man hard or long, but to see his tolerance for pain would tell Prophet the things he needed to know.

If it was a tolerance that Prophet was testing for, he would find it in spades. Ratio was not a graceful or even tactful fighter but he could take heavy punishment without any sign of waning. It was a point of pride and it was also a huge weakness. Even if it was good for him, he did not stop - the scars in his pelt were a painful reminder of this stubbornness. 

Ratio leaned into the bite, feeling his flesh give and the blood to flow. Superficial - nothing worth worrying over, not even after the battle. He pushed into the jaws and leaned over Prophet, shoving the male with his body weight as he shifted the bulk of his stability to his hindquarters and put his weight in his upper half. He still wanted Prophet with his muzzle in the dirt.

The man did not succumb.

Even as Prophet felt the welling of blood on his tongue and the softening of flesh in his teeth. He found himself being pushed lower, beneath the man.

Whatever pride he held for Ratio gave way to the harsh bloom of embarrassment.

His teeth released and he rumbled a low warning sound.

Enough.

He had seen what he needed to see.

Excited by the fight, high on the rush of blood in his ears, Ratio still heard the low rumble in his Berserkr's throat. The other man was released promptly and Ratio took two steps back, giving space. His head lowered easily and he looked back with a slight confusion in his eyes - a question. He did not know the embarrassment the other felt, Ratio had only been focused on his goal.

You have proved what I needed to see,

He shook his fur, as if to right the sensation in his scruff once more. Frustrated by the lingering pain in it, enriched by it as well.

I am leader of the fight here, but there is our leader of all who will need to see you as well.

Ratio relaxed at the explanation, slipping into an easy calm as Prophet explained the situation. 

"Leader of the fight? You mentioned hunters and fighters. As a fighter, you are my leader?" he asked and then, realizing how it sounded, corrected himself - "After our true leader."

He had assumed Prophet was not the highest alpha in the pack. It made little sense for him to be out wandering if he was holding down a territory as its ruler. His old leader had never set foot outside of the border as long as Ratio had lived among them. To have met Prophet so far from this place...it made sense. The rationality didn't lessen his disappointment, however.

the man has proven himself. with a bark of approval toward Prophet, she descended to meet them, coming to a halt before the two in the right spot to easily meet both their gazes. her tail flags, chest puffed out. she's smaller than both of them; posture meant everything to her.

i am Avi, she introduces herself curtly, then her eyes flick, with a mixture of amusement and pleasure, toward her Berserkr. 'hhleadher of all. she likes the way he'd said it.

she then jerks her chin further up the rise. come, Avicus says, and it's a near mirror of her introduction to Mauruk—she begins to move, but keeps close to Prophet, this time not allowing her war chieftain farther than nose at shoulder as they head toward the rendezvous. 

they may not be equal in rank, but he is a more than worthy lieutenant, deserved of honor.

Yes, It seemed the man had come to understand the order of things, but only time would tell how well he adapted to it.

Prophet felt he would do well enough.

He felt pride, at her approval of the man and her use of the lengthened title he had used for her. He can feel the honor she has bestowed upon him.

He stayed near Avi, content to be at her side as they further welcomed Ratio.

He understood and gave an enthusiastic nod when a red wolf descended. He turned to look at her as she introduced herself.

He responded easily to her dominant posture, lowering his own, comfortable at his lower rank. It was the way things were and always had been. This return to form...it felt freeing to him. 

He was caught up by the way she spoke, giving her a blank stare for several seconds before he was able to process her words. His leader. He bowed his head slightly.

His leader was female. ANd spoke very strangely. Interesting. 

She ordered him to follow and after Prophet, he does so. His eyes linger on the two of them as they walk ahead of him. He first takes a long look at the red wolf - Avicus. Leader - ruler of all. So be it. His gaze then shifts to Prophet and he feels a rush of loyalty. It is very soon for such feelings but he had felt like a puzzle piece clicking into place since he'd met the male. Being accepted - joining him here - felt only natural. 

Avicus was leader of all but Prophet was his leader. He knew better than to ever behave as such or speak that feeling aloud. At the same time, he could not help what he felt. 

Content, he let them lead him away.