Felltree Marsh It can turn your heart black

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Adlartok was seething by the time they had left the pack lands, but he fought to tamper it down. This was not about him or the insufferable attitude that @Arashi always had where he was concerned. The only thing that kept him here was Fury and Sovereign and Arlette. Far as he was concerned. There was no love lost between the two bastards, and he'd kill the man just as much as look at him, but he minded himself.

Besides all to quickly his mind went to the new matters, and he immediately went on the hunt. He hadn't been lying when he had said he was a fair tracker. It had taken a little while to find the first decent trail, but once he had. It led him here.

And here was where he stopped and froze, fear striking his heart as the scent became overwhelming. Scents of death, blood and bile.

What the fuck.... He whispered, he turned golden eyes to the other leader, all issues forgotten as the sharp smell of metallic hit his nostrils and with it came the distinct musk of Sovereign.

He moved forward as boldly as he could, though he kept his ears alert, swiveling and eyes moving to and fro, looking for something, anything that was her, but he didn't see her body laying anywhere, which was a good thing? For now.

Felltree Marsh might as well be de facto their territory, now, with the eye Avicus has cast upon it since Shey's death. she's prowled along the borders, and deeper in, still haunted by the memory of that white bitch taking yet another of her wolves.

and then she sees him.

hey, she commands, thrusting her chin in the air. he's near the scene of the crime, looking wary, and his smell is unfamiliar to her.

wha' you doin' here? Avicus continues, marching down the path toward the rugged old man—yes, he's up there in years, she sees now. bigger than her, and probably stronger, but he can't match her bloodlust for anything, she wagers.

her indigo eyes burn into his wizened face, searching.

The pair moved quietly. Arashi had even held the rear of the two, content to keep an open eye from behind.

When he later overheard Adlartok swear, the agouti man traipsed forward to catch up.

What is it? He asked gruffly, not overly fond of being caught at a stop.

The blood covering the ground soon became noticeable. But before he could make any further comment, another voice sounded above the air. They were not alone.

Harsh and cold in their tone, Arashi looked towards the woman with the voice.

He didn't answer just yet, first giving a quick glance to the marauder that was clear as could be: keep your mouth shut. Then he moved closer to the stranger, shielding his clanmate from the front. Just passing through. I apologize if we have crossed bounds... His gaze shifted to the ground behind them for a moment before returning to the woman. We picked up the scent of blood and it distracted us from our travels.

At no point was he about to give away the truth of their travels. With the odd disappearance of their hilmir, they could trust no one they hadn't known before. Anything could have happened, thus caution is the most necessary thing for them.

Artok was many things and a fool wasn't one. He didn't need the silent reminder to keep his mouth shut. And with Arashi keeping the woman with a speech issue busy, he could gather what he could on sight alone. He'd love to poke around, but well they'd been found.

They hadn't went across a border. There was no piss smell, but Artok simply rolled his eyes at the ground as Arashi continued simpering. Though it was needed at the moment. And it was better than he could have done. Maybe.

Golden eyes went from one thing to another. Multiple paw tracks, white fur, red fur, other fur. Clear track marks in the dirt. A scuffle. Broken branches and leaf fronds showed the way that Sovereign had run, with others on pursuit. This woman being here, possibly meant they hadn't caught her.

So with all he could gather in a glance. He turned back to the conversation. Trying not to be obvious about what he was doing. So he stood at attention while his leader spoke, keeping his body neutral and his eyes averted.

brows lift at the explanation from a second burly wolf, and her tail lashes behind her. why here? why now? one lone wolf isn't concerning, but two brings up her alarm.

where you goin'? Avicus queries, cocking her head. who are you?

and the scent of blood. . . it rises acrid and pungent around them, but she mentions it not. and she's ready to call her packmates if need be.

The woman grows tense. No doubt she doesn't live in this area alone. Arashi knows best to keep his cool, but he certainly won't be fooled into disclosing any unwanted information.

We're no one to you. And I mean this with no disrespect, but our whereabouts are no concern of yours. In this moment, he steals the smallest of looks to Adlartok. If things go south, one man wouldn't be enough to take on an entire pack. 

Now he looks back to the red woman. Even past the blood, I know that this particular stretch of land does not belong to you. There are no markers, and we have crossed into no one's claimed territory. We have the right to pass through here, but you do not have the right to stop us, nor interrogate us. Because that certainly seemed to be what she was doing. As I said before... we picked up the blood trail and it rose caution on our end. As loners, we have no ties and no protection aside from our own strength. If that blood trail would have meant a pack of coyotes or a stray band of blood thirsty wolves and they were still close by, we may as well have dug our own graves. Even you yourself, despite being a pack bound wolf, should understand that survival is everything out here. If we weren't smart enough to cover our asses, we would be failing at that one simple thing.

Quite a speech, but he hoped it had been convincing enough. She could just as easily see right through him. In a moment like this, he had to be sure he was playing his cards just right.

Without giving her much of a chance to reply, the agouti man lifted his voice to the silent air once again. Are we done here? I've said my piece, and I would like for me and my companion to get out of here before whatever did that-... His snout whipped towards the blood pool, then back to her. ... returns. I'm not one who enjoys being a sitting duck.

Artok shifted into a position to follow behind Arashi. As much as he disliked the male at times, he couldn't deny he was handling this alright. He gave another look around, eyes lookin beyond the she wolf for any enemies, then to the sides. To the observer, he just looked like a wolf observing the area, who didn't know it.

There was no malice on his face, but he wondered if she was the reason for the blood on the ground of Sovereign.

Avicus isn't one for words. half of them flit through one ear and out the other. she watches him speak with a bland expression, one half of her mouth lifted in a slight sneer. particularly at his assertion that they were lone wolves.

she smells others on their pelts. recent interactions, too. and if there's one lie. . .

big whih'he woman killedh one of our own, she replies coolly. for no reah'hon. be careful—woman might come for you nexxhh.

her gaze shifts slowly from one to the other, letting her own stunted speech sink in.

with stiff shoulders and bristled tail, she moves sidelong into the misty marshes, keeping one eye trained on the travelers as she does so.

another warning for the troops.