Blackfeather Woods Alone in the Dark

It was so sickly sweet. Macbeth had wandered for miles, days even over bright fields with pretty autumnal leaves making the scenery look like it was on fire and frost-bitten spiders webs which would be inviting to even the most miserable of wolves, but not him, not Macbeth. The small of winter frost permeated in his nostrils and although fresh, it did not appeal much to the once proud warrior. All the frost bought was misery and starvation. The small prey more suited to a lone wolf such as himself was either hidden or hibernating and the hard ground made it difficult for him to dig into the home of an unsuspecting mouse or rabbit as he went from place to place and for a young wolf his age a deer was almost out of the question lest he receive that one well-aimed blow that immobilised or even killed him. He was young, not stupid. Yes, in this weather the odds were never in your favour.

He sighed to himself in the cool afternoon air as he trudged from one land to another and although the sun was at his back, it failed to warm his fur which was collecting winter dew from the air around it. His breath misted and curled away ahead of him into sky before disappearing in fine tendrils as he walked though it and it parted. Mostly the view was the same, field after field, lake after lake, nowhere had the protection he was looking for that nice dank feeling you get from being enveloped in nature. Until now. Looking forward a smile curled at his lips as he saw it. A dark forestland coated in a smooth darkness tinted blue and grey from the winter trees. This felt like it could be home. 

Raising his nose to the air and sniffing he could tell there were some strong characters here, the scents were very strong. Stopping at the borders of the forest he considered his options. Did he walk in and announce his right to be there, or hold back for now? Playing with his tongue between his canines he took another deep breath and was again reminded of the wolves that could live here and with his toes almost touching the borders he took a seat and patiently waited, opting for the easy way in.

While the days had only gotten colder, she had not abandoned her warden duty. She had moved her home more in land, due to the deteriorating conditions of the den at the borders, yet nothing had changed. Still, she woke before the sun rose to check for trespassers that might have slipped in over night. The rate of which seemed to only rise as the temperature did, making lonely souls more desperate than before. Yet, their borders were make sure to turn away the rogues, bloodied with the bones of those who had tried and failed before. Only a fool would accidently cross over into the arms of a beast, or more accurately, a pack full of bloodlusted beasts. 

Instantly, her nose twitched furiously, training her attention not too far from where she had come. The scent landed right in front of the borderline, to her approval. It wasn't common for trespassers to stop in front of the blood soaked line, so her interest only grew. Nearing the scent, her eyes trained focused on the outline of the wolf as her feet traveled faster towards it. The slender frame did not compete to her size for the days of running the borders had done her well. An icy tone set in her eyes as she approached the wolf, a hostile and malevolent aura surrounded her. At that moment, she expected him to submit if he wanted a place in their ranks yet Blackfeather didn't just take anyone. Their ranks were reserved for the dark in heart, the ones who showed potential for the Brotherhood. If he had nothing of value to offer, he would be run off the territory, as simple as that. And then for his sake, she hoped he was a fast runner.

Placing herself before him, her chest had puffed out, stance regal and dominating. No emotion flickered on her face but the menacing one that had permanently set in. "What is your purpose at the Blackfeather borders?" There was no room for small talk, she didn't care for it. Yet, she was reminded of what Burke had said. Respect, well she would give it when the stranger earned it. Of course though, she was not to be mistaken for the Alpha. She would summon Burke if the stranger had enough respect for his presence.

The war-torn wolf did not have long to wait before he was approached by a member of the pack. He smelt her before her saw her of course, she scent was strong, but not as much of it mingled in the air with the other scents delighting his nostrils, she was high ranking, but not Alpha. Just before she appeared through the tree line he licked his lips clean and flattened his ears to his skull. He remembered pack protocol from his home. As she came nearer he rolled over onto his back presenting his belly to her as a mark of respect. It left him vulnerable but he reckoned he had just enough speed to make a quick getaway should he need to. 

Without hesitation she barked a question at him, he remained on on the floor, which is where he would stay until she indicated she was happy for him to get up. He knew which meeting to approach with caution and which with aggression. She could have the whole pack here within minutes if she so wished and he would become just anther splatter of blood and misplaced bone littering the landscape. "I want to join your pack." He flicked his ears nervously. "It's the only place around these lands that feels even close to home. You see, I like the dark." He grinned at the female, not in cocky or dis-respectful manner, only to show he understood the packs way of thinking. 

If he were to take and educated guess, he would say that a pack living in such lands with such a greeting at their borders was no pack of angels or sun rays. They spoke the same language he did, blood, bone and sweat.

It didn't take long for the male to submit, exposing his underside to her. While a display of the neck would have sufficed, she approved of his respect. So far. She nodded her head, signalling for him to rise once more. Of course, he would still have to submit when Burke arrived but as for now he was in the clear. Looking him over, she noticed many scars engraved on his skin, signs of violence for sure. It showed much more than just the simple marking. It showed that the male could fight, that was was not a coward to say the least. Though, he would have to prove to be much more to gain access to their lands.

The statement was one she had already guessed followed by an answer similar to what she herself had thought upon her arrival at Blackfeather. Only to those who belonged did Blackfeather seem like home for many did not have the stomach to brave it's dark secrets. "What is your name?" She inquired, not wanting to seem ignorant to his obedience. While there was no definite answer to his request, names were a good start. The nervousness was normal, she found. Though she wondered if it was the woods or just her presence alone. It would fade, in time if one truly embraced it's darkness with all their soul like everyone in their ranks did. 

"We don't take just anyone, Blackfeather is.. shall you say, much darker in spirit than the other packs. So why should we take you?" It was a valid question afterall. Also, she wondered if he had come intrigued by the Dark Brotherhood like she had. The answer, Brotherhood or not, would determine whether she would bother calling Burke at all. Many only stated they wanted shelter for the winter, which they would not permit at all. While still a pack, everyone carried their own weight. Freeloaders were simply not allowed.

His show of submission seemed to impress her and when he was done with his explanation he rose back up to his paws but took great care not to stare the female down in a challenging manner. He kept his ears in a submissive pose showing his intent to talk and not invade or threaten. There was a moment of silence between the pair as she seemingly weighed him up. He took a quick glance at himself ensuring his condition would suffice. In his mind it seemed to and apparently it seemed good enough for her as she asked his name. Holding his head up in a proud manner he gave her the answer she was looking for. "Macbeth Decadence-Frostfur ma'am." 

She moved on to ask him the reason for his application without hesitation. He smiled at first at the question and raised one eyebrow higher than the other. "Because I think I understand the way you all think, the way you work, how you hunt, that darkness doesn't scare me because I feel like I'm part of it." He licked his lips again, showing more confidence than before but not to the point where he could be con-strewed as cocky or arrogant. Though these were two his dominant traits, this was not the time nor the place, he was smart enough to know that. "I see you notice my scars, they're all gifts from the battlefield. Reminders, that sometimes in this world a bit of force is a necessity, I can be that force for you, in mind," he rolled his shoulders over cracking them as they moved back into their original position, "and in body."

He lowered his head from it's proud stance and awaited her judgement.

As he gave his explanation, she couldn't help but to like what she heard. He was well explained, no hesitations or mumbles. It showed more than he knew because they didn't take the timid kind. Though, his tone was proud, something that would not sit well with some. Blackfeathers as a group were quick to anger, some more than others. Nevertheless, he would learn as all did. But still, he had submitted, which showed he had respect to those who were above him, something everyone had to have in order to survive around there. "Nemesis," She responded, yet her tone did not change. Not that she wasn't kind, well actually she wasn't, but she just didn't have a high meter of gentle responses. One one being had managed to crack her code, yet she refused to think of Kove as she was carried out the almost initiation. 

She nodded, understanding the feeling of being one with the darkness instead of against it. In her opinion, the dark would always rule supreme to the light, no matter what other's claimed. "We harbour many mercenaries of all kinds, yet another could not hurt. Is there anything else before I call upon the Alpha?" She spoke, hinting her approval. Of course, he would be encouraged to pursue other endeavours than muscle itself but she would wait for Burke to determine what to do with him. Perhaps they would have a future Assassin on their hands, but only time would tell. Many who promised good fortune ended up ditching before the month was up. Hopefully, this one would not disappoint nor earn a bad look in Burke's eye. 

Giving him one last look over, her eyes narrowed against his bold stance. That would have to change if he had any hope of admission yet his bravery was noted. She was ready to call, raising her head slightly before waiting for his response.

Burke had been lingering in the shadows watching the pair. Nemesis had been there earlier than him but that didn't matter to the alpha, instead of joining instantly Burke decided that he would watch from the shadows how Nemesis was doing. The alpha had given her some pointers last time and it seemed she took those pointers to heart. Instead of seeing an quite aggressive Nemesis he could only see calmness. She was reserved and formulated her questions well. Burke always tried to stay calm too, unless they were disrespectful little shits, alas this... Macbeth was not. Burke believed that one showed assertiveness, and the added respect it gave more loyal followers than to growl a new member to the ground. Exception being if they deserved being pushed to the ground, but if that needed to happen they didn't even make a slight chance to be in their pack. Today he was very pleased with Nemesis. 

Burke stepped forward, his head was raised yet his chin dipped forward to protect his neck. It was a little habit from his younger years of being a fighter too. "No need to call me," he spoke. The tank of a male greeted Nemesis before placing his pale eyes at the loner before them. Burke's docked tail was up too, which gave his frame quite a square look. "How confident of you to tell us that you know how we think and how we hunt. Do tell me because I am curious now," he stated, testing the new one. Yes, he was all for confidence in his members, but they had to back up their bark for Burke to show any respect. If he had some enlightening answers Burke might even be impressed, yet currently he was thinking it was all pretty talk. Especially that last part about force and his scars. Scars weren't impressive on their dark lands, everyone had always experienced something often resulting scars. It was the information one learned after obtaining such scars that was important about them.

There was a small pause where she seemed to weight the black and white male up and then finally she offered her name to him. He dipped his head in response telling her it was a pleasure to meet her. She spoke of mercenaries, if Macbeth were being honest, he'd never thought of himself as a mercenary, more of a warrior, but actually, that seemed a pretty accurate description of his trade. On his travel he had swapped muscle for scraps of food, not caring too much if he was on the 'right side', yet only caring for the price. This already filled the young wolf with a greater sense of purpose. Once Nemesis had finished speaking he shook his head, indicating he was ready to judged by the Alpha and he did not have long to wait. Even before she could call, from beyond the tree line stepped an impressive male wolf with all the indications that he was the Alpha. The scent, his size, the way he held himself as he walked. All this slightly intimidated Macbeth, but not enough for him to walk away. He did however submit by rolling over once again presenting his chest and stomach, tail between his legs and ears flat to his head.

He noted how guarded the male was, possibly an indicator of a more military career himself, maybe they would understand each other. He had clearly been listening in on the conversation, enquiring as to how Macbeth knew he was well-suited to the pack. He remained on the floor and answered, "Well sir, with all due respects your lands and their decoration are not the marks of happy-go-lucky pack like the last one I was from. These lands remind me of war and I know war, I've lived it, I've learned from it, part of me enjoys it. That's why this feels like home." He swallowed nervously after talking realising that could be a very good answer of a very weak one and he was in a very vulnerable position. First rule of fighting was pick your battles and there was no way that this was a battle he would choose.

Nemesis bowed her head herself as Burke made his presence known, though she silently scolded herself for not catching his presence by scents beforehand. The idea that a cold was blocking her sense of smell seemed preposterous in her mind, instead she left it at she was much too in tune with the conversation to notice. While Macbeth had declined to add anything to his promising resume, she figured Burke would encourage the new blood to seek out other ventures that he may have not thought of before. Afterall, Blackfeather held an opportunity for everyone to succeed in even the most darkest of ways. 

From now on, she was merely a spectator for the decision of admission lied solely with Burke and nobody else. She would die before she let a loner, even a promising loner, onto their lands without Burke's direct approval. And if it wasn't granted, she was still in her right mind to chase the man away from their territory and return with his heart as their prize. Though, the question of what Macbeth though he could claim to know about their pack was one she until now, hadn't thought of. Many showed up on their steps stating that the darkness was their place until the darkness came looking for them and they hightailed out of the woods. It may have seemed his words were all speak and no truth, though he had been adamant on the fact, which she could not ignore. Except, they did not necessarily run on war. Infact, they had no wish to start one at the moment. While yes, Blackfeather was the most malevolent of the packs they harboured young and war in the dead of winter risked the next generation of the dark pack. It was something they could not afford. She wondered if his war heart claims carried with a nature of destruction, a personality that was both good and bad.

But, she stood quietly, her cold eyes wavering between Burke and Macbeth, curious to how is newest answer would look in the Alpha's eye. It was very easy to change the direction of a conversation, and even easier to anger the tank sized Alpha if one came from the outside.

Burke frowned lightly at the male's answer. It wasn't exactly what he asked but Burke did like how the male submitted fully to him. He could see the white fur from under his belly and it did stoke the male's ego a bit. A soft nod came from him, signaling to the other that he could at least sit before him. "You analysis is not correct, yet not entirely wrong either. We do not seek war with other packs." Burke had his children to think about and in war it was th young ones that suffered the most. "Black Feather Woods houses a brotherhood that offers several branches to aspire in. Each branch has their own mission and tasks. We take care of our own and do everything in the name of Mephala and Sithis."

Burke wanted to get that said. They weren't just a dark pack. They didn't fight with all the others. They were diplomatic and lethal. "You do show some promise at least. So you will get two weeks. You start at the bottom, after those two weeks you will hear if you are allowed to stay or not. After that message you are welcome to challenge others dominantly to climb ranks, we do not condone injuries," he pointed out, but after the two weeks Burke was certain that this MacSomething would know how things would go in their pack lands. Burke gave the male another look over. He had the right mindset, just not the right beliefs yet. But that could always come later.

From this point on Nemesis remained quiet simply overseeing, but everything about her stance told him she was tense enough to defend her leader if needs be. For all their dark roots, this seemed to Macbeth to be a very protective pack and that was not a bad thing, you see the worse part of being an asshole, was that there was always a bigger and badder asshole that had no problem with taking you down a notch or two, he'd learnt that the hard way and some of his scars proved that. It might be good to have a fall back when things started going south for him and a safe haven to come back to was worth it's weight in gold sometimes. 

The alpha however he was a different story. He wasn't easy to read. There were the obvious signs that he had no plans to hurt Macbeth, but he was even more tense than Nemesis. Past that though, his option of Macbeth was kept guarded. He told Macbeth that he was not right or not wrong, but that was no indication of how well he was doing. He rose back up to his paws, but kept his head and hears low. The tank of a male began to explain more about the pack but Macbeth's brow furrowed at the mention of Mephala and Sithis, he could only assume this might be some religious thing. He resisted the urge to call it a fad even in his mind in the males presence. Macbeth was skeptical when it came to worship, he had seen too many battles fought over who to worship.

Finally he passed judgement on Macbeth, a two week trial. The dark wolf bowed his head in thanks. "Thank you sir, you won't regret it. Tell me though please, you have an opening for a mercenary in your ranks at all? I'm young but I've made a good start, could be a good way for me to make myself useful 'round 'ere."

Sorry for the wait! Burke can dismiss her if you want :)

Burke voiced her own opinions, correcting the male that they were not a war seeking pack. Sure, they housed their own cult but in no way were they an army. Battles came if they did but they did not seek to start trouble, only to prevent it from hurting their own. And even from within, they did not stand traitors or those who sought out to hurt each other. The whole two weeks thing had been a new change around the woods, and the rules had gotten stricter. The amount of wolves who had simply up and left put a question on what kind of wolves they were admitting into their territory. While she knew everyone watched carefully on the new blood within the first two weeks to spot any signs of leaving or unaccomplishment, she was sure that Burke would kick out anyone who wasn't meeting the criteria. But, she wasn't too worried for Macbeth, for he seemed to be well adapted and fit for the harsh needs of the blackfeather woods.

Most could understand how Blackfeather worked just by taking a glance at its inhabitants. While the Brotherhood religion was not necessarily enforced on them, it was encouraged but even some did not believe in the concept of a higher power. She had not necessarily embraced her former pack's gods nor her patron goddess but she accepted the idea of a greater force, Mephala and Sithis. Not to say she prayed over the dead every time she slayed a trespasser at the borders, but enough so that she could be called religious. It was all very touchy-feely, having not grown up in a place where the idea of someone to save you adapted to her childhood conditions, but she was working on it.

Her presence remained silent as she waited for Burke to dismiss her. She had no need to stick around while they talked, even though Macbeth's question was a valid one. There was no limit to how many wolves of a trade they could have, but she was curious to see what Burke's answer would be, for she had never worried about her trades herself. It was just a natural thing that she had never been denied from, Mercenary was a part of who she was, and if it was the same with Macbeth she doubted Burke would deny him the job.

Burke nodded towards the newcomer to answer his question. "We have," he spoke shortly. He wasn't really a conversationalist with new comers yet. Plus he still had his two week try out and Burke had no clue if this male with his smart words was going to stay. Burke was skeptical of everyone nowadays. The large male did encourage everyone to follow what they like to do because that meant that everyone would want to do their tasks.

"Nemesis would you mind showing our new member bits of our forest and tell him where to watch out and where not to go," he asked her. Since Nemesis was not so good socially as she reminded him often Burke decided that this would be good for her to show him around. Burke didn't want their new member to die at Weeping Meadow, or have him die because he went to Red Grove and Burke's teeth would be in his throat. All very important information.

With that said, not expecting Nemesis to disagree really, he looked at the two. "I will see you around," he spoke to Mac. If Burke didn't see him it just meant that he was going to get kicked out within two weeks. Burke was very strict with that. But he wasn't expecting Mac to fail the two week trail period.

Last post from me! you can totally fade here and say that Nemesis showed him around or something like that! :3

Posting to end ;)

Instead of being dismissed of duty, she was asked to give a personal tour around the dark woods. She knew Burke was encouraging her to work on her social skills, and this task was one that would improve her personal dilemma. "Come," She signalled to Macbeth, turning on her heels in the opposite direction. It was probably a good idea to give him a look around actually, due to some of the area's in the woods that could prove fatal to someone who didn't know any better. It made her wonder if the mutt she had captured was still withering away in Wolfskull, though no screams had reached her ears the last time she had passed by. Maybe he was dead, she shrugged, not giving it much more thought. She stopped to wait for Macbeth to catch up, knowing exactly what to show him first. 

-end-