Bramblepoint The hunter becomes the hunted.

@Charon and AW!

Dash had left Moonspear with Charon and had every intention of following out the orders given to him by Charon and Amekaze to find Lazarus and kill him. The two males decided to branch off, figuring they might find him faster, depending on where he went. However, he was no tracker, and so it took more concentration, and a little more time, to stay on his track. The blood that trailed from the bottom of the cliff had helped him track, though, and it had brought him to the spot where it seemed Lazarus had spent some time before moving on. 

He lowered his head to sniff around the area, looking for clues, though he really wasn't sure what he was looking for. He had never gone out in search of someone else, but Dash supposed it wasn't any different from tracking prey, which essentially was what Lazarus was. The trail was a days old, but the other male's stench was strong enough that Dash felt he could continue to track it. He lifted his head to howl for Charon, hoping he wasn't too far away. He assumed they would continue following the trail together, knowing two against one would be a better outcome for the Moonspearians. Dash assumed Lazarus would be pretty badly injured after that fall from the cliff, but he wasn't willing to underestimate the once-packmate-turned-enemy.  

A new litter was going to be born in the Woods, and for once they were not tied to the Melonii Family. That excited her; the pack's bloodline was expanding. It was with this in mind that she forayed into the Bramblepoint, dodging the sharp thorns that the thicket was named for in search of herbs to restore the stock, to ensure that Nemesis' litter would grow strong and healthy.

But the brambles dug into her side; at best driving furrows into her snow-white fur, at worst drawing blood, but she carried on, only stopping as a howl rang from nearby. She stepped closer to the howler, seeing a black-furred wolf nearby. A familiar scent tinged her nose, making her investigate further rather than sneak off into the shadows. She showed herself to the wolf, head tilting curiously as he stood there, waiting for the wolf he summoned. Who...? She began to ask, stopping as the brambles nearby rustled and Charon appeared. Oh, hello, Charon. Her voice was meek as she recalled the Moonspear Alpha walking in on her in the midst of a mushroom-induced high...not their best meeting, to be sure.

Charon was searching around the corner, taking another part of the bramblepoint along in his search. He was sniffing around and just as he found part of an old trail, causing his hackles to prick up, he heard Dash' call not far from him. The thing with Althaia was still fresh on his mind, and he wished he could look into Ame's mind to see if she suspected him at all, still; he thought he had pretty much proven now that it was Harley who'd done the dirty with her, and not he. Now they were gone and hopefully things could return to normal soon.

As he scaled around the corner towards Dash, Charon called out, "Did you find hi—" But then he saw Potema there, to his surprise (though not necessarily unpleasantly so). He smiled at Potema and said, "Oh, hey you. Feeling a little more down to earth today?" He would've used 'sober' had he actually known that she'd been on anything. He had no idea what the source of her problem was. As he stood on the clearing though, he realised how strong Lazarus' scent was here, even if it was old. "He was here," he said grimly to Dash, forgetting a moment that Potema wasn't yet informed about Lazarus.

Charon arrived quickly, leaving Dash to believe he hadn't been very far. The other male was about to ask a question when a rustling could be heard close by. Dash's hackles raised, first thinking it could be Lazarus. Instead it was a female. She looked like she had been through the ringer, with scars littered over her face, and he couldn't quite tell, but possibly one on her shoulder. He didn't stare, especially after he realized that Charon and she knew each other. 

He smoothed his hackles as they spoke, his gaze going back to the spot where Lazarus obviously slept. He looked to Charon when he made the comment, nodding in agreement. His attention went back to the female before them, wondering how Charon knew her, but he didn't voice his question, instead he chose to remain quiet.

Potema chuckled, a hint of embarrasment in her tone as she responded. Yes, I am, thank you. She fell silent as the two wolves sniffed the ground, their intent unknown but the passion behind it blatant in their faces. They were searching for someone. And not in a good way either. Who are you looking for? She asked, wondering if the Dark Brotherhood could (for they most definitely would) get involved. Should she tell Charon to make a deal with her brother, or relay the information herself? Should she even tell Charon about the Dark Brotherhood at all? He already caught her getting high, how would he react to her being a part of a Daedra-worshipping murder cult?

Dash remained silent, and Potema didn't introduce herself to him either, so after Potema embarrassedly answered his question, Charon said: "This great guy over here's Dash, one of my pack mates. And this is Potema," he said, gesturing at Potema, "A friend of mine." He smiled at her, glad that she had found them here. Not because he wanted to share the bad news with her, but because it was always good to see Potema again. Even if they'd only met at the end of their puppy months, it felt as though they'd known each other all their life to him.

She asked if they were looking for someone and Charon nodded. "Yeah, and not in a good way — guy called Lazarus. White, grey on the back, uh — probably wounded from falling down a mountain." He looked at Dash to see if he had anything to tack on, then expectantly at Potema to see if she'd seen him. He didn't yet disclose what Lazarus had done, because he didn't like talking about it. Besides, she'd ask if she wanted to know.

Dash was so intent on their reason for being here that he had forgotten the most basic of social rules. He didn't even think of introducing himself, and had even mostly written of the female once he realized she knew Charon and wasn't a threat. But, when Charon spoke up, Dash's looked up to Potema, as she was introduced to her. He gave her a friendly smile, finally remember his manners. Nice to meet you, he said. 

He sat back on his haunches while Charon explained why they were here. The black wolf wondered if the female might have come across the wolf they were looking for. 

Potema nodded at the other wolf. Likewise, but her attention was more on the subject of Charon and Dash's search. She could help; the Dark Brotherhood could help.

I'm surprised he isn't dead. She murmured, wondering how high said mountain was. Was there a certain height you could fall from without dying? Or at the very least walk away from with some bruises and broken bones. He can't have gotten far then, And Blackfeather Woods was right nearby... Do you have others searching for him too?

It seemed both wolves in his company were eager to continue the search for Lazarus rather than get stuck on pleasantries; a thing that Charon could appreciate. To see Potema so focused on catching Lazarus without even knowing what he had done warmed Charon’s heart; she was a good friend, as it had been proven in that instance.

”No, it’s just us and my brother Flóki,” said Charon. ”He can’t have gotten far…” Charon glanced around, sniffing the air, hoping to catch wind of the direction of the trail. He glanced in lake rodney’s direction when he picked it up and glanced at the others, figuring they would follow the trail. They could talk details as they tracked, he figured, and so he started along a path winding through the bramblepoint, brambles at either side, following his nose.

Dash nodded in agreement. He was surprised, too, that Lazarus had survived the fall. He knew everyone, including himself, would have been happier to have him dead. But, maybe the traitor would die from his wounds.

The dark male watched as his Alpha began sniffing the air. Seemingly, he found a trail, and Dash was quick to follow. If they found Lazarus, and he wasn’t dead, they would make sure he soon was. The thorns tore at his fur, but Dash ignored it as he made his way through the bramble, his focus on finding the male.

Blackfeather Woods was close. They could move swiftly through the surrounding area, combing for this Lazarus. Whatever he did to warrant such a search effort by the pack must have been dastardly, even if they weren't content with him just falling off of a mountain. She thought for a moment, wondering if Charon would even bother to make a contract with the Dark Brotherhood, or if she should even try in the first place.

I can help. She began, I'm not much of a tracker, but there are some in my pack that could help; my brother especially. Cicero met many a person and had many resources. Even if he was not willing to come, it would be a good experience for one of the others; Xan perhaps. Maybe I can convince one or two of them to help.

Charon smiled when Potema offered her help. "Thanks, man, that's great." He didn't even know that Potema had a brother — or did he? he didn't remember if they'd ever breached the subject — but apparently he was good at tracking, or whatever. "He fell down Moonspear, so unless he was lucky and hit a good spot, he'll probably not be looking too good by now." He decided to inform her further, not sure if he'd filled her in on any of the details that she needed to know if she were to join the search party. Charon glanced at Dash to see if he had anything to add in regards to details, unsure if he was missing anything.

The female offered to gather reinforcements for finding Lazarus, and Dash's tail wagged. The more wolves they had looking for him, the harder it would be for him to hide. He nodded, Yeah, we appreciate your help, he said, his first words to the female, other than "nice to meet you". He wondered how well she and Charon knew each other, but glad that it seemed enough for her to offer her help.

There's quite a bit of blood over in those thorns. I can't imagine he isn't leaving a trail a mile wide, he commented. Unless rains washed them away, or they waited to long, Dash didn't think it should be extremely difficult to follow the trail. He left out the rest of the story, as well, figuring if Charon wanted her to know, he would tell her.

She would return to her brothers immediately and give them Lazarus' description. Whether or not they themselves found this wolf honestly did not matter to the Listener (though she would like to have found him); she just wanted Charon to know that she could help. Being friends was one thing, being allies was another.

I'll go ask them, then, She would leave these two to it; she needed to talk to Damien and Cicero. Best of luck, Charon. It was nice meeting you, Dash. With that, Potema nodded and turned back towards the Woods.

Exit!

"Alright, let me know if you find him," Charon said when Potema said she'd ask her pack to help look. "Bye!" He looked after her as she left, glad to have a friend around his own age in these lands, another who'd been born here and understood the Teekon like he did. Then he turned to Dash and said, "C'mon, let's follow the trail and see if we find what's at the end of it." And he put his nose to the ground, examining the patch of ground that held the scent and following it slowly towards the lake.

my last post - fade here? :D