The Heartwood busted teeth

For @Atshen

After discovering Astraios' frozen corpse in the ruin of the Sentinels, and speaking with Indie, Akantha dismissed the darker woman. She then deviated southward in search of the other members scattered to the winds during the storm. She hoped she wouldn't encounter a similar scene as she had with the consort, for she was uncertain if her heart could take the beating. The Amazonian had taken it upon herself to protect them all, as one of the larger females of the group, and the most experienced in defending and combat. Not to say that the rest of her sisters were incapable, but it was simply easier to shoulder the burden rather than expect them all to carry the weight.

Day turned to night that turned to dawn as she reached yet another burnt up forest. The skeletal remains of the towering trunks reached spindly fingers out towards the sky, but there was no life to be found here. Everything that once thrived here was now a hollow, ghostly husk. The trees bore no green—in places where the snow ran bare, the ground was barren. It was a uniform monochrome spectrum of death. She cupped her ears as she meandered in a wide searching pattern, moving from one game trail to the next in search of something familiar to ease her anxious heart.

Akantha reached a stream, frozen completely over from the cold, and stopped to lick at the smooth surface. The taste was slightly stale, but the cool moisture slaked what little thirst she had.

With a mission on his mind, Atshen found himself wandering from the protective tangle of the woods and into the open. Though he was not much of a traveler, the boy had taken the time today to see what was out there and if anything in the neighboring territories could be used to their advantage-- especially herbs. His meeting with Sheo had brought about an interest in poisonous substances, and since then, it seemed as though a whole new world of opportunities had opened to the killer. He sought to find these materials and learn their effects on others and the differences in how they would torture others.

With his eyes pressed the ground, Atshen trodded along dutifully. Despite how barren the lands were, the child was confident that he would find something in this lifeless territory. As he was all too involved with his searching, he was painfully distracted by the only lifeform in the proximity of the clearing.

Akantha heard the crunch of old snow underfoot before she saw who it actually belonged to. Her ears twisted forward and her hackles rippled with unease, waiting for the creature to reveal itself. The scent that drifted lazily over the wind spoke of wolf, but the stranger did not employ the typical stealth one would when stalking; the cadence of the walk was too pointed to be anything but a passerby. The swarthy Matriarch did not wish to be caught out here, so far removed from her Sirens, in the presence of strangers. But if she were to move, she would be found out just as quickly. So she waited, muzzle still lowered to the ice, but shrewd hazel eyes scanning the trees.

A shadow emerged, forming from the ether itself, and coagulating into a wolf shape. At first she thought it was an adult male, a large one, but the slight gangling legs and youthful visage was telling of a much younger man. One that was swiftly growing into his own. He was cloaked in all manner of dusk and night, with the barest brush of ash across his underbelly. Akantha inhaled a breath through her nostrils, that flared with alarm at the proximity of the other wolf. He hadn't noticed her yet. 

The Matriarch lifted her head as he weaved closer through the woods and rumbled a low warning note, the sound vibrating deep within her belly. She eyed him with all the intensity she could muster—a frightening thing to behold.

The intimidating rumbling of baritone easily caught his attention, much faster than the exotic scent had. Coming into awareness of his surroundings, the Silencer lifted his head slowly as his eyes scanned the charred trunks. Soon enough his searching yielded a result, and he froze as his eyes fell upon the distant figure as he studied her carefully. Even at his distance, Atshen noticed how large this woman was-- much bigger than even some of the men he could come across. 

Cupping his ears forward, Atshen held his ground. Having no reason to scurry at her warning, he instead did what seemed most natural to him: hold his ground. Echoing the queen's sentiments, he offered a deep growl in return as his fiery eyes sought her.

Brave boy, she thought as she pressed her lips together. Her hackles flared to full attention as he retorted with a growl of his own. She locked eyes with him and took one stiff step forward, arching her neck and holding her head high. Her nose was pointed directly at him and she looked down the bridge like lining up iron sights on a gun. "Stand down and leave, or submit and join me." She punctuated her speech with a lash of her tongue across her inky lips and a lightnight-fast click of her teeth. The boy was worth his weight, but his attitude was far too lofty for her tastes. He didn't understand his place in the world and she would gladly teach him.

He was quickly given an ultimatum in regards to the situation. Not privy to either option, Atshen kept his gaze steadily on the woman before him. Anger churned within his belly at this, but he did not act yet as he had learned from previous lessons with Miraak. 

Echoing her movements, Atshen pressed a step forward, closer to her and the prospect of their battle. "These lands are unclaimed," he remarked darkly, drawing his tongue over his lips as a flutter of anticipation sparked deep within his belly. As much as he wanted to launch himself, he waited, wishing to hear her explanation before pursuing a fight.

Akantha did not rise to the comment, but her anger rolled. To be spoken to so directly, and by a child, was infuriating. The strangers of the Teekons did not understand their place in the ways of the world, and the Sea would claim them all in time. 

She was unwavering, despite the massive bulk of the youth before her. He was an impressive beast, but she was not so easily cowed. "You came upon me without invitation—I will not tolerate disrespect from Spawn like you." Akantha spat, bringing her other foot forward to stomp into the snow. She coiled her shoulders and readied herself for the explosion. He showed no signs of backing down and it was reaching a breaking point.

He could sense the climax of her anger, and he waited, bracing himself by stiffening his posture as she spoke. The words that she spawned were ones that sent a newfound wave of violence through his entire being. His tail lashed, whipping each side of his body as it swung to and fro and without much more warning he was taken over by his emotion. 

He charged towards her, his tail lifting over his back and he advanced. Snow was thrown about in the wake of his advance and once he was close enough he leapt at her head on, hoping to push her back.

And there it was. The rage roared to life and consumed him. Her heart skipped a beat at the vision of the shadow churning up the snow as he charged directly for her and her lips curled in a perverse smile. She reared back and met him as the full force of his anger crashed into her in the form of flexing muscles and flashing teeth. Akantha pulled her lips back to reveal her own pearly daggers in a vicious snarl—her back toes splayed wide, seeking purchase against the snow, and she pushed back against him to keep them both upright. She bumped her chest against his own and raked her paws down his side, teeth clipping through fur to find the meat beneath, willing to inflict harm upon the one who thought he was above it all.

When the two wolves collided, Atshen went straight to work on her. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as he attempted to counteract her weight. His hind claws dug into the frozen ground below as he sought to create some stability despite their bumping. 

The harsh sting of her claws traced down his sides, yet he was able to push said pains to the back of his mind as he resisted. Lunging forward with all of his might, the Silencer aimed to grab at the side of her neck and unstable her stance.

She felt the pinch as his teeth found their mark on the loose skin of her neck, and she immediately twisted away from it. Three paws landed square on the ground, but the other was still tangled up over his back and their proximity was too close to pull it away. Akantha pivoted her rear away from him, trying to twist his neck around to the point of pain so that he might release her. A gutteral roar erupted from her open mouth and she snapped her teeth together near his ear, missing the soft flesh by a hair's breath.

The twisting of Atshen's flesh did just as Akantha had wanted. Though he had held on as long as he could, he let go as the pain became too much. Using this surge of pain as motivation, Atshen moved quickly so that he stood alongside her. Once in position, the brute pushed with every ounce of power he had within him, knocking her so that he could knock her to the ground.

Akantha's paw suddenly slipped from his back as he released her and shifted so he stood near her flank. She had little time to react to her freedom when, suddenly, he was pushing on her and she was slipping. The Matriarch bellowed a sound of alarm and anger as her shoulder twisted and pain bloomed, spiraling around her elbow. She went down, hard, but immediately rolled to free her hind legs from the tangle of limbs. She kicked at any spot of him she could reach, her restraint gone—she would disembowl him given the chance and bring an end to his arrogance.

The fall of Akantha occurred in a flurry of limbs and Atshen attempted not to lose himself in the mess of it all. His molten-like eyes sought the tangle and the aftermath of his bulldozing. Instead of avoiding her blows, Atshen charged forward, his tail lifting and a weighted force of his paw drawing upon her back. Once in place, Atshen proceeded to rake with the freed claws, aiming for the side of her neck.

A white-hot pain seared across her skin as his claws tore open wounds. Blood seeped from the scrape and splattered onto the snow as she twisted away from his blows. Her eyes darted around his legs, looking for an opening, but seeing nothing but billowing black fur and flesh. He was everywhere and she had no where to go. Akantha let loose a furious scream that originated somewhere deep within as one great paw pressed down on her back. She felt his hot breath on her neck, and suddenly Akantha feared. She feared for her life, and the Sisters she left behind at the shore.

She kicked out, lashing blindly for anything within reach, as his teeth sunk into the flesh on her neck.

The pair was dancing a dangerous waltz, one that could prove deadly at any given moment. The air around them reeked of the meltallic tang of blood and blood could be easily spotted on either party. 

She made contact with his shoulder and he growled at this new pain. But, Atshen remailed resilient and held on. Yanking hard on her nap, he hissed out a single command for the dark-furred woman who choose to defy him. 

"Submit." 

Akantha felt her skin tear as he yanked hard, and growled a single word. She was now faced with a choice: inflict as much damage as possible on him before he ultimately killed her, or submit and hope he spared her life. The faces of her Sisters flashed through her mind as she struggled against his grip. They likely would never venture this far inland and would never learn of her fate. She couldn't bear hurting them or causing them more upset than their journey already had.

So, for the first time in her life, Akantha ceased to struggle and fell limp in his grip. The fire still danced in her eyes, but her teeth retreated behind her inky lips and her kicks stopped. She looked at him, really looked, and commited his face to memory.

He had her right where he wanted her, and it was there that he had a decision: life or death. He looked at her, his eyes ablaze as he contemplated her fate. As he pondered, he drew a paw onto her shoulder and dug his claws into her. As much as he wanted to kill her right then and there, Atshen was starting to learn the fun in the game of cat and mouse. 

With his mouth still clamped on the side of her mane, he came to a conclusion, "Cross me again, and I will kill you on sight." The words were drawn out, and his eyes sought hers as they burned intensely. For good measure, as if she were plotting anything when he freed her he bit down as hard as he could, relishing the blood that game with his inflicted damage. 

Releasing her from his grasp, the brute of a wolf took himself off her her. Though, in the process, he dragged his claws over her flesh as if in the way of a final warning. 

Once he was off of her, he took a step back and lifted his tail over his back, his adrenaline peaking. "Now get out of my sight, filth." A growl followed his words, and he bore his teeth.

Akantha winced when his claws dug into her already brutalized skin and peeling open the establish wounds even wider. Her heart pounded loudly in her ears but she refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her fear. Her face was a stone mask, while her eyes continued to flicker across his features, waiting and ready for what was to come. If he chose death, she was prepared to accept it with open arms. If he released her, well, she knew the way home and how to throw off his trail should he try and follow.

But when he bit down hard, Akantha cried out in pain. She bucked beneath him and he released her, but not without leaving more marks upon her skin. She struggled to stand, her legs shook, but she did. Blood soaked the snow beneath where she'd fallen, and continued to drip down her legs. She sucked in a breath and looked up, eyes boring holes right through him. The smell of blood, her blood, served as a muzzle to her fury. "Not if I kill you first." She promised.

The Matriarch, beaten and bloodied, turned tail and fled back into the woods leaving a trail of blood droplets behind her.

His stance remained guarded as the woman struggled to stand. Unlike his competition, he was still riding high on the wave of adrenaline. It was only a matter of time until this feeling would deteriorate, but for now, he relished this sense of invincibility. 

He stood his ground, taking in what he had accomplished and he remained emotionless despite the pride that throbbed through his being. "You won't," he assured darkly. He stayed in place as blood leaked from places he didn't even know existed on his body. He still did not feel the pain he should have.

He turned once she was out of sight, and he turned the snow underneath scarlet with every step he took. It took quite some time in his wondering for him to finally come down from his euphoria, but eventually, he fell to it, just as she had.