Ravensblood Forest Blackworm

ya come here often @Noxir

Vermin ink left imprints in the snow, shallow in her wake, made of coyish proportions and soon to be filled with new snow coming down; and then it would like she had never been here in the first place, a wraith on this earth. Worm drew her tongue over her teeth, rolled it over sharp canines again and again as her mind tingled with thought. 

Metal on her tongue.

Worm's focus came to an abrupt end as her tooth caught her lip. She simply brought a paw to her muzzle and wiped it clean, halting her pace to do so. Round ears continued to take in the surroundings; the lull of ocean waves in the not-so-far distance, rythmic and powerful, resistant to the freeze that was soon to take the whole land. 

The vagabond crept onwards, her pace quick as she slipped between the shadows. Worm ached for entertainment. Maybe the sea would provide.

meredith moved through the forest with a practiced ease, her paws crunching lightly against the snow as her sharp blue eyes scanned the shadows. she was scouting for nox, keeping her nose to the cold wind and her ears attuned to the faintest sound of movement. the promise of fresh snow would soon cover any trail, but for now, she was focused.

her steps slowed when she spotted the black, gangly figure ahead. the woman moved like a shadow herself, slinking between the trees, her presence barely more than a whisper against the rhythmic pull of the distant waves. meredith tilted her head, curiosity sparking in her gaze as she closed the distance.

well now, she called out, her voice carrying the soft lilt of her mummer’s accent, teasing and light. ain’t you a slippery one, sneakin’ about like that. thought you were a ghost for a second.

her tail flicked lazily behind her as she stepped into view, keeping her posture casual but ready. what’s got you creepin’ ‘round these woods, eh? she added, her sharp grin playful, but her eyes watchful as she studied the stranger. she wasn’t looking for trouble, but she’d be ready if it found her.

Vermin halted, neck craned around to see the face that owned the voice; accented in a way Worm found... endearingly light. It urged her on with a playfulness of her own. Oo, careful, I might still be one. She returned in a low murmur, thin tail sweeping at the air behind her. 

A moment of silence, contemplation. Eyes of sea-slicked pearl roved over the other. Assessed her body and her scent.

Wolf. It must've been nice to be something entire instead of something unnatural, stitched into one. 

The sea. She straightened her posture, looked back at the direction she'd been heading. I'm on my way there. I followed this path, hoped to be quick enough to not be noticed, but ah.. seems that is out of the question now.

Trouble. Worm always seemed to find it, bad spirits all around her invited it. I don't mean to disrupt... whatever it is you do here. boney shoulders rolled in a shrug.

the woman’s sleek, black figure, all angles and shadows, seemed as much a part of the forest as the winter wind itself. her words, low and murmured, carried a teasing edge that meredith couldn’t help but meet with a sly grin of her own.

a ghost, are ye? she teased lightly, her mummer’s accent soft but laced with amusement. ye sure don’t move like one. too solid, too sharp. her tail swayed behind her, a lazy movement that belied the alertness in her posture.

her gaze flicked briefly in the direction the woman had been heading—the sea, she’d said. disruptin’? nah, love. just doin’ what i’m told, she said, her tone airy, but the weight of duty lingered beneath it. meredith straightened slightly, her head lifting as her voice carried a bit louder now.

captain! @Noxir! she called, her sharp voice cutting through the trees, the easy playfulness in her tone giving way to something more commanding. her eyes never left the stranger, her posture remaining loose but watchful. think we’ve got someone ye’ll want to meet.

the grin returned, faint but unmistakable, as she addressed the woman again. don’t worry. he don’t bite... much.

Though the influx of crew had shifted the weight of territory upkeep off the captain's shoulders, his patrols had by no means slowed. Often he would check and re-check the borders, reinforcing them in an almost obsessive way as if Murkwood would slip from his grasp in an instance. 

The same urge for control had begun to extend to his members, as Meredith's trail crossed his own and intermingled faintly with another. One he did not recognise. Bristling, the phantom stalked towards the murmur of nearby voices, materialising from the shadows at the girl's beck and call.

"Who do we have here?" the charisma of his voice cloaked a sharper edge, dark fur mingling possessively with Meredith's flaxen coat though his gaze remained firmly on the stranger. She was a small, sooty thing, unremarkable in every aspect except her inability to respect boundaries. "These woods are claimed, y'know. But I'm sure Meredith 'ere has told ye that much." The brief warmth of her pelt fell away as he took an expectant step towards the woman.

What do we have here?

It was enough to send a shiver down her spine! Icy and tingling, what sort of perversion did she have that made her so intrigued by it? 

Worm paused to shake out her coat, a level of disregard given to the danger that laid below the surface; she walked on the thin ice of dark, swallowing depths. Lucky she was light-footed.

I put two and two together. She chuffs lightly, looking over the man that had been summoned from the dark of the wood itself, a lanky thing, though still putting one up on a half-breed like herself. Like it mattered, Worm did not fight, not on fair terms, at least. F'it makes you feel any better, I haven't taken anything worth noting. 

She hadn't taken anything at all, but this dance was one best performed with flair, she wished to test the severity of her own trespass, what sort of weight he held it in.

The sea had not yet gotten its chance to entertain her, instead, the world dropped these two at her feet and she would remiss not to take it for the opportunity it was. Her head crooked to the side, eyes of dull silver met with the girl, Meredith first, and then the newcomer, captain. So then... She teased the silence with an impish grin, eyes widening at each exclamation. What ever will we do? It's a right conundrum! Shall I.... roll belly up and give a thousand apologies? Offer a leg or an eye in return for this terrible crime?

She toyed with the subject— how far would he go? Anywhere at all? She had a thought about what she wished to get from it, spontaneous, impulsive. She kept this thought unvoiced, for now.

meredith’s grin widened, sharp and playful, her vivid green eyes glittering with delight as they lingered on the dark woman before her. unpredictable, bold—this trespasser had a spark to her, and meredith couldn’t help but find it amusing.

an eye, is it? she drawled, her mummer’s accent thick with mischief. ah, now there’s a thought. reckon it’d look right nice in me collection. got a spot saved for it, i do. her tail swayed lightly behind her, movements deliberate as she let the weight of her words hang in the cool air.

her gaze flicked briefly to nox, her grin curling a little further as if to test the waters, before turning back to the black wolf with a lilt of teasing charm. though, truth be told, she mused, stepping closer with an almost feline grace, a whole leg might make for a better trophy. wouldn’t ye say, cap’n?

she tilted her head up toward nox, her green eyes glinting with wicked humor, though her posture remained deferential. let him make the call, but oh, wasn’t this little dance just too entertaining to let go too soon.

The woman did not cower before him, but Nox was used to this. He knew well enough that his presence did not command submission, at least not yet, and so her nonchalant attitude drew a faint curve to his lips. There were other ways of getting what he wanted. 

"Ay, but strollin' in uninvited is crime enough, don't ye think?" Another step forward, though his tail remained languid and low. Her demeanour reminded him much of the girl, but where Meredith's antics appeared to stem from her own stupidity, the dark woman's theatrics carried with it the hardened edge of survival. She had done this before, perhaps many times.

What did she want?

What did he want?

Inky ears flicked to catch Meredith's tease, tell-tale smirk growing wider knowing full well she was all talk no bite. "Now which one shall we take..." he met her verdant gaze briefly before beginning to circle the dark wolf, head hung low as if to examine each of her limbs up close. Even as his voice rose above the others, there remained a hint of playfulness. Slowly, deliberately, his eyes scoured her scrawny frame. There may be use for her yet.

"I dunno, Mer, there ain't much meat on this lass," head canting coyly towards the stranger, the captain returned to stand beside the girl. "Reckon I got a better idea. How'd ye like a job?"

The girl took her offer with a gleam of excitement, if she really did have a collection of plucked eyeballs Worm would only be disappointed to not get to see it with the one she kept. white wolf talked, but remained leashed to the will of the man. He called the shots, this much Worm could see. 

He circled with devouring eyes, picking out which piece they might've taken; much as it sounded like a joke, Worm wasn't entirely opposed to trading something for simple passage. Hell, she displayed herself with a bold pride unfitting for one of her stature, matching the playful muse sung from the man of dark sienna as he skulked around.

Desecration was just another way to shatter that part of her that was still tethered to that place. She didn't care what happened to this body.

Perhaps there were things wrong with her. 

He offered a job. The vagabond could hardly say no to something like that.

...I think I'll take y'up on it. She murmured, a grin teasing at the edge of her mouth, for the most part she kept her expression as severe and unsettling as it always was. I could work off my debt. I'll do whatever it is you need.

Danger on her tongue, temptation laid in veiled words. No qualms, no conditions, just a frightening willingness to act. How well this had turned out for her.

meredith's expression briefly fell, disappointment flickering across her features like a passing shadow. no eye today, she thought, pouting slightly as the idea of her macabre collection remaining one short momentarily soured her mood. she had been so certain this one would’ve been a fine addition.

but then her gaze lingered on the black-cloaked woman, on the way she carried herself with that unsettling confidence, that edge of something dark and untamed. a thought struck her—perhaps there was something even better than another trinket for her trove. perhaps this stranger could be... useful.

or maybe, just maybe, a friend!

a sly smile began to curl at her lips as she turned to nox, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous light. well, captain, she quipped lightly, her disappointment vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. guess you’ve got yerself a proper stray, huh?

she stepped closer to her, her head tilting as she regarded the dark woman with newfound intrigue. lucky us. her voice carried a playful edge, but there was no mistaking the genuine curiosity behind her words.

"Ye'v made the right choice," his lips curved into a twisted smile at her acceptance. While his tone remained impish, his words carried the weight of a threat should the strange woman disobey him. Perhaps he would take Meredith up on her offer; an eye or a tooth would serve a plentiful warning for a hasty abandoner.

The thought sent shivers down his spine. He had never thought himself a maimer, but the intrigue sparked a slew of what if's that danced through his conscience. Unlike his brother and mother, Noxir's violent tendencies were hidden deep below a sea of false amity. What would it take to reveal them? A wolf, willing and waiting to do his bidding had been delivered to his doorstep, but Noxir shoved aside the temptation in favour of the task at hand.

"There's a settlement near. Coastal, small. Led by a man who calls himself Rodyn." The captain allowed a pause, gaze flicking from the dark woman and back to the girl. "Might have somethin' worth takin' - but we'd need a distraction. A bait." His focus returned sharp-eyed to her spiderling form as his tongue reached to swipe his teeth. "Whaddaya think, Mer?"

Bait dog.

I will do it. She spoke easily, accompanied with a shrug, all the nonchalant attitude of discussing something simple as the weather. Why would she care what happened to the denizens of this coast? So some poor sods got ransacked, scream your woes to the wind and be done with it. The implication was not lost on her; already she was drawn in on their plans, even if only as the most expendable piece.

if it meant she had a place to stay a while and entertainment dropped at her feet, then it was well worth it, whatever was to come. 

To be expendable was what the girl Worm exceeded at, even if deep down, that shameful part of her wished to be irreplaceable. Silver eyes looked straight on, still and scrying despite the wash of calm that touched her features. If you don't still wish to take a piece, that is. One or the other, sorry, I can't be that generous.

Like looking down into dark waters as you tread on the surface, she felt the weight of his words; the threat of violence that still lingered in the depths, just out of sight. It was unspoken, but Worm thought of herself, one-eyed and marred; strange the vision filled her with a sense of foul delight. Look now and see, what your progeny becomes. 

The doings of atrocity fell into the same category.

aye, captain. meredith's voice rolled like the sea, a mummer's tune with its lilts and dips, the kind of melody that made you lean closer to catch every word. her grin mirrored noxir's, sharp and knowing, though there was a glint of mischief in her eye that betrayed her excitement at the prospect.

the idea of bait—of chaos—suited her well enough. she'd played her part in distractions before, knew how to weave the story just right to keep the marks looking her way while the true work unfolded behind them. she didn’t care about rodyn’s settlement or its people; they were just another pebble in the tide, swept away when the waves came crashing down.

distraction it is, she hummed, her tone playful but carrying the weight of understanding. an’ if it’s bait ye’ want, well, she'll make ‘em look so hard they’ll miss their own shadows.

her gaze flicked briefly to worm, sizing her up with an appraising smirk before it settled back on noxir. meredith’s laughter bubbled low in her throat, soft yet unsettling, like the calm before a storm. she tilted her head, her grin unwavering.

what’s the play, then? ye set the fire, or shall i?

"Then it's settled."

Her willingness was unnerving as it was welcome - who was this woman who so readily threw herself at the feet of strangers she barely knew? Whatever compelled her intrigued him greatly, though he did not particularly care to ask for details at the given moment. "Who's to say we won't take a piece if ye fail." A wise play it was to offer only one of her services at a time; Nox would respect it for now but it wasn't as if the woman had much of a choice.

Meredith's laugh preceded the same question that had plagued the captain's mind since his visit to the oceanside settlement. "Give it time," he urged her, his tone uncharacteristically serious. Although the prospect of a raid brought with it a familiar excitement, there came with it a heavy risk. "I want our flag 'ere permanent before we go gallivanting off to someplace else." Turning to the dark woman then; "Ye got a name, bait wolf?"

The captain earned a laugh from her at his final threat. Fine by me. All things should come with consequence, should they not? Consequences, consequences, a natural result of any course of action, the gamble of good or bad, still hung in the balance. If anything, it was a good motivator for a job well done. Not really like she had much choice at the end of the day, but she could hold a fraction of power by simply accepting it. God knows none would see her beg.

Vermin made of ink drew closer on light feet, a practiced dancer drifting across the shallow snow beneath them. The weight of danger lifted from the air; imminent danger, at least. She could work with that.

Oh yes came with a drawal, a museful affirmation. but not quite wolf. This one is Worm. She gave no elaboration to her claim, left it cryptic in the air between. But.. y'can call me whatever you like. M'not picky. bony shoulders rolled indifferently. She was to be servant to their pack until the debt was paid, what did she care what she was called?

worm, aye? meredith's grin was as wide as a ship's bow, her eyes dancing with delight at the recruit's peculiar introduction. strange sort y'are, but i like ye already! she sidled closer to worm with a bounce to her step, her accent thick and playful as ever. names meredith—call me whatever ye like, too, just so long as it's not somethin' nasty.

she glanced at the captain, her admiration clear as day, before turning back to the new addition. an' don't worry none 'bout him. she gestured to nox with a casual flick of her tail, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. he's got a heart buried somewhere under all that scowl. you'll see it peek out now 'n then, if yer lucky!

meredith stepped back, giving worm a quick once-over. well, welcome aboard, eh? reckon you'll find us good company—or at least lively. her laughter rang out like a bell over the cold air, warm and inviting.