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Oct 7, 2009 20:39:01 GMT -5
Post by Mystic on Oct 7, 2009 20:39:01 GMT -5
Magic lay in the warm spring sun, comfortable where he was. He had been on a hunt the day before. They had brought down a rather large, powerful buck. Magic couldn't be credited to the kill. That had been one of the elder wolves. But he had been one of the ones to drive it until it was hampered by exhaustion. Everyone played a part. The buck would feed the pack for a little over two weeks, if they rashioned it carefully. Magic was still tired from the long chase and slow kill.
"Tired, brother?" Juliet said teasingly. She nudged him playfully. "Shouldn't you be keeping Sootflare company?"
"She was napping in her den, last I checked." Magic answered, opening his eyes. "I didn't want to disturb her..." He glanced around the dens. Mostly only members of the hunting party and pupsitters remained in the camp. "Did Forest run off with Sol?"
Juliet giggled and nodded. She didn't seem jealous that both of her siblings had found mates (Or, in Magic's case, a possible mate.) before her. She found it adorable, actually. "Mother doesn't think her leg should trouble her anymore until autumn comes again. We need to ask Sol to heal it, before then."
Magic nodded numbly, not really hearing his sister's words. He was still caught in haze that his small morning nap had led him into.
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Oct 7, 2009 21:05:58 GMT -5
Post by Phantom on Oct 7, 2009 21:05:58 GMT -5
The peaceful scene with the young lovers and new immortals would be abruptly interrupted. A long, loud call, a threatening howl, ripped the air, and soon after it, a large, dark-grey and black male padded right into the clearing. Behind him, two others strayed to either side. One a fairly-sized reddish-hued wolf, with long ears and fur, seeming annoyed by the other beside him. Said other was unmistakable. Once you saw him, you never forgot. Hemitite's green-hued pelt bristled as he stepped in, eyes dashing here and there, edgy. He may be confident on his own land, but he knew it was dangerous here.
Bleaknight paused after making his big entrance, looking around. He seemed very aloof and disinterested, before sitting down and scratching an ear. Completely relaxed. "So this is your pampered den. Not as impressive as I thought it'd be." He glanced around, until his blood-red gaze found Magic. "Oh. Hello, there, pup. I seek a counsel with your Alpha. Or your mother." He added, a wicked purr sliding into his deep, booming voice.
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Oct 7, 2009 21:27:15 GMT -5
Post by Mystic on Oct 7, 2009 21:27:15 GMT -5
Magic's immortal heart nearly stopped. He jumped to his feet at once, a low growl coming from deep within his throat. Bleaknight was as frightening as ever. But Magic was grown now-and immortal. Juliet was at her feet at once, fur bristling and eyes flicking from the red wolf, to Bleaknight, to Hemitite.
"I'll fetch my grandfather." Magic agreed. His words were polite, but there was an edge in his tone. He backed away, reluctant to turn his back on them. Why did his mother have to be pupsitting again? Why did Sootflare have to be in the dens, now of all times? Why could Juliet have taken a walk instead of resting from the hunt? Magic ran to his grandfather's den first, praying that he would be there. Magic didn't feel safe leaving his mother, sister, and beloved Soot alone with these three.
Mystic, like any good mother, recognized the side of danger. She ordered the group of pups she was watching to hide in a den, then went to Juliet's side. She raised her ears and tail slightly. They were on Greenwood land, and she was the daughter of the Alpha. She had right to, even if all three ranked highly. Mystic nodded briefly to Bleaknight and Hemitite. "Bleaknight. Hemitite." She addressed them cordially, but there was hate in her eyes. Her gaze briefly fell on the red wolf.
Juliet remained tense and alert, looking as menacing as her father and yet as beautiful as her mother.
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Oct 7, 2009 21:34:10 GMT -5
Post by Phantom on Oct 7, 2009 21:34:10 GMT -5
Starfrost was already heading out of his den. "I smell them." He replied, his voice cracked with age. The Alpha had already declined Sol's offer to make him immortal. He was too old for it now anyway, and he wanted his daughter to have her chance to lead in her turn. He half-limped over, bones weak with age, but sat apart, letting Mystic do most of the talking for now, unless he was forced to join in.
Bleaknight watched her a moment before flicking an ear to the red wolf. "This is Jasper, my beta." He informed, before turning all his attention back to Mystic. "Now, I've come because your pack has now taken three of mine. A strong male of a high rank, Hemitite's favorite female, and my brother. You owe me." He purred, an amused grin acorss his muzzle.
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Oct 7, 2009 21:42:47 GMT -5
Post by Mystic on Oct 7, 2009 21:42:47 GMT -5
"You banished Romeo and Hemitite allowed Sootflare to come to our pack." Mystic replied calmly. She'd learned from her father to be a diplomat first, a warrior later. Magic sat down beside his mother, trying his best not to growl or look hostile. "As for Sol, he came of his own free will. According to my son-and Sol himself-he had your permission for this as well." Mystic met Bleaknight's gaze. This she-wolf, who bore no real resemblence to either her father nor mother, suddenly looked very much like her Alpha parents. "We have stolen none from your pack. In fact, Sootflare was a Greenwood to begin with. It is more as if she has returned home, than anything else."
"So you have no business here!" Juliet barked.
"Shush, daughter, shush!" Mystic snapped. She looked at Bleaknight and cleared her throat. "The only matter that can truly be called 'unsettled' is the object of my son's tresspassing. But this can also be called 'payment' for another pup's tresspassing. Romeo's. And for all the yearlings that dart across our borders in the dead of night."
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Oct 7, 2009 21:51:29 GMT -5
Post by Phantom on Oct 7, 2009 21:51:29 GMT -5
Bleaknight glanced slowly over at Juliet, scanning her up and down with those eyes that seemed to see too much. "Hmm... you know, I was hoping I could strike a deal. I mean, we've given you so much, after all. In our banishing Romeo, you got three new pups. In Hemitite's graciously giving you Sootflare, one of said pups probably has his own pups now. And my brother..." He chuckled, eyes going murderously playful. "I heard about he and your daughter, Mystic. And if you do not give us some sort of payment now, I will go and I will kill her in front of your entire pack." He stated coldly. "Laws matter not to me. Surrender now, or she will hang by her tail from the highest tree, for the scavenger birds' dinner."
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Oct 7, 2009 21:57:40 GMT -5
Post by Mystic on Oct 7, 2009 21:57:40 GMT -5
Juliet and Magic snarled in unison. Mystic remained calm on the outside, but her heartbeat quickened. She narrowed her eyes cruelly. "You need our females for pups? From what we've learned, you have hoards of immortal females, all perfectly capable of bearing healthy offspring. Or, are they simply as you call them? Toys to play with as you see fit, as if they were not living creatures at all?"
Mystic's mind was turning. She couldn't as a mother give up one of her daughters, or another pup, to these three. But to avoid bloodshed, it might be needed.
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Oct 7, 2009 22:03:18 GMT -5
Post by Phantom on Oct 7, 2009 22:03:18 GMT -5
He grinned. "Exactly. How about this?" He relaxed back, glancing into the woods. "Hmm... say we don't harm anyone, Forest comes over to our pack, and stays with her beloved Sol? The only real change would be she'd be in our pack." He shrugged, glancing back at her. "Deal?"
As he spoke, Hemitite was abruptly missing from his side. The green-sheened male was slowly sneaking towards the den where he could scent Sootflare. He was just curious how far he could go before he got caught.
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Oct 7, 2009 22:10:03 GMT -5
Post by Mystic on Oct 7, 2009 22:10:03 GMT -5
Mystic laid her ears back. She trusted Sol to keep Forest safe. But she couldn't make the decision without letting her daughter and Sol have a say in this matter. Besides, it was technically still her father's decision. "Shall we see what your younger brother thinks?" She glanced to her side, hoping Magic and Juliet wouldn't snarl their objections. Juliet look unhappy, but Magic had vanished.
Magic leapt in front of Sootflare's den entrance. He snarled and raised his tail. "I think you're needed at the negotiations, Hemitite." Magic narrowed his eyes at him.
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Oct 7, 2009 22:14:37 GMT -5
Post by Phantom on Oct 7, 2009 22:14:37 GMT -5
Bleaknight chuckled. "Alright. Why don't we meet at the border this time tomorrow? I have other things to do today, and I don't want to stay here much longer." He shrugged, being perfectly honest as he glanced over at Hemitite. The Captain was backing away from Magic, but was chuckling under his breath.
"No, I don't think so. I just wanted to say hello, is that so much to ask?" The foreign wolf purred, eyes dancing wickedly.
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Oct 7, 2009 22:17:49 GMT -5
Post by Mystic on Oct 7, 2009 22:17:49 GMT -5
"Yes!" Magic snarled.
Mystic nodded. "We will meet you there with our decision." She would only have to conceal her panic a little longer. She would wait until the three were far away, then express her distress to her father. "Tell any wolves you may encounter on your way back that you have safe passage to your territory."
Like any wolves could pose any threat to those three.
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Oct 8, 2009 16:58:04 GMT -5
Post by Phantom on Oct 8, 2009 16:58:04 GMT -5
Hemitite snorted, rolling his eyes as he started trotting away. Bleaknight soon followed, then grabbed the other by the tail and yanked him back behind him, earning a yelp in return. Jasper loped behind them, perfectly relaxed.
After they were gone, Starfrost turned his worried gaze to his daughter, frowning softly. Give up Forest...?
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Oct 8, 2009 17:36:18 GMT -5
Post by Mystic on Oct 8, 2009 17:36:18 GMT -5
Mystic whimped a bit, flattened her ears, and sat down. A shudder went down her spine. It always happened when she even thought of Bleaknight. "Papa, what do we do? The wolf refuses to listen to reason...and...I can't give up my daughter."
"I say we fight!" Juliet growled. "They can't just come into our land and demand her like that!"
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Oct 8, 2009 17:50:11 GMT -5
Post by Phantom on Oct 8, 2009 17:50:11 GMT -5
"Fight?" Repeated a soft, but depressed voice as Sol stepped into the clearing. "To what end? Despite internal fights, the numbers of that pack are higher than you can imagine. And none of them have any limits. They will do more than kill you." He sighed, dipping his head. "I'm sorry... this is my fault." If he hadn't thought to run off like that, none of this would've happened, after all.
Starfrost sighed, turning to Mystic again. It seemed he was actually in the process of giving his leadership to her, turning to her to make the decisions alone.
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Oct 8, 2009 17:59:44 GMT -5
Post by Mystic on Oct 8, 2009 17:59:44 GMT -5
Mystic felt tears sting her eyes. Sol was right. Greenwood would be obliterated. Forest came up behind Sol, her ears flattened against her head. She stared at her mother.
"I don't want the pack dead because of me, Mother." Forest whimpered. "I'll go."
Mystic let out a sob. She ran to Forest and got up on two legs. She used her front legs to give her daughter a big, tight hug. Juliet walked over, her face mixed with danger and sorrow. Magic whimpered, but figured he could not cry. He had to be strong for his mother and his sisters. Mystic finally released her daughter, she turned and narrowed her eyes at Sol. "You...you take care of her, you hear me? Keep her at your side and don't let anyone hurt her."
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