"Easy-" he said, placing himself between the two. "Calm down...it was a cougar, Pala...or, perhaps, it is better put the result of a fight with one."
He looked calmly from Raven to Pala to Deuce, then back at Jorn's body. "I do not know why it has happened like this...or to what end his death will do the pack any good-but we must not turn on each other-not now."
"Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere;
Destroyer and preserver; hear, oh, hear!"
Re: Only a walk
There was still a deep chestfill rumble of a growl growing in her body but she had to let it die. She trusted the older wolf, though she didn't trust the bird.
"Who said I was turning? Jorn was the one cursing birds. For all that I know it may have been the one here that attacked with the cat." Raven spat out the words as if they left a nasty taste in her mouth.
Re: Only a walk
"I know, but we must be careful now. Pala is a member of this pack-" he looked to the raven with a smile and wink, though the smile was weak, given the circumstances. "Just as we are."
His good eye fell then to the snowy wolf near them. "Deuce, we should tell Deacon-he-should know as soon as possible...that way, we can know what his move will be..."
He was worried about the presence of a mountain lion in the Deadwood lands-Jorn's wound may have caused his death, but if it happened with any frequency, the deadwood wolves would die. The old leader in him wanted to rally, and go bring down the brute-but he knew better...it was Deacon's call, and Deacon's alone.
"Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere;
Destroyer and preserver; hear, oh, hear!"
Re: Only a walk
Raven still growled low at the bird, it didn't matter to her, Jorn had cursed birds, how did she know if that bird had been part of it or not?
Raven let out a loud low mournful howl, to call all the pack and to give vocie to her grief. Too much death and violence, and now it followed her.
Again she rested her head on Idrian's shoulder, searching for comfort in her own empty heart. She found nothing to ease the ache death brought, no matter who it was.
A bothersome song made the brute's head tilt his great crown skyward. Sorrow clung to the atmosphere like mud during the rainy seasons. No matter how hard one washes, it doesn't come out. Whoever it was that had contaminated the air, surely did the same to the brute's mood. Then again, it came from the vacinity of his lands. Sharp blue-violet hues held a glittering darkness as he began to move toward the broken howl.
Powerful paws scared the earth as Deacon tore through the foliage faster than wildfire. The forest parted before him, even the hanging limbs of his charred lands did themselves a world of good and stood out of his way. At such velocities the winds screamed into his auds, screamed of blood and death, the only thing that could cause such a mournful cry. Tassle twisted as the brute came to a turn, balancing out his paws which spent more time in the air than on land. What a bad day to stary too far from his lands, karma came round and bit the male, he had to make up for his wanderings by burning much of his stored engery--which was important on such cold days.
The irony scent of blood made his nostrils expand, it was cold blood, having been drying for a while. Other then the overwhelming copper-tone, he hinted at the unique scents of everyone from the Deadwood pack. Pushing his limbs even faster he bolted to their gathering point, coming to a splendid halt meters before collison. A full exhale depleted his lungs, the brute's sporadic body already starting to relax. Glowing orbs immedietely closed upon the befallen Jorn. Brows raised in a suprised manner, a notion rarely seen on the brute's stoic gaze that nearly always consists of arrogant sneers and distant glares.
Vocals were still, and it seemed the not even a breath left his body. He was existing on soul alone. Slowly, he observed the faces of all that's gathered, including the hysterical bird-member. Pala. Haven't seen her beak around for quite some time. Didn't think she cared so mucha about the raven brute. The first movement in and eternity it seemed, Deacon approached the Beta examining wounds with expert nose and eagle eyes. Feline? Since when had a crafty cat lofted into his lands? The once surprised brows twitched with annoyance. What a toublesome turn of events. Muscles tensed around his spine, though a large feline might out muscle one wolf, its no match for the pack.
Finally the golden beast broke from close proximities of Jorn. Deacon's eyes were nearly closed, with muzzle twitching to bare dangerous ivrons. Once again the Hellian's eyes addressed the crowd, they were cold, stormy and horribly containing tell-tale pupils. Despite the animosity between the two males, Deacon had accept the midnight beast as part of the pack--that was reason enough to wonder...--"Where's the cat?"
Only a walk
Raven looked at the Alpha. She was truely mournful of Jorn, though he was mad as a hatter. She looked at the others, it was Raven who had some of Jorn's blood on her. She smelled of spring water pain and cooper scent of old blood.
"He said it was the cat and a bird. He didn't want to be seen like this. Tried to send me away. I tried to keep him alive." She stopped and again layed her head on Idrian, angry and sadden about it all.
Re: Only a walk
Idrian leaned slightly toward her to let her know she was free to lean. He cast his eye to Deacon. "It isn't near-I have seen no sign of it save this...atrocity." He could tell from the look in the alpha's eyes that the cat would be made pay...and it roused some ungodly fervor in him.
Still, the father in him wanted to comfort Raven, but he sensed the pain in her. It amazed him now, how one wolf could be so despised in life and yet be the binding tie that called the pack together.
"Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere;
Destroyer and preserver; hear, oh, hear!"
Re: Only a walk
"A cat and a bird?" Deuce's tone was mild. "Must have been Old cat and tsalagi. The idiot must have rubbed them the wrong way." Again she had to dodge the flailing Pala as the griefstricken raveness flew at her. Deuce's tounge lolled out of the side of her mouth in an almost amused manner. It had been no secret the lithe fey had no strong affection for the mutt, and the bird's hysteria amused her greatly.
pala gave up on wounding the one who affronted her so, and settled next to the body, her golden eyes heavy with grief. Though it had seemed they'd held no fondness, Pala adored jorn. The beta had saved her life, and for that she was eternally grateful to him. And now he was gone. And she had no one. No reason to stay here, no reason to bother going on.
Re: Only a walk
Idrian noticed Pala, and his heart broke for her. He gave Raven an encouraging nuzzle before he turned away, and walked to the raven. "Pala, do not mourn so...retribution will come to us soon enough."
He spoke softly. He had sensed it from Deacon's tone...he knew from the heaviness of the air. The cat would pay...how he hoped for it. The affront to the pack was degrading, and frightening...because another blow like this and Deadwood might cease to be.
Had it been him, it would not have mattered so. But the younger wolves-the stronger wolves...they mattered...he was just relieved it had not been Deacon.
"Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere;
Destroyer and preserver; hear, oh, hear!"
Re: Only a walk
Raven relented just a little in her anger and spoke to the bird, "I think he may of spoken for you while I was with him." He probably hadn't but she wasn't sure, and if the bird, that had apperently been his friend needed to think so then it was perhaps better to lie then to leave her so alone.
She went over to the bird and touched her lightly on the side with her nose. Then went back to Idrian. She was agnry and felt oddly alone. She had watched him die, another of her kind had passed into the Summer Lands. She stood apart from the rest unsure of what to do with herself.
As the pack deliberated amongst themselves, it appeared the brute was in casual thought. His piercing eyes where hidden behind solem lids and a soft wrinkle curled his sharp muzzle. A motion of challenge, regardless of whether he favored the late Jorn or not.
Finally, the caramal brute looked up and directed glowing eyes towards the hysterical avian. "Calm yourself Pala, in life Jorn would not have liked you to act like this, I'm sure in death his will is no different." For once there was no arrogant undertone, his thick baritone was a calm purr that crawled up his vocals with simple grace.
Sniffing deeply Deacon actually appeared somber, so unlike his "greater-than-thou" attitude that clung to the brute's gleaming coat like a disease. "Deuce...What do you know about this cat and bird?" He asked, oddly using everyone's real names. At a time like now, the brute lost his sarcasm, he was raised with a warrior's heart after all. Even when the cat killed one wolf, he would--without a doubt--have to answer to the howl of the whole pack.
Re: Only a walk
Deuce looked sharply at the golden brute. how odd that he'd used her name. Slowly, the lithe fey spoke, "I know naught but their names. That and old cat has come in search of Eden."
Eden. If there were such a place, would Jorn be in it now? Or would he be roasting in hell, where he belonged? The fey was unsure. Yes, he seemed to have died of wounds, but perhaps he instigated the battle.
Re: Only a walk
Idrian felt a rumble rising in his throat. He had disliked Jorn as much as the others, but again, this was pack.
"If the vermin has come in search of Eden, mark me, he shall not find it here! All he shall find are torments befitting a murderer."
The snarl died in his throat when he realized that he had spoken out of place. He dropped his bicolored head and his tail as a rapid apology. The anger was still in him, though, but he had to trust to Deacon's sense of things-if the alpha felt it was not worth the potential waste of life, then he would obey that.
"Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere;
Destroyer and preserver; hear, oh, hear!"
Winters were always harsh, and be it now that the gods have dealt a blow to his numbers. Another hunter like Jorn would have been helpful in the long winter months.
Upon the old wolf's statment, a glance was shot in the direction of the black and white lupine. It wasn't a scolding glance, but a curious one. The old wolf was loyal. That brought a small smirk to the amber brute.
"No, Idrian. If it is Eden he seeks....Let it be us to see him there." There was something wicked in Deacon's eye, a soft cry for blood. This was how nature intends it. Blood for blood, and only an untamed spirit of Wilderness be able to understand such. None of this semtimentality, death can only be repaided with death--It was a brutal world and such a ring-leader as Deacon could make an execution sound more elegant.
Re: Only a walk
He looked back at the alpha and nodded, the fighter's light growing stronger in his eye again. "Indeed. And such a welcome we would make for him, no doubt."
He raised his head again, feeling relieved that Deacon had not taken his over...enthusiasm...for lack of a better term...as effrontery. "What shall we do in the meantime?"
"Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere;
Destroyer and preserver; hear, oh, hear!"
Only a walk
Raven strangled a low growl, she had moved a little away from the old wolf. She looked at the pack, or what was left of it. A deep anger a blood lust came flying through her and she let it out in a howl that chilled the blood.
"I would recomend a quick chase and a slow pain filled death," she snarled, suddenly the salm quiet female gam,ma, had become a female of blood lust and rage. A true difference from what she was normally. She was the creature of death and destruction. The animal that played with its kill.
A lazy tongue slipped out from between the brute's powerful jowls, as a sly grin tugged at his lips. A demon birthed, and looky here--this monster wasn't alone. The lust was contagious, and Deacon could already taste the sweet irony release. So the plan was to turn the cat's game on...the cat. Yes, it would be like herding cattle: nipping at the heels till the prey tires, then...Well, that was getting to imaginative. Calm down, Deacon.
The amber brute gave his heavy pelt a firm tossle, and swung that large crown back toward the late Jorn. "In the meantime..." answering Idrian's words, " We'll give Jorn our honored Farewell, and hunt for this feline."
Nares flared gently, casting a sensory net into the great unknown. " However, I do not want the cat to go the rest of us. Getting through the winter is our top priority, finding the cat comes second." He wasn't going to loose all his troops to this cat nor this weather.
Re: Only a walk
Idrian nodded vaguely. "Indeed. The cat will fall in time...I just hope it is to our fangs and not those of Madam Winter."
He felt a stir in his soul at Raven's cry, and struggled not to answer it. Deacon was intelligent enough to make the wiser choice, though the heart of the pack was set on blood and vengeance...it was lusts like these who were far from safe...which would destroy the fabric of the pack.
"Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere;
Destroyer and preserver; hear, oh, hear!"
Re: Only a walk
Ravens long cry slowly ended, and she was still posessed by the want for trators blood. She was no longer the calm female, the gentle one who planned on staying out of the way of others.
She wanted feline blood and she planned on satisfying that lust. Even if it meant using winter and human halves as part of the plan. "After all hunting cats often like the blood and flesh of a human," she mused aloud for no one inpaticular to hear.
Re: Only a walk
Idrian went to Raven's side again, pressing his snout against her neck in an attempt to bring her back to herself. "Calm yourself, Raven...all will come round to what it is meant to be in enough time. We will have the cat's blood when Deacon leads us to it."
He nudged her slightly, hoping for a response of some type to come from her. It was a test, true, and he knew it, and his good eye stayed on Deacon, his ears tuned to the voice of the alpha.
"Wild Spirit, which art moving everywhere;
Destroyer and preserver; hear, oh, hear!"
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