The Hunted: A Plot
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The Hunted: A Plot
by Soran July 23rd 2012, 9:58 pm
THINGS TO CONSIDER
- - Unless we attack you, don’t just attack our characters. We do have things planned out, and it could get a little confusing (this rule may change later).
- Don’t kill any of the characters; they all have a purpose to fulfill.
- Be sure to follow all basic role-play rules set forth by Rune/Crimson. You can them here: ( http://www.banishing-winds.com/t5-roleplaying-rules )
- Certain developments in the plot may occur, however remember, if you character isn’t nearby, then be sure to react accordingly as though your wolf does not see it.
- Keep an eye out for background information in the first few posts, they will help explain why this situation is occurring.
- Maiara and I also ask that all of you wait to post until we have finished the first few ourselves. We'll let you know when we have but until then, sit tight and good luck!
CHRACTER INFORMATION
- Name: Skia
Gender: Female
Age: 3 years; 11 months
Rank: Alpha Female
Personality: Fear is not more powerful than respect; fear is respect. Skia is despised by most of her own pack members, but out of fear they follow her. Her mind is corrupt, she hungers for power and cares little for what must be sacrificed to obtain it. Many believe her to be crazy, but others know better. Although often she seems cold and detached, her temper is short and she will quickly provoke a fight if she thinks that it will get her anywhere. In spite of all the darkness that has permeated her mind, however, she believes above all else that what she is doing is for the good of all involved. But absolute power corrupts absolutely.
_______
- Name: Veris
Gender: Male
Age: 3 years; 7 months
Rank: Alpha Male
Personality: While Veris has strength intoned in his very bones, he is weak in the heart. He grew up in a pack in which no matter what he did, nothing could satisfy those he looked up to. So when he met Skia, a mysterious hauntress, and fell for her, he knew that he would do just about anything to please her. And this time he would succeed. So while Skia strings Veris along for the convenience, he fulfils his role as her lackey dutifully. Those who attempt to get in his way while he is carrying out his lover’s will, will find themselves quickly realizing that to do so is folly.
To the naïve eye, Veris may seem crazy, but he is in fact quite sane. If Skia was pure of heart, he likely would be as well. However, as the hauntress’ heart is crawling with little but demons and madness, Veris’ heart has followed in suit. Behind his wild eyes though, is a quick and cunning brain that always seems to be one step ahead of those he deems dangerous to Skia’s mission. His thoughts constantly revolve around pleasing her, in that he has lost himself.
_______
- Name: Avarice
Gender: Female
Age: 4 years; 2 months
Rank: Lead Hunter
Personality: Bitter, greedy for the sister and nieces and nephews she was robbed of.
The word avarice for which this female was named for implies extreme greed of material wealth. However, the nature of this Avarice’s greed is lust for the most immaterial of wealth, which is life. Life gained, life lost, life robbed.
_______
- Name: Cano
Gender: Male
Age: 4 years; 1 month
Rank: Lead Guard
Personality: Cano is among the packs’ top guards. His manner his fierce and he is extremely self-reliant when if comes to stressful situations. Although when comes the opportunity to work as a group with the other guards, he usually acts as their leaders, as he is one of few wolves with enough experiences to be prepared for anything. He is highly admired by all the pack’s females; however, this seems to go unnoticed as he isn’t one to linger around the territory for too long.
_______
- Name: Panoply
Gender: Female
Age: 3 years
Rank: Lead Sentinel
Personality: Panoply instinctively tends to be sweet and caring towards those whom she is close to. She brings out the best in others, and can be very persuasive, easily influencing others to do things they often would not normally do. Before finding herself under Skia’s leadership she was quite innocent, but since then she has changed much from her original self. Her adaptive nature has allowed to stay alive in this strange and powerful pack. Although Panoply has always had a strong moral compass, she has learned to quiet her conscience around Skia. In fact she has done this so efficiently that she has risen a good deal in the alphess’s opinion since she first joined. If the hauntress is in a very good mood she often indulges Panoply with some secrets of the pack’s inner workings. That being said, Panoply has learned how to slyly navigate around the pack’s hierarchy and Skia’s own rules. She is quick and clever, and her natural ability to influence others allows her to easily lead the sentinels under her guidance. However, she’s also the type to give in to her impulses, and weaknesses, something that has often brought her trouble in the past.
Soran
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Re: The Hunted: A Plot
by Maiara July 23rd 2012, 11:37 pm
Skia sat in cold shadow a short distance from her pack, pensive and calculating in her solitude. This was not her pack’s home, nor was the land familiar to her. She closed her eyes and let the resulting darkness bring her back to the day when everything had changed.
It was two years before, the hauntress was the Beta Female at the time, and their pack had found themselves in conflict with the wolves of the Banishing Winds Pack over land. The Alpha female of the Banishing Winds Pack was murdered and what had been a volatile situation exploded. Skia remembered that there had been much blood shed by the young, pretty alphess. Her lips spread into a smile as she recalled. However, a copper she wolf of the Banishing Winds Pack had lashed back. Skia frowned, trying to call to mind the female’s name…Dakota. She had been furious in her anguish, and had in turn killed Skia’s alpha female. Unbeknownst to the snarling Dakota, the wolf that she had slaughtered was pregnant. She had ripped open the dear alpha’s belly to reveal three slippery runts whose hearts had stopped beating with their mother’s. And though upon learning this the copper-furred wretch had despaired, the deed was done, and a mother and her three unborn pups would never again wake. So it had all begun.
Power had passed to the hauntress, and they fled the Banishing Winds Pack, forfeiting the land that had caused so much loss. In time the pack recovered, but one hunter, the former alpha female’s sister was still wrought with grief. Avarice still mourned her sibling’s death, and had not been quite the same since it had occurred.
One day she came up to Skia, her pale blue eyes empty but filled with a chilling resolve.
“Skia, I‘ll admit that I haven‘t been myself. My dreams are filled with my sister’s ghost. She tells me that though we have lost much but we have so much to gain. She will not rest until I--she has justice. Two alpha females were lost but four lives go un-repaid.”
Skia had nodded, listening intently to the poor mad hunter rave, but saying nothing. She was near certain that Avarice was quite unstable with all her talk of restless spirits, but there was still truth in her words.
“I want to return to the Banishing Winds territory. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life. Four Banishing Winds wolves must pay the price for my nieces and nephews. And then we can claim the land that we deserved. Skia don’t you see? This is what we have always been destined to do.”
Skia considered it. Revenge, fear, and power. How could she resist?
So she told her pack that they were going on a journey. She promised justice that would settle their weary hearts, and glory that would rekindle the fire in their eyes.
However, when Skia led her wolves back to Banishing Winds territory, all that remained was a charred graveyard of smoking tree stumps covered in snowy grey ashes. But a large, fear-stricken pack fleeing its homeland leaves many traces. It was easy to pick up their trail, and follow behind at a safe distance. By the time the Banishing Winds Pack had resettled, Skia had established a temporary home for her pack nearby, just outside the enemy borders. There she had been biding her time until the winter passed. But now, with spring breathing fresh wind over the treetops, and her pack antsy with apprehension, the time was right.
It was two years before, the hauntress was the Beta Female at the time, and their pack had found themselves in conflict with the wolves of the Banishing Winds Pack over land. The Alpha female of the Banishing Winds Pack was murdered and what had been a volatile situation exploded. Skia remembered that there had been much blood shed by the young, pretty alphess. Her lips spread into a smile as she recalled. However, a copper she wolf of the Banishing Winds Pack had lashed back. Skia frowned, trying to call to mind the female’s name…Dakota. She had been furious in her anguish, and had in turn killed Skia’s alpha female. Unbeknownst to the snarling Dakota, the wolf that she had slaughtered was pregnant. She had ripped open the dear alpha’s belly to reveal three slippery runts whose hearts had stopped beating with their mother’s. And though upon learning this the copper-furred wretch had despaired, the deed was done, and a mother and her three unborn pups would never again wake. So it had all begun.
Power had passed to the hauntress, and they fled the Banishing Winds Pack, forfeiting the land that had caused so much loss. In time the pack recovered, but one hunter, the former alpha female’s sister was still wrought with grief. Avarice still mourned her sibling’s death, and had not been quite the same since it had occurred.
One day she came up to Skia, her pale blue eyes empty but filled with a chilling resolve.
“Skia, I‘ll admit that I haven‘t been myself. My dreams are filled with my sister’s ghost. She tells me that though we have lost much but we have so much to gain. She will not rest until I--she has justice. Two alpha females were lost but four lives go un-repaid.”
Skia had nodded, listening intently to the poor mad hunter rave, but saying nothing. She was near certain that Avarice was quite unstable with all her talk of restless spirits, but there was still truth in her words.
“I want to return to the Banishing Winds territory. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life. Four Banishing Winds wolves must pay the price for my nieces and nephews. And then we can claim the land that we deserved. Skia don’t you see? This is what we have always been destined to do.”
Skia considered it. Revenge, fear, and power. How could she resist?
So she told her pack that they were going on a journey. She promised justice that would settle their weary hearts, and glory that would rekindle the fire in their eyes.
However, when Skia led her wolves back to Banishing Winds territory, all that remained was a charred graveyard of smoking tree stumps covered in snowy grey ashes. But a large, fear-stricken pack fleeing its homeland leaves many traces. It was easy to pick up their trail, and follow behind at a safe distance. By the time the Banishing Winds Pack had resettled, Skia had established a temporary home for her pack nearby, just outside the enemy borders. There she had been biding her time until the winter passed. But now, with spring breathing fresh wind over the treetops, and her pack antsy with apprehension, the time was right.
Maiara- Scout
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Location : In skyloft! XD -
Re: The Hunted: A Plot
by Soran July 24th 2012, 12:20 am
- Veris shifted where he sat, not far from the perch upon which Skia had taken. The scents carried along the wind were stale, not those of his kin. They were the scents of a pack that held much land and history, great leaders, and hardworking wolves, all built upon a territory that had seen much change itself. His golden-gaze, ever watchful, took in the lush and healthy landscape that surrounded where he sat. Heavily nettled evergreens, dew-covered grass, upon which the elk grazed, and somewhere close by, his ears picked up the gurgling of a stream fed by fresh and clean drinking water. The territory was indeed worthy of a pack built on strength and power, worthy for a pack such as his own.
Skia had been clear of their intentions. Their pack was swelling as Spring approached in earnest but as Veris had already discovered, Skia would not be the one to bear the burden of pups. That duty would fall to a young mated pair, of which the female had already confirmed that new life was already growing inside her. The land the pups would be born on would need enough resources to support them if they were to live a long and healthy life. Indeed, there was safety in numbers.
However, Veris was unaware of Skia and Avarice’s true intentions. Only the hauntress knew of the dead sister, the battle, the bloodshed, and the vindictive reasoning behind their journey to this territory in particular. But to Veris, it was another land worthy of claiming.
Rising to a stand, the Alpha Male approached Skia, clearing his throat as he approached. He’d known all too well from experience that sneaking up on the hauntress could result in personal injury, and he had the scars to prove it. Settling beside the alphess, Veris nodded towards the trees where the scents had become the most pungent.
“Is that where we’re going my love, to claim a land that is so rightfully ours?” He inquired, furtively glancing over his shoulder at those who’d been chosen to fight for their new home, alongside the hauntress and her mate.
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Re: The Hunted: A Plot
by Maiara July 25th 2012, 9:47 pm
Skia heard a noise behind her, paws scuffling in the dirt and her muscles tensed as she readied to spring up and defend herself against the fool that would attempt to sneak up on her. What was this, a murder attempt in clear daylight? After all that she had done for her pack, and all that she planned to do, it had come down to this? Well, they wouldn’t take her down without a fight. She would kill twenty wolves before someone stole her place as the alpha female! Her ears twitched, and someone cleared their throat behind her. She relaxed and her fur lay flat against her back once more, it was one of her own wolves come to speak with her.
“Is that where we’re going my love, to claim a land that is so rightfully ours?”
Ah, Veris. Observant as always. Skia’s mouth spread into a cloying smile as she turned to the alpha male.
“Yes dear, and we’re so close now. Have you ever seen a land so lush and ripe with life? The pack’s pups will grow to be strong and healthy with this as their home.”
Skia hesitated to mention the pups, knowing that Veris was still silently upset that she had once again refused to begin a family with him. She was still unsure whether she had feelings for the male but had decided that it was most convenient to string him along until she found out. And besides, with plans as capricious and complex as hers, she had to be constantly on her toes; she had no time for love. Still, she found that Veris’s presence was comforting, at least in that she could depend on him to be around exactly when she needed him.
“Veris, send Avarice and Panoply out on a scouting mission. Tell them to test the waters in the Banishing Winds territory: observe how things work, discover their weak points. And perhaps, they could hunt as well…tell Avarice that the prey is hers to choose.” The alphess instructed, crossing her front paws thoughtfully. “And remind them to avoid contact for now, I don’t want to start any conflicts just yet.”
“Is that where we’re going my love, to claim a land that is so rightfully ours?”
Ah, Veris. Observant as always. Skia’s mouth spread into a cloying smile as she turned to the alpha male.
“Yes dear, and we’re so close now. Have you ever seen a land so lush and ripe with life? The pack’s pups will grow to be strong and healthy with this as their home.”
Skia hesitated to mention the pups, knowing that Veris was still silently upset that she had once again refused to begin a family with him. She was still unsure whether she had feelings for the male but had decided that it was most convenient to string him along until she found out. And besides, with plans as capricious and complex as hers, she had to be constantly on her toes; she had no time for love. Still, she found that Veris’s presence was comforting, at least in that she could depend on him to be around exactly when she needed him.
“Veris, send Avarice and Panoply out on a scouting mission. Tell them to test the waters in the Banishing Winds territory: observe how things work, discover their weak points. And perhaps, they could hunt as well…tell Avarice that the prey is hers to choose.” The alphess instructed, crossing her front paws thoughtfully. “And remind them to avoid contact for now, I don’t want to start any conflicts just yet.”
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Re: The Hunted: A Plot
by Soran July 26th 2012, 8:19 pm
- “Veris, send Avarice and Panoply out on a scouting mission. Tell them to test the waters in the Banishing Winds territory: observe how things work, discover their weak points. And perhaps, they could hunt as well…tell Avarice that the prey is hers to choose.” The alphess instructed, crossing her front paws thoughtfully. “And remind them to avoid contact for now, I don’t want to start any conflicts just yet.”
Veris gave a terse nod, as he always did when Skia sent him out to do her bidding. He could never refuse any request she threw his way, and Veris was certain he’d give everything of himself just to make sure she was content. Even if that meant giving up on having a family, for whatever reasons that Skia seemed to hold so close, the hauntress deserved the best of what she’d been given. Or so Veris thought.
“Absolutely,” he replied, picking his way down from the sturdy perch of the rock beneath them. “A hunt will do nicely; we need to build up the strength before we lay down our attack.” Giving the hauntress one last glance, Veris strode into the bushes picking up the scent trail of Panoply and Avarice along the way. The two would be perfect for the scouting trip. Panoply herself was the lead sentinel. Light on her paws, quick as a thresh flitting from branch to branch, always cautious. Her strengths had aided her swift ascension in rank, and Veris admired her greatly for it.
But if Panoply was one side of a coin, then Avarice was the other. The dark brooding female always seemed to disappear, and hardly made a sound as she walked. Attributes that any hunter longed for all resided within Avarice’s very bones. However, something in the female’s eyes seemed to cause alarm to those around her. Her golden eyes saw what others did not, and Veris silently feared that one day her delicate mind would break. The brute had shared his concerns with his mate, but the hauntress seemed untroubled by it; assuring Veris that the hunter’s mind was already broken beyond repair.
Pushing through the underbrush, Veris came upon the two sprawled beneath the branches of an ancient evergreen. “Skia wishes for the two of you to scout ahead. Listen for any information you may deem important, and report your findings back here immediately.” He announced, turning towards the direction of the stream. Recalling Skia’s last request, Veris turned his head back towards where the hunter lay, “And Avarice, we could do with a little fresh meat to build our strength and ready our bones for what lie ahead. Skia insists the prey is yours to choose.”
His errand completed, Veris once more disappeared into the thicket towards the stream. If Skia needed him again, she would call.
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Re: The Hunted: A Plot
by Avarice July 27th 2012, 9:14 pm
Avarice lay, her head on her paws. Her eyes stared into the trees that surrounded them, her gaze narrowed. Her lips were a thin line, her absolute concentration evident in the stillness of her body. From the moment they had reached the scent border, she had felt a cold knot forming in her stomach. But this was no knot of worry, or of fear. No, while such a feeling may have been expected – it was not the one that consumed the female huntress. Her ears flicked, folding back against her head as her brows came together. No, as she lay some small distance from their camp, staring into a land that would soon be theirs, she felt a renewed surge of anticipation. Anticipation and satisfaction were forming that cold ball in her stomach. For what lay beyond those fragile scent borders was a thing Avarice had been chasing for far too long, a thing that had lay mockingly out of reach at the command of her alphas. She swiped a tongue across her lips. For too long, she had been silent, ruminating in the background.
For too long, justice had been held at bay.
A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. It was made all the better by their complete ignorance. Why would they think themselves in danger? Why should they, when they had made a habit of simply taking what pleased them and leaving the rest behind? Her eyes narrowed, darkening to an icy smolder. They had been allowed to continue for longer than pleased Avarice. But she had been patient, biding her time. She had done as commanded by her alphas, without ever forgetting how they had come to possess such a title. The small smile melted away, replaced by the twitching of a snarl forcibly hidden. These wolves that dared call themselves a pack had escaped the most precious system known to life – that of judgment and retribution, that of justice and suffering. The mere thought no longer brought her blood to a boil. No. She had long ago accepted her fury and used it to fuel her passions, a passion that admittedly had become all-consuming in nature. Her eyes flickered closed as she forced herself to dredge up long-stale memories. As the time for retribution neared, she would need the full strength of righteousness.
“If you are a kind sister and fetch me something to eat, perhaps I shall allow you to assist me in their naming.” Avarice, ever at her sister’s side, raised a brow though her smile belied her teasing indignation. She cast a glance down at her sister, her alpha’s, stomach. Though taut, it had not yet become noticeably so. It was a subtle sort, one that betrayed the early stages of the life that grew within her. Nevertheless, she heaved herself grumbling to her paws. She searched around, finding what meat the pack had been able to carry back for their alphess. Tearing off a chunk, she dropped it at her sister’s feet, casting her a haughty grin. “How about you let me name your firstborn son Nadav? And I will bring your royal demanding bum as much food as you like?” They exchanged playful swats and quiet laughter.
And the memory vanished again. For some reason, Avarice always returned to this one. Many would have assumed it was the sight of said sister bleeding and lifeless only days later that would fuel her passion for justice. But no. It was not death that angered her, but rather the fact that four lives were stolen from her. They were robbed in the blink of an eye by triumphantly grinning teeth – the ferocious satisfaction of one who’s name still echoed in Avarice’s ear. Dakota. A deadly calm washed over her once more, just as she heard the telltale thump of approaching pawsteps. She stole her gaze away from the treeline to focus it on her approaching alpha. She dipped her head respectfully to him, though said not a word.
Her ears perked, her eyes darkening with a bitter satisfaction. Avarice pulled herself to her paws, her claws all but kneading the ground with anticipation. A single sentence repeated in her mind – the prey is yours to choose. It was subtle, but she caught the meaning of the words. Her gaze returned to the treeline. Within those borders, it would be she who chose those that would pay the price. She shivered slightly, looking over her shoulder at Panoply. With a nod to her only true confidant, Avarice vanished into the trees.
For too long, justice had been held at bay.
A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. It was made all the better by their complete ignorance. Why would they think themselves in danger? Why should they, when they had made a habit of simply taking what pleased them and leaving the rest behind? Her eyes narrowed, darkening to an icy smolder. They had been allowed to continue for longer than pleased Avarice. But she had been patient, biding her time. She had done as commanded by her alphas, without ever forgetting how they had come to possess such a title. The small smile melted away, replaced by the twitching of a snarl forcibly hidden. These wolves that dared call themselves a pack had escaped the most precious system known to life – that of judgment and retribution, that of justice and suffering. The mere thought no longer brought her blood to a boil. No. She had long ago accepted her fury and used it to fuel her passions, a passion that admittedly had become all-consuming in nature. Her eyes flickered closed as she forced herself to dredge up long-stale memories. As the time for retribution neared, she would need the full strength of righteousness.
“If you are a kind sister and fetch me something to eat, perhaps I shall allow you to assist me in their naming.” Avarice, ever at her sister’s side, raised a brow though her smile belied her teasing indignation. She cast a glance down at her sister, her alpha’s, stomach. Though taut, it had not yet become noticeably so. It was a subtle sort, one that betrayed the early stages of the life that grew within her. Nevertheless, she heaved herself grumbling to her paws. She searched around, finding what meat the pack had been able to carry back for their alphess. Tearing off a chunk, she dropped it at her sister’s feet, casting her a haughty grin. “How about you let me name your firstborn son Nadav? And I will bring your royal demanding bum as much food as you like?” They exchanged playful swats and quiet laughter.
And the memory vanished again. For some reason, Avarice always returned to this one. Many would have assumed it was the sight of said sister bleeding and lifeless only days later that would fuel her passion for justice. But no. It was not death that angered her, but rather the fact that four lives were stolen from her. They were robbed in the blink of an eye by triumphantly grinning teeth – the ferocious satisfaction of one who’s name still echoed in Avarice’s ear. Dakota. A deadly calm washed over her once more, just as she heard the telltale thump of approaching pawsteps. She stole her gaze away from the treeline to focus it on her approaching alpha. She dipped her head respectfully to him, though said not a word.
“Skia wishes for the two of you to scout ahead. Listen for any information you may deem important, and report your findings back here immediately. And Avarice, we could do with a little fresh meat to build our strength and ready our bones for what lies ahead. Skia insists the prey is yours to choose.”
Her ears perked, her eyes darkening with a bitter satisfaction. Avarice pulled herself to her paws, her claws all but kneading the ground with anticipation. A single sentence repeated in her mind – the prey is yours to choose. It was subtle, but she caught the meaning of the words. Her gaze returned to the treeline. Within those borders, it would be she who chose those that would pay the price. She shivered slightly, looking over her shoulder at Panoply. With a nod to her only true confidant, Avarice vanished into the trees.
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Re: The Hunted: A Plot
by Maiara July 31st 2012, 11:00 pm
Panoply nodded in Veris’s direction, and stared even after he left her and Avarice to do their work. She reminded herself again that he was not hers to pine after, but that didn‘t quell the hummingbird beating of her heart. The pair of Skia and Veris seemed unnatural. Skia toyed with the alpha male, seeing how far he would stretch, while he in his endless obsession would obey her to any end. It was twisted, and sickened Panoply who knew that she cared for the male more deeply than Skia ever would. Although it wounded her to see him follow the hauntress so willingly in his hapless affection, she could never see him without warmth spreading through her limbs to the tips of her toes. He could have had the family he wanted if he had only chosen her. He could have her life, she would give it to him if he asked it of her. But it would never be the other way around.
Panoply was grateful for the distraction that Skia’s assignment brought her as she followed Avarice into the trees, regaining her composure. The fragrant spice of evergreens was heady as she stepped into the tunnel of boughs, and birds sang breezy whistles up in the canopy. Suddenly she saw in this territory what Skia saw--the promise of a life-rich land for the pack’s posterity. The prospects that lay within success were dark temptations, but the sentinel tried not to think about those that would have to be sacrificed for her own pack to thrive. The schemes that she often found herself caught up in in this pack never sat well with her when she stopped to think about them. It was best to acknowledge the wrongness of things, and then continue on before they caught up with her and tangled up her priorities.
The soft padding of the sentinel’s footsteps quickened as she caught up with her friend. Immediately she caught on to the brooding aura that hung about the female.
“Something is on your mind Avarice.” Panoply commented simply. She didn’t state it as a question or pry for any further information, knowing that the huntress would explain herself if it suited her. As it was, Panoply suspected that her friend was pondering Skia’s hunting tip, knowing that it wasn’t the simple suggestion that it appeared. This was the nature of the duo’s relationship; built upon basic dependency, and strengthened over time, often they did more reading of each other than they did talking. And with the attribute of balance factored in, though they may have been as different as fire and water, somehow they knew each others’ minds better than they knew their own.
Panoply was grateful for the distraction that Skia’s assignment brought her as she followed Avarice into the trees, regaining her composure. The fragrant spice of evergreens was heady as she stepped into the tunnel of boughs, and birds sang breezy whistles up in the canopy. Suddenly she saw in this territory what Skia saw--the promise of a life-rich land for the pack’s posterity. The prospects that lay within success were dark temptations, but the sentinel tried not to think about those that would have to be sacrificed for her own pack to thrive. The schemes that she often found herself caught up in in this pack never sat well with her when she stopped to think about them. It was best to acknowledge the wrongness of things, and then continue on before they caught up with her and tangled up her priorities.
The soft padding of the sentinel’s footsteps quickened as she caught up with her friend. Immediately she caught on to the brooding aura that hung about the female.
“Something is on your mind Avarice.” Panoply commented simply. She didn’t state it as a question or pry for any further information, knowing that the huntress would explain herself if it suited her. As it was, Panoply suspected that her friend was pondering Skia’s hunting tip, knowing that it wasn’t the simple suggestion that it appeared. This was the nature of the duo’s relationship; built upon basic dependency, and strengthened over time, often they did more reading of each other than they did talking. And with the attribute of balance factored in, though they may have been as different as fire and water, somehow they knew each others’ minds better than they knew their own.
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Re: The Hunted: A Plot
by Avarice August 2nd 2012, 9:17 pm
Avarice moved into the trees and out of view, but waited quietly for Panoply to join her. Doubtless, her friend was lagging behind for a last glance at Veris. She shook her head. She cared for Panoply deeply, but couldn’t for the life of her understand the other female’s quite pathetic infatuation with the alpha male. They had had the discussion before, but Panoply had been quick to point out that Avarice was only just over a year old at the time of her sister’s death. Avarice hadn’t really understood the significance of such a fact. Panoply had hemmed and hawed for a few minutes before finally simply stating that it was “around that age that one began to notice the males”. Avarice, true to form, had rolled her eyes. She had never much noticed any of the males in or outside of the pack. She had been unable to see what purpose forming affection for them would serve. She wasn’t, and likely would never be in a dominant position – thus earning the right to bear offspring. So why waste one’s time with hopeless fantasies? She had given herself to much more fruitful fantasies, fantasies of justice and retribution.
Once, in frustration, Panoply had retorted that Avarice “couldn’t understand” because she “had never loved anyone in that way”. Avarice had retorted that she had indeed loved deeply, and lost. But whereas Panoply pined in silence, Avarice had turned her grief into action. That someday she knew she would bring honor and glory to the memory of those she had lost. They had agreed to disagree, and left the conversation. Sitting in the bushes, waiting for Panoply, Avarice couldn’t help but think of that conversation. At times, purely for the sake of her friend, she wished Veris would simply clear the fog from his eyes and realize – as the rest of them had – that Skia held no true affection for him, or at least not the affection he so desired. But it would, possibly, be at the risk of his life. So they kept silent, and Panoply loved in secret.
Avarice pushed these thoughts away as Panoply joined her. Her friend’s quite words, as usual, were entirely accurate. She smirked, though it lacked any real joy or amusement. She didn’t even glance Panoply’s way as she replied somewhat sarcastically. “Yes, and it is not so pleasant a thought as the one you had certainly lost yourself in.” She didn’t wait for Panoply’s argument or denials. She forged ahead, picking up her pace eagerly. “I’m trying to picture them,” She paused, knowing that Panoply would pick up on her meaning easily enough. Her tail flicked against her legs. They were nearing the scent boundaries. Avarice paused, lowering herself. She rolled in the pungent scent, wrapping it around herself in the thick rotting scent of a murderer. With an almost gleeful anticipation, she crossed the dreaded borders. A shiver ran through her body, though her gaze had become bitter and vengeful as she stared into the trees. She turned to Panoply, the set of her lips thin and solemn.
She nodded to her friend and set off into the trees. Locating the center of their territory wasn’t particularly difficult. The strongest scent trails led straight to it. Avarice slowed as they approached, cautiously creeping through the trees. She wanted to see them all, every last one of them. She wanted to pick them out, take her time deciding who it would be that would pay the price for them all. Most of all – she wanted to pick the most loved. She wanted to pick the elder that the pups flocked to, the beauty that earned the most admiring glances, those who would be greatest mourned. But she would leave their dominants untouched, oh yes. She would leave them untouched, so they would be left in the wake of her justice – helpless and remorseful of what they had done.
Once, in frustration, Panoply had retorted that Avarice “couldn’t understand” because she “had never loved anyone in that way”. Avarice had retorted that she had indeed loved deeply, and lost. But whereas Panoply pined in silence, Avarice had turned her grief into action. That someday she knew she would bring honor and glory to the memory of those she had lost. They had agreed to disagree, and left the conversation. Sitting in the bushes, waiting for Panoply, Avarice couldn’t help but think of that conversation. At times, purely for the sake of her friend, she wished Veris would simply clear the fog from his eyes and realize – as the rest of them had – that Skia held no true affection for him, or at least not the affection he so desired. But it would, possibly, be at the risk of his life. So they kept silent, and Panoply loved in secret.
Avarice pushed these thoughts away as Panoply joined her. Her friend’s quite words, as usual, were entirely accurate. She smirked, though it lacked any real joy or amusement. She didn’t even glance Panoply’s way as she replied somewhat sarcastically. “Yes, and it is not so pleasant a thought as the one you had certainly lost yourself in.” She didn’t wait for Panoply’s argument or denials. She forged ahead, picking up her pace eagerly. “I’m trying to picture them,” She paused, knowing that Panoply would pick up on her meaning easily enough. Her tail flicked against her legs. They were nearing the scent boundaries. Avarice paused, lowering herself. She rolled in the pungent scent, wrapping it around herself in the thick rotting scent of a murderer. With an almost gleeful anticipation, she crossed the dreaded borders. A shiver ran through her body, though her gaze had become bitter and vengeful as she stared into the trees. She turned to Panoply, the set of her lips thin and solemn.
She nodded to her friend and set off into the trees. Locating the center of their territory wasn’t particularly difficult. The strongest scent trails led straight to it. Avarice slowed as they approached, cautiously creeping through the trees. She wanted to see them all, every last one of them. She wanted to pick them out, take her time deciding who it would be that would pay the price for them all. Most of all – she wanted to pick the most loved. She wanted to pick the elder that the pups flocked to, the beauty that earned the most admiring glances, those who would be greatest mourned. But she would leave their dominants untouched, oh yes. She would leave them untouched, so they would be left in the wake of her justice – helpless and remorseful of what they had done.
Avarice- Scout
- Posts : 2
Join date : 2012-07-22
Re: The Hunted: A Plot
by Maiara August 27th 2012, 12:46 am
She didn’t even glance Panoply’s way as she replied somewhat sarcastically. “Yes, and it is not so pleasant a thought as the one you had certainly lost yourself in.”
Panoply shifted her eyes uneasily, and pressed her tawny ears against her skull, embarrassed that as usual Avarice saw right through even her smallest falters and pauses around Veris.
"It is never pleasant to think of him. Not really." she muttered quietly.
“I’m trying to picture them,” She paused, knowing that Panoply would pick up on her meaning easily enough.
Panoply nodded, quickening her pace to match steps with her friend. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Avarice's mouth set in a decided shadow on her face. Of course the huntress had been referring to the wolves-- the prey Panoply quickly reworded in her head--- that would be the first to fall. Those targeted would be those whose deaths would cause the most turmoil within the pack. This way--Skia had confided to her one day--the sorrow felt within the pack would blunt any keen, sharp awareness brought on by fear. And so when the pack was at its most unstable would be when they would swiftly attack and claim the territory as their own. As the trees blurred past her, Panoply tried not to see the blood that would within mere days paint them.
The sentinel slowed as the scent of the Banishing Winds Pack grew potent, and a growing buzz of voices tumbled haphazardly to her ears. Slightly ahead of her she noticed Avarice slow as well. As it would be the huntress' job to assess and mark the prey to be hunted, Panoply waited silently for her comrade to reveal the plan that surely was already swirling around in her head. Her nose twitched as she took in the pungent scent of the stranger pack, and her ears swivelled to catch the faint bites of conversation carried over on the wind. Her honey-gold eyes scanned the trees ahead for any signs of scouting parties or stray members, but the foiliage remained undisturbed.
Panoply wondered if the Banishing Winds Pack even sent out scouting parties? Having lived under Skia's rule of incessant vigilance for most of her life, it could only strike the experienced sentinel as naiive and conceited to not do so. She thought that a developed pack such as the Banishing Winds must at least have scouts, and yet there were no signs of the typical circular scent trail of a normally running scouting party. Did they think that by moving to new territory that meant that all enemies and stained reputations were left behind? Did they not know that it is the past's sole duty in the universe to haunt the present? All soiled records come back and are returned to light eventually. For weeks Panoply had been making trips to the Banishing Winds' hunting grounds, and noting the amount of carcasses that were used to sustain the pack. By her estimate of the pack's population, they did not have the numbers neccessary to be able to afford to not send out scouting parties. Panoply's stomach twisted uncomfortably as she realized with a mixture of disgust and satisfaction that bringing the Banishing Winds Pack to its knees might be far easier than anyone had guessed.
(Sorry for taking so long to post this!)
Panoply shifted her eyes uneasily, and pressed her tawny ears against her skull, embarrassed that as usual Avarice saw right through even her smallest falters and pauses around Veris.
"It is never pleasant to think of him. Not really." she muttered quietly.
“I’m trying to picture them,” She paused, knowing that Panoply would pick up on her meaning easily enough.
Panoply nodded, quickening her pace to match steps with her friend. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Avarice's mouth set in a decided shadow on her face. Of course the huntress had been referring to the wolves-- the prey Panoply quickly reworded in her head--- that would be the first to fall. Those targeted would be those whose deaths would cause the most turmoil within the pack. This way--Skia had confided to her one day--the sorrow felt within the pack would blunt any keen, sharp awareness brought on by fear. And so when the pack was at its most unstable would be when they would swiftly attack and claim the territory as their own. As the trees blurred past her, Panoply tried not to see the blood that would within mere days paint them.
The sentinel slowed as the scent of the Banishing Winds Pack grew potent, and a growing buzz of voices tumbled haphazardly to her ears. Slightly ahead of her she noticed Avarice slow as well. As it would be the huntress' job to assess and mark the prey to be hunted, Panoply waited silently for her comrade to reveal the plan that surely was already swirling around in her head. Her nose twitched as she took in the pungent scent of the stranger pack, and her ears swivelled to catch the faint bites of conversation carried over on the wind. Her honey-gold eyes scanned the trees ahead for any signs of scouting parties or stray members, but the foiliage remained undisturbed.
Panoply wondered if the Banishing Winds Pack even sent out scouting parties? Having lived under Skia's rule of incessant vigilance for most of her life, it could only strike the experienced sentinel as naiive and conceited to not do so. She thought that a developed pack such as the Banishing Winds must at least have scouts, and yet there were no signs of the typical circular scent trail of a normally running scouting party. Did they think that by moving to new territory that meant that all enemies and stained reputations were left behind? Did they not know that it is the past's sole duty in the universe to haunt the present? All soiled records come back and are returned to light eventually. For weeks Panoply had been making trips to the Banishing Winds' hunting grounds, and noting the amount of carcasses that were used to sustain the pack. By her estimate of the pack's population, they did not have the numbers neccessary to be able to afford to not send out scouting parties. Panoply's stomach twisted uncomfortably as she realized with a mixture of disgust and satisfaction that bringing the Banishing Winds Pack to its knees might be far easier than anyone had guessed.
(Sorry for taking so long to post this!)
Maiara- Scout
- Gender :
Posts : 299
Join date : 2010-11-29
Age : 29
Location : In skyloft! XD -
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