The forest stands tall and lush here; ancient trees reach weather-twisted arms to the sky, fighting monster-like storm clouds back with their interlacing fingers. Shadow seems to lurk everywhere you look, but it spills calmly, coolly, inspiring a sense of stealthy calm or protection rather than unease. That is, if you've forgotten what kind of creature might be stalking just out of sight...Abendrot is a land cradled by the dark woods on all sides; in the center, some of the larger trees stay behind to reveal a small plateau - a citadel where this pack can gather and defend itself from invaders. There are, of course, softer sides to the land. Clearings here and there allow the sun to throw down its rays in incongruously resplendent gold showers. Ignore the lingering scents of blood spattered here and there along the borders: those do not concern you. The river on one edge of the territory is playful enough when it hasn't been gorged by violent rain. You can choose to note the ragged claw marks raked down tree trunks and the forest floor as friendly "Home Sweet Home" signs, if you wish.
All who treasure loyalty, order, victory, and the occasional indulgence of raw visceral pleasure are welcome, once they've been approved by the ever-watchful eyes of Abendrot's Alpha. But keep one thing in mind: no matter what your motive, this is not a fool's Paradise. This is the land of soldiers, assassins, and spies. This is ABENDROT.
Make up your mind quickly and prepare to prove your worth. You wouldn't want to add to those blood spatters, would you...?
IP: 107.209.70.37
Posted on July 11, 2013 at 07:18:00 AM by Japalac
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He didn’t usually make house calls. But there had been something about the air when he woke up, the sun low and hot masked behind a light buffer of clouds that grew unbearable to look at near their thinner edges. Here the flames danced vibrantly down to court his face before imprinting themselves on his already squinted eyes. Japalac shook his head and saw stars before rising to his long limbs. Everything around him gleamed with an unnatural beauty behind his new blinders, reaching towards him with long and twisted fingers that drew back to caress his rich sienna pelt just before they would have torn it from him. This phenomenon resulted in a curiously intimate walk through the forest; though never once did he feel frightened. They itched his scratches and he responded accordingly, stretching luxuriously in the light of day and spinning off through the trees at a break-neck pace the he had not pushed himself to in a long while. The rush stole his breath away, a boiling fervor of excitement and exhilaration that was liberating. As he came down off of his adrenaline rush, maintaing a steady trot, his path became easier to navigate. The trees extended higher skyward, webbing far above his head in magnificent, though strangely dead canopies, that were stark against the noonday sky. Their age had robbed them of their leaves that high up, and light lanced through the careless gaps to litter his paw steps. Japalac took it as a good omen, and the optimism never left his being. Even as the trees bent closer together, as if building a fortress, and abruptly snuffed out his sun, the male maintained his cool confidence. Though now, in the unfamiliarity of darkness, it was no longer tainted by the foolishness of frivolity. Japalac was tall at the shoulder and well muscled, and while he could not climb trees, his combat skills certainly were not lacking. The masked intruder slid further into the impenetrable shade, questioning what about this strange, repressing terra, could entice new members. He stiffened as he came across a strange scent; no, not Abendrot, not yet. It was sharp and pungent, alarming in its strangeness. The hairs stuck up along his spine, and he tread with a new caution. He considered for a second following the scent, but Japalac wasn’t here looking for trouble. Nope, just a quick in and out mission, a spritely trot along the borders, and he’d be off just the same, if not better, then when he left. Head low, he continued forward, wary now for this new scent. When he next encountered it the scent swept over him with such swiftness that he did not have time to redirect his paws before he was walking behind the wolf. She wolf. Blood. On sight he could not abandon her, and he picked up the pace to draw along side her, trying not to look intimidating and praying she would not run from him. In the case that she did, he did not know if he would run the risk of pursuing her further. They were not yet at the border, but it had to be close, he didn’t want to chase her over it and get her into trouble. All he wanted to do was ask her about her injuries. His jade eyes watched her every movement sharply, anticipating how she would react. With his mind in hyper alert, Japalac could only affirm why he didn’t usually make house calls. |
Replies:
- Close encounters of her own kind - By Katja July 15, 2013 at 00:24:47 AM