Dance, my little puppets,

Sum/1.2/02  

     The tall wolf showed intelligence as he too, observed her. She supposed she was feeling surprised that he had some sort of brain in his skull since he was a young male. Näkki smelt no fear leaking from his pores as he watched her with kindred pink eyes. But unlike hers, his glowed with a kind light while hers gleamed with the sharpness of a predator. She was every inch, honed to seek out weakness and exploit it. Lucky for him, however, she saw no immediate flaw to hook her fangs on. He was, while disgustingly gently natured, not a wolf she detested. Besides, he showed promise in his quiet confidence. He didn’t flinch in cowardice nor was he overbearing in arrogance. He was still young as well. Perhaps, he was impressionable yet?

     Often at his age, wolves were trying to find their place in the world, and well, Näkki was happy to show him a path he might take. It was a brutal path and one that often others looked on with prejudice, but if he were to follow it, then he’d prove strength and bravery. He’d help to usher in a new world - and he’d be great, a wolf better than all that came before. However… Watching his wave of tail sent a critical doubt into her mind. He looked like he wanted friends, not comrades.

     She didn’t move as he approached, she only watched his youth movement, and sought out both potential flaws, and strengths. He was thin and his long legs would peg him to be much as she was - a hunter. Built for going long distances at fast speeds, even though it took them a bit longer to get up to full speed than shorter wolves. His fighting technique? He would probably be able to bear down upon the many smaller opponents, using his height and weight to his advantage. However, against another his size or larger, he would turn to hunting tactics, which was to cause many, small wounds in vital areas to get their opponents to bleed out or become exhausted until they collapsed or in their exhaustion, provided a fatal opening. A versatile young wolf, indeed.

     As he paused in front of her, her ear moved on instinct to detect the approach of another wolf. Näkki turned her eyes on the pup. White fur, red markings dusted in black speck decorated her. And her smell was laced with that white male she had face off against in winter. She was a wolf of Diveen and also of the angel bloodline. Nakki tilted her head to the side slightly, letting her ears flop curiously. The piglet in her mouth squeak quietly in discomfort at the movement. It hardly, however, distracted Näkki from her thoughts. A pup so bold as to approach an Iromarian? Quite some gual, indeed. The young one also showed the power of unprejudiced opinion. This is why Hellions protected pups. Their minds tended to be free of elitist attitudes. No, one might wonder, are Demons not elitist? Well, hell yeah, they were. But not because of their bloodline - but because of their understanding of the world. The strongest survived, and they followed this ideal to it’s most extreme.

     Still, the thought did cross her mind to attack the smaller wolf, for she was small and weaker physically. Not to kill her, but to assert dominance. However, she was not a pack member, and Näkki was unmotivated to partake in that game without good reason (it was far to effortful to prove she was the best). That aside, she knew that if she attacked either of the two, they would defend the wolf she attacked. Why? Probably because they thought everything was hunky-dory and deserved to live. And did she really want to deal with raging teenaged twats? No. So instead, she listened with a mild expression on her face when Ambrosia introduced herself.

     Aw. Cute - the name of the plant of immortality. Perhaps she had a particularly youthful spirit, then? Judging for her developing form, she’d end up much the same as Näkki and Mr. Candy. Stamina and speed. What a hunting trio they would make! They’d make a splendid band of chasers to exhaust the prey before the alphas when they went in for the killing stroke. Well, despite all this kind-hearted introduction, Näkki decided she might actually benefit from the two of them as company.

Näkki lowered her head and set down her prey and secured it with a paw. She doubted the dying piglet would try to escape, but she had to make sure. She didn’t want to have to chase down another meal. Her ears twitch in amusement at the roan male’s play with words. He was a conversationalist, eh? That was nice. So was she.

     “Aye,” Näkki responded, “Conditioned, I suppose, from puphood. You may call me Näkki, brother and sister. What has the likes of you two about Moladion?”

     Her stomach made quite the fit about its demands being put on hold, but Näkki was more intrigued by the two before her. She was relatively grossed out by their friendliness towards her, but she prefered that over many other things. So, she found herself inclined to keep them as company for a brief while.

Näkki