Dreams.

Dreams of flying, speeding over golden plains like the creatures robed in feathers, feeling the strong beat of wings even though the brute had never worn a pair of his own. A strong current caught him and lifted him up, up into the sun. Darkness. Now dreams of running, the sound of labored breathing all-too-real upon his twitching auds, the burning in his lungs like fire. In his lucid state he could feel his orbs dancing beneath their covers, surveying the terra in his mind’s eye. His talons dug into the dirt with the landing of each foot, muscles tensing under the sudden weight only to spring loose once more, pushing off with such power it could move the very globe itself. Darkness. Now dreams of laughter. The blackness in front of his spheres rippled with the sound, like stones cast into water. The jovial sound rattled his very bones; it was a tone that awakened a part of him once buried in the past, a moment he did not recall remembering in such vivid detail.

Iason woke with a start, nearly hitting his snowy cranium on the ceiling of the earthen cave. Quickly recalling the most recent dream, he tucked his head into his chest with a groan, fighting away the memories. But they would not give up so easily. Yes, that laughter belonged to his very chest, an earnest sound that manifested without consciousness and spilled out into the world like a geyser. But it was not the joy of the occasion that made him want to forget. It was the circumstances of its birth. He was a mere speck on a barren landscape, miles from any cervical creature, save for the male that was directly to his side, his own bloodied mouth overflowing with amusement. They were laughing at their own stupid luck, their heroic escape just minutes in the past, its effort leaving their bodies physically weak but mentally electrified. Both of them bled openly, the same crimson hue dripping from opposing pelts, ebony and ivory. And yet they laughed like they had just discovered the splendor of the world, and in a way they had. Their childhood was not one of earthly wonder.

The details of their early days could better be told from the darker mouth, as Iason had blocked as much as he could. Yet he still remembered enough to leave a constant bitter sting upon his tongue. For a creature who despised unnecessary violence, his adolescence was steeped in it. Yes, Iason was a trained killer, and probably one of the better ones that walked these lands, but this was not a badge he wore openly. Rather, it was a burnt scar that ran deep within him, causing him pain with every step. He had reveled his power at the time. But hindsight is always 20/20 after all. And so, when two boys had successfully fled from the Hell that called itself a pack, Iason couldn’t contain the laughter that boiled within him. Free. Free... His merriment ebbed like waves, letting off only to erupt once more with a violent crash of sound, his own hilarity spurring the echoed laughs of his companion. That was the real start of their lives, but the road leading there was one too painful to relive. And so the creamy brujo pushed it deeper into his mind and crawled into the harsh morning light.

True, he was the second-in-command of the might Bright Moon pack, but he hadn’t returned to deposit his scent on the borders in quite some time. It wasn’t out of neglect. Truthfully, it was out of his own curiosity. The two males, Darcia and Iason, had barely set foot onto these new lands before they went for the jugular of a queen, easily winning the positions of ruler and right-hand man. But the vast, varied lands of Blossom Forest called to the pristine brute like the call to mate. His thirst for adventure and knowledge of every location was strong enough to pull him from his brother’s side, despite the awareness that Darcia would struggle without him. This new expanse turned out to be larger than expected, and before he knew it Iason was gone for two moons at the least, the days blending into one splendid and guilt-laden blur. But he could not end before he was finished. Perhaps this was one of the hessian’s better attributes. And this day was finally Iason’s end, every aspect of Blossom’s landscape dedicated to memory. Many stranger were met, many joyful days were shared. Yet Iason could not help himself from yearning for this moment, the moment that he could finally return home.

Leanly muscled legs pushed hard into the ground, propelling his sturdy frame towards the ever-present scent of his beloved territory. Trees and undergrowth flew by, blending into a green streak that filled his vision as if the world were a painted hallway. Iaosn’s lungs soon began to lament from the exhaustion, the prophecy of his dream coming true, but the he-beast pushed onward, driving his pistons to move faster as he shot like an arrow through the woods. A feeling of anticipation grew within his gut, churning up his insides. Closer. Faster. Closer. Closer. The border flashed into view in an instant, and with a mighty leap Iason flew over them and into the reign of his best friend. Black-bottomed paws skidded to a stop, the Beta lifting his cranium and extending his neck to take it all in, aqua portals shutting tight. The scent of his pack, the breeze of the trees, the sound of the dirt beneath his ribs. Many new perfumes made his acquaintance, drawing a not-too-innocent smile to the vampire’s kissers. Sure, the boy was no fan of unnecessary violence, but playful “fun” was a completely different manner. And the subordinate would be lying if he said the power he held over newcomers didn’t go to his head.

Finally letting his muscles relax, Iason quickly shifted to locating his Alpha. Of course Darcia would be upset over his disappearance. Well, probably more passively angry than anything. The silent treatment would be his food for the next few days as guilt would grow upon his frame like mold until the two stubborn creatures finally hashed out the issue. Despite, Iason needed to see the knight, craved the sound of his deep voice and the duo-toned stare that he knew completely. He was the dark to his light, the balance that kept him grounded when all the world was spinning and flying off into the cosmos. However, the angel-pelted beast was surprised to find the King at the borders, one of those unfamiliar scents close as well. Was this a conveniently timed newcomer, or just an adopted member he had not met having a conversation with his monarch? There was no way to tell but through sight.

Iason slowed his gentle lope when he neared the scene, using his previously learned skills to silently stalk the rest of the way. He forced himself to hang back a few moments, an action that took tremendous effort on the part of the boy’s joints as they wanted nothing more than to ram into the dark creature at full force. However, the hunched stranger at the wild side of the border posed a hindrance to that plan. Instead he swiveled his twin sentries to catch the lyrics that Daria was directing at the strange male. Close his eyes, eh? A devilish smirk seized control of the warrior’s face, a boy-ish fire igniting in his crystalline gazers. He emerged in silence, hoping the newcomer would glance up from his enthralling viewpoint to catch Iason’s silent signals. He offered a wink to ask for the stranger’s silence, his plume rising to show his authority within these lands. The white male then offered a nod in greeting before shifting his gaze to the shadow now beside him.

New words from the regal nearly shocked the boy out of his stealth, but Iason held fast, his breathing but a whisper on the crisp air. What is your name? He stole another quick grin before leaning in to the dark ear, purring a single word into their depths. “Iason.” He stole a lick upon the King’s cheek before pulling away to avoid any bodily harm from the other’s jaws. A slight chuckle bounced from his lips while he turned his attention to the newcomer, his charcoal-lined maw contorting into an attempt at an earnest smile. “Sorry to steal your thunder, stranger. I’m sure our great Alpha will punish me for this later.” Another grin rose to his visage, this one conveying a bit more evil intent than the last. “However, I would also love to hear the title of such a beast as yourself.” The untainted brute cocked his head slightly to one side, his watery pools reflecting his amusement of the situation. Darcia’s strong silhouette beside him was the home he had been craving these past few months, a welcome strength to balance his own. Oh, it was good to be back.

[OOC: Jumping into this thread because I can. :P]