The Devil Returns (open)

[Action]

Zuko
Back in this dump. Knew I shouldn't trust. Knew I shouldn't listen. But yet I did.

<sup>A stifled yawn groaned out of a milk cream maw. Silently, a sigh fallowed it obediently. Even a small shake of his head made a large clanking and rattling noise. The sound of his good old pen. No other wolf had been in this pen, his deep inhaling breaths told him so. Nobody but him in the past year that he was gone. All of the short chains were tied to the strong collar secured around his throat. Just the way he was used to. Just the way it had always been.

Glossy chocolate brown orbs were covered by cream lids every time he blinked to clear the sleep out of his eyes. Standing slowly, he stretched eagerly. Crouching to stretch his back first, and repeating it for the lower part of his back. The chains clanked and rattled, startling the dozing guards. All bared their ivories that glinted in the sun like silverware, dripping in saliva. Zuko parted his kissers to let out a hearty laugh at them and they went on complaining about how the inmate that they hated so much was back. Grinning a sly, sarcastic smile, he turned his back to the .ssy guards and went on his way marking the days he had been here.

The upper right stepper stuck out a single talon and marked his 26th day since Mirage. His 578th day in this particular prison cell. A deep spine chilling growl emerged from his throat at the sight of the many marks. Too long. Too much time to bond. Way too much. A year away from this safety. This place away from compassion and trust. He hated trust. Trust had screwed up his life too many times. Zuko was even more pissed at himself then usual too. The anger-filled demon knew better than to trust someone other than himself. But, he went ahead and trusted Mirage. Look where trust got him this time. Before, he was a pride-filled beta, now he was back to the h.ll hole they called Auction Rock. The only bright side to it for him was that it kept him away from the annoying .sses that wanted him to trust them so much. It made him angry to even think about there being wolves out there like that. Rolling his crap-brown orbs, he finally settled down against one of the walls, pulling hard on his chains on the other side. A snotty remark came from one of the guards, but he ignored it and drifted off to sleep.

A sudden noise awoke him. Grumbling, he jumped to his feet with a great clanking noise that sounded like a truck of chains had just been dumped right next to you. "What's up with bothering me? Every heard of leaving someone alone when their sleeping, buster?" He snarled angerly, tail up higher than it probably should have been, head matching it perfectly.</sup>

ooc;; Ack. It's terrible, but I want to get Zuko up and going again. I love him too much to see him die. [/sup]

[misty]

Moloch

Tough guy, eh?

Moloch looked the slave over. He was scrawny, but looked like her would be fast. The master weighed the pros and cons in his mind for a minute before shaking his head. "Not this one." The guards roughly shaved the light slave back into his cage, causing the male to fall onto the ground--hard. Moloch watched without showing emotion, but thought to himself that the guards here were incredibly stupid. The slave looked like he couldn't break a stick in half, much less pull himself free of even one chain. Yet they had him shackled with at least four.

"What's up with bothering me? Every heard of leaving someone alone when their sleeping, buster?"

A deafening rattle of chains preceded the snarled sentences. Moloch turned to look at the cage next to the other slaves, which held a wolf that definitely needed every chain they had put on him. The slave, his tail and head held high in a challenge, gave Moloch a death glare, as if he had committed an unspeakable crime in waking up the male. Moloch casually strolled over, stopping when he was directly in front of the cage's door. "You seem very confident in your fighting abilities. You must be, to practically invite a master and several guards to attack you." Moloch leaned in a little closer, a mocking grin spread across his maw. "I'd say your a bit too over-confident for someone who is chained to his cage." Moloch threw back his crania in a cold laugh, one that seemed to insult the very existence of slaves.

Still smiling, Moloch ended his laugh and stared again at the wolf inside the cage. "Anymore snide remarks, slave?" Moloch wanted to egg the brute on, he wanted him to answer with a smart retort, just so he could taunt him again. It was a fun game, putting down a rebellious slave. In fact, Moloch half-considered claiming this male, just so he could argue with him further. Ah yes, he was sure entertainment was the reason for hard-headed slaves. Moloch's tail twitched as he continued to grin at the brujo, his smile becoming a mix of threatening and mocking. Just try me, boy.

[Action]

Zuko[/size]
Challenge me if you want. I'm really not in the mood.

Muttering some uncalled for words under his breath as he realized it was some stupid weakling slave that decided to be useless, Zuko rolled his orbs and settled back to sit, staring at the sky. Salmon pink tongue flipped out the side of his mouth and covered his muzzle as he ran it's wet surface over his dry lips. Ignoring angry masters was very fun, in his book. It made them even angrier.

"You seem very confident in your fighting abilities. You must be, to practically invite a master and several guards to attack you. I'd say your a bit too over-confident for someone who is chained to his cage." the other wolf said to him. Pools were still pointed to the sky. He then started laughing coldly like a maniac. A small yawn escaped his kissers, and Zuk looked down slowly. "Anymore snide remarks, slave?" Orbs evened out on the other wolf. A surprised look splashed itself on his face. Zuko had done this "acting" type thing before with Mirage. It had been perfect. Amusing for the two bored to tears wolves.

"Oh. Sorry. Were you saying something?" he replied smoothly, his voice didn't falter, making him seem genuinely surprised to see this other brute whom he had just stared down with an evil glare.

Moloch's orbs kept staring him down, daring him to say anything. This just made Zuko smile like a complete idiot. Such silly, silly masters. For once in is life, Zuks kept his cool and didn't explode. That was one effect of having stayed with Mirage. His temper had died down slightly, giving him more control. Tail eagerly flicked back and forth, sweeping up dust. The caged and collared wolf was quite ready to just pull out of the chains which he had already loosened earlier in case he felt like taking a joy walk, but decided against it. He would continue to have a bit of fun. This was the most fun Zuko had had in a long, long time, and he wasn't about to go messing it up on himself.

Just like it had been planned, the bullet lodged in his chest started throbbing. Would have anyway, if he had not been unable to feel the pain, but instead, it felt like a fly had landed in his chest. Immediately recognizing the feeling, Zuko ignored it and kept the surprised smile on his face.

ooc;; Sorry. No muse today. <<

[eclipse]

Xercese
I didn't know...
-- You never && said --

The mind works in strange ways... it can go from hopelessly lost to full of purpose in seconds. That's what Xercese's thoughts were doing. His overwhelming sorrow at loosing his lands, pack, mate and pups was slowly becoming a narrow-minded drive to build up his lands. To succeed. To do what he failed to do previously. The shackles that bound him to Hayashi's memory were still just as strong, but he was learning how to hold them. How to try and grate the links of the chain away. No use rambling off subject, though, because for Xercese all he needed to stay alive was purpose, and all the purpose he had was in his lands.

The lands were safe for now.

Currently, that was what mattered... but a loyal pack around him? That would be even more vital later on. Best prepare now what you need later....

So with the first problem out of the way, Xercese proceeded to solve his second problem. His Pack needed members. He hated to and fill the gaps at the Dump, but he had to start somewhere. The journey south had been quick and easy, though now that he was here he wondered that something didn't happen sooner. The scents of male and female wolves... suffering... pain... fear. They were so strong he felt his nostrils burning. The odors around him blended into one disgusting murky mix. It was awful.

His gaze drifted over the sorry excuses for wolves that lay chained to various rocks....Skeletons with fur. Hopeless wretches. Hayashi hadn't been a wretch. She had been proud of it. She stared her master in the face with bared teeth... Atleast, he remembered it that way. His mind always gave him images of a proud figure, standing like an angel in the middle of the darkness. d*mn... he had to stop. Had to forget. It burned like fire to remember...

Think of something else, he willed himself.... some other creature. His mind instinctively went towards the one other female who almost joined his life forever. Mirage. Her sharp attitude and sharper words always left him either enraged or enraptured. She was a stiff, haughty beast who very scent made him feel a thrill. He could even smell her now, just a vague wisp of her.

Wait...

He sniffed harder, his ears perking.

Xercese knew that smell. He knew it anywhere. It was almost not there... like a ghost just barely opaque enough to see. "Mirage?" No more than a whisper... He whirled to where it was coming from, his eyes seeking out the female. The link from his past. All he saw was a pair of males staring at each other. He debated his next action carefully... He didn't know what he wanted to find out.

Finally, he made up his mind. Trotting over, he met Zuko's eyes with his own sharp amber ones. The way the brute held himself was not one of a lowly slave. He had pride in his step, and his tail was not wedged against his stomach. With a nod towards Moloch, he stopped infront of Zuko, ignoring the stare-off he interupted. "You smell of someone I know... Where is she?" and so many more questions unasked... So many thoughts. "I want to find her..."



Word count: 564

[Action]

Zuko
The memories burn. I don't want to think about them, but here you come to bring them to me.

This brute was getting boring. He just kept staring at him and Zuko had a short attention span at times. Yawning lazily, he rolled his dark brown orbs to the sky. If the d.mned master wanted something, he could ask him. As he broke off from the other wolf's stare, another wolven figure approached. One that would bring back the memories that stung like ice needles. The pain of the days before this would come crashing back. Days he wanted to forget, but also never wanted to forget.

Turning his plain old mellowed eyeballs to face Xercese, he listened to the other male's words. "You smell of someone I know... where is she? I want to find her..." the words stung like needles in flesh. He knew exactly who Xercese was talking about. At first, the .ssy actor was tempted to play dumb and start questioning who he was talking about, but it was obvious that Zuko knew what was going on and what he wanted. Instead, he was going to let out his temper. He had trusted slightly and was stuck here again. A low growl emerged from his rumbling throat. "Don't even say her name," he barked angrily. "The traitor," his voice changed immediately into something more hurt. Inside, he was a scarred wolf whose ambitions, feelings, and hopes had been crushed by someone he trusted. The only one he had trusted after his sister. It had all been taken away after she disappeared. After that, alone and miserable, he had come back to this dump to relive the old days. Little did he know he would eventually end up bumping into the one who had broken Mirage's heart.

"Don't think I don't know who you are, Xercese. I know what connections you had to her. Then you destroyed them," he growled fiercely again, covering up for the small flaw he had when he became hurt for that single moment. Because Xercese had chosen Hayashi over Mirage, he had made Mirage leave like that. If it wasn't for him then Mirage would have never picked him up from the dumps of another's territory. He remembered all the times that they had shared. Him and Mirage. It had been so much fun and then it had all been taken from him. The good old days when she and him worked on conquering the world, gathering worthy wolves and placing them under her control. Then it all disappeared along with the mastermind herself. All of it gone.

ooc;; Sorry. I don't have any muse. >.<

[/blockquote]

[eclipse]

Xercese
I didn't know...
-- You never && said --

Xercese was not always the leader he wanted to be. Every step was after the past, and the thorns that he stepped on always left scars. The way the wolf looked at him... the expression of more than pain. More than hate. Too deep to describe... I was like his heart was drenched in vinegar. The wounds that Hayashi's loss created opened again and seared with agony inside of him. His heart jumped, his throat tightened uncomfortably and he couldn't help but take a step back. The brown eyes that met his were like the hands that twisted the knife.

'traitor'....

Xercese blinked at the fury and sorrow that rose in him when the word was spoken. Without thinking, his lips rose in snarl of rage. The slightly yellowed teeth flashing against the sharp, scarred black color of his lips. How cliche that phrase seems... yet how accurately it describes his motion. The defensive pose he took towards the male that stood before him. The anger and pain and... was it a scared feeling?... that Zuko was feeling spoke more than a thousand words. He could almost hear the words. Accusations. Hayashi's voice accusing him when she saw him and Mirage. Mirage's hurt. Everything. It was so blurred, yet so sharp. you traitor... you sneak. You he-witch. Enchanter. Brute.

Xercese felt his head pound.... he tried to hide it. Tried to shove the words that pounded against his ears away... His tail lowered and he turned his head farther away like he had been bitten.

'You destroyed her'

"NO!" Xercese roared, whirling around to glare at Zuko with bared teeth. "NO! I LEFT SO I WOULD'NT DESTROY HAYASHI." The words were loud... too loud... "But you know what? She's not there! I don't have her! She left. I left. I did something. I ruined it. It's MY FAULT she's dead. I DESTROYED THEM BOTH... You lost one. I lost both and my pups aside." His ears flattened against his head, and he felt his heart constrict. He swallowed and turned away. It was cutting the chains and binding them tighter in one motion. The brute found himself shaking, and he tried to calm himself. Sitting, Xercese looked up to meet the eyes of Zuko again. His voice cracked, but he continued...

"I cared for them both. I wanted them both to... but... I destroyed... them... both.... I have neither."

[Action]

Zuko
Hurting on the inside is what I do best.

Going from slightly enjoying himself to completely pissy was one of those attitude changes that showed Zuko's true colors. "NO! I LEFT SO I WOULDN'T HURT HAYASHI," Xercese yelled loudly. This explains why Mirage hates Hayashi's guts. Zuko thought quietly. Surprisingly, he wasn't going off on Xercese. Maybe because he knew this guy's pain. At least he thought he knew it. "But you know what? She's not there! I don't have her! She left. I left. I did something. I ruined it. It's MY FAULT she's dead. I DESTROYED THEM BOTH... You lost one. I lost both and my pups aside." This just about pushed the psycho and scarred wolf over the edge. The one standing in front of him with his ears and head down so sadly with the cracking voice was driving Zuko insane. The memories came back. Mirage coming to take him out of the awful dump that he had been stuck in. He had been very bored then and seeing Mirage had brightened his day. Tricking Coin and his little friends had been such a blast. Oh how he wanted to relive those days. But it was gone all over. Pain struck his once angry facade.

"I cared for them both. I wanted them both to... but... I destroyed... them... both.... I have neither." Turning his head away, Zuko tried to keep himself from going berserk. "Welcome to the real world," he murmured just loud enough for Xercese to hear as he turned his scouring orbs back to the wolf in front of him. "Just be glad you're out there and I'm in here," he snarled. Whipping his neck to the right, the chains on the left caught him not even a few inches away from where he had just been. Lunging forward, the back chains caught and clawed at his neck after moving just 6 inches. "I really hate creatures like you who think you got it bad when the next one down the line got it worse. I know where my place is," he muttered under his raspy hoarse breath with a cut off nod to his right. Laying in the next pen was a wolf near death. He had lost absolutely everything. His family, his pups, his pack, his place in life. Everything had been taken from him. Beaten down, everything he had held dear had been killed in front of his eyes. Now he had lost his will to live and was going to die there.

More stammered angry and upset words were whispered as the chains dug into his throat. Though he couldn't feel the pain of it, the tightness was cutting off his breathing. But, living in wildfire valley had it's advantages. The smoky air cut off much of the oxygen around, making it difficult for a full breath. However, this strength could only go so far. Backing up slightly to open his windpipe a little more, he inhaled a deep breath. Zuko was again tempted to just break out, but something told him to stay and listen to what Xercese had to say this time.

[eclipse]

Oh, oh the way those last words burned deep into the very core of his soul.

I have neither

They seemed to echo around him, like a thousand demons screaming his flaws. A thousand memories trying to drown him in their abyss of feelings.

Heh. It was almost poetry. Ah, well... life is poetry, isn't it? Why not this sick game that Xercese found himself playing again? This game of trying to stay afloat. Trying not to go off into the deep end. One thing for sure: Zuko wasn't helping. When you are feeling kind of emo, having a good friend to twist the knife in a little deeper doesn't help.

Welcome to the real world

The dark, troubled eyes fell on Zuko again. The weanling babe... to arrogant to think that his problems might be less than the others out there. The way that the other brute spoke was full of more venom than Xercese probably could have managed even on a bad day, but it had no meaning behind it. He spoke too rashly. To... brutally. Not caring about his words. What they meant. There was no thought behind them.

I know where my place is

The larger, slightly more ragged wolf lifted his head to stare the brute down, his eyes narrowed. The motion was slow and deliberate, like he was taking his time to remind the other of their positions. Of who was on top.

"Hark me well, brute, for what I need to say is important." He glanced away briefly, testing the air as a vaguely familiar scent drifted through before turning back to Zuko. "You, you mere pup, have lived a hard life... but if you can't manage to see outside of your own box. Look at you. Chained. Not only physically, but emotionally. You won’t let yourself escape." Xercese paused, his ears flattening. “You know where your place is… but do you know where it should be? How you should act?” A high-pitched yelp pierced the air behind them, and Xercese flinched. He took the brief distraction as a moment of silence, and settled back on his haunches infront of Zuko.

“I feel like a fool for everything I have done, everyone I have hurt. That’s why I’m here: To rebuild it. You can rebuke and reject me, if you want, but if you could help me… could forgive me for the troubles and let go as well we…” he paused again… He smelled that vaguely familiar scent again, only stronger. “We could rebuilt what we lost. I have land, and I need a pack around m…”

He stopped, his eyes widening. He whirled around to stare:

---

Micara strode through the auctions without so much as a glance around at the gaping wolves. She was well aware of the blood that stained her maw, but she had her leader ahead of her and that was what mattered. She had part of that sweet, sweet life that got dashed against the rocks so many weeks ago. Her paws carried her past all of the lowly, unimportant slaves that meant no more to her than the pebbles at her feet, instinctively heading north. Rumor was there was uninhabited land up there.

As she neared one of the exit points, a welcome gust of wind made her fur stand up and dance. It smelled clear and familiar. Like Hayashi almost. Like the pack. Or Xerce…

Wait…

Micara whirled. She could see a dark eyed slave staring at her, chained, talking to another who was turned. It was odd… the one he was talking to looked like…

“XERCESE!” The female moved forwards a step forward, almost not believing it. Hayashi was almost forgotten in her excitement. If it really was… but it couldn’t be… could it? Never, ever before had Micara experienced the thrill that seeing the wolf turn to look at her gave her. The way the brute looked at her... the face of disbelief and joy... it warmed the half-blind outcast to the pads on her paws.

"Micara?"

The name. The sweet, soft-spoken name... Micara's life never had been all that hot... All she ever had been to owners, alphas and others she knew before was a weapon or another peon in the pack. She didn't care for any other wolf... The trust Hayashi and Xercese earned in her was more than anything anybody could manage. Loosing them had killed her... and finding them revived her. She could only manage to whisper the same she had to Hayashi. Overwhelmed and humbled by fate in one sweet moment.
"My alpha..."

[Action]

Zuko
And I thought we were alike. Here comes your fairytale again.

Zuko had always been a cold unforgiving brute that cared for nobody, but Mirage had opened the door to his heart and thawed the ice. Now it could just be given a little warmth and it could become even more watery. Thanks to that cursed fem, Xercese was applying that little heat and Zuko was actually starting to like this guy and his fire. Flashing a smirk, he half listened to what the guy was saying. "You, you mere pup, have lived a hard life... but if you can't manage to see outside of your own box. Look at you. Chained. Not only physically, but emotionally. You won’t let yourself escape." the male opposing him spoke words of truth even though Zuks refused to believed them. He couldn't let go of Mirage no matter how hard he tried. “You know where your place is… but do you know where it should be? How you should act?” he said after a high pitched yelp sounded. His flinch made Zuko start to chuckle lightly. Silly, silly Xercese. It seemed he had been here before but still hadn't gotten used to the sounds of the place. All the times the cream brute had been here, the same sounds pierced the air, never changing. Unlike Xerc here, he was used to them. A little more than used to them, actually.

“I feel like a fool for everything I have done, everyone I have hurt. That’s why I’m here: To rebuild it. You can rebuke and reject me, if you want, but if you could help me… could forgive me for the troubles and let go as well we…" the older wolf paused again and kept sniffing around. All this made Zuko really wonder what was going on here. What the heck he kept sniffing at. Tipping his own muzzle into the fresh, crisp air, he inhaled deeply, taking in all the different smells and labeling them in his mind. "“We could rebuilt what we lost. I have land, and I need a pack around m…” Xerc started again and Zuko again drifted off and searched for the scent that the other male had scented. Then it hit him. Hayashi. A sudden wave of frustration, anger and hate flushed Zuko's other emotions down the drain. Orbs clouded up with anger. He wanted to kill. Bolting into the chain, a deep growl started to come out, but was stifled as the chain dug into his throat. All he thought about was kill. Kill. Kill.

Sudden control from who knows where rushed through his adrenaline filled arteries and veins. The ferocious growling stopped and he backed up again, tripping over his own feet. "H...Hayashi." he snarled. Something about Xercese made Zuko really like him and the control came from that smudge of respect. Right now, he really wanted to tear Hayashi limb from limb. Glaring at Hayashi, he waited for someone to say something besides names.

[/blockquote]

[x--- αbel♥]

Hayashi had looked around her for the beginning of the walk, but slowly gave up, her expression turning hard. She breathed with pain as she thought about the real thing she was looking for, the thing she wanted most. She couldn't deny the need she felt now, or the frustration of not having him. It make her feel like a little kid throwing a tantrum. Had she really gone so low? She glowered. It felt silly to be acting like this. She scolded herself for all the hope bubbling inside her that said she would see him soon. She was surprised at herself, really. It had been so long that she would've thought that her old habit of always looking at every wolf's face that passed would have left her. But now it was more of a panic. Her and Micara were leaving the area of which she had been living in, so her feelings flew. There could be a chance that he had left to the north, too, just to escape the memories...

Hayashi furrowed her eyebrows as she stopped herself. But what if he didn't care? What if he had forgotten all about her, and her name didn't cut him like a knife like his did to her? She couldn't bare the thought of him not wanting her... she didn't want the rejection from him. But, if it was indeed true, she couldn't hide from it. She was honestly tired of hiding her face, hiding from the real world. It just proved how fragile she was on the inside, and how phony her tough-act was. She sighed. Her thoughts swirled around her head like this for some time, so much she was only there with Micara in body. Her mind flitted over everything, digging deep into some things and just barely touching others. As hard she Hayashi tried, she couldn't slow her mind down. It seemed to be running faster than it could manage, and she couldn't keep up. So she just looked down, concentrating on where she put her feet. The last thing she wnated to do was fall flat on her face.

The vix nearly ran into Micara, only now noticing that she had abruptly stopped in her tracks. Hayashi studied the fem's face with a tight expression, and all she saw was awe. With a rasied eyebrow, she followed her gaze, not really caring to look at the wolves faces that she saw. Why would these strangers interest Micara so much? ... But then the wind blew, tangling within Hayashi's fur and winding within her nostrils. And she knew. And suddenly, the earth felt like it had been removed from her feet. Her breath became ragged; something she had picked up recently since she'd been on her own. She wanted to believe she was seeing things, like her need for him was just making her see things. But, after looking at Micara, she couldn't believe that. She felt like she couldn't believe anything right now. She didn't remember why she was here, what her name was, why she was so troubled... nothing made sense anymore.

Only then did she hear the growling and spluttering to Xercese's left, and her eyes widened. She knew him, didn't she? Didn't.. Mirage mingle with him? Ugh. She gimaced like her name was poison. But what had Hayashi done to upset him...? She hardly knew this wolf, and yet his eyes read that he was anxious. Anxious for her? But why? "Zuko...?" was all her honey voice could manage. She didn't think she could manage to say his name though. She didn't know how to react. Her body felt cold and lifeless, her fur clinging to something dead. She should be scared of the wolf trying to eat her alive. She should be wanting answers from him. But why did that matter to her now? Her obsession was back... back for her to cling to, to make her whole again.

Her memory hadn't done him justice, of course. Her blues eyes rolled over every inch of his body, marveling at how warm his fur looked. His presence calmed her, in a sense, but it only brought her more panic. Hayashi didn't know what to say, either, and she knew she couldn't move without falling over. But he was here. He was actually here. She could feel him again, look at him outside of her head for a change. Hayashi couldn't explain what was flowing through her veins, but she felt stunned. Maybe it was her forever lost sense of control. She stumbled a little in Micara's direction, her fur mixing with hers as she tried to correct herself. Her senses were numb, too, and she couldn't only wait until one of them moved.

[841 words]

[† Kadaver †]

A slow, steady heartbeat echoed in the slender chest of the ivory fae. It had been quite some time since she had set foot at the Rock, and now that she was here once again she remembered why. The snow colored vix hadn't changed a bit since she had abandoned her lands in Sobibor and moved on to view the far corners of the world. She left without warning or note, a test for her pack to see if anything she had preached about being a true wolf, freedom, the rights of pure blood, and d*mn good common sense had stuck, but even her own heart sunk when she returned to

The fae was set in her ways, and she had her motives. She needed not tell anyone else. She was in charge of her own life, and honestly if her pack didn't have the balls to make it on their own without her babysitting them, then good riddance. Best to spend her time on a more teachable group of wolves. It was times like these that she wished she had her own children, not that she'd let any sex-bound male near her, though with her own blood running through their veins they'd be sure to understand a lot quicker than the regulars.

Maneuvering through a group a guards as they watched her leave, her head held only where hers could be held, she rattled the padlocks on the the cages with her tail as she passed. She wasn't listening to the clutter of noise around her much, and honestly she didn't know what had brought her here in the first place. Hunting had brought her near the border, so why not shop around? The smell always hit her like a brick wall, leaving her black nose crumpled in distaste. There was no problem with torture, but the stench of blood, sweat, urine, and feces in such a condensed area was a bit much to handle.

Rounding a corner, a rough, grumbling voice caught her attention above the rest. Quickly, she backed up, remaining unseen by anyone on the other side. Harks pricked, and the mention of his name confirmed her thoughts. Zuko had landed himself back into slavery. Silver eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. He of all of them should have been well equipped with a sense of pride to at least die before he ended up chained once more. Dagger-like canines grinded together angrily. He was her second in command, her most cherished, even if that wasn't much. If he wasn't going to stand up for himself at the least, she would see to it herself that he died like the dog he was.

Beginning to take a step around the corner, she was stopped by a shrill, though gruff cry of a name. A familiar name, nonetheless. It was then that she allowed her anger to dim as she listened in. Xercease, Micara, Zuko, Hayashi... Huh, them of all she thought would be dead, especially the very latter. However, the name granting was a bit annoying, and oh how she felt so left out. Rounding the corner now, her anger evaporating into her subconscious, she halted but three feet away from the group and planted herself. Raising her paw, as if a human hand, she merely purred her own calling, that ever so familler smirk on her maw, her colorless eyes sparkeling. A calling that had been absent for far too long, apparently. Mirage.

//OoC;; Yup yup, back from an over six month haitus thanks to our dear Action. Looks like just in time too. Anything worth updating me on?\\

[eclipse]

He could only hear his shallow, tense breathing. In... pause... out. In... pause... out. The wind that ruffled his nape fur was silent on his ears, and the snarling that rumbled behind him was no more than a whimper. In 5 seconds he went from a bachelor seeking to make restitution and build a pack again to a leader with enemies, a mate, devoted followers and a web of conflicts and sorrow. The rush of emotion and thoughts he felt reminded him of how he felt once when he ventured out in the middle of a hurricane. It was so overwhelming and powerful the only thing he could do for what seemed like hours was just stand there in silence.

Micara felt her whole body tremble. She could see Xercese in front of her like she had so many times alone in the forests, stairing at her in awe. It almost could have been a dream... but feeling Hayashi's fur gently mingling with her own held her in reality. She could feel the flashbacks beginning... See the first time she met Xercese. Feel the anger radiating from him as she explained why she came. She remembered the pups, and Mirage and that red wolf that came... everything the Hrellia pack went through.

If he could have, he would have fallen to his knees with his head in his hands... or he would have burst into hysterical tears. Maybe gone into a rage of cold, unquenchable rage towards everybody near him. Something he would have been done to let out all the stress that lifting the burdens would have brought.

She was laying there, tail tucked between her legs with Xercese standing over her snarling... "Why are you here, filth? Come to steal my land?" In the background, Hayashi's own soft snarl was punctuating her mate's. Micara felt Xercese's teeth latch onto her scruff and haul her up. The only thing she could remember feeling was the total, overwhelming fear that the young, brawny alpha caused her. Compared to him, she was inadequate in every way. "I'm a loner, I just..." the words hurt to say... I'm a loner.... "... I just want a home for the night. I'm running from the slavers and..." she was cut off by Xercese turning to walk away, grudgingly granting her permission to stay the night.

Micara had been a weak creature then (she still had a weakness for Hayashi and Xercese, but that's different.)... The idea of using her skills as a warrior towards a wolf in higher position seemed an abomination to her then. Now, if she had been in such a position and an alpha treated her such, she would have slit their throats without thought. Such meanderings... they never did anybody much good...

He didn't know what he would have done if he could... but it would have been something more than just standing there watching Hayashi approach, Zuko roar his lungs out and Micara rush towards him. Four wolves greeted each other in one soap opera-esque scene. All that was missing was the sappy music in the background. Maybe some trilling flutes punctuated by some sad cello music? Psh. It didn't matter.

Micara broke the spell, wagging her tail in excitement and prancing towards Xercese. Her ears perked up and she let her tongue loll in relief that all the thoughts that were bombarding her were not washing this beast away like a pretty shell on the beach. She crouched, spanking the ground with her forepaws and gently nipping Xercese under the jaw. Wolf for: I missed you, my leader. She could only manage to talk through actions. Words seemed so wanting. After several painfully long and short moments, She let Xercese focus on Hayashi.

It wouldn't really be able to capture the emotion those names invoked as they fell. Like art... they all brought up different reactions in those present. They were spells and lyrics to a song, all in one. Xercese sprang a little further away from Zuko to meet Micara, growling in excited greeting. Both wolves, the small female and the elder, larger male nuzzled and licked each other in an eager greeting that litter mates would share. The joy that radiated from the pair made several passing buyers look at them in disgust. Xercese lifted his narrow-muzzled head to look steadily at Hayashi. Man, his mind had not done her credit. She was torn and desperate, like a fragile flower bending in the wind. Beautiful, yes, but waiting for that one gust that would destroy her. He couldn't hide the burden of her memory any more... the neon-lighted truth was still screaming at him: He needed her.

Say something! Tell her something...

Micara watched the brute apprehensively... He was going to say something, she knew it... But Hayashi needed more than a tail wag and another name. She turned to let them work it out, returning Zuko's snarl.

XERCESE TURNED TO SEE MIRAGE!!11!

He had to agree... something more than names would be refreshing. He opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by one last surprise. Another name... no surprise there... but the word? So many times before he heard it. Said it. Savored it on his tongue... spat it out with spite. And now... now the way is danced through the air made it just another sparrow in their silly little flock.

That wasn't the point, though... the point was: that sparrow was there at all.

Xercese turned away from Micara and Zuko to stare at her for one long moment of silence before speaking... Micara had reduced herself to allowing a deep snarl to rumble up in her throat, and the growls directed at Hayashi were painfully loud.

His mind was filled with spiteful words and brutalities... things that would burn holes in the hearts of all those around them. He knew what he would say, but...

"Zuko, Micara! Enough." His voice was loud and sharp, and he punctuated it with a growl at the end. Ruff raised in the superior alpha position he was comfortable in, he stepped back and made the little cluster of wolves into a circle. "Past prejudices will do us no good now. Stop your aggression long enough to think and listen." Xercese paused, trying to build up the willow-whisp thought that he had been musing on in his mind for some time now. "I am an alpha of my own land and need a strong pack around me... before, Mirage, you were a superpower in pack communities... I can understand why you would despise coming to join me, but I need your strength by my side... I can not force you to accept, but I can extend the invitation. Think on the opportunity we have...."

Word count: 1175

[† Kadaver †]

If she would have let it, the snowy fae's jaw would be hanging wide open on the ground. Mirage went from secretly pissed to immediately triumphant in less than half of a second. Her heart briefly fluttered until she shoved that into her subconscious as well. It was getting a tad crowded in there, but nonetheless, Xercese addressed her before he spoke to Hayashi! Her eyes widened slightly, a brow quirked, and though it was an expression change she sure hoped that it hid her inner joy. It was then that she actually began to listen to the formed words coming out of his mouth.

...by my side..

By his side. Technically, he has two sides. The side of him that wants the regal, untouchable goddess, and the side of him that wants to help an ex slave look as if she wasn't a waste of life. Would the tan b*tch be standing at his other side? He had a choice before, and guess who was the one who got screwed over. Guess who was the one who offered him the same, and was refused. Guess who was the one who was hurt. Go ahead. Guess.

...think of the opportunity we have...

We. Not Hayashi and I. We. If this guy was pulling her strings, he d*mn well knew how to do it. It was a low, familiar grumble that snapped her out of her fantasies. Mirage broke eye contact with the brute to glance at her former beta. There wasn't a square inch of him that wasn't covered in thick, metal chains. her anger began to bubble again, not in his defense, but against him for allowing the fall of her lands. For allowing himself to live as everything he worked for slipped from his paws. For allowing himself to be chained one more after he tasted freedom, not to mention her freedom. Ruler ship. If she wasn't so lady-like, Mirage would spit on him. Right now, she didn't even want to look at him.

Re-facing Xercese, she opened her pearly muzzle to speak. Offer nearly accepted. Her silver eyes flicked to Hayashi while her head nodded slightly in her direction, her face reading, "So, what're you going to do with that?"

//OoC;; Acty, couldn't think of anything for her to say to Zuko. Sorry my word count is so low, I havn't RPed since I've been here last. They'll get better, promise.\\

[Action]

Zuko
This is the fun I was looking for.

Brown orbs narrowed to slits as a joyous little reunions spread through the three in front of him. This was one of those things he hated about life. This type of happiness. Life was a game only played by those with the skill of survival and Zuko knew how to play his cards. Still growling at Hayashi and her little friend, back legs launched him forward again, the chains clacking like a baby's rattle. The multicolored wolf really wanted to kill. Killing was all they had, right? Killing and surviving.

Taken over by blood lust once again, he slammed his bodice forward. Kill. Kill. Kill. The word filled his head, covering up all previous thoughts. Flashbacks of fire, blood and dead bodies filled his mostly vacant mind. One simple word was spoken. "Mirage." That name. That cursed name. Mirage. Mirage. All his concentration on killing dissipated. Mirage. The name. The sound of it. Mirage. Mirage. Memories slammed their way through his already rocketing brain. Staring blankly at the ivory body that sat beside the other three, he started to curse the ground he stood on. "D.mn....I'm so screwed." he muttered to himself with a laughing tone. Mirage was back and Zuko was in for a whole world of trouble.

More memories funneled themselves through his head. The day they met. Tricking Coin and his little friends. Those had been the days. Finding himself smiling fondly, he snorted and tore a few chains off his head. It had been almost as boring here as it had been at Mirage's land after she left. Might as well have some fun.

After Xerc started rambling something to Mirage, Zuko made direct eye contact with his past "friend". Noting that Mirage looked very p.ssed at him, Zuko smiled, a mix of sarcasm and fake anguish. All past feelings of any kind for Mirage had been wiped clean. He was alone in this world. The only goal he held being fun. All he wanted was to get the fullest out of this cursed life and have fun destroying. Killing.

"Offer nearly accepted." Mirage's crystal lyrics pierced the air. Tension grew with every second. Shaking off the rest of the chains on his front half, they fell hard to the ground with a loud clank. The dumb.ss guards thought that laying a bunch of thick heavy chains on a guy would slow him down. They were so wrong it was hilarious. Zuko had "escaped" plenty of times before. Yawning, he continued to observe the others have a little fun. Watching from a distance and getting involved only when he felt like it was part of his style.

ooc;; Blah....sorry for the crappy post. I don't have any muse lately so this is just a throw together.

[/blockquote]

[x--- αbel♥]

"Zuko, Micara! Enough. Past prejudices will do us no good now. Stop your aggression long enough to think and listen."

When he spoke, Hayashi felt her heart practically stop. She couldn't help it. His words had been something she had longed for some time, and she was hearing them now, despite all her doubt. He was here. But she had to agree with him, and her rational side seemed to be trying to butt in. All they could do is sit here and whispers names, while in their heads they wanted to rip each other's throats off. It wasn't mature to mope around like grumpy babies, but what else to do? Pout and then walk away? Even though she knew this would cause more suffering, she couldn't leave now... like this. She had so much to say, so much to ask, but there didn't seem to be enough air. Her body felt empty.

"I am an alpha of my own land and need a strong pack around me... before, Mirage, you were a superpower in pack communities... I can understand why you would despise coming to join me, but I need your strength by my side... I can not force you to accept, but I can extend the invitation. Think on the opportunity we have...."

Hayashi felt something inside her die. She had snapped. Every thought seemed to change... She lifted her eyes off the two brutes and Micara to look at the newcomer to the party. Mirage. That poisonous name. d*mn. d*mn it d*mn it. Where'd the hell she come from? Why now? Her blue eyes narrowed, her empty body quickly rippling with emotions she couldn't explain. Was it... jealousy? She knew she had always felt something because of Mirage... but it seemed obvious now... Hayashi remembered the look in Xercese's face when he looked at her, how much he tried to please her. Mirage was painstakingly beautiful too, and right now Hayashi had to admit she looked like the world had thrown up on her. But did he mean it? Did he really like her as much as she now saw? She hoped he was just in the same stupor she was... after all, she hadn't talked to him either, so it was fine he hadn't said anything to her yet. Or at all. She shook her head, blocking out the stupid little voice. When had she fallen to this level of austerity?

"Offer nearly accepted."

Hayashi wanted to yack at her. But she knew Mirage had to be in as much pain, or confusion as she was. Even as she was, she could see Mirage was in some kind of pain. She could easily cover it up, but she knew something was there. She had to tell herself over and over to be mature... losing her temper at this moment would be deathly. But all these emotions were building inside of her, threatening to rip out and attack the next thing that moved.

Zuko had finally shut up. Hayashi was surprised, actually. She thought Zuko would split in two when he saw Mirage, his buddy. Wasn't that it was suppose to go? A sweet reunion? Everyone loved each other, and were happy they were finally together again. Followed by laughter, plans, and questions of where they had all been. Where was that? they had screwed themselves over so much there was no happiness. Surprise didn't count. They should all be bubbling with joy. Hayashi closed her eyes, her head pounding. Her anger was gone by now, and her body no longer trembled. She tried to clear her thoughts as she racked her brain for nothing to say. She came up with nothing.

Instead she scooted away from Micara, laying down a few feet away from Zuko, noticing he had calmed down some. Maybe she wouldn't get her head bit off tonight. She lay her had on her paws, her eyes blank and staring at nothing. She didn't know what to do with the situation. She couldn't butt in with the conversation, because it would make her mad. She'd lose control. She didn't know what Xercese wanted, what Mirage had planned, and where Micara was going after this. She let all the doubt creep in, and started to wonder where that left her. At the bottom of a cliff? The ocean floor? Or would she live past her frivolous sadness, and go back to try to get a master?

Hayashi grumbled with herself. It had become a habit now, soemthing she had done to make herself sane, to keep from falling apart. She had always felt like Mirage had purposefully acted as a wedge, driving herself further between her and Xercese. She felt like a bum, something that should be thrown in the trash. And an even bigger bum for not trying to have a meaning in this life. But maybe she hadn't looked hard enough at Mirage. Maybe she was missing something.

She managed to choke some words out, shrinking back when heard how pathetic they sounded. "Maybe you two would like to talk it out?... She blinked, forcusing on them now. Even if they didn't, she was long gone. She could feel herself falling to pieces already. She got up, weaving her way through the forest to her right. She didn't look back, didn't really care to. She rested against a sandy rock far in, trying her hardest to mesh into it's rough outside. "How pathetic." she mumbled.

[o.o.c] Rambling ftl. D: I like going into her thoughts, so sorry abouthow crappy this post is, and how annoying she can be. xDD

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