The Devil Returns (open)

[eclipse]

Xercese was good at pulling strings. He knew how he could make simple words into enchanting spells. Like piecing a puzzle... you just had to know how to piece them together to be able to make the picture look right. It didn't always work, mind you... missing puzzle pieces were always a possibility... but for the most part, his skills were far from lacking.

Micara was looking very hard at Mirage. She knew the same thing the Hayashi knew: Mirage was a threat. A killer. A thief. The fact that her leader, a member of her family, would even try to reason with the wretch was beyond her. Her lips were lifted in a snarl of disgust, silently showing her fangs and standing protectively by Hayashi. Zuko would be easy to take care of. Any creature who had not yet escaped slavery was unworthy of notice. As for Rage, that is where the problem would be.

Mirage was where Xerc thought he would have a problem: she was clever, snide, witty, and almost without any weakness. It surprised him how much he still meant to her. He mulled that thought wisp over a second or two, his eyes still on the white furred creature in front of him. For a brief flash, he felt a quiver of lust stir in his body. His chest burned and he found himself clenching his jaws to stop the ache in his loin.Without meaning to, he took a step towards Mirage. His pupils dilated... he had to do something. Stop it... He heard the chains of Zuko clatter as they hit the ground, and he used that as an excuse to jerk his head around (though that didn't stop the warmth of shame that spread up his paws and made his jaw clench again).

The fact that they would when only drape chains casually over Zuko's body emphasized Micara's opinion of him: he wasn't even worth chaining because his abilities were so low on the rope. He was just lounging around with his chains the ground like none present would notice... she turned her head away, annoyed and sickened, to say something to Hayashi. Her tongue stuck in her mouth and her words slid back down her throat like slime when she saw her alphess' face and heard her words.

Xercese felt more than heard the whimper that slid from Micara's lips.

His beta female never had been much of a sappy, fearful type, so the plain sorrow and sympathy in her tone was surprising enough to make him turn to see what bothered the small female so. His ears perked and he tilted his head slightly: Hayashi looked almost... depressed? was it?... she moved away from Micara and Xercese to sit closer to Zuko. The brute felt the warmth of shame fill his bod again, and he turned to focus back on Mirage. "Living isn't always something you have to do alone. Neither is ruling." Xercese stopped halfway through, turning to 'Ashi to invite her to join him...

Hayashi was leaving. Emotionally and physically. Micara could only watch in stunned silence as she threaded her way through the trees and faded from view. Turning to glower at Mirage and Zuko, she flung herself up to run after the Hayashi. At the forest edge, the small wolf turned to meet her alpha's eyes, and felt a jolt at what she saw: Not concern... Guilt. Like he knew something. Her ears flattened and she tucked her tail against her stomach in unease, hardly noticing where her paws took her in the woods.

Xercese watched Hayashi and Micara both leave, and guilt welled up inside of him. Maybe without that one step towards Mirage... that one look of lust...

Micara turned to stare at him; he couldn't hide the guilt before she saw and flattened her ears. Anger towards himself and his inner conflicts bubbled up inside of himself, but he only allowed himself a snarl of frustration before turning to continue speaking to the white female near him. This time, he didn't try to bury and hide the pleasant warmth of lust. He didn't know why, but the way Hayashi left... dragging her tail like she was a slave, not a fiery wolf ready to lead a pack again made him slightly uneasy at having her back. His respect towards her was dwindling, and the initial love was slowly forming into the one hair that was holding the sword up.

"I would be..." he paused, trying to decide if he wanted to say it or not... his heart still clung desperately to Hayashi, but she was off... something about her was not as passionate as before. He lifted his tail some and straightened himself. Not quite allowing Mirage superiority... more allowing them to stand as equals. "...honored, Mirage, if you and the rest of what pack of yours remains would join me... and If you would stand by my side to help me lead as nobody else can."

There. It was said.

The words were so soft they could hardly be heard... "Hayashi? Hayashi... where are you? We need you... I need you... Where are you?" Micara was weaving through the trees quickly and easily, but the unease was still heavy in her stomach. The trees echoed with sounds of cruel games that slavers played with the other animals... Hayashi's absence made her worry. She could easily take on 1 beast, but more than one or two and she was severely weakened by her blind spot. If they got caught, there might not be another escape.

[x--- αbel♥]

"... and If you would stand by my side to help me lead as nobody else can."

Hayashi's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't run that far into the woods, but had she really heard that? She didn't want to believe it... but she knew it was true. Her dignity had been shredded when Xercese left, and when she went back to slavery, her leader attitude deteriorated. Mainly because she tried her hardest to push everything away, and only focused on her master's needs. She denied everything, shoving it to the back of her mind. But right now, she couldn't ignore the suffocating numbness on her heart. She had always been bad with dealing with things, but she just couldn't go back there. Not with Mirage. That girl just made her mind an open flame, ready to explode with the next comment. And she knew Xercese felt something with her, and it hurt to see it. The hurt of him leaving and coming back to someone else. With all her yearning gone to waste.

"Hayashi? Hayashi... where are you? We need you... I need you... Where are you?"

Did she want Micara to see her like this? To watch her crumble beneath the hurt? No, but she couldn't ignore her. She owed Micara, and leaving her stumbling into the woods after her didn't seem right. After all, she respecter her. And Hayashi respected her, too, even with a little envy. There were so many times she let her down...

Micara was about 10 yards to her left, and Hayashi groaned as she answered her. "Over here, Micara." She didn't care if Micara heard her or not, but she couldn't stop the words that now spilled from her mouth unwillingly. "I didn't know how much I need him, Micara. And now he doesn't want me, I can see that. And you know what? He can have her. It's all Mirage wanted in the first place, anyway. She won, end of story. I'm not what I used to be, not even close. But I'm only this because he left.. and because he didn't come home to me.. I don't know what to do anymore. If I stay with you, I'll only be annoying. And maybe you want to stay with Xercese, too, and I don't know if I could handle being around him. I've dug myself in this hole, and I'm too weak to get back out." Hayashi's voice rose a few octaves, her breath hitching in her throat. You're tough, Micara. You're tough enough to handle this. I thought I was, but now I can only envy you." She groaned again, driving her body more into the rock behind her, not caring how uncomfortable and rough it was on her soft skin.

Hayashi knew she wouldn't be able to let go of Xercese, her Xercese, so easily. But she would try. If he was happy, then so be it. That's all she wanted. It was his life, and she would let him live it. She didn't want to feel like she was holding him back like she usually did, but it would be hard to watch him walk away, without a glance back. She wouldn't' know what to do with herself.

She scowled, boring her eyes into the trees in front of her. The forest almost look surreal. The trees were an odd yellow-green, the ground a moist brown. The leaves swayed in the wind, sending swirls of sweet scents around her. It calmed her a little bit, but it didn't show. Her claws dug into the soft ground beneath her paws, as if she was clinging desperately to it. With all the hurt inside her, she had to push pieces of it onto other people. This was her way of being able to keep herself from wallowing in it, drowning herself in suffering. She hadn't ranted to anyone in a while, and she felt only slightly relieved now. There was so much she wanted to yell about, things she wanted to scream over. Hayashi closed her eyes, sighing in defeat. What could Micara do with her anyway? She could do her a favor and yell back at her, but she knew Micara wouldn't do that. The tight hold around her heart seemed to constrict her more and more... "I can't stand it." The vix shook her head, looking toward Micara's direction with pleading eyes. Atleast she accepted her.

[eclipse]

Micara's paws sunk into the ground with each step she took into the trees. The voices were fading into the background, but she could still hear the words: "as no one else can...." her heart slid into her toes and she turned her head to look through the trees at the silhouette of Xercese and Mirage. From where she stood, both wolves seemed to meld together into one shadow. One wolf. It was Hayashi that should be there, not the traitor Mirage... That lying creature was just trying to enchant him. Deceive him. Shocked and angry, and more importantly filled with understanding, she turned her back on them to go further into the woods to find Hayashi. They had to get rid of her. That incident was just fate telling them to destroy Mirage.

"Over here, Micara."

Micara's ears perked, and the small wolf turned towards where the sorrow-stricken voice came from. She understood what Hayashi was thinking... What the feelings behind each word, each syllable, were.

"Hayashi... Hayashi?"

She half ran, half fought her way through bushes... the cream female was laying there limp and spiritless, the sad pain-smell radiating from her. It made Micara wince and flatten her ears. Xercese destroyed Hayashi by leaving, if it wasn't for his... no. Wait. It wasn't his fault. It couldn't be. Mirage corrupted him and deceived him. It's her fault he treated Hayashi like this.

"I didn't know how much I need him, Micara. And now he doesn't want me, I can see that. And you know what? He can have her. It's all Mirage wanted in the first place, anyway. She won, end of story. I'm not what I used to be, not even close. But I'm only this because he left.. and because he didn't come home to me.. I don't know what to do anymore. If I stay with you, I'll only be annoying. And maybe you want to stay with Xercese, too, and I don't know if I could handle being around him. I've dug myself in this hole, and I'm too weak to get back out."

Eyes narrowed, Micara rose to stand next to Hayashi. Her voice was cracking slightly as she spoke... "Stop. Just... stop. It's not his fault!" she wasn't sure weather she thought the words or said them... All she knew was that the perfect alphess that she so willingly followed and devoted herself to was now contributing all of their problems to Xercese. It infuriated her to hear Hayashi blaming it on him. He was acting like he should... choosing the strongest to lead with him. It was just that Mirage had deceived him into choosing her.
"It isn't his fault... if Mirage was dead, captured, enslaved... he wouldn't be poisoned. His mind would be free of her. It is that wh*re's fault that he's fallen to this level." she lowered her voice some, looking hard at Hayashi. "We need to take care of her. Get rid of her. Save Xercese from her. To get your mate back, Mirage needs to die."




"From the forest the dark things come
In the forest you find them
From the forest the sunlight dims
In the forest you bind them"

Zeus chanted to himself in an almost sing-song voice... He would have another female under his body soon enough: there were plenty around the borders to satisfy him for ages. That was one of the perks to being a loner: he could plant his seeds anywhere he wanted with no consequence to himself.

He was a smooth, successful brute... his actions were always successful and his needs were always fulfilled. Of course, being a hefty 40 inches tall didn't hurt much either. Big enough to be threatening, smart enough to survive... yeah, it was the life.

'Mirage's fault'

The female who's scent he was following spoke. It was a familliar voice, too... one he knew well. She was one of Xercese's gals... though what she was doing here was beyond him. It was the name that caught his attention, though. Mirage had been a previous target of his: a female actually worthy of his prowess. Somehow, though, that wet-tail pup Zuko managed to get there in time to help her get away. She was his one failure, and his one aspiration. If he could manage to get pups from her, he would have the best offspring he could manage. If he could manage to steal her away and enchant her along with breeding? well... let's just say it would make him happy.

Shouldering his way through thorn bushes unphased, he stopped about halfway to Hayashi and Micara and smiled.

He looked immortal, and insane...

"Mirage was the name I heard? Care to do me a favor?" he paused and stretched his hind legs "Turn around and move your tails so I can get at you..." another pause and a wide, toothy grin "Or care to tell me about where Mirage is first to see if I might be merciful towards you two pets?"

It would be amazing... he could get both of Xercese's ladies to spill the beans about Mirage, leave a suprise in them for Xercese, then go off to find Mirage. The perfect end to a good day.




[Zues is flippin' mental.

Hope you don't mind he's in there.
Word Count: 962]

[x--- αbel♥]

"Stop. Just... stop. It's not his fault!"

"It isn't his fault... if Mirage was dead, captured, enslaved... he wouldn't be poisoned. His mind would be free of her. It is that wh*re's fault that he's fallen to this level. We need to take care of her. Get rid of her. Save Xercese from her. To get your mate back, Mirage needs to die."

Hayashi stared blankly at Micaras marbled face hovering near hers, completely thrown off guard at what she said. She had thought that she was the only one that hated Mirage. And even then, she thought her hatred was unjust, because she only hated her because of what she did to Xercese, and what he allowed himself to fall into. She was sure that Mirage could be decent, but she was biased on that. In a girls mind, it's always right when the 'other girl' has to pay for what she's done. But could she really handle that? Would this shatter possibilities for the future?

She couldn't say she didn't want her dead... no. But she just felt guilty for thinking it. Maybe they both were wrong, and he actually felt something. Or maybe not. "I don't know if we could manage that, Micara. And even if we tried, Xercese would try and stop us, you know that. Tricking her mig-" Hayashi jumped, the wind smacking a familiar scent into her face. One she had smelled after everyone disappeared, one that had been intertwined with Mirage's. Why would he be here? Why was everyone here? But then again, she didn't know what this wolf had with Mirage, but he was huge, and she didn't suspect anything romantic. But the way he smiled and carried himself didn't seem normal. He looked mentally stable, though.

"Mirage was the name I heard? Care to do me a favor? Turn around and move your tails so I can get at you... Or care to tell me about where Mirage is first to see if I might be merciful toward you two pets?"

As soon as he said this, Hayashi whipped her body off the ground with a snarl, her ears pressed against her cream skull. Of all the things he could ask for... her body seemed to quiver. She simply hated all the lust of brutes. Weren't there any compassionate ones anymore? Did they all want this, and never anything real? She snorted to herself. It disgusted her. All you could see nowadays were two wolves thrown on top of each other. There was no conversation, no emotion. Only lust, and that was all that drove them.

But something popped in her mind just then... Hayashi hadn't toyed with anyone in so long. She could play around with Zues for a bit, see where things went.. No, not that way.She could use him, and hopefully he could be the one to scare Mirage. She could make herself into something Xercese wanted, but didn't have. He looked like one that would play along.. of course he would.

She shot a glance to Micara that was still full of pain, one that read 'I know what I'm doing', before she loosened her stand, cocking an eyebrow. Her pain seemed to melt away... "If you'll excuse my behavior before, I thought you were someone else." Her voice was smooth, laced with a hint of honey. She had confidence she could pull this off. She took a step toward him, her body swiftly taking it in one motion. Now what to say? Ugh. This was so wrong... Hayashi slided to the left, flicking her cream tail over the brute's nose. "Mmm. I might request some help before we go... jumping into things. But then again, it might be more of a favor to you, but a request all the same." She grinned playfully, fixing her eyes on his. This guy sure seemed like he wanted to find Mirage badly. Probably for the same reason he had just asked them, but Hayashi would be glad to assist him. As long as her took Mirage elsewhere, she was fine with it. He could have her all to himself, and Hayashi would have it all solved then. That is, if Xercses could forgive her.

"So, what do you say, brute? Hear me out?"

[eclipse]

Zeus straightened his shoulders, the smile stretching slightly. The fear and anger that was plainly in her snarl made him feel fuzzy inside. Like a sappy hug or something like that... Only better. Ever since he was a young whelp, he loved being the source of things. The root of their fear... the well of their anger. He was safe from any of their feelings, for sure, but the knowledge that every tear or snarl was his fault gave him a certain satisfaction that was hard to explain. "I am that someone else. But who I am doesn't matter..."

He chuckled, the voice surprisingly warm, and took a step towards her. "I suppose I can excuse it. If you will excuse my lust for the moment." Zeus slid back on his haunches, looking at both females. She wanted to play, then? Well... he could be a gentleman for the ladies. A charmer, a kind, compassionate soul to lick their wounds for them. "I suppose I can halt my advances. You seem like a well-rounded individual not prone to... rash... actions." It annoyed him to play the games with his prey. He was by no means kind, and he didn't give a rabbit's foot about her petty feelings, so playing games for her benifite was not something he wanted to do. But still... maybe he would end up surprising her? enchanting her somehow so he could only to crash the poor wretch to the ground? He knew of her habits from gossip he heard drifting around, but his bets were that she had only scented him and heard vague whispers of his name. Rarely did anybody know more of him than his name.

She wouldn't know that he had... other... intentions.

As far as he could tell, she thought he was only interested in Mirage. He could tell she was... miffed... at the female, and her pain and sorrow that she was so poorly hiding almost made her look pretty. She seemed more than happy to help him with Mirage; Hayashi started striding towards him, and he couldn't help quirking an eyebrow. From what he heard, Hayashi was no vixen. She was too slave-molded to have any spark any more. No matter... if she would make the advances, he saw no reason why not to join her. He followed her with his whole body, not just his eyes, turning as she curved around him. She held her tail high and proud, too demurely for Zeus to believe she wasn't acting, the tail tip twitching like a cat's. The wench! trying to manipulate his wants. Still... it enchanted him. Her smell slithered past his devenses and the coy flick of her tail made him growl appreciatively without intending to. "I back down to treat you with care and you come at me even faster..." Zeus laughed, turning to follow her tail and nip the cream base. Another couple of steps, and he was able to press against her side with his shoulder. His muzzle barely touched her ear... "This doesn't sound like you, Hayashi of the Hrellia pack... but I am willing to listen."

[† Kadaver †]

There was a wall up now in her consious, shielding herself and Xercease from all else at the rock. Ugh, they were still at the rock. Even this dramatic, tense situation didn't mask the disgusting smell. Regardless, her metallic eyes glittered as he turned from the tortured tan ess back to her. About d*mn time too. Her ever appearent smirk remained the same, though on the inside she was grinning. But still, there was that tug on her heart that said he may go back looking for her...

The lands of Sobior have changed greatly over these troubled times, Xercese, though one thing that hasn't is the depressing aura of The Rock. She motioned behind her to a fresh wolf carcass being dragged to a pit. It wasn't the abuse that bothered her more than the lack of will to live. Kind of a dull place to discuse a future, is it not? Maybe we should continue this conversation elsewhere...? She asked, hoping he'd take her to his lands. Their lands.

//OoC;; I'm thinking they can leave and shorten up with all the wolves you have to post with here? If so, I'll make one more post with her and they can leave.\\

[eclipse]

Xercese glanced back over at the forest where Hayashi disappeared one last time before turning back to Mirage. She was still smirking, but he could tell that she was pleased: Her stance had changed just the faintest bit... she was focusing on him... solely him. It wasn't quite an obsession. He had seen obsessions before. He met her hard, crystal eyes and mulled over it.

It was... trust.

... And cautious loyalty.

"I agree to that. The stench burns my nostrils and makes my hairs rise." he flinched at the carcass as the odors and flies clung to the skin-draped skeleton like a gruesome costume. It was, as she said, a dull place to discuss a future. Anywhere there were wolves that were being eaten alive by crows and raped to show how 'purchasable' they were was like inviting the cold stare of fate to focus on them. "My lands are north of here... far north. The others can follow the scent trail if they will join me."

He cast one last look over his shoulder, feeling a mix of emotions too complex to work out, then turned his back on that place and his right shoulder to Mirage and left.

[† Kadaver †]

Silver eyes glittered with excitment. She has beaten Hayashi, and though normally beating a beaten down, spirit broken slave meant nothing to her, but this was different. He had chosen her over Mirage, twice. It became an obsession to win him over, and now she really didn't know what to do. Glancing over her shoulder in Hayashi's direction, that mocking smirk on her face, she flicked her ivory banner disdainfully and trotted after Xerc.

Mirage had never chosen a mate, since the last one walked all over her. She knew she still had control over Xerc, but what if he left to find Hayashi again? That's what the last one did. The thought of ending her, just in case, was even more rampant in her thoughts now than it was before. She was having much too much fun slowly destrying her than to have an assasin do it. Now, this would have to be done quick.

Even after the slave's blood fed the dirt, what then? Mirage didn't know how to be all "mushy and gushy" like mates did. It was ridiculas, and she didn't want to participate. So what? Well...she'd figure that out later.

[x--- αbel♥]

"I suppose I can excuse it. If you will excuse my lust for the moment."

Really, she would not excuse it. Things like this were low in her mind, but she knew it happened. She didn't mind the 'true love' kind of lust, but not the kind toward everything that moved and could help those... needs. Hayashi kept her mask on, however, and lightly stuck her tongue out daintily as she waited.

"I suppose I can halt my advances. You seem like a well-rounded individual not prone to... rash... actions."

She could, but she doubted herself so much now. She couldn't think though her actions like she used to, and was more prone to getting herself into situations these days than before. The last thing she wanted to do was slip and then let Zues have her. But if that would make Xercese jealous... no. Ugh. What had gotten into her? Jealousy was horrible. She sounded like a beaten down lunatic. It was obvious she couldn't back out now, but it was worth a try to get what she was set out for. If Xercese didn't care after this was done, was not jealous, then it would be a waste. But, if Mirage was gone, wouldn't that be good enough? Or would she push herself for more?

"I back down to treat you with care and you come at me even faster...This doesn't sound like you, Hayashi of the Hrellia pack... but I am willing to listen."

Hayashi chuckled, flicking her tail again. "You obviously don't know me, brute. My alpha life is a lie." She grinned, watching him with her blue orbs. He didn't seem convinced. She felt she was trying pretty hard, but maybe that was just him... Her heart flipped as his masculine body touched her, his soft fur meshing with his. Sudden images flashed through her mind, blocking out everything else. Her and Xercese. Hrellia, the pups, everything. His soft touch reminded her of him, and the last time they had been together so long ago. It felt... nice. But it was painful. His muzzle grazed her ear, and she closed her eyes. Hayashi hated to admit it, but she could get used to this. She had been so lonely lately, she had forgotten what it felt like to be so close to someone, to touch them. Those feelings had been lost to her.

But now, it had changed, woken up something inside her. She wanted to be close to him. Well, not for him, but just for the feeling of it. If she couldn't have Xercese, and he didn't want her, why not have somebody else, like he did? Mirage had taken her place and broken her heart, why could she break his? But she knew why... she couldn't stoop as low as he had. It hurt her to think of causing him pain. To replace him. No... no one could replace him...

What was she supposed to think now?

"Well, maybe I know a few places Mirage could be. Whether you're interested in her still or not, I'll tell you where she is." Hayashi took a step forward. She hoped he would go take Mirage and be happy. But what if he didn't? Would he go away?