Don't Lose Count...

[DA VINCI~]

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[atrb=background,http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/BLoobloo72/XenoMiddle.png] Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty..." Rocks. Everywhere, rocks. The grand meadow occupied nearly half its space with rocky debris born from mountain-slides. Under every step, a stone or pebble, beside every patch of mossy grass, a rock or boulder. The rocks created near lean-to's giving shade and coverage. Even with the autumn breeze cooling the moisture of a healthy nose, the wolves scattered across the meadow all seemed to be at peace (Minus the young wolves engaged in post-battle play). Xeno took mental notes of it all. His dark, matted flank hit a boulder he hadn't noticed before. "Twenty-one." His ragged, cut-up tongue kept clicking distastefully at the landscape of his brother's territory. Atila was leading him deeper into the heart of his territory, a place where his wolves claim sanctuary, grow, and often feast in. The social heart of the Akastran. He was already at Thirty-Two now. The further they went, the darker the soil and the greener the grass, showing just how fertile Akastran land really was. The scent of the injured lingered in the air as Xeno breathed it in greedily. He was keen to the fact that there was no smell of illness and knew that the Akastrians did not tolerate anything that could harm the pack. When an Akastrian is sick, it will selflessly commit suicide or go off with honor and -- Thirty-Three -- purpose. But the Astran couldn't care less. It was an Akastrian's weakness, in his mind. Loyalty and undying need for justice. Tch. They had no... creativity. Mingling with the scent of the injured was the tenacious scent of feminism. It singed the air, determinedly showing the health and expansion of the pack's future. Xeno chose to breathe out of his mouth for now. Thirty-Three... The Alpha's gloomy, dark fur kept bristling at every new scent that entered his nose. A twisted, instinctive part of him made his stomach grumble and he growled at Atila's flank as he trailed behind. The great, white wolf's words from before had created images in his brain, "There's someone I'd like you to meet," he'd said. Xeno suppressed a snort. Who was this 'someone?' He'd been so prepared to offer a spy of his own until Atila suggested someone from his pack- Xeno was denied the identity for now. Up to Forty-Four, now. The Akastran were known for their loyalty, strength, but above all, justice. Although Xeno was confident in his own seductive tongue, it would require time and thought to convert his plans into a seemingly honorable mission. If this wolf shared anything of the pack's famed identity, they would be of no use. Scarlet eyes rolled [unevenly] at the thought of a just wolf representing the plot of centuries.It would probably be some pansy, giant wolf with its head full of sunshine and rolling meadows and -- Atila stopped. Xeno growled and craned his neck to look at his brother expectantly, unfolding from his usual crumpled-in posture. Xeno's mind played with rhyme and he thought with pity of his brother. Maroon eyes focused on the grand wolf's thick head. Xeno smirked, "Forty-Five."

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[TESLA]

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[atrb=background,http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/BLoobloo72/AtilaMiddle.png] Atila’s signature gait was rushed as he led his brother through the pack lands, through the heart of the pack. His pace appeared to give no second thought about leading the cannibalistic creature into the presence of ill and innocent, though the thought had already rolled through his mind. He didn’t trust Xeno, but his instincts told him the wolf would pull no moves. If he chose to, a quick clash of ivory fangs against his fur would put him into not submission, but accommodation. His fluffed tail, held at constant level with his spine, swayed with his broad steps. The wolf’s concentration was fixed on the task at hand, a bounty of thoughts whirl pooling in his brain. He smirked some, mentally snickering at the scenario ahead. Though he couldn’t predict his brother’s reaction to the surprise he had, he had high hopes. Certainly that the beastly demon at his flank wouldn’t kill her, but rather simply be… confused, to say the least. As the cliffs they spoke on a quarter hour ago faded further out of sight, Atila began to finally move his head about, scanning his home. He knew every stone of this meadow, surrounded by a mountainous barrier; this is where the heart of his family slept. He could tell already that he was not far from their destination, which was a small cluster of rocks just beyond the creek, close enough for the guest to receive care, but far enough from the delicate pack members to be no threat. Abruptly, his black-soled feet stopped, causing his brother to nearly trip, meaning as he walked, he was probably deeply involved in his ponderings. He glanced at his brother with a jeering with his eyes a moment before trying to send a more serious message, ’behave’. His bold voice cut through the quiet mountain air. ”He’s here; I brought him… Celeste.” As an instant response to the call, rustling could be heard from behind a considerably sized boulder with a flatter rock pressing against it at an angle, providing a natural shelter. A paw pushed through the shadows within, hesitating before resting on the moss plastered to the rocky floor. The fur was a creamy white color, though dirt was visible on the thin hairs. The leg was slender and feminine, the muscles underlying the fur very vague. Slowly, a dipped head emerged, darkly pigmented nose pointing towards the ground, opposite of the female’s triangles ears set atop her furry head. Her face was long and symmetrical; black eyes as dark as an abyss were well-set on her face. Slowly, her slim body and other appendages came into full view to reveal a fine young female, white in origin, submissive in stature. This disappointed Atila. He did not bring his skeptical brethren to gawk over a weakly presented female. He brought the fellow alpha to present him with a gift of sorts, a potentially valuable asset to his pack and plots. His scolding glare visibly intimidated the creamy wolf a moment, before she straightened up accordingly. Her ears folded to be erect, her tail pushed from between her hocks, and she pulled her long neck up. However, she seemed very disturbed, and righteously so, by Xeno. Any wolf in their right mind would be. But Atila questioned just how rightly set her mind truly was. ”Are you mocking me, brother?” The words were very expected, accommodating to the script Atila had played out in his mind many times. The Akastran alpha turned to his most powerful ally, attempting risky eye contact. ”Do not be so quick to judge, Xeno. If I did not have complete faith in the value of this female, I would not have dared present her to you,” He worded himself carefully, fully aware that he – or more, the scrawny female he represented - was stepping on eggshells. ”I can assure you of her worth, brother. This wolf is of unmatchable value.”

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[DA VINCI~]

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[atrb=background,http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/BLoobloo72/XenoMiddle.png] Xeno felt his face contort in disgust. The smell of the injured invaded his nostrils and threatened his gag-reflex. That was one of his pet-peeves. He glared into his brother's back, his lips curling up to show his distaste. Xeno had never understood nor approved of his brother's mercy towards his pack mates. A pack had to fear its Alpha, for each soul deserves to be baptized in blood and fear, and in that birth respect towards their ruler. In the Astran, the wounded would be pushed into the crocodile infested waters- no one was allowed to bite them in case of disease, infection. But here they were tended to. The dark wolf hunched himself in even more to avoid the happy aura polluting the air. His thoughts eventually drifted back to their individual corners where evolved into images of the destruction to come. Xeno understood and trusted the pressure he was to place upon his brother's back. But for a wolf with such muscle, he presumed it to be of no concern. What did nag at Xeno's brain was the Astran's lack of allies; the Akastran were more than capable of starting a war, even carrying out the genocide that Xeno would soon order. However, the beastly wolf wanted his plans to be spread out, more involved within the lands; the years he spent scorned and feared had already taught him better, though; others could not be trusted. To seal a deal meant blood must be spilled - in this case- shared. Xeno's mind was shattered in ways impossible for sanity though each shard of his thoughts were connected in ways, allowing for enough thought process to exhale hatred and inhale worship. Atila, on the other hand, lived and breathed in his integrity, honor and practically shit glory and power. Xeno snorted- no doubt his brother would be an asset in his plans. Atila was stupid and easily manipulated though strong with life and leadership where as Xeno excelled in death and dictation. Atila was needed in order for this to work and there was no one else whom Xeno would trust in choosing a worthy... "Grah!" Xeno stepped back the instant Atila's flank hit his face, disgusted and feeling ridiculed. Said obstacle turned around to shoot him an amused grin. Xeno could feel the message enter through his own eyes. Regardless, the darker of the two barred his fangs and turned away, stepping aside to get a more predominant view of Atila's chosen candidate. Atila's booming voice commanded for presentation and so it was granted. A silvery, tepid paw revealed itself from behind the rocky lean-to. Xeno's mind began to sketch out with detail the images of the beast that teased his unimpressed eyes. As more and more of the mysterious wolf's figure began to show, Xeno found his lips pulling back. The shy she-wolf that now stood bared before his degrading sight insulted him. Xeno could feel the anger and disappointment boiling the blood within his veins. Loud cracks and quiet creaks could be heard as the dark wolf rose to his full height. His back, used to being arched maintained its twisted form as he raised his head. Xeno tilted his head to meet his good eye with the sharp ones of his sibling. "Are you mocking me, brother?"

[/b]Xeno hissed accusingly.

The Astran looked back to see the female standing as tall as she could manage; he searched for her eyes only to find them in avoidance. He shook his head locked eyes with Atila once more. "She will not do," he stated in a low tone. Turning around, he felt his brother's gaze dig hard into the back of his skull, demanding reasonable behavior.

”Do not be so quick to judge, Xeno. If I did not have complete faith in the value of this female, I would not have dared present her to you."[/b] Xeno chose to hold his tongue in that. It was true, yes, but he did not have time to guess the worth of subordinates. Couldn't his brother see that they were wasting time?! ”I can assure you of her worth, brother. This wolf is of unmatchable value.” The Astran snaked back around. He maintained his own demanding posture before looking down distastefully upon the presented wolf.

"Show me."

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[TESLA]

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[atrb=background,http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/BLoobloo72/AtilaMiddle.png] Atila was not at all surprised at Xeno’s dismay. He had predicted this rejection and gone over the appropriate responses many times in his head. Not a hint of doubt could be detected on his pallid face. ”She will not do,” Xeno turned his back to them childishly, disapproval oozing from his body language. Atila’s eyes smirked, amused with his brother’s immaturity. Atila could see the struggle written on Xeno’s face as he desperately tried to express his murderous anger, emitting a ghastly aura about him. ”Show me,” Came the reply to Atila’s reasoning. He inhaled deeply, preparing himself for the protest. He knew the she-wolf’s potential was phenomenal, and that Xeno would, figuratively, thank him once she proved her use, but the most difficult part was convincing Xeno of such. He himself had still not completely figured out how the female’s abilities worked and he knew that provoking her to show the Astran alpha would end in catastrophe. He would not allow said chaos to take part on his lands, so all he needed to do was get Xeno to bring her to Astran territory. Then he would see her true capacity. ”When the time is appropriate, Xeno, you will see. But for now you must trust me and listen to what I tell you,” he began cautiously. This was a dangerous game, one wrong move and the female’s blood would stain his grounds. ”Celeste is capable of more than I could possibly hope to show you… it is not something easily explained. I assure you that if you choose to accept her into your lands she will prove her worth to you eventually, and you will see why I have recommended her. But you must give it time and patience, for otherwise we shan’t succeed in overthrowing our enemies.” Atila examined Xeno’s face as the black wolf calculated his words. Whether he had just signed Celeste off for death or for glory he did not know, but all he could do was hope that his judgment was righteous.

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[DA VINCI~]

Xeno tried his best to show just how much he despised the idea; tightening his stance, allowing his teeth the peek out and just barely stomping the ground with his back leg. Having been familiarized with ghosts, it didn't take much for Xeno to catch onto the one of amusement in Atila's eye. That only served to further his anger and in turn made him scoff audibly.

He thought briefly of the year that separated them and how it had always been enough to pave way for Atila's choices; belittling Xeno's own thoughts of matters and reducing him to the rubble that adored the road.

He had to remind himself that such times were behind them. Both the wolves had grown- they were not pups nor childish playmates. They were older, experienced; each one's traits honed into their own character and thus into their own leaders. A big brother's presence was not needed at this time and even more, it was unwanted.

Xeno broke eye-contact with Atila to avoid the start of a mental playback of his brother's laugh. Such noises were insulting. Besides, he was figure of authority now- not some petty little sibling.

”Celeste is capable of more than I could possibly hope to show you… it is not something easily explained. I assure you that if you choose to accept her into your lands she will prove her worth to you eventually, and you will see why I have recommended her. But you must give it time and patience, for otherwise we shan't succeed in overthrowing our enemies.”

Oh and what's this? Did Xeno detect a hint of persuasiveness in Atila's voice? The darker wolf had to supress a smirk at this. So his brother wanted to play with words, did he? Ah, but Xeno had two targets, where as Atila only has one. He had to change his attention subtly; to answer Atila's plea yet bite the ears of Celeste.

Xeno pointed his snout to his brother and responded.

"Her worth is yet to be proven,
Yet you beckon for my favor,
Such trust isn't given mobility,
Know I'll bite at the slightest waver."

Xeno hissed his last line before setting his eyes upon the young female. He breathed greedily in the fear that he sensed from her. Such senses were the influence to his choice of speech. Xeno was very much aware of the affect his chanting breath had on his targets and how it made them shake to hear his effortless poetry.

The black wolf gave one last look down onto Celeste before his body began to fold into its normal form. His neck lowered and the arch of his back rose, head tilted in favor of his good eye and tail poised halfway down. "Very well," he spoke quietly, "I'll take her into my territory, but know this brother: the darker realm belongs to me and what happens to our little morsel over there will be reported in vague. I trust you will keep an able connection with me until our next meeting."

Xeno stepped silently over to Celeste, curling around her possessively as his tail followed in suite. The individual strands of her pure fur teased the small space between their bodies as the Alpha's teeth ran over her cheek to gesture forwards. "Follow me, mistress and I'll show you to your room." Xeno chuckled quietly before murmuring on, "Complete with drink and dish, great view too.."

((Horrid dialogue, I know. It was hard for me to even go without rhyming with Xeno thus far. Making the change was a little awkward and I didn't quite know how to smoothly transition into it.))