The Bird and the Worm

[TESLA]

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[atrb=background,http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz64/BLoobloo72/CelesteMiddle.png] Tepid paws pressed into the mushy ground, mud pushing between each toe. Rank smells made their way to the young female’s nostrils, causing her face to grimace. She looked behind her, sordid eyes scanning the lands she was departing. They softened as she locked eyes with the large white brute who had helped her through the past month or so. With a sigh, she started to turn away when she noticed the gradual transition on the ground across the border. In the fading lands behind them the ground was firm and green grass and plant life sprouted from in, but in the woods ahead the ground was muddy and grimy with weeds and dead shrubs. Hesitantly, the wolf looked forwards again, sneaking a glimpse of her… “companion”, you could say, before dropping her gaze to her feet. She already knew exactly what the horrid monster burned into her mind. She memorized each feature from his cracked grin and distorted stature to the ghastly silver scar that split his face. She couldn’t forget if she tried. As they ventured deeply into the forest, the trees thinned out some, making it less claustrophobic yet all the more terrifying. It was unlike any forest she had been through. Aside from the vague, eerie ambient noise, hissing of mist and quiet but constant murmur of toads there was near complete silence. The massive, looming pine tress that threatened to snatch her up and tear her apart that suffocated the dense border were replaced now by scattered trees, drained of color. As she gazed up, she could scarcely make out a canopy above, though the mist was too thick to be sure. It was as though a horrible depression burned through the area, leaving nothing but skeletons of trees and plant life. The trees, aside from the possible canopy, had twisted branches absent of leaves, and no green could be seen by her. Overwhelmed with the foul scents from both bogs and carrion, she finally allowed her nose a break and split her dark lips, just enough to breathe. As she did, she could feel her breath hot against her own cheeks. This caused her to realize the completely natural temperature. She was neither hot nor cold, warm nor cool. Said effect only added to the deadening feel. The young she-wolf, in an attempt to save her sanity, forced her mind onto other things. She tried to analyze the conversation that seemed to have signed her to what could easily be perceived as a satan-esque experience. Akastran, the pack she had temporarily lived off of only hours before, was a very strict pack, certainly. Even more so, however, was the wolf who led it, Atila. She liked Atila. He was strong and wise with a contagious sense of intellect and calm. She could never have expected him to send her off with a beast such as this, “Xeno” character. No, when he told her that he was going to put her in the care of a fellow alpha, whom he couldn’t trust more, she had expected someone much like him. Powerful, battle-hungry maybe, but well-moraled in the least. Instead she was entrusted to a hellish beast more horrific than any demon she could think up. Suddenly, her “guide” took a sharp turn. Swiftly, with her lithe to thank, she followed suit. Quickly she realized that had she not, she would have abruptly plummeted straight down into a foggy abyss. However, the mist cleared some, and she could make out some of the more elevated, well-defined rock clusters in the near distance. Among them were two shady figures, one very bulky and large and one considerably more lanky and thin from what she could see. Immediately she saw them respond to a sharp, blood-curdling snap of Xeno’s lethal jaws. As he had done so, he emitted something of both a snarl and a blunt bark. The horrible sound was cut off just as soon as it started, yet still it seemed to flow. Although her heart had nearly stopped, she struggled to keep pace with the black brute, as despite his act his trot had not wavered. Looking back, the two figures had vanished. A cold chill caused the erect fur on her spine to stiffen, although with the goose bumps that already covered her pelt she couldn’t physically react much more to the situation. Every molecule in her body urged her to flee. Denying her instincts took every ounce of willpower, as she relied solely on them all of her life. Yet still she forced her paws to carry her onward, her fate in Xeno’s care. At that point she finally noticed the numbness that was beginning to consume her. Although she wanted to be out of this situation terribly, this time she was making the decisions. Desperately, she fought to overcome the immunity, slowly manipulating the situation. She wanted to be in control. Considering where she ended up last time she let the darkness ease her into unconsciousness, which was a righteous decision. Still struggling to keep the tampering at bay, the she-wolf hardly noticed the change in surroundings. They had been trotting through forest far what felt like hours. Now the land had opened up to reveal a broad bog, sparse trees surrounding the area. The ground was marshy and black, large puddles of murky water and rocks of varying size and shape scattered about. Most noticeably however, was the massive chunk of earth that protruded in the center. Whether it was stone covered in vine and moss or mud, it was imposing and significant. Most peculiar was how perfectly maniacal it was. Somewhat of a moat surrounded the protrusion, the opaque water of unknown depth sure to harbor deadly things. And the way the cliff-esque mass was constructed, as well. From what she could tell, the incline was facing them, a vague path winding up to the peak, which flattered out some. At the edge, which faced their right, rested flat boulder of considerable size. The edge of the cliff protruded, coming to a sharp point. She didn’t know what to compare such height to, but all she could think on the matter is that, should one fall off, they would stand a better chance at surviving by risking whatever lurked in the surrounding waters. She sent a cautious, severely frightened glance at the massive black brute. He responded by cracking apart his lips, glossy with saliva and tainted with stains. She immediately cast her eyes downward, refusing to allow her dark eyes to latch onto his. Only when his violating gaze faltered did she raise her eyes again, following suite obediently when he headed towards the protrusion. She focused solely on her worn paws to take her mind off of the insane danger that surrounded her. Wherever her guide lead her she would follow, she owed that much to Atila.