Valkyrie had gotten her paws on yet another pretty young thing. And by little this time she meant little. The girl was about the same size as one of those tree climbers but as far as Valkyrie could tell she possessed none of their dexterous abilities. Which was fine. The climbing ability was a nice selling point, but so was beauty and this girl, with her pixie-esque build and and big purple eyes, was a bit of a looker.

"Alright," she said loud enough to grab the attention of those nearby. "Next on the block is this pretty little thing." To top it off, the little pixie was in heat. Foul intentions or not, that was sure to grab the attention of those in close proximity and lure in even the most stoic. "Who wants her?"

""

He was having little luck so far in this market, but the large male was intent to stay until it was over and see what else came up. He had even went back to his storage den and gathered more supplies to trade with and now had several pelts that were slung over his back, along with his satchel practically overflowing with things. He was more prepared then he had been before and he quickly headed back to the market intent to see what other wolves were up for sale. As he wandered back he seen another wolf placed up on the block and he moved over to inspect the young and small female.

She looked young, too young to be caught up in this mess. She was also in heat and was pretty potent which he had a feeling that in itself would attract a lot of attention. By now he knew how this bidding thing worked here and he sat down and waited for the brown women to give the beginning bid.

So maybe he found himself attracted by the scent of her, but Valkyrie was right. She was a pretty little thing and Oxide was drawn to her amethyst gaze. He was reminded all too much of Eulogy and the state he’d left her in, but a deal was a deal right. Rust marked tail lashed at his hips as he approached quietly, wondering if he should come right out and make his bid. The only other beast there hadn’t said a word though, and Ox was content waiting on the starting bid to see how this might go. He wasn’t completely sure what he’d do with her if he won. She was tiny, but he knew not to judge too much by size. She looked innocent enough, and likely had more skills than her appearance.

Jupiter wandered through the stalls, his lazy gaze roving over the wares as he sized up the competition. Well "competition" was more like it seeing as he hadn't even gotten started yet. Eventually he wanted to turn his crafting hobby into a profession and make a mobile shop for himself, but as of right now the cart he wanted to use was only a work in progress. The titan paused mid step as a mouthwatering scent reached his nose. He tracked it to the slave auction and was pleased to see the woman attached to it was as beautiful as her scent was sweet. Well, he had no compunction about owning slaves and he knew Chaos didn't either, so what the hell. He'd bid on the sweet smelling woman. She had a cute, innocent face and he thought he might be able to use her as a saleswoman of sorts for his business. "Jupiter"   "Amadeus" ”You”

 

Surprise, surprise. The three wolves who showed interest in the little cutie were all males. Lured in, as she suspected, but the girl's pungent scent? Probably. That gave her an idea. Perhaps before her next market she should make a point to wave around a bitch in heat. It was like catnip for boys.

Valkyrie eyed those gathered, then said, "This little gem has only recently witnessed the turn of her second year." She glanced at Stormy appreciatively. "She is fine of feature and frame, and will probably make a good small game hunter in addition to..." Valkyrie shrugged, her expression suggestive, "Whatever other uses you might find for her."

She let that hang in the air for a second, then said, "We'll start the bidding off at two fox pelts. Who wants her?"

""

He approached slowly. This one smelled weird, not that he understood what that smell was just yet but he could play the interested party at least. His pumpkin eyes examined her. Well at least if he won he would have one wolf for his band. His tail wrapped around his paws as he looked towards the viking lady. By now she knew what his first question would be. How much she wanted for the girl. He knew he could offer his baubles and bits and prey for them. Maybe he should try to offer something more worthwhile this time though. Because there was no way he'd win against this many if they upped his offers. His ears pressed. Seriously all the boy wanted was some people who would owe him enough to join his band when he made it. He figured he may wanna see if he could get this one cheaply if not he'd back out.

She spoke her price and he could easily get that. "Two fox pelts and a whole rabbit with a pelt unblemished."

Jupiter glanced between the kid and Valkyrie and then glanced over his shoulder to see if an adult was supervising the munchkin. Was she just going to let him bid? What kind of goods could a kid possibly get his paws on? He quirked a brow at Valkyrie, clearly questioning her lack of child-punting, then said, "I'll do two fox pelts and two coyote pelts." Jupiter's gaze casually roved to the other males that were there. He was curious to find out what kind of competition he had. So far he'd witness auctions rise to preposterous levels. Hopefully this one wouldn't get that far. He could get his paws on an awful lot, but he did have limits. "Jupiter"   "Amadeus" ”You”

The sparkly kid from sparkle town spoke up and Gunther looked in his direction with a glare. So sparkly prince wanted to play it that way huh? Well gunther could do this all day. He absolutely had no where else to be. There were no adults to tell him what to do or where to be. Plus he had no curfew. "three dead frogs, the kind with spots on it. My favorite sparkly rock. It's like this big." he used his paw and held it about four inches off the ground to indicate its size. "plus the two fox pelts and rabbit." like hell this other boy was gonna outdo him. So he thought more to what he could gather for the viking lady. What would be of use or value. "pluuuuuussss two of these birds." he pushed forward a pheasant he had brought with him to show her what kind of bird he meant. He wasnt sure what the species was called but at least he knew they were edible and had some prettier feathers.

The bidding begun and the two younger males began placing bids. His mind began to stew as they rambled on with their bids, baby blues looking to the two males. They were offering food, the one was a mere pup. Internally he felt very worried for this poor young girl and new he had to try and win this. She didn’t need to be in this mess and he was determined to get her out of it. As the youngest male rambled off his last bid Branch mentally went over the list within his stock nearby before he began to gather together a bid to top the two younger males.

”Five buck helmets with sharpened tines to use in battle, five winter buck pelts, and five large blue gems,,” he stated.

He was now looking to the Viking lady as he placed his bid, digging a bit into his more collectible side of his stash. The gems could be used in several ways and hopefully would help him to top the other two males bidding and the third if he was even thinking on bidding.

Gunther glared at the oldest male as he placed his bid and eyed him. Like hell his new found friend would be stolen so easily. He was offering battle stuff now and Gunther glanced at the viking for a moment. She looked tough enough to not need something already crafted. But he wondered if she would mind getting her paws a little dirty. He could give the lady something really nice and pretty. If she liked pretty gems anyway. "two sparky clear rocks, my favorite sparkly rock, 5 glass shards, two of the birds, a seagull, a rabbit, and the three frogs." was that more? He wasnt sure but he hoped it was. After all he wasn't about to give up everything he had. He was smarter than that.

He really wanted these two to just buzz off. He needed to win at least one of these wolves.

Branch chose to keep his gaze towards the viking lady and the young wolf she had for sale. He was internally frustrated, yes, but he was mature enough to keep his composure and not let it outwardly bother him. He didn't need to look to know where the next bid came from, by now the youngest male's voice was easy to recognize. Branch wasn't really sure how worthy the young male's bid was, but he was determined not to loose this one. His intentions were pure, he was breaking her loose from this mess. He had plenty to bid with and he wasn't worried about haggling a bit.

"My original bid plus three buckskin carrying bags for herbs and trinkets, 3 silver fox pelts, 1 extreme piebald fox pelt, and 2 piebald deer pelts" he stated.

He shifted his weight slightly getting into a more comfortable position in case this younger male decided that he would go on further with this bidding war. Branch had no intentions of backing out and with such a large stock from having a pack he had plenty of items and meats to spare.



Branch is offering:
- Five Buck helmets (tines sharpened to use in battle)
- Five winter Buck pelts (thicker pelts then average deer pelt)
- Five large blue gems (click for example)
- Three buckskin carrying bags
- 3 silver fox pelts
- 1 extreme piebald fox pelt (click for ref)
- Two piebald deer pelts



"Talk" & 'Think'

 

Alright, she'd heard enough. Though part of her appreciated the boy driving up the price, she couldn't side with that part of herself. By bidding his childish things and not earning a reprimand from her Valkyrie in turn looked ineffective. Weak. It was time for a reprimand to get things back on track.

She fixed Gunther with a hard look and said, "Alright, boy, I've heard enough from you. Do not waste my time with your trinkets. Either you outbid your opponents with items of greater value or you remain silent." Her tail flicked in mild annoyance. "That means no frogs, no rocks, no odds and ends."

""

Artur was working his way through the market and was passing by the slave auctions again, so he slowed to glance at what - or who, rather - was on offer at that moment. It was a delicate, tiny thing that at first glance he thought was a pup, but at further study was clear by her proportions and the scent wafting off her was an adult. He started to stride away dismissively - such a tiny thing wasn't useful to him, and he wasn't interested in her dirt-colored form in the way that the other young males seemed to be. But he found himself hesitating, lingering to listen to the bidding. He was wasting time sitting here when he had no intention of bidding... He gave a soft growl of frustration at his own weakness, but stalked forward to sit stiffly beside the other males. He was approaching physical maturity, so it wasn't that his body wasn't interested in that scent. But he found nothing attractive about her mud-colored body or the useless delicacy of her form. But for a moment, watching the males clustered around her, he could see his delicate little youngest sibling there despite all their physical differences, and it had brought a surge of protective fury racing through his chest. He had to wrestle the anger back under his control before he could speak up. "I offer the pelts of a snow leopard, three lynx, two fox," from among the furs left to him and his siblings when his mother had died, "a whole wild ass, butchered and smoked with pelt and mane intact and tanned," which would not take much doing, "And the skull of the bear that caused my mother's death." His voice was taut on the last. He couldn't imagine any of his siblings would object to it being gone, even if they knew it was there. "It is clean and intact, ready to wear as a helm."

The viking women addressed the young male, declining his offer. Branch kept his gaze towards her, his eyes hardened with determination. Now his bid had to be on the top which took some weight off his shoulders. He wasn't expecting another to arrive. He was younger then himself, but older then the kid he had been bidding against. His bid was unexpected and Branch's ears flattened briefly as he younger male placed his bid. He was heartbroken to hear that a bear had killed his mother and he was at the same time frustrated wondering what would outdo that. He was literally giving away something that was probably really precious to him, well maybe he could also want to get it out of his sight too. His jaw would tighten for a moment as he thought over his next bid, adding onto what he had already offered.

”I will add to my previous offer an albino moose pelt, a black deer pelt (melanistic), an albino black bear pelt, an albino crocodile hide that is good for armor, and an albino bison pelt which is also good for armor,” he stated.



Branch is offering:
- Five Buck helmets (tines sharpened to use in battle)
- Five winter Buck pelts (thicker pelts then average deer pelt)
- Five large blue gems (click for example)
- Three buckskin carrying bags
- 3 silver fox pelts
- 1 extreme piebald fox pelt (click for ref)
- Two piebald deer pelts
- albino moose pelt
- melanistic deer pelt
- albino black bear pelt
- albino crocodile hide
- albino bison pelt



"Talk" & 'Think'

The lady jumped down his throat and he actually was taken aback. Obviously she was stupid as to the true value of the things he offered. The stones were truly remarkable and the other stuff was some of his favorite things. Fine if she didn't want his shit then she could keep the woman she sold. It probably was a broken thing anyway. Who even needed friends. He certainly did not. "Fine who needs friendship anyway." he could of got anything she wanted but no she just had to try to play mom. He didn't need a mom, he'd already had one and she was long since dead.

He stood and gathered his things before turning on his heels and moving off. Maybe someone else had more sense and would sell him a friend. Gods above knew these idiots had bought enough wolves to have too many in their possession and it would back fire one day on them. He did glare at each of the bidders as he pushed past them on his way out though. They couldn't just let a kid have one good thing could they? Nope why let the kid who had no one have anything? Because they were bullies that was why.

-exit-

Artur inclined his head to Branch, though rage clawed at his chest at the male's insistence on continuing to bid on the girl. What exactly did he want her for? Was it what the viking had implied, that he had seen her and smelled her heat and wanted her as a slave to force her? He forced the fury back down to smolder as he met the other male's gaze. "An admirable bid," he said smoothly, his mind working as he did. He would need to make offers only found in the west, where few of the wolves here likely spent a great deal of time. "I will raise two desert bighorn, quartered and smoked with the hides, skull and horns preserved. Four gila monster skins. A serval skin. Hmm. And three live ring-tailed cats." He would trap four, and give one to Viviane. Surely the clever little creature could help with her healing.

 

Valkyrie was intrigued by the youth's bid and pleased when it won. She'd had offers of live animals before and they were always amusing. The boy had been wise to pick a live animal that was small and light enough to trap and transport without too much difficulty. The same could not be said for other bidders in some of her other auctions. Ingenuity would take some of them far. Others, however? She would have liked to watch them work.

"I accept your bid," she said to Artur, her tail flicking at her heels as she stood and motioned for Stormy to go back the way she'd come. For now she was confined once again to the pit. "You have three days to bring me what you owe me otherwise the girl will go up on the block again."

""