"Cifarelli Saxe" He was headed home. Their scent carried him from the treacherous east back in the direction of the shivering north. A place he wished to not have to ever return to; however, it seemed his brother preferred the area over others. Maybe it had to do with the fact that was where Sephiran had originally migrated to. Or there could be other reasons. Either way, Cifarelli had no choice but to continue on the path. Where the scent of his family lingered if not the slightest. There'd been a shift somewhere in him. Something which crept so subtly under the surface. Leading him away without realization. The grass tickled his stomach and chin. Maneauvering through with little on his mind. Besides the need to return back home. A glimpse of subtle prey peaking from various spots scurring away the moment they smelled him. His presence a threatening one to them. Yet, he hadn't the slightest need to eat. Only to find something of worth to give as a gift of apologetic declaration. Rather they be dead or alive. He knew how the Saxe family worked. Not much of a fighter like their father. But, an adverturer like their mother. That did not cancel the brutal evilness which ran through his veins like an icy river in the winter. Lips drawing back in a low guttarl snarl. His pace quickened to a trot. Nose picking up the scent of a fox somewhere nearby. Perfect.

As Cierzo padded through the plains, she kept her senses alert to every rustle and scent while she searched for an herb to ease her troubles. Maybe a bit of chamomile to keep her mind right. Or else she’d get too down-trodden and have a scolding, or worse. Humming while she did so, her eyes that were once bright now dullened by the weight of her impossible sense of loss. But she had to live. It was what her brother wanted of her. And somehow, being a part of the little group the tiger woman was forming made life… bearable.

It was then, mulling over her thoughts, that she caught wind of an unfamiliar presence. It was a male, she discerned, hesitation clouding her mind as her instincts urged her to hide. So the svelte woman did so, she rushed on panicked paws into cover.

Peeking out from behind a cluster of bushes, Cierzo observed the stranger, his dark form moving predatorily through the undergrowth. As he trotted along, his focus intent on the path ahead, Cierzo took comfort in the fact that he had not noticed her-  and he seemed to be on the hunt for something other than her at least. She watched him closely, her heart fluttering nervously in her chest. She knew she needed to stay hidden, she needed to get back to Miss Azoula and the others.

So she remained still, her breath catching in her throat as the man’s scent wafted into her nares, a sudden shock of fear entering her system as though she could smell the danger he excluded. She couldn't shake the feeling and it intensified once the man snarled in his throat – her limbs recoiling instinctively to back away, to escape- if only she had seen the branch that cracked loudly under her foot as she did so. Her heart dropped, stomach churning as her dainty skull whipped to see if the brute had noticed. Oh Gods no.

””

"Cifarelli Saxe" His pace quickened the moment the fox took it off. Paws thundering against the earth and flattening the grass beneath. He'd only begun to pick up pace when a twig snapping stopped him immediately. Head whipping around to try to pinpoint where the noise had come from. Lips easily release another snarl of annoyance. There was a scent. The fall breeze chose to carry it in his general direction. Flaring nostrils in a sharp inhale."I know you're there." He spoke with authority. Each word bit out through exposed teeth. A clear threat that whoever was there would meet an undeniable fate. Cifarelli may be calm in appearance. But, it did not mean he was not easy to flip. Walking to where the forest met the open plains, he cared not about anything else. Eyes locked on the single spot where that intoxicating perfume beckoned from. It was mouth-watering. Addicting. Like a bee to a flower, he could not help but want to taste the nectar of its owner. "Come out. NOW!" This was their final warning. The next would be nothing but the greeting of teeth and claws.

‘I know you’re there. Come out. NOW!’ Cierzo's heart pounded in her chest as she heard the stranger's commanding voice ring out through the brush, sending a chill down her spine. She knew she couldn't hide forever, knew that she had to face him eventually. She’d bungled her only chance to escape, and now he knew she was here. The woman sucked in a deep breath, steeling herself as best as the spineless creature could before she moved. With trembling limbs, she emerged from her hiding place, her ears flattened against her skull in fear.

She stepped out into the open, muzzle downcast as her eyes flitted up to meet Cifarelli's with a mixture of apprehension and submission. She was small compared to him, a delicate, soft thing that stood no chance against the more durably built man. In the face of his aggression, she cowered with poise. Her tail tucked below her rump, the woman tried to appease him. “I- I didn’t mean to disrupt your hunt.” She said, her bell-like voice attempting to smooth over her transgression. “My apologies.  I will leave now…?”

Her words hung in the air between them, the tension thick and palpable. She wasn’t sure he would even let her leave, so she waited to see his next move, like a rabbit frozen as it tries to hide from a predator.

””

"Cifarelli Saxe" The scent's owner finally came into view and Cifarelli stalled. He was not one to openly admit to a woman being so beautiful. However, this one was. Her coat was a variation of colors he had never seen before. The shape of her body, unlike his own, looked as if it would fit against his perfectly. Had he not quickly snapped out of his observation of her, he surely would have taken her right then and there. The way his father would have. Instead, he chose to close the distance without hesitation. His steps carry him in a dominant gate. Tail held high into the air above him with eyes watching her every move. Rizi herself was also taking a gander at this new wolf. Unknowing what her owner was up to, she could only flick her tongue out to taste the newcomer's perfume. Her heat signature is one of normal warmth. No others lingered on her. Not like the large black male whom she rested upon. Lightly tightening around his neck to better get a visual of the scene to come. Jaws opened with clear intentions to latch onto her scruff. Teeth aiming to sink into the fleshy area; but, not to break the skin. A paw rising soon after in order to keep her in place from further movement. She was trespassing. Regardless of it being an open area, she did not let herself be known to him. Leaving him to question exactly why she chose to run and hide. "Who are you?"

She could hardly breathe, her body frozen to the spot. She felt pangs of unease run through her body at the way he appraised her, his assessment of her sending a shiver down her spine. She was acutely aware of the power dynamics at play between them, his dominance palpable as he closed the distance between them with purposeful strides. She was… nothing. The delicate curves of her body shifted like waves beneath her silky coat, adopting a submissive posture as she peered up at the brute.

As he approached, she braced herself for whatever punishment he might inflict, her muscles tense with anticipation. When his jaws opened with clear intentions, she instinctively cowered, knowing that resistance would only invite further aggression.

“I am Cierzo. It... it means a strong, cold northwind….” She stuttered, she was anything but strong as her voice barely audible above the pounding of her own heart as she tried to ease the situation with some rambling, maybe, to connect to him? The woman winced as his teeth met her tender flesh, completely free of scar or hardship, her eyes going wide as she continued her soft speech. “I didn't mean to intrude. Please, I'll leave... just let me go.” Her plea hung in the air, the desperation evident in her trembling form as she awaited his response, hoping against hope for mercy from her captor.
””

"Do you think I would easily just let you leave?" His words escaped coated in a low threatening snarl. Her submissive posture took his attention to another realm. She did not smell of others. No packs lingered within her blush fur. This appealed to him even further as he released her. Still keeping a paw on her to ensure she did not try to wiggle free. Who knows what wolves she knew and wouldn't mind coming to help? "Cierzo...." Her name felt sweet rolling off of his tongue. "Who do you belong to?" Cifarelli's reasoning for arriving here was no longer a main factor in his mind. Now, he had another agenda. He needed something to gain his brother's grace back. So why not a new member? A new slave to do their bidding? The thought alone crafted a sinister smile on a shadowed face. Blood moon eyes brightened with the simple idea of claiming this beauty beneath him. Tail swayed at his thighs in joyous excitement. But... how would he get her home? His gaze wandered away briefly to survey the area. Finding a few lose vines that could definitely be of use to get the female back to claimed lands. "Cifarelli Saxe"

Cierzo's heart sank at his menacing words, the fear within her growing with each passing moment. What could she do? His teeth stung, a wince twisting the delicate lines of her soft facial features. It hurt. It hurt! And he wasn’t even applying that much pressure. She fought to keep her fear to herself, trying to relax her face into something more.. Pleasant. Nice to look at. She dared not move as he released her, his paw pressing down on her to keep her from moving. Cierzo’s lips were set in a light frown, and part of her worried about the dirt and debris settling onto her body. Would he be even angrier if she were covered in filth? What could she do though, but lay at his feet?

As he spoke her name, a shiver ran down her spine, the sound of it like a promise of things to come. She could feel his eyes on her, assessing her, setting a value to her life. “I... I belong to… no one.” She whispered, her voice barely audible as she struggled to find her courage to even speak. She knew that she was at his mercy, that there was no escape from him now. Even if she could run, the blush woman was not fast, nor did she know how to outsmart. Useless girl. Do what you were born to do.


””