She lead them further into the lands. She knew Ultyr was not too far. They had swam to the island she had found while skirting a pack border. The structure here had her padding slowly, eye on everything and anything. The broken windows, the decrepit state of it, was sad. It was as if whoever built it had perished and no one had cared to keep the buildings cared for.

A part of her resonated with the building. She knew non-love and the feeling of being someone's trash. She also knew what it was like to lose everything. This building stood alone on the island and away from the main lands. She had seen the building in the distance from the main land and had almost wanted to beg to see it. Her courage to look upon Ultyr had vanished though and she was back to her habitual ways. Did he know that she enjoyed exploring? That she missed things she had had before Archnemes? Her fur had been cleaned by the ocean now but she still wanted a good soak in hot water. That was something she missed.

She padded through the building after finding a place she could slip in through. Her pace halting and the sound of her nails silencing as her eyes fell upon a shelf that almost touched the ceiling. There was alot in this place but that had her attention the most. Trinkets and knickknacks lined it but the thing her eye zeroed in on was nothing like a collectible or the half destroyed toys. A bag with its contents half strewn across the floor. She moved to it, paw daintily lifting the flap of the bag and eye on the contents. A brush tool, a compass tool, and charcoal! And the best treasure of it all, a thick book, bound in red leather with a golden tassel hanging out of it. The excitement of her find had her tail swaying and her face lighting up with the emotion. She grabbed the book tenderly in her jaws and drug it out careful not to puncture the binding, lowering herself and laying it between her legs, cracking it open right then and there.

She flipped silently through it, eye soaking up the contents. It was speaking of the continent, of its flora, faunas and even the climates! Her lips spread open and a huge grin plastered upon her face. At about halfway through there were blank pages! She could draw her own maps in it! Could track the stars and even chart them in it! Her tail went from gentle swaying to a full wag as she adjusted her hips for better comfort and started to turn the pages back to the first so she could go more thoroughly through them.

"Things I Hear"

The buildings on the island interested him. It was just close enough to swim to, he wondered what collections of things and trash he could find. He had led a few looting parties to several two-leg places back in the homelands. There was no end to the things they could find.

He noticed she had also looked toward the island. Was that where Abaddon would be? Did she believe he would be there? He had not given up his task to find Abaddon. Hopefully, the girl had not either. But perhaps she would be less keen to find Abaddon now that he had shown her what her new diety could do for her pleasure.

Upon landing on the island, he scoped out the dangers. Broken glass... he could smell snake... large cats... pigs.. chickens... Snake would be a good hide to trade, snake skin was a prize among his people. If he could find a good-sized specimen he could skin it and possibly buy himself another slave, or trade for information about the packs here.

He didn't let her wander too far until he noticed she gravitated to a book and his own interest was piqued. He watched her for a few moments as she settled into perusing the pages. Her little tail started to wag a mile a minute and that was when he walked over and stood over her to look at the book over her head. His paws were on either side of her body.

He brought up one of his giant mits to stroke her cheek. She liked books. Perhaps she could read? Or was it the pictures she liked? The bag next to her was small enough for her frame to carry it and the supplies. The strap was too long though.

He was a benevolent god, and he delighted in seeing his devotees pleased. He grabbed the bag and looped it over her body where it would fit her. He tied a knot in the strap so that it wouldn't drag on the ground. He did all this while keeping her between his legs and he loomed over her. There. She would be all set. He brought his nose down to her ear and inhaled her intoxicating scent, pressing his nose into the space behind her ear. Then he froze as he heard telltale thump on the ground behind them.

That was when he saw the great python slowly making its way from an opening in the roof and its way toward them.

He grinned and began turning toward the giant living rope. Its hide was a beautiful golden color. It froze, its tongue lashing out every few moments as it tasted the air.

She knew Ultyr was still close, he seemed to always be, but his movement caught her ears and she looked up from the book only to look back down with a blush on her cheeks as he placed himself over her. Would he say something about books being useless to a slave? That slaves shouldn't worry about reading? She'd been caught having an excitement over a small thing and she wasn't certain how he would react. She knew how his father would have, a memory flitting in her mind of when she'd had a book ripped from her and a beating for daring to "steal" a book even though another had lent it to her, she suspected on purpose to see her punished. She'd suffered a broken rib that day and hadn't looked at another book since. His words had been harsh that day. According to king Aryn a slave wasted their potential having intelligence beyond what they were told to do.

Guilt played on her face at having been caught with a book and her tail stilled. When his paw touched her cheek she tensed, half expecting anger or a slap from him for daring to do something without permission. His gentleness however brought that tension to relax from her and a sigh of breath to pass her lips. A small wag to her tail returning. Then he was placing the bag on her and tying it's strap around her to shorten it, her eye looking down at the book and it's words again. Her ears pressed toward him though. Then his nose on her ear sent heat to her cheek once more, their position intimate. The stale dusty air was doing nothing she knew to muffle scents.

Then a thump had both their attention. Her eye cutting to the beast. A blink at it. How did a snake manage to become so large? She waited for him to move and once he was moved she closed the book and slid it back into her bag, moving the cartography equipment back into it, it weight the bag down but thankfully Ultyr had tied it so it wouldn't drag and would sit on her side. She was more than aware he wanted her to stay away but she would still watch and make certain he didn't end up needing the help. She moved to a spot on the other end of the shelf and hopped up inside a shelf that was mostly empty, her head leaning out of the shelf and eye on him and the serpent.

"Things I Hear"

His eyes of fire focused on the snake as his ear listened to her movements. Good, she was getting out of the way... Clever girl.

The snake hissed as he tested its boundaries. Coiling on itself, getting ready to slither away. But Ultyr was ready. These pythons had no teeth, but the strength in their bodies was enough to squeeze the life out of him if he let it.

He reached out with a paw to thump it over the head, make it mad, and retreat. But this one knew it was out of luck and wouldn't back off. It leaped at him and took him by surprise. It's mouth clapped over his hip and the pressure made him snarl in pain. He sank his teeth in the flesh by its head but that just gave it more opportunity to wrap him in its cream and golden coils. His teeth had missed its throat and landed too far down to do proper fatal damage. Suddenly it was coiling around him with his mouth muffled by its flesh. He could only growl and strain against the beast.

She watched and her ears pressed. He slapped it's head and she watched it change it's behavior. Snakes could be deadly, regardless of their species and as a rancher and farmer's daughter she knew that. Then before she knew it he was in it's coils and its mouth on his hip.

She was no fighter but she moved then. He was trapped in it's coils and if it started to crush it could break every bone in his body. Even if it would possibly free her she was certain she wouldn't make it out there without his help. She shrugged backwards from the bag strap and leaped from the shelf. She dashed towards the struggle and while uncertain of herself in fighting other wolves, she knew how to deal with a snake.

She lunged her teeth finding purchase on it's face, disregarding how close to Ultyr she was. She placed a paw under Ultyr and the other on his hip to help he balance. The one under him gripped and scratched at a coil on the softer underbelly of the serpent, trying her hardest to use the strength she didn't have to pry it from him. Her toes barely touched the floor. If this didn't work she was sure she could get a shard of glass and cut it's head off.

"Things I Hear"

His little slave's effort to distract the snake was enough for it to recoil. It drew back its face and gave him enough of a breath to adjust his own teeth and claws on it. With one heavy kick, he got one coil off his chest trying to squeeze his breath out. With another scramble he unhinged his maw and quickly wrapped his jaw closer to its head and crunched down with as much force as he could muster, severing its vertebrae and nearly severing its head from its body as his teeth sliced through the skin and muscle.

Panting, he felt the muscles relax around him as it slumped to the floor. He was still seeing stars as he grabbed his little Kitten and pressed his nose into her fur, desperately trying to control himself from the high of nearly becoming a meal himself. His muscles trembling from the exhilaration, her scent driving him mad. The idea of her dying and him being left alone in this shocking new world without her, his last grasp of his father and Abaddon was more than he was willing to sacrifice.

He roughly pushed away from her and turned to the snake. His breath came in harshly as he split the snake's skin down its belly and began pulling it away from the meat. Traders would go wild for this snakeskin, who knew what he could trade it for.

The moment the snake recoiled from her and seemed to release somewhat she jumped back. She watched for another moment, looking for another opening when suddenly Ultyr seemed to have it under control again.

She wasn't sure if she should be relieved but as soon as the snake dropped, Ultyr was grabbing her and pulling her into him. Surprise colored her face at the embrace. Was this him thanking her? She wasn't sure. Her ears pressed but she also couldn't help but wag her little tail, there may not of been praise but it felt like she had done something right.

Though it was short lived as he pushed away from her, almost as if something angered him. Shit. She had done something wrong after all. Was what she had done not useful? Did he have it all under control without her help and she had only gotten in the way? Her ears fell and she stood from where he discarded her. As he went to work on the snake she went and gathered the bag. Her exploration of the place about to continue. But she also knew better than to leave too far from his side.

"Things I Hear"

He focused on the snake with an intense nearly blind focus. His eyes were still glassed over as he wrenched the skin from the meat. Furiously he took the meat into his jaws and savored the flesh. The sensation brought him back to a center as it forced him to breathe.

He hadn't been shaken like that since... He glanced at the girl moving now to grab the little bag. Before he had found her, when his father slashed his face. Since losing Abaddon.

He had to find Abaddon, he had to find his Angel. Before anyone else hurt him before they mistook him for a slave girl. Abaddon was his. Abaddon was HIS! He was the most trusted devotee of the God-Prince Ultyr and he needed his Angel.

His breaths evened as he savored the snake flesh. The trembling of his body began to still and as he chewed he started to stretch and hang the skin up. They would come and retrieve it later. They needed to explore more and see what they could scrounge up.

He nodded his head to urge her to lead on.
"What else can we find here." He growled at her, paying her little attention.

She shrugged the strap of her new bag on and sat then, waiting for him to finish what he was doing. Her mind was still trying to work out what she had done wrong. Why he pushed her away. What had prompted him to start shaking. Her eyes were on the floor in front of her while she thought and he worked silently. She could hear the crunch of bone and tearing of flesh as he ate from the snake and skinned it.

Definitely she didn't want to eat that. Snake was an acquired taste. Though if he told her to or asked she would do it. She wouldn't defy his orders. He was the master and she the slave, no matter how he treated her.

She could hear him coming closer and lifted her eye for a second to him. His nod having her stand and turn. His order not needed but heard. "What else can we find here." She wasn't sure so she shrugged her scrawny shoulders and moved on. Her eye taking in the place. It looked worn and weathered but she could definitely feel a pull here. She rather enjoyed the island's tropical feeling.

She moved on to the next place through a doorway and cocked her head. There were large rusty and shiny things with colorful fabrics displayed on them. A lot of them were tattered and beyond repair but perhaps they could use some of it to create a nice nest or bandages with, if they spent the night here that was. This room had more trinkets and such as well. As well as a shelf with half destroyed plush creatures. This place was a treasure trove of wonder.

She moved towards the shelf with plush creatures and stood on her hind legs placing her front legs on the shelf. It was sturdy and this place would definitely make a good place to stay and base out of if they had to. Her nose touched a worn stuffed bear and she gave a sad breath. She'd had one once, but those days of plush creatures and sweet songs were long gone. She pushed off the shelf and turned to head back to see what he had found. Most of what she found was seeming like junk.

"Things I Hear"

Ultyr followed his little navigator through the corridors, glancing around. Less interested in the architecture and dirty textiles, more interested in the sharp things he might be able to use for hunting and sparing. He needed to show these people how strong he was. He wanted his bronze claws back or at least a hefty sword to swing and clash with. He must find a way to conquer the people here, take them across the water so he can lay claim to his throne. After he finds Abaddon...

He huffed as the room held nothing for him. He glanced at the girl for a moment looking at the soft fake animals for some reason, then moved into another room. Bits of glass covered the floor where a window had once been. This room had counters and a strange basin. A tall metal square box. In another time the two legs would have stored food within. He grabbed the strip of fabric hanging on the handle and pulled. The door gave with a loud sucking sound as the magnets peeled away from the door.

He stepped back as a strange skeleton fell out and shattered its dusty bones over the floor. It's head round and nose flat.

She followed him until he found a strange box, and he pried it open. The contents that spilled out mad a clattering noise that echoed in the halls and she jumped like a cat that had been spooked. The heck kind of bones were those? They looked nothing like any animal she had ever seen. Curious. She leaned forward and gave it a sniff, letting a tiny sneeze out as the dust went up her nose. Okay so it reeked. Definitely didn't recommend that.

A look up at Ultyr and she tilted her head. An idea was forming and she grinned before looking around and grabbing the nearest soft colorful cloth she could find. She then came back and contemplated it for a second before she launched up and hopped on his shoulders for the briefest moment and tossing the cloth over his face, hopefully covering his eyes.

She was bounding off then, down the halls and staying as quiet as possible, not that that was hard when u couldn't speak. She darted for a shelf she had seen earlier and curled up on it dropping her head to be amongst the stuffed toys and waiting. She was sure he would find her, but that was kind of the point. Make something fun while they journeyed right?

"Things I Hear"

1/3 played a game of strategy(hide and seek)

He ignored his little navigator while she sniffed the strange bones. They were too old and dusty to be of use to him. He found handles in several cabinets and pulled them out to rifle into the strange contents. Barely registering that the girl had sneezed.

A huff again as he found nothing useful. He made to start looking in another room when he was taken by surprise! Suddenly his eyes were covered with a cloth and he couldn't see! He snarled ferociously! Did a party come in behind them? He hadn't seen or smelled them! The weight on his shoulders lifted and he thrashed around trying to get the cloth off his head. He clocked his head against a wall and snarled while he saw stars and the cloth finally fell to the ground. Frantically he looked around and couldn't find his slave!

He growled and leaped into action! Bounding back the way they came to see if the miscreants that had dared to follow him had stolen her!

He dashed to where they had come and didn't see hide more hair of any rogues stealing his slave. He took his nose to the ground desperate to catch any scent of her.

Tracked another character 1/3

She could hear him as he took off and began searching for her, his growl sounded upset. Maybe it hadn't been a great idea. But then again he kind of was either too stressed about life or too focused on his goals to enjoy much in life. She stayed in her little hiding spot, her tail thumping lightly for a second. An idea in her mind for a second and she grabbed for a rock beside her. He would have to find her through his nose alone. It was good practice and even better practice for her to avoid danger.

If they found Abbadon and settled down in a place like this island, she could definitely get used to this strategy for hiding from others. Her ears pressed forward as she listened for him though. It hadn't been her intention to scare him, only make him play a little with her. She missed when life was as simple as playing games with her brother and sister, they would of loved this island. The thought bringing her ears to droop and her to close her eyes so she didn't cry. She missed her family. Games like this used to be fun, not something she had to practice for survival. Though she somehow doubted Ultyr would see the practicality of her game.

"Things I Hear"

2/3 played a game of strategy(hide and seek)

He was beginning to think she had run from him! Wasn't he a kind and benevolent god? He had never hurt her! He had fed and protected her! Why had she run? His nose pressed over the ground as he frantically scented the area. He crossed his own tracks and the tracks of the girl. He followed her scent back through the rooms they had already gone through and back into the kitchen. He nosed through the dusty bones and then he found the cloth again. She had been the one to put it over his head! He couldn't smell anyone else it must have been her! She had betrayed him!

He would find her and make her know that she would never do this again. His heart hammered against his chest with panic. He hovered over the place where she had been in the kitchen, found where her paws had lifted up to land on his back, then back down. His ears suddenly caught a tap tap tap against the wall in another room. If she was still here and had decided to play a stupid game of hide and seek he might need to break one of her legs to make her never do this again.

He followed her tracks back to the room with the strange fake animals.

He made his appearance finally and she lowered her head, tucking into the animals she was amongst. Her tail stilling and she let a grin settle on her lips. He hadn't taken long at least. Though as soon as she saw his face she dropped her smile. He looked pissed. Great, she'd only wanted to make things more interesting. Hide and seek was a good game in her opinion. Not only did it have strategy involved, it also made the seeker have to use their nose and brain both. It was also a good way to practice survival skills.

If only there was a way for him to see things from her perspective. But she guessed his head was too far up his own ass to even think or try to see it. Games could be fun if you asked her. She waited until he was looking around the room before tossing the rock she had grabbed near the door. Yet another part of the strategy, though she wasn't sure she should stay hidden. But if he won maybe he wouldn't be as mad. That was a risk though. She was at perfect eye level for him though. And she had a plan. Make him less mad by as soon as he found her licking his nose and making him the winner.

"Things I Hear"

His nose clung to the earth, inhaling every microbe of her scent. What had caused her to do this to him?

A clattering came from across the room and he leaped onto the stone with a snarl. He had been startled and reactive. It smelled like her! She had thrown it! Where?!? His eyes cast around the room and fell upon the tumble of strange pretend animals stuffed with fluff. One of them looked rather familiar. He slunk down and stalked himself forward until he was nose-to-nose with her. She attempted to lick his nose but he snarled and lunged for her throat. Dragging her out of the stuffed animals and into the open room.

"Don't you DARE hide from me!" He snarled and threw her bodily onto the floor. One paw placed over her chest as he loomed dangerously over her tiny frame. "I should break your fragile tiny legs for this! I am your GOD! You will OBEY ME!" He flashed his sharp teeth in her face with a harsh snap. He pressed a fraction of his weight over her chest to push into her ribs and cut her breathing, to emphasize that with one push he could still end her life, crush her under his mighty strength.

Ultyr, The God-Prince of Archnemes, bent low over her minuscule frame and harshly whispered in her ear, "You are lucky I am ever so kind a God to you, little Kitten, but do not forget who my father was." He warned her harshly.

With a growl he released her.
"Sit up." He ordered.
"Nod your head that you understand never to hide or run away from me again." He commanded as he loomed, monstrous, over her again.

He found her and as soon as she went to lick his nose, he was snapping, dragging her out of the shelf and slamming her down. "Don't you DARE hide from me!" Her breath came out in a large exhale and she curled her tail under her. Shit! "I should break your fragile tiny legs for this! I am your GOD! You will OBEY ME!"

He was squeezing the breath out of her then, standing on her ribs and pressing. Her eyes widened and she looked away from the massive man over her as he took his anger out on her. She'd fuck up. Her ears pressed as he kept her from breathing. The snap in her face had her shaking in fear, trying to roll over and fully submit to his whims. Tears welled in her eyes as he forces breath from her lungs and made it hard to breath. She'd only wanted to make him relax and enjoy life a little bit.

"You are lucky I am ever so kind a God to you, little Kitten, but do not forget who my father was." His voice was in her ear, then a snarl from him and he was releasing her. She was rolling over and curling into herself before his next order was delivered. "Sit up." Her ears pressed and she kept her eyes on the floor before her paws. HEr form sitting but not fully upright. Submission given to him in its finest form. "Nod your head that you understand never to hide or run away from me again." Her head nodded stiffly. He'd reminded her plenty. He was still her master and a Archnemes wolf. There wasn't a shred of love or enjoyment of life to him.

But what about her? His punishment hurt not physically, but emotionally more than anything. He claimed to be benevolent, treated her sweetly, showed her love, only to withdraw it all in one moment. It left her confused, and her chest hurting. She stood and kept her eyes on the ground, moving quietly and letting the tears dampen her cheeks. She was so confused. Where she went was to her open in the room the snake had been in. That's where she stopped, laying next to the hide he had stripped from the corpse. How could she have been so stupid? He was her master, he didn't want to play games or encourage her happiness. She curled up to wait for him to be finished exploring.

"Things I Hear"