GOT AN ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER But the devil always won... Dusk was falling as Harbringr left his den to begin a journey westward. He wanted to see just how far he could go before he reached the ocean. He was fine with where Ashen had made camp but his days of wanting to hole up in his den were swiftly passing and now he was agitated and restless. He couldn't bring himself to focus after being uprooted for what seemed like the second time in a very short time frame. He supposed he should be grateful that most everyone made it out ok. It wasn't like the drought that had slowly and surely killed off the majority of his family as well as his wife. Still, it was beginning to make him wonder if the Klein's were ever going to get a chance to build an empire and then keep it for more than a year. He worked his way west, Costanza flying above him as Ari walked along beside. When the arrived at the basin he saw mostly golden and brown grasses, many of them leveled flat from a passing storm that had dropped rain and hail. The storm had passed on and left the sky surprisingly clear. Harbringr sat down, gazing out toward the western horizon where the sun was beginning to set. This far west and that low in the sky the color was unblocked by the volcano's haze. If he turned his back to the east and all the destruction that lay behind him he could almost pretend that none of it had happened. He could pretend he was just on a little vacation and he was here watching the sunset with his reincarnated wife and his macaque companion.

WC: 284

leaving Olympia behind, Thaddeus tried to trek on. he had been traveling for a few days and the sudden hunger pains were like an old friend. he closed his eyes, breathing in the harsh sooty scent of the land behind him before willing himself to move forward. he tried not to think about how much of a coward he had been, refusing to follow after Chrysanthos and attend the Olympia meeting. deep down he felt regret, but outwardly he knew it was the right thing to do. he didn't have anyone there and forcing himself to remain would just cause more harm than good. he had to severe ties with that pack. they didn't want him there. ahead of him, the mouth-watering scent of a corpse caused him to drool. he quickly made his way toward the fallen carcass; it had been plucked almost clean. the head was gone, and the scent was foreign to him. he wasn't a hunter so he didn't know how to tell what sort of animal this had been. grumbling at placing his jaws on the strong smelling (rotting) thing, he tried to ignore it in favor of survival. he had to eat to live, and live he would. stubbornly so. Thaddeus didn't notice the pureblood and his companions, too focused on settling down to claim this piece of food for himself. "511/1500"

GOT AN ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER But the devil always won... The base of the sun touched the horizon and slowly began to sink. Harbringr was sad to see the sun go but he knew it would rise again, hopefully on a brighter day. He sighed softly as Costanza leaned against his forelegs. He'd stay, for just a bit longer until the sun had completely disappeared. At least he had planned to until the sound of teeth working at food caught his attention. Harbringr got to his feet and spied a strange looking black and white male not too far off, digging into something. Hari stretched, his head cocking to the side. He'd never see a wolf with such ridiculous ears. Next to him Ari wrinkled his nose at the carcass the man was eating and it made the macaque nervous. If this stranger was that desperate for food who he have ago at the primate? "That smells absolutely disgusting. Is it any good? You know I can't say I've seen a wolf with such unusual ears. Are you in fact a wolf?" He supposed it was possible. He'd seen wolves with ridiculous pelts, wolves with long hair on their heads like horse manes, wolves with claws, horns and spirits knew what else. However, he didn't want to assume either. A coyote looked a lot like a wolf but a coyote was not a wolf and he wouldn't entertain such a thought. (743/1500)

he was so fucking sick of people. perhaps a little desperate and a lot of insulted, Thaddeus would turn on the other. though the pureblood didn't seem to want his food, he was tired of being looked down on because he wasn't, well, a wolf. he was some sort of hybrid thing, or maybe not even a wolf at all. the reactions he'd gotten from people so far were questions - curt or not - of his origins. and being a beast that didn't know, he got irritated quickly at them. the subject of his blood never was brought up when he was 'raised' by his captors. though they did beat him and call him mutt, he never knew what that meant. he wouldn't know what half those insults meant, but he knew that people looked and treated him differently. so coming to Boreas was a kick in the gut. he growled now, snarling as the wolf neared him. everyone was disgustingly perfect. they knew where they came from. they knew their origins. nobody had ears like him. nobody had a body like his. this guy right here, he questioned if he even had wolf in him. so there was another thing Thaddeus didn't know. and he was so damn sick of not knowing! he flew at the pureblood, jaws snapping and saliva from feeding around his mouth that made him maddened. he had a primal urge to protect his food. he also was pissed at the world, especially Olympia, for wronging him.   "993/1500"

GOT AN ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER But the devil always won... The other man whipped around, fury blazing in those golden eyes. Harbringr's ears flattened to his head his hackles raising as his limbs coiled. Yet his expression remained inquisitive and cheeky. Oh dear, had he said something wrong? Oh well, the man's sensitivity really wasn't his problem but if the other wanted a fight then Harbringr was only to happy to give the man a fight and if Hari won he was going to force the other man to wear that carcass as a hat. Just for a little bit. He needed a laugh and come to think of it he really needed a fight. His energy had been pent up in his head while he'd shut his body in his den. The frustration, the fear, the anger, it all started boiling to the surface as his smile turned from grin to smirk. Then the other man charged, fangs flying towards him. Harbringr's legs uncoiled and launched him forward like a spring as he sought to come in low, seeking to sail underneath the man's snapping jaws and seize him around the neck. Harbringr wanted to strangle him, not to kill, but to block enough oxygen to render the man weak and bring the fight to a swift close. (1203/1500)

Thad wasn’t an experienced fighter. Most of the time he went for the weakest points in a blind fury, hoping to end the fight before it started. But it was clear as he lunged at the wolf that he was outmatched. There remained a pit in his stomach, only to worsen as the pure-blood's jaws closed around his neck. He struggled wildly, but it only succeeded in making the other’s teeth rip against his throat. Blood and hair flew from his slender neck, but it wasn’t that deep. As much as he would like to continue to struggle, he knew if he did, he’d accidentally kill himself. That wouldn’t do. He should have gauged the other’s strength before trying it, but again, he was the weaker fighter. He didn’t know what to do, but he knew how he felt. He was in a pissed mood, wishing and hoping for anyone to just stop staring at him. he wanted acceptance of any kind. He wanted to have a home. He thought he had a chance with Olympia, but evidently, they didn’t want him there. Maybe he should have asked why. but even if he knew, Thaddeus didn’t know how to fix his half-blood heritage. The wolf’s jaws were firm, holding him there as he dangled his front legs in the air like an overgrown chew toy. “gaah!” the mutt gasped as his air began to lessen. His front paws churned in the air before weakening. He shot the pure-blood a hated stare, trying to gain a hold on him in any way possible. But he only succeeded in throwing his legs against the other uselessly. Something easy to shrug off. “guh…” his eyes felt heavy suddenly. He wasn’t being killed – a small blessing – but he was being beaten. At last, he went limp in the other’s jaws, passing out through adrenaline loss exhaustion and his air being crushed.   / EXIT VIA UNCONSCIOUSNESS & LOSS "1500/1500"

GOT AN ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER But the devil always won... Harbringr's jaws closed over the sweet flesh of the man's throat and he held on, his shoulders rolling forward to help stabilize his neck. The Klein would not easily loosen his grip though the other man certainly tried. He flailed and twisted, writhing like a serpent. The man began to gasp, music to Harbringr's ears and slowly, minute by minute, his opponents movement weakened. As the man all but stilled, Harbringr loosened his grip and let the other man fall to the ground. Licking his lips Hari moved over toward the carcass. It really wasn't worth anything. A devilish grin passed over the man's face as he leaned down and grasped the carcass. Hauling it up he moved over to the unconscious man and dropped it on the other's head like a messed up crown. "Here lies the king of putrescence." With a laugh he turned and continued on his way. -exit… what a jerk-