This was the longest he'd left Demelza since he'd first brought her home. But she'd earned hia trust, and proved she'd learnt her lesson. So he trotted back into the Syndicate territory, another wolf in tow. He'd have to start again with his lessons with this wolf. With luck, she'd be a fast learner as Dem had been. He had a feeling he wasn't going to be that lucky. She wasn't broken in, like Dem had been.


He reached his den and spat her bird companion from his mouth. He'd been holding the companion unharmed in his mouth to ensure good behaviour. She'd already proved the bird to be a weakness of his, and so he exploited it. “Try anything, and I'll make my way through your companions. Starting with the feathered one.” He warned her, pleased she'd had the forethought to bond with some hostages before he'd found her.

“Dem, come.” He ordered as he stepped into the den, indicating with a paw for the spikey wolf to go ahead of him.

Remaining inside the den was proving rather difficult. He had been gone for the longest amount of time and she was sure that after every minute he would show up. She was restless as she spun on the bed. She shifted and made it again. She got up and adjusted one of his trophies on the wall for the sixth time that hour.

Suddenly her straining ears heard his voice outside and she jumped. She didn't catch his words through the den door but his tone was unmistakable. She bowed low to the ground in the back of the den in expectation as he opened the door and gestured for a new female to enter before him. She tried not to let her eyes linger on the spines and crystals in the new girl's fur.

He ordered her to come forward and she came slinking at his call.
"Yes, Master Flare?" She asked, wondering what he would need.

"Speech"

Morganna had had her ravens since before she could remember so like fuck she was going to let this asshole eat one. She stalked after him, lips pulled back in a snarl, crystals and quills bristling as she stomped. Her elf owl had settled over her hips, protected between the sharp quills when the flying became too much, and her other raven kept an eye out over head. He was just strolling along ahead of her and it rankled. She should rip out his hamstring, that's what she should do, but then he'd chomp down on her bird and her companion would be down it's mate. She couldn't do that to them. Not to the only living beings that had stuck around when nobody else had.

She baulked at the den entrance, smelling another inside but then he spat out her bird and she rushed forward to scoop it close to her chest. Her heart was pounding in her ears and she curved her spine fur, and crystals and quills standing on end as a low growl left her chest. He could fucking try.

The woman that stepped forward was a tiny thing, and despite her bristled stance and curled lip, she allowed her eyes to flick over the other woman. She looked so soft and feminine and all the things Morganna could and would never be due to the nature of her curse and breeding. Light as a cloud on her feet, she didn't look to be uncared for, but it was the way she called the man Master that made her stomach sour.

What the fuck had she gotten herself into?

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma

Flare had ensured his path into the Syndicate took them by the mangled corpses the pack liked to leave on display at their borders. He'd wanted her to understand that once you belonged to the Syndicate, there was no going back. Time would see if any of that lesson would stick.

Demelza appeared before him, meek as a lamb as he gave her a predatory smile. “Slave. What did they call you?” He demanded, turning to the spikey wolf he'd brought in. He'd decide if he liked her name enough to keep it. He was sure she'd be able to learn another this late in life if he deemed it necessary. Whatever her answer, he'd continue on. “The rules are simple. You will call me Master, Master Flare, or Sir. You will do what I say, when I say it. Refusal or poor performance will be punished. Demelza, my dear. Would you like to fill our new girl in on the type of punishments that might merit?” He asked, voice light and almost warm. He was enjoying himself.

"Speech"

Demelza kept her eyes on his feet. Her gaze would flicker up to the other woman as she spoke but would only flit up to his face when she heard her name. She swallowed hard and turned to the new slave. A few light scars faintly marred her dark muzzle where he had held her mouth closed. As well as an obvious scar above her eye when they first met. She didn't know what to say so she began by simply gesturing at these.

"P-punishments include broken toes, dislocations... uhm... but he only does it if you don't obey him-" She added quickly, glancing at him for approval or otherwise. "He expects a good job well done, and if I do well he keeps me in good shape..." She mentioned, her tail clung to her paws. Every time she glanced at Morgana her glances grew longer. The woman was nigh as tall as Flare. The colors of her pelt contrasted so well that the greens looked like they should glow.

Demelza grasped her fragile shoulder, now somewhat prone to dislocating from his corrections. She glanced back his way as if to ask if she had provided the information to his satisfaction.

Slave? Urgh. She barely bit back a retort of Bite my spikey ass, shit-stain. The curling of her lips conveying her thoughts plainly enough while her mind turned over her options. He introduced Demelza before she decided whether or not to give her true name, her mother would be beside herself if she did though...

Morganna turned seafoam eyes on the girl as she gestured to the scars and explained the "punishments" that might be doled out. Her face took on a deadpan expression. Was that meant to scare her? Was pain meant to be... a deterrent? Her whole existence was pain, what were a few more scars to the litany that already marred beneath her coat. If I do well he keeps me in good shape. The snort that left her nose and throat would not be contained, though she managed to control her eye roll with a glaring squint at their captor.

She should play nice, she wasn't a total glutton for punishment. Eventually she'd sprout mushrooms and start oozing and surely then he would loose interest.

She shook out her fur, crystals and quills clacking as she chased the tension from her bones, allowing her ears to fall flat against her head and her shoulders to hunch, holding herself lower. Lips less curled and more tight across her teeth, doing her best despite her size to look like some of the fight had been shaken out of her with the gesture. "My mother called me Akaste, Sir..." She added the latter as an afterthought. It wasn't a lie, her mother had called her such when she was being particularly tempestuous, and it was a name she wouldn't be opposed to sacrificing if she had to. She might not have brute strength on her side, so she would need to rely on her smarts.

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma

His newest victim needed only to look at Demelza to understand her fate. Toe still healing, shoulder weakened. Scars across her muzzle and one eye. Her body told a story, one that Flare enjoyed the chance to show. He looked at the spikey wolf he had claimed, there was still defiance in her. In the noises she made, and the look in her eyes. She would learn, as Demelza had learnt. 


He didn't fully trust the meekness that came out after a few moments, but he took it all the same. If she was too obedient, where would he have his fun? “Akaste…” he mused for a moment, and then nodded. “I'll allow it.” He agreed. He stepped a little closer, raising a paw to touch her cheek and breath in her scent. “You will warm my bed for the first part of the night.” He curled his nose disdainfully. “I should cut those spikes to make you more pleasant.” He mused outloud.

Demelza's eyes nearly popped out of her head as she watched and heard the crystals and spines clack as the other girl shook her fur out. She didn't know they could do that! Her job done she remained where she was and tamed her gaze off them, waiting for a new command or when he made it obvious she was not needed.

Akaste had a mother... maybe that was why she still had fire in her eyes. If Demelza had a mother would she be more spitfire? Demelza sank back into the shadows as he mentioned Akaste was going to warm his bed for part of the night. She should make a smaller bed next to his for the other slave. She had a feeling they would be switching out the other part of the night.

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma