the mercy of my enemy
04-08-2014, 02:28 PM
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04-08-2014, 04:14 PM
Erani |
Erani padded easily along the edge of a tunnel mouth, one ear back to listen to Jinxx?s passage beside her. The young male had argued, and in the end, she had won the argument with one of those looks. So they were here, exploring the lands that the earthquake had opened to the surface. She needed to know if any of the underground passages reported by Erion and Alpine would be a danger to Valhalla, leaving a way open into the inner sanctums of their home. One thing was for certain. Valhalla would be prepared if Glaciem launched another attack. Snowy shoulders rolled smoothly as she paused, looking over at the cross marked son she had begun to see as a son. She had made fast time for a wolf her age, and still had a lot of energy left. She cast the male a smile. ?Ready?? Whether he was ready or not, she turned and stepped down into the mouth of the tunnel, going slowly and allowing her eyes to adjust to the growing dimness. Eventually, all she could see was a faint glow far ahead. She made her way toward it, ears flicking back and forth to catch any sounds. The glow grew, along with a sense of heat and movement, and the faint sounds of sluggish boiling. Her ears perked slightly as she approached, her pace slowing as natural caution rode her movements. She came out onto a ledge of stone, fur rippling in the hot thermals sent up by the roiling, sluggish river of liquid fire. Not fire? Stone. In this river, she could see the contours, see what this would look like if it were still. Her eyes turned, to seek out Jinxx. ?Quite the sight, is it not?? Soft voice was low, almost matching with the soft, slow bubbling of the hellish river below. Turning, she continued carefully. ?Keep well away from the edge, and one eye on the danger. If one of those splashes right, we could be in for a world of pain.? A scent brushed over her nose, and she froze. ?Glaciem.? The scream of agony followed shortly. Now, Erani wasn?t a wolf who could turn away from someone in pain, no matter who it was. The cry was female. Isardis had a great deal to answer for, and if it was he in pain, she would have let him suffer, and called the price even. Politically, she would rather stay as far away from the northern enemy of Valhalla as possible, and undermine them with subtlety; helping the lesser wolves of the northern pack, as Cormalin had done; though he had done it from the kindness of his heart, and a need to get the female as far from Valhalla as possible, and as swiftly as possible; and befriending the friendlier wolves, yet never giving too much information. As a healer, politics had no sway over the kind heart. She started forward at a careful trot, deep blue eyes seeking out the source of the agony. She found the female pressed against the wall, as far from the river of hell as she could get, licking at her burned paw. Her scent told a great deal. She was the queen, and Isardis? scent on her coat told a great deal about what was going on. The Ice King was ill, possibly from the injuries sustained during his fight with Seraphine. Erani felt no remorse for the male?s pain. This was a two pronged boon, possibly. Politically, there could be a gain from helping the Queen. A peace treaty, at the least. An Alliance was too unlikely. The bitterness between Glaciem and Valhalla was too deep by now for the packs to merge strengths. From a healer?s standpoint, she would be helping someone in need. Deep blue eyes held a hint of the feral ice about the edges as she gazed at the agonized female. To Jinxx, whom she hoped had made it safely with her, she uttered a soft phrase. ?Jinxx, Attend.? The Queens command to stand at attention. It was spoken with such a gentle regality, and yet as firmly as the stone under paws. ?I recall seeing a stand of Mullein outside the tunnel we entered. And Yarrow. Do you recall them? If so, please, fetch some for me. She?s in no condition to pose a threat at the moment.? Gentle directives, with the same penetrating stare that brooked no arguments. She was in the dual mode of Queen and Lead Theta. Stepping closer, she studied the injured paw, using the light from the molten river to assess the damage. ?Glaciem Queen, I suggest you stay put.? No name was given, as yet. From her bearing, it was obvious what her status was. |
04-08-2014, 10:51 PM
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04-10-2014, 05:53 PM
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04-11-2014, 03:29 PM
Erani Adravendi |
Jinxx obeyed quickly, slipping back into the shadows of the cave system, and Erani cocked one ear toward Sendoa as the female replied, a small glint of the healers amusement at a grumpy patient flickering through her gaze as she studied the paw. Nasty burn, it was. She probably should have asked for a scrap of willow bark, or alder, but Jinxx was gone already. Never mind. She could ask for it when he returned. Circling around Sendoa, she settled well away from the molten river, the light better favoring her work. ?Duly noted.? Was her calm reply. The part that was enraged by Glaciem?s attack on Valhalla over one wolf and their King?s injured pride wished nothing more than to find a way to harm those who had hurt her family. However, what would she gain through such actions? More war? So she would set aside the fury, and save it for the next war, should one come again in her lifetime. Politically, she held an advantage here, if Sendoa was an intelligent leader who could see the gain in cooperating. So she voiced, in measured tones, her proposition. ?I had been thinking over ways to solve a few problems. One, Glaciem has taken two children away from their mother, and a pack that loved them, despite who sired them. Two, I wish to secure a peaceful future for my family and pack. I know better than to suggest an alliance between Valhalla and Glaciem. The bitterness on both sides runs too deep for either pack to accept such an idea. However, in return for your paw?s treatment, and seeing you safely toward your home, and Eris? care, I wish to propose a Peace Treaty. Glaciem will leave Valhalla in peace for two years. Likewise, Valhalla will do the same. ?I would also like to negotiate the return of Soren and Kismet Adravendi to Valhalla.? She stated finally, deep blue gaze locking with verdant green. ?Do you accept these proposals as fair?? The choice was left to Sendoa, as she awaited Jinxx?s return with the plants needed to soothe the burns on the paw. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think |
04-15-2014, 02:58 PM
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04-17-2014, 05:15 PM
He would return at last with the supplies needed for the injured Glaciem queen. He would arrive in a rush, paws slipping on loose rocks and gravel while the heat would warm his left side, pelt brushing the rock on the right. Black stained audits leaned forward as he caught traces and words of the conversation, though was it really any of his business? Yes, possibly so. He was a part of Valhalla, and Erani trusted him if he had been brought to explore new lands with her. He admired her as a leader, much more so as the mother figure he had lost. He was grateful that she had taken him in, and more grateful that she was willing to take in his lost family when they were found. But Valhalla was growing in numbers, and he was afraid that soon it might be time to go, to find solace and peace in a place where his family would be safe. But for now, those were thoughts for another time.
The figures would come into view, illuminated by the glow of the heated river as he made his approach. Setting down what he had gathered by Erani, he dipped his head in apology for his prolonged absence. "Sorry Erani, the heat from the river is a little overwhelming." He glanced at the female with the burned paw, his gaze indifferent as he did not know her, but even at first sight would not view her as an enemy. He knew little about the rivalry between Glaciem and Valhalla, though it did not concern him unless they did something to his family, of which they had not done.
The figures would come into view, illuminated by the glow of the heated river as he made his approach. Setting down what he had gathered by Erani, he dipped his head in apology for his prolonged absence. "Sorry Erani, the heat from the river is a little overwhelming." He glanced at the female with the burned paw, his gaze indifferent as he did not know her, but even at first sight would not view her as an enemy. He knew little about the rivalry between Glaciem and Valhalla, though it did not concern him unless they did something to his family, of which they had not done.
04-19-2014, 01:13 PM
Erani Adravendi |
Erani watched as Sendoa mulled it over, ears pressing forward as the female that resembled her adopted son Taurig began speaking. A wry smile slid across the snowy Alpha Primary?s features. Such things as forgetting what was done will take time. Hopefully, by the end of two years, a treaty will not be needed. I accept the terms, however. Also, I wish to warn you. There was a male that allied himself with your pack during the siege. Very large, shades of grey, with markings like these under blue eyes.? With her paw, she drew the marks she remembered seeing when she, Cormalin, and Obsidian had defended Rayne from the male in question. A ?V? with a dot below. Her eyes were glacial as she spoke of this male. She met the verdant emeralds with the deep sapphire pools of chilled rage. ?This male, before the war, attacked one of our healers, Rayne. He attempted to rape her, but I and my brother, along with our friend, managed to run him off before he could defile her.? Jinxx? return was ignored for the moment, her eyes firmly locked on Sendoa?s. ?Soon after the war, he came back. He attacked Rayne while she was just feet from the borders. Raped her, and murdered her, tore her to shreds. If you have any information, or hold him within your pack, there is a blood dept that must be paid, and the price is his life, with as much agony as he has ever dealt, to anyone. If he is not allied with you, be on guard. Keep an eye on your females, as they could be at risk.? As she finished speaking, the fierce, feral rage was sheathed, knowing the point would be clear. Turning to Jinxx, she nodded. ?Thank you, Jinxx.? A gently brush of her muzzle to the males shoulder held warmth and motherly love, though it was clear he wasn?t of her blood. Turning back to Sendoa, she bent to examine the paw again, taking a few leaves of the Mullein and chewing until it formed a paste on her tongue, and began slathering the paw with easy, sure licks. Once her tongue was clear, she spoke. ?I will send a wolf to collect Soren and Kismet upon my return to my pack.? Her eyes flicked up to Sendoa?s face. ?What will you do, should you dear king choose to threaten this tenuous hold on peace? Stand up to him? Or will you cast aside your word?? It was a good question, and one that needed to be asked, and answered. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think |
05-06-2014, 05:12 PM
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