Kotori was on the hunt still for proper members of his new pack.  Valta would be a power pack in time but he needed a foundation of strong members to help build it up.  Dad had given Kotori a good start and promise of at least one other Armada wolf to join him but Kotori hadn’t taken too much from his father.  How great would it feel if he only managed to claim his own land and set things up if he let dad’s gifts be the cause of success?  It was better to make sure most of the hard work was on himself and then on the members of the pack as he brought them together.

Kotori scented the air, looking for other wolves and then glancing behind to where he had left the rapids.  Taking a deep exhale of the frosty air he reminded himself not to stay away overly long.  He needed to be there if any unwanted wolves came to take what was his.

What Kotori scented in the air wasn’t another wolf but a polar bear, and he didn’t just smell it, the bear looked like nothing more than a mix of the rocky terrain and snow at first but as the future rug charged him it quickly become obvious.  Kotori snarled at the bear, shifting his shoulders in a good position as he waited.  When the polar bear was in range that it was lunging forward to hit Kotori the wolf finally broke position to swing wide, leap on top and take a bite onto its neck and twisting his head to do what damage he could fast.

"Kotori Fatalis"

Life had gotten stagnate for the nebula woman since her brother Bodin had died. The bears had left scars on her, their merciless attacks laying her low… yet she had lived. Bitterness had settled in her soul when she had awoken back in the band’s camp, wounds stitched together but her heart a broken mess. They didn’t know what to do or how to help her so Tove had taken to wandering as soon she was able to walk. She couldn’t stay still and, the further she went, the more predators she found. Each and every one was left dead in her wake and the meticulous stitches had torn. She never went back to the band, never got the jagged wounds tended to and they healed in their own, odd ways.

The older wolf stops to scent the air, the beautiful landscape around her, lost on the bitter woman. Tove finds what she is looking for, the scent of a bear and swiftly moves to intercept it. It isn’t alone, an earthen-hued male is locked in attack with it, and she barely spares the taller wolf a glance. Pink scars litter her face and shoulders but Tove does not seek to add any more to her collection. Her attack is calculated, the nebula-clad woman only rushing in when the other wolf mounts the bear’s shoulders. Blue and red form breaks away from the rocky terrain she had been hiding against, legs pulling her forward swiftly until she is under the bear’s neck.

Body launches upward, teeth flashing as she growls loudly and opens a wound on the side of polar bear’s neck. It roars and Tove backs away, teeth bared and ready to kill this predator.


"Tove Baade"

Even as Kotori was biting onto the neck, which had the bear quite upset already, a new wolf appeared.  How the heck did a wolf that bright ever manage to hunt?  It would stick out like one of those brightly colored insect-eating birds.  Well, maybe only parts of it.  Deciding on how easy or hard it was for the wolf to hunt would have to wait though as the bear needed the focus.

When the scarlet-striped lady attacked Kotori braced himself, shoulders scrunched and teeth clamped down on the bear’s injured wound.  The white beast lunged after the escaping wolf and Kotori was losing his purchase.  The horned wolf used the momentum of the bear as he sprang off, a mouth of bear flesh coming with him.  The wound he left behind was deep, turning the white shoulders a nice crimson shade.

Even as Kotori lands the enraged bear hesitates on going after Tove to now glare at the wolf who had been riding its back and biting him.  The fuzzy muscled bear turns from Tove to try and attack Koori.  Kotori easily keeps ahead, smugly smirking as when the bear moves its front shoulders it aggravates the wound Kotori had left behind, slowing its ability to make is moves as fast.  The bear roars at both of them in a frustrated rage.

"Kotori"

The earthen-hued male bites into the back of the bear’s neck and Tove appears to open a wound along the side of the angry polar bear’s neck. She backs away, not turning her back on the large beast, as her lips pull back and a growl rumbles out. It sounds rough, gravely and her vocal chords ache from being used. The unknown wolf leaps off the bear’s shoulders, landing on the ground to wheel about and face the beast.

The great creature hesitates, looking between the wolves and Tove uses the bear’s uncertainty to rush forward. Her face and shoulders may be littered with scars but the nebula wolf does not seek to add anymore to her collection. She darts in, dodging an errant swing from the alarmed bear and launches herself upward to grab at the wound she had already opened. It tears further, jagged edges flapping as the injured creature throws it head back. Tove is already gone, racing backward to get out of range before going in for the killing blow.

"Tove Baade"

The angry boar roars in a mix of rage and pain when Tove’s bite connects. Kotori likewise runs back, this time grabbing one of the front legs, biting, letting go, and biting again as he works to get past the fur and skin to make a deeper wound to bite into. If the bear wanted to use that paw for fast moves or hard pressure there would be a price to pay for it. Likewise, running away would be out of the picture. Kotori saw no reason for it to live. Besides, his new home could use plenty of pelts from various large creatures. This one would do.

Kotori thrashed his head but after a second the bear jerked his arm with the intent to fling Kotori away but the wolf let go, launching up to bite the shoulder, letting the bear know regardless of where he bit, Kottori wouldn’t back down. Besides, it had bigger problems with where Tove was targeting.


"Kotori Fatalis"

WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS BLOOD AND GORE!

They work as a team and, as Tove backs off, the earthen-hued male jumps in to bite one of the bear’s large paws. Duel-toned eyes watch for the perfect moment to strike, muscles bunching in preparation for what is to come. As the polar bear yanks his paw away from the wolf that is mutilating the appendage and swings it back to strike at the male, all the energy stored in the scarred woman’s muscles is released in one explosive moment. She shoots forward, jumping once more at the gaping wound on the bear’s neck where the throbbing artery can be seen as it swings its head back in alarm.

Front legs wrap around its neck and Tove’s mouth snaps shut around the vital blood supply. Back paws press firmly into the ground as the beast shifts, trying to swing at wolf that is hugging it but it is too late. Blood sprays through the air as Tove’s head jerks backward, severing all the major blood vessels. Its eyes widen and it tries to jerk sideways in a bid to get of her but the scarred woman holds it in place, mouth returning to the now pulsing wound to finish ripping out everything.

Tove can feel her the bear’s throat in her mouth, the way the vertebra of its neck scrape dully against her teeth. The metallic scent of blood clogs her nostrils, driving the predator part of her brain to hurt, maim… kill. A deep, guttural snarl sounds as she trashes her head, more blood spraying out in hot arcs as the bear’s life paints her pelt. It slumps against her, death quickly pulling the beast from this world but Tove does not let go. Bodin’s body flashes in front of her eyes, the grizzly’s that attacked them standing around her, ready to strike.

The world falls away as Tove continues to attack the bear’s throat, snarls viciously filling the air. By the time she steps back, blood caking her face and neck, the polar bear’s head has practically been removed from its body, its spine the only reason it does not fall off. Eyes look to the taller wolf, the scarred woman dipping her head in silent greeting before beginning to turn away from the gory scene.


"Tove Baade"

Tove made the finishing bite on the bear and when Kotori might have told the lady good job, he watched as Tove continued ripping into the bear.  The animal was long dead and the bear’s neck hardly even attached to the head before Tove finished.  It could be she just enjoyed overdoing things but the zealous why shse attacked the corpse suggested more.

She wasn’t much of a talker though as after that scene she started to head off.  Kotori made his way towards the bear, calling to Tove, “hold on.” The horned wolf lowered his head, chomping onto the tip of a bear's paw, carefully gnawing on it.  His version wasn’t wild and crazed like she had been but very specific and targeted.  The claw of the bear with a small bit of the rest of the bear's toe with it.  Exactness was hard.  Kotori imagined it could be cleaned up later.

Starting an alliance with another pack was best done with a gift.  This stranger seemed more interested only in action versus words so Kotori would show that.  He moved to Tove and dropped the bear claw at his feet, “collecting possessions from a kill that had deeper meaning can sometimes help.” Hell if he knew help what or if it would work for her but hey, each to their own.

“I’ll be starting a pack.  I want strong and skilled fighters.  It will prioritize my own kin so that my children learn their place in the world is where I want it.  If you have no home I offer you that.” He wouldn’t mince words and promise her a future high station but he could acknowledge her abilities and grant her the respected amount deserved for that.  What issue she had with bears was her alone and she could tell him if she ever wanted or not. “Would you be willing to join my pack?  Would you help the Fatalis bloodline grow pure and strong?”

"Kotori Fatalis"

The bear is dead, its head almost completely severed from its body and Tove is bathed in the predator’s blood. With her work done, she moves to leave the earthen male with the dead polar bear but his voice calls after her. Curious, the scarred, older wolf turns back to watch him, duel-toned gaze watching with interest as he gnaws off one of the bear’s toes. She stands there, watching the earthen wolf as the blood begins to dry in her pelt, promising the woman matted fur to deal with later. Eyebrows lift as he separates the digit and moves to stand in front of her, dropping the gory gift at her paws.

Tove meets the taller male’s soft blue gaze and holds it as he speaks of collecting possessions. The barest hint of a smile flicks the edges of lips up for a second before disappearing again. He then tells the scarred woman of the pack he is starting, not mincing words and letting her know that he will offer her a home but that his bloodline will come first. She listens silently, allowing him to speak his peace while weighing her options. The only person she had held any loyalty to is dead, her brother, Bodin, slain by bears in the forests up north. She had been part of a band but they scattered when she needed them the most.

The decision isn’t difficult as he invites her to join his pack. Rough, unused tones break the silence, causing her throat to hurt as Tove says, “I will join. You are a great fighter and will have my loyalty.” Looking to the bear claw, she uses her toes to carefully pick it up and she looks from it to him while adding, “Symbol of our alliance.” Lowing her paw, a smile fully pulls her scarred lips up as she finally offers her name with a bow of respect, “Tove Baade.” Her throat burns horribly and she has to swallow down the urge to cough but the discomfort is worth it to know she has a purpose again.


"Tove Baade"

Kotori really hadn’t been sure his plan would work in offering the bear claw but it was nice to see his hunch was right.  This felt great.  Finding wolves who would agree to follow him, that would acknowledge Kotori Fatalis as their alpha.  The newness would probably wear off but right now, still forming a foundation for his pack, he could enjoy the satisfaction in growing closer to the goals he set up for himself.

Kotori glanced to the east, the direction of Iki.  He would never gain his lost princess but he would gain the lessons he learned from her, including the last horrible one of acting too slowly.  She labeled that bear claw as a symbol of their alliance.  A symbol was a pretty nice idea actually.  The earthen-toned wolf would think about how he could use that.  

The scars had done more damage than just a change in appearance it seemed.  Inwardly Kotori winced at the lady's voice.  Kotori dips his head with a somber acknowledgment of her name.  “I’m Kotori Fatalis.  I’ll be glad to have you in my pack Tove."  The young man was very self-centered but now Tove was his pack mate and he would protect what was his.  “I doubt this icy terrain is doing your throat or other aches any good.  I don’t care much for the cold anyway.  I found what I wanted here.  Let us return to warmer location south.”

Kotori turned about and moved out with a slow trot expecting her to follow him.  Sure, he could have skinned the animal for the pelt and initially had that as part of his plan but right now he’d put the newest member of his pack above a mere pelt.  Besides, there were plenty of other predators and prey both to hunt for pelts.  

"Kotori"