In Dire Straits

She had been watching the bird for the past few minutes. Her eyes would narrow every time it cleaned its impressive feathers, for such an activity would be pointless in just a few seconds. The spotted dire hybrid threw herself at the bird, expertly grabbing it by the neck before it could fully take off. Edie had learned not to hesitate for too long the hard way, by going hungry for five consecutive days before she had fully learned to hunt for herself. Now, she made a point of expertly catching her own prey for the sheer fun of it. This was not to say she wasn't a big eater. She always ate whatever she caught, for food was too good to be wasted. Especially in Alteron.

It was early evening, the shadows cast by the trees growing darker as Edie walked deeper into the forest, prey hanging from her jaws. She mostly kept herself to herself nowadays, in these shadows and away from her siblings. She felt at odds with them already, deeming herself much too good for their antics or what they aspired to be. Of course, they were still family and, even though it was a stretch to say she still loved them, she certainly was pleased with how her littermates were expanding their horizons and carrying the family name with pride.

The hybrid settled down and began to tear at her kill. Her ear twitched with irritation as her family refused to leave her mind, as it was custom in Alteron to find your own place in this world and not depend on your family too much. Although Edie had taken steps to gain some independence, it would always be nice to maintain contact. After all, contacts could get you places in today's Alteron.

For the moment, however, she ate alone. Her spotted coat gleamed in the fading evening light, making her stand out to any passerby.

[i]If you be faithful,
you will have that honor that comes from God:
his Spirit will say in your hearts,
Well done, good and faithful servants
-Adam Clark

THE BLACK WRAITH was walking around the land, getting herself used to the fact that the Alteron she had known was changed. Oh, things were still the same. The political aspirations of some still cast a dark cloud over the already dark and misty land. She knew that some craved power and wanted nothing but to show others who powerful they were. Kokipa had long since been a lost sword to care about that. She had been a spy, a watcher in the woods that followed others. She was trained to be scentless. She really did have no special scent of her own that designated her from others. It was bland, just a dire wolf. Still, old habits died hard and so she was walking around the land, getting a feel for it again. The wraith was back to her form, a barely alive skeleton that looked weak if one did not look closely enough to see the muscle beneath the fur. Kokipa was not a wolf to be taken lightly.

It was in that walk that she spotted something that stood out. They were gold flecks and the moved. Nothing was golden in Alteron except for some wolves of similar color. She knew it was a wolf if not some other coloration of animal. Even the birds tended to stay away from it. The black wraith moved forward, wanting to know whom it was. The coloration was similar to...the Baron. Same golden tinted with green to make it different. The eyes held the same sharpness, cunning in them. The black wraith took in the rest of the creature. Female, small compared to Kokipa though that did not always determine weak. She looked content eating the small bird between her paws. Still, she couldn't get a good sense of her through smell. Ever since her nose had been destroyed by Ackid, she couldn't smell as well as others. So the wraith walked forward, her voice a harsh wrasp. "A little child shouldn't off by their lonesome."

It took Edie a moment to separate shadow from wolf when the other female approached her. It was only when Edie saw the pink eyes staring back at her that she bristled protectively over her meal. Just what was it with black or mostly black wolves and this creepy vibe they gave out. Granted, Edie was mostly black or dark grey herself but she didn't go around creeping up on her packmates while they were eating. She also raised an unimpressed eyebrow at the thin, pathetic creature in front of her. Did this lady have no class? Or pride? Why any Alteronian would insist on presenting themselves in such a way was beyond Edie's understanding. It was why Edie made no effort to disguise the disgust she felt, her lip curled in defiance as the older wolf considered her.

"I would ask if I can help you," the timber hybrid sneered, yellow eyes flickering over the other's frame. "But something tells me you're beyond all help."

Now, she recalled some loose memories of her parents trying to teach her and her siblings how to address those within Alteron. After all, they were in a pack and a pack had ranks, so certain ranks carried a certain degree of respect. Unfortunately, Edie had mentally skipped these lectures and had elevated herself to a status of importance, however unwarranted. Thus, although the wolf before her held a higher rank than her, it was all irrelevant to Edie. Invade her personal boundaries and you're likely to get verbally destroyed.. or talked to death, if we're going to be realistic.

When the wolf walked forward, Edie reared up and let out a small growl. "Would you just go away already, freakshow?" she snapped. "You'd better stand back, because my parents are nobility and you'll have them to answer to if anything happens to me... not that anything has to happen because they'll believe you over me!"

"A little child shouldn't off by their lonesome."

Edie's eye twitched dangerously. "With your attitude, I think it's much unsafer for you to be out in public," the young wolf snarled. "Also, you might want to mind your own business. You're not my mother... Thank God."

With that, this little upstart would try and make her exit, making sure to try and barge into Kokipa's shoulder as she passed. She so did not have to deal with this.

If you be faithful,
you will have that honor that comes from God:
his Spirit will say in your hearts,
Well done, good and faithful servants
-Adam Clark

A distinct sneer appeared on the young wolf's face, not at all afraid of wraith. "I would ask if I can help you."But something tells me you're beyond all help." The younger wolf was not old enough to have known better than to insult a wolf who could be and was more dangerous than her. Kokipa knew that she did not look like the gleaming machine that she was, but that did not mean she was not. A honed killer and tool was hidden beneath the shaggy, unkempt fur as well as under her malnourished appearance. But the sneer and the attitude made her know that she was probably aristocratic. Kokipa had been around them long enough to know the type, the kind of offspring that they provided the world of Alteron. But the wraith said nothing, for to her it seemed not to warrant a response.

"Would you just go away already, freakshow? You'd better stand back, because my parents are nobility and you'll have them to answer to if anything happens to me... not that anything has to happen because they'll believe you over me!" No, she was not leaving. Kokipa was a little closer but she was not sure of who this pup was. She knew most and if she was related to anyone there would be a faint hint of the smell. And her parents being nobility was not something that was scaring her. Kokipa was a wolf who did not care. Kokipa respected those who demanded it if it meant that she lived. And if they hunted her, then she would be able to hide. It was the one thing she was good at.

"With your attitude, I think it's much unsafer for you to be out in public. Also, you might want to mind your own business. You're not my mother... Thank God. the wolf snarled, and then attempted to proceed to walk by her. Brush her shoulder hard like a little wimp of a thing. Kokipa got a strong whiff of her, the scent of a familiar wolf hitting her like a sword. [i]Azfhal...[i] Kokipa turned her head, her eyes sharp with intelligence. "Then you are not was insightful as your father then, are you?." a soft message hidden in the word. And what did Kokipa know about feelings? She knew that her and Azfhal did not that that kind of relationship...but could they have? But it was odd to see the pup of her Baron.

Eidith (RP)

Apocolips

Eidith (RP)

Kokipa