Make Sure You Get There First

[Loki]

Intoxicated eyes

A shuddering cold moon floated above in the empty sky, filling the world in unbearable hours of darkness and fear. Most wolves are not scared of night, for most can see in even the pitch blackness of light-less worlds and caverns. But Loki was not like most wolves. The young fae's body shivered as she crept forward, her long limbs quivering with every daunting step. She was panting heavily, her long, pink tongue dripping out of her parted jaws. Her only eye capable of sight was flickering around worriedly, as if expecting her ghosts to come and rip the last of her sanity to shreds in a heart-beat. Her pace quickened with every faint twitch in the undergrowth that made her heart thunder as if her red and black body was a giant storm cloud ready to burst out into a rainstorm of tears.

Visions of her past life flashed before her half-blind eyes as she approached the safety of the plains. Hel, Thirteen, Blue Moon, the cobs; all of them were dead, their bones whitening in the dirt and their flesh feeding the hungry crows that stalked in the hours of vanishing sunlight. Loki's panting grew harder as she felt something curl and swirl inside of her belly. the anger and savageness in Hel's eyes made her heart want to devour itself fin horror. She glanced over her shoulders wearily, her paw steps becoming light ad fearful. Part of her diminishing mind told her that Hel and the others were still living, glaring at Loki from the shadows and waiting for their chance to sink their teeth into her neck. A shiver crawled up Loki's spine slowly, making her paws jumps slightly more with every step. From the corner of her eye, she swore she saw their shapes encircling her body in blood-lust. She blinked slowly, her heart singing its soul out in a fast beating melody.

What ever was lurking in the shadows, Loki knew she was safe. The heavy scents of wolves form all over Animalia began to grow strong, relaxing Loki's nerves and putting her jump mind to rest. She knew that it was unlawful to attack a wolf in these plains, though she had never visited them before in her short life. A chilling breeze weaved its way through Loki's vibrant red pelt, pricking her ever hair and whisker in anticipation. She wasn't sure what had led her to these fields where the sounds of lone wolves and packs mingled together in a peaceful yet unnatural way, for she could hardly stand the thought of joining a pack so soon after what had happened. But she had traveled for many days and nights out of her original pack lands to find this field, and her wolf instincts told her that in order to survive, she needed a pack.

Loki padded slowly across the soft grasses the tickled the bottom of her pads, her narrow muzzle pressed to the earth to find any familiar scents. A river of smells entered her nostrils, making her twitch her ears in wonder. She was hoping that she could single out the smells of wolves that were traveling in packs, or had scents alien to the echoing meadow. Instead, she found it impossible to single out any scent; some spots smelling like old and young at the same time, while others still smelled of sickness or gender. Loki knew by smelling the various scents that there as a lot of choices for a pack-wolf, and she knew only the strongest or bravest would be picked. She straightened sadly, her eyes narrowing in despair. She was a small wolf; smaller then the majority of large timber or gray wolves. Most pack Alphas would be appalled at her scrawny size, especially now that she was so thin. She had not eaten in many days, and now her ribs were beginning to poke through her thin skin. Her light pelt was also no valued for packs who lived in mountains or cold places, or perhaps had den located in the open, exposed to winter winds. And her worse feature, her blind left eye, was sure to drive away any interested pack. Loki's shoulders shivered as she finally sat down, her ears flattened sadly. Surly there would be some pack Alpha that would want her.

Gulping harshly, Loki picked up her head and stared across the dry plains before her paws. She had heard legends of what she must do next, but still, her heart felt lost and unsure. She wanted to sit and stay by herself, waiting for some large Alpha to pick her up and carry her home like a lost pup. But if she wanted a pack, she'd have to be strong and continue her trek through the barren plains to the sparkling oasis beyond the blistering heat. Taking a deep breath, Loki forced her quivering legs to bound across the prickling field. Silently she thanked Ebona for the cover of night, knowing that the blazing sun of the day would bring heat, exhaustion and aggressive herds of buffalo to interfere in her journey.

As the raced nearer, the scents of wolves and pack grew stronger, so heavy that Loki was fearful of her nose popping off of her muzzle from an over-load of smells. She slowed down, her mind trotting circles in her mind. An overload of all of her senses engulfed her small red body as she stared at the shimmering waters. She stood there motionlessly, her lungs forgetting how to breath. Did she dare enter? Did she really want to? What if she was denied a blessing from Ebona because of the horror that slept tormented inside of her belly? What if she was forced to remain in the scorching fields forever? Or worse...sent to the Burning Pack to punish her for murdering her pack...

No longer live that life

[S h a r d]

&shard;;
All the little pieces falling
Shatter
Shards of me
Too sharp to put back together[/i]

Shard was sat in the grass bedding the beautiful oasis with his eyes tight shut, ears forwards and attentive. He brought a new definition to the word "stillness", barely moving a muscle except to draw in slow and purposeful breaths. He was Alpha of the Fragmented Pack- showing weakness was definitely not a good idea out here, where he needed to lay down his authority in order to recruit. The sapphire stone in his head bled spurts of coolness through his bones, but the heat of these damned plains were beginning to get to him. He had never been so glad to see the sun set, and the blissful cool of night to battle away the heat hazes in the air.

It was a stunning night, too. The moon was fat and full, poised in the sky among a bed of stars which cascaded their liquid light down upon his gleaming dark fur. The very thought was enough for Shard to open his eyes in order to turn his gaze skywards and just appreciate how gorgeous tonight was. He intended to make the most of it, until he'd be made to struggle through yet another blistering day out here. He dreaded having to leave the oasis next morning so that he could patrol the immediate area in search of promising pack members.

Shard's eyes came down sharply, and he stood up, enjoying the feeling of his muscles stretching out. His eyes were unusual; a striking forest-green, with a fine ring of amber around the outside. This amber had become more like yellow, however, as his eyes took advantage of the moonlight. To him, it was as bright and clear as day, and everything glittered silver. Shard smiled at the world for a moment, and inhaled deeply, his lungs filling with crisp air and a thousand scents. It had been confusing at first, the smells muffled so by the heat and yet so great in number that he felt sick. He had gotten used to it now, after days of being here, and could pick out the newer scents from the old.

It was just as he mused these things that an extremely fresh scent blasted into his knowledge, and his ears rammed forward even further. Tail raising in expectation, Shard stepped carefully around the pool of water, so that the vegetation would not block his vision. His eyes landed on Loki, stood staring at the water in what appeared to be some sort of distress. Shard's keen ears picked up the rapid beat of her heart, and he felt his head and tail drop ever so slightly so that he would appear less intimidated. He was careful to keep them at a respectable height, however. He was, after all, an alpha and he had carefully checked her forehead for a tell-tale gemstone- she was no alphess.

Shard's heart constricted in pity. He had been cursing these plains to Hell and back, hating the heat and the barren surroundings until nightfall. It had barely occurred to him that though he had the choice to leave if he so wished, the lone wolves who wandered these parts did not. They could not leave until escorted out of here by an alpha. How long had this small, scrawny she-wolf been travelling for? Shard breathed out softly through his nose. It was irritating how his nature brought him to a state of pity almost immediately, before he had so much as learned the she-wolf's name. He was too soft, and it would be the end of him one of these days.

Not wishing to linger any longer, Shard stepped out into full view and cleared his throat with a low growl. He was stood at the other end of the small water pool from her, and the distance allowed him to give her a good look up and down. Shard catalogued her possible strengths and weaknesses in a heartbeat, before looking back at her face (but not quite meeting her eyes). She was a little thing, and her time on the plains had obviously made its mark on her. Shard found it difficult to judge her against her appearance, however. He knew better than that.

"Good evening, miss," he said in his low, calm and cool voice. A breeze picked up and ruffled his long fur, highlighting the streaks of white and red among the black. His eyes glinted curiously as he studied the female, and it was all he could do not to stride over to her and circle her in order to get a better look at her. She looked freaked out enough as it was, he doubted that a close inspection would do anything to unwind her nerves. So Shard politely and with difficulty restrained himself, settling instead on trying to appear leaderly. He was extremely new to this, and his pack consisted of only one other wolf besides himself at the moment. He was all-too eager to begin making an impression of himself on Loki. He never believed it was a case of the alpha choosing the pack member, and always felt the need to make a name for himself to them before he did anything.

"My name is Shard," he said with a cute, lop-sided smile. "Alpha of the Fragmented Pack. Do you mind if I ask who you may be?" He still felt weird saying that out loud. Alpha, a puphood dream of his. A dream come true. He needed to do this right, do his alpha-ship justice. His pack was just beginning and would soon need a reputation of its own. He wanted wolves to be looking for him and asking him if they could become a Fragmented wolf, rather than he search for days on end for a wolf who gave him a second look. This was a hell of a lot harder than it had seemed when he had watched his father lead his birth-pack. He'd had an effortless and an ease about him, something that Shard hoped he had inherited. Perhaps it was too soon to tell. Perhaps his hopes were too high. Perhaps- and his guts tightened as he thought it- perhaps he wasn't cut out for this after all.

He refused to show such doubts to Loki so early on, and his features remained still and impassive as the thoughts raced through his head. He was sure the best alphas in the world were weak and doubtful at times, especially when they were as new as he. But he was also sure that they were the best alphas simply because they could hide it so well. It was an art that Shard had down to the teeth.

Too small to matter
But big enough
To cut me into so many little pieces

[/size][/color]

[Loki]

Berauschte Augen

The fat moon shimmered down on Loki’s pelt, revealing her hunger and thirst for what it truly was. Her mind was beating like her heart at the sight of water that itched in front of her paws. She ignored the smells of wolves around her, unknowing to the still statue of a wolf that sat near the twinkling waters. Loki dipped her head almost too soon to reach the waters, almost dropping herself onto the singing ground underneath her paws.

She lapped up the water greedily; her brown eyes shut tightly until the sweet smoothness of water poured down her throat and filled the cracks of her mouth. Her pelt was prickling as the life filled her barren veins, renewing her of the life she had foolishly left behind. With the flooring of water, Loki felt a new sensation; a sensation of relief. No longer did thoughts of her large sister and helpless cubs race through her mind, and instead, the wolf’s greatest instinct was born within her once more. The dark wolf blinked her eyes slowly, pulling her neck away from the dampness of the pool. Survival was the only thing that mattered to her now.

Loki looked up to the starry sky, her sightless white eyes seeming to turn silver in the radiant glow of the yellow moon. Something unknown was bubbling inside Loki’s chest. She suddenly felt grateful to be alive and to see the vividness of Ebona’s great pack lands. She watched the stars in wonder, the legends of heaven and Ebona’s blessing swirling around her empty head. She began to think of what it would be like to die, and, if it would be the will of the black wolf, what her own death would feel like. A churning broke in her stomach, reminding her of the curse she held inside of her body. A doubt rushed over the red wolf like a wave of realization. Ebona could not possible want a cursed wolf in her infantine pack. She felt a burning elapse her weak limbs, as if the fires of Ivori’s realm of suffering had suddenly awoke from the earth around her pads.

Loki felt another burning in her pelt, but this time, something mortal and real. It seemed to be penetrating the back of her skull and tracing over the curves of her features. Loki felt a lump grow in her throat as she instinctively snapped her head away from the crystallized water, precious and sweet liquid still dribbling down her chin. She felt the ends of her lip curl and the furs on her paws tingle with an alien sensation as a dark silhouette crept from the darkness of the reeds.

Loki felt her shoulders stiffen as the features of a large male entered the moonlight. Blinking furiously Loki sat up straight away, her heart seeming to crack with the sight of another wolf. He was strong by the looks of it, and his fur seemed to be calling to her in the most alluring way. She knew straight away without looking at the glowing mark on his forehead that he was an alpha, come to the lands of the scorching plains and endless wails to find a pack. Loki felt her heart shatter within her as she remembered how weak and helpless she looked.

Loki sat up straight in an instant, trying hard to hold up her head form the embarrassment that surged through her weakening veins. Then he spoke a greeting to her, his words almost as smooth and elegant as the waters of the pool, yet sharp and raspy like the growl of an attacking wolf. An endless stream of questions and instincts ran around her body in that one heartbeat. Could he possibly be speaking to her? She took a step back, his intoxicating features making her want to run away with her tail in between her legs. He was a beautiful brute, and it was obvious he had the benefits of owning his own land and pack members.

She gulped hard as the breeze seemed almost strong enough to whisk her away off of her delicate paws. When he spoke his name she felt a tingle vibrate her back. Shard? She thought inwardly to herself. It seemed like a suiting name, a very fine name indeed. But, it seemed so odd to her. Loki began to think of Hel and Thirteen and how close their names really were to their personalities. But Loki soon noted to the fact that ‘Shard’ had asked her, her name, and it was rude to keep an alpha like himself waiting.

She dipped her head respectfully, her tail weaving in and out of her legs to show her humiliation and submissiveness toward the large male. “M-my name is Loki. Loki of the former Hel's Pack." She forced herself to smile brightly, trying hard to keep her mask of happiness on her slender face. If Shard knew of the demon within her, her chances of getting into his pack would become even slimmer. For as long as she could remember Loki had played that part of ‘Loki’ and not herself. She felt a sting within her throat every time she said her name. It was like poison on her tongue. What was her name to her? Was she really Loki, or someone else? To her, her name was nothing, meaningless to her world. Every time Hel or her mother would call Loki by her name, she felt like screaming out on the tops of her lungs. Her name was no Loki in her spirit. It was a name that nobody could speak aloud or hear in the whisper of a wind. It was the true Loki, wanting to break free to the surface and show the world who she was. But, the outward Loki, the Loki that owned her name, was there to block the real her, to shield her from the wolves that would kill her if they knew what she really was.

Leben nicht mehr dieses Leben

[S h a r d]

&shard;;
All the little pieces falling
Shatter
Shards of me
Too sharp to put back together[/i]

Shard watched Loki smile and speak with a penetrating eye, keeping his face expressionless but his eyes hard. He wasn't sure what emotions he was seeing in Loki, because there was something different and alien about her eyes which distracted him. Shard remained confused for a moment, before deciding that whatever it was that had bothered him for such a split second may explain itself later. His rational mind was already pushing it to the back of his head and preparing to crack his next plan of action. After all, his purpose here was a vital one to the growth of his currently meagre pack. He couldn't afford to waste time.

He learned her name and the fact that she was alone in one go. He wondered briefly how it was that she was no longer a member of this Hel's Pack, but he figured that all wolves had to be born into one pack or other. Foolishly, he did not think to question the matter further. He felt it didn't concern him, anyway. This she-wolf seemed to be in the right frame of mind- he acknowledged her submission with a polite nod of his great head. She wasn't threatening or over-confident in any way, like many wolves Shard had come across. He liked Loki. There was just something tickling the inside of his skull, and he couldn't put a paw on it.

Never mind. He looked her over once more, and registered her vivacious smile, her ability to show that she recognised his authority. Shard couldn't see anything particularly wrong with her, and being so paranoid was not in his nature. His gaze was drawn once more to her eyes, though he looked away again quickly before she would think he was threatening her. It struck him then was curiosity he had noticed before- one of her eyes was pale, white and without a pupil. Half-blind, Shard supposed. He pondered for a moment, resisting the urge to take another look. He was not repulsed, or put off by this possible disadvantage. He was desperately interested, for he had never come across a blind or even half-blind wolf before. It was fascinating.

She was also pretty, which as a young male Shard most certainly did not fail to notice. She was small, a different breed from himself, and her time in the desert had sapped her of her strength. But Shard was not shallow, and he could recognise raw beauty when he saw it. His tail gave an appreciative flick as he came to these conclusions in his head, within but a few seconds of silence on his own part. He didn't wish to waste time- when the night ended and the sun rose, the unbearable heat would strike again and Shard didn't want to have to stick that out for much longer. The gemstone in his head fed him strength, but the elements were stronger.

Shard didn't have a clue about Loki's troubled past, her crimes and her inner demons. He himself had lived an uneventful life and found it hard to understand that others held darkness in their stories. He looked at her and he saw what appeared to be a good, respectable red wolf. He had no reason to think any different. It would have taken a psychic to have come to a different conclusion than Shard. And so it was that he paced around the water's edge, coming closer to her, his tail upright like a flag.

"It's nice to meet you, Loki," he said with a kind smile. "I assume, since you are here, that it is your wish to join a pack. And if that indeed be the case, I would like to let you know that as alpha, I will welcome you into my own pack if you would care to become a Fragmented wolf." He looked at her with his handsomely vivid green eyes. "Please don't feel under any pressure," he added. He didn't want her to have to rush something like this, even if he himself had rather not see the dawn of another day out here. The plains required a certain speediness to business, and Shard would just do the best he could under such circumstances.

Too small to matter
But big enough
To cut me into so many little pieces

[/size][/color]

[Loki]

Berauschte Augen

Loki blinked slowly as Shard’s vivid green eyes seemed to penetrate her soul. For a short while she felt like those beautiful eyes were looking past her and her mask, looking at the demon that rested and dreamed inside her belly, and not turning his head in shame or fear. She felt a trusting toward the muscular alpha, as if she could let him lead her to her own doom without an inquiring question. It was an overwhelming sensation that made her nose twitch and her paws tingle. The greenness of his glowing disks engulfed Loki’s senses, making her mind prickle with the thought of his strength and power that flexed under his dark black, gray and red pelt.

The red fea quivered, pressing her belly fur softly on the earth as Shard approached. Every weightless yet powerful stride seemed to push Loki into the depths of her vacillating body. She straightened her back, her tail still held firmly in-between her legs to stress her submission. Her sister, Hel, had been more aggressive then any bear that dared wonder the pack lands of Animalia and had leaped or growl at Loki numerous times while her pack still lived and breathed. Loki shuddered at the thought, feeling the growling and wriggling creature inside of her squirm up the back of her throat and howl to the glorious moon above her head.

Loki tried not to show her fear as Shard grew even closer, barley catching his glimpses to her sickly white eye. Loki suddenly felt ashamed and scared as he continued to study her. She pictured the words running through his head, making notes of her weaknesses and flaws, and how horrible of a wolf she would be. Her heart now ripping through the walls of her stomach, Loki felt frightened as she pictured Shard’s vivacious emerald green eyes slowly decrypting her unenviable fate. She was now straining not to show her selfish fears as his lips parted to speak.

While his first words crept from his mouth Loki was unnoticeable chewing on her tongue, feeling coppery blood tickle her senses. A cold bite gripped her spine. What he said about her needing a pack was true. But did she want a pack, so soon after her pack’s destruction? Especially when she knew she was the cause for her pack’s demise was her own crime? If Loki could’ve seen into the memories of Shard, perhaps she would have felt less isolated, and more comforted knowing there were others who lived a life running across a field of thorns and snakes.

A lump formed in her throat as Shard continued his proposal. She took a small step backwards, focusing to keep her kind smile planted firmly on her muzzle. Was he really asking her to join his pack? A strong wolf like him needed wolves like him, not weaker wolves from a less-powerful breed. Did she hear him correctly? Perhaps he had really told her to get out of his sight before he ripped her throat to shreds, but the demon curling inside of her body had changed the words for her own sanity.

She dipped her head respectfully, her words like craggy stones rolling across the desert of her throat. “Sir Shard, forgive my boldness, but…” She paused, her narrowed eyes blinking slowly in search of courage. “I am not the wolf you would want in your pack. I am weak and useless. I know I came here for a pack, but I am unworthy of yours.” She bowed her head solemnly, letting her eyes focus on the ground. Inwardly she began to curse herself for being so selfish. Why did she feel so awkward around any wolf she saw? Would see ever find a place who could really be comfortable?

Leben nicht mehr dieses Leben

[S h a r d]

&shard;;
All the little pieces falling
Shatter
Shards of me
Too sharp to put back together[/i]

Shard became motionless, brows coming down into a frown as she withdrew into herself at his approach, her submission bordering fear. Bewildered, he took a quick step backwards, his ears turning outwards in apology for anything he may have done to cause this distress. Had he moved too quickly? Looked into her eyes for too long? Shard wasn't sure, but decided that this was a wolf of particularly nervous nature. He didn't want to cause her any more stress than he had to.

When she spoke, Shard only nodded. She was studying the ground at her feet intently, and he sat down slowly, his tail curling around his hind legs. He was completely relaxed, and if he was disappointed at what Loki had said, it didn't for a second show in his face. He was as warm as ever, uncaring if she wanted to join his pack or not. He would have liked for her to join his ranks, but how could he possibly try to persuade her otherwise when it was entirely her choice to make? If anything, the flicker of indignation which flashed in his eyes was for how she had spoken of herself.

"I respect your choice, miss," Shard said in a voice which matched the solemnity of hers. "But I'm afraid I can't agree to your reasons. You don't have to join my pack, but I did not invite you for no reason. If I believed that you were unworthy, I would not have offered. I can see by your figure that you could probably run as far as I could, and most probably much faster. I am a strong wolf, Loki, and I have no doubt that I could bring you down in a fight. But if you were to run, I would be eating your dust. Such swiftness would be of extreme use to my pack. You're not weak." His eyes were practically blazing, though tainted with confusion as to why she would put herself down in such a way. He had met many a modest wolf before, but few who would deem themselves unworthy altogether. "My offer still stands, and you don't have to take it. But let me be the one who decides whether or not you are fit to do so."

It was probably one of the longest and most authorative speeches Shard had ever spoken, and it left him surprised at himself. He was an alpha, but he rarely spoke in such a commanding fashion. He turned from Loki and dipped his head, taking a drink to cool the rawness he had awoken in his throat. He wasn't used to talking so much. Really, he had become quite the chatterbox lately. It was unlike him. He raised his head once more and took a breath, the cool desert air rushing into his lungs. It amazed him how a place so unbearably hot during the day could become so very cold at night. It was from one extreme to another out here, no in-between. It tended to make the wolves who paced these lands react quite the same. It could bring out the best and the worst of a wolf's nature. It was just so ... dead. That was the word. Dead and barren. It was depressing.

He supposed the goddess Ebona had some sort of responsibility for dooming lone wolves to wander this place. He wondered why she couldn't have chosen somewhere more comfortable. This place put such a pressure on alphas and loners alike to do their jobs and accomplish what they had come here for. Perhaps that was the point? Perhaps she wanted the new packs which had been born in Animalia to fill up quickly, for some reason? He didn't know.

He had heard of Animalia through travellers who had passed by. They had spoken of wonderful forests, mountains and rivers. It seemed odd that wolves who quested for such a wondrous landscape would have to start their journey here, in this hell-hole. Shard could almost hear the cogs in his brain creaking, and decided to stop questioning such confusing things until he had more time to think. The sapphire in his head was itching again, having only been planted there recently. It had been agonising at first, a constant blazing itch that screamed to be relieved. He must have looked ridiculous to begin with, sat for ten minutes at a time with his hind leg attached to his head, scratching furiously. Now, it only twinged occasionally, as though reminding him that it was there. He could handle that.

Too small to matter
But big enough
To cut me into so many little pieces

[/size][/color]