Born from Ashes [Border Post]

Guest

Large powerful paws thrummed hard and fast against the dirt. Flinging loose clumps of soil up into the air in his path. The figure of a well muscled tawny brute could just be seen weaving amongst the tightly arranged trees. The view of the sky slowly shrinking away, as the trees impeded upon the view of the heavens. Cutting it off and sending all below into darkness. The only light, that of the setting sun which shined through the branches lighting random patches, here and there. Giving a glimpse to the beast which pounded the ground. The deep red hues of the brute's tawny fur catching in the orange glimmer of the sun. Only to disappear as he bounded from the light. Ghostly pale oculars shimmering as they caught the sunlight. Like a pair of blank slates, they stared forward. A destination only they knew gleaming in their depths. Muscles contracting with seamless ease as he shoved back at the ground, his quick strides taking him far and fast. Straight to the tantalizing scents which drifted to his nostrils. Filling them, drawing him in. Calling to him to come and join them.

Maddox slowed his pace as his nose hit a barrier of scent. Like a tidal wave it crashed into his senses making his head spin. He'd yet to smell so many in one location. Not since he'd left his burning home behind. Pink tongue slithering out he wets his nose. His deathly pale oculars roaming his surroundings for signs of life. His large powerful paws halting as they brushed the invisible line, the border. Tail swatting the air behind him, Maddox abruptly sat back. He knew not to cross this line. He'd run across many borders in his time as a loner. Some of which he had crossed without so much as a flinch. However this border, it reeked of power. Raw untampered power, mixed with the sharp reek of death. Only a fool would enter into that uninvited. No he wanted to be welcomed into the fray. So Maddox sat, waiting to be noticed. Knowing someone would surely come. He had all the time in the world, and the patience to boot.

maddox

466

border acceptance

but if all we are is just machines

Like a well-oiled machine he marched along the border. He had been Teren’s second-in-command long enough that communication wasn’t required in order to know that the borders were being maintained. He could be trusted to uphold his duties as long as it was the will of the alpha. The promise of his loyalty was no laughing matter, and as long as Teren’s heart continued to beat, he would stand by him no matter what calls he made. Lately, it seemed like the pack was starting to stir. Irrationality knew better than to think he served a wolf that genuinely cared about the well-being of those beneath him, but just because it wasn’t right didn’t mean he sought for it to be changed. In that sense he was heartless, and even ruthless, but those words only befitted him to a certain degree. If he served an alpha with benevolent standards, he would morph into a reflection of those things; but he didn’t serve an alpha with benevolent standards, he served one made of nothing but malice, and until that changed he would ensure Teren had everything that he wanted.

Right now, he was fairly certain the alpha would want to know his borders were being secured. A foreign scent had hit the roof of the beta’s mouth, and he pursued it without a second thought. He was known to handle affairs at the border with a tad more… generosity than his superior, but he was no less inclined to ensure their pack was made up of strong, capable wolves. Teren wouldn’t accept someone weak, someone pathetic, and Irrationality knew better than to bring wolves like that into their camp; there were some that didn’t want to be turned away, but in the end, Irrationality knew it was in their best interest. If he welcomed them into Erenyx despite their drawbacks, their lives would undoubtedly be claimed. He had no intention of seeing an innocent wolf die for no apparent reason, but of course, he wouldn’t do anything to save them.

Thankfully, the wolf whose scent he had caught moments earlier didn’t appear weak to the eye. The beta assessed him as he approached, keeping his expression neutral and guarded. “You’re standing on the border of Erenyx,” he explained, “a pack under the command of Teren, our alpha.” He paused, but only briefly, to search the wolf’s eyes for a gleam of recognition. Teren’s name had understandably traveled well beyond Erenyx’s borders. If this wolf had heard of him, or had anything to say about him, Irrationality would want to hear it—it was important that he report information of any kind to his alpha. “I presume you haven’t stopped here without a reason.” It was the closest he would venture to an invitation to state his purpose.

♥ lauz

Guest

Maddox's patience was rewarded almost immediately. He'd expect nothing less of this pack if it was what he suspected it to be. His ghostly pale oculars catching sight of a large form drifting through the woods in his direction. Maddox remained in his seated position until the wolf was upon him. Then slowly he rose to his paws, careful only to rise so far. Keeping his body lower than that of his present company. His pale eyes though roaming his new found company, averted from the brute's eyes. His tail kept resting beneath his body, as still as an inanimate object. He may of been living on his lonesome for sometime now, but he was no fool. He knew that in order to gain acceptance from this male, he would be forced to show the due respects. Something he did not enjoy but understood.

Maddox's reddish tinged ears which had pulled back against his skull slightly, swiveled to catch the male's neutral greeting. His ghostly gaze however remained fixed somewhere around the brute's facial muscles. Watching his every move with calculating eyes. Knowing in turn the brute was sizing him up. Judging him based on his appearance, movements and whatever would come forth from his maw. Attention caught by the male revealing his pack's name and their leader's identity. Maddox's eyes revealed nothing, however inside his head he repeated the names. Liking how the sounded, ringing in his ears. He simply waits, knowing that would not be the end of the brute's words. Finally it arrived a blunt statement, that was in fact an inquiry. A command to reveal his intentions for sitting at his border. Wasting no time Maddox licks the inside of his canines, casting his mind around for words. It was odd but lack of speech made him nearly forget what his own baritone voice sounded like.

" Aye, you've presumed correctly." He says his voice coming out as a deep rasp. Clearing it, he tries again. His vocal cords working overtime as he continued. " I do not wish to waste your time sire. I simply come here seeking acceptance amongst this pack of yours. Erenyx as you called it. I understand however that such acceptances do not come freely. " He replies, finally getting his vocal cords warmed up. His well muscled body keeping his non-threatening posture. He remained this way even while speaking the only true movements one could see were those of his jaw, lips and tongue. Even his slate colored eyes remained frozen forward still averted from the darker tawny brute's oculars. " Now if your willing to consider me for a role within your ranks. Then I can offer you an extra paw. I have much experience in the way of battle, a minor knowledge of essential herbs. And of course I can hunt, elsewise I would not be standing here before you. " He finishes, his voice lacking any real emotion. Though inside his belly wriggled with something close to excitement. The light of the setting sun trickling down through the trees, only to light upon half his body. Revealing the ghastly white scar which ran along his left cheek. Along with a smattering of little scars all over maw.

maddox

430

border acceptance

but if all we are is just machines

The loner didn’t so much as meet the beta’s eyes. It was wise of him, for he couldn’t possibly know what would or would not be seen as a threat, but Irrationality was among the last of Erenyx’s hierarchy that would take offense from eye-contact. He knew his place, and what it required from wolves deemed beneath him in terms of status, but it would take a lot more than that for him to feel as though he was being disrespected. So far, he saw no reason to deny the loner a rank in his alpha’s pack: He could hunt, he could fight, and he had a basic understanding of herbs, all of which were useful in their pack’s setting. However, they already had an abundance of wolves that catered to their needs in the aforementioned. An extra paw was always useful, of this Irrationality had no doubt, but he had to be able to do more than just fight.

“Could you kill a wolf?” The beta asked, keeping his tone polite and almost curious if not for the drained look in his eye. He danced around the topic of death like it was far less significant than it actually was. Life, in a general sense, meant little to him; the only life he valued was that of his superior. Deciding that it would be best to elaborate, he pressed onward after a moment of pause. “Erenyx is home to a variety of wolves that can fight, hunt, and heal. If you bring those skills to the table, then you’re off to a good start, but we need more than a fighter—our alpha deserves nothing but the very best in battle.” There were many that saw nothing but a tyrant when they saw Teren, and perhaps they were all correct, but Irrationality was oblivious to his alpha’s faults. He wouldn’t warn the loner about what was going to become of his existence if he crossed the border. As far as the beta was concerned, there was nothing to warn him about to begin with. “With that in mind, I’ll repeat my question: Could you kill a wolf? Think about it, and answer honestly, because if you lie, Erenyx will reveal it in due time.”

“And your name, if you’d please.” He commented absentmindedly. It was more of an afterthought than anything else, for if he proved to be a fighter but not a killer, then Irrationality would most likely have no use for his name after Erenyx chewed him whole and then spat him back out into the world.

♥ lauz

Guest

Maddox wanted to laugh. In fact he nearly did when the brute let slip, what Maddox found to be the silliest of questions. Could he kill a wolf? Of course he could kill a wolf, what sort of rubbish question was that? He thought, choosing instead to quirk a brow. The only emotion on his other wise dead pan face. Slate colored eyes still watching the darker furred brute's mastication muscles. Tongue slithering from his maw to wet his lips, he parts them to answer. Only to find that his dark counter part was not finished. Seemingly wanting to explain the reasoning behind his question he continued. His voice as causal as if they were talking about the days prey. Maddox waited in silence, his reddish ears catching every word. His body remaining as still as a stone. Until at last the ashen faced male finished speaking. Advising Maddox to think carefully and state his name. Hiding a scoff Maddox took little time to 'think' on the matter. He had already taken the lives of several in his short lifetime. There was no 'thinking' that needed to be done. He could and would take a life if needed. If it meant he would survive he would take a life. If that made him more desirable to Erenyx then so be it. So with a curt dip of his head Maddox nodded.

" Aye, I have taken lives in the past sire. If the need arises I could and would do it again." he says in his baritone voice. His slate gaze straying closer to the others brownish ones, staying there to assure the brute he meant his words. Though if the male did not believe him he would care very little. He did not need the approval of this stranger to prove himself. " Maddox." He adds as a last note. " I go by Maddox." He finds his name to feel funny on his tongue. Perhaps since no one has spoken it in nearly a year. Why would they? He had no friends, no family. He was completely alone, until now. " Yours?" He inquires simply. Wishing to know the identity of the brute who would hopefully be granting him acceptance into this Erenyx. Either that or Maddox had just wasted part of his evening for no reason whatsoever. Something Maddox would not be pleased about.

maddox

340

border acceptance

but if all we are is just machines

The loner didn’t seem to take his question very seriously. It was possible that he was reading too deeply into the quirk of a brow, but Irrationality had always been an analytical, inquisitive wolf at heart. He didn’t want Erenyx to house wolves that couldn’t handle their alpha’s expectations. If the loner didn’t think there was any merit in the question, that was fine, because it likely meant he could and, better yet, he would kill a wolf; in the past, however, the question hadn’t always been such an easy one to answer, so he would continue to ask it of those whose worth he pondered.

“My name is Irrationality, and I have served as the beta of Erenyx ever since Teren, our alpha, ceased control of the pack.” As per usual, he was impartial to stating his rank, but he figured it was information that Maddox would need if he was going to have a chance in Erenyx—the first few days were always the hardest. “From this moment onward, Maddox, you can refer to yourself as a warrior of Erenyx.” He gestured for the loner—no, the warrior—to cross the border and take his first step inside of pack territory. For most, it was a memorable and cherished transition, but Irrationality was unmoved by the sentiment if there was any to be acknowledged in the first place.

“You can accompany me back to camp, or you can choose to explore the territories.” It wasn’t a trick question by any means where one answer was right and the other was wrong. If Maddox wanted to start with Erenyx’s camp, then he could join the beta on his walk, and if he wanted to explore the territories that he could now call his own, then he could start with that and find the camp by his own doing. Either way, he was no longer one of the beta’s priorities. He turned away from Maddox, a curt flick of his tail serving as a farewell in the place of words.

♥ lauz

OOC: I apologize for the holdup. Please change your name to Warrior Maddox and then request to join the Erenyx group. You're now free to post in Erenyx territories.

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» The Impossible Dream (Border Post)

Born from Ashes [Border Post]

Born from Ashes [Border Post]

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