swift as a coursing river [C/JOINING/KAT]

[»KINDLE ♫]

Looking down at the crashing water, Acribus was almost put in a daze by the powerful flow of the rapids. Never before had he seen water with such strength, power and determination to flow downstream and out to sea, joining it's comrades in the battle of the ocean. He had really only ever come across trickling streams or calm ponds, the strongest current of water being the slightly over-filled river he'd come across a few days ago. This, however, was an entirely different thing and had almost made him turn back with worry. He'd always been a confident swimmer, no matter how large the body of water, but now he was faced with such a loud and crashing river, he had to admit he was a little unsure. The original reason he'd even come here was to get himself a drink, hearing water and immediately being drawn to the source. As he'd got closer and the noise had grown significantly louder, doubts had started to flutter into his mind and when his eyes caught site of the rushing rapids, he had to almost do a double take with surprise. Whilst he'd been originally filled with slight concern for his well-being if he were to take a drink, he now only looked at the water with eyes filled with almost amazement, wondering how something this fierce could become so peaceful at times.

After the knowledge that he would not be able to get a drink here, the black wolf had decided that looking around wouldn't do any harm and the first thing he'd seen was the bridge not too far away. It was certainly large enough to fit him and even more wolves on it and he'd been tempted to cross using it, though the horrible machines that chugged past spilling out foul-smelling gasses immediately pushed any ideas of using the bridge far out of his mind. Perhaps if he still wished to cross later, he'd have to wait until the traffic calmed down and he'd be able to cross without the risk of getting hit by a machine or simply choking on the disgusting air around them. So, no other signs of crossings in site, the brute had settled down on the riverbank and waited as he contemplated his options for his next destination. He could easily turn around and find another place to explore on this side of the river, but he was pretty sure he'd covered most of the ground on this side and would not have the most successful of times trying to find somewhere he didn't remember. Really, the only sensible option was to wait until he was able to cross and make his way to the other side, though he was still put off by the revolting machines that also crossed using the bridge, which is why he waited patiently by the side of the river, deep in thought as he tried to plan his next move.



Joining thread for Zantalia

[Zantalia]

 


He'd seen everything he could in this area, and now, Raziel needed to find something more interesting to do.  Raz paced along the ground toward the sound of the raging river.  He approached and then he heard a sound near the bank of the river.  His adrenaline rose and he spun his pale molten amber gaze toward the source, a thin, young deer, struggling to get a foothold to go and get a drink from the river.  He smirked as he dropped low to the ground and stalked closer to the deer.  His adrenaline rising the closer he drew to it.  He snarled low and the stench of fear rose from his prey.  Raz snarled again and the deer's head shot up as his fearful eyes fell upon the wolf before him.  With a snort the deer scrabbled along the edge and jumped into the small section of the river before him.  

Raziel growled and launched himself after it.  He grabbed the buck by his shoulder, tearing a hunk out of it.  The buck screamed and launched himself onto the shore again and attempted to run.  The biggest mistake the buck could make, a wolf, even a lone one could not resist the chase.  Raz tore after him, his fangs bared and his hackles raised as the buck ran, limping from the pursuing wolfdog.  He bleated his terror and Raz leapt onto his back and tore more hunks of flesh from the creature.  The deer barreled toward the edge of the forest and toward the bridge.  Well, Raz couldn't have that.  The wolfdog jumped from the deer's back and slammed his ninety-five pound frame into the thin buck's wounded shoulder.  The slam had knocked the buck off balance and Raz snared his left hind hoof and dragged it across in front of the other and sent the buck bleating and sprawling.  

When he was down Raz held the buck by the throat as he dragged him, bleating and struggling, slashing Raz's shoulders and flanks with his sharp hooves.  Raz merely grinned around the buck's throat as he continued dragging him.  When Raz looked up he spotted a dark shape in the distance and let the buck slip from his fangs, there was the bridge.  His adrenaline decreased as he realized his plight, he couldn't continue to play with the buck, the buck screamed and bleated and he charged toward the bridge.  With a snarl, Raz tore after him, knocked him down and then tore his throat out.  As the blood spurted from his torn throat, the deer convulsed and Raz leapt atop his convulsing frame and tore a hunk of meat from his neck and then he snarled around it and threw it toward the dark form with a growl as he fastened his pale molten amber gaze on the dark shape and his head and tail rose the tiniest bit and he flattened his ears as he waited for a response.




Word Count: 492 
"Speaking" 
Listening   

[»KINDLE ♫]

The flash of movement alerted Acribus of the deer's presence down from the river and the brute's head immediately swivelled to look at it. He was about to rise to his paws when he saw that he'd been beaten to the prey. Another canine was launching themselves after it and doing quite an impressive job of keeping up. The brute watched, still laying on the riverbank with ears pricked as the figure continued to leap after the buck until they caught up with it, springing forward and sending the prey tumbling. A ruckus unlike any other was heard from the direction of the scuffle and the air was filled with terrified bleats and loud snarls. Acribus frowned a little at the noise, practically feeling all other prey in the area run for their lives. Whilst the figure had done an impressive job at catching the animal, they'd certainly lost points on the noise they were making by playing with the buck. The other canine seemed to notice his presence as they looked up from the deer, which left the animal an opening to get up and limp forward again, bringing it closer to his position by the river. It was quickly caught up too again and this time disposed of, which the ebony brute was at least happy with. Something flew through the air towards him and plopped onto the grass, leaving the sickly smell of blood in the air as the male looked down to see it was a hunk of meat, presumably from the recently deceased prey. His mismatched eyes only glanced over it before he lifted himself off the ground and away from the bloody chunk of flesh. Turning towards the new arrival, he could see he was quite wary of the wolf's presence and so Acribus dipped his head towards him in a placating manner.

"There is no reason to be worried. I mean no harm, especially to one that can take down a buck like that. Though, you did leave room for improvement as the amount of noise back there would have scared off any other food in the area." The brute allowed a quick frown to crease his features before it returned to it's previously calm expression, his eyes closely examining the male as he waited for a response.

"My name is Acribus, by the way. Pleasure to meet you."

[Zantalia]

Raz continued to bare his fangs and snarled when the other wolf lowered his head in a placating manner.  Raziel half snorted at that and his flattened ears swallowed the onyx beast's words, There is no reason to be worried. I mean no harm, especially to one that can take down a buck like that. Though, you did leave room for improvement as the amount of noise back there would have scared off any other food in the area.  Raziel narrowed his pale amber eyes on the black male as he watched a momentary frown crease his face before returning to a calm look.  Raz snarled again as he lowered his head toward his kill as his hackles rose a tiny bit more.  Raz watched the black male's every move as his ears picked up a final phrase.  

My name is Acribus, by the way. Pleasure to meet you.  Raziel growled as he watched the black male examine him and he stood tall and defiant on his kill's body, his tail raised high as he answered the ebonite male.  "This is not me being worried Acribus..." Raziel said with a partial snarl as he locked his gaze on the male, making quick notes of what he saw in the black brute, and then continued, "...I trust very few others.  As to the room for improvement, I can be quiet in my kills...when I want to be, and when my adrenaline doesn't take over in a snap.  After all, what can one expect of a sadomasochist like me?"  Raz said with a laugh as he stepped off his kill and stood before the brute.  Raz was the same height as the brute, and probably a good number of pounds lighter, but that did not deter Raziel from his purpose.  

"Raziel."  That was all the introduction Raz was going to give the black male.  The three quarter gray wolf and one quarter German Shepherd wolfdog turned away from the black male and went to his kill, his pale amber eyes flashing quickly to the bridge a slight distance away.  Though his back was now to the black brute, Raziel was not unnerved, though his ears were still low against his skull, they captured every sound.  Raz tore into the buck and ate.  If the other brute wanted some he could come get it, Raz mostly killed for the thrill it gave to his sadomasochistic mind.  He tore more from the buck and leisurely ate it as he listened for anything else from the black male.  



Word Count: 424  
"Speaking" 
Listening  

  

[»KINDLE ♫]

It seemed this male was a violent one by the way he continued to snarl towards him. Acribus frowned a little, his ears drawing back slightly as he placed himself back on the ground, keeping his posture upright. He was not going to be deterred by this growling male that had interrupted his peace. Instead, he kept his approach calm as his mismatch eyes followed the wolf as he lowered towards his prey. It was certainly not in Acribus' mind to steal his food and it was almost laughable that a male as capable as the other was protecting his food so valiantly, though he kept to his neutral demeanour as he listened to the wolf's words.

When he was done speaking, the male moved closer to the ebony wolf, coming almost face to face with him. The brute's lips curled upwards in a poison grin, his gaze holding firm when the male's eyes locked with his. He stayed firmly put in his seated position on the ground, nodding his head before making eye contact again, "I see you are very intelligent too. I appreciate those who take strength along with knowledge." It seemed as if the brute had not acknowledge what the male had said before, though he had in fact taken in every word. They would only provoke unwanted aggression, as Acribus had taken an interest in this newcomer. He certainly fit the bill for his new world and would definitely be able to take up a higher role in his pack. IT was just finding the right way to bring it up.

"Ah, Raziel. It is good to meet you." The ebony brute smiled again, though it quickly dissipated when the other male turned away and started to tear into his catch. Whilst Acribus found it quite a rude gesture, he let it slide with only a twitch of his ears as the sign of his annoyance. Instead of joining him in the feast, the brute rose to his paws and wandered around to the other side of the buck, facing the wolf-cross. Placing himself on the ground again, his heterochromic eyes watched Raziel closely.

"How do you feel about a world where you will be in a position of power, with all the prey you could ever want to hunt and there would be no weaklings to get in your way?"

[Zantalia]

Raz's gaze was met stare down for stare down by the ebony male...Raziel liked this brute already, and they'd only exchanged a few words.  His ears switched forth as he returned to his kill, then flipped back as Acribus spoke, I see you are very intelligent too. I appreciate those who take strength along with knowledge.  With a smile around his mouthful of food, his ears stayed tipped back toward Acribus as the male spoke again to Raz.  Ah, Raziel. It is good to meet you.  Raz lifted his head the tiniest bit as he heard the softest sound of the ebony male moving.  

Raz followed his progress with his ears and then he heard the sounds stop on the other side of the kill.  Raziel's ears flipped forward but Raziel wasn't ready to stop eating yet but then Acribus spoke again, How do you feel about a world where you will be in a position of power, with all the prey you could ever want to hunt and there would be no weaklings to get in your way?  That gave Raz pause and his head swung up fast and as he licked the blood from his muzzle, his pale golden amber gaze once again locked on Acribus' own.  "I ain't gonna lie Acribus, that sounds absolutely delicious.  I don't know if I'm quite ready to lock myself permanently in one spot yet though.  But that offer seems exactly like my kind of place.  Might I have time to think on it?"  Raz asked as he tipped his ears toward the ebony male.  

Raz wasn't gonna lie, the offer Acribus had given him was super tempting, but he wasn't sure his wild, untamed spirit was quite ready to settle under one leader just yet, he liked the challenge of being on his own out there.  But the safety of a pack was also a good thing for a wolf, they weren't generally cut out to be alone.  But still, Raz couldn't decide at that moment whether or not the offer was enough to lock him down yet.  He hadn't been lying when he'd asked for time to think it over, he really did need to think about it before settling for sure.  he tipped his ears to Acribus and waited.  



Word Count: 381 
"Speaking" 
Listening