we're all the same [DENI&ARRO]

[»KINDLE ♫]

This forest was certainly not like anything the male had experience before with it's towering pines and almost complete darkness as he wandered through, breath steaming in front on his muzzle with every breath he expelled into the chilly spring air. Whilst the harshest part of winter was over it did not mean the cold would be retreating any time soon and the sun still hadn't made any appearance to warm up the earth, though Acribus wasn't sure if he would even be able to see the sun again if he didn't leave this forest soon. It was like an endless stretch of darkness, the pine trees not having lost their needles through the winter and standing as tall as ever. Whilst they hadn't lost any like the other trees Acribus usually walked under, there was still a think blanket of green needles on the floor which occasionally crackled under his huge paws, though for the most part they muffled his heavy steps. He was almost grateful because in this forest it was hard to see any more than two feet in front of himself, meaning anyone could sneak up on him, not that he expected a random animal to come flying out of the darkness, claws flashing and teeth gnashing. Still, it did no harm to be cautious in such a dangerous place, even if you were a large black wolf covered in scars that looked like he'd bite his own grandmother's head off. Which he would.

The smell of the forest was unlike any forest he'd smelt before. His childhood, or at least the happy part of it, was spent under oak trees or romping through fields, not trapped under a dark canopy of pine leaves. He had to admit that he did prefer this environment though, as the closeness of the trees and how everything seemed so silent made him feel safe in some sort of weird way. The feeling of security was shattered when the sound of feet moving, more than belonged to one dog, filtered into his ears and the brute's head shot up almost immediately, his lips drawing back into a snarl like someone had flicked a switch in his head.

"Alright, who's there? I don't like to play games."



This is for Deni with Bear and Arro with Drachen as part of joining for the cruel pack!

[DENI.]

It was unlike him to be so far from the city; in fact it made him rather nervous. While he was a large dog, and he could fend for himself, he preferred to avoid the forest and the wilds as much as he could. Wolves weren't animals you wanted to get into scraps with, and neither were bears or bucks. As much as he would never admit that he was afraid of these animals, he was. Not so much the wolves as the other two. Wolves could be reasoned with, he could communicate with them... A bear? Not so much. He laughed softly to himself, because 'bear' was actually his namesake. Did he resemble one? He supposed he did in a round about way. He was large, darkly furred, and fluffy.

He rolled his shoulders, forcing himself to relax a bit. He would return to the city in a couple of days time.He was lucky that he had been tipped off about the dog catchers going on a bit of binge as far as catching and killing strays was concerned. No, no matter how much he disliked the forest, it was still much safer than the city that he preferred to call home.

He stopped short as a snarl filled the air, closely followed by a warning. Bear swung his huge head around, finally finding the source of the noise. A wolf, just the kind of thing he was trying to avoid. But there was nothing that could be done about it anymore, rather than to try and appease the wolf. He stepped out into the open and looked the brute over. He was taller than Bear, but Bear was far bulkier. He supposed he could hold his own in a fight - though he would rather avoid that.

"No need to get so upset, I was just passin' through." He said, keeping his distance.

[»KINDLE ♫]

Acribus' snarl melted away at the sight of the male. Whilst he was a large wolf, this other one was almost a match to him in size and certainly exceeded him in bulk. Starting a fight with someone this capable certainly wasn't advisable, even for him, and could perhaps even prove useful if he was befriended. So the wolf dropped his aggression and instead picked up cunning, morphing his once angered face into a much calmer but neutral face, examining the other closely before speaking again.

"I thank you for the polite approach. I must apologise for my previous aggression, you can't be too careful out here." A smile was woven onto his face, perfectly practised, and it almost dripped with venom just like his words. The other male could perhaps hold some intelligence too, considering his approach was not all brawn, which made him an even better potential accomplice. The ideas of creating a pack had settled nicely in his mind, especially after meeting that girl in the valley, and now he was out for more members to join his army. It was the thrill of having control that brought him the most pleasure when he thought of a pack which is why he was determined to get it going as soon as possible.

"Now I believe politeness should be returned on my end. My name is Acribus and it's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, sir." The poison smile from before still hung on his lips, though something close to admiration shone in his dual-coloured eyes. Whilst he was not impressed by many, those who could match him in both brain and brawn were ones he wanted to befriend.

[DENI.]

The large dog's eyes narrowed slightly as the wolf's demeanor took a sudden and unexpected turn. The snarl upon his lips turned into a twisted smile, and when he spoke his words were like honey laced with venom. The wolf could not fool Bear, but Bear did not think less of him for his nature. He would be a hypocrite to judge anyone like that, especially given what he knew and accepted about himself. "Yes, that is too true. Strangers can be dangerous, and I cannot afford injuries." He spoke calmly, his voice echoing slightly through the quiet forest.

The wolf spoke again, introducing himself as Acribus. Bear could not be sure what the name actually meant, but somehow it fit the fearsome creature in front of him. Bear was not afraid of the wolf, not really. He was more afraid of not being able to survive the nasty bites and cuts he knew he could receive from the black male.

Finally, he dipped his head slightly in greeting. "I'm afraid my calling isn't quite as regal as your own. I am known simply as Bear." He explained, offering the wolf a smile. The smile didn't quite reach his eyes, but neither did the wolf's.

[»KINDLE ♫]

The wolf noticed the slight narrowing of the other's eyes and felt inclined to narrow his own back, though he kept his expression calm as ever as he continued to watch. The dog had obviously seen through his façade, which he had to admit was impressive considering most others couldn't, and Acribus half expected him to turn and leave or at least show some other sign of aggression but again his judgement was wrong. The other male stayed put and calmly replied to him, which provoked another reply from the brute.

"We're on the same page then." He chuckled, lips curling upwards in a poison smile once again. Whilst the dog seemed calm and in control, the brute couldn't help but wonder if he actually felt that way inside. Perhaps he was more like him that he thought, the type of person to be able to feel a lot more than they show. If so, his interest in the other dog was gaining quickly. Perhaps he'd be fitting in the idea of a pack Acribus had started to think up. You see, the black wolf wanted to feel power like he hadn't felt before. He wanted to lead an army that would follow his every rule and he wanted control. Though he wasn't going to let just anyone join his fight, oh no. They had to prove themselves to him. Show that they all weren't just fight with the desire to kill and this male seemed the perfect candidate.

"Regal? Oh, I thank you for the compliment, friend, but in the world I want to live in, names don't matter." The brute waited a moment to gouge the other's reaction, debating on whether to continue before he spoke again, "Would you be interested in such a world?"