Reality Escaped (Striker)

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Home. This was a word the apprentice held no value to anymore. For all of her life the pup had called Erenyx home. Had seen her mother as her protector, the great wolf who trained her and kept her alive. And her father was the powerful righteous Alpha who lead the pack to prosperity. He created it from the ground to create a pack he was proud of. She had always felt such pride for her parents, her pack, her home.

But now everything had changed. She had moved to a foreign pack, and her parents were viewed as evil itself. And although the wolves in Helidos were far too kind to say it, Aleu knew she was an outsider. She knew they disliked her because of her parents and her loyalty to them. As far as Aleu was concerned she had no home. She had nobody left, sure Juno and Marrok had taken her in, given her a place to live and food. But they weren't her family, and as hard as they tried she couldn't call them her family.

But this only brought new feelings to the fae, how could she be so cold to wolves who took her in out of the generosity of their own hearts. They owed her nothing, no obligation to ensure her safety, and yet they accepted her willingly into their pack and into their family. It was this thought that drove her from the safety of Helidos to the neutral lands, telling none of the others where she had gone.

For now the pup just needed to be alone, to think through her emotions and why she was so upset. She had never known her father, and had never had any real affection for her mother. So why was she so upset about being here? Was it the feeling of disconnect with the others? No. The helplessness of not being there to retake her pack? Maybe. Or maybe it was something more. Maybe she could see the happiness of the wolves here, how much better their lives were, how little they had to worry about being slaughtered in their sleep because they disliked their leader. Was that truly it? Was she just jealous her life had been so bad so far, while a short distance away a pack lived happily and thrived and she had never known? If that were true, why was she so mad now?

With her thoughts occupying her mind the fae would explore these new lands, only stopping as the beautiful lake came into view, nearly taking her breath away with it's beauty. "Oh wow..." she muttered, stepping forward until she reached to edge. Looking out at the reflections of the clouds on the mirror smooth water she would smile. Moving around the edge until she found a nice spot to lay down in the warm sun, enjoying one of the last warm days of the year in the sun, the beautiful red and yellow leaves surrounding her. The beauty of the terrain would put her mind at ease, head resting on her paws as she looked out over the water.

The grass tickled his frame, brushing it's cold touch within the openings of his coat where the fur split each time he stretched. There lay a wonder of clouds above his head, ones of all shapes and sizes that which met the eye. Flawless to what nature had to spare, he could not find beauty within the eye of the beholder. More or less, the balls of fluff clinging to the atmosphere were nothing more than a lifeless flaw which nature had collected just to take up some sort of space. He thought the same for trees, as well as the more pointless animals amongst the kingdom - as wolves would always be claimed at a reasonable level amongst the food chain, there were some ideal necessities to what earth had to offer. But as usual, thins never went the way he wished, and nor did he ever expect that to come in future time. He remained still, nonetheless, allowed a frequent twitch of his ears and tail to the reoccurring sounds amongst his presence. The blunt reality began to bring him forth from the little fantasy he usually found himself wound up in, and the typical, annoyed feelings he most felt returned to him once more.

A look of disgust washed over him, though he remained as still as he was before. There was a disrupting sound lingering close to him, and he could not fight the urge to keep close to the ground without slowly turning onto his feet. No longer onto his spine to examine the skies, the mixed ashen coated wolf stalked on low paws, eying through the tall grasses as to what bothered him. His eyes came into contact with a hare, sitting aloft a small patch of weeds as it dined upon the rich grass. It seemed to of been plump, perhaps readying for the long winter ahead of them, he assumed. Striker curled his lips and tail over his spine, doing as he was instructed of long ago during training. He was still mentor-less, but he took some contemplating on asking his father, being that none of his siblings wished of him. Though, the matter was probably pointless of him to even ask - their father barely spoke a word to them, and then expected above all to be chosen. This annoyed him highly, but the pup soon dismissed it to be replaced with the hare's display. With ease, he let out a growl and leaped from the tall grasses that swayed over the meadow's floor. The kill was made all too easily.

Dangling from his grasps, he stood nearest to the water's edge. His reflection stared back at him with the same dark hues of blue, glaring over him in an almost distant manner. The wolf appeared disgruntled, deformed upon emotion, as he was not yet capable of feeling anything until he could find a reason to. Dropping the prey, he knelt down and lapped at the water, only to find his ears flickering to the sound of pure awe. Across the lake, he could see the smallest image of a wolf, one which did not entirely appear familiar to him, but all the while interestingly curious to know if he were to get closer. She seemed to of not seen him - that much he knew, as she had not looked up to see him. Perhaps he was too silent and that's what caused her to not be bothered as she enjoyed the sight before her. Averting his eyes to her figure, she was just as small in comparison to him, yet growing. Striker noticed she had taken shelter within the shade, and if cautious, perhaps he could reckon with her upon a civil conversation. Otherwise, he would tend to his drinking and befitted meal. "Who goes there?" He bellowed over the lake, making the water almost ripple around his paws as he stepped in to soak his muscles. Eying the opposing adolescent, he remained where he was, only having to raise his voice slightly so that she could hear.

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In the soft breeze and comfort of the shade the pup would close her eyes, keeping her head rested on her paws as she pulled her tail around to the side of her body as she rested. As the small pup laid on the bank of the lake she could feel her worries melting away, letting her just take a few minutes from the reality that tormented her every moment. She still didn't understand her emotions, or why she felt them, or why she felt anything. Sometimes she envied her mother's emotionless attitude. It was clear her mother was a rock, unaffected by anything, strong and powerful. Even in the face of death himself Teren.

The small fae would be forced from her thoughts as a voice called out to her from a short distance away, the apprentice shooting to her paws as she looked around quickly, seeing the other smaller wolf standing in the water. Blinking a few times she would recognize his appearance, although she had never talked to him she had seen him around the pack before. Feeling her heart race slightly, she would know he was from Erenyx, but would he really start a fight with her?

Pausing for a moment to think of how to answer the pup would sigh, deciding to be civil to him she would call out her reply "Apprentice Aleu. And who are you?" she asked firmly, standing her ground on the bank, although making it clear she wanted no hostilities with the other young wolf.

A striking blast of colour bloomed within the irises surrounding his dark, black orbs. He had been quite sure of himself that he was loud enough to be heard over the water, and just when he was just beginning to doubt his voice, her head lifted with mere surprise. The adolescent stood still until he was then spotted, catching her gaze almost instantly with his dark sapphires. At the name, his ears tingled, flickering forwards in mild interest to her dismay - the name had been engraved into his mind-set. This was no ordinary apprentice, this was the daughter whom tolled the mother of their previous Elite female. Now, that title rested within the grasps of Fel, the former Beta female. Though from a far, he had almost, almost mistaken her for another apprentice which roamed Erenyx rule - Piper was her name, he recalled. But, the opposing wolf answered in a different tone, clarifying it was not her. He watched her with a sense of character, all the while tensing at the question as he brought his meal protectively closer to roll beneath him.

A growl rumbled at the depths of his hoarse throat, he was in no mood to play games or uphold a continuously talkative conversation with the female, but only a matter of questions he so wished to have answered. Her disappearance had been quite the controversy when the mother returned to Erenyx, and even for him, he had thought their master would've placed a reward for the pup to be brought back; dead, or alive. He chuckled silently at the idea as he leaned down and snatched the hare back within his jaws, biting it involuntarily to keep still between his sharp, razor-like teeth. Blood stained his lean snout and maw, creating a delectable treat to which he'd save for later. With one last glance of his reflection, he reared back from the water and shook out his pelt before lingering over the land to where she rested. He was sure not to pester how content she was, remaining quiet until he found a place suitable for himself to rest within the delightful sun. Before speaking, the hare rolled out of his mouth and onto the floor where his paws laid in front of him. The adolescent lowered quietly, peering to her from the corner of his eyes.

"I am Striker, an apprentice of Erenyx.." The male said in a dull, uninterested tone.

His head turned to become more focused upon his meal, but the brute could not pry himself from studying her from a safe distance. Questions, dreadful curiosity, filled the young wolf's mind, being fathomed between what all he should say first without alarming her further. As the kill kept beneath his heavy paw, his tongue swept over his maw in one, minor lick. His eyes drifted apart from the wolf and more so to the tree-line of the opposing side he entered from earlier. "Where've you been?" He asked, his tone of voice low and filled with little emotion to give away his dying curiosity.

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Carefully the now Helidos Apprentice would stand moving from her spot towards the other as he approached. When the male would lay down a fair distance from her, the adolescent fae would pause, walking a little closer cautiously. The young apprentice would stop just a few feet away from him, keeping a more defensive posture in case he decided to try to force her back to Erenyx.

With his identity now confirmed Aleu would just nod quietly, seeming like she was simply unsure of what to do now. Looking down at the male she would only nod "I know who you are...you are the Elite male's son...yes?" she asked, her tone not taking the same cold and uninterested tone his was, but more of a hesitant and nervous about the entire meeting.

As the male started eating the other Apprentice would simply sit, looking back out at the lake and staying silent, waiting until he would ask his question to turn back to face him "I will make you a deal. I'll answer any question you ask, if you will do the same for me." she said sternly. Straightening her posture she would look back down at him, her condition making it clear she was well cared for wherever she was, almost spoiled even. As it became more evident to the fae he meant her no harm she would relax a little, just looking back down at him as she awaited his answer.

The blue eyed serpent's lips folded back into a menacing smile, revealing - exposing the sharp teeth to which he possessed. Blood shown through them, staining the surface of his canines beautifully as they shed a certain dominance to the other adolescent. There was a slight misunderstanding of her sudden closeness, to which he did not prefer, yet melded himself to dismiss his easily badgered antics aside to be dealt with for later. He had implied nothing to her with his question, though he wondered for her turn in posture upon behavior as she neared. The messy ashen male grunted and turned his head to the meal caught dead between his forelegs, examining it before finding slight interest in her words. Despite his father's given rank, it still made him tense and feel indifferent about it, the so called 'Elite's son' is what he had apparently earned, he thought with a soft roll of his eyes in the direction where the fae was not standing. "Unfortunately so.." Striker had initially taken no interest in his father's rank, nor wishing to be his apprentice, no matter the case of being blood, in fact. If he would not receive the time of day, then he ignored giving it at all costs possible.

He was no puppet.

With a mere slice of recognition, he finally allowed himself to look at her. Then, he had noticed she was of a grey complexion, nor typically like her mother, but a more.. soft shade. It certainly explained the difference in personality, according to what all he had taken from Kayusha's actions to Erenyx's rule. Though, his guess was as good as anyone's, and he was not about to place predictions and pre-judgements upon her just yet. He needed more out of her before he could possibly do that, but he had a likely answer already forming within the back of his fresh, twisted mind. She seemed to of made a deal with the devil, making his head spin with delight just enough to force himself to stand to his true potential. Lips curled, his tail casually swung at the back of his legs, brushing his ankles as he turned his body to point away from her. Dark, blue eyes now rested upon her, two could play this game, he thought with a devious ghost of a smile, "Perhaps, but what all do you expect to get out of me... Aleu?" It had been the first to of said her name, and his tone was brittle, bitter-sweet in it's own way as he spoke to the fae. But there was still that dying curiosity biting at his hind legs, he could not let this deal be passed up. Only a true fool would pass up the opportunity if offered of, and he was in no mood to care about what all he could, or would tell her in the first place. It's not like it would be that useful of her anyway.

"Deal." He hissed.

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Tan orbs would peer at the male as her interest slowly faded. At first she thought the male would be friendly and fun. But the more she attempted to talk to him the more he seemed like a jerk. Maybe she was wrong about him being nice, or even tolerable. Yet that grin tugged at something inside of her. His powerful look seemed to awaken some part of her that wanted to get to know him, and make him get to know her. As the male spoke again her ears would perk, a confused look coming to the mixed colored fae as a thought came to her. Maybe he wasn't just a jerk, he probably was, but maybe it was more. Without a word she would sit there to ponder his answer, but the only thing she could think of made no sense to her. How could he dislike his family? How could any wolf dislike their family?

The thought of that alone was enough to make Aleu feel sick. There was nothing she wouldn't give to have hers back. To have just known her father would have been the greatest gift she could ever receive, to have spent some real time with her brother, or to meet any of her half siblings. But Aleu had none of that. The only wolf she had ever truly known was her mother, who's stern training program made it impossible for the pair to share any affection. As she continued to ponder the idea of this Apprentice being mad at his family it would only make the young fae more and more upset as twinges of jealousy shot through her. But the Apprentice held her composure, taking a deep breath before speaking "You should be grateful of the chance to know them...I never got to meet my father, or any of my half siblings but Samael.." she said honestly, the words making it clear it was a painful topic for the poor pup.

As the other continued to eat his rabbit the young fae would sit in silence, only now being reminded she had disappeared before Marrok returned with breakfast for them. She wondered if they would be out looking for her, searching to find her. Or if they would allow her this time alone to clear her mind and make sense of the world around her, which to the young pup seemed so confusing and unnecessarily cruel. As the brute stood the adolescent fae would take a step back carefully, not too pleased she had to crane her head slightly to look up at the male she was at least a month elder. However it clearly didn't matter as he was already larger than her, if only by a small amount.

With his posture changed to face her the apprentice felt it hard to hold her spot, as if something urged her to flee or move closer to him, but her mind held firmly to the spot she occupied. With his new words a devious grin would come to her lips, the once Erenyx pup clearly having a deviant side of her own "That would be a question, and you have not accepted my agreement." she spoke sternly, making it clear she would give him nothing until he agreed to return the favor. And then she would receive the words she wanted to hear, a smile coming to her muzzle as she sat in his spot "Swear it to me...like this." she said, lifting her right paw to demonstrate "Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a claw in my eye." she said, using the raised paw to make an X over her chest as she spoke, moving it to pretend to poke her eye with a claw as the words dictated "Then if you break your promise you'll be cursed." she said firmly, clearly believing the words. Although who had told such nonsense to her was beyond anyone's guess.

His mind simmered at the lowly fact of her loosing family - the idea of never knowing them at all seemed almost friendly to him, though at this rate, if he did not have an anchor such as his parents, he would've probably lost all sanity within him. The chances of rank would mean little to him come to future and he would go rogue; the possibilities were quite endless in his case if family were to never play a soft factor in his ways of life and forgiveness. He was blind with rage, and did not struggle the more it continued to constrict him from the outside, in. Striker did nt so much as speak his apologies for her, as he did not care. Still, the topic was naturally dropped and torn so that it could be thrown to the wind passing through the terrain. Perhaps never will it again appear in her words, but stay locked behind that daring, smug smile of hers that she so happen to reveal when he hissed an answer. Though she had shown fear as well before his slightly aging height - to what was to be expected of in most growing males. Come a year or so, he would develop hormones that would eventually lead him to caress the vulnerable and naive attention of a potential female. As for the moment, and age, he only saw Aleu as a puny apprentice that had to be kept in another pack for safe keeping. Death was unavoidable. It was only normal of them to accept it as it was, he believed, never having experienced what it was like to see someone die, or even himself come in contact with being so weak that he could go to the so called next life.

Narrowing his eyes slowly, he strained his neck forwards to cast his gaze slightly downwards apart from hers. Striker was about to request another question, before he caught his tongue between his teeth and grunted, turning back to his spot to keep protectively over his meal. He did not touch it, nor spare a single look down to try a taste. Instead, he looked at her with the twitch of a forming growl, his ears jutting outwards at the deviant attitude to her change in tone. As he had already told her that he agreed, it had seemed the fae grew greedy of the male's irritation, and only wanted to further poke the beast some more. She displayed a flimsy routine that she so wished of him to do as well, making him loose his entire focus to almost think she was a legitimate wolf who he could potentially come to speaking reasonably with. But this was entirely new to him. Yet he did it anyway, though without sound. Helplessly rolling his eyes, he lifted his paw, crossed the X'like shape over his progressing toned chest before flicking it against his eye. "Blah blah, cross, blah blah swear. Whatever. Claw in my eye." He exaggerated foolishly over, bored already of the stupidity forming around him before he put his paw down and looked to her with a blunt frown. "I'm already cursed. Another would just beat my record." The young brute said, challenging her with a bright gaze.

"Now tell me."

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Watched as the brute kept his stone flat expression, honestly making the fae consider just leaving him with his curiosity, knowing that even though he hid it well it had to be killing him to know. As the wolf moved over his rabbit Aleu would give an almost offended look "Hmph, If I wanted your rabbit I would have taken it by now, so there's no need to treat me like a threat. All I want from you are answers." she said, honestly starting to get a little annoyed with his cold treatment of her. The fae had no reason to stay and talk to the Erenyx apprentice except for the possibility of learning the fate of her mother, and curing her boredom for a short while.

As the male went through the motions Aleu would roll her eyes, stopping for a minute to give him the best scowl she could muster before sighing "Do it right or I'm leaving...I don't enjoy being treated rudely." she said, only waiting for a short time to complete the promise. If he would say it properly the fae would take a seat again, her own form showing the results of months of brutal training with her mother, making it clear she was anything but a helpless pushover for her age. Pausing for a moment to choose her words the pup would sigh "My mother was afraid Teren would murder me if I stayed in Erenyx...and without her rank there would be little she could do to protect me from anyone in the pack...let along Teren.... So she took me to Helidos. I was taken in by the Beta pair, and they are very nice to me. But it isn't home. They try to be nice to me, but I'm an Erenyx pup to them...and worse I'm Steele and Katyusha's pup to them. I know they don't want to, but they hate me. They tell me how evil my father was...how horrible my mother is-" she would pause for a moment "Was..." she corrected herself, not sure what had become of the fae she looked up to so much.

With another loud sigh she would look over at the lake once again, "They are very nice to me. But you can feel it. When they look at you, ask you who your parents are, where you came from.It's as if you are judged guilty with those words. You can see their kindness and interest in you melt when they realize you are the daughter of the devil and his obedient bitch." she sighed, looking to him and going silent for a moment.

As she gave a short delay the only Helidos apprentice would turn her attention back to Striker, her question now chosen, although she wasn't sure if she wanted to know the answer "Is my mother still alive?" she asked, looking him in the eyes as she awaited her answer, amber hues almost piercing into his soul as she waited, their striking contrast to the black and grey around her eyes making them appear all the more piercing. It was clear she didn't want to know, she needed to know, just as much as she needed each breath of air.

- Thought I'd make up for lost time. ^^ *blows kissles*

All I want from you are answers. So it may seem, he thought, eyes a wander, finding themselves a threatening few inches apart from her, even despite the distance they put between them. He could retort a few responses to that one statement, but all in all, he knew he wished for the same. Perhaps a bit of information, necessary facts and such, could become great use to him once passed on to older wolves to take to heart. But why stop there, when he could keep the information for his own mind to squander upon. He could honestly feel the disruption of feelings graze his shoulders as he watched her sigh out of stubbornness and irritation towards his lack of effort in pleasing her. The wolf was not hear to please anyone but himself - and surely, a dull, childish act of play in swearing was not a cup of tea worth sharing for him. With that much, he would've expected her to give in, but she didn't, if anything, she told him to do it again - correctly, or else she'd leave. Striker's eyes phased to a playful blue, and soon his voiced filled the air with an indescribable demonic laughter, "Listen here, princess. If I didn't care, I would've left by now. I'm not going to entertain you with repeating the process, you shoulda' just been lucky I did it once. Perhaps it was not the way you liked it, but that's way it's gonna be. Ya'hear?" His muzzle lowered and his fur ruffled across his neck, raising his height to it's truest potential as he stared her down. With one little motion, he recaptured the hare in his mouth and threw it to her - a small act of kindness, he'd put it as, for he never shared his food. But this was a time for answers, as both the two wanted, and if it's bribery that would do it, he'd try for ever hare in the clearing for it. "Now you can't say someone never did something relatively nice for you."

The laughter in his voice dimmed to a reassured silence as she began to speak, his heartbeat loud and full with life, though he truly believed himself to be dead inside by the lack of emotion produced other than rebelliousness and sarcasm. It was his only defense, and all he could do was put up a wall between him and reality, being safe between that material so that no one could get to him, and he'd never allow himself to give in to another's words asides a superior's. Though, sometimes even that, would be a problem in the future. Being put aside, he listened to her, eyes narrowed as he eased back into a sitting position upon the ground, tail curled just at his ashen side. It appeared that judgement was already upon her, so soon, so young, and he gave the slightest care into keeping his attention before her. What was he gaining from this, but then again, there was not a lot left for him to return to, so he'd stay, for now. His ears flicked forwards as the tiniest tone of profanity in her voice, eyes aflame with a searing sapphire blue, "As hard as it is to believe, you may think I've lived a life of luxury with the parents I have, but it's frankly the quite opposite. I'm the middle child with one younger, and one older brother - their names are Renier and Icarus. My parents do not favour me, though you can probably tell why.." Striker allowed her to think it over if she didn't quite understand, his face as emotionally happy as a sheet of metal, "They preferred my younger brother, Renier and expected greater from Icarus, my eldest brother. But I was left alone... they did not pay attention to me enough when I was still aided by Caretakers and that is why I am the way I am.. So if you're looking for someone like Renier, who's a greater listener and a friendly little wimp for a brother, don't expect the same out of me." His jaws clenched as he looked elsewhere, the refusal to meet eye contact becoming greatly relevant as he chose to do so and look off near the treeline. The ends of his tail brushed the earthly floor with mild speed, keeping him aloft and aware of her presence until he was questioned otherwise.

"Yes."

The male's gaze returned hers, just as piercing in comparison, though hers was a more vibrant in colour. He could sense the desperate aura to her question, the need to know the information from him, to what he already granted. Perhaps this would please her, but he knew she'd need more than just a certainty, "But rumors say she is lost - mentally. And she's devoted herself to Alpha Teren alas.. I do not know if they're true.. but that is all I can assume from what I've heard. She's a warrior and very much alive beneath Teren's right arm." His lips formed a flat line, similar to the straight line someone would make when their pulse ran out, "They say it's like she's a whole different wolf..." Striker said, watching her carefully for her reaction, holding back the surprise, for he knew it was coming soon. With the assumption that it was now his turn to ask, his tongue rolled over the side of his maw, lapping the blood slightly from his fur in the process before ringing it back into his mouth as he thought. Now having chosen what he wished to ask, he looked up and inched closer, wondering how'd she take it to the news. Striker was never one to show his affections, nor receive them, but he knew that if his mother were to ever rapidly change into a whole another wolf overnight, he wouldn't know what to believe anymore. For once, his tone proved of some emotion, and that feeling, was concern.

"What're you thinking right now, Aleu?" His voice was raspy and tender, smooth as they transferred through the air to her ears.

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Aleu waited patiently for him to recite the promise as she instructed, only to be let down once again, his harsh words seeming to leave the young fae unaffected, albeit clearly annoyed by his reluctance to help her. "Oh yes, you've given me so much to be thankful for, such as this wonderful attitude." she growled with annoyance. As the unusual brute tossed his kill over Aleu would nearly jump back from it, so taken back by his generous offer she nearly expected it to be a trick or way to distract or hurt her. Cautiously she would watch him, tail swaying gently behind her as she stood, sniffing the meal to ensure it was safe. With her mind at ease she would lift her muzzle to attempt to meet his gaze again "T-thank you...that was very nice." she said, moving down to take a bite. With the first bite something would come to her mind. Raising her head she would swallow down the fresh meat, looking up at him "Would you like to share? I would feel horrible if I took your whole rabbit." she said honestly, sitting back on her haunches to let him take some if he chose.

As she told her story she would watch him lay, hardly paying her any attention as the tone of her voice slowly grew more and more irritated. When her tale completed she would slump back to listen to him, rolling her eyes again as she hung her head, "I don't care what order you were born in, or to whom. It makes no difference to me, but you have no reason to treat me so rudely. I have done nothing to anyone, and yet I am punished. You could change that, as I came to you offering a kind ear and friendly conversation. All you have to blame my hostility towards you on is the way you act." she said clearly, letting out another annoyed huff as she ended her little rant.

With her question presented she took a nervous moment to pause, wondering if he would actually keep his word, or maybe he would just lie to her? But she had misjudged him, just as she began to doubt the Erenyx apprentice he would give her the simple yes. A long sigh of relief escaped the fae, making her realize she had been holding her breath since the question was finished. As he went on it would feel to Aleu someone was stabbing her in the chest Is this better or not?...Would I rather she be alive and happy, but a totally new wolf?...or dead with dignity as herself?. The Helidos pup would go silent for a moment to process the news. Her head dropped to look at her paws as ears pinned back against her head.

She would go silent for a few long moments, a numbness taking hold of her as she kept her head low, wishing she could just curl up into a ball until the whole world went away around her. But she knew she couldn't. With his next question Aleu would lift her head slightly, glancing down at paws again "I'm thinking I don't know if it would be better that she's alive as Teren's...whatever she is." she muttered "Or if it would be better that she would be dead as who I remember." she answered lifting her head to look into his eyes, hoping for once he wouldn't turn away, with her turn to present a question she would struggle to hide the pain in her voice "If it were you....which would you want?" she asked, seeming to shrink back a little. Although it was unspoken, Striker may notice she didn't question his answer, she didn't demand proof, she trusted him, even though it wasn't what she wanted to hear.

The young, ill-experienced soldier's gaze faltered to find a medium as they stayed in her soft tan orbs, to which were now filled with confusion, and slight surprise, though only his lips could form a grim line as the tables then turned to face him. There were so many outcomes to his own situation, especially with the feelings he profoundly owned towards his parents. He did not typically possess the strongest relationship with his blood, though, nor had he really ever tried after it was made obvious that he was not worthy of their time, apparently. Striker's brows narrowed inwards as he turned to face another direction, staring elsewhere for him to spare some time in thinking about so that he was not distracted from his thoughts. "To be, or not to be.. that is the question." Averting his eyes to see her again, he wondered if she would understand as to what he meant. At first, when he was told of the quote, he did not quite reach a comprehension of the lesson being told, though after a few more attempts, he finally reasoned out an explanation. But he was left with still a choice to exceed her reassurance. "I have no words . . though if I was forced to choose upon life or death - I'd want her dead . . ." His tone was ghastly dull, almost morbid as it eased from his throat. A fraction of the cost however did not make him feel prideful, as the thought alone of his mother having to endure such an act of commitment beneath manipulative tactics made his tongue bitter. There were so many things in this world he had yet to discover and understand, though until then, he could only question the theories of other wolves and procedures or reasons done to cause such things in future time. The little scientist could only wonder of the future at this day and age - and the curiosity was building rapidly. "I'd rather want my mother to die as herself than continue to live as someone who she isn't . . . Like she told me, to what I've lived by for a few months now, we were born an original, so why die a copy?" He sighed, ears turned backwards as he watched the sun move closer to the west than it had when he arrived.

As the wind began to pick up, he could sense the change in seasons coming soon. He only knew this by the littlest of things he had learned about scents thus far, and knew, according to his father, that winter was coming very soon. Even for him, his coat had not fully developed yet, nor started, and he felt the air to be a bit cold for his taste - he couldn't imagine what it was like for the young fae across the way from him. Jaw clenched, the adolescent finally gave in to his typical arrogant behavior and allowed some of his true colours to shine through his actions. The silvery, cigarette ashen male had moved across the space, dividing it slowly till they were only a few, mere inches apart before he gradually circled around her, like as if a lion were stalking it's prey. Keeping low to the ground, he finally rested around her. The apprentice simply rolled his eyes and looked the other way, mumbling stubbornly to himself, though loud enough for her to hear, "Don't let it go to your head . . ." Tail curled at her side, Striker insisted he keep his chin upon his own paws, watching at how she had taken his prey into locks. Having been offered some, he shook his head, though his stomach would've disagreed. If he was hungry, he could feed himself. There was an abundance of hares running free around them, all he'd have to do was get up and chase for one of his own to eat. And Aleu could do the same for herself if she truly felt the meal was not enough for her. Closing his eyes, he allowed a few moments to pass before he dared a small glance at her with a single eye, "Is Helidos really all that bad? I bet the territories are . . . cleaner." He mentioned, almost nervously, as if his Alpha were watching them in secret to where he could not see nor smell of.

Guest

Aleu would listen closely to the young brute, his first words seeming almost like non-sense to her. But yet they hung in her mind, echoing through her memory as she attempted to process it's inner meanings. To be or not to be...That is the question. she repeated over and over in her mind. "Whether t'is Nobler in the mind to suffer...or take arms against a sea of troubles." she muttered softly, pinning her ears back as it all began to make sense. She had heard her mother mutter those lines before. But in those days all she cared about was going out to play, or escaping her mother's over bearing watch and relentless training. But now how she longed to see the fae again. How she longed to hear those words she had ever known once, and would never know again.I love you.

Slowly the dull buzzing of the world around her would be cut by the sound of the brute's voice, his words taking a long moment to process before the fae would come out of her trance, not actually hearing his first statement at all. But as he finished, a loud sigh would leave the small thing, but she would hold her words until he had finished speaking. Nodding slowly she would speak, her voice soft and wavering in every attempt to pretend all was well, and she was unharmed by this news. But alas she was only a pup, and the walls around her heart had just begun to form. " I fear you have picked the answer I needed...But not the one I wanted. I feel as well I would rather her be dead. Slain while loyal to my father, and a wolf of honor. But I wanted you to tell me I was wrong. To tell me she is happier this way and should be allowed that happiness for the sadness that has strained her very sanity to the core." she sighed, form dropping to lay on her stomach, her limbs feeling far to numb to hold her now.

After a short pause the apprentice would finish "Then I must kill her... Someday I will return to Erenyx..and I will kill her." she almost gasped out the last part, her voice wavering as the whole world seemed to dim around them. No longer did the bright sun bare down on them, to the pup who had just lost everything the whole world seemed to exist in the shadow of the one evil she would give anything, even her own life to extinguish, and if he were present now she was certain she would die trying to kill him, even if he came to present no harm to her.

As the words she had spoken fully sank in, the pup would realize she had meant it. If she were ever given the chance, she would kill her mother. And it horrified her. With the darkness of her reality the pup would begin to shiver softly, her head tucking against her paws to face away from him as she tried to block out the world just long enough to get a grip on the reality she was now forced to occupy. Constantly over-shadowed by the wolf she loathed, driven only by a hatred for him and the things he did to a wolf she had never met, to the point she was now willing to kill her own mother to fulfill.

Then suddenly she would feel herself pulled back. Pressing gently against her was a ball of warmth, causing her heart to beat again as her body regained feeling, as if his touch was a warm fire next to her frozen form. As the male tried to act distant the Helidos pup would press her form against his gently, taking comfort in his kind embrace as she basked in the light he radiated from her world of darkness, keeping out the cold and the wolves for just a while longer. "Thank you..." her voice would trail as she laid pressed against the brute she had just met, yet had been so kind to her, laying next to her was the partially eaten rabbit, the pup having lost her appetite with the news she had been told.

With her mind now firmly pulled back to the ground the Erenyx wolf's next question would be met with a twitch of the fae's ears, a soft smile coming to cross her muzzle "No...I suppose not. Everything is...less hostile. The wolves, the weather, the terrain. I suppose if I had been born there it would be paradise...You would like it more than I. My parents are infamous. And although they try to be kind to me, many resent me for it." she said honestly, laying against him still "Just as many of Erenyx do...I had no part in the actions of my parents. And yet that alone ruined my life." she spoke honestly.

She deemed to find comfort within the acceptance of his warmth after all, to what fall's part could not muster, his natural body could fix to what the air could not for the mere other. It was evident by her indirect behavior that she took pride in her words, to what he found so interesting about her, though a sense of character and darkness still stayed aloft the fae's harmless beating heart. Striker watched at her dismay, seeing and feeling the change in atmosphere by his given qualities and abilities. Ones which he had yet to understand more of, but provided her with upon his own accord of attention, so that she was not alone. However, given the circumstances, he would never allow this young fae to be ill gifted with the same as he once more. As she responded to the quote, he was almost surprised, almost, though it was unnoticeable of him, like most things and so forth. Perhaps she wouldn't even care to look his way, and nor would he think of it in return as he listened onwards, ears flickered forwards while his chin remained positioned upon his very paws. He nodded a slightly knowing welcome to her gratitude, curling closer as the wind soon then picked up, and forming a bond of two wolves in a yin and yang fashion. The grass of the meadow blew carelessly against them, fixing them a shield so that prey could not sense their presences by sight, but perhaps by smell. "And to what good would that give you, Aleu? Kill your mother and live a free fae, like as if it were fate after all for her to die beneath your own doing?" He stopped himself out of will, silencing his words to a hushed pause before he looked elsewhere with a small exhale of air, "All of which I said could be false for all I know... there are no official facts. But it seems as if your mother has changed, and change happens all the time." The brute began, turning his head back so that he could stare her into the eyes with utmost seriousness, his dark, blue eyes growing colder by the second. Though the possibility was quite slim, Striker brought himself as close as reasonably possible and muttered out of pure thought to her situation, "If she changed, have you ever thought that you could change her back?" He said, leaning back a bit in his laying position.

As his eyes returned to their natural colour, he refrained from the idea of speaking anymore upon the depressing topic. There would be no way to change the female's mind, and nor would he try to from here on. Instead, he ushered the conversation onto the opposing pack, he had much to learn compared to what his parents chose not to tell him or his brothers of. He opposed every reason to join the innocent side, Erenyx was home to him, those where his roots and he would stick to them till the end. He was born there - and he had every intention of dying there, as well. Even despite the cleanliness and proper welcoming of the opposing pack's nature, Striker could only shake his head in refusal of the thought to agree with the fae. There would be no other place like home, to him. "I doubt I would like it any more than you, Aleu.. I know I belong to Erenyx, and that is where my heart will stay till death is upon me. Whether I be known as a golden warrior someday or that of a ghostly wolf, one who someone never came to know, my corpse will be buried in the dark soil of my home land." His lips formed a flat frown as he could almost relate to the apprentice's background, being expected of and whatnot things. She was simply judged by her ancestor's wrong doings, and for him, others looked to him out of worrisome. Like as if he would never be like his father, the great Elite of the pack, and instead end as a disappointment to them all. He hated their damned thoughts, how dare they think to such things so early of his apprenticeship. They had no right, though he would not stop them. They could think what they want, but someday, he would show them wrong. Hesitantly, his tail drifted apart from hers and his ears folded back, "It's getting late," he said slowly, looking to the skies that were now filling with a sunseted rainbow of colours darkening in the east and more orange to the west. Pink clouds emerged from the edge and above them, time was ticking for the two to return home. Standing up slowly, he shook out his pelt and slightly stood over her, hovering his head just near her cheek. He wore an almost annoyed look, but he would bare the pain of asking out of forced politeness. "Would you like me to walk you to the edge of the neutrals?" The brute's voice was a faint tender sound, beautifully dark eyes pointed to the ground and then at her.

Guest

Slowly the young wolf felt the numb sensation that had engulfed her slowly fade until she was pulled back to the harsh reality she was now forced to endure. She was an orphan now, or as close as she could possibly be to one, with her father dead before she was ever born and her mother a completely different wolf. Aleu had always hoped she could return to Erenyx an adult her mother could be proud of, a wolf who could return the pack to the way it was. And now she was utterly alone in this world, a feeling that utterly crushed her inside. She had always idolized her mother, seen her as a symbol of strength, standing with her against the world. And now that beacon of light had fallen. As the other Apprentice spoke again Aleu would sigh "It would set her free...and it would prove my strength. My whole life she was a symbol of strength to me. And now she has fallen to Teren ." she almost growled the name next to him "I must kill her...If she isn't strong enough to stand with me, she must fall against me. It is how I was raised...and it is what she would want." she admit, listening carefully again as he spoke, nodding softly but remaining silent now, obviously having much to think about. At the question Aleu would pause, thinking for several moments "I suppose. But if she has fallen to him" she nearly growled again "I cannot be certain she won't try to kill me if I tried." she said honestly, feeling her fur sway slightly in the cool breeze as it rushed over them, creating small waves in the lake next to them.

Aleu gave a soft sigh as he spoke again, feeling a little twinge of pain in her chest at the mention of Erenyx and nodded "I understand... And I wish I could have remained in my home. But if I desired a life where I may actually have a chance in this world, I had to." she said honestly, lifting her head to turn her gaze to him "Do you look down on me for leaving?" she asked, knowing all too well what most of Erenyx must think of her. Aleu was cursed with a problem almost exactly the opposite of Striker's. Everyone expected greatness from him. They expected power and strength like his father, while Aleu had been looked down on her whole life. Even though her parent's were both of great rank everyone expected Aleu to be a failure. They wrote her off as useless before she ever had the chance to prove herself. She was still young, and had just begun her training and already everyone expected her to fail.

As his voice brought her back again Aleu would turn her gaze to the sky, nodding slowly as he spoke "It is...I suppose we should get back soon... Not that anyone would care if I never came back." she sighed, standing up to pull herself away from his warmth to the cold lonely air the night brought in. At his offer Aleu would give a slight smile, noticing his reluctance and deciding against forcing him to go with her, especially since it would be dangerous for him to get that close to her pack lands alone "It's alright. I think I can find my way back. Be safe, okay?" she asked nervously, having a bad feeling about Erenyx and the horrors Teren was certain to bring on it. With his answer Aleu would nod, turning to walk back to Helidos slowly.

He remained silent on foot, standing at a growing height, he was concerned by a new question, one which regarded a request for his opinion, and in all honesty, he for a first could not find the words to answer right off the bat. He opened his mouth to speak before he forced it to close and drift his eyes to another direction, eying the lake and the sky that reflected its mirror-like surface. Batting an eye or two, he submitted himself to finally bring a voice to the open air, focusing once more his attention completely on her, "No.. no I don't." There was that sound again, the sound of death and no emotion to leave behind - that incapable ability to express nothing but the feeling of a cold monster. He had not meant for it to sound as if he were envious of her, not in any way at all, but it may have as well made it out to be like that after all. There were times himself, despite his loyalty to his natal pack, where he believed leaving was the best option for him, and perhaps everyone else. Maybe it was just someone like Aleu that he needed to wake him up after this long slumber of disrupted selfishness and need to prove something of himself - but what more could he do in a pool of others that simply cared for themselves as well? Was there another way to survive in such a dark place, or was it all a dull lie for the demon to laugh in his face? He would not admit these things to her, though instead, would continue to answer, "I believe there's a reason for everything, maybe it was just your destiny to live in Helidos . . or maybe its to help you realize where you truly belong.. Helidos or Erenyx . . I don't know. But my answer is no, and nor will I ever look down on you, especially now after having the patience to stay here long enough-" His ears narrowed before he could finish, "-with me . . ." Striker said lastly, stretching out his paws in front of him before rocking back onto his hind feet.

As he watched her get up from her spot, he looked to the ground where she had been laying next to him prior to before he stood first. The grass was now imprinted with both their bodies, and he tilted his head slightly as he looked to it. He could not recall the shape the two imprints made on the ground, it was at the tip of his tongue. Shaking it off, Striker looked to her and backed off slowly to give her some space. When she was sure that she could make it back on her own, he nodded and began heading his own way home as well. Once he was within a few yards away in distance, his head turned back and lingered his gaze upon the opposing treeline until he would find her almost there, "Wait, I have one more question before you leave." A foreign feeling then bubbled courageously in his chest, almost making it that much harder to ask what he wished to say, but he managed a response after all. He turned his entire body to the side so that she could see him despite the dimming of light, straing at her tan orbs, which still glowed across the lake that which now divided them, "-will I ever see you again, Aleu?" His lips phased to a soft smile, his maw crinkling at his cheeks as he surpassed a simple yet strangely honest laugh. When he would receive an answer, he would shut his mouth and bow quietly to her until he would watch her disappear into the timber. At the moment as to where he could no longer see her shadow moving through the trees and the wind was at a timid whisper, he would know that she was safe from harm's way. Striker then turned away, only to stop suddenly after a few more steps. Casting his eyes back to where they laid, the shape finally reached his mind.

It was a heart.

-Exit-

Guest

As Aleu presented her question to the young apprentice she would listen closely in a nervous moment of anticipation for his answer. She knew most of Erenyx looked down upon her for her defection to Helidos. But she also didn't care about what most of Erenyx thought of her, with the exception of her brother who she had yet to see again since her loyalty change, and now her only true friend. As he answered an expression of relief would come to her, an actual smile coming to her lips for the first time she could remember in quite some time. Honestly Aleu wished she had someone like Striker in Helidos, and would have been all too happy to have him come back with her, to help him settle into a new life in her new pack. But she would never voice it, for fear of scaring him away from her or making it seem as if she was only interested in converting him to Helidos, when in fact she only wanted to be closer to her friend. "Thank you Striker...I really needed to hear that...and you don't know how much that means to me." she said, pausing for a moment before taking a step forward to press the side of her head against his neck in a gentle embrace for just a moment before taking a step back and looking at the matted grass for a moment, the shape striking her immediately, but for now she simply shoved it into the back of her mind.

As the silence fell over them again Aleu would the sign as her time to depart. Slowly moving back around the edge of the lake she would slowly move to the treeline, obviously taking her time as the small creature was in no rush to return to the lonely land of Helidos. Although a thought struck her quickly after their talk had ended. In Erenyx Aleu had never felt she had a friend, or could even achieve such a relationship with other members of her pack due to her parents. But here she stood honestly enjoying the company of an Erenyx pup. Perhaps if she gave Helidos a real chance they too would become friends to her, and over time maybe more. As the young male's words pierced the cold silence of their departure Aleu would stop and turn to face him again, almost feeling touched by the question as a broad grin came to her lips. With a quick nod Aleu would call out over the lake to him "Yes....Five days from now in the Neutrals. Come and get me near the Helidos border at sunrise. They won't hurt you unless you are trespassing...I promise." she smiled broadly, turning then to walk into the timbers towards her pack, hoping she would see him there. It was odd she would set a time and location like that, but surely she had to have a good reason for such a demand. Perhaps she was testing him, wanting to see just how far he would be willing to go to see her again. Or perhaps she wanted to see him again so much she simply couldn't leave it up to chance. Either way the time and location were set, so now it was up to him to keep the date. And with that, she was gone.

-Exit-

» Come Together [Striker]
» Unsaid Sentiments [Striker]
» Apprentice Striker - Joining

Reality Escaped (Striker)

Reality Escaped (Striker)

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