A cool midnight breeze ruffled the marbled fur of the Alpha, the chills of which attempted to penetrate the warmth of his pelt, but to no avail. He had been granted a dense coat as to combat the vicious cold that plagued his homelands at birth. The massive brute stood eerily still, the only movement elicited from him was the steady rise and fall of his chest as he inhaled the crisp air, holding it captive in his greedy lungs for a brief time, consuming what vital nutrients it provided him, before exhaling. As the depleted air crept back into the night, it transformed from hot breath into a plume of white smoke that dissipated into the fog that surrounded him. Heavily weathered pads had found solace on a flat rock, one of very few in this dark place. Jagged rocks protruded from the earth, putting to test the skills of any who dared enter the misty wasteland.

This place, though dangerous, held a dark beauty to it that Fenris admired. The white light of the moon fought with the clouds, breaking through in various places, and illuminating the fog that clung to the ground. The fog masked the true danger of what lay in wait below. The thought of how many may have lost their lives, or been scared by the treacherous footing here crossed Fenris' mind for a short while, though he dared not linger in that state of mind for too long. Many who met him would describe him as a calm wolf, a peaceful being, wise, a wolf of few words perhaps, but in truth, his mind was constantly turning, and not nearly about such chipper things as most might think. He doubted that even his own mate, his beloved Quinn knew of the dark thoughts that sometimes plagued the male. Fear was mounting in him,the fear that he would one day find himself in the same precarious mental state to which his father had succumbed.

By this time next year, he would be the age at which his father had begun to deteriorate, and the fear that such a fate may befall him terrified him. Would fate be so cruel as to cause him to do unto his family, as had been done to him? Would his mind slowly crumble, failing to separate fact from fiction. Would his judgement be clouded by a vail of insanity that would cause a grim future for those he loved, those he was sworn to protect? The simple thought of such a thing caused a shudder to ripple through his entirety. He had always sworn that he would step down from any such position that allowed his actions to affect those around him should he even for a second begin to doubt the integrity of his mind, but what if he was unable to tell that he was beginning to dissolve into such a state? Would Quinn notice such changes in him? Would she have it in herself to tell him? To take what control he had away from him should the situation arise? Of this he did not know, but with time fleeting ever faster as days went by, he knew he must speak with her on the matter, but not tonight.

Tonight was a night for him to escape from the light, from the goodness of Helidos, and to slip into the darkness, to allow the evils that poisoned his mind to find solace in the shadows where he may bury them until they reared their ugly head once more. As time went on, he found him having to bury the demons on a far more frequent basis than ever before. Tonight he would dance with the darkness, allow the storm that ravaged his mind to run its course in hopes that doing so may lengthen the grace period it gave him before creeping back to him. Allowing his lids to slide down over deep amber eyes, he inhaled deeply once more before, letting his mind begin to wander down the darkened path it had travelled many times, one that quite ironically resembled this place a great deal.

Very few scents hung in the air here, or at least very few that belonged to the living. The odd small creature was present, a hare or two, mice and rats, but nothing worth investigating or pursuing at this point, or at least that was until the scent of another wolf became present. Though clouded by the heavy fog, he could still smell her. Her scent was one he had not yet come across, though could reasonably deduce that she did indeed belong to the other pack that called these lands home. Erenyx. He had heard many things about Erenyx, very few of which were of a good nature. From what he understood, they were a cruel bunch, ruled by oppression, violence and turmoil. Though, he had also heard that a shift in power had occurred in their pack as well. Perhaps for the better? Although he highly doubted this due to the horrific nature of the take over. But of course, this was all simply hear tell, he had not been there. He had not witnessed the event, so took all that he heard with a grain of salt until he had a more reliable source.

Perhaps, should their paths cross in this foggy, unforgiving wasteland, this female would be willing to part with such information that Fenris desired. It did an Alpha well to know whom he had to be weary of, and what monsters lurked in the shadows. But as the scent of wolf was soon joined by the tainted scent of panic, and shortly thereafter, blood, Fenris was unsure that he would have the pleasure of speaking with the Erenyx wolf. Perhaps the meal that now lay lifeless at her paws would captivate her attention, and she would slink off into the darkness to feast. Should such be the case, though an opportunity lost, he would find others. And perhaps it was for the best. After all, he was far from his usual mindset at the current moment, but then again, maybe he would be far better suited to deal with their kind were he in a dark state of mind himself. Taking another deep breath, he hear the soft footsteps of the she wolf approaching then stop, though the silence was short lived as she spoke, her voice carrying a honey tone too it. Pleasant to the ear, though so seeming out of place in such a landscape as this.

Opening one eye and shifting his head to glance up at her briefly, he nodded in silence before returning to his former stoic position, his eyes closing once more.

Mid way through, he had opened his eyes, though his gaze remained fixed upon the ghostly illuminated fog that whirred around them, but when his speech came to an end, he tilted his glossy stare back up to the green eyed fae as she sat upon her perch. "Beg pardon thy fervent tongue m'lady. Such devils that wish to drag us down are oft thine own thoughts, of this thou cans't deny." He said calmly, his own voice an eerily soothing one despite the heavy olden accent that hung upon it.

There was only one certainty in life, and that was death. No more could a wolf predict the days weather than he could what fortunes, or misfortunes may fall upon him, but of death, he could be certain. Perhaps it was not within him to know just when, or how the eternal slumber of death would take him, but it was certain that one day it would, no matter his choices, no matter the paths he took, the wolves her befriended, or the enemies he made, death would claim them all. But what after death? That had after all been his inquiry to the fae. What was to become of them, when this life what done, when death stole them unto the unknown. Perhaps it was better than this life? Perhaps no longer would they have to deal with the loss of loved ones, where skies were always blue, the sun always shone, and none but brighter days lay ahead. But of this, they would never know. What came after death was none but a mystery to them all, and so they would suffer through heartbreak and misfortune, through bloodshed and disaster simply to live another day because at least this life was known.

He listened as she spoke up. To die in ones sleep...an honourable thing. But was it? What was honour? And why did they so seek it with such yearning? For one to achieve honour in the eyes of another, and to achieve in the eyes of oneself were oft' different things. And then what of morals, for honour cannot befall one without a set of morals. But then, one must delve further into the exhausting debate about who's morals were right and who's held no merit. Such taxing things to contemplate, things that he tried so desperately to avoid. His mind was filled with enough worries without attempting the great debate of morals. With a light smile, he looked back to the fae, though such a task was becoming hard as the fog began to thicken, rising up, nearly cloaking his entirety at this point. "Aye, death will have his day, but what makes that day such a lingering fear? We know not what lies beyond the curtain of death, but should that be our reason to fear it? Fear of the unknown doth make sheep of us all, clinging unto this life with tooth and nail." he said simply, providing fruit for thought. Shifting his gaze, he spotted a rock, much like the one on which she perched, and leapt onto it. Though his massive frame was far from agile like that of a delicate female, there was a certain grace to be found in the way the large male moved.

Reclining down onto his haunches, he shifted his forepaws ever so slightly, rolling his broad shoulders as he did so. Once comfortable, he allowed his tail to lay still next to him. Hearing her disagree with him, he smiled. It was sometimes refreshing to have someone disagree, for that provided room for discussion, in this case a rather intriguing one, something which his life was lacking lately. "Ne're did I claim that such devils lingered only in thy mind. T'was simply meant that though devils are all around us, tis oft the ones in our own minds that will follow us forever. But I digress. Prithee tell, if thou woulds't, what is thy name?" he enquired, curious if she would part with such information. If she was willing to give a name, perhaps he too would give up his own, in faith that she might be willing to disclose information beyond that.

Shrouded in the darkness of night, the dark lord moved from the shelter of his den. Instead of staying within the cave, he decided his throat was a little too dry for his liking. Instead of staying within the confines of Erenyx, he decided to make his way to another place. He would go to the neutral lands, stretch his legs and see more of the world around him. Since taking over Erenyx, he had little time to himself to explore the outer realm. He didn't care for the lands ran by the so called "white wolf". In fact, Teren did not truly know who ran Helidos. What he was more concerned about was his own pack. The wolves who obeyed him were no issue, but those who might serve as an issue would be of interest to him. He would handle their issues personally. As he walked alone in the darkness, he moved for the borders. When he made it there, he sniffed the invisible boundary, noting the wolves who had walked along it recently. Most were the wolves he had entrusted to keep the rest of the pack safe. Teren did not need to be saved. The large wolf had sniffed enough of his share and continued into the unknown. There was only once he recalled leaving the pack, and it was to find an Erenyx wolf nuzzling that of a wolf from Helidos. It was a hideous display, one he would not allow any wolf to do, not on his watch. Teren moved along his way, following nothing, just wandering. He listened for the sound of anything to interest him or to quench his throat. His body was alert, ready for anything to come to him, relaxed, yet his tail hung over his body. If any wolf came to him, they would know he was an Alpha or another rank of dominance. The midnight monster moved effortlessly through the lands. His emerald hues stared to the night, looking for anything. When he heard the sound of moving water, he knew he would be close.

His nose was the first to suspect that someone he knew was in the area. The smell was disgusting and made a snarl escape from his lips. The blackened gums were exposed to the night sky, while his blood-stained teeth shined from the glow of moonlight. His hulking form stopped in place, watching his environment as he tried to see the creatures before him. He went silent as he saw the two forms not too far from his direction. Luckily for him, he had been downwind of the pair. One wolf was a female, of his pack, and the other was of the neighboring pack. But much more importantly, the male wolf was Fenris. The vile wolf he had met and worked beneath for all that time within Maple Woods. Blood rushed through his veins like the running water of the crazed rapids. Teren could feel his heart pounding as adrenaline moved through him. His ears were alert, his eyes targeting the single wolf he hated more than any in this forest, beside his bitch of a mate. As he stood there, he watched the form of the other wolf, unsure of his title in these lands, but Teren would be quick to tell him of his own status, about how he had killed another Alpha for his title. Slowly the serpent moved forward, heading straight for the male he despised. His tail waved over his back like the flag of a pirate vessel. His snarl escaped through clenched teeth and his growl echoed through the silence. Not only was he displeased with the Lead Hunter for not attacking their foe, but he was angered the male was even speaking to her. Did he not stay loyal to the bitch who opened her legs for him? If anything was to be said about Fenris, Teren knew him to be loyal, pitiful but loyal all the same. When he was facing his back, Teren growled louder than before, alerting both wolves that he was present. "My my, look what the whore dragged in... I never thought I would see your unworthy hide again. I had thought the fire would have killed you and your bitch. I know your children do not share the same fate as you. As they ran from the flames, I chased them down and I killed them myself. It was a pleasant thing to watch, to hear their cries for their whore mother and deserting father. The blood was soaked over my coat and I laughed in their deaths. All three, none survived. They never expected me to be the one to end their lives. But worry not, deserting Alpha of Maple Woods, you can visit them very soon." He snarled as he stared to the other male. But he did show Braelyn his displeasure for her being so kind to the wolf. Having a conversation with the enemy? Might as well spread her legs and beg for him to please her, though he knew when he mated with Quinn, he did not hear her cries of pleasure. Instead, it was almost non-existent. "I am also wondering what you are doing so late from your home, wherever you have found yourself to live, and why you are occupying the attention of a fae from my pack. If she were wise, she would find herself leaving now.." As he spoke, the venom of his words would sting the ear canals of the fae. He did not care for her, but he did wish to see this wolf alone, to find out where he and his whore mate now lived. If blood was shed on this night, he would be completely pleased with himself. Even if it meant breaking some bones of his own or bleeding, he would be more than overjoyed.

Seconds seemed to pass, undetected did they speed by unlike how the time had been before. When first stepping into the dark night, stalking silently through the dead forest like the predator she was born to be, the predator she was - everything seemed to have been slowed to a still pace. Even the span of Earth's rotation and the moon's orbit looked as if the ice from the depths of the cold abyss' and highest mountains shot up and covered the two in a sheet of frost, both finding themselves lost within the minutes of the quiet present. A strange thing it became, for the life's of other's to be near yet they managed to seem nonexistent, even the fae as she now conversed with this stranger was unable to strip away the sweet silence that clung to the area. It had no trouble controlling it's power over them, making the voices of two seem like nothing but whispers that had no direct course. To the auds of bystanders they could be heard, yet to the birds that slept in the solid caves inside the rocks or the hare's of the lowest fog didn't take notice of their appearance.

The herbivore she had recently killed was filled with death, the decay of muscles and vital organs already taking effect as bacteria broke down the substance was not enough to spark the attention of others. Mind wandering back to what was now the situation, Braelyn had just caught the beginning of the males reply, ears perching themselves to be pressed forward so she may hear what had been said. "I think it is not death other's fear, as we live our lives towards that fate each day, but they are afraid of what will happen after - afraid of leaving behind nothing that will be of any importance to the future." Such a life one had to live, from when one was just a mere adolescent to a growing adult, they had for the past days been searching for their purpose. The purpose of what they were suppose to do with the soul given to them and yet Braelyn was sure not one in her life time or ancestors had found it in time. Eye's watching the figure in front of her become harder to see as the mist below gravitated higher off the terrain in search of it's next victim, her green hues would take notice of the male standing.

No sooner after leaping forward and finding his balance on a rock nearby that took similar aspects of the solid material she currently sat upon. Emotions turning from their natural calmness she often had, the strength carried underneath brown fur would tense slightly at the proximity between her and the stranger. Not letting it show out, Braelyn mentally prepared herself as she took cautious observation of what movements he made. She was not fearful if he attacked, for if he had done so it wouldn't be done so easily as the Lead Hunter would hold her own viciously. A lesson learned by her rogue lifetime and even when she had been a pup was that you couldn't trust anyone. As much as you thought you knew them, at any moment something could snap, betrayal and sadness would trail closely behind and that right there was weakness. To let yourself become so vulnerable around another was the stupidest thing for anyone to do and as Braelyn had been quick to learn this at such a young age, it helped her from becoming too attached to other's that would just leave in the end.

As the male had sat down upon his own perch, getting comfortable and muzzle opening to speak some more, the fae let herself calm again though her expression remained neutral, neither smile nor look of aggression finding it's self on her face but a impassive look. "You may call me Braelyn and now that there's a name from my part, perhaps I could inquire yours?" The fae needed to know the name of her enemy, as such information if he was to tell more after could be used in future upbringings. It still hazed the female faintly as to why Helidos was the foe of Erenyx, she was curious and intrigued to learn of what had happened in the past to make both have conflicts. Nose taking in the bitter smell of the frigid atmosphere, another scent was among it as well, as it had the aroma of Erenyx she could only point out that it was non-other than her alpha Teren. What's he doing here? she questioned. It was a doubt in her thought that he came all this way just to bring her back to the pack lands as he didn't even know her well.

There was another reason, one that she was to find out tonight. Turning her attention over to the snarl that sounded from the mist not far below, the black figure stalked out of it for her green orbs to take into sight. "Hello Alpha" she would speak, greeting him for his arrival. She could see the displeasure in his expression towards her, though Braelyn didn't think much of it as she had done nothing wrong. Agreeing that first day at her border acceptance to follow Teren loyally, she has done exactly that since then. No act of violation from her words had been made yet. Hawking onto the furious words that spit from the Alpha towards the male nearby. Fire? Bitch? My, my how things have escalated quickly... Picturing a smirk on her face as actually doing such an act could risk her being yelled at, Braelyn was more captivated with the situation than she was before. Listening to the sentences that shortly followed, the Lead Hunter was aware that the Alpha spoke his words to try and hurt her, make her submit to him like a peasant as he probably was so use to such thing and leave. But she wouldn't.

Not out of defiance but because it was not really a exact order given. Braelyn would learn something about the past from this night, whether it came from the male or Teren. "Wisdom would have nothing to do with my absence but be weak. I think I'd rather stay and learn about this male and his so-called bitch as you had put it so nicely." Hints of sarcasm flowing with her voice, the female would lean down, jaws parting to take grasp of her recent meal and fling it towards her Alpha's feet. "I guess that would now be yours." Lowering her body to have forepaws placed onto stable ground, the Lead Hunter would let the rest of herself follow after until all paws where placed onto the landscape. The fog capturing her figure once more in it's mist as she had returned to it. Walking some way before settling down once more, haunches resting in the dead earth she felt beneath her, Braelyn was sure either blood or harsh verbal abuse would take place: a sight she was awaiting to see along with both of the male's temper.

As their conversation continued, Fenris was almost saddened that this wolf did not call Helidos home. His brain craved conversations such as this, as if it were the very sustenance that were to keep him alive. He feared that such conversation, were it brought up within the borders of his new home, would put the others on edge. It was not a light conversation, the topic, not such a cheery one, but he found it far more intriguing to discuss such things as this, than to simply converse about how pleasant the weather was. Perhaps that was why he was seen as a wolf of such few words, because the mundane chitter chatter of everyday life was not enough to satiate his needs, and so he simple avoided it altogether. Whatever the case may be, it needn't matter. Finally, he was given a name. Braelyn, though no title was given. Very well then, he would impart only what he must to keep her hunger for information satisfied as he was sure she would do the same. He parted his lips to give his own name in return, but was quick to close then when a familiar scent hit his nose.

The scent was close, closer than he would have liked with such little warning, and he silently cursed the winds for being to the others advantage and not his own. That scent belonged to Teren, though it was laced with the same scent that hung over Braelyn. So the Elite had survived as well, and he too had found his way to these lands. He wasn't surprised that the Elite had survived. Though age was not on Teren's side, he was a force to be reckoned with. What did surprise him was that he had wound up here. It would seem that many who had called the grove home were finding their way to these lands. How many more had made it out? How many perhaps called Erenyx home now? Perhaps Teren would shed some light on this, though he was uncertain that he would be willing to share such information. There had never been discord between the two of them, though words exchanged had always been on scarce side. What came next was something that Fenris could not possibly have prepared himself for, not in a million years.

The snarl erupted from the great black wolf's throat causing Fenris to turn head as the sound came from behind him. From atop his perch on the rock, and with the aid of the light cast down from the moon, those familiar emerald eyes shimmered from within a sea of black. Hatred filled those green eyes, nearly oozing from their sockets. Why was he met with such hostility? But before he had time to ask, Braelyn greeted him as Alpha, and then sinister words began to leech from the black wraith's mouth, words that would taunt Fenris for the rest of his days. How dare he speak about Quinn in such a manner. She had shown nothing but kindness to Teren, and had trusted him above all else, and this was how he chose to repay that kindness? But the less than pleasant names he had for Quinn seemed like child's play when the next words came spewing out. His pups. His darling pups. His jaw clenched with a force that he was almost certain he would break his own teeth. His body shook with anger as he listened to the poison this snake was spitting. It took everything in his power to refrain from lunging at this monster. There were two of them, and only one of him, and while he was certain he could take on the black devil, though the fight would be bloody, he believed it could be won, he would never manage if the she wolf decided to step in.

Rage had consumed him entirely, something that had not happened in a very long time. Very few had ever seen the quiet male in such an untamed state before. His hackles raised, the hair on his back bristling, his muscles tensed, and his claws extended, nearly ready to dig into the rock beneath him. Slowly, and meticulously, he rose to stand on all four's, glaring down at Teren,  though still, somehow managing to hold his tongue. There were plenty of words he had for the bastard, but he needed to play this game carefully, no matter how much he wished nothing more than to rip out his throat and watch him choke on his own blood. "T'would seem the devil can site scripture for his purpose, Alpha is it now?" he hissed, refusing to speak any further about his pups. The bastard had lied to Quinn and himself, clearly, hiding the monster hidden beneath, so what was to say he wasn't simply lying now to try and unravel Fenris. "The fae and I were simply conversing, though t'would seem what they say is true. If thou doth speak of the devil, he shall appear. As for the matter of my being here, I see not what use that information is to thee. For thou art not my alpha, I answer to Azul, Alpha of Helidos, not to the likes of a felon such as thee." Teren needn't know that Azul had stepped down, that Quinn and himself were the new reigning Alpha pair here.

Ignoring the words of the fae from his pack, Teren looked upon the wolf who now stood on a large rock. Green eyes clashed with gold, and a wicked smile leaked across his muzzle. To see that he could get beneath the fur of a wolf once called Alpha, it was a pleasure. For now, Teren was the only Alpha here, in his mind. The brute spoke of serving the "white wolf". Sooner or later, he would have to meet this wolf, to see what the huge fuss was about. But as he thought of it more, the thoughts of the pups came flooding back to him. "So, Fenris the Alpha is no more? I would suspect when you came crawling to Helidos, that the white one took pity on your soul and granted you the rank of Omega. I think that is a far better suit for the likes of you, pathetic and weak. The wolves of Maple deserved far better a leader than the ones they were forced with. If only Rhyme had been around long enough, I would have fooled her into allowing the pack be taken by mine own paws. For you see, I am the rightful leader to a pack. My ways keep wolves alive. Had you been a better father to your young, they may have known how to survive to flames and make it with you to your new pathetic home. If I had to pick a pup who screamed the loudest, I would have to say it was Reed. The male who looked much like you was nothing more than a bitch like his two sisters. But I will tell you, my favorite one... The most succulent of the pups.. It would have to be little Harley. She was a tiny one like her bitch mother, but she seemed to keep the most meat on her bones. But I shall never forget the last one... Cadence was it. Boy I really made her scream. After I killed her siblings before her eyes, told her that her parents were dead and had deserted her, she whined and whimpered. But don't you worry, in her last moments I was knotted within her tiny little cavern. It was so tight, I didn't even think I would fit all the way." It was hard to decipher if he were lying or telling the truth, even for himself. Though he knew the truth, he would never tell it to a single soul. Instead, he would allow the brute to think these horrible things about his own family. But the devil thought of more things he could say to get further and further within the other male's mind. Games were fun, especially when the ball was in his court. "Well Fenris, when you get the chance, I suggest you tell your little mate that if she wants a real wolf, she can come to Erenyx and I will take good care of her needs just as I did while we were in Maple Woods." He waited for the expression of the other, curious to see how he would take this bit of news. The male could not contain his joy any longer, the smile was growing bigger and even more malicious.

"Judging by the expression of your face, I would tell that Quinn never told you of our little love affair we had. It was clearly after she and you had become mates. But one night she slipped from your den and entered mine. She whined and cried for me to give my seed to her. And so I did. I mounted her and forced myself to knot within her. She was so wet, I could barely contain myself. But when we became unknotted, she licked the excess off of my sheath. Then afterwards, I believe she returned to you. Ever since that night, every time she saw me, there was a look of lust within her eyes. I think she was honestly starting to regret being with you. Once she hears the news of your pups' fates, I think she will really wish to move to Erenyx and feel my true power once more." Teren could hold it in no longer. He allowed a loud cackling laugh to erupt from his gut. It was hearty and true. Nobody had ever heard such a noise from him, not in many years from when he was a pup. But now, both Fenris and Braelyn would hear it. He only hoped she would return to the pack and tell them of his malice, his evil. The dark lord stood his ground, his tail still hung in the air above his back. "So tell me, Fenris... How does this news affect you? Do you need to cry about it?"

[Hope you do not mind me joining. Needed to get back into some threads.]

The thick darkness wrapped around the Delta as he prowled forward through the lush vegetation. If one asked if he was following Teren an instinctual 'no' would be given in reply yet one would find that slightly difficult to believe considering the dark pelted male had left his den moments after watching Teren leave his and had been following at a safe distance for the past while. Old leaves scattered across the forest floor threatened to give the brute away however as time passed the terrain became damper and rockier and leaves weren't very common. Teren was but a tiny silhouette in the distance, Caspian had not wanted to risk his brother discovering his presence and knew the alpha was skilled enough to catch him if he dared get any closer. Why he had not made his presence obvious at the start and requested to accompany the brute he was uncertain. There was no point in doing so now, it would mean giving away that he had been following the large alpha and for someone who did not want to arouse any suspicions that was not the best idea. Plus, he just didn't really want to converse with his brother. He would never forgive the bastard and the worse thing was, Teren genuinely wasn't even aware of his 'mistakes'. Why he was even following him all the way to the Neutral lands in the middle of the night was beyond him yet still he continued at a safe distance until the sound of running water reached his perked ears.

However as soon as he heard it the atmosphere seemed to change. A bolt of negativity seemed to pierce the calm, serene routine of night and it was soon let loose in the sound of a snarl. Teren's snarl. At first Caspian thought Teren had discovered him following and the large brute froze. He was at too far a distance to smell or see whatever it might be that his alpha reacted so negatively to and when Teren proceeded to move forward- Caspian followed at a quicker pace rather then hanging back, just hoping his brother would be too occupied to notice him. Soon enough the scents did reach his twitching nose, faint at first but then stronger as he neared. Erenyx and Helidos together..., ah that explained it. Finally he was near enough to see the two- the one of their own was a fae...he believed possibly the Lead Hunter and the other....Interest sparked in his silvery orbs. The alpha, how interesting indeed. After meeting Banshee, Caspian had decided to do a small bit of research on Helidos and finding out who the alpha's were hadn't been too difficult. He believed this was the alpha male, what his name was was a bit blurry yet not important. He was close enough now to see the flecks of silver gathering in his sibling's dark pelt and his tail flicked from side to side slowly. The darkness, fog and numerous rocky outcrop's made it difficult to spot the Delta yet if the breeze was to switch its direction his scent would be easy to catch and Caspian didn't want to be found hiding. Maybe he'd just see what information he could gather first...

At Teren's words, a small grin crept across the Delta's maw. This just kept getting better and better. So the Helidos alpha and alphess played a part in Teren's past? What happened after Teren destroyed his birth pack could be useful information for Caspian and he kept silent for the time being, large silver orbs taking everything in eagerly. Words of bitter hatred were passed back and forth between the two and Caspian rolled his eyes. So Teren had done what Teren did best. Destroyed. And this time, this male's family had been the target. He was curious to see if things would get physical, part of him wanted it- he wanted to see a fight. But it wouldn't do too well if Teren figured out that Caspian had been there the whole time and had done nothing to help. Especially if he wanted the alpha's complete trust. There was no room for things such as suspicion. Of course- Teren liked to rile up his enemies and now decided to go into story mode. He had to admit- slight disgust did flicker through him at one point but it was gone in seconds, plus he wasn't entirely sure if Teren was telling the complete truth. And if he was. Well it didn't come as much of a surprise anymore. Ears flicked and a small smile graced his features as Teren broke into laughter. Proper laughter. Not the cold, bitter shit everyone gave these days but proper hearty laughter. Small smirk fixed on his features he stepped into a shaft of moonlight- letting it reflect brilliantly in his silver orbs. "Good to see you still have it in you brother. I was starting to wonder." A neat smile. Lies, lies, lies. Of course he knew Teren still had it in him. He needed him to have that in order to kill him- killing a wasted male would achieve nothing even if it got him revenge. Yet now was not the time to rid the earth of the sad bastard and he had to make sure Fenris did not try and do his job for him right now at the wrong time.

(Thought I'd hop in too. It's been a while.)

Fel, picking up the scents of multiple wolves moving, turned from the path of her nightly jog. Picking up her speed a little, she took off after them partly in curiosity and partly in duty. If they were heading out somewhere to fight, why shouldn’t she, ranked the best fighter in this damn pack, be present? Besides, it was evident that they had not gone as one large group since two scents were slowly fading and one was still fresh. Her gaze searching the road ahead, she could just make out a male figure moving in the same direction – the freshest of scents. It was male, and very likely that delta she had seen around the pack. Alpha’s brother, was it? Tail streaming behind her, she picked up speed to close the distance between them a little, being mindful to keep her paws light and quiet on the ground. In not too long, she slowed her pace to arrive just a little later than the brute, taking a sidewards approach to the scene. Her ears pricked, she could hear the slightly muffled words of her alpha and some other male whose voice she did not recognize.

Shrouded in the darkness by her raven pelt, she moved in silence, listening as best she could to what they had to say. The first of the decipherable speech had something to do with young wolves and a fire. Such variables reminded Fel of something, but she could not tell what. When the wolves came into faint view, the dark fae would stop in her realm of shadows and listen for just a moment, eyes trained on the two large brutes but also taking note of Braelyn there. Caspian or whatever his name was had to be around somewhere, lurking in the dark like herself. The wind was blowing towards them, for now… Her “alpha” was evidently enjoying himself, telling tales of rape and… Quinn? Somehow, she certainly doubted at least some of these pieces of the puzzle to be true, for even a fool could tell what the purpose of sharing these stories was. It soon would occur to her that this was Quinn’s long lost mate. Suddenly, the fragments of the premier story made sense: Quinn had lost her pups in a fire. Evidently, Teren had finished them off. And good riddance, Fel thought to herself. Any spawn of Quinn must be just as weak in body and mind as mother. Her spiteful thoughts were distracted by a strange sound coming from her leader. Laughter. He had it in him to laugh? It was strange, so coarse but genuine. Though she had to admit to herself that she was slightly amused as well. After all that Quinn did for her, why wouldn’t she find tales of disgrace meant to anger her mate to be amusing? Taking a few steps forward, away from the shadows and into the light of the moon, she gave her own little chuckle, gruntled to hear of Quinn spoken in such a manner. The sound was hollow and grainy, but also genuine. She glanced to the delta brute, who also stepped forward and gave a word. Then, she looked at her alpha, followed by stopping her gaze on this Fenris wolf. She dipped a respectful greeting to her alpha, regardless of whether or not he would see it, and took a firm stand behind yet to the side of him, watching the other. No, perhaps she did not truly support him, but she would be there to assist his mangy hide anyway with her most genuine façade of loyalty. “From a bitch like Quinn, I would’ve expected no less.” For a moment, Fel wondered if Fenris knew her legacy she left in Helidos. She wished to ask how did their equally pathetic Azul fare after the death of his last kin, but restrained herself from further speech. Perhaps there would be time afterwards.

- I was given permission through Fenris to be able to join. ^^

No stranger did it seem, the creature of the dark crawled effortlessly through while obtaining it's beauty and frightening shadows that which lingered upon the maiden's hair. The devil's breath aspired to be the land's greatest aspect, coating the land in a dangerous fog to what not even her own eyes could see passed. T'what single-handedly did shine amongst the depthed dark, were twin pairs of floating orbs, following suit to that of a wrath-like obsidian mass. The predator moved closer by her own accord, silent at it's own take, and gentle at it's greatest. Air pooled from her nostrils and out the sides of the wrath's lips, phasing to that of a soft, clear white, at the contact of carbon dioxide greeting it's former friend, oxygen. Grey skies filled the atmosphere, thus molding an even darker mood to what surrounded her - the whistling of demons then wafted the distance, beckoning her for a stay, perhaps to come a little closer to the edge of her own despair. But she could not be tempted by the dangerous one, for she was wise, and knew other ways of finding fun other than working for the devil himself. The image was motionless, but the object kept moving onwards to what seemed to be the registering of a neighboring pit of snake-like voices. There could only be one result of the gathering, and the name itself left a sour taste on her tongue, and a flared colour to her already burning green hues. The wolf declared no interest in prying upon them until she was abruptly stopped at the sound of her sire's voice amongst them all - as well as a familiar other, to whom had crossed the Helidos reign with betrayal of Azul's firstborn's death. Rage began to fill her adrenaline and she compelled herself to near this pile of serpents and protect the mouse they so wished to pester with their venomous bites. The anger bubbling from within hit her like a tidal wave, and her paws marched into a faster motion the more it began to burn within her.

With fluid movements, the fae was manifested before none other than the raunchy smell of Erenyx lands. Her lips curled slight of distaste, but she proceeded closer on long legs, though they were covered with fog. The Glade was no more than a place of death and temptation, and these demons to what surrounded her master wouldn't leave without a proper fight if she knew better according to rumors. Ears pinned, she allowed herself to relax and bring herself to her complete height - being that she was a large female, bigger than most, that is. Her tail curled across her back and she glared into the darkness to see a matching figure. Juno found her eyes to be memorized by her reflection in the face of a brute, though he was not entirely black, but grey and aged around the edges, nevertheless, if it weren't for that, they'd be a complete copy. She noticed his power, the great authority displaying over his shoulders, along with the mutts at his side both ruing and enjoying his presence. A name then formed to her lips, but she did not make a sound. The beta female exposed herself with mild irritation, and granted her Alpha the protection against his right side - the irony of which it being the same as her rank. Her chin stayed relatively high, ears turning so that they were now pointed, tail still flat across her backside. The colour in her eyes was almost playful, but not out of happiness, though more like she wanted to play a game of wits with the imbecilic snakes, "My my.. what have we here?" Her voice not it's normal sweet and tenderness, and she stayed in complete eye contact with the opposing leader. The idea of a challenge raced in her, and a feeling of trigger-happiness ran cold through her bloodstream. At his side was their former Guardian, a fae whom she now hated, but had once known as a trusted other - the rest were a mystery to her, and nor did she care of their ranks or importance to the Erenyx reign. She looked to Fenris slightly before displaying her attention back to the others, lips curled into a smile only the devil would find seducing, "Teren, is it?"

With every passing moment, Fenris grew more and more irritable. His body swelling with a rage that he had never felt before. He had been angry, yes, but this, this was something else entirely. It took every ounce of his will to stop himself from silencing Teren once and for all, but oh how he desperately wished to. The words that spilled from his mouth nearly made Fenris ill. His muscles quivered with anticipation and anger. With each slow breath that he drew in, his stance grew taller and taller. His ears flickering every so often as harsh words assaulted them. Every single hair on his body stood on end, and his tail now hung where it should for an alpha, high above his back like a flag of authority. His eyes glinted with the flames of hatred, and every second he spent in this black devil's presence only fuelled the fire more. He would allow his anger to be seen, such a thing he did not think he could conceal even if his life depended on it, but one satisfaction he would not give into this night, was allowing the pain that these words caused him.

More vile notions came forth as to the twisted fate his pups had endured. He refused to believe any truth behind them for his own sanities sake, but what if there were? What if what this beast was saying was true? What if this sick bastard had forced himself upon his poor little Cadence after torturing little Harley and Reed. He would not wish such a fate upon any, except maybe the monster that stood before him. But just when it seemed that he was done, he continued, though this time taking aim at Quinn and told him to pass a message along to her. Immediately a deep rumbled reverberated through his chest, the action of which prompted Teren only further. Now lies of a love affair with his beloved began to poison the air. But to this he shook his head. There was no way. Quinn would never do such a thing to him. She was good, kind, and loving. She represented all that was good in this world, and Teren was the embodiment of all that was evil. Though he had painted a fair picture of a far less devious wolf during his time in Maple Woods, there was no way that Quinn would have done such a thing. She had trusted him, of this Fenris was aware, but she had never harboured feelings for the brute, or at least none that he was aware. She would have told him of such a thing would she not? And surely she would not have stolen away unto Teren's den after Fenris had become her mate. He shook his head. No. He could not allow himself to think these things, or he was letting Teren win.

Suddenly a laugh erupted, one that sent what little prey in the area there had been scattering. It would have nearly been enough to cause Fen to think twice about remaining here any longer, but he was too focused on giving Teren a piece of his mind to even consider leaving just yet. But all too soon, their little band of three began to increase in size. It was as if the dark Alpha's laugh had summoned his minions, and out of the darkness came two new faces, one male and one female, both smelling of Erenyx, and both carrying themselves in a way that suggested some form of higher ranking. All chances of him destroying Teren now were fleeting. He could have dealt with Braelyn had she interfered, but now, it was 4 against 1. He would be dead before he reached Teren. This fact only irritated him more. A few comments from the other two who had joined barely reached Fenris' ears when yet another wolf emerged from the darkness, though this one he was glad to see. Beta Juno had stumbled upon them and had quickly made her way to his right side. Though the odds were still against them, at least his chances were slightly better. But he had had quite enough at this point. "ENOUGH" he shouted, his voice echoing in the chilled autumn air.

His blood near boiling at this point, he took a step forward to the edge of the rock her perched upon, his eyes glaring like daggers towards the other Alpha. "Thy words sicken me. Such putrid lies told to spite another. Tis a pity that though hath stooped to such a level Teren. Tis nearly within me to pity what wretched upbringing thou must have endured to have resulted in the disgusting wolf thou hath become." looking around to the other Erenyx wolves that flanked him, Fenris scoffed in disgust. He held no respect for them if they stayed, having heard such horrid things, even if they were only lies. "Thou hath no honour. No dignity, and least of all, no right to rule. These wolves have no respect for thee. None more than fear doth course through their veins at the tyrant who dare call himself Alpha. The first chance they get, they will turn on you, though I fear they shall never get the chance, for it will be by mine own paws that thou shalt draw thy last breath. Perhaps not today, nor even tomorrow, but I assure you devil that day shall come, and there, amidst a clash of Kings, we shall see which Alpha reigns supreme." he no longer cared whether Teren knew his true rank within Helidos. He could only imagine that between the others who stood before him, one had to know that Azul was no longer Alpha, and that another had taken his place. "Now scurry back to the depths of hell from whence thou came, lest you wish to end this here and now, just you and me." he hissed. He prayed that Teren was prideful enough not to allow his pack mates to assist him in fears of it making him look weak should a fight occur, though after hearing such awful things tonight, he could no longer be certain of anything anymore.

Like the crack in the sheet of ice, so was Fenris. He was breaking down. Everything Teren had been telling him was working up to force his true side out. Yes, the male could try and hide behind his dignity, he could attempt to hide his true anger, but it was useless. This was the first time Teren had ever seen his old Alpha act in such a manner. With the lifting of his tail, Teren began to smile. So it was that the two males were Alphas of the neighboring packs, how interesting. His laughter ceased as the scent of his own flesh and blood came into surrounding area. It was followed by his snide remark, misjudging his own brother, what a shame Caspian. He did not take his eyes off the other Alpha. Instead, he chose to ignore the words of his brother. It was slightly irritating that Caspian had followed him, yet again. It was almost as if it was an image of the past. They were much larger now, but the idea was the same. The one wolf was always following Teren, hanging on his every word. It was sickening then and he hoped it would not repeat itself. He held his stance, keeping his tail high. As Fenris began to speak, more wolves decided to join them. Was this a damn party? Teren had not thought of such a thing, and this perhaps, had even angered him more than being with Fenris alone. Why were their so many nosy wolves in his pack? Could an Alpha not go on a walk by himself? He did not need babysitting. A snarl rippled from his maw, but it was not directed to Fenris, even though his eyes were targeted on his annoying form. He did not need babysitters or Guardians.

The idea that they would think he needed them was enough to force the Alpha to growl louder. Again, he would ignore the intrusions on both sides. A fae decided to place herself beside her Alpha, thinking her presence would do anything different. If Teren had wanted a fight with the old acquaintance, he would surely have his lackeys handle his single reinforcement with ease. Teren kept himself relaxed, thinking of the things he would say next to turn stir the pot. "You can believe what you like about what I have told you. Your young, you will never be able to ask them and there were no witnesses to my acts of treason, but to Quinn... I implore you to ask her. As far as dignity, I have that and I have honor. It's only when I choose to allow it to breath that it actually happens." As he looked to the other, the twisted smile returned. "Do not worry about the wolves within my pack, instead you should worry about how your bitch will see you in this light. It's an ugly look for you old friend. Not only your beloved Alphess, but the bitch who is beside you now. Do you please her on the side? It's no wonder she rests herself so close to you, or is it that she would give her worthless life to keep you breathing for yet another day? The male, he is of my own flesh and blood, my brother. He knows me better than any, and this instance, or my crimes, will not change his mind in any way of this. As for the dark fae, I saved her from your pathetic lands. She brought me an offering, an ear to be exact. I think it was the ear to a pup in your numbers. She killed a wolf within your own ranks, seeking that of a better life. So before you judge me, look to who has come to your side and look who has come to mine. My brother is wise and gifted in his own ways, intelligence you could not begin to comprehend. My Elite, I have seen her fight and I know she is strong. Lastly, my other female is also skilled in her ways as well. If it is a fight you are looking for, I don't know which of you two will suffer more... You are the fae. For in the chance you do wish to fight, it shall be you and I. Mono-e-mono. My pack members will tack on your fae, easily defeat her and as a token of his skills, my brother will be allowed his way with her. If this is not something you would like to see, I suggest you high tail it out of here, and get a move on. For trust me when I say this, when I kill you, I will come for Quinn and she will cum for me." He glared to the Alpha, thinking over everything, curious to see how Fenris would handle his offer. It would be an interesting thing if they did not leave, if they did get into a fight. If any wolf got between he and Fenris, he would take them out himself, no matter what pack they belonged to. For far too long he had wanted his chance with the Alpha, and here it finally was. The only way this could be better would be that if they were completely alone, allowed to be the males they needed to be, to let it all out and become savages on one another.

(Taking matters into my own hands and going to skip to Fenris' reply so the thread may move forward. If Delta Caspian, Elite Fel, Beta Juno and Lead Hunter Braelyn would like to do a final post once Teren and Fenris have finished, you may do so.)

Be it in this life or the next, Fenris vowed to slay the beast before him. Something this vile should not be given the freedom to roam the earth, poisoning it with its mere existence. Fenris had sworn he would never kill without just cause, but this, this was more cause than he could ever need. At some point during Teren's rambling, the low guttural growl that emitted from Fen's chest morphed into laughter. A deep chuckle at first but then a laugh that nearly mirrored Teren's own that had echoed through the foggy darkness only some moments ago. Was he going mad? Had Teren succeeded in breaking him to the point of no return? No. He would not allow himself to think that way. He was simply done listening to this bastard spew lies and poisoned words. He had had enough, and though every fibre of his being wished so desperately to end this here and now, he had to think of the bigger picture. He could not let harm come to Beta Juno because of his own selfish desires to see Teren's lifeless form strewn across the ground. It would be such a fitting place for such a demon to die, surrounded by the darkness he had chosen to walk among. But his death would have to wait. This was something Fenris had to do on his own. There was no sense bringing others into a feud they had no business being involved in.

Teren's time would come, and Fen would be damned if he let any other be the reason for it. He would have to speak with Juno upon their departure, to ensure she spoke of this encounter, and what she had heard here on this night, to no one, not even her mate. It was not fair of him to ask her to keep this from the one she was supposed to share everything with, but until he had a chance to speak with Quinn on the matter, he had to ensure that no one knew. He could only imagine the collateral damage that would ensue if word of any of this got out. What would the pack think? Surely their respect for their Alpha's would diminish, and what was a pact without respect for those of a higher rank. Finally, when Teren's threats had finished, Fenris composed himself, silencing his laughter. He took a step forward towards Teren, his deep amber eyes still blazing with an unforgettable intensity. "Thy days are numbered Villain. Think what you will, but know this, Thy blood shall spill. Red shall stain the landscape, and none shall morn for thee. I do not envy what wrath awaits you among the other forest, for I know thou shalt suffer, and be held accountable for what vile sins thou hath committed. Death shall come for thee, and in that moment, I shalt wear the name of death. None else need be dragged into the hell that awaits, and for that reason, and that reason alone, I shall depart, but know this. I will come for thee, and I will kill thee." he hissed, the bitter sweet promise of death hanging on his words. The sooner he could leave here and insure the safety and wellbeing of his pack, the sooner he could leave once more in search of what could very well be the end of him.

Teren had won. The large brute stood before all the wolves, exposing the Alpha of Helidos for what he truly was. He spoke a great deal, making idol threats to the King. But Teren did not fear him. Of all the things he had told him, swore to him, Teren smiled. It was a look of true pleasure. Not many wolves had actually seen it, especially within his own pack. His emerald gaze stared down the other Alpha, never breaking contact. "Fenris, you speak like a pup. Threatening me with such empty words. But if you look around you, you will see the shock in everyone. I have unraveled the lie of a wolf you so claim to be. For you see, old friend, you are just like me. You are no better, no different. The only differences between us is my sheer height above you and the color of our fur and eyes. Deep down I know you are as monstrous as I. Deep down, I know you want to taste fresh blood on your tongue and watch it splatter over the lands. So you keep your plans to kill me and I shall make some of my own vengeance. The next time we meet, it shall be beneath the high moon when the world slumbers. Bring your Alphess with you, for when she watches you die, I wish to see the serendipitous smile upon her features. I want her to know when she will finally be able to come home. That night, we will consummate ate our wills and even use your corpse as a cushion. Then once we are done, I will skin you and leave your coat as a reminder in my den as to what I have accomplished. But for now, I think I shall be retiring to my den. This night has proved to be far more interesting than I initially planned, don't you think so?" His crocodile grin was spread wide, revealing his bloodstained fangs. The large male moved from the area, not acknowledging any of the wolves within the area. He made his way back towards Erenyx, but right before he was out of reach of the other wolves, he turned his body around and faced them. "Fenris, I would work on your fighting skills. I have faced many a foe in my life and all of them have fallen to my paws. I would not wish for our battle to be anything less than two valiant kings facing one on one, versus the idea of overpowering a rabbit." When he finished speaking, his dark form vanished into the shadows.